Members of the St. Marys Lincolns celebrate Chase MacQueen-Spence’s goal during the Lincs’ 6-0 victory on Feb. 8 over the Komoka Kings. MacQueen-Spence is currently on a four-game goal streak and a five-game point streak. See the full story on page 14
A longstanding dispute between St. Marys’ pickleball and tennis groups over use of the town’s existing courts appears to be closer to resolution after representatives of both groups worked with councillors and town staff towards at least a short-term solution as part of an ad-hoc committee Feb. 5.
As part of St. Marys’ new recreation and leisure master plan drafted by Monteith Brown Planning Consultants and adopted by council on Jan. 28, the consultants examined the existing tennis and pickleball courts and
activities in St. Marys and recommended an immediate and long-term strategy for equitable court use between the St. Marys Pickleball Association and St. Marys Tennis Club.
Currently, St. Marys has four courts for racket sports at 550 Water St. S. The town’s two north courts have lines for pickleball and tennis, while the two south courts are painted for tennis only.
“(Painting) pickleball lines on courts; that came out of our first, original rec and leisure masterplan in 2017,” said town director of community services Stephanie Ische at the ad-hoc committee meeting. “At that time,
Ontario will be heading to a cold ballot box this month after Premier Doug Ford announced a snap election for Feb. 27.
In an op-ed written to the National Post on Jan. 28, the day his government announced the election, Ford said the threat of American President Donald Trump’s blanket trade tariffs would put 450,000 Ontario jobs on the line.
Though the 25 per-cent tariff on all Canadian goods and a 10 per-cent tariff on Canadian energy was paused for 30 days the Monday after they were to be enacted, Ford warned the threat is not going away and the province needs a stronger mandate to properly fight this trade war, a justification that has been criticized by Ford’s critics.
There are three other party leaders to watch for this election: Bonnie Crombie, leader of the Ontario Liberals, Marit Stiles of the NDP and Mike Schreiner of the Green Party.
Locally, the major four parties are represented by Matthew Rae for the PCs (incumbent), Ashley Fox for the Liberals, Jason Davis for the NDP and Ian Morton for the Greens.
Voting locations have not been released yet. Information will be available after Feb. 14. The local election office is located at the rear of 107 Erie St. Ontario residents can also vote by mail. Residents may apply on the Elections Ontario website (votebymail.elections.on.ca) and apply by 6 p.m. on Feb. 21. Elections Ontario must receive a completed voting kit by 6 p.m. on Feb. 27 to be counted.
As of publication, only those four candidates have declared for Perth-Wellington, though candidate nominations close on Feb. 13 and a full list will be available on the Elections Ontario website. To meet your candidates, see our stories on pages 8-11.
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
COMMUNITY
Clinical nutritionist and health-coach services now available at AD Aesthetics & Medispa
Good things happen when a plan works out. This is the case at Angela Dawn Aesthetics & Medispa on Water Street with the introduction of clinical nutritionist Danielle Reid
Owner Angela MacPherson has been offering aesthetic services in St. Marys since 2017 and has been at her current location at 26 Water St. S for 2.5 years. She has seen her business evolve from nails, waxing, facials, permanent makeup and, now, many more services like cosmetic injections, Halotherapy salt therapy, Coldture cold plunge among others.
The business currently has two fulltime aestheticians, part-time receptionist, a part-time nurse, a massage therapist starting in July and now Reid, who rounds up this talented, passionate team. Reid was a client at the Medispa and knew MacPherson for quite a while. The two got to talking about the importance of the nutrition industry and has said if space became available, Reid would be interested in working from the clinic. The rest is history.
Reid studied in the U.K. and earned her Bachelor of Nutrition Science. She is extremely knowledgeable in the foundation of understanding the human body
and how food and nutrients work within us to find the right balance for optimal health. With so much misinformation and confusion out there over how to eat, Reid enjoys teaching people that when you feed your body with the proper nutrients, it will do a lot for you. Her own health journey has helped her support
those who want to get past the yo-yo diets and quick fads, and learn the foundation of eating for health.
When clients meet with her for the first time, they fill out a questionnaire to give insight into their health and areas that can be improved upon. The questionnaire will ask about eating habits, genetics, parents’ health and more, allow-
ing Reid to evaluate current issues and learn where small tweaks can be done that work best for the client. Depending on the client’s plan, this service may be covered by insurance.
MacPherson is very excited to have Reid as part of the team.
“I like that we can tackle skin issues, self-esteem and body dysmorphia all in one place. I always like to listen to people on what they are going out of town for or searching for. I try to bring that in and it just happened very organically.”
She also told the newspaper she loves the passion Reid has for nutrition and helping people.
“I like being part of a team environment and I am looking forward to serving the St. Marys community,” Reid said. “I am here to help make health and nutrition easier and sustainable for people to stick to their goals”.
On Wednesday Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., Ad Aesthetics and Medispa is hosting a nutrition talk called Nutrition Made Simple. There are 10 spots available. Call 1-226-661-2345 or email ad.medispa@ gmail.com for more information or register for the event.
Reid’s hours are Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but she also does more flexible virtual services. To book an appointment, visit angeldawnmedispa.ca. Follow Reid on social media @restoreandrevivewellness.
Clinical nutritionist Danielle Reid joins Angela MacPherson from Angela Dawn Aesthetics & Medispa where she will offer health coaching to clients.
(WENDY LAMOND PHOTO)
WENDY LAMOND Independent Reporter
First Riverwalk Gardens Community Gardens meeting flourishing in education
EMILY STEWART Independent Reporter
Despite the snowy, icy, winter weather, a group in St. Marys residents is already thinking about gardening.
About six residents of St. Marys gathered at Riverwalk Commons Feb. 5 for the first Community Gardens meeting.
Melissa Barton, owner of Riverwalk Commons, ran the meeting to discuss the vision and goals of the community gardens. The ratio of native to non-native plants, the types of plants to be planted together and further readings were discussed.
Participants also had a chance to try winter sowing with seeds from plants like the Hairy Beardtongue and Spotted Beebalm to eventually place in the garden.
"I'm excited. I'm excited to learn,” Barton said. “I feel like there's so many people in this community who have the knowledge and, together, we're going to create."
She talked about partnering with the Indigenous-led Two Row Now to host programming, cultural activities and educational opportunities in Huron and Perth counties such as sessions on planting Three Sisters Gardens with the Holy
Name of Mary Catholic School’s Grade One and Two classes.
Two Row Now is supported by United Way Perth-Huron and the Sixties Scoop Foundation. The Town of St. Marys approved $3,000 worth of community
grant funding to cover up to 25 per cent of the garden’s costs. Expanding the Three Sisters Garden programming and additional Indigenous-led teachings in spring and fall harvest seasons is part of Riverwalk’s goals with the community
gardens.
"I think it's part of our responsibility,” Barton said, “both as part of Truth and Reconciliation efforts but also for us to help our children so the next generation all the way through the seven generations from now; they'll be able to take care of the Earth and the Earth will take care of us."
Other goals include establishing more pollinator-garden strips, adding two raised beds for native medicinal plants, sharing produce with the community and keeping seeds for further planting. Participants also enjoyed the meeting.
“This has been really quite educational,” said Arlene Callender, a member of the St. Marys’ Horticultural Society. “I learned some things about Indigenous plants and, yes, being with other people who also appreciate and enjoy planting. It's been good. Good meeting. Good start."
"I think the people that showed up have a good degree of knowledge that will help to make this a success,” Elana North added.
Anyone looking for more information can visit Riverwalk Gardens online on Facebook or send an email to info@rwcommons.com.
Arlene Callender sows seeds at the first Riverwalk Commons Community Gardens meeting on Feb. 5.
(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)
EDITORIAL
Responses to “What’s your response to Trump’s tariffs?”
STEWART GRANT Publisher
In last week’s editorial, I invited readers to contact me about how they are personally choosing to respond to Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs. This week, I wanted to share some of the feedback received.
“Buying Canadian” was a popular theme.
Reader Judy wrote me and said, “I will definitely look at labels and try to buy Made in Canada or Product of Canada. Even though it may be a factory owned by Americans, it still employs Canadian people. I wasn’t planning to travel to the states so that doesn’t bother me that I’m not going.”
Reader Madge seconded that idea, writing, “I will do my best to buy only Canadian goods; would be a great idea to put a Canadian flag sticker on our products. I am checking my shopping list before I go to the supermarket to save time. Hope everyone stands up for Canada and supports our workforce.”
In conversations throughout the week, many folks are carrying on living their lives the way they always have, which includes traveling to the States and not changing their buying habits. Meanwhile, many others have stated they have no interest in crossing the border right now. Some people are canceling American-based subscription services while someone else I spoke with decided this week to cancel his Twitter account. In other words, it’s a mix of reactions.
Reader Chris felt we need to seriously address energy concerns, writing, “We
need a national energy strategy. Having Line 5 dip into Michigan (at risk of shut down) is vulnerable, a stranded pipeline in Energy East and refusal to sign contracts with Germany, Japan and Korea all boggle the mind. We need to get energy to tidewater and we should enact a national security mindset, suspend environmental frameworks that exist solely to frustrate development, and move to consult with Indigenous groups, not beg for permission. We need to get Canada moving ahead. I have witnessed wealthy folk leave Canada as taxpayers, and that is a huge missed opportunity that has long-term implications for taxes paid and potential employment.”
Not everyone is offended by Trump’s recent actions and, again, that’s okay because the point of this exercise is to get a true cross-section of views, not to create an echo chamber.
Reader Paul wrote, “It’s very sad that you have to revert to childish language (i.e. “low life”) in your recent rant. President Trump has done more good in a week than the previous had done in all four years.” Paul said Canada, like the U.S., is “in a mess that was created by greed, corruption and selfishness.” Paul then wrote with regards to Trudeau, “If he would have cleaned up and controlled the border like he should have done years ago, this tariff topic wouldn’t exist. He ignored it. As far as I’m concerned, you wasted a whole Page 8 on the transcript of our so-called leader.”
This is an extraordinarily unique time that we are living through right now, and I want to thank our readers for their engagement on this subject.
Bravo Boo
We have 3 Bravos this week.
1) Big bravo to the two men who helped me up on Wednesday after I fell between our car and the sidewalk. My husband spotted their vehicle & thinks they are Millwrights who had parked their truck in front of us. Thank you so much.
2) Bravo to everyone involved with the Valentunes fundraising concert for the St. Marys Museum! The Town Hall Auditorium is a great concert venue, and it was so nice not to have to travel out of town for such a fantastic evening of music on a snowy night. York Street Thought Process, Stacey Frayne and Mackenzie Bartlett were excellent as ever, and even though we missed The Bone Radlers (get well soon!) it was a treat to be introduced to Amanda and Simon of The Roundabout Dance. Thanks for a great night!
3) Bravo to the organizers of the St. Marys Rock tournament this weekend. It was a well-run event and all of the St. Marys teams should be proud of how they performed and represented themselves.
We have 1 Boo this week.
1) I love living in St. Marys, wouldn't want to live anywhere else. But... the sidewalks in town are a disgrace! Maybe all the sidewalk plows are broken or hibernating, but something definitely needs to be done. If you have a car and drive anywhere in town, you have it made. Streets are always cleaned off beautifully. But if you want to walk somewhere, it's a nightmare. It has never been this bad in other years. Let's make it less hazardous for all us pedestrians.
Quote of the Week
“I suggest that not only does the Trump administration know how many critical minerals we have, but that may even be why they keep talking about absorbing us and making us the 51st state.”
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a quote caught on a hot mic last week in Toronto
Restoring small-town journalism, one community at a time!
St. Marys Independent
Publisher
Stewart Grant • stew@granthaven.com
Regional Editor
Galen Simmons • galen@granthaven.com
Graphic Design / Sales Inquiries
Tyler Carruthers • info@stmarysindependent.com
Business Development
Heather Dunbar • heather@granthaven.com
Billing Administrator
Cindy Boakes • boakescindy1576@gmail.com
Administrative Assistant
Wendy Lamond • wendylamond74@gmail.com
Contributors
June Grant, Nancy Bickell, Mary Smith, Nancy Abra, Lauren Eedy, Spencer Seymour, Sarah Cairns, Paul Knowles, Jake Grant, Julia Paul, Emily Stewart, McGinny Photography
36 Water St. St. Marys, ON, PO Box 2310 N4X 1A2 info@stmarysindependent.com | 519.284.0041 | granthaven.com
The St. Marys Independent THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK
by:
Are you creating your thoughts or are your thoughts creating you?
We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. Forgiveness does not change the past but it does enlarge the future. Love doesn't need to be perfect, It just needs to be true.
Meet the Kinsmen Club: David Bage
STONETOWN STONETOWN CCRIER RIER
The latest municipal news from the Town of St. Marys
MARCH BREAK CAMP PRC
Say goodbye to boredom this March Break with Camp PRC! From crafting masterpieces to actionpacked games and skating, the fun never ends at the Pyramid Recreation Centre Register online through ActiveNet today
Meet St. Marys Kinsmen president David Bage.
Bage has been a member of the Kinsmen Club since March 3, 2018. Friend Chris Swarthout brought him out to a couple of meetings to see if he would be interested in joining and to help give back to the community.
What he came to learn is that this group of guys is always looking for ways to raise money to give back to the community. They sacrifice their time to make sure our youth and others have the ability to play and learn new things around our town.
Bage has been married to his wife, Kaitie, who he met at Fanshawe College, for 14 years. They have two beautiful daughters, Ava and Lila. Bage has worked at Cascades since 2012. In his spare time, he likes to play baseball, hunt, play cornhole, golf, play video games and go four wheeling with the family, but most of all he enjoys the time he spends with his family.
The club is always growing and looking for new members to help ease the load and to help with those new ideas for fundraisers. The local club just recently won the Ken Pierce Membership Growth Award.
The club currently sits at 30 members.
LINE DANCING
Brush off your dancing shoes this New Year! Line Dancing is returning to the Friendship Centre this winter for both Tuesday evening and Friday morning sessions All levels welcome! This
townofstmarys com/activenet or 519-28
WENDY LAMOND Independent Reporter
St. Marys Kinsmen Club president David Bage.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Our senior of the week is Jean Sterritt. Jean will be turning 90 years young on Valentine's Day. She was born at St. Ives and grew up on a farm in the same area. Jean was married on her 18th birthday, Valentine's Day, to her late husband John who she was married to for 62 years. They had seven children, 18 great grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Jean enjoys entertaining and visiting with family and friends. Happy birthday Jean.
If you would like to nominate someone for Senior of the Week, contact us at 519-284-0041 or info@stmarysindependent.com.
St. Marys racket-sport groups discuss short-term compromise in longstanding courts dispute
pickleball lines were painted on the north courts allowing for both play on that side of the courts specifically. After they were painted, there were some additional lines painted a few years after that, after COVID, and we did add a few lines to the courts for additional pickleball courts, for which the pickleball association provides their own nets for the club to use, but they’re not accessible to the public. Those courts are accessible to the club, but not the public.
“ … (Last year), we knew there was a need because there was a definite need for more resources in the community when it came to recreation and culture. … The (master-plan update) consultants did a lot of research and review for us and have extensive knowledge of racket-sports courts, which was a benefit to us.”
Though the consultants recommended adding four pickleball-court lines to the south tennis courts to create multi-lined courts and provide portable pickleball nets for all courts for the public to use until dedicated courts for pickleball are established at some point in the future, both the pickleball association and tennis club took issue with the recommendation.
“Really what I had suggested to council is … it’s inherently inefficient to put pickleball courts on tennis courts in the numbers that we’re currently doing – that is two (pickleball) courts on one tennis court when, in fact, there’s room for about four pickleball courts on one tennis court,” said tennis club representative Don Van Galen, who first presented the club’s concerns with the consultants’ recommendations at council’s Jan. 28 meeting, leading to the establishment of the ad-hoc committee comprising two members from each club as well as councillors Marg Luna and Fern Pridham, with Mayor All Strathdee serving as chair. “I’m not saying that because I’m advocating for four (pickleball courts); I’m advocating for best use of space in expanding the facilities, and I believe there is room to do that.”
“Merlin (Leis) and I come to this meeting representing the St. Marys Pickleball Association,” said Mike Ferguson. “We’re both avid pickleballers … and we’re also here to advocate for the overall pickleball community. Our mandate from our group is to come here openly and discuss options for the future and in the short term. We absolutely recognize both parties love our sport and the Water Street location really isn’t great for either one of us at the moment. We also recognize that it may not be great in the short term, but we’re here today and over a few more meetings to discuss what will work best for us in the future. Both parties have made it absolutely clear that … dedicated court facilities for both sports is the ideal, but we also have to recognize the Town of St. Marys has this challenge of doing all this … within their budget constraints. So, we’re open minded … and it’s understood we’re here to work together.”
According to the recently adopted recreation and leisure master plan, the St. Marys Tennis Club has 72 members and the St. Marys Pickleball Association has 140 members. Based on the consultants’ recommenda -
tions, town CAO Brent Kittmer said those membership numbers do not warrant new, dedicated facilities at this time, though at the rate both clubs are growing, discussion around the construction of dedicated facilities driven by the community will likely happen at some point in the future, be that the development of new outdoor racket-sport courts or the establishment of pickleball courts inside existing town recreation buildings like the Pyramid Recreation Centre (PRC).
In the meantime, however, the pickleball and tennis club representatives say the current layout of pickleball and tennis lines on the north courts make it difficult for players of either game and are not suitable for competitive play. They suggested the consultants’ recommendation to add pickleball lines to the south tennis courts would do nothing to solve those issues and would likely not address current issues around court capacity.
“We can proceed to look at the layouts, but again, I’m open to suggestions or proposals,” Strathdee said. “Council took a stand … and there was a suggestion perhaps there wasn’t enough consultation, which I disagree with, but council thought, ‘Let’s have some more consultation and sit the groups down.’ So, we’re looking for ideas.
“I might as well be blunt. Council is facing a $2-million shortfall right now for pool repairs at the PRC that were never anticipated or expected or reserved for. We don’t have half a million dollars or a million dollars to throw at this project. We have also researched a lot of different ways we could go. Both sports create noise, so sometimes there’s problems being in residential areas and, rightly or wrongly, when we get new parkland, it is on residential land. The purpose of this meeting, in my mind, is to look for new and innovative solutions. If we want to … talk about lines, I’m totally open to that. There have been a lot of letters and comments, and this has been 10 painful years of my life listening to both groups, to be quite frank. In my view, everyone’s been respectful but I don’t have a solution. We’re looking for short-term and long-term solutions.”
Following extensive discussion and review of the current court layout over the course of the more than two-hour-long meeting, the committee asked staff to research and determine the costs of two potential shortterm solutions, and a potential long-term solution to the clubs’ concerns.
The proposed short-term solutions arrived at were to either repaint the existing north courts to create six pickleball courts (four shared, two dedicated) and one shared tennis court, or to repaint the north courts to create six pickleball courts and two shared tennis courts.
For the long term, staff were asked to research the potential for expanding the existing Water Street racket-sport courts to create an additional four dedicated pickleball courts.
Staff will bring their findings back to the ad-hoc committee at its next meeting on Feb. 19. The committee is expected to make its recommendation to council at its March 11 meeting.
By Jake Grant
Holiday hours for town facilities – Family Day Feb. 17
ST. MARYS INDEPENDENT
Staff Contribution
Please note, the following hours will be in effect for Town of St. Marys facilities for Family Day (Monday, Feb. 17).
Closed Monday, Feb. 17
• Administrative offices (town hall and municipal operations centre)
• Adult Learning
• Aquatics Centre (closed for renovations)
• Before and After School Program
• Child Care Centre
• EarlyON Centre
• Fire Station
• Friendship Centre
• Landfill
• Library
• Mobility Services offices (rides must be booked by 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13)
• Museum
• Service Ontario
• Youth Centre
Home support services
• Home support services such as Meals on Wheels and Telephone Reassurance will continue.
Garbage and recycling collection
• Will continue as scheduled. Details at www.bra.org/my-services/st-marystown/.
Pyramid Recreation Centre
• Free public skating from 10-11:20 a.m., sponsored by St. Marys Buick (pre-register online)
• Free public skating from 1-2:20 p.m., sponsored by Quadro Communications (pre-register online)
St. Marys Train Station
The train station will be open; visit www. viarail.ca
MEET YOUR CANDIDATES
Matthew Rae of the PC Party of Ontario
Incumbent Matthew Rae of the PC Party of Ontario says Feb. 27 is a job interview.
“An election is kind of like a job interview for anyone who's running for elected office,” Rae told the Independent. “It's been great hearing from people at their doors, to hear some of their challenges or concerns, or some of the ways we were able to help them in the past with provincial issues. … For the past almost three years, I've had the distinct honor to represent the good people of Perth-Wellington at Queen's Park as their MPP.”
Rae was first elected in 2022, taking over from fellow PC MPP Randy Pettapiece, who retired that year. Prior to taking office, he worked for an education non-profit, running STEM programming for high school students during the summer months. Since being elected, he has served as parliamentary assistant to Minister of Education Steven Lecce and, most recently, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra.
Rae’s top priority going into this elec -
tion is the same as his party’s leader: American President Donald Trump’s still-looming tariff threat. He said the PC team stands resolute against the threats and will do everything in their power to support Ontarians.
As a riding with strong auto-man -
ufacturing and agriculture sectors, Perth-Wellington stands to be deeply affected should the trade tariffs move forward.
When it comes to health care, Rae said that, by 2029, his government is committed to ensure everyone has access to
primary care. The PCs have earmarked $1.8 billion to achieve that goal.
During his term, there have been a number of ER closures in rural areas, largely due to staffing.
To make sure hospitals are fully staffed, Rae said there has been significant investment in rural hospitals, on average a four per-cent increase in base operating funding to address some of the cost pressures they are facing.
As the incumbent, Rae said he is proud of how he has represented constituents while acknowledging there is more work to do. Since 2022, he said over $200 million was invested into infrastructure, health care and education.
Come election day, he said the residents of Perth-Wellington should cast their vote for him as he will continue to be an advocate for the area at Queen’s Park and he and the PC team will be a united force to protect Ontario.
“We're in unprecedented times,” Rae said. “We’re going to put forward a plan to demonstrate to the people of Ontario that we will be there to protect our families, our workers and our businesses, and ensure that we outlast the Trump presidency while continuing to build our economy and investing in great local businesses in Ontario.”
MPP Matthew Rae is Perth-Wellington’s PC Party of Ontario candidate in the 2025 provincial election.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
MEET YOUR CANDIDATES
Ashley Fox of the Ontario Liberal Party
CONNOR LUCZKA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ashley Fox, the Ontario Liberal Party’s candidate for Perth-Wellington in this year’s provincial election, says constituents should cast a vote for her this time around because they need an advocate who understands them.
“I see what's happening frontline with health care,” Fox told the Independent. “I see what's happening frontline in housing, as well as our agricultural community that's fighting to keep their land and keep things being affordable for all of us. I see, in my community, how people are losing stable employment. … People should cast their vote for me because I am the right person that will advocate and make change.”
Fox is a registered practical nurse, a wife and a mother. Hailing from Palmerston, she is a self-described advocate for health care and change, as well as a nurse case manager.
As a nurse, health care is her number one priority.
“We have 17,000 people in our riding that don't have access to a family doctor, and that doesn't include the people that are going to be losing their doctors in the next six months for retirement or change,” Fox said. “The biggest thing we're going to do at this time, which is a big priority people in this riding and all across Ontario, is guarantee everyone a family doctor in the next four years.”
Fox said her party is focused on modernizing family medicine with plans in place to support interprofessional teams including nurses and physicians
when they make it easier to access health care from home and eliminate paperwork, making it easier for family doctors to practice.
Affordability, child care and housing are also top of mind for Fox. The Liberals say they are scrapping developmental charges on middle-class housing, saving families an estimated $170,000 on a new home and eliminating the provincial land-transfer tax for first-time homebuyers.
“One of the things I'm really passionate about, especially in regards to rentals, is really looking at the landlord-tenant-board dispute,” Fox said. “I know that there's significant wait time currently, so we would be introducing a phased-in rent control, but also looking at resolving those disputes with a timeline of two months.”
Fox was the Liberal candidate in 2022 as well and said she was impressed with the progress made in Perth-Wellington. John Wilkinson was the last Liberal MPP to hold office, from 2007-2011. She came third in the race with 16 per cent of the vote, just shy of Jo-Dee Burbach of the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 22 per cent of the vote and Matthew Rae of the PC Party of Ontario with 47 per cent of the vote.
This time around, Fox said constituents are tired of not seeing accountability and transparency.
“There's no shortage of recommendations as to how we can fix our system, and I think that is listening and accountability and transparency with our system,” Fox said. “We have the ability to make those changes. We just need those in power to listen.”
Ashley Fox is Perth-Wellington’s Ontario Liberal Party candidate in the 2025 provincial election.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Housing, food security and social services, in that order, are Jason Davis’ priorities going into this election.
“We can't really talk about anything else when someone doesn't have a place to sleep at night,” Davis told the Independent. “You can't really talk about any of the other things we need to look at when we have people struggling to eat.”
Davis is the newly appointed Perth-Wellington candidate for the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP). He has been a transport truck technician for the last 12 years in the region, fixing transport trucks and farm equipment. He also owns Stratford Comic Stop, a mostly online store where he gives out free comic books to kids. He is an advocate for housing and is working to build a community land trust in the region.
In his opinion, the current government has neglected its core responsibilities for GTA issues. Citing the closure of the Ontario Science Centre, the Highway 413 project and election gimmicks, Davis said the government’s priorities are in the wrong place.
“We have wasted so much money on things that we don't rely on in a time when people are struggling to have what they need. … One in three households are suffering from food insecurity. I don't want to be talking about a $10-billion highway when we have families that can't feed their children.”
Davis wants to build non-market housing to address the affordability crisis. He argued, prior to 1993, the
federal Liberals built 10 per cent of all homes in the country before stopping the program and giving it to the provinces. After 30 years of Liberal and Conservative rule in Ontario, no public, non-market housing development has been started.
In his opinion, it is completely possible to build affordable housing, there just needs to be a government willing to address the issue properly.
Additionally, bolstering the region’s child-care capabilities and prioritizing a walk-in clinic are top of mind heading to the election.
Perth-Wellington has sent a PC MPP to Queen’s Park since 2011. The riding, as it exists today, has never elected an NDP representative provincially. When asked whether or not he could reasonably flip the riding, Davis said he’s been asking voters one question as he goes door to door.
“I’ve been asking a lot of farmers that I work with, ‘What have the conservatives done for you in the last seven years that warrants your vote again?’ ” Davis said. “And they don't have an answer to that question anymore. Some of it used to be based on political bias or identity, but now, when things are tougher than they have been in at least my lifetime, they can't just rely on that bias and ideology anymore.
“I understand what it's like to go to the grocery store with $30 in your pocket and try and figure out how you're going to get food for your kids’ lunch each day because you just paid rent and you're not getting paid again for another week, and I think that it’s about time that we start electing representatives that understand that feeling.”
MEET YOUR CANDIDATES
Ian Morton of the Green Party of Ontario
LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
After Ian Morton went through “very brutal” cancer treatment at just 50 years old, he vowed to not take his time for granted and to take action on the issues that matter to him, which is why he threw his hat in the ring to stand as the Green Party of Ontario’s candidate for Perth-Wellington in this year’s provincial election.
Morton has been a teacher with the Avon Maitland District School Board for 25 years and has been a member of a number of community organizations, including serving as chair of the City of Stratford’s energy and environment advisory committee and as president of the St. Marys Curling Club.
While politically active for much of his life, Morton first got seriously involved in politics in 2022 when he ran for a municipal seat in Stratford. Having narrowly lost the election, he said it gave him valuable perspective. Talking with constituents then, he gained a broader idea of the issues top of mind for voters: affordability, housing and health care.
Specifically, the lack of family doctors in the region is an area that he would like to improve upon, as well as the ER closures that occurred within the riding and other rural areas within the last few years.
He said the Green Party will be rolling out its platform and policies as the election gears up and they will be focused on rural needs – plans to build more housing, curbing rising costs and protecting farmland, to name a few.
One initiative, he said, is the first-time homebuyers
plan, a plan the Greens would enact that would remove fees and taxes on the purchase of new starter homes that are built within urban boundaries, for example.
“We do not want cities and towns to keep sprawling into farmland,” Morton said. “We have some of the best farmland in Perth and Wellington counties, so we need to make sure that these solutions work together, that we can address protecting farmland and can address housing and can address affordability all at the same time.”
Additionally, Morton thinks Perth-Wellington’s MPP should do a better job listening to concerns of people.
“The Ford government – and (Perth-Wellington MPP) Matthew Rae has been supporting it – is prioritizing the wrong things for Ontarians,” Morton said. “We don't need a $10-billion highway built. We don't need a luxury spa at Ontario Place. … There's example after example of how the Ford government is not listening to the people of Ontario. They're not prioritizing the people's needs.
“So, I think there's a real opportunity for the people of Ontario to send Doug Ford a message, to send Matthew Rae a message in Perth-Wellington, that you want to be listened to, that you have serious concerns and issues that need serious responses and answers.”
Morton also took the time to remind people that, now more than ever, voting is vital. Given the election will be on Feb. 27, perhaps during inclement weather, there are options to vote early or to mail in a ballot.
“Make sure you take up this privilege so that we can have someone in office that's going to listen to us and help us,” Morton said.
Ian Morton is Perth-Wellington’s Ontario Green Party candidate in the 2025 provincial election.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) CONNOR
Jeff Bell elected to fill council vacancy in Perth South
STEWART GRANT Publisher
Jeff Bell is the new Councillor for the Township of Perth South, having been chosen by Council among a group of five Perth South residents who each put their names forward to serve the community.
The death of Mayor Jim Aitcheson on Nov. 22, 2024 created a vacancy on Perth South Council that was required to be filled in accordance with s. 259.1 (h) of the Municipal Act. At the Dec. 3 council meeting, Acting Mayor Sue Orr was appointed as the Mayor of Perth South, which in turn created a vacant seat on council. At the Dec. 17 meeting, Council directed the Clerk to issue a call for nominations to the community to fill the vacant seat.
There were five Perth South residents who submitted nomination forms prior to the deadline of 2 p.m. on Jan. 24, 2025: Jeff Bell, Jason Brady, William Dittmer, Jason Francis, and Heather Ruthig.
Each of the candidates made their case before Council at the Feb. 4 council meeting.
During his opening words to Council, Bell made the case that he wishes to represent all the people of Perth South, as he brings a good blend of experience in farming, business, and community service to the position.
“My hope for Perth South is to see growth that aligns with our strategic plan, and I want to make sure our farmers have a voice in protecting their farmland,” he added.
“It is obvious that Perth South needs growth. We need to find ways to build so that we utilize our land and resources appropriately to increase our population and attract more business,” wrote Bell within the
pre-meeting questionnaire with regards to sustainable growth.
After interacting with and having the opportunity to ask questions of all five nominees, Council’s process in each stage of voting was to eliminate the candidate(s) who had the least amount of votes. Bell emerged as the winner after the third round of voting. He will be officially sworn in at the council meeting to be held on Feb. 18.
This will be Bell’s first time serving in municipal government, although he has been involved in politics dating back to his teenage years when he was the president of the Progressive Conservative Youth’s local riding.
Bell has deep roots in the area and farms the land that has been in the family since 1867. He is a former student of Downie Central School, where his children have also attended.
For the last 18 years, he has worked in Stratford in the aerospace industry. His current operational role there includes oversight of purchasing, shipping and receiving, importing and exporting for clients, and facility management.
He is the current president of the Optimist Club of Downie and is a former director of the Milverton Rod & Gun Club.
“I am not looking at this as a two-year position,” Bell told the Independent earlier this week. “I’m looking at this as a six-year position. I don’t see myself in a caretaker role and I don’t believe that’s why Council elected me. I’m committed to standing behind the decisions that I make in the next two years and it’ll be up to Perth South residents to decide if I’m making the right decisions or asking the right questions on their behalf.”
Town seeking input on proposed Widder Street East naturalization project
ST. MARYS
INDEPENDENT Staff Contribution
The Town of St. Marys is inviting community members to provide feedback on the proposed plan to naturalize 90,000 square feet of land along Trout Creek, located south of Widder Street East and to extend the existing Taylor Trail walking path by 400 metres.
This project, in partnership with Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and the green advisory committee, aims to enhance the local ecosystem by introducing native plant species, which will support biodiversity and provide a habitat for local wildlife. The naturalization of the land will also help in improving air and water quality and offer an educational resource for the community to learn about sustainable practices and conservation efforts.
The proposed plan outlines a concept for the naturalization project. Following the collection of public feedback, council will make a decision on the final design of the project.
Residents are invited to share their
feedback on the proposed Widder Street East Naturalization Area project. The plan, along with a map and survey, can be accessed online at www.townofstmarys.com/widderproject. Print copies are also available at town hall, the St. Marys Public Library, Pyramid Recreation Centre and municipal operations centre. The survey will remain open until Monday, Feb. 24 at noon.
Written comments can be submitted in person at the municipal operations centre (408 James St. S) or sent by email to publicworks@town.stmarys.on.ca.
"This proposed project represents a significant step forward in developing our urban canopy,” said director of public works Jed Kelly in a press release. “By naturalizing this area, we not only improve upon the town’s trail network, but we also reduce the town’s turf-maintenance cost, enhance the natural habitat and aid in stabilizing the flood plain."
For more information, visit www. townofstmarys.com/widderproject or contact the public works department at 519-284-2340 ext. 213 or publicworks@ town.stmarys.on.ca.
Jeff Bell fills councillor seat in Perth South
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Despite potential for provincial funding, Perth County council stands by cancellation of PC Connect rural route
GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Though the Ontario minister of transportation recently welcomed an application from Perth County for funding through the Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF) to support the PC Connect rural-route bus service set to be discontinued at the end of March, Perth County council is standing by its decision to end the bus service that connects rural communities within the county.
At the Feb. 6 county council meeting, county economic development officer Justin Dias informed council of a conversation between county delegates and transportation minister Prabmeet Sarkaria and senior ministry staff at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference on Jan. 20.
“Information about the forthcoming OTIF program was announced in early 2024 at the Ontario Transit Association Conference, and then in October of 2024, the actual OTIF guidelines were released, which included a number of eligibility criteria,” Dias said.
“The key point that was mentioned at that time was that OTIF … was not intended to support ongoing operations for the (Community Transportation Grant Program) funded pilot projects – PC Connect and others. Based on the criteria for OTIF, council led a delegation
to the minister at ROMA and, based on that (conversation), though OTIF guidelines haven’t changed on the website, there was an openness from the minister to see an application come forward from Perth County.”
Until that conversation, the ministry had been advising recipients of Community Transportation funding that OTIF was not intended to provide operational funding for their projects, which informed county council’s decision on Dec. 5, 2024, to discontinue the PC Connect Rural Route service when the county’s $2.47-million Community Transportation grant funding agreement with the province ends on March 31. That funding agreement has been in place since the transit service launched in 2020.
At ROMA, the minister acknowledged that Perth County does, in fact, qualify for OTIF funding, which was a significant shift from previous guidance offered by MTO senior staff. When the program guidelines were released, OTIF was only intended to allocate a total of $5 million annually to support the development of safe, reliable and sustainable transit options in areas with limited transportation infrastructure. According to the guidelines, eligible projects included new bus services, on-demand shared rides and door-to-door transit services.
In follow-up conversations, MTO staff confirmed Perth County could apply for OTIF funding under a five-year plan with a structured funding decrease each year. A strong application would have to identify how OTIF funding would only be used to support existing operational funding in the short term with a fulsome plan for how the service would become sustainable over the long term.
Additionally, MTO staff emphasized the importance of securing financial partnerships to strengthen the application. Securing financial partnerships would be essential to reducing the financial impact to the county levy as OTIF funding decreases.
According to Dias’ report to council, in 2025, the OTIF funding would reduce the impact on the county’s tax levy from $225,103 without the funding to $22,705 with it. That funding would continue to decrease each year until 2030 when the cost of the rural-route bus service would once again fall fully on the shoulders of county taxpayers to the tune of nearly $530,000 annually.
“Is it too late to turn this thing around now?” Coun. Walter McKenzie asked, referring to whether county council could reverse its decision to discontinue PC Connect’s Rural Route service. “We’ve already cancelled the contract we had. … Is there any desire from this group to even look at it?”
While Dias said Voyago, the transit company that provides buses and drivers for PC Connect, indicated its buses and drivers are still available to continue the rural bus service after March 31, councillors voiced concerns around continuing the service.
“I can’t, in good conscience, support an investment for over $1.3 million over the next five years and, possibly, $2.6 million over five years (after that),” Coun. Bob Wilhelm said.
“By 2030, we’re back up to over halfa-million bucks again, and I think that to try to get some funds now; how long will that take to get those funds?” added Coun. Hugh McDermid. “And, in the end, they’re still not going to contribute a very big percentage over time of what we’re going to have to (pay). I think we have bigger hills to get over.”
PC Connect’s rural-route service will continue providing transit for riders between rural communities in Perth County including Stratford, Mitchell, Monkton, Atwood, Listowel, Newton, Milverton, Brunner and Gadshill until March 31. The cancellation of the rural-route service does not impact PC Connect Routes 1, 2 and 3 offering service between Stratford, St. Marys, London, Kitchener-Waterloo and North Perth.
Another week, another blemish-free set of games for the St. Marys Lincolns, who extended their winning streak to 15 games, the longest segment of consecutive wins in the entire Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) this season.
The Lincolns began a back-to-back on Feb. 7 when they hosted the Strathroy Rockets, the team currently in a position to play the Lincs in the opening round of the playoffs. After a first period in which the Lincolns’ play only met their high standard in fits and spurts, the squad turned 40 near-flawless minutes to cruise to a 6-1 victory over the Rockets.
Head coach Jeff Bradley told the Independent the team was ready for the low-event strategy implemented by the Rockets.
“We talked about what to expect from Strathroy and we knew that they would pull back, let us have the puck and try to play pretty stingy defence in their zone. The big thing for us was playing with speed and pace in their zone, and for the most part, we did that. We got a bit too deliberate in the last half of the first period, but when we got back to having that pace to our game in the second and third, I thought we showed we could do well against a team like that.”
Five minutes and 19 seconds into the game, Kyle Morey rocketed a blink-andyou-miss-it wrist shot off a faceoff by Strathroy netminder Brady Galbraith to give St. Marys a 1-0 lead. Lincoln Moore was credited with the only assist on Morey’s fourth goal of the season.
Coach Bradley praised Morey and Moore, along with their linemate Chase MacQueen-Spence, for leading the charge against the Rockets.
“It's getting there more and more every game, especially the line of Chase (MacQueen-Spence), Lincoln (Moore) and Kyle (Morey). That was our best line (against Strathroy). They were forechecking. They were finishing checks. At times, it looked like they were toying with their opponent. The chemistry between those guys has grown gameby-game and I’m sure it will continue going in the right direction.”
Morey finished the game with a goal and two assists while Moore picked
up a goal and two helpers, and MacQueen-Spence had a goal as part of a two-point night.
Almost exactly nine minutes later, a pass from behind the goal line by Cole Dotterman hit off Lincolns’ forward Cohen Bidgood and deflected into the St. Marys net, tying the game at one apiece and giving Dotterman four goals on the year.
The only man advantage of the opening frame went to the Rockets, which the Lincolns successfully killed off. St. Marys ended the game successfully neutralizing all six Strathroy powerplays.
“Strathroy has a different powerplay formation than we’ve encountered this year,” said Bradley. “Their powerplay was much more spread out than the typical 1-3-1 formation, so we adjusted from our typical aggressive diamond to a passive box formation. It’s a fairly tough system to adjust to this far into the season, but it keeps things fresh for the players, and it’s a credit to all the guys on our penalty kill for executing it as well as they did.”
Heading into their next game on Feb. 14, the Lincolns have 31 consecutive successful penalty kills and just one powerplay goal against on the last 33 man advantages they have faced.
The Lincolns emerged from the dressing room for the second stanza with a
renewed vigour, scoring three times in the first 10 minutes of the period to go ahead 4-1. Cohen Bidgood scored first when he beat Galbraith on a breakaway for his fifth of the season. Almost exactly five minutes later, a bold decision by MacQueen-Spence to not shoot a sure-fire powerplay one-timer proved genius when, just seconds later, he set up Ryder Livermore’s first goal of the campaign.
MacQueen-Spence followed it up a minute and a half later with a goal of his own, his 18th of the year, assisted by Morey and Moore. One recent change to that line was the shift from wing to centre by MacQueen-Spence, who Bradley credited for continuing to step up and display tremendous leadership.
“It can be intimidating for some guys when you have a Memorial Cup Champion on one side of you and a guy who played three years of major junior on the other side, but he’s not intimidated at all. He’s a leader on this team, he understands that he sets the standard for that line being the centre. Everything runs through Chase on that line, and this is the time of the year when a guy like Chase has to step up, and that’s what he’s doing.”
Luca Spagnolo added a powerplay goal and Moore buried his 22nd of the
season in the third period to get the Lincolns to the 6-1 final score.
In goal, Nico Armellin turned in a triumphant 21-save effort for St. Marys. The record for wins by a rookie goaltender is also within Armellin’s reach, as he is one win away from tying Jesse Raymond’s current benchmark of 17 wins.
Lincs blank Kings 6-0
The Lincolns continued their march towards clinching the top spot in the Western Conference 24 hours later when they scored a dominant 6-0 victory over the Komoka Kings.
With the Kings being eliminated from playoff contention, there was potential for the Lincolns to not be as focused as they could be, for which there was precedent when they picked up an imperfect 3-1 win over Komoka on Jan. 25. According to Bradley, however, it was one of the team’s assistant coaches who brought a fresh perspective to the team’s preparations, which ultimately helped the Lincolns turn in a strong showing.
“It's hard to get motivated for a game like this sometimes,” Bradley said. “Especially 40 games into the season, when you’re coming off a game against a potential playoff opponent in front of 800 or 900 fans, and now facing a team trying to create an identity as an organization, but I thought we did a really good job. They worked hard, they executed what they needed to and they didn’t cheat themselves and our structure.
“Mike (Siddall) did a really good job with the pregame meeting and he deserves a lot of credit. Where I’m typically more focused on our pre-scout of the opponent and tactics, Mike spotted a different way to go about it in terms of emphasizing the habits we have heading into the playoffs. He did a great job getting the guys to understand that wins are nice, but at this point, it’s more important to make sure your game is in order and you’ve got the right habits for the post-season.”
Bradley further explained the crux of the Siddall-led pregame meeting.
“It came back to details of our game, like having quick line changes, playing as a five-man unit, having lower lateral support, not turning pucks over and the chemistry between our defencemen and
Ethan Coups launches the puck towards the net during the St. Marys Lincolns’ 6-0 win over the Komoka Kings on Feb. 8. Coups is on a four-game point streak and is currently playing some of the best hockey of his GOJHL career.
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
Lincs hit 15 straight wins
the forward supporting them when they pinch. Those aren’t necessarily tactical, but they can create momentum.
“Our bench has really good camaraderie,” added Bradley. “Our guys don’t just cheer for a goal or a big hit; they will give props to one another for a quick line change. Even a relatively small detail like a good, quick line change can energize the bench.”
It took until the 17:23 mark of the first frame for the Lincolns to register the first goal of the night, a shorthanded goal by Spagnolo, who roofed the puck over Kings’ goalie Zack Irvin after a sharp setup pass by Blake Elzinga.
With 25 seconds left in the opening period, Spagnolo buried his second of the game, this time following a nifty drive into the Kings’ end by Jaden Lee, who lured all the attention to one side of the ice before feeding the puck to Spagnolo, who had an open net to shoot at.
The two shorthanded goals put Spagnolo tied with Lee at five on the season. The “Milton Magicians” are both tied for the most shorthanded goals in a single season in Lincs’ history.
As if Spagnolo’s second goal wasn’t pretty enough, a tic-tac-toe passing play from Owen Voortman to Lee to Spagnolo resulted in the Lincs’ captain completing the hat-trick and putting St. Marys up by three just two minutes and 47 seconds into the second period.
Seven minutes later, Noah VandenBrink ended a 16-game goal drought when he snapped a quick shot by Irvin to extend the Lincolns’ lead to 4-0. Quinn GavinWhite picked up one of two assists he recorded in the game, while Ethan Coups made it four straight games with a point. During the Lincolns’ 15-game heater, Coups has displayed an increasingly fluid ability to make plays with the puck in the offensive zone and has also significantly cut down on the amount of penalty minutes he’s been taking as of late while remaining a physical presence in every game.
“Ethan (Coups) deserves a ton of recognition for all that he does for us,” said Bradley. “He is a big part of the story of this generation of the Lincolns. He and I have a great relationship, and he is a bit old-school in terms of how I can communicate with him if he makes a mistake. He’s an unbelievable player for us and he’s a protector of our guys. He’s so loved by his teammates and it’s because they know he cares about them and will fiercely protect them.”
Much of the last 20 minutes was spent in the Kings’ zone as the Lincolns expertly shut down the game, outshooting Komoka 14-3 in the final period and increasing their lead to 6-0 with goals from Elzinga and MacQueen-Spence, the latter of whom now has goals in four consecutive games and points in five straight.
Colby Booth-Housego stopped all 18 Komoka shots to earn his fifth shutout of the season, and in doing so, inched closer to history. The current record for most shutouts in a single season by a Lincolns goaltender is six, which Brian Hince pulled off in 2005-2006. Additionally, Booth-Housego currently has seven shutouts in his GOJHL career, with the Lincolns’ franchise record for most shutouts being eight, also held by Hince.
The Lincolns’ next game sees them hosting the Elmira Sugar Kings on Feb. 14 before they visit the St. Thomas Stars for a Family Day afternoon contest.
INDEPENDENT
We’re looking for TWO (2) community members to sit on the Thorndale Lions Community Centre Expansion Ad Hoc Committee!
Members of the committee will work with municipal staff to create a detailed design for a potential future expansion of the Thorndale Lions Community Centre that will meet the needs of the community.
Fill out an Expression of Interest Form to explain why you should be a member (available at: https://tinyurl.com/TLCC-Member) and submit it by February 28 to clerk@thamescentre.on.ca
Weersink. Lisa DeBrabandere, Nancy Pratt, and Cailin Weersink. Winners of the second draw (and
champs with
points) was Team Shier, comprised of Amanda Shier, Lisa Shier, Jane Shier, and Doreen Weatheral.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
U10 A boys claim hard-fought silver at Rock Cup
SPENCER SEYMOUR
Independent Sports Reporter
Despite a heartbreaking conclusion, the St. Marys Buick GMC U10 A Boys St. Marys Rock put forward a stellar, weekend-long showing at the Rock Cup Feb. 7-9 in St. Marys.
Head coach Jaden Ropp explained what he described as a “very rewarding” weekend for his squad.
“We were forechecking, battling hard and making the smart plays,” Ropp told the Independent. “Ryan (Pickel) had one of his best stretches of hockey of the whole year over the weekend. As a group, we’re starting to see them buying into what we’re teaching in practice. It’s all based on working together and wanting team success over individual success, and I think they saw how that translates to the result of the game this weekend. They executed on that and they had a really positive result.”
After going unbeaten in the three-game round-robin, the Rock picked up an impressive 6-0 victory over the Strathroy Junior Rockets in the semi-final. Tucker Posthumus and Lincoln Jennings each scored twice for St. Marys, while Kyle Johnson and Logan Masselis each chipped in single goals.
Ropp cited “hard work and determination” as the team’s keys to victory against
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
The St. Marys Buick GMC U10 A Boys St. Marys Rock took the silver medal at the Rock Cup tournament hosted in St. Marys Feb. 7-9. Pictured laying in front is Ryan Pickel. In the second row, from left to right, are Kyle Johnson, Aspen Bond, Everett Crummer, Lincoln Jennings and Nico Thompson. In the third row, from left, are Jonathan Muhtar, Jack Pickel, Edwin Walsh, Logan Masselis, Tucker Posthumus, Owen Simons, Lincoln Vanderberg, Ashton Ropp and Bentley O’Brien. In the back row, from left, are Scott Crummer, Mark Jennings, Fraser Anderson, Jaden Ropp and Mike Johnson.
the Junior Rockets.
“Strathroy has always played us tough this year. Their record doesn’t necessarily indicate how good they are. They
played St. Thomas and tied them, but I thought we had our best game of the tournament. We didn’t let Strathroy get any good scoring chances. We came togeth -
U12 A Boys grind out Rock Cup silver
SPENCER SEYMOUR
Independent Sports Reporter
Having one of the shortest benches in the tournament didn’t stop the St. Marys Building Centre U12 A Boys St. Marys Rock from having a great showing at the Rock Cup tournament Feb. 7-9 in St. Marys, ending with a silver medal for the host team.
The Rock finished atop their pool after their three round-robin games, in which they picked up a pair of wins and one tie, including a 2-0 shutout over the eventual tournament-winning Stratford Junior Warriors in their first round-robin contest.
Their strong start to the tournament set St. Marys up to battle a familiar challenger in the semi-final, the Dorchester Dragons, which the Rock defeated 2-1 in overtime to punch their ticket to the championship game.
Head coach Merlin Malinowski told the Independent the team performed well even when much of their hard work went unrewarded due to strong goaltending in the Dragons’ net.
“Dorchester has always been tough on us,” said Malinowski, “but, our boys found a way to get the job done. We controlled a lot of the play and, for the most part, played the game we wanted to play, but we had a hard time breaking through. Their goalie had a really good game, as did ours, but in the overtime especially, we really went at them hard, and fortunately, the final bounce went our way.”
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
The St. Marys Building Centre U12 A Boys St. Marys Rock battled through their exhaustion to take the Silver medal at the Feb. 7-9 Rock Cup tournament in St. Marys. Pictured in front is Luke Savile. Kneeling in the first row, from left to right, are Theo Keller, Ryan Zwambag, Talon Ward, and Attley Ehgoetz. In the second row, from left, are Lane Munro, Keaton Ward, Nick Simons, Ryder Boemer, Hudson Monteith, Jacob Tschirhard, Jax Parsons, and Joey Brown. In the back row, from left, are trainer Jeremy Savile, assistant coach Jon Ward, head coach Merlin Malinowski, and assistant coach Mark Monteith.
After Dorchester took a 1-0 lead in the first period, Keaton Ward scored the lone St. Marys goal in regulation at the 4:35 mark of the second frame. Both teams remained scoreless until Liam Showers buried the game-winning tally in overtime to advance the Rock to the final.
The Rock’s short bench caught up to
er as a team and because of it, we minimized their opportunities and got scoring across our lineup.”
In the gold-medal game, Posthumus scored to put the Rock ahead 1-0 in the opening period, which held up as the only goal of the contest until the St. Thomas Junior Stars tied the game in the third to force overtime. Unfortunately for the Rock, the Junior Stars scored midway through the extra frame.
However, the Rock still managed to turn in a strong performance despite not getting the desired result, with the bench boss saying the tournament could offer a jolt to the Rock as they begin their post-season journey.
“It couldn’t have happened at a better time because we're headed to the playoffs,” said Ropp. “Our jobs as coaches are to make these kids better hockey players, and when you get a weekend like this, we feel that we’re doing that. It feels great to see everything we’ve been working on in practice carry over to gameplay.
“We had a fun night with the Lincolns (on Feb. 7) and got to see how they operate and function as a team on and off the ice, and I think that contributed to our success this weekend. We know the playoffs won’t be easy. We’re in the bottom third of the standings, but we believe we can play with any team. I think we’re ready to go.”
them in the gold-medal game, while the high-octane Junior Warriors took a 5-1 win. One of Stratford’s goals was an empty netter, and Attley Ehgoetz posted St. Marys’ only goal of the game.
Malinowski noted a somewhat sluggish first period by the Rock, which allowed Stratford to take a 2-0 lead and proved
too tall of a mountain for the exhausted yet gritty St. Marys squad to summit.
“Stratford really played a good game. They jumped on us right away and to our boys’ credit, we recovered fairly well, but we just didn’t quite have enough to close the gap. I thought after the first period, we played fairly well and played with them for most of it, but Stratford is such a strong team that it was just tough for us to overcome that early push they made.”
Though they didn’t come away with the tournament’s top prize, the head coach raved about his team’s “will and competitiveness” throughout the weekend.
“I'm really happy and proud of the guys. We have a pretty small team. We’ve only got four defencemen and eight forwards, so it becomes really tough playing two games on Friday, two on Saturday and one more on Sunday. That’s a lot of hockey, and you run out of gas, but despite how tired they were, they never stopped competing.
“Our guys never quit and that, to me, says a lot about the character of our team,” Malinowski continued. “They played with the mindset of forgetting about the score and just go out and try to get the next goal. When Stratford got ahead by a few goals, they could have thrown in the towel, especially with how tired they were, but they didn’t. They never quit, and I’m incredibly proud of them because of that.”
U19A Snipers capture Silver in Guelph tournament
SPENCER SEYMOUR
Independent Sports Reporter
A weekend of excellent teamwork and focus guided the U19A St. Marys Snipers to a Silver medal at the Guelph Ringette Association’s tournament on Feb. 7-9.
Head coach Samantha Henderson credited the team for bringing outstanding enthusiasm and cohesiveness throughout the entire weekend.
“What really stands out to me is the energy, both on the bench and while preparing for the games,” Henderson told the Independent. “The team played together as a unit and as a family, and everyone played with the same goal in mind. The trust they had in themselves and in each other to execute their roles on the ice was key to their success.”
St. Marys put together a strong slate of results in the round-robin, winning three of their four games to clinch a spot in the championship contest. Adrianna Hollestelle-Black finished the tournament as the Snipers’ leading point-getter with four goals and six points in five games. Leah Van Straaten averaged a point per game, recording three goals and five points. Avery Jennings and Cortney Linton each posted four points in the tournament, which included the only goal in the final against Greater Sudbury.
Although they didn’t find the result they had hoped for in the Gold medal game, falling to Greater Sudbury 4-1, Henderson was pleased with the squad’s effort.
“They played a strong game and really tried to focus on what they needed to do. They were really trying to open up the offensive zone with different passing techniques. They used the shot clock very wisely and were passing and deking well before taking their shots. They communicated very well and provided their teammates with support passes. We had many shots that Sudbury’s goalie stopped, but we played very well, and there was a lot to be proud of in our finals performance.”
Henderson further remarked on how locked in the team was throughout the weekend, noting that the group never got ahead of themselves or looked past their next opponent.
“Every player showed up focused on the game
& Friendship
February 14 - Royal Canadian Legion “hot dogs and
A.N.A.F. meat draw – 6 p.m. - St. Marys Lincolns vs Elmira Sugar
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
and head coach Samantha Henderson. Not pictured was Raella Brodhagen.
at hand and not on the potential for the Gold medal game on Sunday. That put us in the right mindset for a game-by-game approach throughout the tournament. Each individual was pivotal to our success.
“I believe the bonding and trust in each other is something that our team did significantly better than we have before,” continued Henderson. “The team set their goals in our dryland training and have shown
at
that they are willing to work hard to achieve them, and we really saw that materialize in this tournament.”
Focus and teamwork were the biggest factors in the U19A St. Marys Snipers capturing the Silver medal at the Guelph Ringette Association’s tournament on Feb. 7-9. Pictured kneeling in front is Parker Hawkes. In the middle row, from left to right, are assistant coach Tracy Gedies, Leah Van Straaten, Isla Unich, Erin Green, Charlee Henderson, Torie Czajkowski, Cortney Linton, Avery Jennings, and Jadelynn Graves. In the back row, from left, are Emily Deighton, Adrianna Hollestelle-Black, Abby Martin, Jorja Linton, Payton Blight,
Gregory, Heard win annual Bill Heard Memorial Tournament
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
are Mike Gregory and Rob Heard, who won the fourth annual Bill Heard Memorial Tournament. on Feb. 8 at the St. Marys Bowling Lanes. The tournament featured 22 bowlers and 22 non-bowlers competing and raising $1,000 to assist with lineage for youth bowling tournaments. The winner of the Bowler category was Mike Gregory, while Rob Heard won the non-bower category.
McKeen, Slaney earn Bronze at Kitchener tournament
(CONTRIBUTED
Sims takes Gold at Ingersoll tournament; teams with McKeen
King, Steffler make strong tournament debut
Pictured from left to right
Pictured from left to right are coach Michelle McKeen, along with the St. Marys Bowling Lanes’ duo of Natalie McKeen and Erin Slaney. McKeen and Slaney teamed up to bowl five games on Feb. 9 in Kitchener and performed strongly, capturing the Bronze medal at the YBC Doubles tournament.
PHOTO)
Pictured from left to right are Tyler Sims and Nathan McKeen of the St. Marys Bowling Lanes. Sims and McKeen competed at the YBC Doubles tournament on Feb. 9, finishing in sixth place. Sims also recently captured the Gold medal at the Mid-Winter Blues tournament at Ingersoll Lanes on Jan. 25. Sims will bowl at the provincial competition at Nebs Fun World in Oshawa on May 3.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Pictured from left to right are Derek King, Jaxon Steffler, and Brendan King. The trio recently competed at the Masters Spring Youth tournament, and all three bowled their averages throughout the competition. It was the first official tournament for Steffler and the younger member of the King family.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Brought to you by your local
84 Wellington Street South St. Marys, ON (519) 284-1690
Reiner DeBoer gets to the slot and fires a wrist shot towards the net during this past Sunday’s Stonetown Electric U9 LL Boys White St. Marys Rock game.
Finn Harburn passes the puck along the blueline during one of the Social Thirty-One U11 A Boys St. Marys Rock’s games during the Rock Cup Tournament this past weekend.
Gavin Russell makes a pad save during one of the Dunny’s Source For Sports U13 A Boys St. Marys Rock’s games during this past weekend’s Rock Cup tournament.
Quinn Porter whips a shot on net during one of the St. Marys Fire Department U14 A Boys St. Marys Rock’s games during the Rock Cup tournament this past weekend.
Zack Tubman blasts a slap-shot from the point during last Wednesday’s A.N.A.F. U15 A Boys St. Marys Rock game.
Charlotte Holliday puts a backhand shot on goal during the FUN3 St. Marys Snipers game this past Sunday.
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTOS)
DCVI senior girls end regular season with win over Mitchell
On the left, Katie Namink dives to keep the ball in the air during the St. Marys DCVI senior girls’ volleyball team’s final game of the regular season on Feb. 5 against Mitchell. On the right, Harvest Elliott leaps up to tip the ball over the net and onto Mitchell’s side. The Salukis defeated Mitchell in two straight sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-18 to finish the regular season first in the Huron-Perth standings with a perfect 9-0 record. DCVI’s senior girls squad only lost two sets this season and began their playoff schedule on Feb. 11 after the Independent's press time.
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTOS)
The Salvation Army thanks all who helped during this year’s Christmas Kettle Campaign in Perth County
It was another banner year for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign.
Nancy Argyle, the Salvation Army’s administrative assistant, reports that the overall Christmas campaign total was $406,122.89 for the areas in and around Stratford, St. Marys and Mitchell. That total exceeds previous years as more and more people continue to look to the Salvation Army for help.
Stratford’s kettle donations came in at $222,997.15 while St. Marys kettles collected $125,742.13 and Mitchell’s brought in $71,282.51.
At right, this beauty of an English
The total for the numerous kettles was $406,122.89, and once that total was added to all other Christmas donations, the overall total raised for the local Salvation Army over the holiday season was $420,021.79.
Argyle and everyone at the Salvation Army would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers and organizations that take part year after year to help finance the programs put on year-round by the Salvation Army, standing by their motto of “Giving Hope Today.”
To volunteer for next year’s kettle campaign, call 519-271-2950 or drop by the local Salvation Army office at 230 Lightbourne Ave. in Stratford.
welcomed those who were more than glad to give to this Salvation
bulldog
Army Christmas Kettle in St. Marys to help make Christmas just a little better for those in need in the area.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
GARY WEST Independent Reporter
COLUMNS
UKRAINIAN CORNER: The Zaporizhian
Sich,
Ukrainian history is rich with heroic chapters that inspire generations. One of its most remarkable phenomena is the Zaporizhian Sich – a unique military and political formation that became a symbol of freedom, bravery and independence for the Ukrainian people. This article will explore the Zaporizhian Sich, its role in Ukrainian history and its significance for the modern world.
The Zaporizhian Sich emerged in the 16th century in the territory of modern southern Ukraine, in the lower reaches of the Dnipro River. It was a fortress that served as the center of Ukrainian Cossack life. The name "Sich" comes from the word "sikty," meaning to chop wood, which was used to build fortifications. The Cossacks who settled here were free people who had fled serfdom and religious persecution from various parts of Ukraine, Poland, Russia and other countries.
The Zaporizhian Sich was not just a military camp but a state within a state. The Cossacks lived by democratic principles. The Sich was led by a Koshovyi Otaman (chief commander), who was elected at a general council. Decisions were made collectively, making the Cossack community one of the most progressive of its time.
The Cossacks were skilled warriors. They mastered weapons, built boats called "chaiky" and used them for campaigns against Ottoman and Crimean Tatar invaders. Their way of life was
simple yet harsh; they engaged in farming, fishing and hunting, but their primary occupation was war.
The Zaporizhian Sich played a key role in the fight against foreign invaders. The Cossacks repeatedly repelled attacks by Crimean Tatars, Ottomans and other enemies. They also participated in major military campaigns such as the Khotyn War of 1621 where, alongside Polish forces, they halted Ottoman
In honour of Black History Month, the St. Marys Public Library is proud to present a screening of Desmond Cole’s “The Skin We’re In” as well as a live Webinar hosted by the Federation of Black Canadians. The film will be shown February 19 at 6:30 p.m. and the Webinar on February 26 at 6:30 p.m. Both programs are for patrons 18+, are free to attend, and no registration is required.
This Week’s Recommendation
Prepare to celebrate Black authors all year long with our list of exciting titles available to be borrowed from Perth County libraries! To receive this list in your email inbox on February 18, sign up for the “Reader’s Advisory News -
Fri., Feb. 14: Open 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., Feb. 15: Crafty Tales - Valentine’s
Storytime (10:30 a.m.)
Mon., Feb. 17: CLOSED
Tues., Feb. 18: Open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 19: EarlyON Play and Read (9:30-10:30 a.m.), Mahjong! (1-4 p.m.), Scrabble (6-8 p.m.), Film Screening: The Skin We’re In (6:30 p.m.), Books & Brews*~ (7 p.m.)
Thurs., Feb. 20: Open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
*Registration Required
~Held at Broken Rail Brewery (480 Glass St., St. Marys)
expansion.
However, the Cossacks were not always allies of the Polish nobility. In 1648, under the leadership of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, they launched a national liberation war against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which led to the creation of the autonomous Cossack Hetmanate. The Zaporizhian Sich became a crucial centre of this struggle. In the 18th century, the Zaporizhian
Sich lost its significance due to the policies of the Russian Empire, which sought to destroy Cossack autonomy. In 1775, Russian Empress Catherine II ordered the destruction of the Sich and the Cossacks were either resettled or incorporated into the imperial army. This marked the end of the Zaporizhian Sich as an independent entity.
However, the legacy of the Zaporizhian Sich remains alive. Cossack traditions, culture and ideals of freedom continue to inspire Ukrainians. Today, the Zaporizhian Sich is a symbol of the struggle for independence and national identity.
In modern Ukraine, the Zaporizhian Sich remains an important element of national memory. On the island of Khortytsia, where one of the Siches was located, a historical and cultural reserve has been established. Every year, thousands of tourists visit this site to learn more about Cossack history.
Moreover, Cossack traditions are being revived in modern Ukrainian society. Many organizations and community groups use Cossack symbols and ideals to promote patriotism and national consciousness.
The Zaporizhian Sich is not just a page in history but a living symbol of the Ukrainian spirit. Its history reminds us of the importance of freedom, unity and courage in the struggle for one's rights. In a world where many nations still fight for independence, the experience of the Zaporizhian Sich remains relevant and inspiring.
Ask the Arborist
By Joel Hackett |
Dear Arborist,
My dog urinated on my evergreen trees. Is there a way to save them? In the past, when this happens they normally die.
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
The main problem here is the acidity. The PH of the soil would need to be neutralized or replaced entirely. A couple ways to neutralize the ph would be to add lime or gypsum. A small amount of baking soda may work as well.
To prevent this from re-occuring, you could potentially lay down landscape fabric and mulch to protect the soil in the future, however, if urine gets on the actual greenery, it will burn the plant.
Sincerely,
The Arborist
Joel Hackett is a certified Arborist residing in the St. Marys area. Currently, he spends most of the year running Joel’s Tree Service. For contact call 519 272 5742 or email jtsquote@gmail.com
LAURA MCASH
St. Marys Public Library
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
“The Zaporozhian Cossacks Writing a Letter to the Turkish Sultan” – a famous painting by the Ukrainian artist, Ilya Repin.
OLENA OLIANINA Independent Columnist
HISTORIC ST. MARYS: W. J. Stafford,
MARY SMITH Independent Columnist
On November 22, 1934, the local weekly newspaper, the Journal Argus, published a special edition marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Town of St. Marys. Although it was the height of the Great Depression of the 1930s, the featured articles in this edition were all extremely positive, tracing the history of the town’s industrial, commercial, educational, sporting, and cultural successes through the decades. The Journal Argus provided local businesses the opportunity to advertise in this widely circulated edition. One advertiser was the contractor, W. J. Stafford.
Stafford’s display ad in this newspaper read: “As builders, we congratulate the builders of St. Marys. Many of the fine homes in St. Marys were built by Stafford – Contractor, Carpenter, Cabinet and Shop Work.” Stafford also informed readers that he was an agent for Johns-Manville building materials. This American company was already wellknown as a manufacturer of home and industrial insulation. Much of this material contained asbestos – considered at that time to be a miracle product, fireproof as well as insulating. Only later were its cancer-causing properties discovered. But in Stafford’s day, his use of these products in home construction was one of his selling points.
Stafford included a photograph of his own house on the north side of Queen Street West. He had built an attractive, storey-and-a-half bungalow a few years earlier for himself and his family and his ad showed it off as an example of his work. It was not a very large house although the 1931 census states that it had seven rooms. The bedrooms upstairs were tucked compactly under the gables. The economic conditions of the 1930s might have had something to do with his promotion of smaller houses. Stafford had begun his contracting career building many larger, residences. For example, soon after he started out in 1912, he and his brother-in-law, Robert Henderson, signed the plans for a home for the Sisters of St. Joseph who were coming to St. Marys to take charge of the Catholic Separate School. Stafford’s east and south elevations for the convent are in the archival collection of his plans at the St. Marys Museum.
Although Stafford’s floorplans for this residence have not survived, the sisters themselves kept a daily journal, and they described their new home when they arrived in January 1913. The floor plan was like that of many large family homes of the time. The ground floor featured a centre hall with two large rooms on either side. The music room and dining room were on the sunny, south side and could be opened into one large room for music recitals or other similar events. The parlour and “community room” were on the north side of the hallway. The kitchen at the back was “bright and cheery.” There were porches at both
Part Two
Contractor W. J. Stafford (1875-1947) built many homes in St. Marys and area. The Stafford collection at the St. Marys Museum contains plans for both large residences and smaller, more modest ones. This house at 265 Jones Street East, built in 1914 for merchant John Adam, is an example of one of Stafford's grander projects.
ends of the hall for ventilation. Upstairs, there were five private bedrooms and an arch-roofed chapel for worship.
These solid houses, built in a sort of utilitarian Queen Anne style, were very popular in the 1910s and 1920s in St. Marys and area and the collection contains plans drawn by Stafford for a number of them. For example, in 1916, he prepared elevations and floor plans for a two-and-a-half storey house for A. Ready in Downie Township. Like the convent in St. Marys, it featured a front veranda with a central door and a window on each side. The main floor interior had four large rooms – a parlour and dining room to the left of the entrance and the sitting room and kitchen on the right. But unlike the convent, there was no central hall. The front door led into a small vestibule. But this plan was meant for a house on a working farm. Most of the family’s comings and goings would be at the back door into the kitchen. The plans showed up-to-date plumbing – a washroom off the kitchen for men coming in from the barn as well as a threepiece bathroom on the second floor. Stafford was a skilled contractor and meticulous in preparing his floor plans and specifications. But like other builders, he made use of readily available published house plans, such as books published by the Radford Architectural Company. Architect William Radford found a niche market in supplying standard plans to builders for a modest fee as well as offering custom design services. In the early 20th century, he had a large architectural establishment in Riverside, Illinois, where his team of architects and designers created hundreds of house plans. These he published in books with titles like The Radford American Homes (1903) and Radford’s Artistic Bungalows (1908.) Stafford owned several of these plan books, but he did not send money to Illinois to buy the plans. He used them as reference to create plans
and elevations of his own.
There were, of course, other house builders in St. Marys and sometimes Stafford worked with them. His brother-in-law, Robert Henderson, was an early partner. Another was Harry Cook, a carpenter who lived in a small house just east of the Stafford home on Queen Street West. In the early 1940s, a teenaged Glen Millson began to walk each day from his home on Emily Street across the Sarnia Bridge to work with W. J. Stafford and to learn the carpentry trade. Glen later recollected that he began by fabricating inverted “V” covers to install over entrances to provide minimal protection from the weather. Stafford called them “doghouses.” Until Stafford died in 1947, Glen Millson continued to work with him. Then, at the age of 20, he began his own contracting business.
There are some plans in the Stafford donation that are dated in the 1920s, but
as W. J. Stafford got older, he seems to have preferred renovations to complete construction projects. He also found time to serve his community. He was a town councillor for three years in the early 1920s, representing the west ward. He also was a public school trustee and a long-time leader in the United Church and its Sunday School. He belonged to both the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. By the mid-1940s, he was experiencing ill health. Still, within the year before he died, he undertook another house-building project that was completely different from the frame houses he had previously designed and built. Officials of the Dominion Housing Act were recommending concrete houses for economical, energy-efficient post-war housing. Using the government’s plans as guidelines, Stafford built the concrete house with the flat parapet roof, still standing at 418 Elizabeth Street. This project deserves a separate column sometime in the future. Although Stafford was able to work into the fall of 1946, on February 27, the Journal Argus published his photograph with an article about him, stating that the familiar face of “genial William J. Stafford, contractor, builder and cabinetmaker” had been missed lately. “William has been in decidedly poor health for some time and has been confined to his home, Queen Street West. W. J. has worked on and built many of the best structures in St. Marys where his work has been looked upon as honest and workmanlike. Will’s friends will be pleased to see him out again, once that the spring and warmer weather arrives.” But two weeks later, the Journal Argus reported that William James Stafford had died on March 7, 1947, in his 72nd year. At his funeral, the pallbearers and flower-bearers were neighbours, local businessmen, and fellow contractors, including the young Glen Millson. W. J. Stafford was survived by his wife, Sarah, two daughters, Viola and Alice, and his son, Emerson.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARCHIVES AT THE ST. MARYS MUSEUM)
FROM THE GARDEN: The Green Itch
We can all agree that it has been a long, cold and snowy winter. We haven’t seen any other colour except mounds of white in over ten weeks. Mother Nature certainly hasn’t loosened her icy grip and it will be like that for a few weeks more. By now, gardeners start to develop the ‘green itch’. This condition isn’t serious but is has made many of us anxious and a little irritable. Luckily, the remedy for our ‘green itch’ doesn’t require costly meds or treatment. The cure is as simple as getting our hands in the soil and start sprouting seeds. The ritual of waiting for spring began weeks ago. Seeds we ordered from our favourite companies have arrived. To add to that stack, we have picked up a few packets at our local hardware store or garden
centre along with the supplies of lightweight soil and seed trays. And we have a growing pile of saved egg cartons and yogurt cups for seeding. The ‘what’ and ‘how’ is the easy part of starting seeds indoors. ‘When’ is the tricky part.
A general rule for starting seeds indoors is six weeks before the last expected frost date. In our area that date is approximately May 10, with the risk of frost decreasing to 10% fourteen days after that date. This is essential information as we can calculate when to start planting and when to set our little plants out in the garden.
Most seed companies provide information on their seed packets, such as days needed for germination and days to maturity. This is all important data when you are scheduling your seeding. For instance, parsley seeds usually germinate in 14 to 28 days, depending on the soil temperature. Whereas, marigold seeds typically germinate in 4 to 14 days. There are some seeds that need light to trigger germination. This information is usually stated on the seed packet.
If we sow seeds too early indoors, the plants may get ‘leggy’ and be ready before it is warm enough to plant out-
doors. Sow seeds too late and they may not be mature or strong enough to set out in our gardens. So timing is everything.
Other factors that affect our success once our seeds have sprouted is soil temperature and light. They need at least 12 hours of light per day and proper watering. You want your seedlings to be moist and not waterlogged. One issue that can happen if we are not careful is ‘damping off’. This condition is a fungal disease that
kills seedlings, causing them to wilt, discolour and rot. It is affected by soilborne fungi that thrives in cool, wet conditions. A light dusting of cinnamon when you plant your seeds should prevent ‘damping off’. Cinnamon has antifungal properties that can kill the fungus. If you don’t normally seed indoors, another way to help resolve the ‘green itch’ is to visit our favourite garden centre or take in a horticultural event. London Middlesex Master Gardeners are hosting
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
An alternative approach to tariffs
I'm wondering if the best approach to the imposition of tariffs from President Trump is to do absolutely nothing. There are two reasons for this suggestion. Firstly, it is we Canadians, along with the majority of the developed world, who believe in the principle of free trade. We have done so at least since the GATT agreement of 1947 which significantly reduced tariff barriers. Why should we abandon that belief now? After all, by imposing tariffs the US government is just increasing costs for both its industries and its citizens, something that will also drive up inflation. The US does not
STONETOWN TRAVEL
have the capacity or sometimes even the knowhow to manufacture or cultivate those products at home. And unravelling highly integrated supply-chains will not happen overnight - indeed not before the current US president is at the end of his term. So why would Canada impose tafirrs on US goods and drive up Canadian costs to the detriment of its own industries and citizens?
Secondly, when the US administration is playing such a childish game it does not mean we have to do the same thing. We can just behave like responsible adults, stick to our principles and set
an example.
One thing Canada can and must do is to begin to de-couple itself economically from the US, not by 100% but by a significant percentage. We have trade
their annual Seedy Saturday on March 1 at the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre in London. This garden event of seed vendors, garden related products and interesting speakers is a revered experience for all gardeners from novice to expert.
Are you feeling that gardening ‘green itch’? Scratch it by starting seeds or attending a garden event! It's the perfect way to cure your green yearnings and get you ready for a successful growing season.
agreements with Europe (CETA) and with Pacific countries (CPTPP), not forgetting Mexico (CUSMA). Let's build stronger ties with allies we can rely on. Chris Charlesworth, Stratford
MILLS FARM FOR SALE BY TENDER
Tenders are invited for the sale of farm property located at 1268 Perth Road 139, St Mary’s Ontario and legally described as :
Lot 24, Concession West Mitchell Road Blanshard Save and except HWP975, Perth South 110 workable acres more or less.
Containing a house, bank barn and drive shed
For tender forms and other particulars contact: Murray McKercher Professional Corporation
32A Centennial Drive, Seaforth, Ontario N0K 1W0
Phone: (519) 527 -0850 x. 234
Email: tsmith@murraymckercher.ca
Tenders to be submitted by 12:00 noon
On Friday February 21 , 2025
Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted
NANCY ABRA Independent Columnist
When
specialize in offering high quality cosmetic injections & medical aesthetics through a variety of treatments.
one door closes … Thorndale Country Mills and Thorndale Hardware open their doors
Recently, Peavey Mart announced they were closing all their stores across Canada. Five years ago, this farm retail chain purchased TSC stores and Ace Canada but now forced to close due to “unprecedented challenges” and “significant obstacles” as recently reported in the London Free Press. Peavey Mart was a popular retail store for area farm -
ers and rural residents, but as they say ‘when one door closes’ there are opportunities elsewhere, such as Thorndale Country Mills and Thorndale Hardware.
Besides having a great selection of local cheeses, meats, eggs and frozen meals Thorndale Country Mills also have farm-oriented toys and books. Furthermore, they carry a wide selection of small barn and garden tools, animal feed and bedding, chicken feeders
Optimist District meeting held in Thorndale
The Midwestern District of Optimist International held a meeting at the Thorndale Community Centre Feb. 8.
This district comprises 46 Optimist Clubs in 11 zones from Walkerton in the north, Windham Centre in the south, Clinton in the west and Breslau in the east. Approximately 100 Optimist members of this district attended the all-day meeting of updates from the regional governor, Optimist programs, reports from the various clubs, a delicious catered lunch and special awards.
The Thorndale Optimist Club was recog-
and waterers as well as Canadian dog food. Thorndale Country Mills has recently picked up a new supplier, Frey’s Hatchery out of St. Jacobs area, to serve the small poultry producer with chicks, laying hens and specialty poultry. For decades, Thorndale Hardware has been another core business in Thorndale. As their name suggest, they carry a wide range of hardware items but also garden supplies and tools, household cleaning and kitchen products, paint,
Talented
nized for 55 years of continued contribution and service to this community’s youth. They were also acknowledged with the HOBY Award of the Canadian branch of the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership. This organization, founded by actor Hugh O’Brian in 1958, maintains the mission to inspire and develop young people to become effective leaders in their community.
The Thorndale Optimist Club, as hosts for this district meeting, gratefully accepted a donation of sports balls and equipment as their special service project from other Optimist clubs attending. This equipment will be delivered to West Nissouri Public School in the coming weeks.
just to name a few. Co-owner Conner Darville stated, “Not many people realize that we also carry products that were available at Peavey Mart. We have access through our suppliers, items such as farm fencing and small industrial goods that we can order in for people.”
So, when the doors of a large corporation closes, one doesn’t have to go far, just into Thorndale to shop local.
Ladies” join forces
Joanna Gooder and Sharyl Vandendries have been friends for over 10 years. They are both artistic and creative entrepreneurs and always encourage each other to try something new.
After they were successful at winning top prizes for each of their delicious pies at the Thorndale Fall Fair in September, they thought they would combine their baking talents and start a little business.
Last Saturday afternoon at the Thorndale United Church, Gooder and Vandendries hosted a Valentine Pie Social. They made five different varieties for a total of 19 pies for people to purchase a slice to enjoy with a tea or coffee. There were six local artisan vendors in attendance for people to do a little shopping as well.
“This was so much fun,” Vandendries said, “and we are delighted it was so successful. We will definitely do this again in the near future, so stay tuned.”
NANCY ABRA Independent Reporter
NANCY ABRA Independent Reporter
NANCY ABRA Independent Reporter
Thorndale Country Mills store manager Leslie Andrew.
Thorndale Hardware co-owner Conner Darville.
(NANCY ABRA PHOTO)
(NANCY ABRA PHOTO)
What has hands but can't clap? A clock!
Why did the banana go to the doctor? Because it wasn’t peeling well!
What has to be broken before you can use it? An egg!
Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot!
What has one eye but can’t see? A needle!
Why don’t skeletons fight each other? Because they don’t have the guts!
What can you catch but not throw? A cold!
Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems!
What is full of holes but still holds water? A sponge!
What kind of room has no doors or windows? A mushroom!
What did one wall say to the other wall? "I'll meet you at the corner!"
Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!
Riddle Kid Riddles
- Word Search -
SPONSORED BY:
Adult Learning Programs of Perth, 26 Wellington St. S. St. Marys | Phone: 519-284-4408 | Cell: 226-374-8231 alearning@town.stmarys.on.ca | www.adultlearningperth.ca | Facebook: @AdultLearningProgramsofPerth
VALENTINE’S DAY
Fourteenth
True love
Sweetheart
Romance
Chocolate
Champagne Flowers
Kisses
Embrace Together
St. Marys Veterinary Clinic is pleased to be the sponsor of the
PET OF THE WEEK
February is Pet Dental Health Month. Brushing your pet’s teeth daily is the gold standard for pet dental care. Although this may seem daunting or difficult, with a consistent and gentle approach, most pets will become agreeable to daily teeth brushing. Patience and training are key. Be sure to use a toothbrush designed for pets, as well as toothpaste formulated for animals. Do not use human toothpaste, as it contains ingredients in it that can make pets sick if swallowed.
LUCKY
Our Pet of the Week is Lucky, a one-year-old Cocker Spaniel. When his family left Ukraine they had to leave behind their puppy, Mia and there were many tears of separation. After 1 ½ years in Canada, they bought Lucky from a Ukrainian family in London. Lucky has more than made up for the loss of Mia who they still visit via Skype. Lucky is very smart and active. He loves to play ball, roll around in the grass and dig in the snow. He loves Ukrainian food the most; he also loves apples and vegetables. The Shyshkivska family is very grateful that Lucky came into their lives. It became even more fun and brighter.
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO: Little Canada
This is my 200th consecutive weekly travel feature in the Grant Haven newspapers. It’s also appearing near Valentine’s Day, so it seems appropriate that, in this milestone week, I am featuring a love story about a place I treasure – our own Canada.
But this is not my love story; it’s the story of Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer and his labour of love: a visitor attraction in Toronto called “Little Canada.”
It’s not hyperbole to say I was blown away by this amazing destination. To offer a description that does not do justice to the wonder, Little Canada is a collection of miniaturized highlights of our country. You stroll past small versions of Niagara Falls, Québec City, Halifax, Victoria, St. John’s, Ottawa and more. All of these destinations are full of accurately replicated buildings and geographic features, as well as moving vehicles, trains and animals. Oh, and there are people, too – about 40,000 of them. All but one of these elements are faithfully reproduced at a 1:87 scale (model-train lovers will
know that as HO). The exception is the CN Tower, still too big at that scale, so it’s actually scaled at 1:160.
In human terms, that means the miniaturized people are about three-quarters of an inch tall.
The entire facility, located at 10 Dundas St. E in downtown Toronto, covers 45,000 square feet including storage area and space marked for expansion as even more of Canada is miniaturized and put on display. Little Canada is open 364 days a year. In 2024, the attraction welcomed 130,000 visitors.
The founder and “chief visionary officer” of Little Canada, Brenninkmeijer, came to Canada from The Netherlands in 1999, planning to stay for two years to gain business expertise he could carry back to his family business in Europe.
As we stood surrounded by miniaturized Toronto, he explained that when he and his family arrived in this country, “We knew nothing about Canada.” But when his four sons were assigned projects in Grade 4 about Canada, Brenninkmeijer and his wife got involved with the assignments.
His growing interest in the country meshed with his interest in model trains and his fond memories of visiting European attractions like “The Netherlands in Miniature.”
The plan to return to The Netherlands was scuttled. Brenninkmeijer had found his passion. In 2011, warehouse space was found in Mississauga, business partners were recruited and a team was assembled to start producing
miniaturized versions of Canadian communities.
It took 10 years for Brenninkmeijer’s vision to be opened to the public in its downtown Toronto location; that happened in 2021. Today, visitors – officially dubbed Giants – can spend time in seven regions: Little Niagara, Little Toronto, Little Golden Horseshoe, Little Ottawa, Petit Québec, Little East Coast and Little West Coast (opened in 2024). You will want to spend a few hours here; the details are amazing and guests are captivated by individual features including 300 moving vehicles, 22 trains running at any one time, pecking chickens, flopping fish and rolling fog.
Just when you think you have seen everything a particular site has to offer, the sun sets and everything changes. The day-to-night cycle lasts 15 minutes. On Parliament Hill, sunset sets the stage for the popular light show, projected on the Parliament buildings, the same show that is displayed in Ottawa in the evening.
Later this year, a new region will open – Canada’s North. Brenninkmeijer told me this section of Little Canada was developed through full collaboration with an Indigenous consulting firm “to help us curate the right stories.”
And there is still more to come, says the founder. Little Canada will eventually include The Prairies, Montreal and the Rocky Mountains. And when all of these regions are represented, “I would like to do an airport at the end,” he said.
All of this raises the question,
- a miniature Canadian miracle
“Why?” Why take on such a demanding challenge? Brenninkmeijer explains that the fundamental goal is “to introduce people to Canada.” These people include Canadians who may never have the chance to see the country from coast to coast to coast. They also include newcomers to Canada; and as an immigrant himself, Brenninkmeijer takes great pleasure in welcoming newcomers to this unique introduction to the vast country that is now his family’s home. He is in the process of creating a non-profit organization that will help to fund visits to Little Canada for newcomers and school groups. A standard visit to Little Canada costs $36 for an adult, with discounts for students, seniors and children.
A tour of the attraction allows an up-close view of the craftspeople creating Little
Canada. To date, over 400,000 hours of work have gone into the project; each region takes 18 months to produce.
Visitors also can experience the “Littlization Station” where – for a fee – a 28-camera unit captures your image, resulting in a miniaturized you! Visitors can take home a tiny figure of themselves or they can have themselves included in the Little Canada display. About 7,000 figures are replicas of visitors. No, wait. Since my visit, 7,001. Look for a tiny, bearded travel writer hanging out at the Yellow Belly pub in St. John’s N.L.!
Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and President of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden.net.
PAUL KNOWLES Independent Columnist
Little Canada founder and chief visionary officer Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, a "giant" beside Little Canada's Rogers Centre.
(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS)
Downtown Niagara Falls; the famous Clifton Hill.
A miniature Québec City in amazing detail.
OBITUARY
Horner
With profound sadness we say goodbye to Rosemary Elizabeth Horner, passed away at Stratford General Hospital on Feb. 7, 2025 at the age of 85. Predeceased by her husband Wayne B. Horner (2001) and daughter Vicky Horner (2011) and sisters Joanne Deveraux, Teresa Smith, Elizabeth Smith and granddaughter Brittany Priestap. She is survived by brothers Tom Clark and Paul Clark (Jan),. Mother of six Shelley Priestap (Paul), Donna Windsor (Frank Scott), Mike Horner (Sue), Mark Horner (Kristi), and Tracy Weston (Joe). Grandmother of Christopher, Kelsey, Kurtis, Joel, Braiden, Shaelyn, Jake, Madelyn, Mia, Rene, Riley, Niven. Great-grandmother of Ruby, Lexi, Harper, Summer, Mason, Austin, and Andie.
Born and raised in Sarnia, Rosemary moved to Goderich after marrying Wayne, developing many lifetime friendships. She loved the horses, the farm, and going to the track to watch Mike and Mark race. Clinton Raceway was always her favourite. 1,2,3 tri box was her bet! She worked hard during her married life, first as a teacher, then, by child number four, she decided it best to be a full-time Mom.
While Rosemary always enjoyed her time at the farms in Goderich and Brucefield, she liked St. Marys the best. Living in St. Marys since 1981, she managed to keep all the family close by and loved getting together, especially on haying days. She had also been known to disappear on occasion, only to be tracked down at the slots with one of her children. Rosemary taught us how to work hard and play hard, and to appreciate the small things. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations to the Canadian Lung Association or the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Arrangements with the Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home (519-284-2820) with online tributes at www.hodgesfuneralhome.ca.
OBITUARY Smith
Lois McNeil Smith (Gregory) passed away peacefully at Stratford General Hospital on February 6, 2025, just shy of her 89th birthday.
Predeceased by her first husband Glen Smith (1977) and partner Don Keast (2002).
Mother of Shelley Martin (Louie), Jayne Tinney (Greg), Jim Smith (Terri) and Paul Smith (Karen). Grandmother of Bobbi Jo (Ben), Leeanne (Jeff), Michael (Sarah), Ashleigh, Kristin, Brodie, Tyson, Tyler and Step-Grandmother of Ashleigh Martin, and Jesse Martin. Great-grandmother of 11 and great-great-grandmother of 2. Dearly loved sister of Ruth Rout and sister-in-law of Verna Hoy, Norma Smith.
Lois will also be missed by several nieces, nephews, many community friends and staff and friends at Anne Hathaway retirement home. The Funeral Service was conducted at the Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Spring interment in Lakeside on Hill Cemetery. Memorial Donations may be made to the East Nissouri Union Church or to a charity of choice. Online tributes a www.hodgesfuneralhome.ca.
IN MEMORIAM
Watkins
In Loving memory of our Dad Fred who we lost 40 years ago Feb. 13, 1985
We think of the day you passed away
There was little we could do
But memories never fade away
For we always think of you.
Your resting place we visit
And place flowers there with care
Then our hearts are filled with sadness
As we turn and leave you there.
Still remembering you
Your six Children
Jean, Mary, Sylvia, Charles, Phyllis, Ray
It is with heartfelt appreciation that the families of the late George Wood wish to express their thanks to everyone who has offered support and condolences. All continue to be a great source of comfort to us.
We also extend our thanks and appreciation to Craigwiel Gardens for their excellent care of George during the past 9 months, to Gary Mallalieu for the service he performed, and to Andrew Hodges Funeral Home.
We are truly grateful. Dad was obviously surrounded by much love, and he will be greatly missed. Sandra, Nancy, Brian, Sharon and
OBITUARY Reid
Kenneth Ian Reid “Ian” December 6, 1959 – February 7, 2025 at the age of 65 passed away quietly with his family at his side after a long battle with Myotonic Dystrophy. Ian was a retired dairy farmer and loving husband to Cathy (Cook). Father to Angela, Michael, (Becky), Ashley (Brandon) and Alex. Loving grandfather to Andrea Cross, Brooklynn and Bennett Whittal. Survived by his father-in-law Lloyd Cook.
Predeceased by his mother-in-law Barbara Cook and his parents Jean and Gordon Reid.
Brother to Linda Reid, Donald (Anne), Debbie Squibb (Dean), Betty Sterritt (Paul Vanderpol), Bill (Nancy) and Hannah Reid Bennett (Paul). Also survived by his sister-in-law Carolyn Crawford (Don), brother-in-law Bryan Cook (Julie). He will be remembered by many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, Myrtle Reid, Joe Zuest, Marg Duncan, Bill and Susan Alexander. The family wish to express their gratitude to the personal support workers at ParaMed, mainly Lori, Michelle and Giselle for their dedication to his care. Also to Dr. Gilmour, Dr. Donaldson and the nursing staff at St. Marys Memorial Hospital.
Visitation for friends and family will be held at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Wednesday, February 12, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 1 p.m. Spring Interment at Avonbank cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Canada or St. Marys Memorial Hospital. www. wgyoungfuneralhome.com
I want to sincerely thank my family, friends and neighbours from the bottom of my heart for making my 99th birthday so special on February 4th. Many thanks for the beautiful cards, flowers and gifts. I appreciated all your kindness and thoughtfulness. May God bless every one of you.
Mabel Ballantyne
and
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CLASSIFIED ADSCLASSIFIED ADS
Wanted
$ Cash Paid $ for your RECORDS and LPs. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Fold, Soundtracks, and more. Selectively buying CDs, Cassettes, Turntables, and Stereo Equipment. For more information: Diamond Dogs Music 114 Ontario St. Stratford/ 226-972-5750
Wanted
A working camcorder that will play Hi-8 digital tapes. Phone 519-284-3774
Wanted to buy
All collectibles including sports cards, beanie babies, Funko pops and stamps. Highest prices paid. Free appraisals. Are you downsizing or need an estate clean out? We can help. Call or text Stan anytime 519-868-3814.
Wanted
I will pay cash for antiques and collectibles. Coca Cola, Pepsi or any pop company. Brewery items - Kuntz, Huether Labatts, etc. Old radios and gramophones, wristwatches, pocket watches, old fruit jars - Beaver Star, Bee Hive etc. Any old oil cans and signs - Red Indian, Supertest etc. Any small furniture. If you are moving or cleaning out stuff please contact me519-570-6920.
Trees
Shade trees, Fruit trees, Apple, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Sweet and Sour Cherries, Apricot, Nectarines, Blueberry, Haskopp, Black Chokeberry, Grapes etc.
Lots of Spruce, Pine, Cedars for windbreaks and privacy hedges, Sizes 1 to 6+.
Flowering shrubs and much more. Come check us out Mon-Sat 7:00am - 6:00pm Martin's Nursery 42661 Orangehill Road Wroxeter (1 concession north of Wroxeter on Belmore Line)
For Rent
Large 3 bedroom downtown apartment in 3 story walk up, includes all utilities, wifi, laundry, parking. References required. Available February. Please call 519-697-4985
For Sale
Burgundy Reclining Love Seat. 2 Seater, Real Leather $200 or best offer. Please call Rob at 519-284-2815
HELP WANTED
HAPPY VALLEY FAMILY HEALTH TEAM
The Happy Valley Family Health Team is a dynamic team of professionals including 11 Family Physicians, Dietitian, Pharmacist, Mental Health Workers, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and administrative support. We currently have an opening for:
MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT
The Medical O ce Assistant will provide administrative support and assist with patient interactions. The ability to communicate and work e ectively on a multidisciplinary team is essential. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail are critical for managing multiple tasks e ciently. This position can be casual or part-time with the possibility for full-time in the future.
Please forward resume with preferred hours of work by February 17th 2024 to: Happy Valley Family Health Team
Attention: Kimberly Lang, Executive Director 268 Maiden Lane P.O. Box 1120
St. Marys, ON N4X 1B7
stmmc@stmmc.ca
Thank you to all applicants who apply. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
The Happy Valley Family Health Team welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
By Amy Cubberley
LOOKING BACK Welcome Bank of Montreal
25 years ago (2000)
Carol Robinson-Todd of St. Marys is currently appearing in “Independence”, a play being presented by London Community Players at the Palace Theatre in London. In this past weekend’s Free Press, reviewer Ian Gillespie wrote, “some of the evening’s most powerful moments belong to Carol Robinson-Todd.”
Sebringville OPP are investigating a daylight break and enter that occurred on Monday afternoon in Perth South. The thieves entered by kicking in a side door. Once inside, they removed several electronics, including a 32” RCA TV, a JVC VCR, a 6-disc CD player, a guitar, and a computer modem.
50 years ago (1975)
The go ahead has been received regarding construction of three semi-detached housing units under the rent-geared-to-income plan by Ontario Housing Corporation. Plans are presently being prepared for the total of six housing units to be built at the intersection of Widder and St. George Street, east of the C.N.R. London bridge.
Parents of Lincoln team members treated the players to a banquet in the Arena Hall following the game last Sunday. About 90 people attended the banquet, intended as recognition of the fine job carried out by the St. Marys Jr. B Club in winning a silver medal at the Ontario Games in Thunder Bay last December. Ted Kennedy is in St. Marys Memorial Hospital this week having been kicked by a horse while working at the Thoroughbred Racing Stables on Queen Street West.
75 years ago (1950)
A student from the University of Western Ontario was in St. Marys last week gathering data about industrial sites and opportunities in the Stone Town. The investigation is sponsored by the UWO and the Association for Industrial Expansion in case of emergency. One of the main objectives of the survey is to find suitable sites for key industry dispersal in the event of another war.
As a result of the Town Council’s consent to change the original agreement with Central Mortgage and Housing Ltd., successors to Wartime Housing Ltd., the thirty-five houses in the East Ward. may now be put up for sale.
Gary Gavin, 3, of London, was very fortunate that he was well bundled up on Saturday morning. The little lad ran in front of a parked car and was struck by a car driven by Harold Darling. Although it was first feared that he had suffered serious injury, a visit to the Stratford Hospital proved that he was suffering nothing more than serious bruising.
100 years ago (1925)
While the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Walz were driving in a cutter along Wellington Street North on Friday evening, a number of boys sleigh riding on the hills dashed past the vehicle and frightened the horse which ran away and smashed the cutter to fragments. The children were thrown from the cutter but escaped injury.
Dr. Mayo, the famous surgeon, says that goiter may be forestalled by iodine.
A new sign bearing the name “Bank of Montreal” was placed over the name “Molson’s Bank” on the Queen Street branch of the former bank on Wednesday.
