Woodstock business organizations holding business safety workshop
The issues of homelessness, mental health and addiction affect many parts of society and they also can negatively impact business.
As a result, three city business groups are holding a workshop designed to provide practical strategies for enhancing workplace safety and security. Hosted by The Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, The Woodstock Small Business Centre and the Downtown Woodstock BIA, the “Retail/Commercial Safety and Security Workshop” will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Market Centre Woodstock.
Chamber general manager Mike Crabbe said the idea came from interactions with membership and police.
“We do often have our members reach out with questions and concerns of situations that come up and they aren’t equipped in how to navigate them. The Woodstock Police Service forwarded us the Retail Safety Security Guide and we realized how much great information was in it.”
He added as the chamber was reviewing the material it became clear it was a solid resource for small and medium-sized businesses who may not have access to such information. His organization thought it would be the perfect time to reach out to its partners and collaborate on the event.
“Workplace Safety and Prevention Services will be there to talk about the guide and share some of the prevalent topics in our community and offer that local perspective,” said Crabbe.
OXFORD CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
79 junior team members at the CAMI Automotive plant in Ingersoll have been given layoff notices and the union is far from impressed.
A letter sent to all employees by Unifor Local 88 Chair Mike Van Boekel made the union’s position quite clear.
“It is shocking and brutal how this is being handled. I am hearing this is a Detroit call - we have too many members for two shifts and instead of supplying proper notice and following the law of the federal government, (General Motors) are approaching junior members and notifying them they are laid off and asking them to leave the plant.”
diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, COPD, and other chronic health conditions!
Six-week Living A Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions workshop at the Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic on Thursdays from March 6 - April 10, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sources tell the Echo management alerted the employees in person Monday morning. Afternoon shift workers were given the news by telephone and were told not to come in for their shift. Laid off workers will be getting 80 per cent pay for two weeks.
“Please know that we are deeply sorry for the members and their families this impacts,” added Van Boekel. “We do not agree on how this is being done. You don’t walk up to people working on the lines and lay them off and tell them to go home. This is devastating news. Many of these members have spouses and families also working here and the ripple effect is terrible,” he explained.
The union also believes federal labour laws have been broken. Local 88 has asked the national office to help.
Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione, Warden Marcus Ryan, Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie, Norwich Mayor Jim Palmer, and local historian Heather Rennalls were among the many who gathered in downtown Woodstock for the Black History Month flag-raising ceremony. Full story starts on page 2.
LEE GRIFFI
LEE GRIFFI
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Union blindsided by move from General Motors calling it “brutal”
“We have language in our contract, including Letter 14 that states GM must offer programs to help mitigate job loss. We have brought up packages, volunteers – why not ask 80 members to stay home for a year.”
The Echo asked Van Boekel just before press time if there was anything new to report. He declined comment but did say Unifor and General Motors are talking.
The two sides agreed on a new two-year contract last September and the relationship between the two sides was extremely positive.
“It is a very good deal and answered a lot of the issues we had. We received economic gains which is good because it's been a tough ride for our members and a tough ride
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
for everybody the way prices have gone up the last few years,” said Van Boekel at the time.
Workers received a 10 per cent pay increase with a 2 per cent increase in Sept. 2025 and an additional 3% increase in July 2026. By the time the contract expires, production workers will top out at $44.52 per hour and trades at $55.97. Other highlights of the deal include a $10,000 signing bonus for fulltime employees, improvements to pension plans and improved safety provisions.
Unifor Local 88 represents more than 1,300 members at CAMI Assembly and Battery Assembly who manufacture the Chevrolet BrightDrop EV 600 and EV 400 and Ultium battery modules.
“Black history is Canadian history”: Region celebrates Black History Month
Each February is a time when all Canadians are encouraged to learn and celebrate Black history.
After all, as Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione said, Black history is Canadian history.
“This is a time for reflection, education, and, most importantly, a time to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of Black Canadians, both throughout our nation's history and right here,” Acchione said at a flag raising at the Woodstock Museum.
“Here in Woodstock, we recognize the strength and diversity of our Black community. This month, I encourage everyone to take the time to learn more about Black history, to listen to the stories and choices that have shaped our world and
to reflect on how we continue to create a more just and inclusive future. Let's not limit these conversations to February, to carry them forward throughout year, in our workplace, schools, in our daily lives.”
Acchione joined a number of individuals on Feb. 3 in Woodstock for two raisings of the Pan-African flag – one for the City of Woodstock at the museum and one for Oxford County, which is just down the road from the museum in Woodstock as well.
Oxford County Warden and Zorra Township Mayor Marcus Ryan said that the annual reminder to celebrate Black history is needed each year, however, this year it is needed perhaps more than ever.
“For those of us who (aren’t Black), I think we’re all going through a little lesson on this right now,” Ryan said, re -
CONNOR LUCZKA Echo Correspondent
Duane Kumala-Thomas raises the Pan-African flag in front of the Woodstock Museum on Feb. 3, in honour of Black History Month.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Ingersoll town councillor running in Oxford riding
LEE GRIFFI Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Khadijah Haliru is serving her first term as a councillor for the town of Ingersoll and has thrown her hat in the ring to serve as Oxford County’s Member of Provincial Parliament.
Haliru described herself as a community leader and business owner in addition to her role as a member of council.
“Since immigrating to the USA in 2003 and Canada in 2006, I have worked to bring people together through business, local governance, or grassroots initiatives to create real opportunities for families and workers anywhere I am. Strong communities are built when people feel supported, their concerns are heard, and when leadership is focused on real solutions that improve everyday lives.”
She has lived in smaller communities like Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Mission, BC, as well as major cities like Toronto, Brampton, and Vancouver.
“I’ve seen firsthand the disparities in funding, services, and opportunities. Rural areas and smaller towns often carry the burden of growth without receiving the same level of investment as bigger cities. This perspective allows me to recognize what’s missing in our approach to development and advocate for solutions that ensure Oxford County gets its fair share. I believe in leadership that listens, takes action, and fights for real change that uplifts families, workers, and businesses alike.”
Haliru said her interest in politics comes from a belief that leadership is about standing up when it matters most.
“Over the years, I’ve watched as critical services like education, healthcare, and social support, were eroded by funding cuts. I saw how my children’s friends were affected when the first round of Ford’s cuts hit education and disability programs. Families struggled to find adequate care for their children with special needs, while others had to make impossible choices between work and caregiving.”
She said the pandemic resulted in the loss of nurses, doctors, and frontline staff because they were exhausted and unappreciated.
“Now, we face a healthcare system stretched too thin, with wait times growing and fewer professionals to rely on. Meanwhile, students who once dreamed of a better future have had to walk away from post-secondary education because they couldn’t afford the costs, even when financial aid existed. A generation of young people was lost simply because they lacked access to opportunity.”
There are four main issues in her campaign, starting with education and opportunities for youth.
“We need to restore funding to schools, invest in disability programs, and ensure post-secondary education is accessible to all. Every child deserves a fair shot at success, no matter their background or financial situation.”
She added it is also time to properly invest in healthcare by retaining doctors and nurses, addressing burnout and expand healthcare access in rural communities
like Oxford County. Building affordable and inclusive communities is also top of mind.
“Oxford is growing, but without smart housing solutions, proper childcare support, and job security, many families are struggling to keep up. We need bold action to ensure that our region remains a place where people can thrive.”
Haliru added she wants to bring back real support for working families.
“That means investing in affordable childcare, especially for children with disabilities, so that parents aren’t forced to choose between work and caregiving. It means ensuring healthcare workers get the wages and respect they deserve, so we don’t lose more nurses and doctors. And it means making sure our schools have the resources to give every child a quality education.”
The Echo also asked Haliru if there were any issues specific to local communities:
• Woodstock – Expand housing options and improve public transportation. Ensure new developments include affordable housing options.
• Ingersoll – Strengthen healthcare access and ensure infrastructure keeps pace with growth. Strengthen disability and social support programs for families who need them most.
”This election is about more than party loyalty. It’s about choosing leadership that understands what families are going through. I encourage everyone, no matter their political background, to think about what kind of future we want for Oxford. Do we want to keep struggling with underfunded schools, an overstretched healthcare system, and a lack of real economic opportunity? Or do we want leadership that will fight for solutions that truly make a difference?”
She added voters can’t afford four more years of Doug Ford.
“I believe we can do better. We need fresh Ideas. It's been 30 years since the last NDP government. The party has changed, the priorities have changed and the people have changed. I know we can build a stronger Oxford with current policies that will drive growth, where every person—no matter their background— has access to the services, education, and opportunities they need to succeed. I am ready to step up and fight for that vision.”
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
“Black history is Canadian history”: Region celebrates Black History Month
ferring to the degrading relationship between Canada and the U.S. “We found out in the last few days, few weeks, what it’s like for your history to be ignored and for your contributions to be cast aside –for your existence to be undervalued by somebody who you thought valued your relationship. Imagine if that wasn't just the last few days, last few weeks. Imagine if that was your whole life, and that was your whole identity everywhere you went.”
Heather Rennalls, an independent researcher associated with the Black His -
tory Month organizing committee for Oxford and the Oxford Canadian Caribbean Association (OCCA), was one of the individuals in attendance. She moved to the area over three decades ago, drawn to the rich Black history in the area.
Despite that deep history, Rennalls shared that this was the first time there has been a flag raising in the city. Furthermore, this was the first time there have been flag raisings in the wider county as well.
“OCCA and the county did one last year at the county. And then we thought, ‘You know what, why don't we do that everywhere,’” Rennalls said. “I do presentations on Black history throughout Oxford County, so I thought the places I talk about, why don't we go there? So, it would be Norwich and Ingersoll and Tillsonburg as well. Hopefully, moving forward, we'll have something every year.”
She shared that there are many places to learn more about Black history in Canada and locally. To name a few, she said that the Toronto-based Ontario Black History Society is a good resource, as is the Woodstock Archives and museum. Additionally, in honour of this month the museum has partnered with the Oxford County Archives and the Downtown Woodstock Business Improvement Area (BIA) for a “Black History Month Shop Hop,” for residents and visitors to learn more about local history.
In February, patrons can visit Hanak Foods at 357 Dundas St., Highlander Studios, at 2 Endy Calder Pl., Lionessence Beauty Supply at 815 Juliana Dr. #2, and
Urban Queens n AfroMart at 579 Dundas St. – all African, Black, and Caribbean owned businesses in Woodstock – to learn about Black Woodstonians of the past.
Each business features a display with a miniature exhibit highlighting local history, created by the archives and using museum photos and information. Visitors can also enter to draw for a $100 gift card or a framed artwork from Eyeconic Warriors – Art for Change.
Rennalls shared that the county wide celebrations would not be possible with -
out the help of a lot of people and organizations. Furthermore, the support of local governments is instrumental to their successes – and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“Especially (with) what’s happening across the border,” Rennalls said. “When someone keeps asking me where I am from, even though I don't have an accent, and I still get rare looks (as if) I'm someone with two heads, we still need Black History Month, unfortunately.
“We have been here,” she further stated. “We've been here for a long time.”
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Heather Rennalls, media contact and local historian, addressed the attendees at the Administrative Building Flag Raising.
(RON YUZARK PHOTO)
Officiating at this flag raising were Warden Marcus Ryan, Jetine Watson of Oxford Caribbean Canadian Association, and Local historian Heather Rennalls.
(RON YUZARK PHOTO)
Woodstock resident running for New Blue Party of Ontario
LEE GRIFFI
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Peter Beimers has been given the nod to run as the Oxford candidate for the New Blue Party of Ontario in the Feb. 27 provincial election.
Beimers has been married for 30 years, has four children, and welcomed his first grandchild in December.
“We have been a part of the Oxford community for 17 years, living the last 13 years here in Woodstock. I have been a truck driver for 20 years working for a business in Oxford. Before getting into trucking, I went to school to become a minister, but I was not able to find a full-time job in a church, I worked at various jobs before getting my AZ license. I still preach occasionally, but not as much as I did pre-COVID.”
He explained frustration is what motivated him to get into politics, namely how the government was running things and the seeming nonsense that was being imposed on Ontario residents.
“I wanted to be part of a better way and I found that better way was within the policies of the New Blue Party of Ontario. Rather than begrudgingly going through the motions of daily life, I want to be part of the solution.”
Beimers said there are three main issues he wants to bring to the election, first and foremost, taxes.
“Reducing the HST from 13 to 10 per cent as well as the elimination of the Carbon Tax. Everyday items are becoming more and more expensive and incomes are not matching the rate of increased costs. Reducing the HST and eliminating the Carbon Tax will mean more money in our wallets to invest in our family's needs.”
He added the lingering effects of the COVID era still live on needlessly in 2025.
“There are regulations still in place that need to be permanently removed. There are those seeking work, but are unable to be hired, despite being quite qualified for the position because they do not meet an arbitrary standard set by outdated COVID regulations.”
He added his party would like to offer jobs back those who were unceremoniously fired for a personal choice of not wanting to take an experimental drug that had zero long term studies attached to it.
“This would include, but not limited to, doctors, nurses, and postal workers. These people also deserve an apology from the provincial government for being treated so poorly when they were in reality needed most.”
Beimers also said he is pro-life and doesn’t understand how abortion is an allowable choice for any pregnant woman.
“There are zero abortion restrictions in Ontario and I believe this must change. On the other end of the life spectrum, we now have this anti-life option called MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying). I find it incredibly sad that a provincial health system would offer the option of suicide under a ‘doctor's care’ to seniors or those suffering with mental health issues. We have a great example in Oxford of palliative care with Sakura House. Ontario would be much better off investing tax dollars into more end-of-life care facilities than it currently does with MAID.”
The New Blue Party Candidate also wants to make sure Oxford County never becomes a home for safe injection sites, something Southwest Public Health favours.
A specific issue to our community is the so-called Safe Injections Sites. How can a government or any extension of the government be enablers of drug use and call that safe? This is an oxymoron, like ordering a vegan steak. How can a government say they want to fight drugs in our streets and yet provide these injection sites? It doesn't work. Drug rehab clinics are far superior.”
Beimers added the growing trend of parents sending their children to private schools or home schooling is on the rise, something he understands.
“Even though our children are finished school, I can hardly blame these parents for their school choice. Even in the last years of our youngest, the woke ideology of Liberals has become commonplace in public schools. Most recently, Bill 67 introduced Critical Race Theory (CRT). New Blue believes that CRT and woke ideology have no place in our schools. Children go to school to learn math, geography, science, and learn to read and write and express ideas.”
He explained his party wants a school voucher or credit to be given to families who do not send their children to the public school system.
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Local sports teams and leagues, interest groups, community organizations and leisure interests of all kinds.
Woodstock City Police briefs
LEE GRIFFI
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Kitchener man arrested after assault on a police officer
Police responded to a call at a local hotel on Feb. 2 involving an unwanted male who refused to leave the property.
The Woodstock Police Service thanks the public for their quick action in reporting this incident.
Suspects arrested at city motel
Police charged two people after locat ing a stolen vehicle.
Deadline: Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. www.cityofwoodstock.ca/recfair
Police arrived and made several attempts to advise the 38-year-old male, a resident of Kitchener, that he was not welcome and needed to leave.
Despite repeated requests, the suspect refused to comply with the officers’ instructions. During the interaction, the male struck one of the officers in the face with a closed fist. As a result, he was arrested for assaulting a police officer.
The officer sustained minor injuries and did not require medical treatment. The accused was held in custody and pending a bail hearing.
Driver Charged with Impaired Driving
Police are thanking a witness after a suspected impaired driver was reported to them on Feb. 2.
The caller explained they saw a vehicle crossing into the centre lane on Dundas Street in the city. Police located the vehicle and the driver who had an overwhelming odor of alcohol on his breath. The 57-yearold male from Tillsonburg was arrested for impaired driving. He was taken to the police station where breath samples showed his alcohol levels were more than twice the legal limit.
On Jan. 31 at about 11 p.m., police identified the two occupants in the vehicle and arrested them for possession of stolen property.
During a search, police discovered the keys to the stolen vehicle, as well as a small amount of cocaine and methamphetamine. Two Brantford men have been charged with possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.
This investigation is ongoing.
Driver Charged with Impaired Driving
A 62-year-old Woodstock man is facing impaired driving charges after a concerned citizen called police after seeing a vehicle strike a curb on Hounsfield Street in Woodstock.
Police say they were provided a licence plate number and a description of the vehicle and found the car shortly after the call.
The driver was arrested for impaired driving and taken to the police station where his breath samples were twice the legal limit of alcohol.
The Woodstock Police Service thanks the public for their help in reporting this incident. Anyone who sees someone driving impaired is urged to call the police to keep our roads safe.
Finkle Street Tap and Grill to Burger it Forward for third straight year
EMILY STEWART
Echo Correspondent
Stop by Finkle Street Tap and Grill and chow down on their feature burger of the month to support Canada Food Banks and the local agricultural industry.
Finkle Street Tap and Grill is participating in the Canadian Beef Burger It Forward Campaign for the third consecutive year. It is an initiative where restaurants from all over Canada create a special burger for the month of February. For every feature burger sold at participating restaurants, Canadian Beef will donate the equivalent of one meal towards Canada Food Banks across the country, and up to the equivalent of 20,000 meals.
"It's a great cause,” said Finkle Street Tap and Grill owner Jenny Peace-Hall. “People can come out have a delicious burger, fill their belly but know in turn, they're helping to feed bellies of hungry people in our community and around the nation."
The restaurant at the corner of Simcoe and Finkle Streets created the truffle-infused mushroom burger for Burger It Forward. It features an On -
tario-beef patty from Woodward Meats, wild mushrooms grown locally, gruyere cheese from Cambridge’s Edesia Fine Foods, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and red onion on a brioche bun.
"It's more popular at lunch than dinner but we're definitely selling quite a bit of them,” Peace-Hall said.
Trying the truffle-infused mushroom burger also supports local agriculture.
Finkle Street Tap and Grill is known for featuring ingredients from local producers and farmers within 100 kilometres.
Peace-Hall said that the tariff threats from the United States weren’t too concerning knowing that her restaurant features as much Canadian-made ingredients as possible.
"To support the community, it's really important to do what we can to support as locally as possible and that goes from all the services and suppliers that we use,” she said. “Even for some of the allied services, we use Canadian companies as well.”
She explained it does take a bit more work to do the research and see what you can get locally.
“But in the long run it definitely pays off and you're supporting the community in which you live and the people there."
Hardeman looking for ninth consecutive term as Oxford MPP
LEE GRIFFI
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
He has held many positions in the provincial Legislature including Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs (Rural), Chair of the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts, and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from 1999 to 2001 and 2018 to 2021. He has also passed several Private Member’s Bills.
Hardeman told the Echo there are three key issues included in his party’s plan to build the economy and keep Ontario competitive in the face of Trump’s tariff threats.
“We’ve already attracted billions in investment at CAMI, Toyota in Woodstock and our local suppliers. We will do what it takes to help our employers retain their workers and find new customers. We also have a plan to invest in education to keep up with our growing community here in Oxford.”
He added his party is creating over 1,500 brand new school spaces in Oxford, including building a new school in Woodstock and another in Thamesford.
“I’ve also heard the concerns of our community that we need to do more to help those struggling with addiction. That’s why we recently announced that we’re building a new homelessness and addictions recovery hub in downtown Woodstock. It will provide
More information about Burger It Forward, including other participating restaurants can be found by visiting burgeritforward.ca.
mental health support and supportive housing to those who need it in our community. Addressing all of these issues will help make life better for residents of Oxford.”
Prior to 1995, Hardeman was elected to the Township of South-West Oxford Council and served as Mayor from 1988 to 1994. He also served as Warden of Oxford County council, chair of the Warden’s Association of Ontario, chair of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) and on the board of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Until 1995, Hardeman ran his own business and served as a volunteer firefighter, retiring as Captain of the South-West Oxford Fire Department. He and his wife, Reta, have three sons and a daughter.
(JENNY PEACE-HALL PHOTO)
Finkle Street Tap and Grill's featured burger, a truffle-infused mushroom burger, will give back to Canada Food Banks, as Canada Beef will donate a meal for each burger sold as part of Burger It Forward this February.
Ernie Hardeman was first elected MPP for Oxford in 1995 and has served the residents and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario ever since.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
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All applicants must hold the following qualifications:
• Valid driver’s license
• Experience driving tractors
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
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• The work schedule includes weekends
If interested, please forward your resume to: Email: thebakers@happyhills.com Or call if you have any questions: 519-475-4471
Theatre Woodstock gets funding boost from Oxford Community Foundation
Theatre Woodstock has announced its current production of “Cabaret” features a live orchestra, thanks to the generous support of two local legacy funds through Oxford Community Foundation.
All applicants must hold the following qualifications:
• Current Certification of National Lifeguard Service (NLS)
• Current Certification in Standard First Aid and C.P.R.
• Experience working with children
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
If interested, please forward your resume to: Email: thebakers@happyhills.com Or call if you have any questions: 519-475-4471
The organization is receiving a generous donation of $3,200 through the B and R George Fund, and $2,500 through the William and Mary Mackesy Fund.
This money allows Theatre Woodstock to elevate the musical experience for audiences and provide an authentic performance true to the spirit of “Cabaret”. A live orchestra not only enhances the artistry of the production but also enriches the cultural landscape of our community.
“Theatre Woodstock is deeply grateful to The B and R George Fund and the William and Mary Mackesy Fund for their commitment to the arts,” said Emil Wijnker, Interim Board President. “Their support ensures that we can deliver an unforgettable theatre experience while fostering the talent and passion of our performers and musicians.”
“Cabaret” closes Feb. 16 with tickets available online or through the Theatre Woodstock box office. More information can be found at: https://theatrewoodstock. com/.
Theatre Woodstock is celebrating 75 years of theatre in Woodstock, located downtown at 22 Reeve Street, and want to thank its supporters and patrons for their ongoing dedication to the performing arts.
STAFF
Woodstock Ingersoll Echo
Brian and Rosemary George started their fund in 2006 with the goal of giving people the opportunity to enjoy the arts, whether it be funding someone’s first theatrical production or sending a child who holds great potential to music lessons.
Feeding Oxford County just got a little easier
CONNOR LUCZKA
Echo Correspondent
As Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie pointed out, Oxford County’s motto is “Growing stronger, together.” The recent purchase of a van to help a few community organizations make sure everyone has access to food is just one example of that sentiment manifesting.
“The other thing that Oxford County is known for is we have great farmland, and we grow great stuff,” Petrie said during a brisk afternoon where the van was officially unveiled. “Our farmers feed our cities and at the end of the day, there's no reason in this area, the country, that anybody should go hungry.”
He added programs that share food and make sure it's getting to people – and the people making sure it's getting to people who need it – are fundamental to what our community is about.
On Jan. 30, Petrie joined a number of community stakeholders for the unveiling. In November of last year, Farm Credit Corporation (FCC) announced a $25,000 grant to Stronger Together Ingersoll Community Harvest (STICH) to help with Food Rescue Feeding Oxford’s work in moving perfectly good food that once would have been tossed in the bin to other organizations that provide it to the less fortunate. That grant went to the van that hit the tarmac that day.
STICH is a local grassroots organization with their sights on food security in Ingersoll and Oxford County. It began in 2015 when a group of concerned citizens got together and envisioned a community kitchen, where anyone can come for a hot meal. It has since grown to also assist in ‘food rescues.’
Its prime location is at the hall of Trinity United Church, located at 118 Church St. in Ingersoll, where supper club is served Thursday afternoons to about 250 people each week.
Using the van, rather than volunteers loading up their own personal cars with boxes of food, STICH will coordinate with Cycles of Life, South Gate Centre’s Food Angels, Seniors in Food Crisis, Lunch Bunch and Operation Sharing in distributing free excess food in bulk to families, seniors, children and other less fortunate Oxford residents, according to an earlier announcement.
Paula D’Orazio, president of STICH, said that even a couple of weeks into using the van and it’s already made a huge difference. Not only can the organization use one purpose-built vehicle to source food rescues, but they can stock so much more in the space. As a grassroots organization operating out of a church basement, D’Orazio said that purchasing the
van without the grant would not be possible.
“Not in our dreams, whatsoever,” D’Orazio laughed. “When we got the grant, we were just over the moon.”
George Klosler, senior director of FCC, said that each year the organization sets aside over $1 million to spread out to community groups, based on an application process that asks about impact, immediate need, and the amount of people relying on an organization’s service.
“And they obviously hit the high marks on a couple of those things,” Klosler said about STICH. “Food security in local communities is one of the things that we're focused on … And finding ways to reduce food waste, support organizations that are involved in reducing food waste and in creating more attention and appreciation for the great work that farm communities do in producing food and feeding a hungry world.”
Like Oxford County’s motto, D’Orazio said that STICH is focused on growth.
“To get bigger and better in Oxford County,” D’Orazio said, when asked about future goals. “To serve our community better and to be able to make sure that absolutely nobody's going hungry in our community.”
Ontario Provincial Police briefs
LEE GRIFFI
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ingersoll collision leads to charges
An Ingersoll woman has been charged after leaving the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Bell Street in the town.
On Feb. 9 at about 12:30 p.m., members of the Oxford detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were dispatched to a report of a two-vehicle collision. An investigation led to a 64-year-old being charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, impaired driving, failure to remain and having an insecure load. No injuries were reported and the accused is scheduled to appear in a Woodstock courtroom on March 25.
Transport driver injured
A single-vehicle collision on Highway 403 in Oxford
County sent one person to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police along with fire and paramedic services were called to the westbound lanes of the 403 in Norwich Township on Feb. 6 at about 10 a.m.
Police say a transport truck left the roadway and entered the ditch. The lone occupant was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Zorra Township man facing impaired charge
A call about a car in a ditch resulted in two charges for a Zorra Township man.
On Jan. 31 police were dispatched to a report of a vehicle in the ditch on the 21st Line in Zorra. Following an investigation police charged a 64-year-old man with impaired driving and failing to or refusing to comply with a demand.
He is scheduled to appear in a Woodstock courtroom on Feb. 18.
Community stakeholders gather on Jan. 30 to unveil a brand-new van that will help Stronger Together Ingersoll Community Harvest (STICH) to assist with Food Rescue Feeding Oxford’s work in moving perfectly good food, that once would have been tossed in the bin, to other organizations that provide it to the less fortunate. The van was paid for with a $25,000 grant from the Farm Credit Corporation.
(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)
Annual TV Takeover provides family fun
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County (BBBSOC) successfully hosted its much-anticipated TV Takeover at Play For Kids’ Sake 2025, bringing the community together for a funfilled fundraising event.
Families, friends, colleagues, and neighbors formed teams, dressed as their favorite TV or cartoon characters, talk show hosts, or game show personalities, all in support of a great
cause. The event featured bowling and indoor golf simulation, returning again to Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Woodstock. Bowling took place in Ingersoll and Woodstock on Feb. 6, 7, and 8. C and D Lanes in Woodstock accommodated both 5-pin and 10-pin lanes, with teams securing spots on a first-come, first-served basis. Indoor golf simulators were available in Tillsonburg and Woodstock on Feb. 11, 13,
and 15, with Woodstock participants playing at FORE Oxford.
BBBSOC also ran a successful pointof-sale campaign, allowing businesses to participate in fundraising efforts through Round Up for Mentoring and Display Your Donations. Local businesses encouraged customers to round up their purchases or purchase BBBSOC-provided decals to help raise awareness and support free mentor-
ing programs in Oxford County. Participants in Play For Kids’ Sake 2025 not only contributed to an important cause but also had the opportunity to win exciting prizes and earn fundraising incentives. The community came together in a remarkable show of support, helping BBBSOC continue its mission of igniting the power and potential of young people in Oxford County.
(RON YUZARK PHOTOS)
The team from Transitions Equine Assisted Learning had a great day supporting a great cause.
The Gutter Ballz Team came dressed for fun and action.
From CI Hair Studio, Team Bowl Cutters had a fun afternoon supporting a good cause.
Organizers of this event were Liz Wismer-VanMeer, Manager of Communications; Abby Richards, Practicum Student BBBSOC; and Kristen Ralph, BBBSOC Executive Director
Survey also open to gather information on potential tariff effects
This event, free for local business owners and managers, will bring together experts from Woodstock Police Services and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services to share valuable insights on key topics that include loss prevention strategies, managing intoxicated individuals, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques along with connecting with local human service agencies.
“Our goal is to empower local businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to create safer environments for their teams, customers, and operations,” explained Crabbe.
Crabbe explained many chamber members have experienced a person with mental health and addiction issues at their places of business.
“It’s hard to find the solutions and maintain safety for yourself, your employees, your customers and the community. We are hoping people will leave with a better sense of how to maintain safety within the workplace, how to feel confident navigating difficult situations.”
The three groups are hoping participants walk away with the ability to ensure their workplaces are safe and
for anyone able to show up in person, Crabbe hopes they will be able to share video afterward.
“We are hoping to have this recorded so it is accessible to those not able to attend in person. We’ve also opened up a question intake form so anyone can submit their questions ahead of time and we can address them at the event.”
Crabbe added people will be able to submit questions after the event.
“Whether you're looking to refine your safety protocols or learn how to handle challenging situations, this workshop is designed for businesses of all sizes and sectors,” he added.
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and the presentation begins at 9 a.m. Registration is required and can be completed online at www.woodstockchamber.ca/ events-calendar.
Tariff Survey
The chamber is also conducting a sur vey to understand the potential impact of U.S. and Canadian tariffs on local businesses.
Crabbe said the chamber was looking to do its own survey but the provincial body stepped up.
“The Ontario chamber already had
some ideas in the pipeline so we now have a coordinated response to receive feedback from our members about the impacts. We are happy to send it out to our members and are hoping they engage to be able to provide not only us
but the Ontario body with some local context.”
He added the more business owners taking part, the better the results will be.
“High participation is crucial in helping us gather insights into how these tariffs are affecting various industries and what support or resources are needed to address the challenges posed by these trade policies,” said Crabbe.
This survey aims to collect information on the type and size of an organization, the industry and region in which a business operates, the impact of U.S. and Canadian tariffs on business operations, strategies a business has considered or implemented in response to tariffs, and the confidence level in Ontario's economic outlook and your business's ability to adapt to ongoing trade tensions.
“Your responses will help us advocate for policies and resources that support the business community in Ontario. The survey should take approximately 3-5 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous and will be kept confidential,” explained Crabbe.
Visit us online at theecho.ca
(SUPPLIED PHOTO)
Mike Crabbe is the general manager at the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce.
Fundraising spaghetti dinner
The
A
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with special needs to Camp Kennebec this summer. "We are incredibly grateful for the community's support," said a representative from the Optimist Club. "The generosity of those who attended will allow us to continue making a positive impact on youth and families in our area."
The Optimist Club of Oxford County, based in Woodstock, is dedicated to providing hope and a positive vision while bringing out the best in youth, communities and themselves.
(RON YUZARK PHOTOS)
Volunteer cooks in the kitchen were Sarah Hodgkinson Corie Schweertman Adrian Baldwin and Jenn Read prepared the dinner.
Optimist Club Members Kassidy Byers Nick Bennett Jenn Kennedy (Second Vice Pre4sident) Brenda May (President) and Rebekah Lindsay were on hand to prepare and serve dinner.
Mike and Sabrina Jepson with Kinley and Aidan were earlier arrivers for the dinner fund raiser.
Reid leaving Woodstock Art Gallery ‘on a high point’
After more than a decade, Woodstock Art Gallery’s director/curator will be taking on a new role.
Mary Reid will be leaving after Feb. 17 and will head the McMaster Museum of Art, starting in March. Reid said that the next chapter brings out a lot of emotions.
"I'm excited about the new opportunity. I'm excited to move into an academic environment, enjoying the team at McMaster,” she said. “I've long admired them as an organization. My predecessor Carol Podedworny, I've known her since I was in Grad School, so she's always been very inspirational for me.”
Reid admitted it is difficult to say goodbye.
"I'm very sad and emotional to leave
the Woodstock Art Gallery. I have an amazing staff and a fantastic advisory board, a beautiful building and a supportive community. All of those things, so it’s mixed emotions. One minute I'm happy and another minute I'm like what am I doing so it's very bittersweet."
During Reid’s 10-and-a-half years with in the Friendly City, she had several interesting experiences including representing the gallery with the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC and London, UK. The Woodstock Art Gallery also had a co-production with the sister city in Sylvania, OH that showcased Canadian artists in Sylvania and American artists in Woodstock.
Reid’s last day is on Family Day, which is her favourite day of the year. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she and the city’s culture department handed out healthy snacks before a morning
movie at Gallery Cinemas. Family Day brings in the highest attendance for the Woodstock Art Gallery, with hundreds of families visiting.
"It's just great to see the awareness,” explained Reid. “The laughter and the enjoyment that people who are new to our community or maybe have lived here for many years take part in all of
her research interests. She also said that embarking on the new chapter will bring growth opportunities for the Woodstock Art Gallery.
“Not that I want to leave (here), but also, I have been here for 10-and-a-half years,” she said. “I just think for the overall health of the organization, I'd like to leave on a high point when things
Meet with local service organizations to find your perfect volunteer role Saturday, March 1 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Unifor Local 88, 364 Victoria St, Ingersoll
EMILY STEWART Echo Correspondent
(ALEX MCINTYRE PHOTO)
Mary Reid (right), pictured with Frances Thomas (left) at the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie for the touring exhibition "Ron Shuebrook and Frances Thomas: In Conversation" part of the Woodstock Art Gallery. Reid will be leaving her position
after Family Day to head to McMaster.
Local animal rescue raises funds and awareness
Oxford County Animal Rescue’s Valentine’s Bake Sale and Kitty Adoption Day was a heartwarming success on Feb. 8, as community members gathered in Woodstock to enjoy delicious treats and meet adorable, adoptable cats.
The event featured tables full of homemade cookies, cupcakes, tarts, candies, and even special goodies for four-legged
friends. Guests shopped for their loved ones while also having the opportunity to interact with rescue cats looking for their forever homes. Thanks to the generosity of attendees and volunteers, the bake sale raised valuable funds to support the rescue’s mission of rehabilitating and rehoming abandoned, neglected, and abused animals. Several
lucky felines also found perfect matches and were adopted into loving families.
Oxford County Animal Rescue, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, continues to work tirelessly to provide care and education on the humane treatment of animals. Events like these raise essential funds and spread awareness about the importance of pet adoption and spaying/neutering.
The organization would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to everyone who baked, donated, adopted, and supported the cause. Your kindness makes a difference in the lives of animals in need. For more information on future events or how to get involved, visit Oxford County Animal Rescue.
(RON
RETIREE’S BREAKFAST
UNIFOR LOCAL 636
IS HOSTING BREAKFASTS FOR RETIRED WORKERS AND/OR THEIR PARTNER
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM $5.00 Per Person
Retiree’s meeting to follow AGENDA
GUEST SPEAKER: Megan Porter - Oxford United way ROUTINE BUSINESS
YUZARK PHOTOS)
Volunteers Carolyn Plitz and Isabelle Couture with Rowan and Kelan looking for their forever home.
Volunteers Carol Cowan and Isabelle Couture display some of the many baked goods for sale.
Groundhog Day in Woodstock
Woodstock’s beloved groundhog, Chilly Charlie, emerged from his burrow at South Gate Centre on Feb. 2 and predicted an early spring.
The highly anticipated annual event drew a crowd of more than a hundred eager spectators, including families and city officials. At precisely 8:15 a.m., Chilly Charlie made his prediction, sig-
nalling an early end to winter. The excitement continued as attendees gathered for a delicious buffet breakfast, served from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
This fun-filled tradition, featuring Woodstock’s own Chilly Charlie, once again brought the community together to celebrate Groundhog Day in style.
(RON YUZARK PHOTOS)
Christine Cunningham (Executive Director of South Gate Centre) was all smiles welcoming Chilly Charlie.
Chilly Charlie, Kathy Dewerd, Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione and Dave Clarke posed for attendees at the revelation of Chilly Charlie's upcoming prediction.
Hungry attendees lined up for a scrumptious breakfast buffet.
Woodstock Ingersoll Echo SPORTS
Carter Skevington ‘rocks the line’ to cash in on playoff upgrade
of the four-foot circle, in a position difficult to remove without affecting what previously was shot rock.
There was a lot on the line with Woodstock St. Mary’s Warriors skip Carter Skevington’s last rock of the TVRA South East boys’ curling regular season on Feb. 5 at the Woodstock Curling Centre (WCC).
Trailing 4-0 after three ends, the Warriors battled back with a three-point fourth, trading singles through the fifth and sixth and adding a steal in the seventh to tie the game at five, giving themselves a chance heading home.
St. Thomas Parkside skip Nate VanDuynhoven executed a beautiful draw with his first stone of the eighth and final end, putting the pressure on Skevington with shot rock at the lower edge of the four-foot circle.
The game’s final two rocks had implications well beyond this game. With a win, Parkside would lock up the fourth and final playoff position, while conversely, a victory would elevate the Warriors into first or second place, a loss leaves them in third. Under the league’s page playoff system, first and second meet with the winner advancing to the final. The loser of this game plays the winner between third and fourth place, with the winner of that contest advancing to the final.
Coming out of the hack with an outturn, Skevington’s line and weight were both good, sweepers Brayden Busuttil and Killean Coughlan doing their part, as called by vice Sebastian Lagos. Skevington’s final stone finished at the top edge
“We needed something hard to hit and closer than him,” said Skevington.
VanDuynhoven still had the hammer, but his takeout attempt eased narrowly past, St. Mary’s coach Richard Murphy restraining himself from leaping into the air with a fist-pump with considerable difficulty, following a steal of one and crucial 6-5 victory.
“It was with great difficulty I didn’t jump through the window and help with the game,” Murphy admitted with a laugh, a mentor who it is safe to say, gets into the games.
“I saw you were like pacing back and forth,” interjected Busuttil.
“During WOSSAA, it’s so much worse,” Lagos smiled.
The Warriors’ post-season begins Wednesday, February 12th at the WCC against the Aylmer East Elgin Eagles, who St. Mary’s tied 5-5 during the regular campaign. Three of four Warriors are returnees from last year’s OFSAA-bound squad, again setting their sights on an extended playoff run.
It will not be easy, given the competitive balance both at the top of the TVRA South East this season, and beyond at WOSSAA. However, tense games like the regular-season finale requiring the Warriors play their best are good preparation believes Lagos.
“The harder it gets, the more it prepares us for the next game.”
Woodstock CI (WCI) hosts either
Parkside or Ingersoll DCI in the other boys’ playoff-opening game.
The WCI Red Devil girls finished their regular season undefeated with a 9-1 win over Woodstock Huron Park Huskies, also at the WCC Feb. 5, and will
play the Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers in their first-versus-second playoff opener. The Huskies hung with the Red Devils through four ends before WCI opened up the game with fifth and sixth end steals of four and three respectively.
JEFF TRIBE Echo Correspondent
Woodstock CI sweepers Taylor Leis (left) and Cassandra DeWitt (right) work on sweeping a rock.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Woodstock Huron Park Huskies girls curling skip Raelyn Rennie (background) watches the progress of her stone as Olivia Ireton (left) and Lailah Kippenhuck sweep it toward the house.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
St. Mary’s Warrior sweeper Brayden Busuttil (right) sneaks a glance as he and Killean Coghlan sweep a rock toward the house.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Carter Skevington ‘rocks the line’ to cash in on playoff upgrade
“We’re happy to be in this position,” said skip Alexis Schaeffer. “We know WOSSAA will give us a challenge, but we’ll fight for it.”
While WCI Schaeffer remains focussed on getting an OFSAA sweater, Huron Park is pleased to be gaining experience and enjoying themselves following a recruiting effort by co-coach Anastasia Panagos resulted in a Huskies return to the sport after several years off.
“They’ve come a long way,” said cocoach Carlos Gregorio, noting Wednesday’s outcome - being competitive for a
Irwin,
majority of the game, before giving up a big end or two, was not unusual.
Their original equipment was rescued from a basement storage room at Huron Park said skip Raelyn Rennie, upgraded courtesy of coach Carlos. A Huskies swimmer, field hockey and rugby player, she has enjoyed learning a new sport.
“It’s very different,” Rennie assessed, compared to rugby and field hockey, more relaxed and fun. “And a lot more thinking, especially as the skip.”
The Huskies’ return was highlighted by a 6-1 victory over the Tillsonburg Gemi-
ni, but regardless of outcome, enjoyable time spent hanging out with friends after class.
“It’s not something I think I would have done if I hadn’t tried it in high school,” Rennie summed up. “And I’m really glad I did.”
TVRA South East Boys Curling
Wednesday, Feb. 15
St. Mary’s 6, Parkside 5
Wednesday, Jan. 15
WCI 15, Tillsonburg Glendale 1
Ingersoll DCI 1, St. Thomas Central Elgin 0
TVRA South East Girls Curling
Wednesday, Feb. 5
Woodstock CI 9, Huron Park 1
St. Thomas Parkside 1, St. Mary’s 0
Wednesday, Jan. 15
Ingersoll DCI 6, Huron Park 3
WCI 11, Glendale 1
Monday, Jan. 13
Ingersoll DCI 1, St. Thomas Central Elgin 0
Holm provide ‘the long and short’ of 9-3 WCI
victory
The long and the short of the Woodstock CI (WCI) Red Devils’ 9-3 TVRA South East girls’ hockey victory over the visiting Glendale Gemini Feb. 4 at the Woodstock Complex was a dominant second period.
WCI defender Sierra Irwin provided the ‘long’, a pair of top-shelf slapshots teed up from the left point. Her first broke a 2-2 deadlock, beating the first-period buzzer by 17 seconds.
“Straight in,” said Irwin, who takes her inspiration not from Marie-Philip Poulin or her favourite Maple Leaf, Mitch Marner, rather her late grandfather Donald Pearson. The one who got her into hockey, he was Sierra’s biggest supporter who ‘came to everything’ and also had a decent slapshot of his own.
“It was really accurate,” credited Irwin. “It probably wasn’t the strongest, but it was really accurate.”
Irwin’s go-ahead goal was perfectly placed into the top, right corner on the glove side, happy circumstance as well as planning she admitted.
“I just kind of put it to the net
and hope it gets where it needs to be.”.
Teammate Emma Holm took care of the ‘short’, driving to the net off the left-wing boards, cutting laterally past the lip of the crease and backhanding a short-range shot which Gemini goalie Asha David may have made the initial save on.
“I think the other team tipped it in,” confessed Holm with a smile, initially unaware she had scored. She prefers to get in close, get the goalie moving, and try and go ‘top shelf.’
“It still went in,” she shrugged
with a smile at her unassisted marker, which came at the 3:47 mark of the second period.
Irwin upped the lead to 5-2 with 5:44 remaining in the frame, teeing up another blast from the point, high to the stick side this time on an assist to Layla Graham. Megan Atkinson tipped home WCI’s sixth goal from the slot with 2:39 to play in the second, on assists to Dakota Thomson and Alex McDonald.
“I think we started talking more, moved the puck and then we got close in front of the net,” said McDonald of the unan -
swered four-goal run which essentially decided the outcome.
Glendale’s Kennedy Vandendriessche went hard to the net and tipped home a Gabby Ash rebound to break off the streak with 0.3 seconds left in the second. However, Addison Trepanier, Annika Beaton and Thomson added unanswered third-period markers to round the final, on assists to Lucy Waite, Jillian Trepanier and Atkinson.
Holm opened the scoring on assists to Beaton and Hallie Turpin, with Jillian Trepanier
adding an unassisted first-period goal. Ash and Sophia Monsere responded for the Gemini, with an assist to Dayna Lester.
The win was WCI’s fifth on the season, against two losses. Although comparatively young, the Red Devils roster features experienced players from Woodstock, London, Ayr and Stratford minor hockey associations, says coach Martha Trepanier.
“They’re a great group of girls,” she summed up. ““We’re really excited because there’s a lot of potential.”
TVRA South East Girls’ Hockey
Tuesday, Feb. 4
Woodstock CI 9, Tillsonburg Glendale 3
St. Thomas St. Joe’s 7, Ingersoll DCI 0
St. Thomas Parkside 5, Woodstock Huron Park 0
TVRA South East Boys’ Hockey
Wednesday, Feb. 5
St. Joe’s 6, Huron Park 1
Tuesday, February 4
Aylmer East Elgin 3, Huron Park 0
JEFF TRIBE Echo Correspondent
Woodstock CI Red Devil Lucy Waite goes over top of Glendale’s Carly Kennedy.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Woodstock CI Red Devil Emma Holm drives to the net against Glendale goalie Asha David with what would eventually stand as the fourth WCI goal in a 9-3 TVRA South East victory.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Down, but not out, Woodstock CI’s Annika Beaton (left) takes a swipe at the puck carried by Glendale’s Lainey West.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Huron Park’s Carter Skillings (right) tries to tap home a goal against East Elgin goalie Zander Friesen and defender Gavin Russell.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Casualties come with a post-season ‘live-fire exercise’
JEFF TRIBE
Echo Correspondent
Playoffs are a live-fire exercise. And that reality carries the unavoidable fact that with expanded exhilaration in victory, there will also be painful casualties.
“That one just stings,” said Woodstock Huron Park Huskies coach Tyler Anderson following a 65-39 TVRA South East AA preliminary-round setback to the visiting Aylmer East Elgin Eagles on Feb. 4. “Not the result we were looking for, playing for, but that’s the result we got.”
The Eagles took charge of the contest in the second quarter, overcoming a one-point (12-11) deficit on the strength of a 20-6 run fuelled by nine points from C. Wall. The visitors extended their 13-point advantage modestly through a 13-10 third quarter, before putting the game away against a frustrated Huskies squad.
“Shots weren’t dropping,” said Huron Park’s Garrett Foster. “Not like they were in the regular season.”
East Elgin had also played well credited Foster, who finished with 11 points in a losing cause. “They wanted it, obviously, and it showed.”
Wall finished with 19 to lead all scorers with K. Friesen adding 16 and J. Yan 10. Kallel Jarquin had
16 to lead the Huskies, Avi Bhangu added seven, Daniyal Faisl four and Aiden Menton one free throw.
“It was a fun season,” said Foster, who enjoyed playing with a group of ‘good guys’, all of whom wanted each other to succeed. However, as much as he loves basketball, he was preparing to move on to sports.
“Gotta keep healthy,” he smiled.
The sun would come up tomorrow regardless of the outcome.
However, there was an undeniable sense of loss for Foster, as well for players like Bhangu, who had moved from Brampton to Woodstock to find a hardcourt home with new and migrating teammates, or coach Anderson, who had mentored some players on this year’s roster since grade 9 and enjoyed working with them all.
“They worked their butts off all season,” Anderson concluded. “It was an honour and a privilege.”
TVRA South East Senior Boys’ AA Basketball Playoffs
Friday, Feb. 7 Quarterfinals
Woodstock College Avenue 50, Ingersoll DCI 30
Lord Dorchester 66, Woodstock
St. Mary’s CHS 46
St. Thomas St. Joe’s 61, East Elgin 41
St. Thomas Parkside 59, Tillsonburg Glendale 39
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Preliminary Round
East Elgin 65, Huron Park 39
Tuesday, Feb. 11 Semi-Finals
Parkside at College Avenue, 3 p.m.
Lord Dorchester at St. Joe’s, 3 p.m.
Thursday, February 13 Final TBA at top seed, 3 p.m.
TVRA South East Junior Boys’ AA Basketball Playoffs
Friday, Feb. 7 Quarterfinals
St. Mary’s CHS 56, Ingersoll DCI 43
Huron Park 51, Parkside 45 Glendale 56, Lord Dorchester 36
St. Joe’s 46, East Elgin 26
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Preliminary Round
Lord Dorchester 56, College Avenue 54
East Elgin 51, St. Thomas Central Elgin 34
Tuesday, Feb. 11 Semi-Finals
St. Mary’s CHS at Glendale, 3 p.m.
Huron Park at St. Joe’s, 4:30
Thursday, February 13 Final
TBA at top seed.
Tuesday, Feb. 11 A Final
St. Thomas Arthur Voaden at Woodstock CI, 3 p.m.
Woodstock Huron Park Huskie Garrett Foster drives to the basket against the defensive efforts of East Elgin’s K. Friesen (rear) and H. Scott (foreground).
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Huron Park’s Daniyal Faisal (right) tries to tip the ball away from East Elgin’s T. Smith. (JEFF TRIBE PHOTO) Huron Park’s Aiden Menton (right) tries to block a passing lane.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Woodstock Wildcats want Civic Centre Arena to be Kraft Hockeyville finalist
EMILY STEWART
Echo Correspondent
The Woodstock Wildcats need your help to get the Civic Centre Arena to be part of the Top 4 for Kraft Hockeyville this spring.
Kraft Hockeyville is an annual contest run by the NHL, NHL Players Association, and Kraft-Heinz where communities nominate their arena for a chance to win $250,000 for upgrades and an NHL game in that arena. The three runner-ups will earn $25,000 for upgrades. A Jan. 9 post on the Woodstock Wildcats Facebook page called out for the local hockey community to come together and vote for the Civic Centre Arena to be on the Hockeyville shortlist.
“While it does hold a real soft spot for many Wildcats and former Wildcats, I think anyone who has ever entered the Civic Centre Arena would quickly understand why this contest would be extremely important to us,” Carey Yungblut, Wildcats’ vice president and registrar told the Echo. “There is no denying it could certainly use some cosmetic upgrades, but the Civic arena does have a very real need for some functional upgrades as well and this money would go a long way to making a dent in some of those.”
Yungblut also said winning Kraft Hockeyville would further promote the ever-growing Woodstock Wildcats. Girls hockey in Woodstock and Oxford County is growing quickly.
“Every year, we push the limits of our available ice time until
there is absolutely no room left to push,” he said. “We feel that winning this contest would bring awareness to girls hockey and help the entire city and city council understand how important available ice time is to the girls and families in Woodstock.”
The Woodstock Wildcats hold two tournaments annually, a House League tournament in November and a Rep Tournament in January, that play a key role in fundraising for the hockey association and sharpens the players skills. Yungblut hopes if the Civic Centre Arena wins Kraft Hockeyville, there will be more attention to Woodstock’s girls hockey.
“I think Woodstock sometimes struggles with being a small city,” he said. “Too small to have the amenities of a larger city like London or Kitchener, and too big to be considered a small town where residents don't mind travelling to larger cities for amenities. It's important to us to bring awareness to the city and how strong our girls hockey program is.”
Along with the Woodstock Wildcats, Woodstock Minor Hockey and several adult hockey leagues play at the Civic Centre Arena.
“Everyone has been very supportive of this as it would benefit so many in our community, beyond just the Wildcats,” added Yungblut.
Nominations close on March 2. The arena rally web page for the Civic Centre Arena will be accepting stories, photos, and notes indicating how much the arena means to the community. For more information, and to support the arena, visit https://hockeyville.kraftheinz.com/community/civiccentrearena/?locale=en.
E.S. Notre Dame Wolves pick up A semi-final victory, confidence
JEFF TRIBE Echo Correspondent
The Woodstock École secondaire catholique Notre-Dame Wolves gained both a TVRA South East A senior girls’ volleyball championship berth and a confidence boost with a 25-17, 25-1, 25-10 semi-final victory over the visiting St. Thomas Arthur Voaden Vikings Wednesday, Feb. 5.
“It’s good to get some extra playing time to prepare for the final,” said Wolves captain and left side (power) hitter Emilie Sirois following the match.
Wolves co-coach Chloe Hallee attributed what she felt was a slow start to the exam break, pleased to see her charges find their rhythm through the second and third sets.
“I found they shared the ball a lot this game,” added co-coach Viviaine Rouleau. “That was one of our strengths, really sharing the ball, getting everyone involved.”
When a school’s athletic teams are selected from a student body of around 90, victories can be hard to come by, celebrated when they do. E.S. Notre Dame had defeated the Vikings 25-7, 25-16, 25-15 in their December 11th meeting, the Wolves lone victory through the TVRA South East regular campaign.
However, said setter/right side Maeve Jordan, it felt like the team had improved significantly compared to the previous season. The Wolves had been competitive in many outings, taking sets from St.
Thomas Central Elgin and Woodstock Huron Park.
“Through the years, we’re learning as a team,” said Anika Harding.
And in what ranked as their regular season highlight, E.S. Notre Dame forced the 8-0 St. Thomas Parkside Stampeders to a fifth and deciding set, 25-15, 11-25, 25-21, 9-25, 5-15 on January 21st.
The TVRA South East A championship is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Woodstock CI, which also finished the season with a perfect 8-0 won-lost record.
“If they can put up a fight against Parkside, they can put up a fight against WCI,” said Rouleau, looking forward to the opportunity.
“We’re going to try to keep up with them,” Sirois concluded. “Just play how we play, as good as we can and put it all out there.”
The TVRA South East AA quarter-final matchups were set for Feb. 10, with Ingersoll DCI hosting Central Elgin, Woodstock College Avenue travelling to Parkside, Woodstock Huron Park visiting Tillsonburg Gemini and St. Thomas St. Joe’s heading to Aylmer East Elgin, for a quartet of 3 p.m. starts.
The semi-finals and the final will be played Wednesday, February 12th, unofficially at the home of the highest advancing seed.
TVRA Senior Girls’ AA Volleyball
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Preliminary Round College Avenue 23, 25, 25, 25; Lord Dorchester 25, 16, 14, 23
St. Joe’s 25, 25, 25; Woodstock St. Mary’s CHS 12, 15, 12
Huron Park 25, 25, 25; Central Elgin 6, 6, 9
East Elgin 25, 25, 25; St. Mary’s CHS 17, 26, 22, 25, 12
Monday, Feb. 10 AA Quarterfinals
Huron Park at St. Joe’s, 1 p.m. College Avenue at Ingersoll DCI, 3 p.m.
Glendale at Lord Dorchester, 3 p.m.
East Elgin at Parkside, 3 p.m.
AA Semi-Finals at Final Wednesday, Feb. 12 unofficially at the highest senior seed.
From left, co-coach Viviaine Rouleau, Anika Harding, Emilie Sirois and Maeve Jordan and the rest of the E.S. Notre Dame senior girls’ volleyball team qualified for the TVRA South East A championship game against Woodstock CI on Feb. 12 at Woodstock CI with a three-set sweep of the visiting St. Thomas Arthur Voaden Vikings Wednesday, February 5th.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Huron Park Huskies libero Hannah Sirbu dives to dig up the ball during her team’s 25-6, 25-6, 25-9 TVRA South East AA qualifier win over the visiting St. Thomas Central Elgin Titans on Feb. 4 at Huron Park.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
Woodstock Huron Park Huskies junior Rain Lin served 13 consecutive winners to help her team get off to a strong start, en route to a 25-6, 25-6, 25-9 TVRA South East AA qualifier win over the visiting St. Thomas Central Elgin Titans on Feb. 4 at Huron Park.
(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)
City offering scholarship opportunities for future physicians
LEE GRIFFI
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Future family doctors could receive a scholarship from the City of Woodstock to help fund their medical training.
The city is offering five $1,000 bursaries for people currently enrolled in a medical school or family medicine residency program. The deadline to apply is Feb. 28.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a resident of Woodstock or Oxford County and be registered in a medical school or family medicine residency program recognized by the Medical Council of Canada. Eligible applicants can apply online with their current Curriculum Vitae (CV), proof of acceptance or current enrollment in a recognized program, and a written submission outlining their future career intention.
Kristy Hons is the physician recruiter and explained the challenge isn’t recruiting to Woodstock, it’s recruiting to family medicine.
“I see a lot of people interested in working at the hospital fulltime or coming on as a locum so they might come in for short
periods to cover for a family physician instead of wanting to have their own family practice.”
She said most new grads just aren’t interested in opening a small business which is what is required to operate a doctor’s office.
“They are basically self-employed, small-business owners. Most of them, I find, love seeing patients during the day but they have a lot of administrative tasks to do on evenings and weekends and looking at specialist consults for all the patients in their practice.”
She added on top of those duties they have to worry about hiring staff and having the necessary office equipment on site.
The cost of living is also a factor according to Hons.
“If a doctor works at the hospital, those things are managed for them. The cost of everything has been going up and a lot of small businesses can raise their fees or prices, but doctors are limited in what they can bill the province. Their costs are going up but they can’t increase their revenue.”
Hons is hopeful the scholarship offer will catch on to the students she is aware of in the city and the ones she isn’t.
“I am aware of a few I have met over the years, however, I do think there are probably more out there that I am not aware of. I certainly hope it will help the student with a bit of the cost then it terms and help us here in the City of Woodstock. Some students may be going to university for four to six years before they start medical school. I am hoping the scholarship keeps us on their radar.”
Hons is hopeful students will come to the city for a site visit at the hospital, meet some local family doctors and perhaps do an elective or part of their training here and ultimately see what a great place Woodstock is to practice and set up shop here.
Like many communities, Woodstock does not have enough family physicians to meet current needs. City staff have been actively working to recruit more doctors to the community since it was identified as a community priority in the 2012 Strategic Plan. The scholarship is one of the new initiatives introduced as part of the 2024 budget.
Based on calculations from March 2020 data from the Health Analytics Branch and Health Force Ontario, it is esti-
mated that at least six new family physicians are needed to meet local demand in the city alone. Factoring in the need across Oxford County, data suggests the number of new doctors required to meet the need is closer to 12.
Hons said she is part of the Southern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance which includes areas like Stratford, Hamilton, Niagara and St. Thomas.
“They are very focused on doing international recruiting which can be quite costly to do. If we all work together it cuts down those costs and makes it more feasible to attend some in -
ternational events to expand our search.”
The Echo asked Hons if it was difficult to work with other municipalities all in desperate need of physicians and obviously in competition with each other.
“So far it hasn’t been. It has been identifying a broad pool of leads and not everyone is going to have the opportunity for that physician at the same time. Everyone is on their own to pursue the leads and have the right opportunity for that physician at the same time.”
Visit www.woodstockdoctors.ca to learn more about the scholarship program and apply online.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Experience the power of friendship through ITOPA’s ‘In the Restrooms at Rosenblooms’
The latest Ingersoll Theatre of Performing Arts (ITOPA) gives a look at how long-term friendships can help overcome any obstacles.
ITOPA will present the feel-good friendship comedy In the Restrooms at Rosenblooms by Ludmilla Bollow from Feb. 27 to March 2. The play centers on three women in their sixties, Myrah, Violet, and Winnifred during the 1970s as they meet in the lounge area of a department store restroom.
"It's a heartwarming play about friendship, about memories,” said director Vanessa Page. “About a strong bond between three women who meet every single day and just talk about their lives and their hardships and how their friendship has pulled them through hard times.”
In the Restrooms at Rosenblooms features eight actors, including five who are making their debut on stage.
Although the seven-week rehearsal period is much shorter than ITOPA’s usual three-month-long rehearsals, the cast is having a great time learning the play.
“They are enjoying it which always makes the rehearsal better,” Page said. “Even if you make mistakes and you
Ingersoll
embrace your mistake, learn from it and move on and you enjoy it at the same time, it makes my job as a director so much easier.”
ITOPA
Theatre of Performing Arts PRESENTS IN THE RESTROOM AT ROSEMBLOOMS BY LUDMILLA BOLLOW
FEBRUARY 21, 22, 23, 27, 28 MARCH 1, 2
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ITOPA.CA OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE AT 519-485-3070
little actions are noted in the script.
“You have to be animated when you talk,” she said. “So, a lot of the blocking was 'walk over here now and look out the window,' 'walk over here and sit,' 'walk over here now and grab a grape or grab a cup of coffee or grab a drink.'”
“So, they didn't really have specific things to do like in other plays - 'go pick up the such and such and do so and so with it,' a lot of it is sitting and talking and they really have mastered the act of acting without speaking and moving, which is really, really good."
Page, who participated in previous ITOPA productions as a performer, stage manager, publicist, and assistant stage manager, is directing for the first time. She took on the role after the original director could no longer do it, and the board of directors thought she should take over.
"I enjoyed the script, and I thought 'You know what? I can give this a go,’” she explained. “I must admit a couple of weeks in I thought 'Oh this is hard,' but we've mastered it. We're getting it."
The actors memorized their lines before the first rehearsal and most of the tweaking focused on blocking. The play contains a lot of dialogue and very
The production starts at 7:30 p.m. every night, with the exception of 2 p.m. matinee performances on Sundays. Tickets can be purchased by calling 519-485-3070 or online by visiting www.itopa.ca.
SUMMER CAMP
– 11
14 – 18
21 – 25
Totally Jurassic Camp Ages 7 to 12
Spectacular Science Jr. Ages 5 to 8
Spectacular Science Ages 7 to 12 JULY 28 –AUG. 1 Unicorn Camp Ages 4 to 7 AUG. 5 – 8
Villain Con Camp Ages 7 to 12 AUG. 11 – 15
Culture Camp: Woodstock Art Gallery & Woodstock Museum Ages 6 to 12 AUG. 18 – 22
Fairy Tale Camp Ages 4 to 6
EMILY STEWART Echo Correspondent
(Left to right) Michelle Murphy, Carrie Watts, and Crystal Paul star as a trio of women who meet up at Rosenblooms every day in ITOPA's 'In the Rest Room at Rosenblooms.’
(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)
How you can support Ontario by buying local
Buying local has always been an important part of our agriculture and food production system. Consumer interest in particular in shopping closer to home for their food products has been on the rise over the last two decades or so – and that interest has been particularly strong in recent years. We are particularly lucky here in Ontario. Our climate and our soils let us grow and raise more than 200 different food and farm products on the nearly 50,000 farms in our province. From fruits, vegetables, honey, plants and flowers to meat, dairy, eggs, fish and grains – and whether fresh, frozen, processed, pickled or canned, we are proud of what we can grow right here at home.
My family and I farm just outside of the small town of Seaforth, near Lake Huron. Every local food or farm product Ontarians buy supports farms and families like ours, as well as small businesses and rural communities right across our province.
And even though we’re in the midst of winter, there is a wide range of locally produced food available. Apples, carrots, potatoes and root vegetables, for example, are kept fresh through innovative storage technologies so we can enjoy them all winter long.
There is a plethora of Ontario meat and poultry in our grocery stores, butcher shops, farmers’ markets and independent retailers, as well as a wide variety of eggs, and milk, cheese, cream, butter, yogurt and ice cream made from 100% Canadian milk.
Ontario’s indoor produce sector provides produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and strawberries; and vertical farms produce leafy greens, microgreens and baby greens. Many frozen vegetables and fruit are also grown in Ontario, and many wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries use locally grown ingredients like grapes, hops, grains and apples. So, what’s the best way to buy local – and how can we know whether what we’re buying is an Ontario or a Canadian product? Our food system isn’t always the easiest to navigate in this regard, but here are a few ways you can find local products.
Shop at local stores, onfarm markets and farmers’ markets and ask the employees there if you’re not sure. Many Ontario agricultural organizations, like Ontario Sheep Farmers, have product locators on their websites to identify shops, markets, farmers
1. What month is Black History month?
2. Who won Superbowl 59?
3. What are sausages called in England?
4. What French explorer discovered Canada?
5. Who composed the music for both “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker” ballet?
and even home delivery companies that carry local products.
Other examples include Farmers’ Markets Ontario’s online market locator and Pick Ontario’s florist finder to help you find locally grown flowers – great idea for Valentine’s Day!
There are also a variety of logos that you can look out for when you’re shopping that will help identify locally grown or made food and farm products.
Fresh produce, dairy, meat and other Ontario foods often carry the iconic green and white Foodland Ontario logo.
A blue cow logo certifies 100% Canadian dairy. Look for the VQA medallion to ensure the wine is made entirely from Ontario-grown grapes or a prod-
uct of Ontario or Canada designation on fruit wines. You’ll find Ontario or Canada Beef logos on locally produced beef, or the Ontario Corn Fed Beef logo at restaurants and Loblaws stores.
Ontario-raised pork will often carry an Ontario Pork logo or the logo of Ontario-based meat processors like Conestoga Meats or Sofina. Egg cartons will display a red maple leaf or
the Egg Quality Assurance logo, and you’ll find an Ontario Turkey logo on some of those retail products.
When it comes to flowers and floral products, look for a Pick Ontario logo or the words “Grown in Canada” on a container or tag.
On processed foods, “Product of Canada” means made in Canada with Canadian ingredients, and “Made in Canada” means final processing took place
in Canada – sometimes with local ingredients and sometimes with a mix of domestic and imported ingredients. Ontario farmers are strong believers in encouraging everyone to buy local, Ontario products. When you do, you’re not just buying what we produce, you’re also supporting communities, families, and jobs right here at home – and we appreciate it.
by Jake Grant
6. If a tree produces acorns, what type of tree is it?
7. What gender of mosquitoes bite?
8. What country imprisoned Nelson Mandela?
9. The Magna Carta was drafted in what year?
10. Who plays Nick Fury in Avengers?
ETHAN WALLACE
Vice President, OFA
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO: Little Canadaa miniature Canadian miracle
This is my 200th consecutive weekly travel feature in the Grant Haven newspapers. It’s also appearing near Valentine’s Day, so it seems appropriate that, in this milestone week, I am featuring a love story about a place I treasure – our own Canada.
But this is not my love story; it’s the story of Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer and his labour of love: a visitor attraction in Toronto called “Little Canada.”
It’s not hyperbole to say I was blown away by this amazing destination. To offer a description that does not do justice to the wonder, Little Canada is a collection of miniaturized highlights of our country. You stroll past small versions of Niagara Falls, Québec City, Halifax, Victoria, St. John’s, Ottawa and more. All of these destinations are full of accurately replicated buildings and geographic features, as well as moving vehicles, trains and animals. Oh, and there are people, too
– about 40,000 of them. All but one of these elements are faithfully reproduced at a 1:87 scale (model-train lovers will know that as HO). The exception is the CN Tower, still too big at that scale, so it’s actually scaled at 1:160.
In human terms, that means the miniaturized people are about three-quarters of an inch tall.
The entire facility, located at 10 Dundas St. E in downtown Toronto, covers 45,000 square feet including storage area and space marked for expansion as even more of Canada is miniaturized and put on display. Little Canada is open 364 days a year. In 2024, the attraction welcomed 130,000 visitors.
The founder and “chief visionary officer” of Little Canada, Brenninkmeijer, came to Canada from The Netherlands in 1999, planning to stay for two years to gain business expertise he could carry back to his family business in Europe.
As we stood surrounded by miniaturized Toronto, he explained that when he and his family arrived in this country, “We knew nothing about Canada.” But when his four sons were assigned projects in Grade 4 about Canada, Brenninkmeijer and his wife got involved with the assignments.
His growing interest in the country meshed with his interest in model trains and his fond memories of visiting European attractions like “The Netherlands in Miniature.”
The plan to return to The Netherlands was scuttled. Brenninkmeijer had found his passion. In 2011, warehouse space was found
in Mississauga, business partners were recruited and a team was assembled to start producing miniaturized versions of Canadian communities.
It took 10 years for Brenninkmeijer’s vision to be opened to the public in its downtown Toronto location; that happened in 2021. Today, visitors – officially dubbed Giants – can spend time in seven regions: Little Niagara, Little Toronto, Little Golden Horseshoe, Little Ottawa, Petit Québec, Little East Coast and Little West Coast (opened in 2024). You will want to spend a few hours here; the details are amazing and guests are captivated by individual features including 300 moving vehicles, 22 trains running at any one time, pecking chickens, flopping fish and rolling fog.
Just when you think you have seen everything a particular site has to offer, the sun sets and everything changes. The day-tonight cycle lasts 15 minutes. On Parliament Hill, sunset sets the stage for the popular light show, projected on the Parliament buildings, the same show that is displayed in Ottawa in the evening.
Later this year, a new region will open – Canada’s North. Brenninkmeijer told me this section of Little Canada was developed through full collaboration with an Indigenous consulting firm “to help us curate the right stories.”
And there is still more to come, says the founder. Little Canada will eventually include The Prairies, Montreal and the Rocky Mountains. And when all of these regions are represented, “I would like to do an airport at the end,” he
said.
All of this raises the question, “Why?” Why take on such a demanding challenge? Brenninkmeijer explains that the fundamental goal is “to introduce people to Canada.” These people include Canadians who may never have the chance to see the country from coast to coast to coast. They also include newcomers to Canada; and as an immigrant himself, Brenninkmeijer takes great pleasure in welcoming newcomers to this unique introduction to the vast country that is now his family’s home. He is in the process of creating a non-profit organization that will help to fund visits to Little Canada for newcomers and school groups. A standard visit to Little Canada costs $36 for an adult, with discounts for students, seniors and children.
A tour of the attraction allows an up-close view of the crafts -
people creating Little Canada. To date, over 400,000 hours of work have gone into the project; each region takes 18 months to produce.
Visitors also can experience the “Littlization Station” where – for a fee – a 28-camera unit captures your image, resulting in a miniaturized you! Visitors can take home a tiny figure of themselves or they can have themselves included in the Little Canada display. About 7,000 figures are replicas of visitors. No, wait. Since my visit, 7,001. Look for a tiny, bearded travel writer hanging out at the Yellow Belly pub in St. John’s N.L.!
Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and President of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden. net.
Little Canada founder and chief visionary officer Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, a "giant" beside Little Canada's Rogers Centre.
(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS)
Downtown Niagara Falls; the famous Clifton Hill.
A miniature Québec City in amazing detail.
PAUL KNOWLES Echo Contributor
Route to the Past – Answering the Call to Arms
SCOTT GILLIES Contributor
“My husband is anxious to once more serve his country and being out of work I have given him my consent.” With these words, Flora Allsop gave her blessing for her husband Job Ernest Allsop to enlist with the 18th Battalion in 1914. He was 40 years old.
Generally, approval by a mother was required for a young man under the age of consent to enlist with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, so this handwritten note by a wife, giving permission for her husband to enroll in the army is somewhat unique. We might also assume that it was Flora who “had the patience of Job”, recognizing the call to arms, the patriotic urge to do his bit which flowed through her husband’s veins.
Job Ernest Allsop had been born in Birmingham England in 1874, and as a young man he served for 8 years with the Worcestershire Regiment including a stint in the South Africa (Boer) War which saw heavy action along the Modder River.
The family emigrated to Canada in 1911 and were living on Whiting Street in Ingersoll where Job worked at odd jobs. Some of his older daughters found work at a local dairy. When war was declared, this unemployed brass polisher was probably aching to get back into the thick of things.
When Job presented himself, and Florence’s letter, to the recruitment officer with the 18th Battalion in London Ontario, it was recorded that he was 37 years and 11 months old.
The Battalion embarked for England in April of 1915 on board SS GRAMPIAN. Once in England Allsop was assigned to be a cook for ‘A’ Company. This role continued when the battalion went to France and until he was transferred to the Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Corps in 1916.
Job Ernest Allsop survived the war, came back to Ingersoll and found employment with the William Stone Sons fertilizer plant on Pemberton Street. Like several of his cohorts who served in the Great War, he passed away in his mid sixties in 1939. He
was interred high on the hill overlooking Ingersoll Rural Cemetery near fellow veterans Pipe Major Tom Johnston, Jamie Little and Thomas Coombes.
The ever-patient Florence Allsop watched as another of her loved ones enlisted in 1915. Her adopted son Leo Willliam Allsop had been born in Birmingham England in 1891; he enlisted with the 34th Battalion based
in Waterloo County.
Recruited as part of the third draft of this battalion, Leo arrived in England on board SS HESPERIAN in November of 1915. By April of the next year, he was in the thick of the action in France. He was wounded three times, earning him the right to wear 3 gold stripes (wound stripes) on his left sleeve. In 1917, he was declared killed in action but was later discovered in a casualty clearing station with wounds to his hip. The third time was a gunshot wound to his left arm at the battle of Amiens on August 9, 1918, which caused significant damage; he lost more than 2 inches of his ulna but retained the nerves intact. He was treated in France and England and then invalided back to the Western Ontario Military Hospital in London in 1919 and until 1920 underwent multiple surgeries including the grafting of a piece of bone from his leg into his broken arm.
Following his series of surgeries and recovery, Leo and his Birmingham bride Beatrice Westwood returned to England
for a few short years, but they were back in Ingersoll by 1926 where Leo found work at the Ingersoll Packing Company and later the Ingersoll Machine and Tool Company.
His father Job lived long enough to witness yet another war. This time he was too old to serve, but his son Ernest and two grandsons took up the quarrel with the foe. Ernest was a member of the Essex Scottish at the time of his father’s death. Two of his nephews, Leo’s sons Dennis and Gordon both served in the Second World War. Gordon served with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and saw action in France, Belgium and Germany.
Dennis Leo Allsop started out with the Signals but then transferred to the Perth Regiment with which he saw incredible action in both Sicily and Italy. Like their grandfather, Gordon and Dennis passed away in their mid sixties. Their father Leo passed away at the age of 69. All three have been laid to rest in the veterans’ Field of Honour at the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery. Route2thepast@gmail.com
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
COMING EVENTS
UNITED WAY OXFORD’S COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
March 26 at 5pm at Sally Creek Community Centre, Woodstock. Register: [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1 207466718459?aff=oddtdtcreator]
8TH ANNUAL TAMPON
TUESDAY
March 4, 2025, from 5-7pm at Kelsey’s Roadhouse (Woodstock/ Tillsonburg) and Scotch & Ponder (Ingersoll).
Donate menstrual products to fight period poverty. Drop off at local Shoppers Drug Marts before or bring donations March 4.
GATHER25
March 1st
St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church 56 Thames St. S., Ingersoll
Join us for a live stream of followers of Jesus Christ worshiping together around the world! Everyone is welcome and there is no charge for the event. We will be live streaming this event from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can drop in at a time that works for you or join us for the day. This promises to be an incredible and inspiring moment in our community. At a time when so many of us are struggling to find hope, this event will shine the light on the hope and possibilities that only Jesus Christ offers us. We know you will be so glad you did. https://www. gather25.com/
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
March 7th 2:30-3:30pm
Entertainment by Celina on the Fiddle. Please bring a non perishable food item for the food bank. Call Cedarview at 519-602-0282, RSVP with Lisa OPEN HOUSE
April 30th 2-3pm Edward on the harp. Please bring a nonperishable food item for the food bank. Call Cedarview at 519-602-0282, RSVP with Lisa
TILLSONBURG DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Interested in Bridge? Join us every Friday at the Tillsonburg Duplicate Bridge Club at 1 p.m. at The Senior Centre. Don’t have a partner? Come anyway and we will match you up with someone. For more information, visit their Facebook page: TburgBridge.
FAMILY DAY AT THE OXFORD BRANCH OF ONTARIO ANCESTORS
February 17, 2025
Make this a true Family Day activity and take this opportunity to start the next generation on a lifelong journey of discovery by introducing them to
genealogy and family history. Drop in at the Oxford County Branch of Ontario Ancestors Open House at the Governors' House, in Court House Square, 82 Light Street, Woodstock on Family Day, from 10 am 4 pm. Regular hours are Tuesday – Thursday 10 am to 4 pm. The Open House will be held on February 17th, 2025 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Everyone is welcome. For more information check the web site at https://oxford.ogs.on.ca email oxford@ogs.on.ca or call 519421-1700.
WOMEN UNITED PRESENTS: TAMPON TUESDAY
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 5pm to 7pm
At Kelsey’s in Woodstock (525 Norwich Ave.) and Tillsonburg (247 Broadway St.. Ingersoll location TBD. Drop off locations leading up to the event are at all local Shoppers Drug Mart’s (Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Norwich)
Help end PERIOD poverty! Join us for an evening of networking, socializing, and making a difference. Bring your donation of menstrual hygiene products to be donated to individuals in need in our community. Period poverty is real and it’s a problem across Canada and locally. For more information reach out to Amanda at amanda@unitedwayoxford.ca
WHAT MAKES WINTER SHORTER?
Listening, dancing and enjoying 50’s-70’s country music at the Ingersoll Jamboree, every other Friday afternoon from 1-4 p.m. at the Masonic Hall, 190 Thames St S, Ingersoll. February 21 & March 7, walk ins welcome at the door.
HOMEMADE FREEZER MEALS
St. Paul’s Church, Ingersoll, has been busy making meals that you can simply pull out of the freezer. We’d love to make life easier for you this winter. For more details, please call our church office at 519-485-3390 or by email: stpauls@execulink.com.
THE OPTIMIST CLUB OF OXFORD COUNTY
The Optimists bring out the best in Youth, Community, and Themselves. If anyone is interested in coming out to meet us and learn more about us please email brenda7621@outlook.com
PROJECT EMPOWER WOMENS COMMUNITY GROUP
Every Monday in Woodstock Until Mar 3; 6:30-8:30 pm Pay What You Can
Whether you want to make a friend, find support, or just be a better version of you, join this community! myprojectempower@gmail.com for more info.
REPAIR CAFÉ
4th Saturday of each month; 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Hosted by East Oxford 403 Anglican Churches St. John’s Church, 685860 Oxford Rd. 2, Woodstock Repairs to clothing, textiles, minor nonelectrical household items, and stringed musical instruments, by donation. Also offered: learn how to make your own repairs.
PEER SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS
Third Wednesday of each month; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 21 Wellington St., Woodstock (Virtual options available)
PCMH is a peer support program providing support to parents and caregivers across Ontario with lived experience raising children and youth with mental health challenges. For more information, please visit family.cmho. org or oxfordcounty@pcmh.ca. We are also on Facebook: Parents for Children's Mental Health ~ Oxford County
LIVING WITH LOSS: A SIX-WEEK GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Caring Hearts Support Network: St. David's United Church, 190 Springbank Ave., Woodstock ON A safe and supportive space to explore your grief, with the guidance of trained facilitators. Please contact for upcoming dates. No cost to attend. To register or for more information call or text 519536-3370.
www.caringheartssupportnetwork.com. One-on-one grief support is also available.
GRIEF SUPPORT FOR MAID RELATED LOSS
4th Wednesday of the month from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at the Thamesford Library, 165 Dundas St., Thamesford This monthly in-person grief support group for loss related to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) offers a compassionate, safe space to explore this unique loss. The group will meet the 4th Wednesday of the month from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at the Thamesford Library, 165 Dundas St., Thamesford. The group is free of charge and pre-registration is requested. The next meeting is Wednesday, February 26th. To register or inquire about an evening group, contact Deb McKay at 519-866-3016 or email faye@compassionategriefsupport. ca.
VON OXFORD GRIEF CARE: FREE MONTHLY GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Register at: oxford.griefsupport@ von.ca or 519-539-1231 Ext 6299 or 6296
TILLSONBURG
WHEN: 2nd Tuesday of every month
WHERE: VON Oxford Office 24 Brock St. W., Tillsonburg TIME: 6:30PM-8:00PM
WHERE: Sakura House Hospice 715180 Oxford Rd.4, Woodstock TIME: 10:30AM-12:00Noon
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION EVENTS: 642 Dundas Street, Woodstock
CADETS - Monday nights. DARTS - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. SHUFFLEBOARD - every Thursday at 1:30pm.
MONTHLY DINNER
February 21st from 5-6pm Lasagna with Garlic toast or bun with tossed salad and dessert. For more information, please contact the Office at 519-537-3112 or Canteen at 519-5393401
Please per-order dinner by the 14th of February.
MEAT DRAW - February 15th at 3pm
ENTERTAINMENT THIS MONTH
February 15th: 2 of a Kind 2-4pm February 15th: Blue Sky-Archie Wright 7-11pm February 22nd: Bryan Bicknell Dual 7-11pm
Next month feature for our monthly dinner will be Corn Beef & Cabbage with Potatoes, Veggie & Coleslaw for more information please contact the office.
HURON PARK BAPTIST CHURCH EVENTS: 199 Berwick St, Woodstock
LADIES NIGHT
Friday, February 21 – 7:00 p.m.
Theme – Flavors of Greece – an inspiring cooking demo with local chef Jed Lau. Please contact the church to make registration arrangements. 519-421-4722
SENIORS’ LUNCH Thursday, February, 27 – noon presentation by The Alzheimer's Society.
PROMOTE YOUR EVENTS WITH US! HERE’S HOW
Deadline: Tuesday prior at 3 p.m.
Contact: info@theecho.ca
Please contact the church to make registration arrangements. 519-421-4722
THAMES VALLEY BLUEGRASS AND OLD TIME COUNTRY JAM Feb 15, March 1: 1-4 pm Listen or play with us on an Open Mic Acoustic Jam. Free Pool.
KARAOKE WITH KEN PYLE Feb 22, 7-11 pm
HOT BEEF SANDWICH AND FRIES DINNER Feb 28, 5:30 pm
LINE DANCING
Thursdays, March 6-April 3: 7-8 pm
EUCHRE - Thursdays 7 pm
DARTS - Fridays 8 pm FREE POOL
FREE GAMES NIGHT
St. Paul's Anglican Church 4 Elgin St. East, Princeton Thursday Feb. 20 from 7-8:30 pm. Sequence, euchre, crokinole, Marbles etc. Coffee and snacks provided.
OXFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY EVENTS: oxhs.ca info@oxhs.ca or 226-242-4772
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT
Tuesday Feb. 25, 2025 @ 6:30 PM
Location: Woodstock Museum NHS with Special Guest dKT – Duane Kumala-Thomas. An evening of spoken word and conversation, poetry and dialogue with inspiring performances of: This Town Ours : Ingersoll’s Ties to the Underground Railroad; Oppression to Operation: Anderson Ruffin Abbott’s Glass Ceiling; Anderson and Her Son: A Path to Hear Here
THE HISTORY OF THE EMBRO HIGHLAND GAMES
Wednesday March 26, 2025 @ 6:30 PM
Zorra Caledonian Society – Steve MacDonald Vice President and local historian
SAVING THE TITANIC Wednesday April 30, 2025 @ 6:30 PM
Thomas Ryerson, Author and grandson of William Edwy Ryerson
“Saving the Titanic: A true story about William Edwy Ryerson who survived the sinking of the Titanic.”
Coming Events are for non-profit organizations to promote their free admission events at no charge. Event listings can include your event name, date, time and location as well as a phone number, email address or website. If your event is not free admission or you would like to include more details than stated above, you have the following options:
Coming Events Word Ad (50 word max.) - $10 + hst Coming Events Boxed Word Ad (50 word max.) - $15 + hst
Zorra Township News
Zorra Township Council briefs
about wading into areas that aren’t the municipality’s concern, agreed. He saw it as a way to protect the township.
Mayor wants township to prepare for looming tariff threat
At the Feb. 5 Zorra Township Council meeting, council instructed staff to investigate its procurement practices and whether or not it can ban American companies from contracts.
The motion was put forward by Mayor Marcus Ryan, who was spurned by an announcement made by Ontario Premier Doug Ford earlier this month.
After proposed tariffs were put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump (and before it was walked back the Monday they were supposed to be enacted), Ford announced that his government would be banning American companies from contracts and urged Ontarian municipalities to do the same.
Although the tariffs have been paused until the end of the month, many Canadians are still preparing for the impact they will have – as is Zorra township.
“The intention of my motion here,” Ryan explained, “is that we get a report from staff on what it would look like, and I think we need to know what it looks like, regardless of whether it's over and it never comes back again.”
He said that he is unsure if legally the municipality can issue such a ban and, even if they could, what budgetary impacts it would have.
Coun. Paul Mitchell, who said he is usually cautious
The motion was subsequently passed unanimously.
Multi-use courts will have a new location
Just after the Zorra Multi-Use Courts Committee announced reaching its fundraising goal, council officially endorsed a new location for the courts: block 26 of the upcoming Kingwood subdivision.
Kingwood Homes, a Burlington-based developer that is constructing a transformational, multi-phased subdivision at the former Maple Leaf Foods grounds, agreed to convey a parcel of land for the courts that were adjacent to the site of a newly proposed school the Thames Valley District School Board is building in conjunction with the township.
The additional parcel will facilitate the expansion of the proposed soccer pitch at the site into a full-size field, as well as additional amenities like washrooms and shade structures.
The committee subsequently endorsed the new area as a prime location.
Previously, the courts were intended to be built behind the Thamesford District Recreation Centre.
Mobile emergency centre sourced through provincial dollars – may be a burden on future taxpayers
The township was successful in securing the community emergency preparedness grant, a $46,950.20 fund
that will go towards a reception trailer and emergency equipment to house residents displaced by large-scale emergencies, such as hazardous material spills, tornados, or floods.
Although good news for the township today, tomorrow may be a different story.
As noted in the staff report, the Canadian Red Cross had previously been able to supply a reception centre service in the past, though it has closed its Oxford County branch.
Mayor Ryan pointed out that the recently sourced reception trailer will not cost taxpayers anything; however, this is a new service provided by the municipality and in the future, when a new trailer may be needed, it will be on the municipality’s shoulders to source it.
“This will be placed into our asset management and tracked for depreciation,” Joshua Doyle, manager of emergency services, said. “It is an item that isn't going to be used often. I'm hoping that it's going to last much longer than a general trailer might. However, you are correct in giving this money to the township, the province is transferring that responsibility, and the administration that comes with it. So, we will have to budget for this in future budgets, although I expect that it to be a moderately low amount annually.”
Additionally, as a mobile trailer it may be moved across the county and even beyond. As noted in the report, Middlesex County has two similar trailers and the addition of Zorra’s means that the region is better prepared for emergency displacements.
What has hands but can't clap? A clock!
Why did the banana go to the doctor? Because it wasn’t peeling well!
What has to be broken before you can use it? An egg!
Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot!
What has one eye but can’t see? A needle!
Why don’t skeletons fight each other? Because they don’t have the guts!
What can you catch but not throw? A cold!
Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems!
What is full of holes but still holds water? A sponge!
What kind of room has no doors or windows? A mushroom!
What did one wall say to the other wall? "I'll meet you at the corner!"
Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!
CHUNK
CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS DIRECTORY
OBITUARY
MALCOLM MARK HOVEY
HAROLD MATTHEWS, Real Estate Broker
Century 21 First Canadian Corp. 519-670-6780
Put over 35 years of experience to work for you.
INSURANCE
After a hard-fought battle, Malcolm Mark Hovey died, surrounded by loved ones at Woodstock Hospital in the early hours of Thursday, December 12, 2024.
Mark was one of a kind. His 6’5” frame and larger-than-life personality dominated every room he entered. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick on May 28, 1967, Mark was born with the gift of the gab and was a natural-born salesman. He loved nothing more than to make people laugh.
QUIZ ANSWERS
1. February 2. Philadelphia Eagles
Jacques Cartier
Mark is survived by the love of his life, his loving wife, Linda Leyten, as well as his father Philip Hovey, his devoted brother and best friend, Todd Hovey (Denise) and his children, Patricia Nolan (Kip), Trevor Meldrum and Erika Esser (Travis), as well as his four grandchildren and his nieces Lauren, Nevaeh, and Ashley, whom he loved dearly. Mark is predeceased by his beloved mother Sandra Hovey. Mark’s passing leaves a giant hole in the lives of all who loved and knew him. He is missed tremendously.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Mark at the Unifor Local 88 union hall at 364 Victoria St., Ingersoll on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 1-4pm.
Mark will be returned home to his beloved Saint John, New Brunswick where a service will be held later.
Shade trees, Fruit trees, Apple, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Sweet and Sour Cherries, Apricot, Nectarines, Blueberry, Haskopp, Black Chokeberry, Grapes etc. Lots of Spruce, Pine, Cedars for windbreaks and privacy hedges, Sizes 1 to 6+. Flowering shrubs and much more. Come check us out Mon-Sat 7:00am6:00pm Martin's Nursery, 42661 Orangehill Road, Wroxeter (1 concession north of Wroxeter on Belmore Line)
Have you been affected by someone else's drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups could help YOU! Call for time and place. 1-800-7069833 or App Available SERVICES
2025 tourism innovation grant applications are open
LEE GRIFFI Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Oxford County Tourism Innovation Grant is back for another year! Community Futures Oxford has teamed up with Tourism Oxford and Rural Oxford Economic Development to award three grants of $3,000 to local businesses that will develop or expand tourism experiences in Oxford County.
“With growing interest in domestic travel destinations, it is important to offer exciting and innovative visitor experiences to motivate longer stays and increase year-round visits. The Oxford County Tourism Innovation Grant encourages businesses to consider growing revenue through tourism,” said a news release.
Businesses that meet the eligibility criteria are invited to apply for the Oxford County Tourism Innovation Grant by Feb. 21. The grant committee will then invite finalists for an in-person interview, following a thorough review and scoring of each application. Applications will be evaluated on creativity, innovation, feasibility, economic and community impact, as well as equity and inclusion.
“We’ve seen some really creative projects in the past three years and it’s exciting to support initiatives and proj-
ects that build local business while encouraging more visits to Oxford County,” said Al Simm, General Manager at Oxford Community Futures.
“We are hoping to see some more innovative projects this year,” he explained.
Simm is encouraging any business meeting the eligibility criteria to apply.
“The applications are reviewed and scored by an independent roster of judges who will decide on the winner in March when the finalists are invited to present their ideas during a Zoom call.”
Wareing
Cremation Services
We are pleased to announce that the move to our new location will be complete on Friday February 21, 2025…..a larger and that we are just putting the finishing touches on.
Waareing
We are pleased to announce that the move to our new location in Tillsonburg will be complete on Friday February 21, 2025…..a larger and brighter space that we are just putting the finishing touches on.
Our new address is 161 Broadway Street in Tillsonburg
Cremation Services
We are pleased to announce that the move to our new location in Tillsonburg will be complete on Friday February 21, 2025…..a larger and brighter space that we are just putting the finishing touches on.
Waareing
Simm added his organization is proud of the work it is doing in partnership with Rural Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Oxford.
“We hope this year’s process uncovers the next great project,” he added. Last year’s recipients were Thames River Melons, Habitual Chocolate and The Thoughtful Artisan. More information is available at https://cfoxford. ca/tourismgrant/.
Wareing
Our new address is 161 Broadway Street in Tillsonburg, Ontario.
Our new address is 161 Broadway Street in Tillsonburg, Ontario
Cremation Services
Cremation Services
We are pleased to announce that e to our new location in Tillsonburg will be complete on Friday February 21, 2025…..a larger and righter space that we are just putting the finishing touches on.
Our new address is 161 Broadway Street in Tillsonburg
1 in 3 kids in Canada is at risk of going hungry every day. Help us to make a difference for the Ontario Student Nutrition Program in all publicly funded schools in Oxford.
February 14-21
For $10, you can provide one student with one week of snacks at school
pleased to announce that to our new location in on Friday February 21, 2025…..a larger and brighter that we are just putting the finishing touches on. Our new address is 161 Broadway Street in Tillsonburg, Ontario
establishment is a familiar building on the downtown located right on the corner of Broadway and Ridout St. W.
All of our contact information will remain the same.
Our new establishment is a familiar building on the downtown streetscape, located right on the corner of Broadway and Ridout St. W. All of our contact information will remain the same.
Our new establishment is a familiar building on the downtown streetscape, located right on the corner of Broadway and Ridout St. W.
It has been almost eleven years since we first opened our doors Your confidence in our abilities with Final Arrangements is so appreciated.
It has been almost eleven years since we first opened our doors in Tillsonburg. Your confidence in our abilities with Final Arrangements is so very much appreciated.
Tillsonburg Establishment
Tillsonburg Establishment
All of our contact information will remain the same.
Woodstock Establishment 161 Broadway Street 225 Norwich Avenue 519-409-5575 519-290-5575
Woodstock 161 Broadway Street 225 Norwich 519-409-5575 519-290
Our new establishment is a familiar building on the downtown streetscape, right on the corner of Broadway and Ridout St. W.
Our new establishment is a familiar building on the downtown streetscape, located right on the corner of Broadway and Ridout St. W.
All of our contact information will remain the same.
For $50, you can provide an entire classroom with one week of snacks
All of our contact information will remain the same.
It has been almost eleven years since we first opened our doors in Tillsonburg. Your confidence in our abilities with Final Arrangements is so very much appreciated.
It has been almost eleven years since we first opened our doors in Your confidence in our abilities with Final Arrangements is so very appreciated.
It has been almost eleven years since we first opened our doors in Tillsonburg. Your confidence in our abilities with Final Arrangements is so very much appreciated.
Tillsonburg Establishment
Tillsonburg Establishment
Woodstock Establishment 161 Broadway Street 225 Norwich Avenue 519-409-5575 519-290-5575
Woodstock Establishment 161 Broadway Street 225 Norwich Avenue 519-409-5575 519-290-5575
