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2024 − YEAR IN REVIEW

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Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

YEAR IN REVIEW – FROM THE EDITOR

LEE GRIFFI Editor

First off, I want to wish our readers a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. I also want to thank each and every one of you, along with our advertisers, for supporting the Echo during 2024. When I look back on the year that was, the biggest issue to me is the ongoing problem of homelessness, mental health and drug addiction. It is my hope all parties involved in it,

including non-profit groups providing supports, municipal governments, the province, police, and anyone else with an iron in the fire, work together and come up with a concrete plan. What I see is taxpayer dollars being thrown around but not having very little effect. I certainly don’t want to sound all doom and gloom. We printed a lot of positive stories, many written by Emily Stewart. Emily keeps a close eye on the arts beat and does a wonderful job of promoting theatre and small business in Oxford. I made the decision a few months ago to expand our Thamesford page into the Zorra Township page. Connor Luczka lives in that area and has done a lot of work to keep folks informed on that side of the county. Looking forward, 2025 will be an interesting news year in the area. First and foremost, what will happen with the Woodstock Streetscape project in the wake of Coun. Kate Leatherbarrow declaring a conflict of interest on Phase

2? Mayor Jerry Acchione has asked for a legal opinion and “options under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.” I am also waiting to see the results of an investigation by the OPP into alleged financial abuse at the former Trillium Retirement Home in Norwich. While not in our core coverage area, that was a story I felt was in the public interest and affected people in our readership area. Elder abuse should never be tolerated, and as someone who worked in long-term care and retirement homes for 15 years, I will do what I can to bring issues like this to light. I also have a message for our readers and organizations in Oxford. Send us your story ideas! We are a bi-weekly newspaper, at least for now, but the more grassroots journalism I can put on the pages the better. Sure, it’s fine to get a news release from a municipality or non-profit, but I always prefer doing the story behind the story. What people are affected and why? I have always been a ‘hard news’ guy

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but I also love writing about topics that touch the heart. The story about Felicia, a 31-yearold homeless woman missing since August, was a hard one to tell. It is never easy to talk to family members in these situations but maybe, just maybe, someone will see her story and be able to help with the police investigation. The Echo is here to provide you with the news you deserve to read but it is also here to help the community. We can’t do every story, but we can sure do our best. I also wanted to give a big shout-out to Jeff Tribe. Jeff has been writing for longer than I have and has an uncanny ability to turn a high school sporting event into a beautifully painted picture. I have never seen anyone who can tell a sports story like he can. I know school officials, parents and the kids appreciate the work he does. The guy is also a heck of a photographer as illustrated in this edition. I want to thank everyone behind the scenes here. We have

contributors, a fantastic graphic designer, and a sales department hustling to put advertising on the pages. My biggest thank you goes to our Publisher/Owner, Stewart Grant. I was, to say the least, down on my professional luck a few years ago when Stewart called me to ask if I was interested in being a freelance writer for the Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette. I lost my job working for a longterm care chain during the pandemic and I could not find gainful employment. I was tapped out financially, but my role grew and grew with Grant Haven to the point where I now write for two papers and edit the Echo. He had faith in me and for that, I am grateful. Enough of the sappy stuff. It’s almost Christmas and I plan to spend as much time as I can with my family and friends to celebrate what a great area we live in. I will also be keeping an eye out on the news, that I can’t. It’s pretty much in my bones. Stay tuned. The next edition of the Echo comes out on Jan. 17. See you all then.

Front page photos (Clockwise from top left): 1. Oxford OPP announced a new media relations officer - Pictured is the Oxford OPP’s Constable Randi Crawford. (Contributed photo) 2. Handbags for Hospice event raises large sum for Sakura House - Event Co-chairs Sarah Pimentel (left) and Jill Roberts addressed a crowd of over 800 people at the Handbags for Hospice fundraiser. (Contributed photo) 3. New emergency shelter beds opened in Oxford County - Pictured is the expansion of a homeless shelter at Old St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Woodstock. (Oxford County photo) 4. Local chamber welcomed new GM - New Woodstock Chamber of Commerce GM Mike Crabbe is pictured with Kim Whitehead who is staying on to support the organization. (Woodstock Chamber of Commerce photo)

Posed here is Mason Saarloos. Store manager of the Ingersoll branch. He has 15 years experience here and is a very knowledgeable guy to answer your questions.

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Read all our 2024 issues at theecho.ca!

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

2024 MONTH BY MONTH

An overview of the stories from Woodstock, Ingersoll and area in 2024 January The Echo sat down with Jerry Acchione for an open conversation on what happened in 2023 and what was to come in 2024. One issue Woodstock continues to face is homelessness and the other social issues that come along with it. Despite the fact there is less of a presence in the city’s core that doesn’t mean the problem has gone away. Acchione said it will continue to be a team effort in 2024. “It is a very tough issue because there are so many layers to it. There isn’t one quick answer that will fix it all and it is something everyone is facing. Here in Oxford County and specifically in Woodstock we are really lucky to have Operation Sharing. They have stepped up consistently and our ‘In Out of the Cold’ program going from 25 to 55 beds is obviously a huge help.” We also sat down with Oxford County Warden, Marcus Ryan who said he was optimistic about the future of the homelessness problem, largely due to the county’s new strategic plan. “It puts us in a really strong to attempt to not only react to these pressures but attempt to get ahead over the next year or two and prevent more people from sliding into needing those services.” As 2024 begins Ryan said the goal is to implement the strategic plan through the budget which was approved with a 16.7 percent increase to taxpayers. The budget’s approval wasn’t without controversy as Woodstock City/County Councillor Deb Tait made her displeasure known as she took exception with some of the numbers. “The only amount we added for homelessness was $500 thousand so to say a 16 percent increase was to do with homelessness, it wasn’t. The way I expect a budget to come forward is to be cut as much as it can by staff before it gets here. I want to see a budget that is acceptable to the taxpayer.” She added the extras, and the wants of each department should be listed separately. “I find this irresponsible, and I will not support this. I don’t know if

you understand how difficult it is for people right now. They can’t afford groceries, they can’t afford their utilities, and we are putting another burden on them. I was not elected to be irresponsible with taxpayer money.” Along with Tait, Woodstock Mayor and Deputy Warden Jerry Acchione and Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy voted against the budget. Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie said he was extremely pleased with the town’s commercial growth and the acquisition of 78 acres of land that will be used for recreation as well as residential development. A press release from the town said the groundbreaking purchase and sale agreement marks a new chapter in the town's development and reinforces the commitment to community well-being and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Petrie explained the move gives Ingersoll several options going forward. “Without industrial growth, we wouldn’t be able to reach our goals of building a new multi-use recreation centre. Right at the end of the year, staff came back with a report to show us that is possible so it’s exciting.” The Oxford Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police announced a new media relations officer. Constable Randi Crawford has assumed the role, taking over from Constable Patti Cote. Crawford is a 10year veteran and has held a variety of positions within the organization, including front line law enforcement duties, court officer, property management, and community engagement. In addition to keeping the media informed of what’s happening with the criminal element, she will also be providing education for residents on among other topics, trends in criminal activity.

February Oxford Provincial Police asked the public for help in identifying those responsible for vandalism which was called a hate or bias-motivated incident. An obscenity was written on a window at the recently

opened Evergreen Café. Jonathan Clow owns the café with his partner, Shelley Brownlee who does most of the dayto-day work. He said a sticker seemed to upset someone. “We’ve had a sticker on our window for about two weeks that says everyone is welcome here. It has a picture of a bunch of people with their hands up with different colours and on the wristbands, there are some LGBTQ symbols and whatnot.” The 2024 Handbags for Hospice fundraiser achieved unprecedented success at the eleventh version of the event held at Woodstock’s Oxford Auditorium. This year's gathering, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company Canada, was attended by 825 guests and the total amount raised reached an incredible $365,000. Woodstock city councillor Bernia Martin was elected by her peers to the top post at Southwestern Public Health’s governing body. Martin said she was looking forward to leading the board of health. “I’m thrilled to be chairing a

board that in the last year I have worked with them has demonstrated such a commitment to public health with the investments made in our budget. That makes it exciting to take on this role to know that I’m surrounded by people who want to do what’s best for pub-

lic health in our community.” The construction project in Woodstock that no one wanted but had to be done, began. The Vansittart Bridge is being completely replaced which means only northbound traffic will be running for close a a year.

There were two main options Oxford County had to choose from. One was closing the bridge for six or seven months. The second was allowing northbound traffic to flow and adding three or four months to the timeline. The latter was chosen.

Closures on Oxford Road 59 bridge

Construction on the Vansittart Street bridge in Woodstock is on schedule, said Oxford (OXFORD COUNTY PHOTO) County.

January 3, 2025

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

2024 MONTH BY MONTH The Provincial Junior Hockey League announced changes to its divisional structure for the 2024-25 season. A new franchise, the Muskoka Bears, has joined the Carruthers Division in the North Conference forcing division realignment to balance the number of teams. What that meant locally is the Dorchester Dolphins will be joining the Doherty Division in the fall to play against Tavistock, New Hamburg, Wellesley, Wood stock, Norwich, Paris, and Hespeler.

March The Woodstock Ingersoll Echo officially became a bi-weekly publication. There are a few reasons the decision was made, including tremendous support from area businesses and very positive feedback from our readers. Taxpayers in Woodstock saw a 7.42 per cent hike in their property taxes. Mayor Jerry Acchione said it was the most challenging budget process he’s seen in his time on council. Heated and extensive discussion at the coun-

A major step forward for Woodstock senior centre addition

cil table surrounded not only the budget as a whole but also the Streetscape Master Plan. A newly renovated space at Old St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Woodstock expanded the number of people served through Operation Sharing’s homeless shelter. More than 25 new beds were added to Oxford County’s emergency overnight shelter through an initiative between Operation Sharing (The Inn), Old St Paul’s Anglican Church and Oxford County, helping more people in crisis.

The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce hired Mike Crabbe as its new general manager. Born and raised in Woodstock, he had an opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the community through his professional background, as well as through his volunteerism. “Joining us after years of dedicated service with United Way Oxford, Mike has been able to see firsthand how the power of community and creating a strong network of like-minded people can make change and positive growth for all,” said board chair Ifhan Hudda.

Sloan takes centre stage at Cowapolooza 2024

The Canadian rock band took the stage at Southside Park during the festival, which ran (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Aug. 16-17.

Restoring small-town journalism, one community at a time!

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo Publisher Stewart Grant • stew@granthaven.com

Visit us online at theecho.ca

Editor Lee Griffi • leegriffi@rogers.com

Graphic Design / Sales Inquiries Stacie Eden • info@theecho.ca

Business Development Heather Dunbar • heather@granthaven.com

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Contributors Emily Stewart, Paul Knowles, Nancy Abra, Gary West, Doris Weir

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Woodstock Ingersoll Echo

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

2024 MONTH BY MONTH Cobi and Steve Sauder have dedicated their lives to outdoor education and conservation. As a result, they were awarded the prestigious Oxford Stewardship Award. The couple stood out to the award selection committee for their long list of stewardship projects at their 100-acre farm in Zorra Township. They have planted an estimated 6,500 trees since purchasing their property nearly 30 years ago. The Southwest Public Health Unit encouraged residents of Oxford County to find out their immunization status in response to an increasing number of measles infections. Joanne Andrews is the Manager of Infectious Disease at Southwest Public Health and said the potential for an outbreak locally is a concern. “Because we are such a mobile population these days and we know there is a risk of measles being acquired outside Canada. If people are not fully protected through immunization there’s the risk that someone could acquire it either overseas or somewhere else in Canada.” A pair of mute swans living in Woodstock’s Southside Park for the past 12 years were returned to Stratford. The Friendly City decided to end its swan program for several reasons, including the health and safety of the swans and city staff. “Fortunately, the City of Stratford is in a position to welcome our swans back into their flock, so it seemed like the right time to make a change to the program,” explained Grant Drygas, Supervisor of Forestry and Parks in Woodstock. For the second consecutive season, Woodstock Lakers’ star forward Kevin Hu was named Most Valuable Player of the Western Ontario Super Hockey League. The Woodstock Hu put up an incredible 42 goals and 27 assists in just 22 regular season games.

April 10 months following the tragic death of East Zorra-Tavistock resident and school bus David Stewart, his family agreed to sit down with the Echo. Const. Steven Tourangeau also perished in the May 29, 2023 collision at the intersection of Oxford Roads 33 and 59. An investigation was conducted by the London Police Service and while police had no intention of releasing the findings, the Stewart family wanted the public to know what happened. Police concluded the officer went through a stop sign and would have faced charges if he survived.

bership for their efforts. Holstein Canada said the award “is the pinnacle of success for any member. The fundraising campaign for the expansion of Woodstock’s South Gate Centre surpassed its goal of $1.2 million. Tenders went out on April 4 and were due by May 2. The expectation is to have shovels in the ground by July 1.

The federal budget was delivered and to no one’s surprise, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Oxford was less than impressed. Arpan Khanna said it’s the same old story being spewed by the Liberals. “After eight years of Justin Trudeau, this budget is exactly what got us into this mess in the first place. We have had record inflation over the last few years and the budget is doing absolutely nothing to stop that and nothing to bring down interest rates.”

Woodstock Ribfest returns

Ingersoll council voted to allow the legalized sale of cannabis products. The town will have no say in the approval process, which is completed by the provincial government, nor would they be able to decide on where a cannabis store would be located. Councillor Kristy Van Kooten-Bossence was a member of a previous council that said no to opting in. She said her reason for voting against the motion again was simple - a weed store could be located across from the Fusion Youth Centre. Fanshawe’s Oxford campus introduced virtual reality to its nursing program. Sarandan Heuston, Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker Professor at the school said the VR component was introduced officially for the Winter 2024 semester. Students receive two hours of VR simulations as part of the clinical component of the curriculum using the software. An Oxford County family won a prestigious breeding award. Hank and Nancy-Lee were named recipients of the Master Breeder Award. The recognition is the most prolific accolade awarded by Holstein Canada. Each year since 1929 the organization has recognized breeders among its mem-

Oxford County celebrates Paramedic Services Week

Oxford County paramedics Miranda and Jessica were part of the team celebrating Para(ASHLEY SHULTZ PHOTO) medic Services Week.

Master Griller Storm cooked up ribs, chicken and pork for Gonzalez BBQ. (RON YUZARK PHOTO)

Cinderella wins two WODL awards

Kristin and Jocelynne Klein were the recipients of the Western Ontario Drama League Award of Merritt Behind the Scenes for their three transformation dresses in Theatre Woodstock’s production of “Cinderella.” (EMILY STEWART PHOTO)

January 3, 2025

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

2024 MONTH BY MONTH

Kelly Byers, a realtor and salesperson from Woodstock, received national recognition for her charitable contributions. Those included a 14-year history of supporting those facing food insecurity across Oxford County and fundraising for and supporting the relocation of a family of Syrian refugees to the city. Each year, the Canadian Real Estate Association presents the Canadian Realtors Care Award in celebration and recognition of a realtor who creates a lasting impact on their community.

May The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce held its annual State of the City address and Mayor Jerry Acchione took the opportunity to highlight an issue top of many people’s minds – housing. Acchione waded his way into the housing challenges facing so many people in the city. He also took questions from attendees following his address. “I know many families, including my own, are facing challenges with adult children looking for housing because there isn’t much out there that’s affordable these days.” Fanshawe College’s Woodstock/Oxford Regional Campus launched a fully online, part-time intake of its Educational Support program. The school said it’s opening a more flexible route to help address a significant need in classrooms across the province. Educational assistants support teachers and counsellors by helping students with special needs in personal care, life skills, behaviour and academics. According to labour market data, the province is projecting there will be up to 6,000 job openings for elementary and secondary school teacher assistants through 2027. The City of Woodstock announced Sloan would be the headline act at Cowapolooza, returning to Southside Park on Aug. 16 and 17. “You can feel the energy throughout the city during Cowapolooza. The event gets bigger and better each year and we’re proud to continue offering this free festival for everyone to enjoy,” said Kristen Brodhagen, Manager of Special Events for the city. Ingersoll introduced its first-ever comprehensive communication strategy. The initiative responded to previous challenges faced by the town in effectively keeping people informed and fostering a cohesive online presence. “Ingersoll's Communication Strategy marks a pivotal moment in our town's journey towards

greater connectivity and cohesion. By prioritizing clear communication and embracing fresh, innovative approaches, we're building a tighter-knit community where everyone's voice counts and is respected. I am confident that this strategy will pave the way for a brighter future for Ingersoll,” said Mayor Brian Petrie. Paramedics in Oxford joined other services to highlight this year’s theme of “Help Us, Help You,” emphasizing the many ways paramedic services help in the community. The week ran from May 19 to 25 and was billed as the perfect time to recognize and celebrate the skilled paramedic professionals locally and across the globe. The Cheesy Cow Company has plenty of “gouda” reasons to smile this May. The cheese and meat shop hosted events for its first anniversary from May 2 to 4 inside the store on 525 Dundas Street. The City of Woodstock awarded a tender for the expansion and renovation of the South Gate Centre. The contract was awarded to Elgin Contracting and Restoration Ltd. for $7,178,890. The anticipated cost of construction is $7.7 million. The project was originally approved in the 2023 Capital Budget with $7.8 million in funding from the city and $1.2 million from South Gate Centre, for a total budget of $9 million.

June The Town of Ingersoll unveiled its new Secondary Plan. Its mission is to offer sustainable services and amenities that promote quality of living by mapping out a future vision for 1,500 acres of land recently annexed through a partnership with the Township of South-West Oxford. “Ingersoll Town Council and Oxford County Council have taken proactive measures to enact policies that promote increased population densities. This guarantees an abundant supply of residences for prospective residents while also strengthening industrial and commercial sectors to improve service delivery,” said Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie. After a five-year hiatus, the Pharmasave Woodstock Dragon Boat Festival would return. The event was held at the day-use area of Pittock Conservation Area on Aug. 10, and as always is hosted by the Woodstock Rotary Club. The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce joined its provincial counterpart in supporting a call for more action to battle the drug crisis in the province. The Ontario Chamber released a re-

We Are Moving!

port outlining the effect on Ontario’s local businesses, many of them small and medium-sized enterprises. It said they have been placed at the front lines of an addiction crisis that they are not equipped to address. The Ontario government welcomed $93 million in new investments from four Oxford County companies, creating 187 new, good-paying jobs across the region. The announcement was made at one of Vuteq’s plants in Woodstock where an 80,000-squarefoot expansion is in the works. The company’s investment of more than $23 million is supported by more than $3 million in provincial support and will create 17 new jobs. Over a hundred volunteers joined together to help local organizations in Oxford County tackle community projects across the region as part of the United Way’s annual Day of Caring event. “A lot of people know the United Way as a funder,” said Lindsay Wilson, community impact and engagement manager for United Way Oxford. “And that's certainly an important part of what we do. But we also play a really important role as a community connector, kind of facilitating that community pride and volunteerism and making sure people feel like they belong and like they're connected. The Day of Caring is a really great way for us to be able to do that.” Oxford County and Oxford County Community Health Centre partnered on a housing project that helps move youth from homelessness to stable housing through wrap-around services to address the root causes of homelessness. The new transitional housing unit, which provides accommodations for youth aged 16 to 17 years of age, offers on-site professional support that helps youth living at the home search for permanent housing, understand income supports, learn life skills, seek education or training, secure transportation and more.

July Oxford County’s funding allotment from Ontario’s Homelessness Prevention Program (OHPP) increased by $1.22 million last year, bringing total funds received from the province to $2.3 million. Of that, approximately $2.6 million was transferred to community partners who provide support and services to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Warden Marcus Ryan said they are very appreciative of the province for the additional funding, but much more needs to be done as the number of homeless people continues to increase.

Construction of new school and child care centre underway

Visit us at our new location:

7A St Andrew St. Ingersoll, ON N5C 1K6 (Please park at the door) Please call or email us to book an appointment to discuss your tax needs: Phone: 519-425-5355 • Fax: 519-425-2175 info@oxfordtax.ca

Local dignitaries were joined by students from Hickson Public School to kick off construction of the new building. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

2024 MONTH BY MONTH

Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman has recognized two county grocery stores with Foodland Ontario Awards. Blake Sharpe and Foodland Ingersoll received a Gold Award for building creative produce displays that drive sales of local Ontario produce and demonstrate an exceptional commitment to Ontario’s local food industry. Rural Oxford Economic Development Corporation joined Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) to create a Discover Rural Oxford exhibit. “The exhibit will bring local fare to an international stage, said Rural Ox ford EDC Economic Development Officer Crystal van Roekel. The exhibit is an exciting initiative set to debut at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, the country's premier agricultural event. It aims to spotlight the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape of Rural Oxford.

Woodstock resident Bill Kruis gave blood for the 200th time at a clinic at Goff Hall. Renée Horton, communications lead at Canadian Blood Services, said in an emailed statement to the Echo that Bill’s accomplishment takes dedication to achieve. The organization doesn’t have an exact number of people who have achieved that milestone, although she indicated many donors in Canada share the distinction with Kruis. Police seized approximately $134,000 in drugs and cash and charged seven Woodstock residents following an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. On July 10 the Woodstock Police Service Criminal Intelligence and Drug Enforcement Unit, with the assistance of the WPS Emergency Response Unit, Canine Unit, Uniform Patrol, Stratford and St. Thomas Police Services, executed a

Despite bust police continue to focus on drug trade

With assistance from neighbouring forces, Woodstock police took over $100,000 worth of illegal drugs of the street and made seven arrests. (WOODSTOCK POLICE SERVICE PHOTO)

search warrant at several apartments in Woodstock. Woodstock native Kelly Paton was awarded what may be the biggest women’s hockey coaching award in Canada. The manager of women's hockey operations and head coach at Wilfred Laurier University was recently given the BFL Women in Coaching Award. Each year, Hockey Canada and BFL Canada look to highlight the country's best women behind the benches, calling on players and parents from coast to coast to nominate hockey coaches who have made significant contributions to the game. 18-year-old Oxford County resident Ava Makedos is getting the opportunity to do what many athletes don’t – living her dream. The member of

January 3, 2025

the U18 Woodstock F.C. team went to Indiana in on a soccer and academic scholarship to play for Taylor University in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The NAIA is the governing body for small college athletic pro grams. Taylor is a private, Christian school with an enrollment of less than 2,000 undergraduate students.

August The Woodstock Hospital released some details about a privacy breach that occurred between January and May. The organization put out a statement on social media late last week and has sent letters to 56 patients who had their privacy breached. “At Woodstock Hospital, we are committed to safeguarding our patients' personal health information and take any breach of privacy very seriously.”

Service Award

Council was pleased to recognize Don MacLeod for 30 years of service with the Ontario Municipal Administrators' Association! Mayor Marcus Ryan presented Don with his award at the last council meeting. Don has been with Zorra since 1996 and will be retir(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) ing at the end of the year. Congratulations Don!

Woodstock man donates $93 Million boost to manufacturing in Oxford County blood for the 200th time

An 80,000 square-foot expansion was announced at one of Woodstock's Vuteq plants. (LEE GRIFFI PHOTO) Story below.

TOP CHOICE OF BLOOD

“This is what 200 looks like,” a Canadian Blood Services attendant exclaimed, as Bill Kruis donat(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO) ed blood for the 200th time at the Goff Hall in Woodstock on June 28.

January 3, 2025

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

2024 MONTH BY MONTH

It went on to say through its regular auditing process es it identified an employee viewing patients' health information without a valid work-related reason. “Through our investigation, we confirmed that this was, indeed the case, and this employee no longer works at our organization. As per Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, we reported it to Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner and notified the patients impacted by this incident.”

By all accounts, the first-ever Music for the Soll in Ingersoll was a huge success. Thousands of Ingersoll and area music fans turned out on Aug. 24 where attendees were treated to three music acts, none of which disappointed. Downtown businesses were also busier than usual, something organizer Jay Panaseiko said was just what he wanted to see. He added he couldn’t be happier with the result. “Epic is the word I would use to de scribe it. It was everything I thought it would be and more. I think we had over 4,000 people there. At one time we had a door count from one entrance at 1700 when the first band was on. We were only expecting 2,000. We knocked it out of the park!” Todd’s Dogs has been a staple of the food industry in Woodstock and area for 21 years but after a third break-in, its owner is having doubts about staying in business. Todd Ellerby had already gone through the fire at the fairgrounds, his first major insurance claim, and the theft of a generator, but the thefts at his Home Hardware location in Woodstock had him fuming. He believed the same crook broke into his business twice and was frustrated with the police investigation. A consultant hired by the Town of Ingersoll recommended the mayor receive a staggering 46 per cent pay hike while councillors should see a 37 per cent pay hike. Council unanimously turned down the proposal and asked the consultant to go back to the drawing board. If approved that would mean the may-

LCBO Strike

or’s yearly stipend would rise from just over $37,000 to $54,000 while councillors would have jumped to nearly $23,000 from just under $16,000. The Woodstock Police Service arrested more than 30 people wanted on outstanding warrants. The Community Response Unit along with the assistance of uniform patrol busted 32 individuals with a combined 63 charges as part of an enforcement project. Some of the charges associated with the outstanding arrest warrants included intimate partner assault, assault causing bodily harm, assaulting police, possession of a controlled substance, failure to comply with a release order and breach of both probation and an undertaking.

The Salvation Army closed its Huron Street location to centralize all operations at its church on Juliana Drive. The move came after a strategic operational overview. The organization said there would be a pause in operations from Sept. 2 to Sept. 14 while the transition takes place. The Woodstock Stallions FC Soccer Club earned the Western Ontario Soccer League’s Fourth Division Cup recently with a 1-0 victory over the Chatham Galaxy. Leading scorer and team captain Kristian Spina scored the game’s lone goal while Dominik Ciupekin earned the shutout. Spina’s goal came in the 112th minute at BMO Field in London. An Ingersoll woman raised a red flag over damning allegations of wrongdoing at the Norwich location of Trillium Care Communities, a 25-bed retirement home. The Oxford detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police has confirmed they are investigating a reported fraud. On Aug. 21, police were notified and the initial investigation determined there were multiple victims with an estimated loss of over $50,000. Police say the investigation is ongoing and they have a suspect. The Echo was contacted by Miranda Guitard who is

As the LCBO strike enters its second week protestors are picketing at the Woodstock (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO) location on Dundas Street.

married to the grandson of a resident at the home. She said the suspect police are looking at is the former director of care, Julie Vitias, a Tillsonburg resident. The home released a letter explaining she is no longer employed there. On Aug. 14, Zorra citizens and politicians alike were at the newly completed Embro-Zorra Community Centre’s outdoor pavilion, a 40’ by 80’ covered pavilion structure that is equipped with plumbing and electrical and has accessible picnic tables. It was funded in part by the Ontar io Trillium Foundation with a $90,000 grant, the Township of Zorra, which provided $58,000, and the Zorra Caledonian Society’s gift of $40,000, along with other sponsors and community members. Area junior hockey fans will notice a new look for the Provincial Junior Hockey League when the season begins. The league has decided to rebrand itself with a new look, logo and slogan as it comes closer to launching the 2024-25 season. The Harm Reduction Working Group of the Oxford Mental Health and Addictions Action Coalition hosted an International Overdose Awareness Day community event at Museum Square recently. International Overdose Awareness Day is observed annually on or around Aug. 31 across the world to raise awareness about the alarming increase in drug overdoses globally. It also strives to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders.

September The ongoing issue of current and abandoned homeless ness encampments continued to plague the city and as a result, taxpayers are on the hook for more money. Woodstock City Council voted to put an additional $100,000 aside for cleanup costs. The money is on top of the 2024 budget-approved figure of the same amount which has dried up. A staff report given to council paints a grim picture of the homelessness problem in the city, where

there are 44 known encampments either active or abandoned. An encampment site off Clarke Street was located in a portion of Brick Pond Wetlands and could only be accessed by crossing the CN tracks. A long list of health and safety concerns meant the residents had to relocate and a clean-up had to be completed at a cost of over $101,000. Zorra Township Council resoundingly told local wind farm company Prowind Canada Inc. that it will need to do more to win the trust of its residents before they make any decision on supporting a wind farm in the municipality. “I think this is a great first step,” Coun. Katie Grigg said. “I've received some correspondence from residents in relation to this and I think with opportunities to ask detailed questions, we're able to sift through some of what is myth and what is truth.” She added the goal of the process of consultation with council and residents will be to weed through concerns. The Woodstock Hospital dealt with another privacy breach and at least one person affected has no idea what information was leaked. The Woodstock resident, who did not want to be named, was a part of the breach and said it’s disturbing to find out this is the second incident in 2024. A Woodstock woman grew increasingly frustrated at what she said is the lack of action to remove a long-standing encampment on city property right behind her home. Beth Merryweather said she’s had enough after over 18 months of not being able to enjoy the property she owns. “They have a tent up six feet high on some sort of structure they built by the river and another resident has two motorbikes, an offset umbrella and a 20-foot deck. One has four structures, three of them tarped together and the other up on his deck.” Merryweather added she is often woken up by yelling and screaming and is worried for the safety of a woman living there.

Woodstock’s Salvation Army moving

Woodstock’s Salvation Army closed down its thrift shop in 1992 and has now shuttered (LEE GRIFFI PHOTO) its food bank and moved it to the church location on Juliana Drive.

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

2024 MONTH BY MONTH Nearly 48,000 visitors attended the Canada Outdoor Farm Show on Sept. 10, 11 and 12 to see the latest agriculture innovations and equipment technology at Ontario’s largest outdoor farm event. The show draws interest from across Canada and around the world for those wanting an up-close experience of agricultural livestock, equipment, crops and technology. Dozens of onsite events gave visitors many ways to connect

and share their interest in Ontario agriculture.

again.

The Thames Valley District School Board came under fire, thanks in large part to an ill-fated staff retreat at a downtown Toronto hotel. The three-day junket cost taxpayers close to $40 thousand and has resulted in tremendous backlash. A release from the board stated the mistake was a learning experience and won’t happen

Unifor members at the CAMI Assembly and Battery Assembly plants in Ingersoll ratified a new collective agreement with General Motors. The new deal contains pay increases and adds the facility to Unifor's Detroit Three pattern. Unifor Local 88 spokesperson Mike Van Boekel said he and his members are pleased with the result.

Norwich retirement home closing its doors as staff told they won’t be paid

October The Echo published a two-part series on the state of policing and crime in Woodstock. We talked to Rod Wilkinson who has been a member of the force for nearly 30 years and in the top chair for two years. He said what has changed the most in the city are the issues of homelessness, mental health and drug issues. Part 2 showed gun violence is increasing in the city. Wilkinson said he’s seen many more guns seized in Woodstock over the last three years during arrests for drug

trafficking and even at routine traffic stops. The Woodstock Hospital invited staff, patients, families, and community members to participate in shaping its new three-year strategic plan. When completed, it will help guide the hospital’s priorities and address the changing healthcare landscape. As part of the engagement phase, the facility has launched the ‘Share Your Voice, Shape Your Care’ campaign to gather input. Another encampment in the City of Woodstock was cleaned up but this one was on private property meaning once the inhabitants were escorted off by police, the cleanup was the cemetery’s responsibility. Several people set up the camp at the Baptist Cemetery for about three weeks. Police weren’t sure if it was actually on CN land which is adjacent to the property, but after confirming it was on cemetery property they stepped in. The city agreed to provide the cemetery with $500 to offset the cleanup cost.

“Together we can” this year’s theme

The controversy surrounding the Trillium Norwich retirement home reached a new level as staff were told they would not be receiving pay. (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Zorra Township cuts the ribbon on much needed outdoor pavilion

Mental health and addiction workers and volunteers gathered at Woodstock’s Museum Square (LEE GRIFFI PHOTO) recently to bring awareness to International Overdose Awareness Day.

McBeath - Dynes

Funeral Home Ltd.

On Aug. 14, Zorra citizens and politicians alike were at the newly completed Embro-Zorra Community Centre’s outdoor pavilion, a 40’ by 80’ covered pavilion structure that is equipped with (CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO) plumbing and electrical and has accessible picnic tables.

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Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

2024 MONTH BY MONTH November

The Ontario Provincial Police reached a milestone of half a century of female police officers and locally, one cop decided to put her thoughts to paper to pay tribute. Randi Crawford is the Oxford detachment’s community safety and media relations officer and the overwhelming pride she feels to be an OPP officer led her to write ’50 Years Proud.’ “I was trying to think of what I could say to capture this. It’s a remarkable thing. I went back to my grade 11 English days and thought I could write a poem. I sat down and wrote it in maybe 20 or 25 minutes.”

First, it was a police investigation into missing rent money. Then, notice of a massive hike in rent being charged to residents. The next step in the saga of Trillium Norwich Retirement Home was the announcement it was its doors without giving residents and families legal notice. On top of that, staff members were told they wouldn’t be getting a nickel for showing up to work. The health unit representing Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas said it wanted to hear from the public as it embarks on its new strategic plan. Southwestern Public Health has launched a community feedback campaign to help shape it.

Music for the Soll

Throughout November, the health unit hosted staff town halls and interviews with community service providers to gather perspectives from health and social service partners. The public was encouraged to participate through an online survey. The Salvation Army announced the opening of the HOPE Market at 769 Juliana Drive in Woodstock. The organization said the transformative approach to food assistance empowers individuals with choice and dignity. Modeled after a grocery store, HOPE Market al lows customers to ‘shop’ for their preferred food items at no cost, accommodating dietary needs and cultural diversity. London Trustee Beth Mai and Oxford County Trustee Dave Cripps were re-elected as chair and vice-chair, respectively, at the embattled Thames

Valley District School Board. Both elections took place during a special meeting of the board on Tuesday evening as the province continues to keep a close eye on the spending habits of school boards across Ontario. Oxford County abandoned a plan to build a new long-term care home in Ingersoll, which would have replaced the current 34-bed facility on the grounds of Alexandra Hospital. Last January, county council endorsed an application to build a 194-bed long-term care home in the town, adding to the 34 existing beds. Oxford County released a statement Wednesday morning. “Our plan drew on the strength of our partnerships with Alexandra Hospital Ingersoll and the Town of Ingersoll and was dependent on funding support from the provincial government to build the home,” it read.

Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show wows again

Helix lead singer Brian Vollmer gave thousands of fans a night to remember at the first (BILLY MCEWEN PHOTOGRAPHY) Good for the Soll music festival.

Cyclist raises $33,000 for Great Cycle Challenge

Over 37,000 people attended this year’s Outdoor Farm Show this year where over 600 exhibitors showed there wares to local, regional and international attendees. (LEE GRIFFI PHOTO)

Weekend Quiz 1. In what city were the 2024 Summer Olympics held?

Henrietta Mulder-Olhoff pictured in front of a cornfield near her home in Ingersoll. The Great Cycle Challenge All-Star just finished her eighth-year riding for the annual event, ranking as the second-highest (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) fundraiser in the country and the highest fundraiser in the province.

Trump occur?

2. What two pop stars collaborated on the hit song, “Die with a Smile”?

6. What do the words “demure”, “polarization”, and “brat” have in common?

3. What Nordic country joined NATO in 2024?

7. To the nearest million, what is the current population of Canada

4. Claudia Sheinbaum became the first ever female president of what country in 2024?

8. What was Dr. Ruth’s last name?

5. In what town did the July 2024 assassination attempt of Donald

9. What movie won Best Picture in February at the Oscars? 10. What is the world’s most listened to podcast?

This week’s answers are found on pg. 19

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

2024 MONTH BY MONTH It wasn’t the biggest bust in the city’s history but the Woodstock Police Service was pleased to see some hard-core drugs off city streets. On Nov. 18 the force’s Criminal Intelligence and Drug Enforcement Unit, with the assistance of the WPS Emergency Response Unit, Canine Unit, and Uniform Patrol, a search warrant was executed in the city. A 42-year-old was arrested and was charged with three counts of possession of Schedule I substances for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. The second Heart of Oxford Experience took place at the Woodstock Fair-

grounds and all one had to do was look at the lineup of close to two hundred people before the doors opened at 10 a.m. Organizer Kristen Young, owner of Kynd Beauty Spa in Woodstock, opened her business in June of 2018, and not too long after, the pandemic struck. That’s when she decided to do something online to help struggling businesses.

December A total of four drug busts made Woodstock, Oxford County and other southern Ontario streets a bit safer. Arrests were made after a joint investigation with several police forces along with separate investigations by the Oxford OPP and

Woodstock City Police. The biggest bust led to the seizure of cocaine and methamphetamine worth nearly $300,000. The investigation was dubbed ‘Project Napoli’ and included uniformed officers from nine police forces along with six specialized teams from the OPP including organized crime, bike enforcement and the emergency response team.

The federal government’s proposal to implement a tax holiday for Canadians was approved but not everyone is happy. Jennifer Peace-Hall, owner of Woodstock’s Finkle Street Tap Grill, said it’s a great sentiment for a bit of a reprieve from the struggles everyone is facing right now with inflation but added it doesn’t fix the country’s economic problems.

Poppy Campaign honours and supports Canadian veterans

Fallen Firefighters honoured

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 155 Woodstock 1st Vice President Ernie Guy’s ongoing service honours those who have gone before him including his father Ernest, whose lengthy military career is recognized inside the local branch. The Poppy Campaign directly supports veterans (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO) and their families. On Oct. 6 members of the Woodstock Fire Department attended Ontario’s Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremony at Queen’s Park in Ontario. The memorial recognizes firefighters who have died in the line of duty. This year, Woodstock Fire Chief John Sibley was added to the Memorial Wall. Firefighters are honoured for their bravery, heroism and sacrifice at the special ceremony. (WFD FACEBOOK PHOTO)

Oxford OPP officer celebrating 50 years of women in policing

Crawford credits her 21-year-old daughter Melanie as one of the reasons she traded a (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) healthcare career for policing.

Students raise $38,805 through Fundraiser

From left, Ingersoll DCI’s Katie Lindsay, Bradley ‘Ace’ Pink and Eli North celebrate the Blue Bombers 19th top school fundraising award in the United Way Oxford Stairclimb’s (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO) 20-year history.

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

2024 MONTH BY MONTH Oxford County may get a homelessness service centre within the next few years. “Therefore be it resolved that Council receive the letter from the City of Wood stock and that County staff return with a report on how the BFF (Building Faster Fund) funding can be

utilized for the development of a Homelessness Service Centre with a focus on transitioning people out of homelessness within the County of Oxford,” was the motion passed unanimously at a county council meeting. The plan still needs provincial approval.

Drug Busts

Christmas season kicks off

Santa and Mrs. Claus made the scene and brought joy to the many in attendance. (RON YUZARK PHOTO)

Oxford OPP took a large quantity of drugs off the street following a traffic stop. (OPP PHOTO)

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Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

YEAR IN SPORTS Ella Shelton Goal

WOSSSA A semi-finals

WCI’s Sam Huettlin powers to the basket against the defensive efforts of Mitchell’s Will Korver during (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO) WOSSSA A senior boys basketball semi-finals in Mitchell.

WCI’s Heavy Medal Tour

Navy Vets vs Firebirds

(DORIS WEIR PHOTO)

Woodstock Collegiate Institute Red Devils senior girls volleball team members proudly display their (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) WOSSA A gold medals, representative of a berth at OFSAA provincial finals.

Taekwondo tournament

Kyorugi is a free-form fight between two people subject to strict rules to avoid injuries (RON YUZARK PHOTO) and to ensure a fair competition.

PJHL Ends Season

Navy Vets coach Darren Young (left) poses with Tyler Bouck who set the club record for most shutouts in a season with seven. To the right is the team’s general manager Matt Fidlin. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

YEAR IN SPORTS Woodstock Minor Baseball Soccer Team Wins Gold

Congratulations to the U18 Woodstock boys soccer team as they took home gold at a (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) tournament in Stratford on the weekend. Woodstock U15 Wrangler relief pitcher Tyler Lafleur follows through on his delivery during a (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO) come-from-behind 18-8 ICBA victory over the visiting Brantford Red Sox.

Coaching Award

Soccer Scholarship

Ava Makedos is heading to Indiana to begin a soccer and academic scholarship at Tay(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) lor University. Kelly Paton talks to her Laurier women’s team during a university game.

(REBECCA LE, LAURIER ATHLETICS PHOTO)

Wildcats Hockey

The Woodstock Wildcats Girls Hockey Association will have one more opportunity to hit the ice before the 2024/2025 season begins, during a pre-season summer camp from August 26 to 29. (CAREY YUNGBLUT PHOTO)

Woodstock FC Men's Cup

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

January 3, 2025

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

YEAR IN SPORTS Red Devils

Knights Under the Lights

The 2024 TVRA South East athletic season tipped off Sept. 19 in Woodstock CI’s ‘Devil(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO) dome’ in front of a packed United In Sport house.

Huron Park Huskies

Woodstock College Avenue Knights senior running back Jevaugn Roberts (#34) breaks free of a tackle en route to St. Joe’s seven-yard-line late in the second quarter, with St. Joe’s Adam Abouzeenni between him and the goal line. (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Emergency Responders Night

Huron Park Huskies Parker McLeod (left) and Travis Ernst (right) meet Lord Dorchester’s (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO) L. Pulajsa at the net.

IDCI Juniors

College Avenue Knights Charlie Ashman (left) and teammate Jujaar Randhawa combine for a tackle on St Joe’s Ram Kenyen Aphayvong, with Kole Phelps approaching from the right. (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Several first responders were at Southwood Arena last Friday for Emergency Responders Appreciation Night. From left to right are Brady McLaren, Tracey Clayton, Chad Paton, Dr. Nicholas Bennett, Scott Roode, Kim Moore and Jordan Thomson. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Silver Stick

The Ward’s Automotive South Oxford U11 Storm qualified for the International Silver Stick (ISS) A tournament from Jan. 17 to 19 in Sarnia with a perfect 5-0 record at the ISS (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) A qualifier in Collingwood from Nov. 15 to 17.

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo − 2024 Year In Review

January 3, 2025

Riddles PET OF THE WEEK