Echo - June 19, 2026

Pride movement victimized by acts of vandalism

LEE GRIFFI Editor

Provincial Police in Oxford are investigating mischief and theft at a business in Norwich Township. That business is Gunn’s Hill Cheese but it wasn’t any of the products they produce, it was their business sign. Schools and homes in the Norwich area have been vandalized and stolen in recent weeks, something which prompted owners Colleen Bator and Shep Ysselstein to take to social media with a joint statement on June 9.

“As small business owners in Norwich Township, we want to call out the hate crimes that have happened in our community in the last 72 hours. The Pride flag at our son's school was stolen yesterday from East Oxford Central Public School. The Pride flag from Colleen's school, where she teaches, Delhi District Secondary School, was stolen the day before. Our other local elementary school, Emily Stowe Public School, had their flag burned, then another stolen and then their pole cut down. Not to mention the endless flags that have been stolen from private property throughout our community.”

Between June 12, and June 13, a mailbox and company sign were damaged and stolen at the business on Gunns Hills Road. Investigators are asking neighbouring businesses and residents to review any video surveillance from that night. The United Church in Norwich, Emily Stowe Public School, along with many private residences in Norwich, have also been targeted.

The couple released a second social media post following their own property damage.

POND PROBLEMS

The fight between the Woodstock Navy Club and the City of Woodstock over how the group’s pond water level has dropped continues. The city has received a consultant’s report but isn’t prepared to release it yet. Story below.

Woodstock Navy Club calls out city over pond woes

LEE GRIFFI Editor

The Oxford County Naval Veterans Association wants answers from the City of Woodstock, and it looks like they are a little closer to getting some.

The Navy Club, as it is more commonly known, released a May 15 letter it sent to the city to the public on June 15 on social media.

The Echo reached out to its writer, Lyle Ball, the club’s treasurer, who said he was told by the city it had received interim report on May 19 but some items in it needed to be clarified. He quoted an email from city engineer Harold DeHaan.

“I read it this morning based on our first read. There are a few

items that need to be clarified. I'm going to respond to the consultants this week to address these items and revise the report accordingly. I will circulate the revised report when received.”

City council set aside $50,000 for the study, and Ball said the club hoped for a timely response from the city, one which never came.

“He wrote back an e-mail saying the city received a draft report but he had some questions and concerns about it and sent it back to the consultant to be addressed. We are still waiting for the revised draft report.”

The Echo reached out to the city for an update and received the following statement.

(LEE GRIFFI PHOTO)

Consultant report behind schedule as fishing events cancelled again

“The city recognizes the frustrations that have been expressed. We have provided regular status updates to affected parties as information has become available whenever requested, and we will continue to do so. We remain committed to working through the challenges surrounding the pond and toward a resolution that supports the interests of everyone involved,” said Tatjana Milne, manager of marketing and communications.

“As noted earlier, staff are currently reviewing a draft report from the consultant regarding the pond’s water levels, and a report with recommended next steps will be brought to council,” she added.

Ball didn’t hide his frustration with what he believes is a lack of transparency.

“The city has not provided updates on a regular basis, only when asked then nothing was really said. I do not agree with this statement. They have had the draft reports since May 19 and done nothing with it. That's why the frustration from our side.”

He added the Navy Club has been without a fully functional pond since the fall of 2024.

“This has been a slow-moving train, and we're kind of at the end of our rope because all we keep getting is the runaround and we're sick of it because it's coming up two years this November that they caused this.”

According to a presentation made to the city last year by the Navy Club the pond is springfed. In November 2024, construction began on the City's Engineering building addition at 944 James Street, adjacent to the Navy Club. The club says the pond's water level began dropping to the point of approximately two feet and it still has not recovered.

The club believes the construction intercepted or damaged the underground spring, or hit a seam, that supplies the pond.

“They hit the water seam that goes from under our pond and then flows south to the to the brick pond water area. They hit that vein and they pumped steady for probably three weeks and we started noticing the pond level go down. The light bulb went on and we start-

ed questioning at that point.”

Ball said one day concrete trucks showed up in an attempt to plug the .

“I still believe and I'm led to believe they still have water issues and problems in the basement of their new addition. I know a few of us have been across the street. We've looked in the catch basin they put in, which basically is draining our pond, and it's running full throttle all the time. We know it's our water that's going through there and just being dumped somewhere else.”

He added the club asked the city to stop work on the site.

“We were told that the chief building official did not want to stop and he told the contractor to carry on, don't stop. And that was all happening in December three years ago.”

The site hosts several community events, including the Navy Club Kids Fishing Derby, a Veterans Fishing Outing for patients from Parkwood Hospital, and the Kids and Cops Fishing Derby.

Ball added three or four years ago the club secured grants from the Ontario Federation of Anglers (OFAH) and Hunters to stock the pond with fish.

“The sports committee followed up and they submitted again and they got approved for two years worth of grant money from OFAH. Because we couldn't put fish in a pond that we know were going to die, we've had to forego those two years of grants.”

He explained the club is feeling helpless and is skeptical anyone is interested in finding a solution partially because it’s an election year.

“Everybody wants to sit on their hands. And we just figured that we talked about this at our executive meeting last Sunday and it was agreed that, okay, enough is enough. We've got an election coming up. We know we have one or two people who are going to be retiring that's been part of this group from the city. It's time that we get some answers before people retire and the election happens or if we have a lame duck council that can't do anything because it's left to go too long.”

Ingersoll Masonic Centre

Contact: ingersollhallrentals@gmail.com

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Norwich Township business speaks out and has property destroyed

“We were targeted last night for standing up in our community for basic human rights. Our business sign was sawed off and stolen and our mailbox/post was taken,” it read.

In an interview with the Echo, Bator pleaded for change and leadership.

“The (first) three instances of hate had just happened and I didn’t hear anything from any politicians, I didn’t see the media talking about it, I didn’t see Ed Sanchuk, the Sargeant in all the OPP videos. There was no action.”

She did thank Oxford Warden and Zorra Mayor Marcus Ryan for his leadership and inspirational voice in this community.

“We hope other politicians can seek guidance from him, to know how to navigate pain into action, for Norwich Township and Oxford County.”

Bator is also a teacher at the high school in Delhi where she runs its gay/straight alliance. That school also had its Pride flag stolen.

As a result of the many instances of vandalism, the Family Pride Party at Gunn’s Hill Cheese on Saturday will have paid-duty officers in attendance. There will also be petitions available for all levels of government, Prime Minister Carney, and pre-populated letters for signatures which are ready to send to elected officials.

“We call on the OPP, our MP Arpan Khanna our MPP Ernie Hardeman, and Norwich Township Council to call out these hate crimes. We strongly invite them to be an active part of the wave of change this community needs,” she added.

Khanna did provide the Echo with a statement on the recent acts of vandalism.

“Any acts of vandalism or property damage are unacceptable. The OPP is investigating this incident, and I encourage anyone with information to contact the

police and assist with their investigation.”

Bator explained her cause does seem to be gaining traction with the media taking note, something that appears to be putting pressure on elected officials.

“I did a nine-minute interview on CBC radio in London. I called out people in the interview and all of a sudden those who sent emails to our MP and MPP are getting responses. I’m not saying it’s exactly me, but I do think I put a fire under some people’s butts.”

She added Khanna and Hardeman have not come out and called the vandalism hate crimes, but she is encouraged they are now saying something.

“In the past, they haven’t said anything to my knowledge.”

Following a rash of Pride flag vandalism four years ago both in Delhi and Norwich, Bator decided to make her support for the movement much more enduring by painting a Pride walkway in front if the business.

“I said to my husband, let’s do something permanent and hopefully it won’t be destroyed because its on private property. We do have real fears of that so we installed security cameras, but it’s been there for four years and we get endless comments from people saying thank you.”

On a positive note, Bator said she is beginning to see more people speaking out against the damage to Pride materials but much more needs to be done.

“Maybe society as a whole has become burnt out and they’re not standing up the way they used to. These hate crimes aren’t being dealt with the way I felt they were when they first happened here about five years ago. We had police multiple police cars here. There were child and youth workers to support students. Now I feel like it’s just the norm and that’s just not right.”

Woodstock man facing more driving charges

LEE GRIFFI Editor POLICE BRIEFS

Investigators from the Safer Roads Team have charged a man from Woodstock who was previously arrested in a 2024 fatal collision investigation with stunt driving in Mississauga.

Police observed the accused driving a vehicle at a high rate of speed in the area of Winston Churchill Boulevard and Argentia Road on May 23 around 1 a.m. A traffic stop was conducted without incident.

“As a result of the investigation, 20-year-old Mitchell Hunter has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act with stunt driving, speeding (102 km/h in a 60 km/h zone), failing to surrender his driver's licence and driving a motor vehicle contrary to emissions regulations,” said a Peel Regional Police press release.

The accused also received an immediate 30-day driver’s licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impoundment.

“Hunter was previously arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences following a fatal collision which occurred on Nov. 24, 2024, in the area of Steeles Avenue and Finch Avenue in Brampton. He faces charges of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm,” add-

ed the release.

He is currently awaiting trial for those charges.

Dangerous driving causing death is an indictable-only offence, the most serious category of criminal offence short of murder-related offences.

It applies when a person operates a vehicle, motorcycle, boat, aircraft, or other conveyance in a manner dangerous to the public and that dangerous operation causes someone's death.

Although the maximum is life imprisonment, actual sentences vary widely depending on factors such as the degree of recklessness, speed, impairment, prior driving record, number of victims, guilty plea versus trial, and remorse and rehabilitation prospects.

Life sentences for dangerous driving causing death are extremely rare. Many convicted offenders receive sentences measured in years rather than decades, though particularly egregious cases can result in lengthy penitentiary terms and lengthy driving suspensions.

To help keep roads safe, members of the public are urged to report dangerous driving behaviours by contacting Road Safety Services at 905-453-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by filing an online report via Road Watch. Photo and video evidence of dangerous driving incidents can also be submitted through the following evidence submission portal.

Elgin County person charged following sexual assault investigation

STAFF

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo

Provincial police have charged an individual in connection with a sexual assault investigation in Ingersoll.

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Contributors

Emily Stewart, Jeff Tribe, Paul Knowles, Scott Gillies, Alex Hunt, Kyrah Smith, Peter S.

On June 5, a 48-year-old resident of St. Thomas was arrested and charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation. The accused was held for a bail hearing, was released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Woodstock on July 14.

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Woodstock

Police say the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Oxford OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

(WPS PHOTO)

20-year old Woodstock native Mitchell Hunter faces numerous charges, including dangerous driving causing death, after a pair of collisions in the GTA.

WPS looking for input on its new strategic plan

LEE GRIFFI Editor

“Your Voice. Your Community. Your Police Service.”

That’s the theme as the Woodstock Police Service (WPS) Board is inviting residents to participate in its 2027–2030 Strategic Plan Survey.

“This is your opportunity to share your experiences, identify community priorities, raise public safety concerns, and help shape the future of policing in Woodstock. We encourage all residents to take a few minutes to complete the survey and ensure your voice is part of the conversation,” said a board press release.

Under the Community Policing and Safety Act, a force’s police service board must review and, if appropriate, revise the strategic plan at least once every four years.

“The legislation we work under is oriented towards adequate and effective

policing and the strategic plan has to address that,” explained board chair Ken Whiteford. “The current plan is going to expire at the end of the year, so we’re working now to do a new plan,” he added.

Whiteford said the survey will allow the police service to find out what the public thinks about the job they are doing.

“Kind of a report card, if you want to call it that, to see how things have been going over the last few years. We are hoping to get a lot more feedback than we have in the past.”

The plan will be developed with the help of Consilium Public Sector Services, an Ontario-based consulting firm that provides strategic, governance, planning, and organizational review services to public-sector organizations, including municipalities, police services, fire departments, EMS agencies, and government bodies.

Chief Nic Novacich said they will also

Respect and courtesy for self, others, others’ property and the environment is a traditional Canadian value which is usually taught and modelled by example in the family home and in the child’s school, place of worship and the community. Our politicians provincially and federally have not always shown respect

be consulting community partners as part of the process.

“We’ve identified probably a dozen of our community stakeholders and partners, including city council, the BIA, Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Mental Health, addiction services, Oxford County, to name a few. Consilium will be reaching out to them for in-person interviews.”

He added an internal survey is also being sent out to members of the service to get their thoughts.

“That’s the whole point of this: to get input from the community on what’s important to them. What’s working, what isn’t, to help us shape our service for the coming years. We don’t know everything, and we need the public’s help to guide us. It will basically be a roadmap for us for where we go over the next four years.”

WPS does receive feedback from residents regularly, something Novacich said is also very helpful.

vised news. Recently, there was a program on TVO implicating disrespect for others during government meetings in Iceland. They tried something new. Each member of parliament drew a seat number which they were to sit for that term. It meant that they did not sit with their party members or Cronies; they got to

“We get a lot of reaction from our social media posts. Every week we’re getting emails from people about what a great job our officers did on a call, which we relay back to them.”

Novacich said officers will be handing out pamphlets to the public on Canada Day at Southside Park to encourage participation in the survey and at StreetFest. He added the force also wants to hear from people who have criticism of the force.

Deputy Chief Jamie Taylor said that at the end of the day, WPS wants to ensure they have the trust of the public.

“We want to give them an opportunity to speak and tell us what their expectations are, both good and bad. We work in collaboration with the community, and ultimately, that’s what it's about.”

The survey can be found at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/Woodstock_ Community or by clicking the survey link on the Woodstock Police Service website at https://woodstockpolice.ca/.

prove the respect of others and efficiency of business at hand in Iceland. Why don’t we try this in Ontario and Ottawa and work together towards a common goal rather than apart with their own agenda?

Sincerely,

Canada’s Charitable Works in World War One

SCOTT GILLIES

Echo Contributor

There are a host of worthwhile charities to support in our communities around Oxford County, across our country and around the globe. Some are special projects with predefined goals and outcomes; others are long-term in nature with no set end-date but a recognition of the ongoing needs of society. A few of these charitable deeds, or the philosophy of beneficence behind them date their origins back to the time of the First World War.

Between 1914 and 1918, according to contemporary historian J. Castell Hopkins, Canada appears to have outshone and outgiven most of the other nations within the British Empire.

With a population of some 7.5 million, some $95 million was donated to the Canadian Patriotic Fund, the Belgian Relief Fund, Red Cross Funds, and the YMCA, not to mention other dedicated regimental and specialized funds and miscellaneous war calls.

On top of all that, it has been determined that the women of Canada contributed a further $40million in cash and in-kind donations and supplies.

The Canadian Patriotic Fund was supported by both Governors-General during the term of the war, His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and His Excellency the Duke of Devonshire. This Fund provided monies to the wives of servicemen. When it was first launched, the wife would receive $1.00 per day for herself. This was further topped up with contributions for the children: $7.50 per month for a child between the ages of 10 and 15; $4.50/month for a child between 5 and 10; $3.00 a month for a child under five years of age. Special allowances were also available for dependent relatives

living in the same household, or in cases of temporary need due to illness or accident. Originally designed in 1914 to support the families of 50,000 men by the end of the next year, it was realized that that number needed to be increased exponentially. The initial $5million raised soon grew to $15million.

Women’s Patriotic Leagues were established across the country, and like the ones in Norwich Township, they hosted a wide range of social fundraising activities. There were patriotic concerts, teas, Halloween dances, and food sales. Tillsonburg auctioned off a calf. The winning bid was held by William Chambers of Salford. That particular calf went on to form the basis for many of the purebred Holstein herds in Canada.

At this time of year, strawberry socials were hugely popular (and still are). One such garden party in Oxford Centre featured an orchestra and then a friendly football game between Burgessville and their host.

Some of these community events were designed to raise monies for the Red Cross. One such event saw multiple groups come together – Women’s Institutes, Ladies Aid from Norwich, Newark and Otterville – which set up booths selling goods representing the different allied countries like Japan, Russia and Italy. Participants played games, ate exotic food, and could take turns deriding the large-as-life effigy of Kaiser Wilhelm. The Norwich Gazette reported that some 1,900 people attended and that $700 had been raised.

The Canadian Red Cross was headquartered in Toronto but by the end of the war, there were more than 1,400 district branches across the country. In the opening year of the war, Canadians supported this organization by outfitting hospitals in England with such

items as bandages, blankets, pillows and socks in addition to cocoa, chocolate, jellies, fruit, pyjamas, and even coal oil stoves.

This Society as well as other agencies like Ingersoll’s Lady Dufferin Chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (one of the earliest chapters formed in Canada) were actively engaged in fundraising to send supplies overseas to the troops on the front line and to those who had been taken prisoners of war; men like Wilfred MacKay of Ingersoll and Adam Munro of Embro.

Much was also done in Canada to support the Belgian Relief Fund. Castell Hopkins wrote in 1919 that as a nation, “Canadians felt a deep sympathy and a sincere admiration for the gallant Belgian people”. We could only imagine their sufferings – a nation invaded, wives, widows and orphans, starving in their ravaged country.

A centralized committee was formed to oversee the activities of this Fund, and it was determined that the best contribution to these people would be gifts in kind: clothing for men, women and children, blankets, shoes, flour, oatmeal, sugar, dried fruits and vegetables. Shiploads of supplies and payment of freight was handled through London England which in turn was supported by American ambassador and future US president Herbert Hoover (whose mother was from Norwich Township!). Hoover was also a close friend of Woodstock’s Joe Boyle, and together they worked to secure $25million worth of food and supplies for the Romanians in 1918.

The YMCA was another agency which offered care, concern and comforts to the troops in England and on the Front. It operated convalescent camps and hospitals, canteens and bar-

racks for the troops. Whenever Canadian troops went into battle there was generally some place to get a cup of coffee or tea afterwards thanks to the YMCA. Letters to loved ones at home were often written on stationery supplied by the YMCA. As the war began to wind down, the same agency helped organize the Khaki University in England, an educational system designed to reintroduce veterans back into society or provide them with new skills. Similar agencies pursuing the same aims included the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, the Navy League of Canada, the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Girl Guides and the alumni of most Canadian universities. Of course, all of these efforts were in addition to those organized by the various churches and the many industries across the country. Canada, as a whole, came together to support each other and to support those less fortunate and those in need. Lest we forget.

route2thepast@gmail.com

Woodstock Police recover over half a million dollars worth of stolen vehicles

STAFF

The Woodstock Police Service investigated two stolen vehicle incidents that occurred on May 17, when a semi-truck and a flatbed trailer carrying all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were stolen from the area of Bysham Park Road in Woodstock.

On May 19, members of the force’s Street Crime Unit (SCU) recovered the stolen truck in Cambridge and continued the investigation.

In total, police recovered one trailer, 10 three-wheeled motorcycles, and eight ATVs, with an estimated combined value of approximately $550,000.

The Woodstock Police Service Auto Theft Unit continues to investigate and is working to recover additional outstanding stolen vehicles.

In response to the increasing complexity of vehicle-related crime investigations, police recently established a dedicated Auto Theft Investigator position. The creation of this specialized role enhances the service's ability to identify, investigate, and disrupt auto theft and vehicle fraud-related offences.

SCU members executed a search warrant at a commercial property in Cambridge on May 28 and found a flatbed trailer containing ATVs and motorcycles. The investigation revealed that the trailer and vehicles had been stolen from London, Ontario.

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo

(WPS PHOTO)

Woodstock Police recently recovered $550,000 worth of vehicles on a flatbed trailer in London recently.

Ontario Provincial Police launches "Stop-LookLive" campaign

LEE GRIFFI Editor

The West Region of the Ontario Provincial Police is launching the "Stop. Look. Live." campaign in response to ongoing concerns surrounding fatal and serious collisions at intersections across the area.

“Intersection-related collisions continue to have devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities,” explained Sgt. Ed Sanchuk, the OPP’s coordinator of media services. “In both 2024 and 2025, 13 lives were lost each year as a result of failure-to-yield and intersection-related incidents. Since May, the West Region OPP has responded to three separate intersection-related fatal collisions, each claiming five lives.”

From June 15 to June 21, OPP officers across the region will focus on enforcement and public education, targeting behaviours such as failing to stop at stop signs, failing to yield the right of way, and inattentive driving.

The announcement comes just days after a tragic collision in Mapleton took the lives of five siblings from the same Elmira family.

“The campaign was in the works prior to this tragedy occurring. We were actually looking at kicking the campaign off on (June 15) due to other collisions that were related to intersections. What we've done is we've created the Stop, Look, Live campaign. Unfortunately, it's coinciding with the tragic death of five young children who were involved in the crash,” explained Sanchuk.

He added police want to make sure people understand the campaign is about stopping and looking.

“Looking twice is going to save a life

and proceeding through so that people don't become involved in these crashes. Unfortunately, since May of 2025, we have gone to three separate crashes at three separate intersections. Each collision involved claimed the lives of five people.”

In an interview with the Gazette/Echo, Sanchuk said he had a close call with a driver on Monday morning and used it as an opportunity to educate.

“I was coming to work this morning when a driver pulled directly out in front of me. I had the right of way. They had a two-way stop sign, and they said they didn't see me. It comes down to the fact that we need to train our brain. If we need to get up earlier in the morning to make sure we make it to work on time, so we're not rushing, and we can focus on driving.”

He didn’t give the driver a ticket but was more than pleased to offer some education.

“Regardless of how upset people are, it comes down to the fact that this individual would have caused a serious crash. I was travelling at 80 kilometres an hour, and they pulled directly in front of me. I took some evasive action to maneuver my vehicle and thankfully got out of the way, but we would have seen another intersection-related crash this morning.”

Sanchuk said drivers need to focus solely on driving by putting the distractions away.

“Stop looking at your GPS, stop drinking coffee, make sure you focus 100 per cent of your driving tasks so you make it to where you need to go. But more importantly, you get home safe to your families because the last thing that anybody needs is to have a knock on the door from a police officer saying that your loved one has

been seriously injured or killed as a result of a preventable crash.”

Sanchuk said the time for people to change their driving habits is long overdue and he mentioned some egregious examples of misbehaviour.

“When you start looking at people in the mornings, again, you pull up to the intersection or at a stop sign, people are on their cell phones. Put the technology away. It's not worth risking your life for the lives of innocent people. I've also seen people doing makeup, brushing their hair. Do that at home. You don't need to be putting makeup on when you're travelling down the 401 at 100 kilometres an hour or faster.”

He added the vast majority of collisions are preventable and would ease the burden on police officers, firefighters and others.

“We just need people to know they're not invincible. We need to make sure people share the roadways, make sure they're polite to each other, and just get to where they're going safely. It really hits home for everybody that's been involved, the first responders, call takers, dispatchers, and even the good Samaritans who stopped to assist (in Mapleton). It was truly a horrific crash.

No charges have been laid, but the investigation into the collision continues.

(WEST REGION OPP X SCREENSHOT)

West Region OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk unveiled the “Stop-Look-Live” safe driving campaign on Monday. The initiative aims to eliminate preventable collisions at intersections.

Oxford County Pride Family Fun Day welcomes joy amid series of Pride flag thefts and vandalism

Members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies of all ages celebrated pride, diversity, and inclusion during a sunny Saturday afternoon in Woodstock.

The annual Oxford County Pride Family Fun Day returned to Museum Square on June 13. The event featured a variety of Oxford County businesses such as the Kiln Room, Crafty Corner Tea Room, and Commonplace Books and activities such as giant connect-four, bean bag toss, and pick a duck. Family Fun Day also included a variety of live performances from Taylor Abrahamse, Deshkan ZiiBi, and Helena Poison.

"They've been good,” said Tera Russell-Curtis, president of Oxford County Pride, when asked about festivities during the event. “We were all really nervous lead-

ing up to today, and once vendors started setting up and everything fell into place, I think we're all a little more comfortable now and happy that we're running this off today."

Oxford County Pride Family Fun Day came after a string of Pride flag thefts and vandalism in the area. Emily Stowe Public School in Norwich Township had its Pride flag removed and burned, and the replacement flag stolen, with the metal flag pole cut down. A church and some residential homes in Norwich also had Pride flags stolen.

Russell-Curtis, who uses she/they pronouns, said events like Oxford Pride Family Fun Day must go on even when such threats to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community occur.

“I think it's important for events like this to continue to happen to show that there are

more people who are going to show up and stand up against hate and collectively get together and celebrate love and inclusion,” she said.

Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese, a local business in Norwich and a strong supporter of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, had its business sign and mailbox sawed off and tossed aside the evening before the family fun day event. The cheese producer will host the Cheesy Family Pride Day on June 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will feature bouncy castles, a poutine bar, games, ice cream, face painting, and live music. Russell-Curtis encourages everyone to attend Cheesy Family Pride Day to support Gunn’s Hill.

“They've been a huge ally for the community, and they're a local business in Nor-

wich, so I think it's important to support them,” they said.

Other remaining Oxford County Pride events include an Indigenous drum workshop at Two Row Creations on June 21, a trivia night at Upper Thames River Brewing Co. on June 24, the Big Cityyy Story Adventures Tent Party and a sip and sculpt pottery workshop, both on June 27 at the Woodstock Art Gallery, and a colour party at Crafty Corner Tea Room on June 28. There will be another Oxford County Pride celebration on July 11, with more details to be announced on social media.

More information about Oxford County Pride and its events can be found online by either visiting oxfordpride.ca or the Oxford County Pride pages on Facebook and Instagram.

EMILY STEWART

Echo Correspondent

(Left to right) Lucy Purr and Charlize Angel entertained the crowd with pop favourites like “Dancing Queen” by ABBA and a medley of Spice Girls’ hits.

(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)

Taylor Abrahamse, who was a contestant on Canadian Idol, is performing.

(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)

Rainbow Storytime Celebrates Pride Month Through Books, Creativity and Community

KYRAH SMITH Echo Correspondent

On June 6, Oxford County Pride and the Oxford County Library teamed up with Commonplace Books on June 6 to present a special edition of Saturday Storytime entitled Rainbow Storytime Adventure with Mx. Rubyyy.

"It's a non-negotiable for me to be a space that welcomes everyone," said Shannon McKechnie, owner of Commonplace Books. "Not just during Pride Month, but throughout the entire year."

The family-friendly event was free of charge and ran from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attendees received complimentary flags and stickers and had the opportunity to enjoy handson crafts. The morning's main attraction was a lively reading session led by the one and only Mx. Rubyyy.

"We're very happy to welcome you all today to a very special edition of Saturday Storytime," McKechnie began. "It's going to be so much fun, but before we start, I'm going to invite Katie to introduce

herself."

McKechnie then welcomed Katie Schuett, Vice President of Oxford County Pride, who began by thanking everyone in attendance.

"We are grateful to Commonplace Books for collaborating with us on this event," said Schuett. "And the Oxford County Library. It's going to be a great morning, and I hope all of you enjoy it."

Schuett also encouraged attendees to ask questions about the event or any upcoming Pride Month activities.

"Well, let's give a nice warm welcome to Mx. Rubyyy!"

The crowd applauded as Mx. Rubyyy made a fabulous entrance, greeting children and parents before beginning the program.

"How are we doing this beautiful Saturday morning?" they asked.

Mx. Rubyyy kicked off Storytime by teaching children about alliteration through a fun interactive game. Going around the room, they asked each child their name and paired it with an alliter-

ative adjective, prompting plenty of smiles and laughter.

"Alright, so we've learned about alliteration. We've met each other, and we've learned some names. Should we read some books?"

Mx. Rubyyy read three books throughout the morning. The first was The Bear Fairy by Paul Coccia, an adorable picture book that blends humour with an important message about being yourself.

The second book, Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, showcased the power of creativity and self-expression through its beautifully illustrated story.

The final selection, Together: A Book About Community by Elise Gravel, highlighted the importance of kindness, inclusion and supporting one another.

"We're learning about communities, which are groups of people who may know each other, or may not know each other, but who support and care for one another," explained Mx. Rubyyy. "Like us;

we're a community here today."

Each of the books shared themes of acceptance, kindness and belonging, while keeping young readers engaged with humour and vibrant storytelling.

Following the readings, the audience rewarded

Mx. Rubyyy with a big round of applause before Schuett returned to share some closing remarks. Schuett thanked everyone once again for attending and highlighted several upcoming family-friendly Pride Month events.

As families gathered for

photos and one last craft, Rainbow Storytime Adventure ended, leaving attendees with messages of kindness, inclusion and community. For more information on upcoming Pride Month events, visit Oxford County Pride's website.

(KYRAH SMITH PHOTO)

Mx. Rubyyy reading the Bear Fairy, by Paul Coccia during a special edition of Saturday Storytime at Ingersoll's Commonplace Books'

RETIREE’S BREAKFAST

STAFF

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo

No matter where you live in Oxford County, the 2027 budget survey is your chance to have a say on which services should be a priority in the coming budget year.

Information collected will help the county and local area municipalities know how well their services are understood, how they are valued, and which ones are a priority for residents.

“The survey asks residents and business owners from Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Ingersoll, Norwich, South-West Oxford, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and Zorra about services they receive from their local area municipality, such as fire services, building and drainage services, parks and recreation, by-law enforcement and more,” according to a county press release.

It also asks about services provided by Oxford County, such as roads and bridges, waste management, long-term care

at Woodingford Lodge, paramedic services, human (social) services, water and wastewater, community planning and others.

Each participating municipality receives and reviews its own survey results to help plan 2027 budgets.

Municipal property taxes collected from Oxford County residents are distributed to other municipalities (township, town or city), Oxford County, and the local school board designated by the homeowner according to the education tax rate set by the provincial government.

Oxford County’s special budget meetings for the 2027 Business Plan and Budget take place on December 10 and December 14, after the swearing in of a new council in November following October’s municipal elections. The 2027 budget will be presented for final approval at a regular council meeting on Jan. 13, 2027.

The survey is open until August 31 and can be found at www.oxfordcounty.ca/ speakup.

Oxford County opens annual online budget survey theecho.ca

holy smokes backyard bundle giveaway

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo SPORTS

Woodstock track star kicking off training sessions for young athletes

GRIFFI Editor

Alex Harmer didn’t plan on embarking on a track career early in her high school days at Huron Park Secondary School, but after medalling at the Ontario championships, she decided it might be a good idea.

The 20-year-old Woodstock native is entering her junior year at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, on her way to a degree in nursing. This summer, Harmer wants to give back by offering training sessions for young athletes.

Next Level Kids Training will offer sessions at Huron Park designed to build strength, speed, co-ordination, and confidence for children aged 7 to 13, beginning on July 7. Kids can sign up for all 7 weeks for $250 or 4 weeks for $160.

“I did track and field just for fun throughout elementary school. Then I started taking it a bit more seriously from grade 8 onward. Once I got to high school, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to even do something with track because I was also playing soccer at the time,” said Harmer.

Then something happened – she got really good.

“During my grade 10 year, I went double silver at OFSAA, and that’s when I thought, okay, this is my thing. This is what I want to do after high school.”

She earned the second-place finishes in the 80 and 300 metre hurdles, something that caught the eye of recruiters south of the border. Harmer said the process was slow at first while she was with an agency, and at the time, she had her sights set on remaining in Canada.

“I was a little scared to venture out. But at the beginning of grade 12, I got an e-mail from Coach (Nathaniel) Miller at Wayne State. He invited me on an unofficial visit and then an official one, and I fell in love with the school. It was a good experience learning about all the different schools, programs and coaches. But in the end, Wayne State was the one for me.”

The level of competition is extremely high in the United States, the top country in the world when it comes to producing track and field athletes. Harmer said it's been humbling.

“It just reminds you that you just got to keep practicing and working hard and staying dedicated to your craft because there's always going to be someone there to push you. My first year was really rough for me. Moving to a new country and being a freshman was a little difficult.”

To make matters worse, she suffered an injury in her freshman year but is back on track.

“That was just not ideal, but I will say, after finally finishing a full year of running in my sophomore year, it's pretty rewarding, honestly. You feel a lot of emotions for sure. I have this saying: you've got to do the hard things to get to the good things. And that is one quote that really gets me through those hard days. It's rewarding and humbling at the same time.”

Harmer explained she thought the time was right to give back to the Woodstock community and help develop the next generation of local athletes.

“I have had so many years of gaining knowledge and experience and expertise in running and jumping and strength and speed, everything that I want to offer and

I want to give back. I want to provide kids with an opportunity to learn those foundational skills regardless of what their sport is. And that's what I really want to emphasize because, yes, I am a track and field athlete, but running, jumping, endurance and agility is needed for so many different sports.”

Harmer said she has had some interest to the training sessions to date but is aware there are many options for parents in the city.

“Obviously, it's a little difficult. I'm young, and there are so many different summer sports going on already, and it's difficult to advertise a little business like this, but I'm hoping to get more kids to join. I have an Instagram page that I post on all the time to try and spread the word. I have a flyer up, and I'm trying to get it out to schools as well.”

She can be contacted through her Instagram page at @nextlevel.alex or by email at alexhm5@icloud.com. There are two sessions available, one from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the other from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

LEE

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)

Woodstock's Alex Harmer is attending university in Detroit where she competes as a hurdler on the school's track and field team. Now, the athlete has decided to give back by offering training for young athletes.

Woodstock’s Alex Gies rides to six Cycling Canada U17 championship gold medals

JEFF TRIBE Echo Correspondent

It was a good kind of confusion. Responding to a request to produce a 2026 Cycling Canada (CC) U17 Canadian Track Championship medal for a photo, 16-year-old Woodstock resident Alex Gies sourced a shiny gold example from a considerable collection of identical and individually indistinguishable options.

“Could be one from last year,” Gies admitted of the five he took as a 15-yearold, or one of the six he earned at this year’s event from March 27 to March 29 at Edmonton, Alberta’s Coronation Centre Velodrome. “It’s a medal,” he shrugged apologetically.

CC’s website reveals the specifics of Gies’ collection of gold medals, reduced by a couple given to grandparents, hints at.

In chronological order through the 2026 championship weekend, Gies won the U17 Men Pursuit Final (eight 250-metre laps 2,000 metre total in 2:20.244 minutes, 51.339 kilometres per hour (KPH) average); finished second in the Keirin (following a pace motorcycle for three laps, before three final laps leading to a closing sprint), 0.154 seconds back of the first-place 11.893 second, 60.540 KPH performance; won the best-of-three sprint final (3 250-metre laps leading to a final 200-metre sprint), taking races one and the deciding race three in times of 11.485 seconds, 62.690 KPH, and 11.505, 62.581 KPH respectively; shared in Team Ontario’s four-member 12 lap, three kilometre team pursuit victory in 3:22.994 (52.943 KPH); Team Ontario’s 750-metre, three-lap sprint final win (49.989 second, 54.012 KPH), Gies making up a 5/10ths of a second deficit in the final lap; won the individual 500-metre time trial event in 33.319 seconds (54.023 KPH); and shared in the two-member Madison final (60 laps, 15-kilometres, partners ride alternatively on the top (easier, resting) or bottom of the track (harder, setting the pace), ‘throwing’ partners into the bottom after three or four laps, with points awarded for sprints which occur every ten laps, sprint points doubled on the final lap) event with 24 total points to the second-place 20.

Also of note, Gies set a Canadian agegroup record in the ‘flying 200’, a timed qualifier for the match sprint. His 10.993 clocking was the first sub-11-second result for Canadians, breaking a seven-year-old record held by Dylan Bibic, who went on to compete for Canada at the Paris Olympics. Gies was also five one-hundredths of a second off the Canadian age-group record in the 500-metre time trial, which begins with a gated, standing start.

“When I was absurdly close, I was kind of sad I didn’t make it,” he admitted. “But it was what it was.”

The overall translation would be, arguably, the top U17 men’s track cyclist in Canada lives a short walk away from

Woodstock CI.

Gies moved from Waterloo four years ago. His athletic background includes a mother (Tanya) who has completed triathlons and an introduction to mountain biking from his dad, Patrick. Alex enjoyed the latter enough to compete in races while looking for a way to keep his training up through the winter and gave track riding a try.

“And I liked that way more.”

Trading riding at speed down hills for the steep, banked curves of a velodrome and single, fixed gear, brakeless track bikes was an adjustment.

“It’s a different type of scary because you go so much faster,” Gies smiled.

He does six days a week of interval-based training and gym work focused on strength and conditioning, two days through the summer on the Milton velodrome, one of just three tracks in Canada, along with Edmonton’s and a third in Bromont, Quebec. Although still young and developing, his strengths would include high-end power dovetailing with sprints, and also, in a sport where there is no free ride to the podium, a willingness to embrace and complete every portion of his workouts.

“It gives you a purpose,” said Gies, who prefers heading to the start line knowing he has done everything he can to be successful. “I don’t want to have a ‘what if.’

“You know you work so hard, you have a shot at the podium.”

He won five medals at last year’s cycling nationals, upping that total this year with six golds and a silver, along with better times.

“It was a fantastic three days,” said Gies. “You don’t have to be winning all the time, but the wins help you go.”

Track racing is a combination of speed, tactics and circumstance, some head-tohead events for example, unfolding at a comparative snail’s pace before one rider decides to make a break for it.

“You can beat people who are faster than you if you outrace them.”

There is also a significant mental component to racing. Despite the fickle nature of the Keirin, Gies was frustrated he had finished second - lost in his mindrequiring a quick reboot.

“The mental game can ruin you,” he said. “You can’t let it affect you, you have to bounce back. I was obviously upset with it but it was the first day so I couldn’t let it upset me.”

Having literally been to the top of the podium in the U17 division, Gies now faces the prospect of starting at the bottom and beginning his climb through the U19 ranks nationally and hopefully beyond.

U19 does include the opportunity to compete internationally for Canada, through achieving qualifying standards, training for which has become his primary goal. His U17 victory in individual pursuit did qualify Gies for a first taste of that, a berth in Apeldoorn, Holland’s U19 showcase event.

There is a big gap from where he is now to where he wants to get to, says Gies, but he feels it is manageable should he continue to progress across the next two

Happy

years.

“We’ll see what happens,” he concluded. “It’s just a lot of training, a lot of training.”

Canada Day!

As we celebrate the spirit of a nation built on diversity, resilience, and shared purpose, we also honour the many stories, cultures, and experiences that shape our country.

This Canada Day carries special meaning as Woodstock marks its 125th anniversary. For 125 years, generations of residents have helped build the vibrant, welcoming community we are proud to call home. This milestone invites us to celebrate our past, recognize the people who continue to strengthen our city, and look ahead with confidence and optimism.

As we gather for Canada Day festivities and enhanced anniversary celebrations on July 1 and throughout the year, we also take time to reflect on our history and our ongoing commitment to truth, reconciliation, and understanding.

On behalf of Woodstock City Council and staff, we look forward to celebrating with you - honouring our past, embracing our present, and building our future together.

— Mayor Jerry Acchione

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Woodstock resident and WCI student Alex Gies captured six U17 Men gold medals and a silver at the Cycling Canada championships in Edmonton, Alberta.

Woodstock Navy Vets reveal recruiting class for inaugural GOHL season

STAFF

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo

The Woodstock Navy Vets have announced the first group of player commitments as the organization continues preparations for its first season in the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL).

“The initial signing class features a strong blend of local talent, elite AAA players from across Ontario, and experienced junior hockey players who have chosen to continue their development in Woodstock as the Navy Vets enter an exciting new chapter in the club's storied history,” said a team press release.

"We're extremely excited about the group we've assembled so far," said Darren Young, Navy Vets General. "These players represent the type of talent, character and competitiveness that we want our program to be known for. While there is still work to be done, this is an important first step in building a team that our community can be proud of."

The signings include players from communities across Ontario, along with several local products who have the opportunity to continue their development in front of family, friends and fans in Woodstock. The group brings a combination of high-end AAA experience, junior hockey experience and significant long-term potential.

"Our staff has worked tirelessly

over the past several months identifying players who fit our vision for the future," added Young. "We're building a culture that emphasizes player development, accountability, community involvement and winning hockey. We believe this group provides a strong foundation as we begin our first season in the GOHL."

The player commitments represent another important milestone for the organization as preparations continue for the 2026-27 season.

The organization expects to announce additional player commitments and hockey operations updates throughout the summer as it continues building toward opening night.

GOALTENDERS

SIGNINGS:

IAN KUBELK (2009) – WOODSTOCK – HURON PERTH U18 AAA

LANDYN QUIRK (2009) – CAMBRIDGE –KITCHENER U18 AAA

DEFENCEMEN

SEBASTIEN FORTIN (2010) – WOODSTOCK –VAUGHAN KINGS U16 AAA

COLE JOUDREY (2009) – WOODSTOCK –KITCHENER U18 AAA

WILL WRIGHT (2008) – WOODSTOCKWOODSTOCK NAVY VETS (PJHL)

JORDAN JACOBS (2007) – BADEN – NH FIREBIRDS (PJHL)

ROBERT LANDRY (2009) – SUDBURY –SUDBURY U18 AAA

COLBY BRANTON (2009) – LONDON –LONDON U18 AAA

HUNTER CURRIE (2009) – LIVELY – BIOSTEEL U18 AAA

FORWARDS

KINGSTON MCPHERSON (2008) –WOODSTOCK - WOODSTOCK NAVY VETS (PJHL)

EMRE ALVES (2009) – WATERLOO –WATERLOO U18 AAA

XANDER ZANIER (2009) – ESSEX –WHEATLEY SHARKS (PJHL)

COLE SHOUP (2008) – SPRINGFIELD –DORCHESTER DOLPHINS (PJHL)

JAXON BOONE (2008) – PORT ELGIN –MOUNT FOREST PATRIOTS (PJHL)

JOSH JODOIN (2010) – MISSISSAUGA –MISSISSAUGA U16 AAA

COLE WORSFOLD-BONNEVILLE (2008) –WOODSTOCK – WATERLOO U18 AAA

JAXON BAGSHAW (2009) – UXBRIDGE –AJAX-PICKERING RAIDERS U18 AAA

EVAN GIANNONE (2009) – MARKHAM – AJAXPICKERING RAIDERS U18 AAA

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Woodstock native Kingston McPherson was one of the signings announced by the Navy Vets as they prepare to kick off their inaugural season in the GOHL. McPherson was a member of the PJHL version of the team last season.

Fernanda Jakeman powers through 100-kilometre ultra with ‘PED’ maple syrup

JEFF TRIBE Echo Correspondent

Fernanda Jakeman finished the Sulphur Springs Trail Race 100-kilometre ultra marathon race near Ancaster with dedicated training, physical and mental toughness and a healthy dose of family and friend support.

But she also utilized an all-natural and fully legal PED - performance enhancing drams - sourced from close to home. Every 30 minutes, while fellow racers were attempting to fuel the running machines that are their bodies with a variety of protein gels and other options, Fernanda took a 30-millilitre ‘dram’ of Jakeman’s finest.

“A little bit of an advantage to have a husband who owns a maple syrup company,” she laughed.

Fernanda was running long before she married into one of Canada’s foremost syrup enterprises. She began in Grade 5, continuing through high school and electing to compete on the George Brown College varsity cross-country team over soccer, while training as a nurse.

She continued to run for pleasure around the birth of her and her husband Chad’s three children. Connecting with Run Oxford County in order to share what was largely a solo passion, Fernanda joined twice-weekly Tuesday and Sunday outings, connecting with founder Amanda Nelson, opening up a new world of possibility. A strength and endurance coach (Always Moving Endurance Coaching) who also works on a dairy farm, Nelson’s course toward ultramarathons began in 2015 while pushing kids in a stroller, who would not sleep if she merely walked.

The Canadian record holder for both 24-hour

(248.985 kilometres) and 60-hour (402 kilometres) ultras, Nelson is currently in training for the 250-mile Cocodora in Arizona. Ultra marathons are a thing apart from a 42.2-kilometre marathon, a progression which typically builds from, for example, a five-kilometre race through a 10K, half marathon (21.1K) and then full. To a degree, marathon performance is measured in speed as well as placement, and while both are factors in ultras, there is a focus on simply finishing.

Nelson emphasizes ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ training, elevation (hills), speed and also easy running work, building incrementally per week toward the race distance.

“It’s time on feet,” Nelson explained. “You don’t need to be fast in ultras, you just need to keep going and not stop.”

There is a wide range of variations, for example, 50-kilometre and mile races, Jakeman’s 100-kilometre baptism, 100-mile events, the Cocodora, or the Barkley Marathons, a 20-mile loop of harsh terrain in Tennessee runners must complete five times in 60 hours. Sulphur Springs has been running, literally, since 1992, the longest tenured ultra marathon in Canada. It's Saturday, May 23, 2026, slate offered 100-mile, 100-kilometre, 50-mile, 50-kilometre trail races, a 50-mile night relay and 100-mile team event. The following day, 10 and 20-kilometre ‘sprints’ were also available. Runners competed on a 20-kilometre loop incorporating 500 metres of elevation change via the Niagara Escarpment.

Going from Jakeman’s former five-kilometre cross-country races to a 100-kilometre event was a big jump, to put it mildly, compared even to the 50K or mile alterna -

tives. Her training began the previous December, incrementally adding five-kilometre segments as she worked toward her 100K race distance.

“I didn’t know that (shorter races) were an option,” she laughed, looking out from the start line at a cumulative distance, to put it in perspective, one travels along the 401 at the speed limit in an hour, say roughly from Woodstock to West Lorne, or alternatively, running the 16 kilometres between the Friendly City and Ingersoll six-plus times.

“I did not want to be someone who quit a race,” Fernanda admitted, a momentary sense of nervousness balanced by training and lifelong determination.

“I feel like I’m the type of person who doesn’t give up.”

Jakeman started, determined not to go out too fast, and instead maintained a consistent pace. The first trio of 20-kilometre loops went well.

“Even after the first 60, I was feeling strong.”

However, Mother Nature intervened, adding bone-chilling rain to low temperatures.

“I had nightmares of the race, and it came true,” she said, able to smile a week-plus later.

Hypothermia took its toll on some competitors; others dropped out due to injury after falling on a course made treacherously muddy. Fernanda happily took her father Pedro’s coat after three laps as the combination of rain, temperatures and slowed pace made her colder.

“I don’t think I ever felt like quitting,” she recalled, but the last two laps were definitely a challenge, forcing a deep dive into her overall racing approach and determination to finish rather than quit.

“It’s more mental (than physical),” she summed up. “More of the survival.”

Jakeman fell at the 97-kilometre mark, ‘pretty hard’, but while slowed, kept going, determined to in the words of Nelson, ‘roll across the finish line’ if she had to.

Jakeman finished 48th overall out of a field of 264 entries, eighth in the women’s division, crossing the line in a fraction of a second over 14 hours. Her lap pace was 8:24 based on individual 20K loops of 2:18.38, 2:22.51, 2:35.46, 3:07.35 and 3:35.34, respectively, the latter two reflecting both fatigue and far-from-ideal conditions as the event progressed.

Crossing the finish line was incredible, says Fernanda, the culmination of hours of competition, many more hours of training and broader support, including her husband Chad and their kids, her

tra

Saturday, May 23,

mom Sofia, who provided crepes, her dad, siblings Nathalie and Adrian, and fellow Run Oxford County members.

“Everyone was there to help me,” Fernanda said. “It was really cool and a reminder of why I do it.”

If there is a downside to

the experience, it’s its potentially addictive nature, opening the door for another, potentially longer event.

“I think that’s the bad part,” Jakeman concluded with a laugh. “I finished the 100K and I thought, ‘I can do more.’”

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Sweaburg resident Fernanda Jakeman completed her first ul-

marathon

near Ancaster, finishing the Sulphur Springs Trails Race 100K event in just over 14 hours, aided by a personal connection to her own version of ‘PED’ (held in her right hand).

Peter Ewing’s former students create CASS award in his honour

JEFF TRIBE Echo Correspondent

A little respect is coming back from Peter Ewing paying it forward through a 30year coaching career.

The well-known physical education teacher and coach graduated from Hamilton’s McMaster University after a fouryear basketball career.

“I wasn’t the best player,” Ewing claimed, developing under Bill Fowler’s guidance to finish as team captain, MVP and OUAA second team all-star. Ewing began teaching at Woodstock College Avenue Secondary School (CASS) in 1965, just two years after it opened under principal George Simmons, formerly head of tech at Woodstock CI.

Ewing would begin his coaching career at CASS, an uninterrupted three-decade string in which he never missed a season.

“Good, bad, girls, boys, and every year, it was a joy.”

Ewing says he developed further via fellow College Avenue staff member Richard ‘Dick’ MacKenzie, a 6’4” former Tillsonburg Livvie and starting centre on the men’s national team who Ewing says guarded Oscar Robertson during the PanAm Games.

Ewing taught at CASS from 1965 to 81, moving over to WCI with the Red Devils program until his retirement in 1997.

On a personal note, if memory serves correctly, Red Devils coaches Dave Alexander, who came across from Ingersoll DCI, and Lance Elliott, who came up from the elementary level at Woodstock Oliver Stephens, were game planning for a potentially difficult opponent, calling in Ewing, who was respectfully referred to as ‘The Professor’, for his input.

“If those two guys said that, it’s really complimentary,” he responded, throwing in a quick story about Alexander’s introduction to Oxford basketball. Coming in from Oshawa, he received standing-room-only space behind the curtain in the CASS main gym stage, joining a packed house watch the Knights take on the Tillsonburg Glendale Griffins in their prime, a team featuring seven-foot centre

Barry Atkinson.

“And we beat them by one,” Ewing recalled with a smile.

Following the game, Glendale coach Brian O’Rourke, with whom Ewing now plays golf, congratulated him, saying his team had played well, ‘But they’d see us at their gym.’ They did Ewing continued, gaining a measure of revenge.

“But we beat them once.”

Ewing had been teaching and coaching at the almost brand-new Woodstock College Avenue for just a few years when he noticed a young John Kozey in the hallway waiting for a change of class.

“I looked at John and said, ‘Junior basketball practice tonight, why don’t you come out?’”

Kozey deferred he was from Gobles and had never played basketball before.

“I said ‘That’s why we are here, to teach you to play.’”

Kozey did come out that evening, his basketball ‘diamond’ as promised, pretty ‘rough.’ But it was polished through five years of practice and play, to the point he finished Grade 13 as the Knights team captain, graduating to take Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. Kozey didn’t play there, but scouted for coach and former Livvie Don McRae, who went on to guide Canada’s Olympic basketball team.

Kozey got his degree, added a PhD and accepted a professorship at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.

“Deep down in my heart I believe basketball gave John the motivation, the confidence, the belief in himself, that there were no limits,” Ewing said.

That was Ewing’s approach, building humans along with athletes, respectfully paying back the people who had helped him.

“I was just giving to kids what Bill Fowler gave to me.”

Years later, respect for years of paying it forward is being given back through an award and bursary in Ewing’s name. It recognizes his contribution at CASS, particularly the willingness to reach out to students and help them grow and develop into well-rounded human beings. Criteria speak to a graduating student carrying on demonstrated academic performance at the post-secondary level, having shown a positive attitude in their studies and relationships with fellow students and the school. In addition, in-school and community leadership and participation in varsity athletics with a preference for the basketball program.

Kozey took point on an initiative also including brothers Don and Steve Fulkerson and Pat Brill-Edwards.

“It’s set up right now to run for ten years,” said Kozey, who hopes to expand its scope

further with additional support from other former students. Those seeking to see the Thames Valley website description can visit the following website: https://www. tvdsb.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/awards/ Coach-Peter-Ewing-Award.pdf. Those looking to support the initiative can visit this web page: https://tvdsb.fcsuite.com/ erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3497.

Ewing is a special person Kozey continued, who went out of his way to support people both in and beyond the classroom. His influence had a big impact on Kozey’s life, and that of others he believes.

“I thought it only just he gets recognized for that.”

Sukhmeet Randhawa was ‘really honoured’ to receive the inaugural Coach Peter Ewing Award during graduation ceremonies Thursday, June 11. Transferring from London Central to CASS in Grade 10, Randhawa was approached in the hall by members of the basketball team.

“They said ‘You’re tall, you should join basketball.’”

Initially reluctant, she went out to practice.

“I ended up making it and being not terrible,” she smiled, of what proved to be a confidence booster. “It made me do things I didn’t think I can do.”

Also, an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) medalist wrestler and three-time top six finisher, Randhawa finds sports to be both fun and a stress reliever. Her own experience with basketball, succeeding at something new, also built confidence and motivation.

“I feel it can inspire kids to try new things.”

The media session completed, Randhawa headed back, presumably to her studies, Ewing onward to honour a lunch invitation. Confessing he didn’t know who had been responsible for founding the award, he nevertheless was very much looking forward to catching up over a meal.

“That’s what coaching is all about,” he concluded with a smile. “No one says who won or lost, it’s ’It’s nice to see you again.’”

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Sukhmeet Randhawa (left) is the inaugural Coach Peter Ewing Award winner, pictured along with its namesake (right) at Woodstock College Avenue.

COMMUNITY EVENTS COMMUNITY EVENTS

TOWN OF INGERSOLL

Canada Day at Victoria Park

The Town of Ingersoll is hosting a free Canada Day celebration on Wednesday, July 1, at Victoria Park. The event will run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and feature food trucks, local vendors, family games and activities, and fireworks to cap off the evening. The event is free and open to everyone.

Happy Canada Day

Canada Day

CITY OF WOODSTOCK

Canada Day Celebrations at Victoria Park

The City of Woodstock's Canada Day celebration will take place at Southside Park from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 1. The event will feature live music, a Canadian Kids Zone, local vendors, and a spectacular fireworks show. The Canadian rock icon Kim Mitchell will headline the event, and the city will also celebrate its 125th anniversary. The celebration is free to attend, but there will be a marketplace and food trucks on site where attendees can purchase items.

SWOX and Zorra Townships hire shared deputy fire chief

South-West

(SWOX) and Zorra Townships have promoted Jeremy Wallace to the position of Share Deputy Fire Chief, serving both municipalities.

Wallace brings more than 20 years of fire service experience and a strong commitment to leadership, firefighter safety, training, and community service. He is well known for his collaborative approach, professionalism, and dedication to continuous improvement. He is also part of a proud multi-generational fire service family.

In addition to his municipal fire service experience, Wallace also serves with the London International Airport as a Firefighter and Team Lead, bringing valuable expertise in specialized and high-risk emergency response operations.

Both townships approved, in principle, a shared fire service leadership model in February. The combined salary and asso -

ciated employment costs for this position will be cost-shared equally between the two municipalities.

The intention of this model is not to amalgamate services, but rather to strengthen leadership capacity, enhance operational resilience, improve continuity of operations, and provide a more sustainable structure for both municipalities while maintaining independent fire services, governance, and community identity.

DEBBIE KASMAN Echo Contributor

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Jermey Wallace has been named the new Deputy Fire Chief for both South-West Oxford and Zorra Townships.

2026 ERTH Annual Charity Golf Tournament raises $45,000 for Alexandra Hospital Foundation

STAFF

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo

ERTH Corporation is proud to announce that the 2026 ERTH Annual Charity Golf Tournament raised $45,000 in support of Alexandra Hospital Foundation.

Held June 11 at the Ingersoll Golf Club, the sold-out event welcomed 160 golfers from electric utilities, industry suppliers, contractors, and business partners from across Ontario and beyond. For 19 years, the tournament has brought together Ontario's electricity sector to support local charities and community organizations.

Proceeds from this year's event will support Alexandra Hospital Foundation's One Chart = One Million campaign, helping fund the implementation of OneChart. This advanced electronic health record system will improve access to patient information and enhance care across the region.

"We're proud to support a much-needed local cause through this year's event,"

said Chris White, President and CEO of ERTH Corporation. "Thanks to the support of our vendors, industry partners, and fellow utilities, we're helping Alexandra Hospital Foundation move one step closer to its goal."

“On behalf of Alexandra Hospital and our entire community, I want to extend our sincere thanks to ERTH for choosing the OneChart campaign as the beneficiary of their annual golf tournament proceeds,” said Robin Schultz, Executive Director at the Alexandra Hospital Foundation. “This meaningful contribution will help enhance patient care by ensuring our healthcare teams have access to integrated, up-to-date information when it matters most.”

Since its inception, the tournament has raised more than $270,000 for charitable and community organizations, including Hospice of Elgin, Operation Sharing, St. Vincent de Paul, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Sakura House, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Epilepsy Canada, Ronald McDonald House, and others.

An ERTH golf tournament raised $45,000 for the Alexandra Hospital Foundation. From left to right are Chris White, President and CEO, ERTH; Robin Schultz, Executive Director, Alexandra Hospital Foundation; Jocelyn Facciotti, Manager, Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations, ERTH; and Eustacia Young, Executive Assistant and Corporate Secretary, ERTH

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

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Pride march and rally in Norwich caps tumultuous time for movement

LEE GRIFFI Editor

Over 200 Oxford County Pride supporters gathered at Emily Stowe Public School in Norwich on Monday night for a rally and march.

The event came after numerous flags were burned or stolen in the town, along with a flagpole being sawed off at the school.

One organizer and a former vice-president of Oxford Pride addressed the crowd before the march.

“The reason we are here matters…Nobody snaps a flagpole in half because they disagree with a colour scheme,” said Jordan Kent. “Nobody repeatedly targets flags across an entire community by accident. These acts were intended to send a message that 2SLGBTQIA+ people are not welcome here.”

Kent added the offenders want the Pride community to be quieter, less visible and less proud.

“That is why we are here today, to completely reject that message…Volunteers, families, allies, faith leaders, businesses, community members and the Norwich JEDI, we all believe everyone belongs in Oxford County. We work to build a community where young people can be themselves. Reflected, accepted and celebrated. I refuse to stand by while a small number of people try to drag our community backwards.”

The Norwich and Area JEDI Alliance, another of the event’s organizers, is a community volunteer group advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion across Norwich Township and Oxford County.

“The people tearing down these flags are not defending Norwich’s values, they are betraying them. Norwich is stronger than this. Norwich is kinder than this, and Norwich is better than this,” said Kent, who then turned his attention to Oxford’s Member of Provincial Parliament and Member of Federal Parliament.

“Where are Arpan Khanna and Ernie Hardeman? Where are their voices?”

He mentioned what he called an act of hate in April in front of Woodstock’s Turtle Island School, where a member of the Hindi community was verbally accosted by a young offender who was eventually arrested and charged by police.

“There was a lot of outrage. Statements came quickly and demands for accountability came quicker. But now, after repeated attacks on Pride flags at private residences, places of worship and schools, that same urgency seems nowhere to be found.”

Khanna recently provided the Echo with a brief statement on the string of crimes.

“Any acts of vandalism or property damage are unacceptable. The OPP is investigating this incident, and I encourage anyone with information to contact police and assist with their investigation.”

For the second straight weekend, incidents of Pride flag vandalism and theft are keeping members of the Oxford OPP busy. Between Friday, June 12, and Monday, June 15, several flags were reported stolen from multiple locations, including another one at Emily Stowe and private residences on Jerdon Street and Stover Street.

“Investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding these incidents and are working to identify those responsible. Police are encouraging anyone with information to come forward,” said a police news release.

“Residents and businesses in the area are asked to review any available video surveillance during the noted timeframes and report anything that may assist investigators,” it added.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oxford OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Provincial Police in neighbouring Perth are also investigating a series of Pride flag incidents. On June 14, police launched an investigation after receiving reports of multiple flag poles being cut down at school properties across the county.

The incidents occurred between June 13 and 14 in the areas of Perth Line 72, Perth Road 131, Perth Line 43, and Perth Road 135. Police are seeking to identify two persons of interest who are both described as male, wearing all black clothing and face coverings and carrying a saw.

The suspects were observed in the area of these mischiefs operating an ATV.

Kent, before he and the crowd marched through Norwich, called for community leaders to take the acts of vandalism more seriously.

“If vandalism is wrong, it is wrong. If intimidation is wrong, it is wrong. If targeting symbols of belonging is unacceptable, it is unacceptable. The standard cannot change depending on who is being targeted. Leadership means speaking out against hate every single time, not only when it is politically convenient.”

He also had a message of support for young people gathered at the event.

“You belong here. You do not need anyone’s permission to exist. You do not need anyone’s

approval to be who you are. And you are not standing alone. Look around you.”

Kent promised to replace any flag that is removed.

“When a Pride flag comes down, we will raise another. When hate speaks, we will speak louder. When our neighbours are targeted, we will stand beside them. And we will keep doing it for as long as it takes. Because this community belongs to all of us and we are not going anywhere.”

(LEE GRIFFI PHOTO)

Organizer Jordan Kent, far left, speaks to the crowd before supporters started their march through Norwich.

(LEE GRIFFI PHOTO)

Over 200 people hit the sidewalks of the town to support the Pride movement in the wake of considerable acts of vandalism to flags.

Oxford County and Afro-Caribbean Business Network break ground on new affordable housing development

LEE GRIFFI Editor

Oxford County and the Afro-Caribbean Business Network officially broke ground yesterday on a new affordable housing development at 175 Springbank Avenue North in Woodstock. The development is on the grounds of Bethany Lutheran Church.

Members of the Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN), project partners, and others gathered recently to break ground on construction of the 45-unit residential apartment building, which will include 23 affordable housing units dedicated to supporting seniors, single women, and women with children.

ACBN board member Ryan Knight was able to connect with the church to kickstart the project.

“I know they had been working on plans to do affordable housing, so they were looking for a partner that could help with the funding side. With us being a non-profit that has worked with different levels of government, whether it's the CMHC, the province, or a city, we had that template.”

Founded in 2017, ACBN is a non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs of African and Caribbean heritage across Canada. Knight added the county and City

of Woodstock were very receptive, something which helped the project proceed.

“In other cities, you know, sometimes you get friction from residents. Being able to execute it here, we can show that it can be done. We're not going to disrupt the town. We actually want to add value. So, this is going to be a great template for us.”

The church property contains a large property, something Knight said should help other places of worship consider similar projects.

“We could look at other churches and ask if they have extra space as well? Being able to show them this project and say this is how much space is needed. If you have it, you might as well start the process and see if you can add affordable housing to the community.”

Knight explained without collaboration from everyone involved, a project like this one would never happen. He added he and his organization have worked hard to build trust with other community partners.

“I think a lot of organizations, especially in our community, are hesitant to trust. When you can show that trust can build massive projects like this, it then reduces people's guard. Let's put their guard down. Reach out to your local community and see how you can work with them. Whatever the

idea is, let's put it all on the table, because at least it's showing us almost anything's possible.”

Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan said the county can’t be a part of housing projects without partners such as the ACBN.

“We have to invest in the entire continuum of housing. Along with that, there are partners who are going to say we are going to come and we are going to make this work. The county provides land and money, but it doesn’t happen without a partner like the one we have here today.”

He added the project will provide shelter to those most in need, including women attempting to escape gender-based or intimate partner violence.

“This project will allow those people a new opportunity to escape that. But again, without the cooperation of the Afro-Caribbean Business Network, we wouldn’t be here. We need to applaud members of the community who, for no profit, step forward and say we are going to make this happen.”

Oxford County is supporting the project through the provision of shovel ready land, a $1.2 million capital contribution, and development charge exemptions. Joint funding for the project of $1.11 million is being contributed from the Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) and the On-

tario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) funds to support 11 of the 23 affordable units.

Occupancy is anticipated to begin in the spring or summer of 2028.

(LEE GRIFFI PHOTO)

Ryan Knight from the Afro-Caribbean Network and Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan hold photos of a new affordable housing project in Woodstock on the grounds of Bethany Lutheran Church.

Embro Highland Games returns for its 87th version

CONTRIBUTED

Woodstock Ingersoll Echo

Ontario's oldest annual Highland Games is set to return on Canada Day.

The Zorra Caledonian Society (ZCS) is putting the finishing touches on the 87th Embro Highland Games, taking place Wednesday, July 1, at the Embro Zorra Community Centre. Gates open at 7 a.m., and there is a full line-up of family-friendly activities that will appeal to visitors of all ages until the day ends at 5 p.m.

There are 189 entries in the individual piping and drumming competitions, which begin at 8:30 a.m. The ever-popular Massed Bands take the Main Field at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. with a record-setting 15 Pipe Bands participating.

For guests wanting to take in some true Scottish culture, the Highland Dance competition begins at 9 a.m. and runs all day with close to 80 dancers registered. In keeping with the theme, a wide variety of Scottish vendors on site will offer jewelry, food, tartan clothing, Celtic arts and crafts and more.

The new International Tug-of-War competition has nine teams registered, coming from Northern Ireland, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario (Ellice, Bluewater, South Huron, Williamstown), Minnesota and Wisconsin to see who is the mightiest. Special thanks to the 2026 Tourism Innovation Grant from Community Futures Oxford for helping to support this international endeavour.

Heavy Events (with the popular caber toss) featuring male and female athletes from across the province start at 10:30 a.m. For those an -

imal enthusiasts, the Scottish livestock area will be open all day with breeds of cattle, horses and sheep that would have all originated in Scotland. There will be two Dog Agility shows and three Sheep Herding demonstrations.

New in 2026 is an interactive display about life at the time of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745.

Returning to Embro are three local craft breweries - Upper Thames Brewing Co. (Woodstock), Junction 56 Distillery (Stratford) and Madmash Brewery and Restaurant (Tavistock). The Paddy Stones and Devil’s Brigade (who tour the world) will each perform rousing sets of live Celtic music in the Muckle Tent. For those wanting a slower pace, the Scottish Tea Room will be open at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted by Knox Presbyterian Church, with volunteers serving a selection of teas and traditional delicious delights to enjoy in the arena lobby.

Inside the Great Hall, complete with air-conditioning, the children’s Scottish Crafts will engage our wee guests as they have fun creating Celtic-themed art. The Celtic Fiddle Showcase will take place in the morning, and after lunch David Prosser will take the stage to read from first-hand accounts of Rev. Dr. George Leslie MacKay’s life in Formosa (now Taiwan) followed by the Taiwanese entertainers bringing his stories to life through our shared connection with Zorra’s “son”. A Scottish food demonstration will also take place at 3:30 pm. Several exhibits will be available all day in the Great Hall: The Taiwanese legacy of George Leslie Mackay, an up-close look at the Scotch Thistle, the Mighty Men of Zorra, Thistle Theatre, and Heritage of Zorra by the

Beachville Museum.

Open all day outdoors will be the Wee Highlanders Play Area, popular with families and is operated by the Embro and Zorra Agricultural Society. The Oxford Weavers and Spinners Guild and the Visitors’ Information area (selling EHG merchandise and ZCS tartan) will be set up under the Embro Zorra Community Centre Pavilion. Ten Scottish clans will participate in the Games this year, rounding out a full day of family fun with a Scottish flair.

Four professional one-minute videos of the Embro Highland Games are available to watch online at www.embrohighlandgames.ca. You can save money and purchase admission tickets in advance, as adults are $ 27.50 (or $30.00 at the gate). All guests under 18 years of age are

admitted at no charge. Guests are welcome to bring a lawn chair, parking is complimentary and a shuttle service is available for those who require extra help to get to the gates.

The Zorra Caledonian Society is a non-profit community organization formed in 1937 that celebrates and promotes the Scottish heritage of Embro-Zorra. Their signature event, the Embro Highland Games, brings thousands of visitors to Oxford County and is the oldest Highland Games in Ontario. The Embro Highland Games truly exemplifies an entire community coming together for the celebration of all things Scottish! Follow us on Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.

For more information, contact President Alex McKay at president@embrohighlandgames.ca or info@embrohighlandgames.ca.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Embro’s famous Highland Games are back for 2026 with the famous event set for Canada Day

Rave Reviews Hit All The Right Notes

Oxford County looking for community feedback for new Official Plan

LEE GRIFFI Editor

Oxford County is hosting four in-person workshops and launching an online survey to gather feedback to help develop its new Official Plan (OP).

“The county’s population is expected to jump to more than 200,000 over the next 20 to 30 years. The new Official Plan will help shape this future growth by guiding housing and employment planning in Oxford, supporting infrastructure and other services, protecting the environment, and overall community design,” said a county press release.

An OP is the key planning document that directs a municipality’s future growth and development. It outlines how land should be used and ensures that new development is supported by appropriate infrastructure and public services through a series of policies and planning tools.

“The current plan was originally approved in 1995, and it has been an incredibly effective tool to help us guide growth over the last number of decades. It has been reviewed and updated from time to time over that period,” said April Nix, the county’s Manager of Planning Policy.

“We’ve kept it up to date as things have changed and as we've gone through growth and development as a community. One of the things we're finding now is that we're

seeing a lot more significant changes both in terms of the amount of population growth that we've been seeing over the last five to 10 years and the amount of population growth it looks like we're going to be dealing with going forward,” she added.

Nix added there are some other legislative and regulatory requirements in the province the county will have to meet with the new plan. She said now is the time for residents across the county to get involved in the process.

“The visioning we're doing right now will help us shape the goals and objectives for the plan in terms of how we're going to grow, where we're going to grow and what that looks like. Also, how we create a balance so we protect the things that are important to our communities like farmland, natural spaces and water resources.”

She said there are many questions to ask, including what change looks like and where there are opportunities to get behind some of that change.

“And to think about this at a county-wide scale, at a community-wide scale, to have some of those conversations early rather than waiting for maybe that individual development application to show up in your community or in your neighbourhood. This actually helps set the rules and requirements that influence those types of things when they happen at that local level.”

Nix said she would like to see people from all parts of the county get involved in the process to have their

say, and now is the time to get involved and help Oxford set the vision for the plan in terms of how to deal with growth moving forward.

“What does growth and development look like in Thamesford, in Tavistock, in the village of Norwich, in Mount Elgin or Drumbo, which are equally fully serviced settlement areas. What does growth look like in some of our rural villages, which could be substantively different from Tillsonburg, Ingersoll or Woodstock?

What are some of the things maybe that those villages need? And I'm sure there are ideas out there about that. So, you know, that kind of thinking and that kind of feedback is really, really important right now. Like, this is the kind of feedback we're looking for through the visioning workshops and through the community survey online.

Residents can attend one of four in-person visioning workshops to have their say and are encouraged to register online in advance at www.oxfordcounty.ca/official-plan-engage. The survey closes on August 31, 2026. In-person Events are scheduled in Innerkip, Mount Elgin, Woodstock and Embro between June 16 and June 25. Nix said anyone interested in attending should RSVP, so the county has enough staff on site.

To learn more, provide feedback through the online survey, or submit comments at any time throughout the Official Plan process, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/official-plan-engage.

Zorra councillor pens letter to constituents Mitchell not seeking re-election

LEE GRIFFI Editor

Paul Mitchell has decided to end his political career. The 68-year-old will not seek a third term as Zorra Township’s Ward 4 councillor.

Mitchell, who is not a social media participant, sent an email to the Echo in the hope we would inform his constituents.

“Zorra Residents, over the past two years, a number of people have asked me if I am going to run for mayor of Zorra Township. I am flattered that anyone would think that I have what it takes to hold that position,” he said.

“I think that I would receive considerable support from rural voters if I were to run for mayor. I will never know if it would be enough votes to be elected because I am not seeking that office in the upcoming municipal election,” added Mitchell.

He explained he has no desire to become what a friend of his calls a professional politician.

“Which is what is required to serve on both the Zorra Township and Oxford County councils as well as carry out all the other duties that are mandatory for, or expected of, the mayor.”

Mitchell said his two seasonal jobs, driving truck for local agricultural suppliers, is something he enjoys and he would not be able to do if he held a higher municipal office.

“I also will not be seeking re-election for a third term as the councillor for Ward 3 on Zorra Council. There are numerous reasons for me to either continue or retire from public service, so I asked myself two very basic questions. Am I willing to commit to the same level of time, effort and emotional investment for another four years? If someone were to run against me,

am I willing to run an effective campaign to keep my seat?”

Mitchell said the answer to both questions is a hard no.

“If I am not willing to commit to my job wholeheartedly and I am not willing to fight for my job, then I shouldn’t have this job. Representing the residents of Zorra on township council is too important and requires more than I am willing to give at this stage of my life.”

He added he is sharing his decision with voters with the hope that potential candidates who share his values and work ethic will put their names forward before nominations close on August 21.

“I will continue to represent you to the best of my abilities until my term ends on November 15.”

Mitchell is the third elected official in the township not seeking re-election, joining mayor and Oxford warden Marcus Ryan and Ward 1 councillor Kevin Stewart.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Paul Mitchell.

Riddles

What tastes better than it smells? The tongue.

When is a door no longer a door? When it’s ajar.

No matter how little or how much you use me, you change me every month. What am I? A calendar.

What gets shorter as it grows older? A candle.

What runs around the whole yard without moving? Fence.

What word in the dictionary is spelled incorrectly? Incorrectly.

What do you see once in June, twice in November, and not at all in May? The letter "e."

What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment, and never in 1,000 years? The letter “M.”

What is at the end of a rainbow?

The letter W!

Word Search Featured Pet

Nominate your pet to be a Featured Pet by emailing info@theecho.ca

FLOWER FRIENDS

COMING EVENTS

JUNE 28 / 9 AM - 3 PM

OXFORD COUNTY ANNUAL COIN SHOW

Woodstock Coin Club and the Ingersoll Coin Club

Woodstock Agricultural Society Fairgrounds, 875 Nellis Street, Wooodstock, ON, N4S 4C6

Admission: $4.00. Buy, Sell, Trade & Evaluate!

Kid's Table | Free Parking | Food Booth is open!

Contact: John Tryhub, (519) 608-8446

john@woodstockgoldnsilver.ca

JUNE

JUNE 19 | 7 - 9 PM

FRIDAY NIGHT EUCHRE

Old St.Paul's Church, Parish Hall, 723 Dundas St Woodstock Snacks provided. All skill levels welcome. No cost.

JUNE 20 | 10 AM - 2 PM

NATIVE PLANT SALE

Friendship House, 452 Grey St, Brantford, ON N3S 7T4

Featuring 61 different species of native perennials, shrubs, and grasses! Less than a 5-minute drive from Highway 403. Accepting Cash or E-Transfer.

JUNE 20 | SATURDAYS | 10 AM - 10 PM

PLATTSVILLE'S 175 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Plattsville Park and Arena

10 am Firefighter Breakfast, Heritage Displays 10-4, Portraits of Honour, 12 noon Parade, 1pm Opening Ceremony, 1-4 Car & Tractor Show, 2 thru 10 pm Live Music & Entertainment, Kids Activities, Vendor Market, Lions BBQ and the grand finale, an 18 minute Drone Show at 9:45 pm. Free admission. Fun for all ages. Thanks to our Platinum Sponsors - Canadian Heritage and North Blenheim Mutual Insurance celebrating 165 years. www.plattsvilledistrictheritagesociety.com

JUNE 22 | 4:30 - 7:30 PM

FOOD TRUCKS AT GRACE UNITED CHURCH TAVISTOCK

116 Woodstock St. S. Tavistock Berlin 95, Born2Eat, El Milagro, Ish n Chips Donations to TAP, Tavistock Assistance Program

JUNE 27 | 9 AM - 3 PM

THIRD ANNUAL VILLAGES OF SALLY CREEK CHARITY CAR SHOW

Community Center -330 Lakeview Rd, Woodstock Door prizes, Touch A Truck, Todd’s Dogs, DJ. All proceeds to Domestic Abuse Services Oxford (DASO). Spectator admission: free, Vehicle admission: $10 Info: (519) 290-1173, email: larry.e.oliver@gmail.com

JUNE 27 (RAIN DATE: SUNDAY, JUNE 28) | 9 AM - 4

PM

FLY DAY & OPEN HOUSE

Tillsonburg Regional Airport, 244411 Airport Road, Tillsonburg

FREE Admission. Come fly with us! Join us for our June Open House and Fly Day. We welcome everyone to this FREE-admission, family-friendly outdoor event that offers aviation enthusiasts the opportunity to see our collection of vintage Harvard aircraft up close, tour our hangars, explore our restoration projects, purchase souvenirs, and best of all, go for a flight! (additional cost for flights). Come explore North America's largest fleet of Harvard aircraft and what the volunteers are doing to keep the history and legacy of these Second World War warbirds alive. While pre-booking flight experiences is not necessary, it is recommended. Contact crewflights@harvards.com to ensure your seat! In case of inclement weather, check our Facebook page for RAIN DATE updates.

JUNE 29 | 4:30 - 7:30 PM

FOOD TRUCKS AT GRACE UNITED CHURCH

TAVISTOCK

116 Woodstock St. S. Tavistock

Pablas Street of India, Swat, Fo Cheezy Donations to TAP, Tavistock Assistance Program

JULY

JULY 6 | 4:30 - 7:30 PM

FOOD TRUCKS AT GRACE UNITED CHURCH TAVISTOCK

116 Woodstock St. S. Tavistock

Siggi's, Los Rolling Tacos, Berlin 95 Donations to Camp Bimini

JULY 6-10 | 9 AM - 12:30 PM BASKETBALL POWER CAMP

Huron Park Baptist Church, 199 Berwick St, Woodstock, ON N4S 7L6

Ages 5 to 14. Please call 519-421-4722 for more information.

JULY 12 | 1 - 4:30 PM

THE INGERSOLL AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2026 PARADE OF GARDENS

Go to the gazebo downtown Ingersoll from 11:00am - 2:00pm for information and the location of gardens available to tour.

All are welcome to attend! There is no cost to attend.

JULY 13 | 4:30 - 7:30 PM

FOOD TRUCKS AT GRACE UNITED CHURCH TAVISTOCK

116 Woodstock St. S. Tavistock SWAT, Pablas Street of India, Beavertails Donations to Grace United Church

ONGOING CLASSES, CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

EVERY OTHER FRIDAY | 1 - 4 PM

SPRING INTO THE INGERSOLL COUNTRY MUSIC JAMBOREE

Masonic Hall, 190 Thames St. S. Ingersoll

Join us, walk ins welcome. Qualifications - love 50-70's country music. Perform, listen, dance & enjoy! May 15 & 29, June 5 & 19.

3RD TUE. OF MONTH | 6:30 - 8:30 PM CAREGIVER CONNECTION

Revel Realty Woodstock, 111 Huron Street (Virutal/ hyrbid options available)

Are you worried about your child or youth? Parents and Caregivers for Mental Health (PCMH) is here to listen, support, and walk alongside you on this journey. Our free Caregiver Connection peer support groups offer parents

and caregivers a community of support. Can’t make it in person? Join one of our virtual or hybrid groups! Visit family. cmho.org or email oxfordcounty@pcmh.ca for more information.

EVERY FRIDAY | 1 PM

TILLSONBURG DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB

Tillsonbur Senior Centre, 45 Hardy Ave, Tillsonburg Don’t have a partner? Come anyway and we will match you up with someone. For more information, visit their Facebook page: TburgBridge.

2ND TUES. OF MONTH (SEPT. TO MAY) | 2 - 4 PM

4TH TUES. OF MONTH (SEPT. TO MAY) | 7 - 9 PM OXFORD PHILATELIC SOCIETY

Church of the Epiphany, 560 Dundas Street, Woodstock Ontario N4S 1C7

If you have never belonged to a stamp club, now's the time. Meet new friends, grow your knowledge and collection. Contact: Don Eaton dhfe@silomail.com. Website: http://www. rpsc.org/chapters/oxford

LAST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH | 10 AM - 12 PM MONTHLY VON BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC

Ingersoll Pharmasave, 19 King St. E., Ingersoll Last Tuesday of every Month.

3RD WED. OF MONTH COLOURING THROUGH GRIEF

Caring Hearts Support Network: St. David's United Church, 190 Springbank Ave., Woodstock ON One time fee of $15. Registration is required. Call 519-536-3370. Check out website www.caringheartssupportnetwork.com

3RD WED. OF MONTH | 6:30 - 8:30 PM

PEER SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS 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

VON OXFORD SUPPORTIVE CARE PROGRAMS

Navigating any form of grief can feel overwhelming; however, with the right support, guidance, and education, individuals can discover a pathway to healing.

VON Oxford Supportive Care Programs offer assistance for grief stemming from various circumstances, such as the death of someone, caregiving, serious illness diagnoses, and life transitions. Through education, connection, and compassion, our programs create a safe space for individuals to explore their emotions and learn effective coping mechanisms during the grieving process

Contact us today to learn more about VON Oxford Supportive Care Programs. Email: oxford.griefsupport@ von.ca, Phone: 1-888-866-7518. All Programs are Free-ofcharge.

4TH WED. OF MONTH | 1 - 2:30 PM

GRIEF SUPPORT FOR MAID RELATED LOSS 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. To register or inquire about an evening group, contact Deb McKay at 519-866-3016 or email faye@compassionategriefsupport.ca.

OXFORD COUNTY DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM

Are you looking for support with your Diabetes? Our Team of Registered Nurses, Registered Dietitians and a Social Worker is here to support YOUR goals. We can help with medication adjustments, lifestyle and diet changes, stress management, weight reduction strategies and more. Appointments are available at Alexandra Hospital Ingersoll and Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital and by phone. SELF REFERRALS ARE WELCOME. Please call 519485-9611 to book an appointment. Let’s work together!

COMING EVENTS CROSSWORD

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

THE LIONS CLUB OF WOODSTOCK

The Lions Club of Woodstock has been serving the community and Oxford County with kindness and generosity since 1931. The Lions always place the needs of neighbours and communities first. Through the dedication and hard work of our volunteer members, we are serving those in need together. If you are interested in becoming a member or simply wish to learn more by attending one of our monthly meetings, please email Steve Iorio at steveiorio4@ gmail.com for more information.

OXFORD COUNTY BRANCH OF ONTARIO ANCESTORS

Are you looking to start a summer pastime? Are you interested in your family history? Oxford Branch has an extensive collection of family history and genealogical resources that can help you.

Come visit our Resource Centre at 82 Light Street, Courthouse Square, Woodstock. We are open Tuesdays to Thursdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Volunteers are ready to help you get started or help you research for missing information. You can also connect with us on the web at https://oxford.ogs.on.ca. We are dedicated to supporting and promoting genealogical research in Oxford County. Hope to see you through the summer!

BEACHVILLE LEGION EVENTS: 434852 ZorraLine, Beachville

WEDNESDAYS | 7-8 PM GENTLE CHAIR YOGA

WEDNESDAYS | 7:30 PM HUMP DAY DARTS, FREE POOL

THURSDAYS | 7 PM EUCHRE

FRIDAYS | 8 PM DARTS, FREE POOL

JUNE 11 | 7 - 8 PM LINE DANCING

JUNE 11 | 8:15 - 9:15 PM WEST COAST SWING DANCING

FRIDAYS | 8 PM (CLOSED MAY 15) DARTS

JUNE 20 & 28 | 1 - 4 PM

THAMES VALLEY BLUEGRASS AND OLD TIME COUNTRY PICKERS

Open Mic (acoustic only). Come enjoy the

music!

JUNE 24 | 4:30 - 6 PM

OX ON THE RUN MOBILE LIBRARY

JUNE 27

CANADA DAY CELEBRATION

LINE DANCING: 12 - 1 PM

LIVE MUSIC BY 50 SIXTY BROTHERS: 1 PM

PROGRESSIVE EUCHRE

TOURNAMENT: 1 PM

BBQ, YARD GAMES, CHILDREN’S CRAFTS

JUNE 27 | 7 - 11 PM

KARAOKE WITH KEN PYLE

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 55 EVENTS: 642 Dundas St, Woodstock, ON

COME PAINT WITH US!

Our Legion is Celebrating 100 years of Service to our Veterans community and the City of Woodstock. Help us honour them with a community mural project. Anyone interested in participating is welcome. Youth taking part in our community mural project, will be credited with community hours. We are also looking for donations to off-set the of cost to the necessary supplies and equipment required for this community project! For details contact: rclbranch55@rogers.com

JUNE 20 | 7 PM - 12 AM

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER 70S, 80'S, & 90S DANCE

Tickets are available. DJ Wolfeman is the Entertainment. Canteen will be closed after 6:30pm - there will be prizes that evening. For more details contact the Legion.

JUNE 28 | 5 - 6 PM

STEAK BBQ (MUSHROOMS OR ONIONS) WITH POTATO SALAD & DEVIL EGGS & SIDE SALAD

Dessert lemon pie, per-order and pay NO LATER June 20th, NO WALK INS. Contact the Legion for more details.

FRIDAYS | 7 - 9 PM

COUNTRY LINE DANCING

Dessert extra. Pre-order and pay by May 19th. please call the Legion 519-5373112/519-539-3401 or email rclbranch55@ rogers.com to order.

FRIDAYS | 7:30 PM CRIBBAGE

SATURDAYS | 7 - 11 PM

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT:

JUNE 20 - DJ WOLFEMAN

Until 12 am (must buy a ticket for this)

JUNE 27 - CHUCK MOYER'S 60TH MUSIC ANNIVERSARY

Bird Friendly Woodstock Team issues public call-out to help select official avian representative

points reflecting threat reduction, habitat protection, restoration and climate resilience, and community outreach/ education.

“But he was overruled,” said Skevington, who personally saw some argument for a ‘sexy’ if perhaps lesser-known option.

The City of Woodstock is officially for the birds.

“Nature Canada's ‘bird-friendly’ designation was recently confirmed,” said Sharron Skevington, a member of the unofficially titled Bird Friendly Woodstock Team, a subcommittee of the city’s Environment Advisory Committee (WEAC).

Nature Canada welcomed the Friendly City on June 5 along with Ottawa and Caledon, Ontario, and Mont-SaintHilaire, Quebec, into a 41-municipality flock taking action to promote bird-friendly environments.

Woodstock was identified as a community located on the banks of the Thames River, hosting valuable wetlands and varied shoreline ecosystems for both resident and migratory populations. The city’s provision of green spaces, urban pollinator gardens and recreational hiking trails through natural areas was mentioned.

The Nature Canada website also cited the positive efforts of WEAC, Woodstock Field Naturalists (WFN), the Upper Thames Conservation Authority, as well as community members.

“This designation reflects the city and the Environmental Advisory Committee’s (WEAC) ongoing dedication to safeguarding and protecting bird habitats, supporting conservation initiatives, and fostering a community that values the beauty of the birds that enrich our environment,” said Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione.

Councillor Mark Schadenberg added his congratulations to the committee for their successful application.

“Many studies note the dwindling number of many species of birds in Ontario, and our community is joining a group of environmentally conscientious communities by thinking more about birds and their habitat and also recognizing their importance to the ecosystem.”

Skevington explained communities qualify by gaining

“In general, these are reflected in bird-positive actions including increasing habitat such as the Brick Pond Wetlands, trail systems and native plants which promote pollinators; enhancing avian safety, a term which can include keeping cats indoors or monitoring their potentially bird-harming behaviour while outdoors as well as bird-friendlier building design incorporating bird-friendly glass and reduced light pollution.”

She added reducing pesticide and herbicide use and ongoing Bird Team and WEAC focus on outreach through platforms including What’s On Woodstock Magazine and official social media channels are also part of the program.

The committee’s next focus will be on which bird should receive official Woodstock designation.

That process began with non-binding individual ballots at a WFN meeting, the results of which were presented to the City of Woodstock council. There was considerable support for the crow, said Skevington, along with mention of the Canada Goose, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, the Chimney Sweep and a vote for the lone Peregrine Falcon which resides atop a church steeple in downtown Woodstock.

One councillor suggested the Cowbird in an oblique reference to the Springbank Snow Countess statue/monument.

“But that wasn’t the general thinking,” she said. “We wanted to get people involved and birds they would recognize or have heard of seemed a better option.”

In the end, the American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee and Song Sparrow were selected as the three finalists, with the winner to be chosen via a public vote. Online voting is accessible through the website: https:// www.cityofwoodstock.ca/bird, or by the portal connected to a printable ballot at https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/ media/2jqex1bv/woodstock-bird-voting-print-ballot.pdf) which can be dropped off at Woodstock City Hall. Voting closes Thursday, July 9, at 4 p.m.

All three finalist birds are year-round residents, the first described as featuring yellow colouring echoed in the Peanuts character ‘Woodstock’, the second regarded as one of the friendliest bird species, dovetailing nicely with ‘The Friendly City’, and the third’s name evoking a natural connection to music, potentially suggestive of the famous Woodstock music festival.

“I like them all,” said Skevington, a sentiment both echoed and amplified through an overall process she hopes will promote the public’s interest in birds along with recognizing and supporting their importance in our world.

“Just to get people talking and thinking about birds is big,” she concluded.

JEFF TRIBE Echo Correspondent

(RICHARD SKEVINGTON PHOTOS)

From left, the three finalists for Woodstock’s designated official bird, the American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee and Song Sparrow.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The Bird Friendly Woodstock Team, instrumental in assisting the process of the official Nature Canada designation, from left to right: Elizabeth Spedaliere, Annette Taylor, Elise Gabrielli, Councillor Mark Schadenberg, Mayor Jerry Acchione, Carlos Gregorio, Sharron Skevington, Richard Skevington, and Prof. Dinath Ratnayake. April Scholz, Lisha Berzins and Sara McCreery were absent from the photo.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Beech,