The Villager 2017 March

March 2017

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There is power in small things

By Mark Bisset, Executive Director, The Couchiching Conservancy It’s an important thing to remember in this hour, when so many big things seem to be unfolding outside of our control. Small actions go hand in hand with small things.

An act of kindness here, a helpful hand there, and without anyone being conscious of it, something good starts to take shape.

In small increments over a prolonged period of time something good has taken shape just outside of Orillia in Severn Township and the Washago community has played an outsized role in its creation – The Couchiching Conservancy.

This conservancy was started by a handful of people who wanted to protect natural spaces in the area and hold them in trust for the public. It has grown from nothing into a force for conservation in the region, having played a role in protecting more than 12,000 acres of ecologically important land.

Long before acquiring those 12,000 acres, while the Conservancy was still a fledgling organization, an elderly man named Bill Grant called Washago resident Ron Reid and said he’d like to donate a piece of land. He’d read a few things about the Conservancy in the newspapers and he liked what he learned.

Before long, the Conservancy had a home on Division Road. The property was named

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The office of The Couchiching Conservancy underwent an incredible transformation. Geothermal heating and cooling and solar panels are just two of the improvements made. in honour of Bill’s brother Jack, who had passed away. The two brothers had lived at this location most of their lives. They were gentle souls, and they treated the 54-acre wood as the precious thing it is.

The farmhouse was in rough shape, and it took an enormous community effort led by people like Reid and his partner Janet Grand, and Sparrow Lake resident Ken Thomson to make it the land trust centre it was to become.

Fast forward to September, 2016. The Conservancy finished a second renovation on their building, adding geothermal heating and a solar system that has made the building carbon neutral thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

These features were part of an expansion which saw the building become fully accessible and increased the amount of office space for a growing staff. Bill Grant

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was part of the second renovation too.

It was a final bequest from his estate that made it all possible.

Dozens of volunteers were also involved in the project as it came together over more than two years. Again, Washago played a role: most of the meetings of the Renovation Committee were held in Washago, because key members resided there.

The general contractor for the project was Scott Inc. Design+Build of Washago.

Owner Don Scott and his staff made a huge contribution to the effort without which, it’s safe to say, the Conservancy would not have been able to do nearly what it did. His partner Kristi McKechnie, of K. McKechnie Architectural Design, redesigned the existing building and developed innovative solutions to several key problems along the way. Again, her contribution made the project possible.

Continued on page 6

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Bowling for the sake of kids

By Ellen Cohen For Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bowling for Kids’ Sake is the biggest event of the year, a fundraiser that takes place in dozens of cities across the country. Thousands of men, women and children form teams with their friends, co-workers and families, get pledges for donations, and head out for a night of fun at their local bowling alley.

Bowling for Kids’ Sake is important to the organization and, most especially, crucial to the children and youth who rely on the mentoring service Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) provides.

For anyone not familiar BBBS, it’s likely some of the kids in your own neighbourhood could tell you quite a bit about the organization. Severn Township, even with its relatively small population, is home to approximately 25% of all the children and youth served by the Orillia BBBS. Those children, and youth, benefit greatly because the staff at BBBS are dedicated to the kids and, remarkably, the volunteers routinely clock over 10,000 hours a year in mentoring and other organizational services. The positive relationships these children and youth form with their adult mentors will influence them for the rest of their lives.

Last year, 270 children and youth were mentored in Orillia and surrounding area.

James Maxwell, the executive director of BBBS in Orillia says, “The children we serve look forward to spending time with their big brother or big sister. It’s a special time for them. And for the adult, the mentor, it’s also special and very memorable. A very unique bond is formed between them.”

The BMO Nesbitt Burns Orillia team from the Bowling for Kids’ Sake event in 2016.

But, like any social agency, BBBS has limits to what they can accomplish for our community. Even with the amount of support BBBS gets, money is always tight and banking enough to run the organization as well as looking after a growing need is a challenge. Fundraisers such as Bowling for Kids’ Sake is one way to help make up for any monetary deficits. Last year, the event raised just under $20,000 which helped to fund both their core mentoring and the inschool programs.

“We are incredibly grateful to our generous community sponsors, donors, and attendees who have supported us at this important annual fundraiser. Because of that support, we can continue to offer our programs free to the children and families. We strive to make sure that every child who needs a mentor has a mentor,” said James Maxwell.

Bowling for Kids’ Sake runs April 10,

12 and 13 at Orillia Bowl in Orillia, and at the Coldwater Bowling Centre on April 11th. Lanes will be open from 5:00 p.m. – 700 p.m. The evening includes bowling, refreshments, a participation gift and prizes.

Details for the event, including information about forming a team of 4-6, and application and pledge forms can be found at bbbsorillia.ca. No bowling experience is required and all ages are welcome.

In the spirit of Canada’s 150th birthday, participants are encouraged to come dressed in your best Canadian costume.

James Maxwell encourages families and local businesses to put together a team and plan for a terrific evening.

“People who come out to our Bowl for Kids’ Sake event always have a great time.

There’s nothing like having fun while raising money for a good cause,” he adds.

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Ellen Cohen Publisher thevillagerpress@rogers.com 705-717-0322 The Villager, a Severn Township community news magazine, is an independently owned and operated publication delivered to households and businesses on or before the first day of every month.

It is mailed through Canada Post north from the Severn Township/Orillia border to Severn Bridge and includes parts of Ramara Township.

In addition to Canada Post delivery, The Villager is distributed each month through high traffic locations along the Highway 11 corridor and in many other select locations in Orillia. For a complete list of locations email thevillagerpress@rogers.com.

Editorial and advertising material is protected by copyright. Reproduction of any article, photograph or graphic is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher. The sentiments of our columnists do not necessarily reflect those of The Villager.

The Villager’s liability to advertisers for errors is limited to the portion of the advertisement in which an error occurs and only if the error is the fault of The Villager.

Community event submissions and prearranged editorial contributions must be received by the 10th of each month for the following month’s publication.

Advertising space must be booked by the 10th of each month in order to appear in the following month’s publication, with 5 business days thereafter to complete the advertising artwork and proof approval process.

The Villager P.O. Box 5 Washago, ON L0K 2B0

Art director: Cathy Cleary, www.cathycleary.tel

Sunset Hill

Krista Storey, a local resident, has been experimenting with her new camera for a few months now. Luckily, practice is a pleasure because this area provides an abundance of scenery and wildlife and, as you can see from the above photo, she hit the jackpot a few weeks ago.

This extraordinary photo was taken at ‘Sunset Hill’ at the corner of Telford Line and Stockdale Rd. in Severn Township. This location offers a panoramic view including forests, farms, hills and Lake Couchiching.

If you’ve never been to ‘Sunset Hill’, exit Highway 11 at Soules Rd./Telford Line. Take Telford to the top of the hill. Park safely please.

From the Publisher:

Congratulations to us!

This issue of The Villager marks the beginning of our 5th year of publishing. We couldn’t be prouder.

In the past four years, we’ve published stories about dozens of local businesses and nonprofit organizations; written about local politics, social issues, and entertainment; reported on township initiatives; been the voice of local service clubs and other organizations; and notified you in advance about more than 600 local events.

Our success is because of a wonderful symbiotic relationship - our readers enjoy our magazine and find the content informative and interesting; and our advertisers have the opportunity to sell their products and services to our readers.

Thank-you for helping to make The Villager a magazine we’re proud to deliver to our community.

Trent-Severn Waterway advises of changing water conditions at Lock 42 Couchiching Parks Canada advises that the Trent- Severn Waterway Water Management Team will be flowing water through Lock 42 Couchiching in order to speed up the draw down on Lake Simcoe. This action will soften the ice and increase water flows in the area. Extreme caution is advised for those in the immediate vicinity upstream and downstream of Lock 42 Couchiching.

Parks Canada would like to thank area residents and visitors for their co-operation in our efforts to promote a safe environment in this area. For more information about the TrentSevern Waterway, visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/trent, or follow on Facebook and Twitter @TrentSevernNHS. Letters to the publisher are welcome and may be emailed to thevillagerpress@rogers.com.

Letters may be edited.

5

Water Tower – project update With files from Kathy Nicholson, Committee Chair The Friends of the Washago Water Tower committee has been busy since the last Villager update. Most notably, two public events have been organized. Committee chair, Kathy Nicholson is very hopeful that area residents and other supporters will participate in both.

The first event, on March 18th, is an important date as this will be the opportunity for the public to vote for their favourite piece of art, the art that will eventually be installed on the Washago water tower. The pieces of art that will be displayed have gone through a jury process

organized by the Washago Rotary Club.

Voting will take place from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Washago Community Centre. All are welcome.

And on April 19th a fundraising dinner will be held at Brewery Bay Restaurant in Orillia.

Two sittings are offered, one at 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The restaurant will feature live music for this event. As well, diners will be able to participate in a silent auction and draw prizes will be handed out. The owners of Brewery Bay have donated the cost of the food the Friends of the Washago Water Tower committee. The cost is $50/person for a 3-course dinner. Tickets are available at Brewery Bay or call 705-689-0961.

The committee is also close to making a decision on the printing company to be hired. This has been a very important decision for the committee to manage because the process used on the previous art installed on the tower didn’t last as long as hoped. However, Kathy Nicholson and her team have reached out to printers who have new processes and materials that are sure to make the 2017 installation a much longer lasting one.

For information about the water tower project, including to make a donation, please email katmike@rogers.com.

Taking control of your future

By Ellen Cohen Last month, The Villager wrote about the opportunity to get involved in the grassroots process of politics - buying a $10 or $15 membership to a political party. That membership, in most cases, gives you the opportunity to choose who will represent your chosen party in the next election.

In that February article, we used the Progressive Conservatives as an example.

We were remiss in not mentioning the other parties who are gearing up for leadership races and/or nominations for individual ridings and next year’s election.

The provincial election will take place next June. At this point, a Liberal leadership race isn’t expected, but hopeful candidates in Simcoe North will throw their hat in the

ring well before then. Provincial Liberal information is available at ontarioliberal.ca.

Simcoe North information is available at simcoenorth.ridingassociation.org.

The federal NDP’s new leader (to replace Tom Mulcair) will be chosen in October of this year. To learn more, visit their website at ndp.ca. For provincial NDP information such as details about those campaigning to be nominated for the Simcoe North riding, contact ontariondp.ca.

The Green Party has a regional contact listed on their website, alec.adams@rogers. com. Provincially. The Green Party is led by Mike Schreiner, greenparty.ca.

From the comfort of your living room, you can hop on your laptop or tablet, contact your party of choice, or maybe even get to

know a little about all political parties. Most importantly, you’ll be able to learn about who is running and what candidate most closely matches who you think will do the best job for your community.

And, if you’re inspired to buy a membership and have the opportunity to vote for your nominee of choice, you will surely feel that you are taking some control of your future.

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There is power in small things Continued from page 1 Along the way, other businesses from the Washago area chipped in where they could: Allan Drywall, Champlain Readymix, Scott Camick Electric, Orillia Precast Concrete Ltd., and Washago Timber Mart all contributed to the project along with many other businesses from the broader region.

One of the nice features of the building is a fully accessible new community room with a capacity for about 20 people. It is available for bookings to the general public by calling 705-326-1620. To date, about 20 community groups have used the facility for meetings and workshops.

The Couchiching Conservancy has a high concentration of protected properties in the Washago area, and the organization encourage residents to visit these beautiful places. You can get directions by going to the Conservancy website, www.couchichingconserv.ca and clicking on the “Properties” section. You can also participate in our various programs such as Passport to Nature and Little Sprouts. And now, thanks to a building process that Washago had so much to do with, you can make use of the community room at the Land Trust Centre.

There is a good energy in the place, often commented upon by visitors.

How could it not have a positive vibe? It was built upon good will and generosity; it serves a benevolent purpose; and it stands as a testament to the enormous potential of people who pull together with a common goal in mind.

Taken as a whole, that’s no small thing at all.

From left to right: Mark Bisset, Executive Director, The Couchiching Conservancy; Margaret Pomeroy, 2016 President of the Board; Bruce Duncan, member of the Renovation Committee; David Homer, Chair of the Renovation Committee; Don Scott, owner of Scott Inc Design+Build and member of the Renovation Committee; Frank Stevee, representative for The Ontario Trillium Foundation; Dorthea Hangaard, Project Manager, The Couchiching Conservancy and member of the Renovation Committee; Kristi McKechnie, owner of K. McKechnie Architectural Design and member of the Renovation Committee; Errin Reilly, representative for Patrick Brown, MPP; and Ken Thomson, member of the Renovation Committee.

7

Dress up and have fun – twice!

With files from Christina Westcott, Ramara Historical Society There are many Canada 150 celebrations across our region over the next 10 months, including the multi-faceted event in Washago on July 1st. That celebration will take place on the main street of the village, at the Lions Hall, and in Washago’s Centennial Park by the lake.

One of the features of the Washago event is a costume contest, an opportunity to win prizes if you dress up in period costume from 150 years ago, or in a costume that depicts a certain decade, or famous Canadian from the past 150 years.

The good news is that you have a chance to wear your costume a second time! The Ramara Historical Society is hosting their own special Canada 150 event on July 29th. The celebration will include a costume contest.

Christina Westcott, spokesperson for the society says, “We’ll give anyone who wears a costume the chance to show off and maybe win a prize. And for those who dressed up for the Washago event, it means they can wear their costume a second time!”

Mark your calendar for July 29th and find details about the Ramara Historical Society’s event at www.yesteryearscelebration.weebly.com.

Spring fever? Try indoor planting.

By Karen Kahle Dreaming of the first day you can walk around your property looking for little shoots poking through the still cold earth?

Gardeners are an impatient group and have probably been looking for weeks for snowdrops or crocuses to poke their little sprouts out of the cold earth.

Of course it is too early to see much of anything in the garden, or to begin playing in the garden soil. But if you are a patient person with available time and adequate space, you can soon begin gardening by planting vegetables indoors.

Although many standard vegetables cannot be planted outside until the soil is fully warmed and the threat of frost is past, there is a variety of cool weather vegetable crops that can be started indoors in March or early April and planted outdoors before the May long-weekend. Examples are lettuce, spinach, chard, radishes, kale and peas.

The benefits to starting your vegetable garden indoors are many, including the opportunity to have an almost infinite amount of seed choices. You also control the quality while the quantity is up to you – indoor and outdoor space allowing. And for gardeners who want to have an organic garden from start to finish, seeds that were harvested from certified organic vegetables can be found with a simple online search.

Depending on how much you want to plant inside your home, a sunny window or

porch will give you the ultimate success – as long as you start with clean containers, use a good quality seedling mix, and you plant the seeds according to the seed packet instructions. Most often you’ll also need to transplant the tiny seedlings into a second, larger pot well before they are ready for planting outdoors.

Enthusiastic gardeners should note that planting seeds indoors too far in advance can be disastrous. Seed package instructions will tell you when it’s safe to plant outside, but be mindful of local weather predictions and remember that it only takes 6-8 weeks to grow hardy seedlings. The trick is to have a time line that works backwards. For example, based on seed planting directions, if you plan to move seedlings into the ground the first week of May, your indoor planting shouldn’t begin before the 3rd week of March. If you plant too far ahead, you could end up with over-grown seedlings that become stressed and of poor quality.

Good gardening books, available at your local library or online, will give you the details you need.

If all of this simply sounds like too much work, just keep watching for the little sprouts in your garden. Keep dreaming about the day you can get your hands dirty in the soil, and wait for your local greenhouse or garden centre to open!

Professional gardener and proprietor of Fern Forest Garden & Greenhouse, Karen has served Severn Township and area for 10 years. www.fernforest.ca.

8

Coldwater knows how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day… and you’re invited!

St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the life of St. Patrick who lived in Ireland more than 1,600 years ago. He helped to establish the Catholic Church; apparently drove all the snakes out of Ireland because they were considered a popular symbol among Irish pagans; and used a three-leaf clover (the shamrock of today) to explain the Trinity to new converts to Catholicism.

Today, St. Patrick’s Day is a widely-celebrated festive day recognized by the Irish, those with sometimes distant or questionable Irish heritage, and all of those who want to be Irish for the day and simply enjoy a good party.

Communities around the world host St. Patrick’s Day festivities and Coldwater, Ontario is not a village to be left out. In fact, this year the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 270 will present their 30th consecutive parade.

The parade is led by the King and Queen who have been chosen by a draw at the Coldwater legion. Those royal figures lead the parade decked out in capes, banners and crowns.

A note about this tradition: the Queen of the first parade in 1987 was Grace Mahoney, a past resident of Coldwater. Now living in Barrie, Grace has attended and marched in every parade for 30 years and she is given a marching place of honour.

The parade begins at 1:00 p.m. at the legion parking lot. From there it will go west on Coldwater Rd. to Gray St./Sturgeon Bay Rd. and then turn around and follow the same path back to the legion.

Decked out in her official royal outfit, complete with shamrock eyewear, provided by the Coldwater legion, Grace Mahoney leads the first-ever St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1987.

The legion bar and the canteen will be open from 1:00 p.m. with hot food available. Live music, provided by PT & The Cruisers, will play until 6:00 p.m.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to dress up in their finest green outfits, march in the parade or watch from the sidelines, and to attend the legion festivities.

Margaret Murphy, a former Queen of the parade, assured The Villager that attendees are very likely to see a leprechaun or two!

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9

Register for special new spring programs

By Pat Harwood, Recreation Coordinator The Severn Culture and Recreation Department has some great new specialized spring programs lined up.

“In the Mix” Kids’ Yoga intertwines the foundation of yoga with stories, music and props. The program will help children find ways to relax through techniques involving understanding their own breathing and developing a better awareness of their bodies. This program is for four and five year olds.

‘In the Mix’ Dance Program is geared to 6-12 year olds. This program is specifically designed to provide both physical and creative stimulation. With the integration of special iPad instruction (supplied), this program adds valuable new skills to your child’s repertoire.

Both yoga and dance ‘In the Mix’programs are run by certified instructors. Check them out at www.inthemixprogram.com.

Included in our spring programs is the Director’s Cut which offers full day workshops engaging participants in collaborative, hands-on digital media literacy opportunities.

These programs promote 21st Century presentation and communication skills. All the latest equipment and materials

will be provided. Severn Township and The Director’s Cut are providing workshops on Lego Animation, Silent Film Making, and Claymation.

For more information visit www.thedirectorscut.ca.

Also for spring, The Village Players of Coldwater will be offering another “Intro to Theatre” program for ages 8-12 years old. It’s time to light the lights because the “show must go on.”

Other children’s programs offered this spring are Little Monkeys, Little Kickers, T Ball, and Sport Ninjas.

Teens, adults and seniors register now for exercise programs from a variety of yoga programs, Step N Weight, Intro to Resistance Training, and Keep Fit for Bones.

Pickleball will be back on the arena floor in Coldwater providing a rain or shine fun activity.

Don’t forget to register for Youth Ball Hockey, Minor Ball, and Adult Mixed Slo-Pitch.

Check out all the information above in detail on the Township of Severn’s website: www.townshipofsevern.com!

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Goldfinches get ready for spring

By Ron Reid

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One of the most numerous winter visitors at our finch feeders is the American Goldfinch, often in flocks of twenty or more. Many folks have trouble identifying this species in its winter garb, because its plumage often has no hint of yellow at all, or gold for that matter. Rather it is a drab olive-greenish colour, usually lighter on the stomach and rump. Watch for the black wings with bars or scallops of white on them, as a good clue to its identity.

For those of you who have had about enough winter by early March, keeping an eye on your Goldfinches can be an act of optimism. Like most songbirds, this species replaces its feathers twice a year, and in Goldfinches the late winter (or early spring if you prefer) transformation is especially obvious. Their moult doesn’t take place all at once; that would be a bad strategy in cold weather. And individual birds vary quite a bit in their timing, so the overall process spreads across six weeks or more.

Actually, Goldfinches only moult all of their feathers once a year, starting in late September for the fall change-over. The black flight feathers in the wings and tail stay with the bird right through the spring moult. In the fall, the contrasting trim on those feathers is broad and buffy-coloured.

But as the feathers wear during the winter, their edges become narrower and whiter.

By late summer, those fringes are almost completely worn off, and the wings appear pure black.

The process of replacing body feathers begins in late February, with bits of yellow showing up around the head and neck.

On male birds, you may also detect the beginnings of a black cap. Ever so gradually, those yellow feathers spread across the back and breast. By early May, the bodies of male birds are completely clad in brilliant yellow, but for the dapper black cap and flight feathers. Females sport a coat of a softer shade, without the dark cap.

If this annual cycle from dowdy to showy feathers weren’t enough, you can also track the coming of spring just by looking at the conical seed-crushing beaks of Goldfinches.

An early winter Goldfinch has a beak so dark

as to be almost black. But as the weather begins to warm and the hormones begin to flow, that beak takes on more and more of the bright orange hue that will last the summer.

© Can Stock Photo / chas53

The male American Goldfinch will become brilliant yellow by May. Why do songbirds go through all the trouble of changing their feathers twice annually? Feathers are fragile and basically wear out over time, so just like changing the tires on your car, this process is necessary maintenance. Some species, like the familiar Chickadees and Nuthatches at your feeder, go through the process with very little visible change. But for many other birds, such as the warblers and the Goldfinch, the spring moult provides an opportunity to dress up in their brightest colours. For males, that provides an advantage in securing the best territory for nesting and raising a family, and for impressing the best female as a mate. Not so different from young people of our own species, don’t you think?

A regular contributor to The Villager, Ron Reid is a natural heritage consultant and the co-founder and former executive director of The Couchiching Conservancy. He has written more than 30 magazine articles and co-authored three books. He lives in Washago with his wife, Janet Grand.

11

Keeping us young

By Marylynne White, Past-president Due to inclement weather we had to cancel both meetings in January. However, we were very lucky that the speakers we had arranged for the two January meetings were able to come in February.

Tasha Schmidt, from the Community Legal Clinic of Simcoe, Haliburton and Kawartha Lakes, spoke at our first meeting. Her advice regarding Powers of Attorney was extremely helpful.

Danielle Todd, of the Orillia and Area Falls Prevention Coordinator and Kinesiologist, spoke on the importance of movement through gentle exercising, in order to keep fit.

Some of you may not know this - on Tuesdays, many of our seniors meet at Orillia Bowl on Memorial Avenue. They bowl

two games, starting at 9:30 a.m. New bowlers are always welcome and you don’t have to be a member of the Washago Seniors to join in the fun.

Another activity our seniors enjoy is being a part of the Harmony Sounds and Ukulele.

Practices for the choir are on Mondays at 1:00 p.m. at the Washago Community Centre.

There is a break for beverages and snacks at 2:30. The ukulele group then plays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. As with bowling, you do not have to belong to the Washago Senior’s Club to join either the choir or ukulele group.

This has been an interesting winter. The falling snowflakes are quite beautiful but the thought of spring around the corner is beautiful too!

Washago Community Centre ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Washago Community Centre will hold their annual general meeting on April 29th at 1:00 at the community centre. This is an opportunity for residents (members and non-members) to hear a review of 2016 and listen to plans for 2017.

SPRING PROGRAM REGISTRATION Full details on spring programs will be published at the beginning of April. Registration will take place Thursday, April 6th, 5:00 p.m.7:00 p.m., and Saturday, April 8th at 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

LINE DANCING Join us for Line Dancing on March 10th and 24th at 7:00.

For further information on the above, or to rent our hall for your special celebration, call 705-689-6424.

List your Community Event in The Villager Send an email to

thevillagerpress@rogers.com Deadline is the 10th of the month for the following month’s publication.

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12

The impact of rising interest rates Submitted by Adam Burton, IPC Investment Corporation On December 14, 2016 the U.S. Federal Reserve Board (the Fed) raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25%. The move reflects their intention to return borrowing costs to more “normal” levels and stem future inflation as the economy continues to grow.

A growing U.S. economy is generally good for Canada. With interest rates rising in the U.S., in time the Bank of Canada will increase rates here. To help plan for the prospect of rising rates, here’s a breakdown of the overall effect on certain investments.

Higher returns on cash – money market investments or savings accounts are poised to benefit from rising rates, as they will be able to generate more return on their cash.

Cost of borrowing will increase – Higher interest rates mean higher borrowing costs. Loans tied to short-term or floatingrate debt will be immediately impacted.

Conversely, homeowners holding fixed-rate mortgages with lower locked-in rates won’t be negatively affected.

Some bond prices will fall – Bond prices move in the opposite direction of interest

rates. All being equal, a 2% yield bond price wouldn’t be the same price as a bond that provides a 3% yield. However, if the price of the first bond was lower so the yield was also 3%, then it would be more in line with current interest rate levels. Holding a bond to maturity will mean your principal value won’t decrease.

Longer-term bonds directly impacted – In a low-rate environment, many investors may have locked in higher yields with longer-dated bond holdings. However, longer-term bonds are more sensitive to interest rate changes than short-term bonds, so their values may decrease more when rates rise.

Good news for certain stocks – If borrowing costs increase, businesses with lower levels of debt and more cash may perform better than similar companies with higher levels of debt. Also, financial firms that lend money to clients will profit from higher interest revenue. Historically, rising rates benefit the real estate, energy, consumer discretionary and technology sectors.

© Can Stock Photo / Elenathewise

Mixed news for some sectors – Higher interest rates mean higher borrowing costs, which affects firms that sell capitalintensive goods like heavy machinery and automobiles. Hard assets, such as gold, may under-perform when U.S. rates rise.

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Broadband for rural and remote communities

By Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton

As you may recall, in Budget 2016 the federal government committed $500 million over the next five years to expand broadband coverage for rural and remote communities. They recently released additional details of how this funding will be delivered – the Connect to Innovate program.

This is an important program designed to help, for example, remote communities in Severn Township. Private individuals or business owners cannot apply directly for this program – but your municipality can.

My office staff, who will be able to answer your questions regarding this program, is encouraging everyone to contact their township office and ask that their area be included in any application to be prepared by the municipality.

At the same time, I will be contacting each of the rural municipalities in Simcoe North (urban municipalities are not eligible) and will encourage them to take advantage of this program.

Some of the program details are as follows: The funding for Connect to Innovate will be directed to new

backbone (interconnecting different networks) infrastructure in rural and remote communities across Canada. This backbone infrastructure is often fibre opticbased, but can be comprised of a range of technologies including microwave and satellite service.

Although the focus of the program is on new backbone infrastructure, during extensive consultations stakeholders identified additional needs that warrant eligibility. As such, eligibility will include backbone capacity upgrades and resiliency, as well as lastmile infrastructure projects to households and businesses.

Capacity upgrades are needed in some communities that already have access to fibre optics but the network is particularly old when less scalable designs were common, and becoming congested.

Resiliency projects will also be eligible to include the construction of fibre loop extensions to help mitigate the impact of accidental fibre cuts in rural and remote areas.

A portion of Connect to Innovate program funds will also support “last-mile” connectivity projects to households, at speeds of at least 5 Megabits per second (Mbps), where gaps continue to persist. Last-mile infrastructure brings Internet

m fro

access from the backbone to end users like households or small businesses through familiar wired or wireless technologies, such as cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), fixed wireless or satellite. Without adequate lastmile infrastructure, Canadian consumers and businesses are not able to take advantage of the backbone infrastructure that may already exist in a community.

If you live in an area that does

not have access to broadband internet, I suggest contacting your local municipality to request that they include your area in any applications that they submit to the Connect to Innovate program. You may also wish to share this with others in your area to make sure that your municipality knows that there is a significant number of people who would sign up for broadband if it were available.

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14

Get to know our amazing Lioness members

By Estelle Ness, Lioness President

Because I missed wishing you Happy New Year January 1st, let me wish you all a happy Chinese New Year, the year of the rooster!

The Lioness are starting to gear up for 2017 by making new and exciting plans. We’ll start with a Rally the beginning of April and then swing into our Court Whist with luncheon on April 12th. Please join us and enjoy our new menus.

I would like to take the opportunity over the next few issues to introduce our amazing Lioness ladies to you. They are just like the energizer bunnies.

In age and service I will start with: Agnes Frederick (Life Member), age 99 years with 35 years of service. Agnes is no longer an active member but is remembered fondly as a founding member. She now lives in Gravenhurst and was very active with her husband in starting up the Lions Club.

She then became a founding member with a leading role in our Lioness Club.

Jean Hilton (Life Member), age 89 with 28 years of service.

Jean started her service with the Mississauga Lioness Club

which was the first Lioness Club in Canada. Many of you know Jean as a resident in the Severn River area with her boys and their dogs. She is an extremely busy lady. On Court Whist Days Jean starts the coffee off at 8 am and doesn’t stop for the rest of the day. She is known for her outstanding desserts and you can always find her behind the bake table at the Xmas Bazaar.

I have always found Jean to be a wealth of information, especially financially as she served as Treasurer for many years.

This year we are actively

recruiting new members. Come and join us for a cup of tea or coffee at our first meeting date on April 4th at 1:00 p.m., or call Carol Buckley at 705-689-3333 for more information.

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15

Suggestions to help grow Ontario’s economy

By Patrick Brown, Simcoe North MPP and Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario When I was growing up, Ontario was the economic engine behind our country. We were the heart of Canada’s manufacturing sector, and people from the east and west flocked to our province in search of jobs.

But now the manufacturing sector across the province is hurting and bleeding jobs, and we’re seeing the impacts of this across our community, where most recently, General Mills in Midland closed its doors for good.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce recently released a report that summarized a number of the challenges businesses face in Ontario, and the report found that only 24

per cent have any confidence in the province’s economy.

We need to create an economic climate where businesses can be confident in future success - where entrepreneurs want to innovate and start something new, where small businesses want to grow, and where bigger companies want to invest.

This is why I have emphasized four key pillars in my plan to get Ontario’s economy back on track.

First, I want to address skyrocketing electricity prices in Ontario. Our province is home to some of the highest and fastest rising industrial electricity rates in the continent which is a major barrier for businesses both large and small alike. Of

all of the respondents to the Chamber of Commerce’s survey, 51 per cent identified reducing energy costs as one of their top three priorities.

Next, I want to make investing in infrastructure a priority.

Our province is burdened by extensive gridlock and congestion. Not only is it hard to sit in traffic after a long day of work, but it is also an impediment to getting goods to the marketplace faster.

We also need to address Ontario’s growing skills gap. Our province is home to the world’s hardest-working people, but we aren’t giving them the tools to succeed. We’re not graduating a youth for the jobs of today.

Businesses shouldn’t have to search outside of Ontario’s

borders to find a suitable candidate for a job.

Finally, we need to start cutting some red tape. Ontario is literally drowning in red tape.

Our province is home to more than 380,000 regulations.

This is just the start. Over the upcoming year, I look forward to outlining my plan for Ontario in greater detail. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your suggestions. patrick.brownco@pc.ola.org.

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16

Guest speakers inspire and inform

By Sandra Crawford, Past-President Mother Nature has been blasting us with an over-abundance of the white stuff this winter but the Lions Club members have stayed focused on our regular meetings, enlisting interesting and exciting speakers to address our members, and making our plans for another exciting year of Lions’ events.

Our guest speakers are certainly one of the reasons Lions Club members are attracted to our club. They inspire us and always give us new information that we can use in our everyday lives. One example is our guest speaker, Alisa Herriman at our January 24th meeting.

Alisa Herriman, a professional speaker,

held a seminar called “Healthy Revolution”.

She gave information about healthy living with whole food. In particular, she gave us a description of the Tower Garden. This reasonably priced indoor device can be used in any house or apartment for growing herbs and vegetables indoors – pesticidefree. Search Google for more information.

At the same meeting, the Washago Lions Club received a donation for the much needed support of the Dog Guides Training Center, one of the club’s favourite organizations.

Ongoing discussions continue regarding our involvement with Canada Day and Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations. Our plan is to add to our activities, including a live jam on Friday, June 30th, but we will still

The Washago Lions Club and Lions International are proud to be celebrating 100 years of service. offer our popular pancake breakfast; music on our patio - 10 bands over 10 hours; our patio bar with hot food; draws, prizes; and many more surprises. We’ll publish more information as we get closer to the event.

Don’t forget Dougie’s Jam at Washago Lions Hall, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15th. Everyone is welcome.

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ATTENTION ALL SEVERN SCHOOL STUDENTS

t s e t n o C Poster Create a poster to warn people about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO)

Create a poster about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

Possible topics include: 

Facts about CO; You cannot see it or smell it.

It is an invisible killer;

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What steps you can take to protect against CO poisoning;

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18

By Christopher Carman, Past President

Four Rotary events to mark on your calendar

Our regular weekly meetings often include an engaging speaker and our March meeting will be no exception. We are very excited to host Johnny Waite of Alter-Ego Life Adventure Company. Johnny is a Certified Life Coach, Personal Trainer, Ultra-Marathoner and motivational speaker who has spoken at events across Canada, the USA and around the world. Please join us on March 9th at 5:00 p.m. to listen to his message about how to “live yourself to death”. RSVP on our Facebook page so we can have the refreshments ready.

Local artists have submitted beautiful work to be considered for the Washago Water Tower contest. We invite the community to help select the winner

whose art will be proudly displayed on our historical water tower for years to come.

Come to the Washago Community Center on March 18th between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and cast your vote.

Our 2nd annual Kegs and Corks event is selling out fast. It takes place at the Washago Community Center on March 25th. Drop in any time after 6:00 p.m. The event concludes at 9:00 p.m. Your $15 admission ticket includes 3 sample tickets.

The fun is not over when you run out of tickets - additional tickets are available for only $1.00! Our Vendors this year include Sawdust City Brewing Co, Sidelaunch Brewing Co, Highlander Brewing Co, Muskoka Lakes Winery, and Heritage Estate

Winery and Cidery. Delicious food courtesy of R’ Cottage Restaurant in Washago. Tickets will be available at the door or in advance by contacting a local Rotarian. Please make sure you have a safe ride home.

On April 22nd, we are hosting our 12th annual Wild Game Dinner. We are excited to announce the return of Head Chef Andy Drechsel. Come early for a drink, enjoy fresh wild appetizers and take part in our “fishing derby” with prizes donated by great local businesses. Tickets are available for $50 each, cash bar on site. Cocktails and appetizers at 6:00 p.m., dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Like us on Facebook (Rotary Club of Washago & Area-Centennial) to get updates on these events and to find out where event tickets are available.

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19

The maple leaf forever Last summer, Washago and area residents, cottagers and tourists were treated to a months-long display of 24 beautifully painted 6’ wooden canoe paddles that were hung on poles along the main street of the village. Painted in a variety of designs by members of the Washago Art Club, the paddles represented the first outdoor art installation in Washago.

The art display was followed by a successful fall fundraising auction of the paddles that raised $8,000 for Friends of the Washago Water Tower, a project that will result in new art installed on the historic water tower.

The success of the canoe paddle display necessarily meant that area residents and visitors had a question: can they expect to see a follow up for the summer of 2017? The answer from the Washago Art Club is, “Yes!” On Friday, February 17th, Ward 5 Councillor Donald Westcott, who created the canoe paddles last year, came through for our community once again. He built and then delivered twenty-four 2-feet square wooden leaves to Doug Cooper, the art instructor for both those taking art lessons at the community centre, and the Washago Art Club members. The maple leaves will be the new outdoor art installation to be completed the beginning of June.

The maple leaf, in recognition of Canada’s 150th birthday, will give the artists a new challenge, and for the next few months they will be thinking about how to use their own unique talents to create a design that will be truly Canadian.

Given the popularity of the canoe paddles displayed last year, the next question residents will have: will there be an auction in the fall?

Doug Cooper, art instructor and Donald Westcott, Ward 5 Councillor, each show off a ready-to-paint 2’ square wood maple leaf.

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20

Keep vents cleared

Stay safe with these important tips:

By Dianne Kyle, Fire Prevention Officer, Severn Township Winter means shoveling snow and lately there has been lots of it. In this, hopefully our last bit of winter, this is a reminder that in addition to keeping driveways and walkways clear, it’s important to prevent ice or snow build-up on or around gas or oil vents, gas and hydro meters and anywhere else where you want to ensure clear pathways and maximum safety.

Gas and oil furnaces have vent pipes that carry gas vapors away from the house.

Snow and ice can damage or clog these vents which in turn could damage your gas meter, interrupt your gas service or cause an appliance to malfunction. This can create a serious safety hazard including a buildup of dangerous carbon monoxide indoors.

If you find your home suddenly without

heat, check your appliance vents to ensure they aren’t blocked. It is best to call a service technician to ensure the furnace is working properly. Ensure you have a Carbon Monoxide detector/alarm installed on every level of your home and especially near where you sleep.

Ice or snow can also cause gas and electric meters to malfunction and could result in your heating system to run less efficiently or shut down.

Lastly, remember to have your furnace or any fuel fired equipment checked by a qualified technician annually and ensure you are up-to-date with your carbon monoxide detectors. Proper maintenance will provide worry free comfort.

Maintain your vents. It could save your life!

Check your gas meter, gas piping and appliance vents regularly to ensure they are clear of snow and ice.

• Use a snow brush or broom to gently clear any snow or ice.

• Be careful using your shovel, plow or snow blower nearby.

• Don’t kick, hit or use sharp objects to remove snow or ice.

• Never use salt, hot water or ice melting chemicals to remove snow or ice on this area.

Repair leaky eaves troughs or downspouts to prevent water from dripping on your gas meter or vents.

Don’t pile snow up against your gas meter or appliance vents.

Install carbon monoxide detectors/ alarms. It’s the law.

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21

Black River grilled asparagus & smoked bacon open-faced brunch toasts with egg

By Chef Becky Proprietor of Black River Food Company and a teacher in our region for Loblaw Companies Limited.

• 4 slices toasted favourite local or homemade bread. Buttered is optional.

• 12 slices cooked double smoked farmers’ market bacon • 2 cups watercress or spring greens, rinsed and dried • Balsamic vinaigrette, ¼ cup • Eggs: 4 hen eggs, or choose quail eggs (smaller) or duck eggs (larger) • 12 sprigs blanched asparagus • Cracked black pepper • Pico de Gallo garnish optional (Mexican salsa) Method: In frying pan, cook off bacon until desired doneness. Remove from pan and place in warm oven, 200F Bring salted water to a rolling boil in medium saucepan, toss in asparagus. Let blanch for 1 minute and remove from water.

Place on tray beside bacon to keep warm.

In a bowl, place watercress or greens and lightly drizzle with balsamic or your

favourite vinaigrette, just to lightly coat.

Add salt and pepper to taste Now you may begin to either poach or fry your eggs.

As eggs are cooking, toast your bread.

Assembly: the toast goes on the plate first. Place greens on toast followed by a layer each of asparagus first, and then bacon. Top with your fried or poached egg.

Drizzle with leftover balsamic vinegar.

Sprinkle with cracked black pepper to taste.

This dish can be topped with homemade Pico de Gallo or your favourite salsa. Try it with hot sauce. Adding Ontario cheese (try goat cheese or smoked Gouda) is also delicious.

Serves 4.

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March 4 Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market – Maple Kick Off, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Join our maple syrup producers for a tasting of maple sap before it has been processed into maple syrup. Enter to win a $200.00 gift basket. 4500 Fairgrounds Rd., 705-325-0353.

March 6 Beef Stew Lunch, including beverage and dessert. Prepared by the Severn Bridge Women’s Institute. 12 Noon. $8. Severn Bridge Community Hall, 1035 Southwood Rd. Severn Bridge. For Hall Rentals information, call Fern at 705-687-4462.

March 11-19 Shaw’s Sugar Bush. Experience the production of maple syrup, enjoy horse and wagon rides through the sugar bush and taffy on the snow.

Shaw’s at 493 14 Line S., Orillia, 705327-3311. Visit shawscatering.com.

March 16th Heritage Theme: “Orillia’s Civil War”.

Guest is author and presenter, David Town. 7:00 p.m. at the Udney Community Centre, Hwy. 12 east from Orillia to 2347 Concession Rd. 10, Ramara. Light refreshments served. The Ramara Historical Society welcomes all.

March 17 St. Paddy’s Day feast of green pancakes paired with fresh maple syrup. Join for all-you-can-eat pancakes, delicious choice of flavours from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon.

Take a tour of local maple syrup producer, Williams Farms. Sugar Ridge Retreat Centre, sugarridge. ca. Toll free 1-866-609-1793. Email info@sugarridge.ca.

March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Maple Brunch, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Leacock Museum. Come and join in for the fun of a St. Patty’s Day brunch including local maple syrup and other yummy menu items.

Website leacockmuseum.com. 705329-1908.

March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Coldwater starts at 1:00 p.m. Coldwater Rd. to Gray St./Sturgeon Bay Rd., returning to the legion. Parade will be followed by a gathering at

the legion. The bar will be open, hot food available. Live music until 6:00 p.m.

March 20 Quirks and Quarks comes to the Orillia Opera House. 7:30 p.m. Bob McDonald presents Adventures in Space and Time. Tickets are free.

Sponsored by Canadian Federation of University Women Orillia. Visit spaceadventures.eventbrite.ca or call Karen 705-259-2446.

March 25 2nd Annual Corks & Kegs night, Washago Community Centre from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Tasty fair from R Cottage, beer, craft beer and wine. $15/person. Details on the Rotary Club of Washago & Area – Centennial Facebook page.

March 25 26th Annual Sweetwater Harvest Festival at Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Escape to a time when maple syrup was made over an open fire.

Experience our history and explore nature at its best. Sugar shack tours, pancakes and taffy tasting, birds of prey, reptile/amphibian talks, wilderness survival and more. Visit wyemarsh.com for details and cost.

605-526-7809.

March 26 Orillia Farmers’ Market Maple Day, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Discover delicious ways to enjoy maple through foods found at the market during this special maple event. 36 Mississaga Street West, Orillia. Call 705-238-7955 or visit orilliafarmersmarket.on.

March 31 – April 16 Tape into Maple Flavours, local flavours with prix fixe menus.

Canadian themed to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday.

Call 705-325-9321 or visit ontarioslakecountry.com.

April 8 Hewitts Pancake Breakfast at Hewitts Farm Market & Bakery. Bring the family for a pancake breakfast topped with Hewitt’s maple syrup and maple sausages. Kids’ activities available. 3331 Townline Road, Coldwater. 705-325-3000.

EASTER

IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Roasts, Chops, Ground Beef, Chicken & More

Always AAA cuts

Wonderful selection of

Fruits & Vegetables

Fresh Spiral Hams

Fresh to create a great meal!

Bakery orders starting at the end of March.

Watch our Facebook page for details.

Delicious St. Patrick’s Day Goodies

Freshly Pressed to each cup!

Fresh Baked Breads Every Morning!

Serving only our Premium Muskoka Roastery Coffee.

Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte, Shag Fog, Chai Tea Latte, Green Tea Latte Like us on for updates or Tea – all with fresh bakery item or lunch from our Deli and specials