short tour of the St. Marys cement plant – part of the Votorantim Cimentos group – led by plant manager Alejandro Aviles and site environmental manager Kara Pelissero before making the funding announcement.
“When it comes to climate change, we all have to do our part; everyone whether you’re citizens, whether
By Emily Stewart
The St. Marys Public Library board chair acknowledged it’s not ideal to operate under reduced hours, but it was what had to be done amid funding cuts. The library began operating on the following hours as of July 13:
• Monday to Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday to Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The library reduced their hours after losing funding from the Municipality of Perth South that granted access to Perth South residents. The end of the contract also resulted in a nearly $50,000 cut for the library’s operating budget.
"Reducing hours is never what you want, particularly in a service where you're really dependent on having good staff,” said Cole Atlin, library board chair. “I think the St. Marys Public Library has the best staff, so cutting time and hours for them was something the board really had to think hard about, but we didn't really have an alternative option to make the reduction that we needed to make."
Atlin added that Sarah Andrews, CEO of the St. Marys Public Library, analyzed in great detail how to reduce the hours with the least impact on the services. There is less programming and patron attendance on Saturdays, particularly in the summer, even though Saturdays are ideal for families and working parents. The Friends of the St. Marys Library will have to move their weekly Thursday night meetings to a different day.
COMMUNITY
Federal environment minister announces
you’re government representatives or a member of parliament, but also industry,” Guilbeault said.
“And we’re very happy to be here to do this too-short visit of the St. Marys Cement plant, and very happy to be able to announce that the federal government is investing $2.2 million into this project that will help reduce the emissions of the plant here in St. Marys, help us achieve our pollution-reduction goal while at the same time creating good jobs, investing in good companies like the cement plant here so that Canada can continue to move forward in fighting climate change and supporting our communities, supporting our economy.”
With this funding, St. Marys Cement is installing new cement-kiln infrastructure that uses lower-carbon fuels, including discarded wood and plastics deemed unrecyclable by recycling-processing plants, to replace up to 30 per cent of the high-carbon fuels required for the manufacturing process. The innovative technology will cut more than 39,900 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2030, the equivalent of taking more than 9,400 gas-powered cars off the road for a year.
As members of Canada’s Net Zero Challenge, St. Marys Cement is implementing a plan to transition its facilities and operations to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
“We do have very ambitious targets for caron reduction, and there are many ways of achieving this reduction,” said Jorge Wagner, CEO of Votorantim Cimentos North America.
“One of the ways is replacing all the use of fossil fuels in our kilns with waste that has lower-carbon content. We have this target globally. It’s not just in St. Marys but in all of the operations we have in the world. We have the objective to reduce, and of course we’ve tried to find ways to make this project financially viable, and when we have support like in the case of Canada through the carbon tax when we get some grants, it gives us the
ability to make the process more accelerated.”
This is just one of many projects funded through the federal government’s industrial-pricing system in Ontario and the revenue-return program called the Decarbonization Incentive Program (DIP), which re-invests revenues taken from heavy industry through the price on pollution and puts it toward eligible facilities for energy efficiency and emission-cutting projects.
So far, the industrial pollution-pricing program DIP has agreements in place to reinvest nearly $74.3 million into 18 emissions-reduction projects in Ontario, resulting in 274,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 2030 with many more projects to come.
“Even before my days in politics, the cement industry and the Canadian Cement Association has been an ally,” Guilbeault said. “From day one, they recognized how important it is to fight climate change because of climate impacts, but also as a business model and responsible sector of our economy to ensure they’re doing their fair share. Obviously, it
means working with government and ensuring governments are supporting companies that are willing to do these things and are stepping up to the plate to say, ‘We want to be part of the solution.’
“Obviously, producing cement pollutes, but we need it. So, we might as well work together to find ways to reduce as much as we can the pollution level while continuing to be able to benefit from the many benefits ce-
ment can provide to our society.”
In a press release, the ministry said this return of proceeds is mobilizing Canada's heavy industry emitters to contribute funds toward these decarbonization projects, resulting in a total investment of $337 million to further build Canada’s clean economy and create jobs.
Canada’s industrial pollution-pricing system, called the Output-Based Pricing System, imposes an emissions performance standard for each heavy industrial sector in which companies with emissions that exceed the standard must pay, while those that perform well earn credits to sell. This gives companies an incentive to cut pollution and supports clean innovation.
Canada’s approach to carbon-pollution pricing lets provinces and territories put their own industrial pricing systems in place as long as they meet national minimum stringency standards. Most provinces manage their own industrial carbon-pricing systems. Proceeds collected in jurisdictions where the federal Output-Based Pricing system applies or applied such as Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan are being returned through the Output-Based Pricing System Decarbonization Incentive Fund and the Future Electricity Fund.
St. Marys Cement Inc. plant manager Alejandro Aviles (centre) takes federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Gauilbeault (right) and Jorge Wagner, CEO of Votorantim Cimentos North America, on a tour of the St. Marys cement plant Monday afternoon. Photo by Galen Simmons
COMMUNITY
Reduced library hours may continue into the fall
Continued from page 1
The reduced hours will run until at least Sept. 28 and will likely continue in the fall. There is a book vending machine at the Pyramid Recreation Centre for patrons to pick up their reserved materials, but Atlin said patrons use the library for other services while picking up items.
"People go in and use the computers, they go take out our equipment. They take out our quarry passes. They do all kinds of things. We have the community cupboard and fridge for people who have food-insecurity issues,” she said. “There are all these kinds of things that people are accessing other than just our primary collection.”
The library has mostly heard from Perth South residents who miss accessing the St. Marys Public Library services. Atlin added there seems to be an understanding among resi-
dents in St. Marys that the library’s hours reduction was a tough decision.
“We just hope they'll continue to support us on the days that they are able to switch their schedules correspondingly,” she said. “But if there are people who are really concerned with the hours shift, we do encourage you to contact myself or tell staff."
Lorna Parkinson, a St. Marys resident, visits the library either bi-weekly or weekly. She’s able to adjust the time she pops in but knows not everyone can.
“Because I am retired, I can adapt my time to whatever the library has to offer,” Parkinson said to the St. Marys Independent. “So reduced hours are not a factor for me, but what about families?”
As part of the Public Libraries Act, municipalities across Ontario must provide library services to all resi-
dents and contract other libraries to provide access to out-of-town residents in nearby municipalities. Previously, St. Marys’ library served 50 per cent of patrons in Perth South, Stratford was responsible for 35 per cent and the library in Kirkton was responsible for 15 per cent as directed by the Township of Perth South. Instead of visiting St. Marys for library access, Perth South residents can either go to the Huron County Library’s Kirkton Branch or the Stratford Public Library amid the end of the agreement.
Leanne Vandenbrink, a Perth South resident, is frustrated and said the alternatives aren’t enough. The Stratford Public Library’s visitors passes don’t offer all the services as it’s a partial pass. The Kirkton library is open for about 12 hours a week and does not offer printing and photocopying services – something Van-
denbrink relied on for her business. She can purchase books for her children at the local Salvation Army Thrift Store, but that isn’t the case for low-income families. She also said that with high gas prices and the overall increasing cost of living plus limited time, visiting the other libraries isn’t ideal for Perth South residents.
"For them to say, 'Oh, you can go to Kirkton or you can go to Stratford,’ it's basically a slap in the face to the Perth South residents and we've basically been disenfranchised from the library,” Vandenbrink said.
Any concerns or comments about the reduced library hours can be addressed to the library CEO either by sending an email to sandrews@town. stmarys.on.ca or calling 519-2843346, ext. 723.
A matter of inches make Trump assassination attempt the ultimate “Sliding Doors” moment
By Stewart Grant
There aren’t many movies that stay in my long-term memory after just one viewing, but the 1998 Gwenyth Paltrow film, “Sliding Doors,” has endured in my brain. The premise involves alternate timelines – in one timeline, she catches her train ride home; in another, the sliding doors of the subway close before she can reach them. It’s this random moment of a missed train that completely changes her life (and others’ lives) thereafter.
Of course, we are in the timeline where on Saturday, an assassin’s bullet nicked the ear of former American President Donald Trump. Given that just an inch or two made the difference between a complete missed shot and a fatal wound, it’s impossible not to consider the possibilities – the what ifs, the alternate timelines.
Remarkably, it seems as though getting grazed in the ear was the best-case scenario for Trump – even better than if it missed him entirely. Moments after being brought back to his feet with the help of Secret Service, Trump, ever the showman, had the presence of mind to raise his fist to the air and record a photo op for the ages. Trump’s image of being bloodied but fiercely resilient with the American flag flying prominently above is one that many people believe will propel him back into the White House.
After Joe Biden’s dismal debate performance, Trump’s path to victory was already looking likely. Since the debate, a chorus of calls have emerged for Biden
to drop out of the race, while Biden has tried to intensify his arguments about the dangers of a second Trump presidency. All of this is now on hold with attention shifting to the assassination attempt and the need to “turn down the temperature” in the political pressure cooker.
Many of us, myself included, cannot wait for the day that Trump’s political career is over, but it cannot be as a result of the whim of a troubled 20-year-old shooter. Political leaders must be chosen by the collective will of the people, not by the actions of individuals like John Wilkes Booth (Lincoln), Lee Harvey Oswald (Kennedy), or in this case, Thomes Matthew Crooks.
It is hard to imagine where we’d be right now if Crooks’ bullet had killed Trump. The U.S. political climate has never been more divided than it is right now, and if MAGA’s cult leader had been martyred on Saturday, it very well could have set off a series of retaliatory political attacks unlike anything we’ve seen before. It’s a scary proposition.
Fortunately, that’s not the timeline we are in. The shooter missed by the narrowest of margins and the Trump drama lives on while the Democrats regroup and figure out their next move – perhaps with Biden, perhaps not. Get your popcorn and settle in. Even from our bystander position up here in Canada, the next few months of political action in the U.S. are going to be way more interesting to watch than a Gwenyth Paltrow movie.
of these
St. Marys Golf Course is now offering white water rafting!
Bravo Boo
We have 2 Bravos this week.
1) Bravo to both the owners of the beautiful, colourful and peaceful gardens on the July 14 St. Marys Garden Tour and the organizers/ volunteers of the St. Marys Horticultural Society for all of their hard work to bring us joy and beauty on a Sunday afternoon.
2) Bravo to the Golden Oldies Reunion committee and all who helped organize the event held at the St.Marys Legion. I for one met many folks who attended St.Marys DCVI prior to 1980 who I hadn’t seen since the reunion of 2005. The food was great - worth waiting for and the bottle of water on the tables was much appreciated when we arrived.
*Please note all Boos and Bravos must be signed in order to be considered.
Quote of the Week
“A lot of people say it’s the most iconic photo they’ve ever seen. They’re right, and I didn’t die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture … I just wanted to keep speaking, but I just got shot.”
- Former U.S. President Donald Trump on July 14, 2024, one day after being shot at a political rally in Butler, Pa.
Have you heard something humorous around town that you think
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
36 Water St. St. Marys, ON, PO Box 2310 N4X 1A2 info@stmarysindependent.com | 519.284.0041 | granthaven.com
THOUGHTS
You have to know the past to understand the present.
Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.
What divides us pales in comparison to what unites us. Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of fear.
Bravos and Boos are submitted by community members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the St. Marys Independent.
We have no Boos this week.
STONETOWN Supports
Stonetown Supports is your connection to local resources for food security, mental health and addiction, financial aid, housing, and more.
HOUSING SECURITY RESOURCES
City of Stratford Social Services: Housing
Offers programs and services to help residents access housing options that are affordable, meet their needs, situations, and choice. www.stratford.ca | 519-271-3773 ext. 200
Shelterlink
Assists youth at risk and/or experiencing homelessness. www.shelterlink.org | 519-272-2294
Canadian Mental Health Association
Huron & Perth
Provides a variety of supporting housing programs and case management services to support with housing stability for those impacted by mental health and/or addiction. www.cmhahuronperth.com 519-271-6819
Community Living St. Marys and AreaShare Your Home Program
Explore all creative options for living arrangements and supportive opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. www.communitylivingstmarys.ca 519-284-1400
STONETOWN STONETOWN
Brittany Petrie
Community Outreach Worker Town of St. Marys | 226-261-0098
More local resources: townofstmarys.com/stonetownsupports
Our senior of the week is Jean Robinson who will be celebrating her 91st birthday on Thursday, July 18. Jean has four children, 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Jean was born in London Township. Jean still likes to go shopping, likes to read and goes for walks with her friend Nora. 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.
Town issues update on status of Pyramid Recreation Centre splash pad
By St. Marys Independent staff
The Town of St. Marys has provided an update on the Pyramid Recreation Centre splash pad following inquiries staff received from community members.
The splash pad is open and safe for use, but some of its features are currently out of order.
The town has hired a consultant to assess the splash pad and make recommendations on what is required to bring it back to its original condition. These recommendations and the associated costs
will be presented to town council during 2025 budget deliberations, which will begin in October 2024. Residents will have an opportunity to share feedback on the budget during that process.
Any decisions made about the splash pad will be shared with the public through the town’s website, social media accounts and local media.
In the meantime, residents can continue to enjoy the Pyramid Recreation Centre splash pad, as well as the Rotary splash pad located at Cadzow Park. Both pads are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
1. Who sang the original Mrs. Robinson (1968)?
2. Who is the demigod in the Moana movie?
3. When was the frisbee invented?
4. What does NATO stand for?
5. What is the centre of a black hole called?
6. The main circuit board of a computer is called what?
7. What imaginary line divides the earth's hemispheres?
8. In which outdoor game do players try to throw small bags into holes on a raised platform?
9. The sport of Judo originates from what country?
10. What is the national animal of Brazil?
COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
By Galen Simmons
The St. Marys Business Improvement Area (BIA) has allocated $10,000 from its reserve fund to further beautify downtown St. Marys by decorating utility boxes with original public art.
At the July 8 BIA board meeting, town director of corporate services André Morin told members that although the town was unsuccessful in obtaining grant funding, town staff has been looking into a public-art initiative proposed by the BIA that has been implemented in other communities like Stratford and London.
“(Town social media and marketing coordinator) Sara (Bradford) has shared with me the call for artists from Stratford, so I’ve taken that and bits and pieces that we’ve found; we’ve generated a call for artists under our template and then with that we’ve got the locations of all of the utility boxes,” Morin said.
“We found out that five of them are owned by the Town of St. Marys –those are fairly straightforward to move forward with – and our public-works department is reaching out to the other two utilities (that own the four remaining utility boxes) to find out what the process might be to get permission on those.”
As the utility boxes are located within St. Marys’ heritage district, Morin said the project would first need approval from the town’s heritage advisory committee at its Aug. 14 meeting and then council’s approval at its Aug. 27 meeting with the project moving forward in September if approved by both.
Based on the town’s consultations with STEPS Public Art, a Canadian charity that helps municipalities prepare for the beautification of public spaces through art with guidance from public-art plans, Morin said the
estimated cost of commissioning an artist to create an original work and then wrapping a utility box with that art is between $1,500 and $2,000.
“If we have a starting point and then we find out later that the town can possibly match us or meet us; if we can come in with X number of boxes at the (price quoted), then maybe the town meeting us halfway is the completion of the project in its entirety,” said BIA board chair Megan Feeney as board members deliberated how much funding to allocate to this project.
“We could put an amount in there for (the town’s) 2025 budget for that art project,” Morin said. “So, if the BIA started down that road and it is something that we see as a benefit, then we can continue and let’s say the BIA does four boxes, maybe the town would do three, four or five.”
Coun. Brogan Aylward, council’s representative on the BIA board, also told board members he had previously received comments from his fellow councillors about the potential for using BIA reserves for the creation of public art.
Ultimately, the BIA board voted to set aside $10,000, the cost to procure art and wrap five utility boxes downtown at the high end of the cost estimate provided by STEPS.
“St. Marys is small, but I have been in communities – and I’m not speaking about Stratford at all – and I have seen communities where it stands out,” Bradford said. “It really does animate the downtown in places that are larger than St. Marys, so I think the impact will be quite significant … and it will be very cool and help tell our story and hopefully be a draw. It really highlights and celebrates our local artists and there’s a story we can tell behind it. There’s just a lot of potential there.”
St. Marys BIA to shell out $15,000 for self-watering planters
By Galen Simmons
To save on both its and the town’s annual water bills, the St. Marys Business Improvement Area (BIA) will contribute $15,000 towards the town’s proposed purchase of self-watering planters.
At the BIA board’s regular meeting July 8, town director of corporate services André Morin told members the town was unsuccessful in securing grant funding for several projects, including the purchase of self-watering planters. While the project will not receive grant funding, Morin told members council would likely be able to contribute a portion of the money expected to be saved in staff costs from its watering budget to help pay for these self-watering planters.
“Currently, we have 24 pots and 86 hanging baskets,” said BIA board member Lisa Fewster. “Some poles have two baskets; some only have one. The horticultural society has (pots) across the bridge; there’s 16 of those. I’m still waiting for confirmation from public works … about the sort of janky hooks we have on the
poles downtown. We don’t know the weight rating of them, so I’ve gotten a quote on replacing those with brackets that will take up to 300 pounds.
“If you got self-watering pots – like big pots that we have downtown – depending on the brand and the style you get, you could potentially not have to water that except once every two weeks. Our previous bid and tender for watering is around $375ish per watering event, and I believe they do them every other day, so (the town’s) bill last year for watering was $30,000. That’s where this idea came from.”
While the self-watering planters need to be watered every two weeks, Fewster said if the town were to purchase self-watering hanging baskets, which are smaller and shallower, they would need to be watered every four days.
If the town were to replace all downtown planters and those along the bridge, as well as the hanging baskets, with self-watering pots and replace the light-pole hooks with brackets, she said the entire purchase would
cost roughly $25,000.
“If you only kept the pots on the street – did not do the hanging baskets and did not do the planters on the bridge – we would have a yearly (watering bill) of about $4,500 for watering versus about $30,000-plus. It’s going to go up by 20 per cent every single year. If you (replaced) everything and they were to be watered every four days, it’s savings of about $15,000. So, it’s a total savings of about half and the pots pay for themselves within two years.”
While the BIA members discussed replacing hanging baskets with banners, as well as different kinds of foliage to help save on the costs of planting and purchasing new flowers and shrubs, ultimately, members acknowledged it would be council’s decision as to how this project proceeds.
“(This is a) great conversation and (it’s) really kind of what we’ve been thinking about on this front,” Morin said. “So again, we like that the BIA is looking at the environmentally friendly option and also saving some money on the operations side. You
are talking (similar) to some of the conversations public works has had. And again, it’s really about the level of service.
“If we can achieve a similar level of service from the beautification standpoint and both groups kind of save time and funds, that certainly makes a lot of sense. I can certainly tell you that we, from the town’s perspective, will be looking at some of these options to find some efficiencies as we move forward, so we will kind of take some advice from the BIA and some of your members on this because you guys are the ones who see what’s happening downtown.”
As it stands, the BIA contributes a flat rate of roughly $4,500 annually towards the town’s downtown watering costs. Once this purchase of self-watering planters and pots is approved, members are hopeful that annual contribution might be reduced and those funds could go to other BIA projects.
The $15,000 for self-watering planters will come out of the BIA’s reserves.
St. Marys Legion reveals plaque honouring past members who helped build Legion’s home
By Wendy Lamond
On Saturday, July 13, a plaque was revealed at the St. Marys Legion to honour the hard work and dedication of the members of the Legion that had a hand in constructing the current building at the corner of Church and Station streets.
When the original structure was purchased April 7, 1954, it was a chicken hatchery Quonset shed with a dirt floor. The members of the St. Marys Legion, which was chartered in 1932, began their fundraising efforts with
the most common events involving a bingo trailer that was transportable to different locations.
Before purchasing this spot, the Legion members rented space around town including in the old M&M Variety and Cascade Cleaners buildings.
Bill Osgerby shared a story with St. Marys Legion president Bim Graham about how when they rented the space above M&M Variety, there were no washrooms at the time. A bucket was used and when it was full, it was tossed out the window.
Once the new space was purchased, current members used the skills they learned in the Second World War to help where they could, like pouring floors and completing the wiring.
In 1974, a fire destroyed the building and a rebuild and major renovation had to be done, leaving the structure that stands there now. Over the years, members of the Legion have been making improvements ever since. They have made the building wheelchair accessible with a ramp and a chair lift. They are also in the middle of updating the upstairs kitchen.
At the unveiling of the plaque, Mayor Al Strathdee spoke of the importance of the Legion and all the work the veterans have done for our community over the years.
The new plaque gives a good message to current members and shows appreciation for all the hard work that has led up to the current-day building.
“May the current membership ever strive to maintain our predecessors’ strong values and work ethic, standing ready and able to assist veterans and their families,” the plaque reads.
Pictured from left to right are Pete Bushfield, Jonathan Rittenhaus, George Cifa, Ken Felkar, St. Marys Legion president Bim Graham, past president Tom Jenkins, Owen Marchant, Kate Gregg, Steve Gregg, Harold Switzer, Ernie Gillham and Mayor Al Strathdee. Absent is Legion board member Reg Rumble. Photo by Wendy Lamond
Legion president Bim Graham and Mayor Al Strathdee prepare to reveal the newly installed plaque. Photo by Wendy Lamond
This plaque was officially unveiled at the St. Marys Legion July 13. Photo by Wendy Lamond
Pictured from the late 1950s is the building where the Legion members met to have their meetings and share comradery. Contributed photo
COMMUNITY
Former MPP, Stratford’s John Wilkinson, elected as board chair for Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance
By Galen Simmons
With plenty of experience advocating for local health care as a member of provincial parliament, first for the Perth-Middlesex riding and then for Perth-Wellington after the boundaries changed, Stratford’s John Wilkinson is now serving as the chair of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) board of directors.
After the recent annual members meeting, the board held its 2024-2025 organizational meeting where Wilkinson was elected chair. Having served as chair of the Stratford Perth Community Foundation board prior to joining the HPHA board in 2021 and then serving as vice chair of the HPHA board beginning in 2022, he assumed the role of HPHA board chair after past chair Stephen Hearn completed his two-year term in June 2024.
“Supporting health care was a big part of my time when I was the local MPP,” Wilkinson said. “That’s a big part of the job for any MPP because health care is something that is provided by the provinces, so you can’t be a provincial politician without spending a great deal of your time dealing with health care. That includes supporting hospitals as a big part of that – many hospitals that were a part of my two ridings – … so I was used to working with all of my hospitals, including the HPHA.
“Being a Stratford native, the Stratford General Hospital has been part of my life and my family’s life – our three kids were born there – and, like almost everybody else in town, we support the hospital.”
Wilkinson said his time as the local representative at Queen’s Park gave him a unique understanding of how the current MPPs for Perth and Huron counties – Matthew Rae and Lisa Thompson – are able to advocate for local health care and work with the HPHA board and executive team to continually strengthen local health care.
One of the major issues the board has been tackling post-pandemic is the ever-present need to recruit more staff. Following the burnout of the COVID-19 pandemic for hospital staff, Wilkinson said many – especially those of the boomer-baby generation – have opted to retire. Coupled with that same generation’s increasing demand for local health-care services, Wilkinson said area hospitals find themselves short staffed, a challenge many if not all hospitals are facing across the country, but one board members are rising to meet.
MPP
John Wilkinson has been elected chair of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance board of directors. Contributed photo
“The entire system doesn’t have enough people, so our job is to make sure that we offer, as an alliance, a wonderful career and personal-life opportunity for everybody who decides to work for us, and I’m very, very impressed with what our recruitment team has been able to do,” Wilkinson said. “We have people joining the HPHA all the time … because we’re one of the largest employers, I would say, in the region.
“ … We want to provide them an opportunity to find their satisfaction in their career as a health-care worker right here in our four, local communities and, by and large, we’re doing that.”
Wilkinson said that need for satisfaction for employees or potential employees extends beyond their careers and the walls of the four local hos-
pitals. It’s important for the health-care alliance to work with community partners to ensure its staff, especially those trained health-care professionals who have moved here from other countries, feel as though they are part of their communities.
Wilkinson also said the board is focused on working with the local high schools to ensure students hoping to work in health care know there is plenty of opportunity with the HPHA close to home.
That collaboration between communities, the health-care alliance and each of the four local hospital foundations is crucial. As the chair of a the HPHA’s volunteer board, Wilkinson said the board needs to support all of the HPHA’s volunteers, whether they volunteer at the hospitals themselves or with the foundations to raise money for necessary equipment and building upgrades, and he encourages everyone to consider volunteering with the health-care alliance in whatever way they can.
At its 2024-2025 organizational meeting, the board also elected a new vice chair, Greg Stewart, and welcomed two new members, Franklin Famme, lead partner of Famme and Co. Professional Company in Stratford, and Bill Whetstone, the commercial lead for Bruce Power and a councillor with the Municipality of Bluewater Bayfield. Famme and Whetstone have replaced outgoing board members Gary Austin and Joe Looby. Famme was also elected as treasurer for the board.
Eight community members were also introduced at the annual members meeting as having been recently appointed by the board to the HPHA’s board committees. They include:
• Joe Adams, St. Marys and area
• John Bolton, St. Marys and area
• Elizabeth Hill, St. Marys and area
• Kevin Hulley, Clinton and area
• Wendy Hutton, Seaforth and area
• Richard Seip, Seaforth and area
• Michael Stilwell, Clinton and area
• Emma Vigil, Stratford and area
“The HPHA and those we serve benefit significantly from local volunteer leaders who step forward to govern,” said HPHA CEO and president Andrew Williams. “Strong, innovative, accountable, patient-focused, system-first governance is a hallmark of the HPHA, and today’s announcement reinforces this moving forward.”
Council Chambers reopening its doors after renovations
By St. Marys Independent staff
The Town of St. Marys is reopening the doors of council chambers to the public prior to the regularly scheduled council meeting for the first time after renovations to town hall at 175 Queen St.
On Tuesday, July 23 from 4:30-5:30 p.m., members of the public are encouraged to join staff and members of council to check out the new-and-
improved space.
Renovations to town hall began in October 2023 and focused on enhancing the second floor, which included council chambers. Improvements to council chambers feature a new floor layout, paint, flooring, desks and updated audio-visual equipment to support in-person, virtual and livestreamed meetings.
“We are thrilled to showcase the
changes to council chambers,” said town clerk Jenna McCartney in a press release. “We are confident that the updates to the space will enhance the experience for council and committee members, as well as the public.”
Everyone is welcome to attend this free, open-house event.
The regularly scheduled council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. follow-
ing the event and will be open to the public as usual. For those who cannot attend in-person, all council and committee meetings are available through the Town of St. Marys YouTube channel at www.townofstmarys. com/youtube.
Additional information about Town of St. Marys council and a list of upcoming meetings can be found at www.townofstmarys.com/council.
Former Middlesex-Perth and Perth-Wellington
Summerfest disturbance leads to arrests
By St. Marys Independent staff
Two Perth South residents are charged following a disturbance at the Summerfest refreshment tent July 7.
Throughout the weekend of July 4-7, the Kinsmen Club of St. Marys hosted their annual Summerfest in the Town of St Marys. As part of the event, a licenced refreshment tent was located at 80 Water St. N in the Town of St Marys, which included the posting of paid duty Stratford Police officers.
On Sunday, July 7 at 1:30 a.m., the police officers on duty arrested two males after a disturbance at the licenced refreshment tent. The males were identified as an 18-year-old resident of Perth South and a 21-yearold resident of Perth South.
Police had been alerted after the 18-year-old had broken a table. The 18-year-old refused to identify himself resulting in the officers attempting to arrest him, at which time the 21-year-old obstructed the arrest and allegedly assaulted the two officers by pushing one officer and striking him
in the face, as well as grabbing the other officer by the neck.
Officers were able to gain control of both subjects, who were arrested without further incident.
The two males were transported to Stratford Police Headquarters where they were later released with a court date of Aug.12.
As a result of this incident, the 18-year-old was charged with mischief under $5,000 and obstructing police. He was also issued three Provincial Offence Notices under the Liquor Licence Act and another under the Trespass to Property Act.
The 21-year-old was charged with obstructing police, assaulting a police officer, assault with intent to resist and was issued with one Provincial Offence Notice under the Liquor Licence Act.
Stratford police issues scam alert
By St. Marys Independent staff
Throughout the week of July 8-12, the Stratford Police Service has received several calls regarding a suspected Princess Margaret Hospital Lottery scam.
The victims received a phone call from a male claiming to be with Princess Margaret Hospital Lottery. The victims were informed they had won $2.9 million and a Dodge Ram pickup truck. The caller advised he would attend the victim’s residence and instructed the victims to have a prepaid Visa card ready to provide him in order to receive their prize.
None of the victims who contacted
police disclosed any further personal information and did not provide the caller with a pre-paid Visa.
Police say it is suspected the caller obtained information from the phone book about the victims and used this information to learn their names and addresses.
The Stratford Police Service would like to commend the victims for not falling for this scam and for contacting police to make us aware. If any community members received similar calls of this nature and had a loss of finances, please contact the Stratford Police Service at 519-271-4141 ext. 2 to file a report.
St. Marys Horticulture Society garden tour
Tony and Dawn Reynen's gorgeous stone bridge spans a dry rock bed and native garden. Pictured above is Dawn Reynen.
This new deck belongs to Elaine Penalagan - a beautiful addition to her back yard.
The inviting pool on the property of Janis Kapp and Rich Parsons is surrounded by many different varieties of flowers.
Carine and Brian Morrow enjoy the lovely weather sitting on their back deck. Photos by Nancy Bickell
Stonetown Heritage Festival held this past weekend
Bex in Motion, who incorporates fire, comedy and acrobatics into her act, was assisted by local talent.
Natives from St. Marys who now reside in Yucaipa California were back to take in the festivities of Stonetown Heritage Festival on the weekend. Pictured, from left, St. Marys 1986 Fair Princess
Prior to the fireworks, people enjoyed the evening entertainment on Queen Street, St. Marys.
Downtown St. Marys was a busy place on Saturday with over 50 vendors, demonstrations, snacks, games, shopping and more. Photos by Nancy Bickell
Angela Patterson, owner of Zenfire Pottery & Mercantile, demonstrated the art of pottery making.
Evie and Max Abdellitf enjoyed looking through books at the Friends of the Library booth.
Sandra Ayala, Darren the Stilt Walker, Mark Jeffrey and Richard Ayala. Photo by Wendy Lamond
St. Marys Independent SPORTS
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Binning committed to play D-1 hockey in Illinois
By Spencer Seymour
Alex Binning, a St. Marys resident and recent DCVI graduate, earned a scholarship and will play Division-1 hockey for McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill. this fall.
After playing for the U18 AA Stratford Aces this past year, Binning committed to McKendree earlier this year where, in addition to playing for the University’s hockey program, she will also study biopsychology (Bachelor of Science).
Binning told the Independent it “feels amazing” to commit to a top-notch school like McKendree.
“I’ve dreamed about this since I was young,” said Binning. “And now, it's finally happening. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get here and I couldn’t be happier. This accomplishment means a lot to me and also reflects the support of my family, coaches and teammates. I'm excited for the challenges ahead and ready to make the most of this opportunity.”
Binning's journey to competing at such a high level began in her childhood, starting in her hometown where her love of the game was fostered. After four years with the London Devilettes, Binning played U22 Elite hockey for the Kitchener-Waterloo Junior Rangers before ending her minor-hockey career with the U18 Aces, a top nationally ranked program.
“Over the past two seasons, I have really focused on improving my skills and addressing the areas of my game that needed work,” Binning said. “I’ve dedicated a lot of time both on and
Alex Binning will continue her hockey career at an elite level next year with the St. Marys native committed to play D-1 hockey while studying biopsychology (Bachelor of Science) at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill. starting this fall. Contributed photo
off the ice to better myself as a player. These efforts have really helped my playing ability, making me a stronger, more well-rounded athlete. I believe this dedication and continuous improvement is what made McKendree really want me as a part of their program.”
Binning also detailed why she be-
lieves McKendree is the right place for her to continue her hockey tenure.
“The small community feel of the school really stood out to me when I visited. Everyone was so welcoming, especially the girls on the team. They made me feel right at home from the moment I arrived. McKendree also
has an incredible hockey program which, of course, was a huge draw for me. The coach, Derek Pallardy, is highly knowledgeable and seems to know his recruits better on the ice than they know themselves.
“I am genuinely looking forward to being part of such a supportive and close community,” Binning added. “The sense of belonging and the strong team spirit are things I am excited to experience. I can't wait to grow as both a player and a person at McKendree, surrounded by people who are passionate about the game and committed to helping each other succeed.”
According to Binning, she already knows what she wants out of her debut year at McKendree, all centred around becoming a consistent contributor to the team.
“My goals for my first year at McKendree are very clear to me. I want to make a real difference on the team by bringing my skills and dedication to every practice and game. Being a great teammate is really important to me and I want to support my teammates on and off the ice. Even though it’s my first year, I want to try to earn a spot on the top line and play a key role in our team's success.
“Additionally, I know that it will be important to balance my schoolwork while competing as a D-1 athlete,” continued Binning. “I know it will be challenging, but I'm committed to excelling in both academics and hockey. Overall, I hope to grow as a player and a student and set a strong foundation for my future.”
Dr. Michael Nixon, Dr. Karl Weselan and Dr. Reem Amayem
SPORTS
By Spencer Seymour
It’s been a big year for Kaleb Pearson.
The native of St. Marys, who turned 24 in June, is coming off a very successful season at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) where he averaged over a point per game with 18 goals and 28 points in 26 games.
Pearson reflected on his journey from his first year of university hockey to this past season, his third at UPEI, during which he became one of the program’s top players.
“It's been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of hard work,” Pearson told the Independent. “Looking back at my first year at UPEI, it was a pretty big adjustment with me being far from home and then the different aspect of adding school into it. Then, I had to battle some injuries. I broke my wrist in my first year. I thought I did a good job of persevering through all of that and getting back into the swing of things. It’s all been really eye-opening for me because I’m realizing that it's going to take even more if I want to make it to a pro level.”
Playing hockey at the professional level after his university career appears at least within Pearson’s grasp, as earlier this summer he was invited to the development camp hosted by the NHL’s Dallas Stars.
“It was definitely a cool experience,” Pearson said of his time at the Stars’ camp. “I'm really grateful for it. I had a good talk with Rich Peverley. It was nice to get invited to it and hopefully something will come of it. What has been preached to me in terms of being consistent and getting better every day is becoming a reality for me with the opportunity
to go to the Stars’ camp. I'm looking forward to embracing the challenge of reaching that level and getting after it this coming season.”
Pearson’s successful 2023-2024 season not only resulted in an invite to Dallas’ development camp, it also made Pearson a co-winner of UPEI’s Male Athlete of the Year award along with UPEI basketball star Kamari Scott. Pearson explained feeling honoured and surprised by the award.
“Receiving that award was obviously super cool. Honestly, I wasn't really expecting it. It was an exciting time because I've never won anything like that, really, so it was cool. And
then to share it with Kamari made it even better. He had a great year, too, for the basketball team, so it was something special and I'm always going to remember.”
According to Pearson, his strong season was in part due to head coach Forbes MacPherson entrusting him with a more prominent role. MacPherson tasked the third-year forward with becoming a top producer for the squad and a leader on an otherwise predominantly young, up-and-coming Panthers squad.
“We had a brand-new team for the most part, and I think Forbes leaned towards me and a couple of other guys to be the leaders and go-to
guys on the team. I would say we took that and ran with it. And next year, it’ll be the same idea. We're going to have a young team, so me, Kurtis (Henry) and our goalie, Jonah Capriotti, we’re going to be looked at as go-to guys again and I think that’s pretty exciting.
“Looking back, before last year, we had a lot of doubters,” continued Pearson. “Everyone doubted us because we were pretty much a firstyear team with a lot of new guys. I think we really overachieved this past year, especially once guys got their feet wet within the league. I know Forbes is hungry for it; he’s itching to win.”
Pearson elaborated on why he believes the 2024-2025 edition of the UPEI Panthers can accomplish their ultimate goal of becoming champions.
“For the time that I have been here, we've had some good teams. Everyone knows now we have to dial it in. We can't be missing gym sessions. We’ve got to be on the ice getting better every day, working on little things that we think we could improve in our game, whether that's getting pucks in, forechecking, or our coverage in the defensive zone. I think we all have the same mindset of working hard, being consistent every day and doing the little things right.
“I want to win,” Pearson said. “I think we have a good shot at winning. I think we’ve got a good group. It's going to be a pretty big year with pretty straightforward goals and expectations. I think everyone's got the same mindset coming into it. I think we're going to be good and I think we're going to have a good chance to go for a title.”
SMPA members win medals at regional Senior Games
silver in the under 65 mixed 3.0 bracket. All eight of the medal-winning teams are members of the St. Marys Pickleball Association.
By Spencer Seymour
Members of the St. Marys Pickleball Association (SMPA) combined for a large haul of medals from the Southwest Regional Ontario Senior Games pickleball tournament hosted in Stratford at the Pinnacle Training Field July 12.
Nine different districts competed in the regional tournament. All of the pairs representing St. Marys qualified for the regional event by winning their spots in the District 29 Games earlier this year.
Headlining the crop of medal winners from St. Marys were Dwayne and Jody Henderson. The duo put in a stellar
performance in the under 65 mixed 3.5 division, claiming the gold medals in their bracket.
Marty Klomp and Barb Klomp captured silver in the 3.0 division of the under 65 mixed group.
In the under 65 women’s 3.0 category, two St. Marys teams earned podium positions, including Esther VanderHaydn and Lisa Evans who claimed silver. Annette Wrigley and Linda Pickering won the division’s bronze medals.
Two of the three medal-winning teams in the under 65 men’s 3.0 division came from St. Marys. Bill Pickering and Rob Wrigley took silver while
Mike Ferguson and Brian McKinnon earned bronze.
Merlin Leis and Keith McKay won bronze in the over 65 men’s 3.5 di-
vision. Kelly Sivyer and Terry Finch took the bronze medal in the over 65 men’s, 3.0 division.
Michael Nixon, Dr. Karl Weselan & Dr. Reem Amayem
On the left are Bill Pickering and Rob Wrigley, who won silver medals in the under 65 men’s 3.0 division of the Southwest Regional Ontario Senior Games pickleball tournament. In the middle are Mike Ferguson and Brian McKinnon, who competed in the same division and took bronze. On the right are Marty and Barb Klomp, who earned
Pictured are Dwayne and Jody Henderson, who won the Gold medals in the Under 65 Mixed 3.5 division of the Southwest Regional Ontario Senior Games pickleball tournament held July 12 in Stratford. Contributed photos
On the left are Kelly Sivyer and Terry Finch, who captured the bronze medals in the over 65 men’s, 3.0 division. In the middle are Esther VanderHaydn and Lisa Evans, the silver medalists in the under 65 women’s 3.0 division. In the same division, Annette Wrigley and Linda Pickering, pictured on the right, earned the bronze medals. Not pictured were Merlin Leis and Keith McKay who won bronze in the over 65 men’s 3.5 division.
Brought to you by your local
Ben Kissler rockets a shot on target during the U10 Boys Tier Three Two St. Marys Storm game this past Sunday.
Chase Jeffrey kicks the ball by an opposing defender during the U14 Boys Tier Three St. Marys Storm game this past Sunday.
Luke Showers catches an incoming pitch during the Cubberley Plumbing and Heating U13 WOBA Red St. Marys Rockies game last Thursday.
Clark Monteith dashes to first base during last Thursday’s Royal Canadian Legion U11 WOBA Blue St. Marys Rockies game. All photos by Spencer Seymour
Lily Brintnell rushes up the field for a big shot during this past Sunday’s U14 Girls Tier Three One St. Marys Storm game.
Aubrey Cousineau blasts a shot on goal during last Thursday’s U16 Girls Tier Two St. Marys Storm game.
84 Wellington Street South St. Marys, ON (519) 284-1690
SPORTS
Consistency guides Doucette, Pickering to Gowanbrae win
By Spencer Seymour
The team of Jase Doucette and Blake Pickering won the Battle of Gowanbrae, one of the St. Marys Golf and Country Club’s premier annual events hosted July 12-13.
Doucette and Pickering qualified for the six-team shootout final after finishing first in the fourth blue division with four points. Also qualifying with four points in the men’s first division was the duo of Dan Murrell and Greg Wolfkamp. In the second division, Tim Campbell and Josh Bell qualified for the shootout with five points, while Andy Cunningham and Stewart Grant won the third division with three points.
The first and third divisions were close throughout the first three ninehole matches, with many being equal or separated by just a single point heading into the final nine-hole leg of the tournament.
Out of two white brackets, Steve Fisher and Paul Fitzgeorge won the first division with six points. The second division was won by Pete Trumper and Doug Ranton, who tallied five points.
By the third hole of the three-hole shootout, Doucette and Pickering faced Fisher and Fitzgeorge as the last two teams standing.
Speaking to the Independent after winning the shootout, both Dou-
cette and Pickering were wearing big smiles.
“It’s awesome and a bit crazy,” Doucette told the Independent. “Coming into the weekend, I think we both felt confident that we had a good team, and fortunately, we were both able to play well pretty much all the way through.”
Pickering noted a key factor in the team’s victory was their ability to balance out any less-than-stellar shots.
“All weekend, if one of us had a bad
hole, the other guy was right there and made up for it,” said Pickering.
“I definitely think that was a big reason that we stuck around and battled for so long. In our minds, we were always thinking, ‘We got this. Just take it one hole at a time.’ And thankfully, that worked out for us.”
The winning duo both further detailed what went right for them over the two-day tournament.
“We made shots when we had to,” Pickering said.
“Consistency was big for us,” Doucette chimed in. “I think for most of the weekend, we stayed pretty consistent. Like Blake said; I’d make a bad shot, he’d make up for it or vice versa. It was good being in that rhythm where you know your partner can bail you out if you don’t have a good shot.”
As noted, the tournament was hotly contested by large parts of the field. According to Pickering, a clutch shot by Doucette during their fourth and final nine-hole set, played in opposition to Nick Sheldon and Jesse Brockman, made the difference in the eventual winners reaching the shootout.
“During our last nine-hole match, we were on hole five. We were down two and Nick put his ball within two feet of the hole. We had to birdie but we were both really short. Jase chipped it from about 50 yards and sawed it off. After that, we won the next four holes and that was the big game-changer. That was the start of us getting on a bit of a roll and getting the two points we needed to get into the finals.”
On the ladies side of the tournament, Janis Kapp and Melanie Fisher won the championship, outlasting the two other participating teams made up of Linda Cooke and Cheryl McVittie and the eventual runners-up, Debbie Lemmons and Barb Vossen.
The winners of the St. Marys Golf and Country Club’s 2024 Battle of Gowanbrae, Jase Doucette and Blake Pickering, shake hands with runners-up Steve Fisher and Paul Fitzgeorge after concluding the final hole of the two-day tournament. Photo by Spencer Seymour
Blake Pickering chips onto the green on the last hole of the Battle of Gowanbrae on July 13. Photo by Spencer Seymour
Jase Doucette makes a putt on the last hole of the Battle of Gowanbrae on July 13.
Photo by Spencer Seymour
Canadian Tire reflects on successful Jumpstart fundraiser last month
By Angie Kim-Miskuski, Canadian Tire St. Marys
June is a fundraising month for Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart, a charity foundation that helps kids overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sport and recreation.
Thanks to the generosity and care from the customers in town, Canadian Tire St. Marys has always done exceptionally in their fundraising effort, but this year owners Angie and Matt Miskuski wanted to do even more.
The team kickstarted the month with a community barbecue raising almost $2,000 in a single day with Matt’s smash burger as the fan favourite. Throughout the month, the store also held prize draws featuring grand prizes which were won by four lucky customers in St. Marys.
Against the target of $1,500 for the month, Canadian Tire St. Marys
raised $5,981, beating the target by almost four times! Canadian Tire St. Marys was also first place in conversion rate in the entire southwest Ontario region, which means more customers donated in St. Marys per visit than any other stores.
For more information on Jumpstart, please visit https://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/
Winners from the raffle draw pose with their great prizes. Top picture Matt and Angie Miskuski from Canadian Tire present TV winner Gord Barnett with his prize. Bottom left: Angie Miskuski, BBQ winner Connie Zulu, exercise bike winner Wendy Lamond, Matt Miskuski. Bottom Right: Canadian Tire's Shannon Rooney, Dyson winner Natasha Giddy, Angie Miskuski and Canadian Tire's Keith Hunt. Contributed photo
Golden Oldies reunion held Saturday
Many former classmates gathered to share stories, have a few laughs and remember the past at the
By Len Hawkins, Golden Oldies Reunion
The Golden Oldies DCVI Reunion had great participation July 13 with about 220 people attending the gathering at the St. Marys Legion from 12-5 p.m.
The event was for DCVI attendees
prior to 1980 and people came from far away to visit, including from Arizona, Edmonton, Quebec, British Columbia, Toronto and Peterborough.
The emcee for the event was Jamie Hahn and Mayor Al Strathdee welcomed the group and provided
SUMMER FOLK MUSIC CONCERT
best wishes to all from the Town of St. Marys. Lloyd Monteith provided a rendition of music from the ‘60s.
Many old stories were revisited, embellished and put to rest until the next gathering.
A few teachers even attended to see how their prior students had matured into adulthood.
Many pictures were submitted by attendees and displayed on the TV screen. To view them or add more, you can join the Golden Oldies Reunion private Facebook group.
Golden Oldies DCVI Reunion at the St. Marys Legion July 23.
Lloyd Monteith plays music from the ‘60s at the Golden Oldies DCVI reunion July 13. Contributed photos
A Musical Duo playing folk songs with Kim’s finger style guitar picking with Steph Martin on the bass and guitar, performing songs in a soft folk style, rich with harmonies. Songs from Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel and many other songs.
Intriguing India: The trip of a lifetime
By Hilary Purvis
This year marks a milestone birthday for my sister and next year, a milestone birthday for myself. What a great reason to finally visit our family roots, in this case, India!
idating. After quite a bit of research, we’ve found the perfect trip – a fully guided tour that includes the tops sites as well as cultural exploration cruising the Ganges river. Beautiful, exotic and chaotic, India
for its many palaces.
One of the world’s most sacred bodies of water, the Ganges River flows throughout India and Bangladesh, through a myriad of small villages and densely-populated cities. Life
luxury. My sister and I are currently planning a fully-escorted group tour to India in Fall 2025 and would love you to join us. The tour will begin in Delhi and explore the Golden Triangle. The trip will continue to Kolkata where travellers will board
HISTORIC ST. MARYS: Donato (Dan) Cappa HISTORY
By Mary Smith
In 1855, when St. Marys first became an established village, its inhabitants, almost exclusively, originated in England, Ireland or Scotland – some families, perhaps, spending a generation or two in the United States before moving on to Canada. Through the years, people arrived from other countries, enriching the community with their diverse customs and cultures. One group who have been in St. Marys for more than a century came from Italy. An early arrival was Dan Cappa. His name recently arose in connection with a research project for the St. Marys Museum. The reference showed that this Italian Canadian was very involved in the history of our town. His story is worth remembering.
Donato Cappa was born in 1883 in Bisaccia a town in southern Italy in the province of Avellino, east of Naples and the famous Mount Vesuvius. He was one of Filip and Sarah Cappa’s several children, five of whom immigrated to Canada or the United States. At the age of 19, Donato Cappa left Italy, seeking employment and adventure across the Atlantic. He found work in Hartford, Connecticut, and in this English-speaking environment, his given name was shortened to Dan. In the brief time that he lived there, Dan Cappa had a life-changing experience. Missionaries were very active among immigrant groups at that time, and he was converted by a Baptist missionary. For the rest of his life, he was a staunch Baptist and joined First Baptist Church when he eventually arrived in St. Marys. A year or so after arriving in Hartford, he returned to Italy, possibly not yet convinced that life would be better for him in North America. In 1904, he set out across the Atlantic again, arriving in Canada at the port of Montreal. This time, his decision was firm, and he never returned to Italy. In the early 1900s, Canada was recruiting immigrants to help the relatively new country grow and develop. For those who were strong, hard-workers, there were jobs in railway construction as the two main railway companies – the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Grand Trunk Railway – extended their network of lines across the country, even into less-populated areas. Dan Cappa found work with the GTR in one of the gangs laying tracks from Barrie to North Bay. Then he secured a position at the roundhouse at Allendale, a busy railway stop on Lake Simcoe, near Barrie. In 1906, Dan became a naturalized Canadian citizen.
In 1909, Dan Cappa transferred to Stratford, the famous site of the GTR locomotive repair shops. Dan again worked in the roundhouse, a very active hub for rail traffic throughout southwestern Ontario. But Dan had had enough of railway work. He left to work on the William Billings dairy farm near St. Marys and then as manager of Frank Rosso’s Fruit Store on Water Street South. Rosso relocated to Stratford and with a partner, John Nethercott, Dan Cappa purchased the store. Nethercott had been farming in Blanshard Township and had recently moved to St. Marys. However, he found another position with the railway express office and soon withdrew from the fruit store partnership. By the time of the 1911 census, Dan Cappa, age 27, was the sole owner of the fruit store on Water Street and was living in the apartment on the second floor. He expanded his inventory to sell groceries as well as fruit and ran this business until he retired in 1951.
In 1912, with funds he had saved from his railway working years, Dan also invested in a house at 125 Water Street South, about two blocks south of his store. The two-storey brick house had been built about ten years earlier and was on a spacious lot. Dan converted the single-family home into apartments, making this investment a good source of income. Property records show that Dan Cappa also owned a storage building on the west side of Water Street, close to the CPR spur that ran into St. Marys – convenient for receiving and storing shipments of fruit. He found ways to become involved in his community. He was a member of the Orange
Lodge, marching with other lodge members in the annual Orangemen’s parade on July 12. Sometime in the 1920s, he bought a Model T Ford delivery truck. He put two benches in the back and drove the St. Marys Alerts lacrosse team to out-of-town games. It would have been a bumpy, dusty ride over mainly gravel roads. Dan was self-conscious about his lack of education, having only been able to attend school for one year in Italy. He worked hard to improve his English skills and became fluent in his second language. Through the 1920s and 30s, he was frequently called upon to act as a translator or interpreter – an intermediary between recent arrivals from Italy and the rest of the community. His store was a gathering place for Italian men on Saturday nights when all stores stayed open late and everyone congregated downtown to shop and to visit. Even in winter, the men would sit in chairs around the stove, chatting and sharing news in Italian.
Dan sponsored several family members, bringing them to Canada and helping them settle into life in St. Marys. His own life was enriched when, in April 2023, he married Carrie Pearl Symons, a 25-year-old bookkeeper. Dan Cappa was 40 years of age, his bride was 15 years younger. An early sadness in their married life occurred when their first child, a baby girl, Sarah Pearl, was born in December 1923 but lived only three days. However, by the 1931 census, Dan and Carrie could report a family of three children: six-year-old Jean, three-year-old Filip and baby Margaret, just two months old. Daniel and family continued with their
business through the difficult years of the Depression in the 1930s, assisting others when they could. Dan and his Cappa relatives in St. Marys also weathered the even more challenging years when Mussolini’s fascist government controlled his native land and Italy was on the enemy’s side in World War II. Dan’s loyalty to Canada was strong.
In 1951, Dan Cappa retired from the grocery business although he continued to own the building on Water Street. He and Carrie moved into the ground floor apartment of the roomy brick house at 125 Water Street, still renting out the second-floor apartment. When Dan died on November 13, 1961, age 78, his obituary in the Journal Argus regretted the loss of a “well-known citizen of St. Marys.” He and Carrie had been strong supporters of First Baptist Church – Dan had held every lay office in the church. The Reverend Tom Morikawa, assisted by former pastor, R. S. McClung, conducted his funeral service.
Education for his children was of prime importance to Dan. They were serious students at St. Marys Collegiate and participants in extra-curricular activities. The oldest, Jean, trained as a medical records librarian and was head of that department at Bluewater Hospital in Sarnia for more than 40 years. When she retired, she moved to London to be closer to family. She died there, age 94, in 2022. Filip Cappa is remembered in St. Marys as a member of the Citizens Marching Band. He enjoyed music and played in various bands all his life. He graduated in dentistry from the University of Toronto in 1955 and set up a practice in Byron, now part of the city of London. He was highly regarded in his profession. Filip married Diane Blackman and they raised a family of three children. Filip died in 2017 at the age of 89. Margaret, the youngest, became a teacher in Toronto, specializing in kindergarten and primary classes. She married Philip Durnford and they had two children. Much of the information for this column comes from the book, Bravi: A History of the Italian Community in the Town of St. Marys. Published in 1996, it is based on an ambitious research project conducted in 1982 by two summer students at the St. Marys Museum, Lorianna Rocchetti and Robert Rose. The book is out of print, but copies are available in the St. Marys Public Library and the St. Marys Museum. A current exhibit in the Citizens Gallery at the Museum explores this same topic and is well worth a visit.
Dan Cappa, on the left wearing a grocer's apron, stands beside his 1920s Ford delivery truck. From the historic image collection of the St. Marys Museum.
Thorndale News
Firefighters respond to structure fire at JC Green Cannabis
By Nancy Abra
An explosion and subsequent fire have resulted in an estimated $5 million for JC Green Cannabis Company southeast of Thorndale.
On July 8 at 7:20 p.m., the Thames Centre Fire Dept (TCFD) with both Thorndale and Dorchester fire stations responded to a structural fire at JC Green Cannabis Company, located on Evelyn Drive just east of Heritage Road, southeast of Thorndale. There was an explosion reported which was heard by nearby neighbours.
“The TCFD firefights were joined by Zorra Fire Department and the London Fire Department to successfully stop the fire from consuming the entire building,” said TCFD Fire Chief Nick Dorken. “OPP and London/Middlesex EMS were also on scene. There were no environmental or health-related concerns to the area residents in relation to the fire. There were no injuries reported.”
TCFD firefighters remained on scene until 12:30 p.m.
July 9 when the Office of the Fire Marshall (OFM) took over the scene. The building and its contents suffered significant damage initially estimated at $1 million. A couple of days later, that figure was upgraded to $5 million in damages. The cause of the explosion and fire is under investigation by the OFM with TCFC assisting in the investigation as needed.
JC Green Cannabis was founded in 2016 and located at the former Leesboro Elementary Public School which closed in 2009 and is surrounded by 10 acres of farmland. It is a privately owned business and a licensed producer of medical marijuana. JC Green operates a 20,000 square-foot growing facility, employing less than 50 people according to their LinkedIn profile. After the Municipality of Thames Centre approved the zoning change in 2018 and the appropriate permit application from Health Canada was granted, JC Green started planting in the building in April 2019.
An explosion and subsequent fire has resulted in an estimated $5 million in damages for JC Green Cannabis Company southeast of Thorndale.
Movie night in Thorndale Community Park
By Nancy Abra
Last Friday evening, July 12, the weather was perfect for an outdoor movie night at Thorndale Community Park.
As the sun was setting, Thames Centre staff set up the movie equipment to show Kung Fu Panda 4 for local families to enjoy. This event was sponsored by the Thames Centre special events committee.
The Thames Centre special events committee, one of seven of the advisory committees of council in the municipality, was established to enhance and provide a
Thorndale
By Nancy Abra
structured approach to special events within Thames Centre. The committee is chaired by Thames Centre Coun. Chantel Crockett with nine community members and representatives and two staff members – director of community services and facilities Steve MacDonald and parks and facilities manager Devon Brown.
This committee meets monthly to plan and organize various fun family events for the Municipality of Thames Centre. For more information on upcoming events, visit https://www.thamescentre.on.ca/tcsec.
local families
Community Park getting upgrades
Last November, the Municipality of Thames Centre announced it had been awarded a $85,000 grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation for the Thorndale
Community Park accessibility enhancement project.
Last week, work began on the walking path along the west side of the community centre to upgrade the path to a
paved surface, making it more accessible to all, including those with mobility barriers. This construction will be completed in various stages over approximately three weeks.
The Thorndale Community Park serves
a growing and vibrant community with a wide rage of amenities from field sports and playgrounds to numerous community activities. The upgrade on the walking path will ensure these facilities are accessible to all.
Photo by Allan Woods
Thames Centre hosted an outdoor movie night for
at Thorndale Community Park. Photo by Nancy Abra
COLUMN
Monika Herten‘s Magic Trick: She turns Art into Winter Coats
By Julie Ashley
Before you read this, strap on your roller skates. That is the only way that you will keep up with Monika Herten, 83.
I am attempting to make a phone appointment with Monika and discover that she would be available at 6 a.m. and I sheepishly decline this early invitation as my feet will not see the floor much before 8 a.m. We settle on 8 a.m. as Monika will already have positioned herself in her “messy room,” as she calls it, to paint at least one card, recognizing that one creation can take her as long as two to two and a half hours to paint. This is clearly an act of devotion and a daily part of Monika’s life. She sets a goal to always paint before she leaves her house, heading out for a few reasons including aquafit.
“I’m old and very busy,” she said in her perfect German manner and accent.
She’s not kidding because she only has five minutes for me since she must get out the door to the library. She is attending the monthly Social (Newcomers) Club, hosted for anyone who has recently moved to St. Marys and surrounding area. It also gives her a chance to replenish the card rack so library guests can select cards for a donation. Monika, in turn, collects and passes the cash to co-ordinators for the purchase of winter coats and shoes, as well as many other needs for local Ukrainian refugees.
When Russia originally attacked the Ukraine, Monika wanted to contribute in some way to those who had made their way to St. Marys to regather their lives. Previously, she painted rocks and had also been asked to paint cards for a local flower shop. Since people were so pleased, even choosing to frame her cards, Monika decided gathering donations for her work might be a practical way to help these Ukrainians in St. Marys.
“People have forgotten about Ukraine. It has become old news and there are now other wars,” she said.
Monika’s comments urge us to remember the immediate needs of these refugees continue. Establishing oneself in another country, especially with a different language, takes time.
The ravages of war are all too familiar to Monika. As a three-year-old in Wesel, Germany, Monika re-
counts being dragged out of bed at night, choking on the dust of rubble due to bombing overhead. She painfully remembers hunger.
Her family’s resilience and work ethic eventually led to the rebuilding of her childhood home and ultimately a better quality of life. Monika sees these same fine qualities in the Ukrainians around her and wishes for them a brighter future too. Monika recognizes her future here in Canada with her Canadian husband, Walter, has been a happy story. It was Walter who initiated their move to St. Marys in the most unique manner.
Walter was a glider pilot as a hobby and a member of the Southern Ontario Soaring Association (SOSA). Around 2001, the Cambridge branch hosted a National Gliding Championship where the pilots were required to photograph the bridge in St. Marys as proof that they had reached their turning point. Even from such a unique perspec-
STONETOWN TRAVEL
tive, Walter appreciated this town and encouraged Monika to move here.
Fast forward 22 years, 10 years after Walter’s passing, Monika continues to inspire her community. Her magic trick of converting her art into supplies for Ukrainians will continue for as long as she can do it. Even arthritis and a busy schedule won’t stop her.
On my phone call at 8 a.m. today, I find Monika having already completed her card – a hummingbird. We need to keep the call short as she, already in her swimsuit, needs to leave for aquafit in half an hour.
They say that 80 is the new 70, but when I listen to Monika, I readjust the adage to 80 is the new 60. When I do the math on these new facts, I expect many more active years ahead, and I won’t need a rocking chair anytime soon. I doubt that Monika owns one either.
Monika Herten’s cards can be purchased by donation at the St. Marys Public Library with proceeds going to local Ukrainian refugees. Contributed photo
FROM THE GARDEN: Garden challenges
By Nancy Abra
Everyday we seem to be met by challenges of one sort or another. That doesn’t exclude our gardens as every garden has its struggles. Whether it is critters, creatures, diseases or the weather, it seems that gardening in one way or another is a test of our patience and endurance. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice or expert gardener; we all have been dealt with some horticultural conundrums.
Critters can certainly test our gardening fortitude - rabbits, moles, deer or groundhogs and those cute little chipmunks. They all seem to have healthy appetites. Depending on the location of your garden, whether it is a rural or urban setting and what you grow, you could have the perfect buffet for these critters.
Having a rural garden, I count
my blessings as I don’t have a deer problem. I have a couple of gardener friends that get so frustrated with hungry deer that frequently visit their garden. They have had to erect a 7ft fence around their small 8x10 ft vegetable patch, hang Irish Spring soap along the fence and stinky runners from branches of trees in their backyard. They even have used urine-soaked rags in various spots in their garden. I guess desperate times call for desperate actions!
Rabbits can be a problem for both urban and rural gardens. It seems some years are worse than others. They can do a lot of damage and we lost a plum tree because rabbits’ appetite. In our vegetable garden, they seem to search out my beans and fresh young leaves of some of our brassicas, especially cauliflower. There are many home remedies to deter bunnies from munching on your baby vegetables, from garlic and other strong aroma sprays to laying fake rubber snakes amongst your plants. I have tried lots of these treatments but what works best in our garden is fencing. This summer has been no ex-
Ask the Arborist
By Joel Hackett | 519 272 5742 | jtsquote@gmail.com
Dear Arborist,
I am trying to fertilize my tree. What fertilizer should I use?
Sincerly
Kyle
Dear Kyle,
Fertilizers normally come in a package with 3 letters. N-P-K ratio, which stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen promotes leaf growth. Phosphorus promotes flowering and fruit production, and potassium promotes root growth. For general growth, we normally do a fertilizer high in nitrogen. If the plant is diseased (like with a fungus) there has been some
ception to critter challenges besides rabbits. Last week I noticed a groundhog has set up camp under our potting shed. These hungry rodents are a test to any gardener’s patience and trying to outwit these defying nervy critters almost seems to be a sequel to the 1980 Caddyshack movie!
In recent years, the greatest challenge is the weather. Too
improvement with one high in phosphorus and potassium.
When fertilizing a tree if you do not have access to a deep root fertilizer, you can use a rod to make holes every 3 to 4 feet and pour a mixture of water and fertilizer down the hole. Mix according to directions on the label. Be sure to water afterwards, and do not apply when the weather is at higher temperatures.
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
much rain, or long dry spells and those blistering hot days are all more challenges gardeners face. I make a practice to only water my garden when it is only necessary and early in the morning, making sure the water is directly or close to the root system of plant. If you water in the evening there is a greater risk for mould, slugs and earwigs, which thrive on the
moist cooler conditions. Also mulching around plants is a great idea as it really helps retain the moisture and minimizes weeds.
Not that long ago I came across this quote - “Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow” –author unknown. I truly feel it sums up why many of us have a love of gardening, no matter what the challenge.
Riddles
- Word Search -
WASTE DISPOSAL
What is silver and has a head and tail but no
A coin
or
What is a bunny’s favourite music?
Hip Hop
What is a kangaroo’s favorite year?
Leap year
What’s the best way to paint the ocean?
In watercolours
What a cow’s favourite past time?
Going to the MOOvies
How do pigs get to the hospital?
By HAMbulance
What is a racer’s favourite sauce?
Ketch-up
How do you fix a broken pizza?
With tomato paste
What happened when 500 hares got loose on the main street?
The police had to comb the area
Why did the girl throw the clock out the window?
Because she wanted to see time fly
There are many castles in the world, but who is strong enough to move one?
Any chess player
Riddle Kid
COLUMN
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO: Into the woods with Lori McCarthy
By Paul Knowles
We walked a short distance into the forest that surrounds Lori McCarthy’s home. En route, Lori pointed to two or three different plants and told us to pick some of the leaves or small branches. These we carried to a rough-hewn table set up in a clearing and we began to create the first of at least a dozen amazing tastes we were to experience that afternoon.
It’s unusual, to say the least, to refer to a person as a destination, but I can’t think of a better description for McCarthy. She would argue the point, maintaining the destination she represents is actually Newfoundland and Labrador. I couldn’t imagine a better ambassador for Canada’s newest province.
But I would still maintain that McCarthy herself and the unique experience she has created qualifies as a destination, and one worth seeking out.
McCarthy is a passionate Newfoundlander, a highly trained chef and a self-described outdoorswoman.
After working for many years in the restaurant business, she decided to combine all of her passions, and she has developed an unparalleled experience for visitors to her part of Newfoundland, only a few minutes out of St. John’s.
McCarthy led our group of five travel journalists and two convivial hosts from Destination St. John’s to the table in the woods.
On our way, we had foraged for some leaves of sweetgale, a shrub native to many parts of Canada. McCarthy invited us to grind our sweetgale leaves with sugar. She distributed glass mugs and we combined the sweetgale with cranberry sugar, partridgeberry syrup, black current leaves, a stalk of rhubarb we had picked from her garden, strawberry rhubarb kombucha and some soda and ice. I think the soda was the only thing not foraged on Lori’s property.
The result? One of the most delicious drinks I have ever enjoyed, and that was just the start.
McCarthy led us a few metres on to where she had started a fire in a fire pit, which was surrounded by low, roughhewn benches. Beside the fire was a plank laid on its side, on which was pegged a large fillet of arctic char.
The meal was astonishing.
The smoked char was served along with amazing mussels.
McCarthy had harvested some divers’ scallops, which you can’t buy in a store, and served a potato salad complete with
tiny, delicious Newfoundland shrimp.
A couple of McCarthy’s friends showed up carrying a guitar and we were regaled with Newfoundland folk songs as we enjoyed this exceptional meal.
Then we were invited into a craft building where we made our own sweetgale sugar and other spices to take with us. Finally, we walked a trail down to the water’s edge where McCarthy served us tea in actual china cups and a collection of wonderful, homemade desserts.
She explained this was the setting that inspired her to bring her culinary skills back into her beloved Newfoundland woodland where she engages in what she calls “storytelling through food.”
She told us after working for years in restaurants, she had a mug-up with her mom. McCarthy had been watching chefs from around the world as they incorporated products from their local landscape into their culinary creations. As she and her mom sat sipping tea by the sea, she wondered if her own experience could be converted into an actual business, enabling her to pursue all the things she is passionate about. As it turns out, it could.
“At its heart, my work is storytelling through food,” she said. “Stories collected and retold, stories of integrity, authenticity and my unwavering, non-negotiable commitment to tell the real stories of
Newfoundland and Labrador. Those stories that live deep in my soul and in the souls of those around me.”
McCarthy has collected an archive of Newfoundland and Labrador stories, songs, poems and scrapbook entries, and part of her time with visitors is spent in reading some of these authentic, homegrown treasures. In fact, I first met McCarthy not in her woods, but on the stage of our Travel Media Association of Canada convention in St. John’s a few days prior to our foraging visit. During her keynote talk to our members, she read some poignant prose by a Newfoundlander and also talked with great emotion about her grandmother – and she brought many of us to tears right alongside her.
That’s the kind of heartfelt commitment McCarthy’s guests are in for. It’s an unfor-
gettable experience, one that carries you right into the heart of Newfoundland culture. And McCarthy makes it clear this work is not only for the entertainment of visitors.
“I want my children and their children to love and appreciate the gifts this land has given us. Our stories, our food, our whole way of life, they're all worth passing down. They're part of who we are, where we've been and where we're going.”
If you are interested in spending time with McCarthy – and I could not recommend that more highly – you can contact her at lorimccarthy.ca.
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.
Tea and dessert by the sea. Photos by Paul Knowles
Arctic char being smoked by the campfire.
The incredible beauty of Newfoundland's shoreline.
COMMUNITY Wakelin draws inspiration from policing career, Stratford and family cottage
By Emily Stewart
Al Wakelin was told to “write what you know,” and he incorporated that in a few different ways in his book, “Unforgiven Trespasses: A Cottage on Caledonia.”
His book takes place in Stratford where he grew up and retired from a career in policing and security. Wakelin and his wife, Sue Wakelin, opened the Cottage on Caledonia B&B in 2016. Unforgiven Trespasses centres on a young Hollywood actress who retreats to that very bed and breakfast as a way to escape from the stalking and harassment she faces.
Though the narrative takes place in June 2020, there is no COVID-19 pandemic and the Stratford Festival season is therefore running in the novel. Wakelin found the pandemic tough, both personally and for his business. He wanted to promote everything Stratford has to offer in his novel and names landmarks such as theatres, restaurants and businesses. “I thought it was my own way of showing my care and love for the community I grew up in; that this would get somebody to come and visit Stratford,” Al Wakelin said.
The protagonist also retreats to Goderich and Bayfield, inspired by the author’s memories of a family cottage overlooking Lake Huron. Al Wakelin draws from experiences throughout his career as an RCMP officer and security manager for McDonald’s Restaurants Canada as well.
As part of the McDonald’s security team, Al Wakelin worked at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and 2010 Vancouver Olympic games and was personal security to VIP celebrities who made appearances at McDonald’s locations across Canada such as Rod Stewart, Yao Ming, Wayne Gretzky and Beyonce. He described Ming and Gretsky as quiet and reserved, whereas Stewart was a bit more of an extrovert. Wakelin also recalls working security when tennis star Serena Williams insisted she picks up her own dog’s poop nearby the event, saying it’s her responsibility to clean up after her pet, though he offered to do it for her.
"They were all just people,” he said of the celebrities. “I think that’s what I wanted to bring to the celebrities in my book. There is more than one and there are some surprises in the book, so I tried to make them all as reachable as possible and believable.”
Al Wakelin’s novel is based on the murder of Rebecca Schaeffer, a 21-year-old actress from the TV show, “My Sister Sam,” who was stalked and eventually fatally shot by Robert John Pardo in 1989. The case led to legislation in the State of California outlawing stalking.
"Because I was a young policeman at the time, I really thought it disturbing,” Al Wakelin said. “The course of events that led to her death were all absolutely preventable."
The novel also touches on cyber-stalking, an issue prevalent in present day. Al Wakelin said laws in Canada haven’t changed too much over time. He said the deaths of 15-year-old Amanda Todd and
12-year-old Carson Cleland, who both died by suicide after being harassed and sexually extorted online, demonstrate the impact of the issue.
"If I have a voice, it's to push that piece – how many people have to be victimized needlessly?” he said. “Because as an investigator, I don't have the tools I need to pursue such people."
The Unforgiven Trespasses prologue begins with a police officer experiencing a traumatic flashback from what he saw during a crime scene in the 1980s as a rookie.
As someone who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Al Wakelin found writing the novel healing and it helped him through the difficulties of the pandemic.
“Going back to some of those demons in my past and opening them up and looking at them in different ways, I think, was extremely therapeutic,” he said. “They say one of the good things to do with things like post-traumatic stress syndrome is to journal, to write. I'm not a diary guy, so this gave it that outlet."
Unforgiven Trespasses can be purchased at the Cottage on Caledonia at 61 Caledonia St. and Fanfare Books at 92 Ontario St in Stratford, and Betty’s Bookshelf in St. Marys. The books are also available at Fincher’s in Goderich, and Al Wakelin is hoping to have them in shops in Waterloo and Bayfield eventually.
THE WEEK AHEAD
SPONSORED BY:
PRC & Friendship Centre events – See the Stonetown Crier on Page 5
- Hazardous disposal day at MOC, 408 James St. S – 8 a.m. to Noon
- St. Marys Farmers Market at Milt Dunnell Field – 8 a.m. to Noon
- Creative Day Out at Zenfire Pottery & Stone Home Creatives – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register, visit stonehomecreatives.ca/pages/calendar – Cost $90 plus tax per participant
- Royal Canadian Legion meat draw – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, July 23
- Tour of newly renovated Town Hall council chambers –4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
LOOKING BACK
By Amy Cubberley
Town Hall remodeled
25 years ago (1999)
Coffee and muffins are being sold on weekday mornings in Cadzow Park. Proceeds go to St. Marys and Area Home Support Services.
St. Marys OPP and Johnson Sanitation are hoping for tips leading to the arrest of vandals who burned a porta-potty to the ground on the weekend. The portable washroom was situated on a lot on Elgin Street West in St. Marys where a home was being built.
St. Marys Kinsmen president Al Strathdee and Kinette president Fern Pridham recently presented a $1,000 bursary to Kevin Shaughnessy of St. Marys. Kevin, a DCVI grad, is studying science at the University of Guelph.
50 years ago (1974)
Dianne Blake is in Trois Pistoles Quebec on a language course for the next six weeks. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ron Blake, Waterloo Street.
The remodeling of the Town Hall Council chambers has now been completed, with the exception of the new floor covering. The overall effect is very eye-pleasing.
Local firefighters spent several hours battling a blaze at the Lakeside dump Tuesday afternoon.
75 years ago (1949)
Excavations for the foundation of another new home on Thomas Street were started this week. This house is being erected on the ground between the homes of Mrs. Harry Greason and Mr. H.L. Steward by Mr. Wm. Laing, who is also completing a new home further south on the same street.
The days of wild tag games and water fights are over at Cadzow Park. Four cheerful, capable playground supervisors have put an end to this. Now worried mothers can send their children away at 9:30 in the morning and be confident that they will be safe and occupied until noon. Then at 1:30 they can be shipped off again and not seen until 5. During this time, they will have been engaged in relay races, organized games, swimming classes, and craft work. On rainy days, films will be shown in the United Church gym.
100 years ago (1924)
The citizens of the Stonetown were greatly shocked when the Journal bulletin board told of the drowning of one of its prominent sons, in the cruel waters of Lake Huron, shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday. Norman J. Elliott was bathing in the lake at Grand Bend with some chums.
The fine 60-acre farm owned by W.W. Langford just across from the boundary of Lucan in the Granton area has been sold to Levi Whitefield for the magnificent sum of $9,500, which included $1,500 for the crops and implements.
The strawberry crop was a bountiful one. They sold in St. Marys the past week for as low as three boxes for 25 cents.
Wanted
CLASSIFIED ADS
$ 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 Sale
2 burial plots with deed, 2 vaults, gold cross certificate & memorial bronze marker located in Forest Lawn London. Today’s prices $13,000 - $15,000. Priced at $6,000.00. for quick sale. Please leave message 519-453-4917.
SUDOKU ANSWERS CLASSIFIED ADS
IN MEMORIAM
Harris
In loving memory of Jean Harris
In our hearts a memory Lingers sweetly, tender, fond and true.
There is not a day dear mom
That we do not think of you.
Love Deb, Helen, Dan, Mary, Phil and Families
THANK YOU
Moffatt
Thank you for all the expressions of love that have so Honoured God and blessed our memories of Heather Dawson Moffatt. Her family sure appreciates it/them.
Her memorial service may still be viewed on Brenneman Funeral Home website obituaries, Heather Moffatt, livestream link starting at minute 3:20.
ANNOUNCEMENT
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Earl Foster, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and treasured friend. Earl passed away peacefully at home on Monday, July 8, 2024 at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of love, dedication, and hard work.
Earl knew he had found his soul mate when he met Jean. After only 6 months, they were married and embarked on their forever journey together. Earl was a devoted husband and shared an inseparable bond and beautiful love story with Jean for 67 years. Together, they built a life centered around their family and farming. Earl was a dedicated farmer throughout his entire life, diligently tending to his dairy cows and crops. His multiple daily drives to check the crops were a testament to his commitment to his farm and his livelihood.
Earl was the loving father of David (Joanne), Jo-Anne Fields (Scott Nickles), and Dale (Coralee). He was a proud grandfather to Laurie (Kyle), Michelle (Mehdi), John, Josh (Ashley), Justin (Angela), Darwin (Jenna), and Alex. Earl cherished his role as a great-grandfather to Cohen, Violet, Mileena, Miles, Katrina, Hayley, and Baby Foster. Also surviving is his brother Harold (Marion), sister Mary Fisher (Bill), brothers-in-law Len Boreham (Marg) and Murray McLean, and sisters-inlaw Doris Forman (Ray) and Marlene McLean. Earl is also remembered fondly by several nieces and nephews.
Earl is predeceased by his parents, Herbert and Harriet, his twin sons Darwin and Dennis (in infancy), his brother Lorne, father-in-law and mother-in-law Ralph and Violet McLean, brothers-in-law Lloyd, Bruce, John and Ken McLean, and sisters-in-law Helen, Erma, and Linda McLean.
Earl had a passion for playing cards with his friends, a pastime that brought him much joy. He loved spending time with his friends and especially enjoyed Jean’s delicious buns, which were a highlight of many gatherings. In their younger years, Earl and Jean attended many dances, creating cherished memories that they carried with them throughout their lives.
Earl’s dedication to his family, farm, friends, and community will be deeply missed. His legacy of hard work, love, and laughter will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Friends were received at the Lockhart Funeral Home, 109 Montreal St., Mitchell on Friday, July 12 from 5-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 1-1:45 p.m. The funeral service took place at 2:00 p.m followed by a reception at the Lockhart Reception Centre. Interment in Kirkton Union Cemetery. Memorial donations to Kirkton Union Cemetery or St. Marys Memorial Hospital would be appreciated.
Let your wings soar high and rest peacefully until we meet again! Your presence will remain close to our hearts forever.
“A loved one is not gone, unless he is forgotten. To live in the hearts of those left behind, is to live forever.”
