St. Marys Independent - April 24

Pita Pit franchise coming to town

Local federal election candidates agree, but mostly disagree, in Stratford debate

CONNOR LUCZKA

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

With the federal election in the homestretch now, the local race here in Perth-Wellington is heating up.

The four candidates in the riding went head-to-head on the debate stage at the Stratford Rotary Complex on April 15. David Mackey of the Liberal Party, John Nater of the Conservative Party, Kevin Kruchkywich of the New Democratic Party (NDP)

and Wayne Baker of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) were invited by the Stratford and District Chamber of Commerce to participate.

Kicking it off, Aaron Martin, general manager of the chamber, asked the candidates if they support the construction of a trans-Canada pipeline. Mackey, Nater and Baker were all in favour, though Mackey clarified it would have to be done in consultation with the provinces.

The “best unkept secret in St. Marys” was finally revealed last week when Pam Ryan announced via social media that she and her husband, Dan Ryan, are back in the franchise business.

The former owners of Little Caesars in St. Marys will be opening a Pita Pit location downtown later this year at the southeast corner of Queen and Water streets.

With the building having sat empty for two years since the closure of Stonetown Coffee, the recent interior construction work was starting to attract a lot of attention from curious people passing by, thus prompting the Ryans to make their big announcement sooner rather than later.

“One day when the builder had the door open there were six different people who walked in to ask what was going on,” said Pam Ryan. “Now that the builders are here, we’ll just keep people in the loop, and if there’s delays, we’ll let people know. We’re a small town.”

Fortunately, many of the delays are already in the rearview mirror. The journey has been met with several challenges, including renovating within the heritage district, solving ventilation issues and dealing with delays due to equipment sourcing and tariffs. Though it is too early to project a specific opening date, the fact construction crews are onsite is evidence many of the most difficult hurdles have been crossed.

Despite the challenges, something that has kept the Ryans in great spirits is the positive reaction from the community. Since making the announcement last week, they’ve been so thankful for all the kind words of support. Not only are people happy to see the Ryans back in the restaurant business following the

(STEWART GRANT PHOTO)

COMMUNITY

Tender for Elgin Street reconstruction awarded under budget

GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A tender for the reconstruction of a portion of Elgin Street East in St. Marys included in this year’s capital budget has been awarded at a cost of roughly $915,000, nearly $67,000 under budget.

The project includes the reconstruction of Elgin Street East from Wellington Street South to James Street South. While $1,001,000 was budgeted for the project, a relatively competitive bidding process saw 10 companies vie for the project.

“This is our road-reconstruction project for the year, so we released a tender and closed it on March 12,” infrastructure services manager Jeff Wolfe told council at its April 8 meeting. “We had really good interest in this one. We had about 10 bid submissions from contractors. The low bid ended up coming from ASG Excavating Inc. for a bid price of $915,207.53. … By the time we include other costs outside of the construction contract like engineering and geotechnical, the project will be under budget

in the area of $66,827, so that’s good news.”

The scope of work for the project includes the replacement of storm sewer from Church Street to Wellington Street, the replacement of watermain from Church Street to Peel Street, minor storm and sanitary repairs, water-system valve repairs, and curb, sidewalk, road subdrain, granular base and asphalt replacements.

While Wolfe told the Independent he doesn’t yet have a firm start date for the work, he expects the project will be substantially complete by September with a final coat of asphalt paving to go on the reconstructed roadway in 2026.

For those who live along the impacted section of Elgin Street East, Wolfe said driveway access will be intermittently impacted as the contractor carries out underground work throughout the duration of the project, but he expects access will be restored and residents will be able to access their driveways at the end of every workday. When the contractor gets to installing the road base, concrete curb and sidewalk, Wolfe said drive -

Pita Pit franchise coming to town

top consideration.

closure of their Little Caesars franchise, but many are happy to see another food option arrive in St. Marys.

“We knew we weren’t going to do pizza,” said Pam Ryan. “We had to figure out what the town needed and what it didn’t have.”

Interestingly, a Facebook question on that very subject was posed by someone on St. Marys Life a few months back, providing the Ryans with valuable insight from hundreds of residents. From that information, Pita Pit emerged as a

“Pita Pit is a Canadian company. That was one of our biggest things when we were looking for a new brand. We were also looking for something fresh and healthy,” said Pam Ryan.

Pita Pit serves pita sandwiches, salads and rice bowls featuring a variety of grilled meats, fresh vegetables and flavourful sauces. The St. Marys location will offer the full menu of Pita Pit offerings, including smoothies and the protein shakes.

ways will likely be impacted for longer durations and the town will provide updates to the neighbourhood with more information.

During the project-design phase, tree canopy health along this section of Elgin Street East was also reviewed by the town’s arborist, who recommended four Norway maples be removed and two silver maples be trimmed due to poor condition. Wolfe told council he is working with the contractor to save as many of those trees as possible.

“People are always passionate about trees and we try our best to preserve them wherever possible,” he said. “In this case, there’s four Norway maples between King Street and James Street on the south side of the road. We are going to attempt to save three of them. … They all have various levels of degradation; one of them has started to split in half, so it’s a safety concern and we will have to remove that before it removes itself.

“On the north side of the road, there’s actually a couple of other silver maples where there’s significant hollow in the

trunk of the tree with pretty significant weight above it, and there’s a hydro line that would be at risk. There’s also other signs of degradation where, even without a reconstruction project, we have concerns about the longevity of any of those trees we’re looking at.”

Wolfe said town staff will distribute a handout to residents in the neighbourhood explaining the project and why some of these trees will be removed or trimmed, and staff will also visit the residents who have these trees on their properties to explain the reasoning and process for removal or trimming in person.

While the contractor, ASG Excavating, has not worked for the town before, Wolfe said staff have followed up on the company’s references, all of which offered positive feedback about working with the company. While ASG Excavating was the lowest bidder at roughly $915,000, bids from other contractors, including those who have worked for the town before, ranged as high as just over $1.5 million.

EDITORIAL

The joy of participating in our democracy

GALEN SIMMONS

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Though the phrase, “The most important election in our history,” seems to get thrown around every election cycle, there may actually be some real weight behind those words this time around.

As we inch closer to the federal election on April 28, Canadians everywhere understand the issues at play, from the need to take meaningful action on the housing and climate crises before those situations get much, much worse, to the need to defend our national sovereignty, economy and democracy from American and authoritarian encroachment at all costs.

Last Friday, an estimated two million people voted for the future of this country on the first day of advance voting, and I’m happy to say I was one of them. After a nice breakfast out, Julia and I hopped in the car and headed over to the Rotary Complex in Stratford with the notion that if we voted early, we could beat the lines on election day. Julia is still using a wheelchair to get around after breaking her leg in January, so long lines and crowds can be somewhat challenging.

As we pulled up and noticed the line of people extending outside the building’s front entrance and into the drop-off area, I thought, “Jeez, I guess everyone had the same idea.”

After dropping Julia off in her wheelchair, parking the car and running back to line up, I soon realized convenience really wasn’t at the top of everyone’s minds that morning.

I heard countless grumblings from people who had waited in line for over an hour without any sign they were getting closer to their polling booths. I saw tired Elections Canada volunteers rushing from one line to another, answering people’s questions and ushering people into the community hall to stand at the end of yet another line. I also saw young children and teenagers waiting as their parents stood in line to vote.

In any other situation, tensions would be running high, people would be leaving en masse and someone would be screaming for a manager.

But that didn’t happen on Friday.

Instead, Julia and I had the absolute pleasure of engaging in friendly conversation with a couple we didn’t know who live just around the corner from us. They, too, had moved recently, so we had a really nice conversation about moving and setting up a new home here in Stratford.

And from what I could tell, those around us were also enjoying pleasant conversations with friends and neighbours in between complaints about how long they had been waiting. There was no shouting, there were no angry looks from those in line ahead of us when we were ushered in before them and I didn’t notice anyone who opted to leave before they had the chance to vote – though, there were a few people who left to vote at another polling station in town that had opened up to handle the massive turnout.

What Julia and I were part of on Friday was a community of friends and neighbours coming together to vote our consciences and secure what each of us sees as the brightest possible future for our riding, our province and our country.

To me, that in itself was a sign that Canadians in Stratford, and from coast to coast, are invested in the outcome of this election and are willing to endure minor inconveniences to ensure their active participation in our democratic process.

Regardless of who we vote for, it is abundantly clear we all care deeply about the future of our country. After this election is over and one party is declared the winner, I hope we all remember that and do our best to continue engaging in our democracy, whether that’s ensuring the new government keeps its promises or holding it accountable for its actions.

And, above all else, get out there and vote in this election. Our collective future depends on it.

Bravo Boo

We have 3 Bravos this week.

1) Bravo to the residents of St. Marys and surrounding area who braved the long line ups at the Pyramid Rec. Centre this Easter weekend during the 4 days of advance voting for the upcoming federal election.

2) Bravo to the individual(s) who returned my Drone, after finding it at Dollarama’s parking lot. I was sure I would never see it again after strong winds at the high school soccer field snatched it from my control. Many thanks for your effort.

3) Bravo to the dedicated team who tirelessly worked up to 15 hours per day to look after the huge voter turnout at Polls 623 & 622 in the Pyramid Centre during the Advance Polls this past weekend. Your smiles kept all of us going. Thanks D, D, G, K, M & C, L & G, T & E.

We have 3 Boos this week.

1) Boo the parents at Little Falls Public School who don’t know what a drive-thru drop off really is. Meaning if you, the parent, have to park and get out to help your child, the drive-thru line is NOT the place for you.

2) An emphatic boo to those responsible for the removal of David Mackey election signs, sometimes twice, around town. Suppression of diverse opinion chimes with the totalitarian drift we are witnessing south of the border. We are better than that.

3) Boo to the person who stole my election sign from our front yard: I’m assuming you took it because you disagree with my point of view. I’m sad and disappointed you feel that our democracy is not strong enough to have multiple points of view and my side needs to be silenced. I’m sad that sign theft is happening in our town.

Quote of the Week

“Situations can change; people can change. Be the first to seek to bring good. Do not grow accustomed to evil, but defeat it with good.”

- The late Pope Francis, who died this week at age 88, from his 2014 book, The Church of Mercy: A Vision for the Church

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St. Marys Independent

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The St. Marys Independent THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK

Be a master at loving yourself and others will follow. Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.

When you’re a good person, you don’t lose people, people lose you.

Veteran Affairs Canada defines a veteran as “any former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who successfully underwent basic training and is honorably released”. This includes personnel who served as reservists. There is no minimum time required in service, and no need to have seen military action.

It is possible that service men and women who served for even short periods of time may be eligible for monetary awards in compensation for injuries that can be related to their time in uniform.

The Royal Canadian Legion is ready and willing to help all veterans, whether they are Legion members or not. If you believe there is even a small chance that you may be entitled to this assistance, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

The Provincial Service Officer, Britany Campbell, will be visiting the Perth Regiment Veterans Branch 236 St Marys during the week of May 14-16. Her job is to use a variety of resources to assist veterans in obtaining all awards they are eligible for. Anyone who would like to discuss a possible claim with her is urged to call the Branch Service Officer, Reg Rumble 519-661-7446 no later than April 28th to set up an appointment.

STONETOWN STONETOWN CCRIER RIER

Senior of the Week

Our senior of the week is Michael O’Shea who turned 79 on April 18. He was born in the front room of the family home farm on Stonehouse Line near Granton. Michael and wife Diane have been married for 50 years and have lived the last eight in St. Marys. They have four kids and eight grandchildren. He’s a talented piano player, retired farmer, and St. Marys Lincolns superfan!

If you would like to nominate someone for Senior of the Week, contact us at 519-284-0041 or info@stmarysindependent.com.

The members of Perth County council received a combined $231,096 in pay and expense reimbursement over the course of 2024, a report published on the county’s website indicates.

According to the county’s 2024 statement of remuneration and expenses for council members, Rhonda Ehgoetz, who served as warden until the annual warden’s election in December 2024, earned the highest pay among county council members at $46,643.57 inclusive of CPP contributions and Employer Health Tax (EHT). Ehgoetz was also reimbursed $2,531.85 for travel-and-mileage expenses, and $1,114.82 for professional development, adding up to a grand total of $50,290.24 in 2024.

Doug Kellum, who served as the county’s deputy warden last year until he was elected warden at the beginning of December, had the second-highest pay at $24,869.92 inclusive of CPP and EHT. Kellum also logged $1,610.31 in travel-and-mileage expenses for a grand total of $26,480.23 paid to him by the county.

At the other end of the council pay scale, Perth South representative Bob Wilhelm received just $3,718.21 in pay inclusive of CPP and EHT. Wilhelm also logged $192.43 in travel-and-mileage expenses for a total of $3,910.64 last year. Wilhelm’s relatively low pay and expense reimbursement from last year was because he stepped in to fill one of Perth South’s county council seats after the township’s mayor and past Perth County warden Jim Aitcheson took a leave of absence from his civic responsibilities before he died on Nov. 22, 2024.

Aitcheson, who took a leave of absence from

his duties as a Perth County councillor in October 2024, was paid $13,476.27 inclusive of CPP and EHT last year, and received $129.69 in reimbursement for travel-and-mileage expenses for a total of $13,606.16 last year.

While councillors Hugh McDermid and Jerry Smith, both representatives of Perth East on county council, did not find themselves at the top of the county’s councillor-pay list – they were paid $17,766.56 and $17,025.72 respectively for their work on council last year – they were at the top of the list for reimbursement of travel expenses with McDermid claiming $2,663.41 and Smith claiming $2,546.79 in 2024. McDermid and Smith also claimed $880.22 and $610.56 respectively in professional-development expenses for totals of $21,310.19 and $20,183.07 paid to them by the county last year.

Coun. Todd Kasenberg, one of North Perth’s representatives on county council, was the highest-paid Perth County councillor last year, behind only Kelllum and Ehgoetz. Kasenberg earned $ 18,242.40 inclusive of CPP and EHT, and he claimed $1,074.45 in travel-and-mileage expenses for a total of $19,316.85.

In total, Perth County paid the 11 members of county council who actively served last year $210,839.11 including CPP and EHT. The county also paid out a total of $16,536.45 in travel-and-mileage expenses across all 11 members of council, and $3,720.42 in professional-development expenses to McDermid, Smith, Ehgoetz and Perth South representative Coun. Sue Orr, who claimed $1,114.82 in professional-development expenses last year.

The county also paid a total of $5,814.80 across the six members of the Perth County accessibility advisory committee last year.

1) What American city hosted the world’s busiest airport by 2024 total passengers?

2) What city, located in the Middle East, was the world’s second busiest airport in 2024?

3) Jorge Mario Bergoglio is better known by what name?

4) How many balls are used in a game of 9-ball billiards?

5) As of April 2025, there are six former Canadian Prime Ministers who are still living. Name them.

6) Why are they called Wisdom Teeth?

7) How many eyelids does a cat have?

8) Which political party had the highest percentage of the popular vote in the last two Canadian federal elections?

9) Who invented the printing press?

10) Pita Pit restaurant was founded in what country?

By Stewart Grant

week’s

Police calls for service increase month over month from January to March

GALEN SIMMONS

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Calls for service from St. Marys residents to Stratford police have been increasing somewhat significantly month over month since January.

At the regular St. Marys community policing advisory committee meeting April 16, Stratford deputy police chief Gerry Foster took committee members through monthly St. Marys crime statistics for January, February and March. While in January, the number of calls for service from police increased by just three, from 134 in December 2024 to 137 in January, in February, that number jumped to 168 and in March, it jumped again to 195.

The number of charges laid decreased from December to January in St. Marys – from 37 to 28 – and then nearly doubled to 50 in February before falling to 40 in March.

In January, police responded to four false alarms, down from eight in December 2024, six mental-health related calls – up from four the month prior – and just two calls related to domestic violence, down significantly from seven the previous month. Of those two domestic calls, police laid one charge.

That same month, police responded to one sexual offence, three frauds, one call involving mischief, one drug offence and one call for impairment by alcohol.

Police attended eight motor-vehicle collisions, down from 11 in December. Six of those collisions resulted in property damage only and two were classified as hit and runs.

In February, police responded to six false alarms in St. Marys, four mental-health-related calls and seven calls related to domestic violence – of which, just one charge was laid. Police also responded to one assault, one sexual of-

fence, two break and enters, one fraud, two calls involving mischief, three thefts from motor vehicles, two thefts under $5,000 and one drug offence.

In February, police also attended 12 motor-vehicle collisions, nine of which resulted in property damage, one resulted in personal injury and two were classified as hit and runs. Stratford police also conducted one Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) program in February, during which officers stopped 59 vehicles and laid one charge.

In March, Stratford police again responded to six false alarms, 11 mental-health calls and three calls involving domestic violence. Police also responded to two assaults, one sexual offence, two auto thefts, two frauds, four calls involving mischief, one theft under $5,000 and one call for impairment by alcohol.

Police attended four motor-vehicle collisions in St. Marys last month, three of which resulted in property damage and one was classified as a hit and run. Police also engaged in the pursuit of a driver who failed to stop, but did not manage to stop the vehicle or lay charges against the driver.

Local federal election candidates agree, but mostly disagree, in Stratford debate

Kruchkywich, on the other hand, said it is important “not to go backwards” and to invest in a “new green economy” rather than the oil industry.

Later in the evening, when the topic of curbing greenhouse gas emissions was brought up, Nater said farmers across Canada, and in particular the local community, were already doing the hard work to be more sustainable, though hardly get the recognition for their efforts.

“If you look at the statistics for the agriculture community, they on their own have lowered their intensity. They have increased their sustainability, but they don’t get credit for it when the government comes calling,” Nater said. “And then, thirdly, let’s actually plant trees. The auditor general reviewed the socalled two billion tree program, and you know what the auditor general found?

She found there was actually no requirement the trees stay in the ground.”

“I don’t understand what’s being said here,” Kruchkywich said in response.

“We just had two parties talk about increasing pipelines to increase leaning

(greenhouse-gas-emissions reduction). I don’t know how it’s possible.

“The government should invest in clean renewable energy, not lean on oil and then turn around and say, ‘Let’s

- 9 7 AM - 5 PM Area south of Trout Creek from the Thames River to James St , including James St S

we heard about investment in pipelines, pipelines, pipelines, but also we really care about the planet.”

“I care about the planet, and I think we should invest in pipelines,” Baker retaliated, arguing that most of the greenhouse effect is caused by gas that humans have “absolutely no control over.”

In the face of economic uncertainty, Mackey said to promote the economy, the Mark Carney led Liberals would invest in Canadian infrastructure and build an “east-to-west trade corridor.”

Nater agreed the interprovincial trade barriers were a detriment to the economy at the moment. In 2017-2018, Nater served as opposition critic of internal trade when the Liberal government negotiated a Canadian free trade agreement. Nater claimed half of the the 300page document were exceptions to free trade. His motion to scrap the exceptions and have true free trade did not pass.

The CBC was also on the table during the debate, when Martin asked the candidates what their party is doing to assist the civil society in the riding and nationwide. On that subject, Kruchkywich argued it was important to invest in Canadian culture and “who we are.”

“We can’t do that if we cut CBC,” he said. “I grew up in southern Alberta. I only knew about Newfoundland through the CBC, but I have a real sense of what Newfoundland is because we had a national-cultural institution that taught us about each other and unified us.”

“I grew up with the CBC. I was a very firm advocate for the CBC until it became a propaganda tool for the government,” Baker said to a smattering mix of laughter and applause.

Nater, who answered that question first, did not respond to the question of defunding the CBC, though Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has long promised to defund the national broadcaster.

Mackey, who serves on the Stratford Public Library board, said that through

his time there, he has learned librarians have superpowers.

“They are able to tell fiction from non-fiction,” Mackey said. “We need to make sure the politicians listen to the librarians. I also think it’s important that libraries tell stories, that we tell Canadian stories and our local stories.

The CBC is an institution that does tell Canadian stories, for a long time in the past and for a long time to come in the future. It’s about protecting our national identity, defending from the American threat that we make Canada strong. We need to protect our culture from the winds of politicians by enshrining into law the right for the CBC to exist without interference from politicians.”

When asked about retaliatory tariffs in response to the steep U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump last month, Baker said he does not support them.

“We’re just not going to win, so why play the game?” Baker said.

Mackey supported the tariffs, as did Kruchkywich, but Nater did not plainly state if he is supportive or not, though said Canada needs to be strategic in how it fights the trade war, listing a few incentives like cutting GST on Canadian-made, new vehicles as long as the auto tariffs are in effect.

On the carbon tax, Mackey and Kruchkywich reiterated their parties are in favour of scrapping the consumer portion. Baker and Nater said they are in favour of scrapping the whole tax.

“I think it’s a cruelty tax, especially for Canadians,” Baker said. “With the technology and environment we live in, we’re dependent on carbon fuels.”

On the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential lessons learned from the crisis, Kruchkywich said it is important to not politicize science, which Mackey agreed with. Baker, meanwhile, said he never understood how the Germans fell into the throes of Nazism prior to the Second World War until he lived through the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it was a dictatorship and “mass psychosis.”

Nater said one of the lessons he learned was the fragility of the Canadian supply chain.

“Over the last number of decades, under multiple governments, we’ve lost that capacity to manufacture things in Canada,” Nater said. “So, one of the greatest lessons learned, I think, is the need for us as Canadians to stand up once again and reinforce the need for us to build things, make things and develop things here in Canada.”

Many more important topics were discussed in the one-and-a-half-hour debate. To view it in full, visit www. youtube.com/live/bWO6_jsO7tY?si=Bz87F6b4eNutewJB.

Election day is April 28. To find out more on how and where to vote, visit Elections Canada’s website.

Liberal candidate David Mackey, Conservative candidate John Nater, New Democrat candidate Kevin Kruchkywich and People’s Party of Canada candidate Wayne Baker gather for a debate on April 15 at the Stratford Rotary Complex.

(CONNOR LUCZKA PHOTO)

York Street Thought Process to perform at Mariposa Folk Festival, Stratford Summer Music and NXNE

EMILY STEWART Independent Reporter

St. Marys singer-songwriter duo York Street Thought Process is getting ready for the music-festival season.

York Street Thought Process, featuring Jaron Camp and Rachael Frankruyter, performed at the Mariposa Folk Festival Emerging Artists Showcase on April 12 at the St. Paul’s Centre in Orillia. The duo was one of nine acts that performed, along with Toronto’s Basset. York Street Thought Process will play the Mariposa Folk Festival later this summer, which will take place between July 4 and 6 in Orillia.

“It’s seriously a huge honour just to even have been selected to showcase, let alone moving on to perform at the folk festival,” said Frankruyter. “It’s an opportunity that we applied for a couple of years, so to have that opportunity to move forward and be a part of the showcase was a huge honour for both of us.”

“Going into it and knowing they chose nine artists from about 250, we already knew that everyone was going to be great which made it just more of an ex-

citing day to see a lot of cool new music,” Camp added.

York Street Thought Process will also perform at Stratford’s Jobsite Brewing for the first time on May 4 as part of Stratford Summer Music. Stratford

musicians Johann Yundt and Hannah Thomas will also perform.

“It’ll be really fun and it’s such a great series of music that goes all summer so just to be included in that is great and I think it’ll be a really cool show with a

bit of everything,” Camp said.

The duo has two Toronto shows on deck as well, including a slot at Death and Taxes as part of the North by Northeast (NXNE) music festival on June 13 at 9 p.m.

“North by Northeast and Mariposa are the first big musical festivals we’ve had the honour of being a part of, so I think we’re very looking forward to Mariposa and also North by Northeast,” Frankruyter said.

Ahead of NXNE, York Street Thought Process will perform at the Pilot in Toronto on May 24, opening for Cabin Fever and later joining Emm Gryner and Michael Holmes on stage as part of Queen Beach Killer Cat, a band with ‘70s and ‘80s inspired melodies.

York Street Thought Process will release their next single, “Dignity,” later in the spring, which will be the lead single off their new, five-song EP coming later in the year.

The latest updates can be found online on their Facebook and Instagram pages as well as at www.yorkstreetthoughtprocess.com.

York Street Thought Process at London’s Rum Runners in August 2024. The duo has lots of upcoming performances at festivals and showcases in the spring and summer months including Stratford Summer Music, North by Northeast (NXNE) and Mariposa Folk Festival.

(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)

Hidden in Plain View searches for the beauty beyond the surface

EMILY STEWART Independent Reporter

The St. Marys Station Gallery’s newest exhibition centres on the hidden beauty in everyday items.

Hidden in Plain View, featuring the work of five local visual artists, opened on April 18 and held its opening reception on the afternoon of April 19. The exhibit features the works of Annette Goodale, Anna Koot, Chantelle Marshall, Krista Beckette and Renee Knight. During the reception, the St.

Marys Independent spoke with Goodale, Marshall and Beckette.

Goodale had a mix of watercolour paintings focusing on realism and fused-glass pieces that are more on the abstract side.

“It’s trying to work in two different directions,” she said.

Goodale will often incorporate rocks into her artwork, as she loves them. For the fused-glass pieces, she finds inspiration for her work based on what she can find after looking at cross-sections of those rocks. For example, she added X’s

on a piece that looked like it has some heart-shaped holes, meant to reflect the X’s and O’s used to symbolize hugs and kisses.

“This Gallery has been wonderful for the Town of St. Marys. This is my second show here and I’ve enjoyed coming and seeing the shows over the years, so it’s a great place to show,” Goodale said.

Marshall likes to paint flowers and other objects found in nature.

“They’re all in my backyard and I think there’s something really special about photographing things that you see every day and then painting them in a way that shows how beautiful and magical they are, even though they’re something that you walk past all the time.”

Marshall paints with acrylic paint like one would with watercolours. She dilutes the acrylic with water and then add lots of layers to give the colours more depth.

“It’s a long process to do all the layers, but I like the effect that it gives,” Marshall said.

Beckette’s watercolour paintings are inspired by what’s close to home, and she has a piece called “Close to Home.” She will search for anything unique; for example, a back alley with lots of textures. Beckette also enjoys the process of painting with watercolours.

“Watercolour’s translucent, so you layer. It’s quite a process of layering and darkening. You get darker as you go and you have to reserve your whites because the white is the white of the paper,” she said.

She is also thrilled to be part of a show with her colleagues.

“I was excited to be part of a show with four other artists that are considered friends, as well as I really love their art,” Beckette said.

The gallery will host a Meet the Artists event on April 26 from 1-4 p.m. Hidden in Plain View will run until May 24. More information can be found online by visiting www.stmarysstationgallery. ca or by checking out St. Marys Station Gallery on Facebook.

The St. Marys Station Gallery held an opening reception for their Hidden in Plain View exhibition on April 19. Pictured, artist Annette Goodale poses with some of her art featured in the exhibition.

(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)

Artist Chantelle Marshall poses her piece, “Unexpected Lace,” featured in the Hidden in Plain View exhibition at St. Marys Station Gallery.

(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)

Watercolour artist Krista Beckette is pictured here with her piece, “Almost Home,” during the opening reception of the Hidden in Plain View exhibition at St. Marys Station Gallery April 19.

(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)

JOHN NATER

UTRCA issues Earth Day message seeking public support for local reptiles at risk

ST. MARYS INDEPENDENT

Staff Contribution

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) celebrated Earth Day April 22 by sharing exciting news about local conservation efforts that are helping turn the tide for some of Ontario’s most at-risk reptiles.

In 2024, the UTRCA’s Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) program had one of its most successful years yet. Thanks to dedicated staff, volunteers and community partners, the program team hatched and released more than 10,000 native turtles back into the wild, including an incredible 5,000 endangered spiny softshell turtles. Without interven -

tion, these eggs would have been lost to threats like trampling, flooding, excessive heat, predators and invasive plants.

Throughout the season, the SOARR team also located, assessed and protected dozens of endangered and threatened turtles and snakes including spiny softshell, spotted and Blanding’s turtles, along with eastern hog-

nosed snakes and queensnakes. The SOARR team built new nesting, basking, foraging and cover habitats, and installed roadside fencing in key areas to reduce reptile mortality.

Behind the scenes, the program team hired and mentored early career biologists and technicians, supported local film students in producing

Turtle team members building turtle nesting sites.

(PHOTO COURTESY OF UPPER THAMES RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY)

The 2024 turtle team, part of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR).

(PHOTO COURTESY OF UPPER THAMES RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY)

UTRCA issues Earth Day message seeking public support for local reptiles at risk

a documentary on the endangered queensnake, and collaborated with landowners, small businesses, community groups and governments to protect and restore reptile habitat across the watershed.

“For the first time in likely over a century, the spiny softshell turtle population is increasing along the Thames

River,” said UTRCA species at risk biologist Scott Gillingwater in a press release. “This shows that focused conservation efforts really do work – but we still have a long way to go.”

In 2025, the SOARR program has even loftier goals. With public support, the team plans to expand its incubation lab with additional equipment to protect even more vulnerable

turtle eggs. The team wants to bring on new staff, grow its network of conservation partners, and enhance habitat protection so turtles and snakes can thrive for generations to come.

But the SOARR team can’t do it alone.

This Earth Day, consider donating in support of these efforts. Every donation will directly support hands-

on conservation efforts for Ontario’s most vulnerable reptiles. Every nest saved, every fence installed, every new biologist trained helps build a future where turtles and snakes are not just surviving but thriving.

To learn more or donate, visit thamesriverdonations.ca/protect-species-at-risk.

Turtle team members conducting turtle radio telemetry research.

turtle hatchling.

St. Marys Independent SPORTS

Lincs and Maroons tied through two games of West Final

Heading into Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on April 22, played after the Independent’s press time, the St. Marys Lincolns and Chatham Maroons each scored a victory in the best-of-seven conference championship series with the newly renamed Joe Thornton Trophy at stake.

To reach their third consecutive conference final, the Lincolns defeated the London Nationals in seven games. The Nationals came back from being down three games to none to force a seventh and deciding game, but finally, the Lincolns managed to fight back and take a 3-2 win over the Nationals on April 15, eliminating London from the playoffs.

Head coach Jeff Bradley was thrilled with the team’s Game 7 performance.

“We were excellent, top to bottom,” Bradley told the Independent. “The main thing for us was sticking to what we were doing but doing it at the level we’re capable of. London didn’t really change all series, so we didn’t have to adjust too much. As a coach, it made the job very easy at times, but almost to the point of feeling a bit helpless. It was on the players to play the way they needed to play, and they did that very well in Game 7 from start to finish.”

Bradley said the coaches began seeing changes in the right direction in the second-last game of their semi-final series against London.

“In Game 6, we didn’t quite have the first period we wanted, but we got a lot better in the second and third, so, going into Game 7, the confidence level our coaching staff had in the players was really high. We got some really good performance out of some guys that we needed to perform at a high level, and that carried over into Game 7. Our game was in order and, if we keep that up, then we believe we will be in a good spot.”

The first period saw Ryan Hodkinson open the scoring just shy of the frame’s halfway point before Ty Moffatt tied the game with just under three minutes left in the first.

Hodkinson netted his second goal of

the night three minutes and 46 seconds into the middle stanza. Jaden Lee then buried his fifth of the post-season on a powerplay to put the Lincolns ahead by two goals.

Denis Beley-Camara brought the game back within a goal in the third, but the Lincolns withstood the Nationals’ late-game surge to close out the victory.

Bradley credited his team’s rearguards for their strong defensive effort.

“Our defence was outstanding,” said Bradley. “Ethan (Coups) had a really good bounce-back game. Jacob (Montesi) got better and better as the game went on. Owen (Kalp) has been a huge part of that defence. They were all just really strong for us.”

Lincs continue strong play in Game 1 shutout win

Having no time to catch their breath following their series win over London benefited the Lincolns, who kept their execution high when they faced the Chatham Maroons in Game 1 of the conference final on April 17 and came away with a 4-0 victory.

St. Marys got the scoring started 11-and-a-half minutes into the game

when Kyle Morey buried a wraparound past Maroons’ netminder Gannon Hunter for his sixth of the playoffs. Morey later one-timed home his second of the contest with a powerplay marker, which came almost exactly 12 minutes after Luca Spagnolo fought through a net-front crowd to lift the puck over the goal line.

Cohen Bidgood iced the game with an empty netter late in the third.

Bradley praised his team’s well-rounded effort in their Game 1 victory.

“We played really well,” Bradley said. “We managed Chatham’s speed well, which was important considering how quick they are and how much offense they’re able to generate from that speed. Nico (Armellin) getting a shutout was big for us. We took away the rush, we were on the right side of our guys and our penalty kill was really good.”

Just hours before the first game of the conference final, the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) announced its year-end award winners, which saw Lee receive the Kevin McIntosh Award for the Western Conference’s Best Defensive Forward, as well as the Bill Lochead Trophy for the

West’s Most Gentlemanly Player. Lincs’ netminder Colby BoothHousego earned the John Faulkner Award as the conference’s Most Valuable Goaltender. According to Bradley, Lee and Booth-Housego were more than deserving of their respective honours.

“It’s well deserved for both Jaden (Lee) and Colby (Booth-Housego). Obviously, I’m a bit biased, but I was hoping to see some of our other guys get recognized as well, but Jaden and Colby were certainly worthy of being celebrated. Jaden and Colby are both so important to this organization, so to see them get their flowers is certainly nice to see.”

Bradley himself was recognized as the Coach of the Year with the Kearnsy Memorial Award, which he said was an honour he had plenty of help achieving.

“It’s certainly nice to have that respect from other teams. That’s what you get when you have a general manager who puts an amazing team together, you have so many returning guys and an amazing support staff. It used to be called the coaching staff of the year and, to me, that’s really what it is because without the rest of the coaches and trainers here, obviously, I don’t get this award.

“You look at some of the people who have won this award,” continued Bradley. “Dave Williams, Jesse Cole and Jason Williams, guys like that, are really incredible company to be in. But the main thing is the players. You can be Scotty Bowman, but if you don’t have players who compete the way ours do, you won’t go anywhere. Most importantly, my mom is very happy, so I’m happy.”

Lincs falter in Game 2

The complete, 60-minute effort the Lincolns showed in their two previous outings disappeared in the second game of the Western Conference Final, with the Maroons downing St. Marys 4-3.

“We got off to a really slow start,” Bradley said. “We knew that they would have a really good push that we just didn’t seem like we were up to defending or matching, and obviously, we

Luca Spagnolo fights through traffic to score a goal during the St. Marys Lincolns’ 4-0 win over the Chatham Maroons in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

(TURNER ROTH PHOTO) SPENCER SEYMOUR

Lincs and Maroons tied through two games of West Final

paid for it in the end.

“You have to give Chatham a lot of credit. They came out fired up and needing to win a game. They played really hard and we just weren’t willing to play as hard as they were in the first 40 minutes of that game.”

Less than halfway into the opening period, the Maroons jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Connor Hunt and Brody Gillis. Coming into the game, Gillis had just one goal in his last six games, while Hunt had managed just one goal in his previous 12 outings.

Before the first was done, Hodkinson tapped in a one-timer at the side of the net to cut the Maroons’ lead in half. The goal, Hodkinson’s ninth of the playoffs, gave the hometown centre points in nine of his last 10 games heading into Game 3.

Chatham extended their lead back to two goals halfway through the second with the only goal of the period coming from Carter Gillen. With just 20 minutes left, the Lincolns emerged for the third period reinvigorated, leading them to claw back into the contest with Lincoln Moore and Ryan Cornfield scoring to tie the game at three apiece. However, with three-and-a-half minutes left in regulation, a tight-angle shot by Gillen found a way past Armellin, a goal that held up as the eventual game-winner with the Lincs unable to find another equalizer.

Game 3 of the series took place after the Independent’s press time on April 22. Game 4 of the series is on April 24 in Chatham before the two teams return to St. Marys on April 25 for Game 5. If necessary, Game 6 will take place April 27 before Game 7 would be on April 29.

Kyle Morey tucks the puck by Chatham Maroons’ goaltender Gannon Hunter in the St. Marys Lincolns’ 4-0 win over the Maroons in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

(TURNER ROTH PHOTO)

Stockcar racing a family tradition for mother-son Hatch duo

SPENCER SEYMOUR

Independent Sports Reporter

As they gear up for a new racing season, Jennifer and Zach Hatch are grateful for the support they have received from local sponsors, without which they could never afford to pursue their racing passions.

“Without them, we don’t race,” Jennifer Hatch said. “We work regular jobs and we don’t have massive bags of money sitting around. Without that sponsorship, you don’t go to the track, especially when you’re running two cars. We truly can’t say enough about what their support means to us. We couldn’t be any luckier when it comes to our supporters. We truly are very blessed.”

The generous list of sponsors who have supported the mother-and-son duo features several St. Marys businesses including St. Marys Ford, Robson Scrap Metal, Sunset Diner and Red Rock Construction. The car driven by Zach Hatch is owned locally by Kent Robson of Robson Scrap Metal.

Kipp Edwards, owner of St. Marys Ford, is always supportive of the ideas brought by Jennifer Hatch, one of his service advisors at St. Marys Ford, including, most recently, displaying Zach Hatch’s #71 car in front of her desk at the local dealership.

Other sponsors to support the Hatches include PC275 Realty, Finch Construction, Coursey Line Electric, RPM Design, ZH Contracting, Jays Detail Shop, Batten Built Construction, EPIC Racewear, CM Welding and CFFH.

The story of the stock-racing tandem began in Jennifer Hatch’s youth. She described how her passion was jumpstarted very early in her life.

“My dad raced what were then called hobby cars, and were later renamed to Canadian vintage modifieds, so I grew up at the racetrack. I would later run a Canadian vintage modified with my dad on my pit crew, so that was very

cooI. I went to Flamboro Speedway for the first time when I was four months old. It just got bred into me a little bit, being there from an early age. I’ve described it as a bug you catch and never get rid of.”

Jennifer Hatch’s dad, John Jarvis, turned 80 years old this year and is still racing a drag car full-time.

“I had a boyfriend in high school who built a car for himself, and we went to the Varney Motor Speedway, and he got out there and was taken aback by the speed and wasn’t sure if he was going to like it,” said Jennifer Hatch. “I just said, ‘Give me the fire suit.’ I ended up winning a few races that year and I’ve just kept going ever since.”

Jennifer Hatch began racing in 1993 and is entering her 33rd year competing in the sport. Not only has she raced in virtually every class there is, but her

are more critical than one might initially think.

“Something that gets overlooked is how much time people spend on their cars away from the racetrack,” said Zach Hatch. “It’s not like you can just show up and win. It takes hours and hours of prep time, checking all your measurements, doing a setup and making sure the car is going to work well when you get there. I feel like I’ve learned so much over the past two years in terms of what you need to look for and how to be prepared to have success.”

In his two years racing in the Legends’ Series, Zach Hatch first finished sixth in points in 2023 before climbing to a third-place finish in 2024, narrowly missing second due to being unable to compete in the final race of the year. Zach Hatch first began racing in 2021 in the Bone Stocks Series before moving to the Legends’ Series.

In his eyes, his belief in his own racing skills has been where he’s grown the most over his first few racing seasons.

journey through the region’s stockcar racing scene has seen her go from driver to announcer to race director for the Great Lakes Legends’ Series. The announcement of her appointment came on International Women’s Day 2024 at the largest indoor car show, Motorama, making it a pretty special weekend.

As she progressed through her multi-decade journey through stockcar racing, she had three children, all of whom had a knack for athletics. The youngest of her kids was Zach Hatch who, after a junior-hockey career that included a stop with the 2023 Cherrey Cup-winning Stratford Warriors of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, found himself entering the very same sport his mother had spent so many years enjoying and succeeding in, creating a special bond between the two. The mother-and-son combo is very unique. Not many moms are out there competing with their sons.

Zach Hatch explained how he has taken to the sport of stockcar racing.

“If I could, I’d do that as a job,” Zach Hatch said. “There isn’t a whole lot of money in it, but it’s a hobby that we really enjoy and that’s why my mom has stayed in it as long as she has. It’s a huge community that you get to be part of, as well. Everyone is there to lend a hand. If something goes wrong, competitors and people from other series are right there to lend a hand or tools and just do whatever it takes to get you back on the track. That’s probably the coolest part.”

The 23-year-old’s love for the sport propelled Zach Hatch, a welder by trade, to spend 13 days building a car from scratch, the very car that he will be racing this coming season, also on display currently at St. Marys Ford. According to Zach Hatch, the hours required in one’s garage and workspaces

“I think confidence is the biggest thing. When you’re racing, you see the guys who have done it for years, and they just know what their car is going to do, and they do it, and they’ve been in every situation. I feel like the more you do it, the more situations you get to be in, the better you get. I feel like when I started, I was always so timid because, as much as every corner is the same, every corner is so different and you get put in a different position every time, depending on where the other cars are.

“Sometimes things go hairy and you don’t really know what to do,” Zach Hatch added. “But after things go hairy four, five, or six times, you go, ‘Okay, it’s not that bad. This is what you do to get out of that.’ You build up confidence going through that enough times.”

Jennifer Hatch said her son has successfully transferred elements from his hockey mindset into how he races, which has allowed him to find early success in his racing tenure.

“There are a lot of drivers who drive by the seat of their pants,” said Jennifer Hatch. “They make things happen because they take a lot of chances, but sometimes you watch them and go, ‘How did you think that was going to work out?’ However, Zach is very much a hockey mentality in that he takes things lap-by-lap. For him, every lap is consistent and very similar, and he’s focused on the long game. He is very meticulous and very structured, and it has proven very successful for him.”

Zach Hatch’s racing schedule will take him throughout Ontario, including races at the Grand Bend, Sauble, Flamboro, Buxton, Sunset and Full Throttle speedways. Meanwhile, Jennifer Hatch will be unveiling her car’s new paint scheme later this year and will be racing at Delaware Speedway this coming season.

Pictured are Jennifer and Zach Hatch standing beside Zach Hatch’s Legends’ Series stock race car displayed at St. Marys Ford.

(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)

Natalie Hibbert gets to the front of the net for a backhand shot during one of the FUN3 St. Marys Snipers games earlier this season.

Mikayla Ford launches the ring over the opposition’s blueline during one of the U14 St. Marys Snipers (Habermehl) games earlier this season.

Caleb McGill-Liao goes to a knee to rip a shot on goal during one of the Radar Auto Parts U9 LL Boys Blue St. Marys Rock game earlier this season.

Logan Parsons flies through the offensive zone with the puck during one of the A.N.A.F. U15 A Boys St. Marys Rock games earlier this season.

Cassie Adams rockets a shot from the point during one of the Bickell Built Homes U13 C Girls St. Marys Rock games earlier this season.

PHOTOS)

PPA celebrates 50th anniversary in Montreal

Andrew L. Hodges

HOURS

Pictured from left are Glenn Coghlin, Paul Marcaccio, Steve Graham, Bob Davis, Lou Pagotto, Warren Wilson, Rob Staffen, Jeff Craigmile, Wally Carter, Kevin Ellis, Scott Furtney, Tom Robson, and Doug Newton. Not pictured was Richard Kennedy. In addition to going to the Canadiens game, the group also participated in a walking tour of Montreal.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Pictured from left to right are Doug Newton and Bob Davis. The two were part of the Playoff Payoff Association (PPA) contingent who attended the Montreal Canadiens game against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 19 at the home of the Canadiens, the Bell Centre. Davis, the 2023 PPA fantasy league’s winner, presented the championship trophy to Newton, the 2024 winner.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Authorized by the Official Agent for Lianne Rood

Hopping down the bunny trail

9 to 11 a.m.

but

accepting

The St. Marys Kinette Club held their annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 19 from

at Lions Park, Milt Dunnell Field. Approximately 200 children had fun hunting for Easter eggs, getting their picture taken with the Easter Bunny and putting their ticket in for a draw on a lovely, big Easter basket. Admission was free

they were

donations and non-perishable food items. Thanks to Wanda Mossey and Julie Shackleton who were two of the organizers for the event. Above left, brothers Jace and Cole Rae enjoyed getting their picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Above middle, the Easter bunny had his picture taken with many little ones. Above right, the Kinette Club of St. Marys collected many non-perishable items that would be donated to the Salvation Army.

(NANCY BICKELL PHOTOS)

Thorndale News

Thorndale Lions Club Presents

Lions Spring Community Breakfast

Sunday, April 27th - 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Thorndale Lions Community Centre

Adult $15, kids 6-10 $5, kids 5 and under Free

Thorndale Optimist Club hosts Easter Egg Hunt

On the morning of April 19, the grounds beside the Thorndale Lions Community Centre were littered with brightly coloured eggs.

Once Thorndale Optimist member Patti Kemp announced it was time to go, the excited children with their baskets darted off to gather the coloured eggs. With their baskets full, the children headed into the community centre to trade the plastic eggs for a treat bag of yummy chocolate.

The fun for the children didn’t end there as the Thorndale Optimists had different activities ready. Dominica Lima, a young face-painter from Thorndale, was there to delight the children with her artistic talent.

Angels Childcare of Thorndale had a

large table of craft supplies for children and, if anyone was hungry, the Thorndale Optimists had a food booth with free coffee and tea, and breakfast sandwiches to purchase.

“The community Easter egg hunt is one of our club’s favourite events to put on,” said Thorndale Optimist member Melanie Sorensen. “It’s always so much fun to see all the little ones squealing with delight when they see all the colourful eggs out in the field and then pick up their chocolate surprise.

“Of course, we couldn’t put this event on without outside help and we really want to thank the mighty forces of the local volunteers that came out and that of the employees at Old Navy Hyde Park, the registration and donation from I love Thorndale and our local Angels Childcare for providing the craft kits.

“It was a fun-filled morning for all!”

Making Thorndale a little cleaner

Coppins, to pick up garbage in the Wye Creek Pond area and along King Street in Thorndale.

It only takes a few people concerned about our environment to make a difference.

Recently, a small group gathered, spearheaded by Thorndale resident Stewart

“This is the second year for an organized cleanup in Thorndale,” said Coppins, “but I have been involved in green initiatives both at work and during my studies at Western. I am motivated to do

this because we need to take care of our environment and community.

“We picked up 12 bags of garbage in Thorndale in just a couple of hours. All of this garbage and trash can negatively impact our water, the animals around us and eventually our food systems.”

NANCY ABRA

Recently, the Thorndale Lions Club hosted the Lions District A-1 Effective Speaking Competition for area youth.

There were 17 contestants – seven intermediate, eight junior English and two junior French – from Middlesex, Elgin, Lambton and Essex Counties. Along with these participants, there were approximately 100 parents, grandparents and Lions members who attended to support these youth contenders.

The winners of this Effective Speaking Competition received a certificate and a medal for first, second and third along with a monetary prize. Madi Dopp of Thorndale received third place in the intermediate class and Rosie Parsons of Thorndale received third place in junior class.

April 22 is the 55th anniversary of Earth

Thorndale Lions host district Effective Speaking Competition for youth

Day. It initially began in 1970 to raise public awareness and support for environmental protection and to inspire action to address environmental challenges. It only takes a few concerned residents to care for and make a difference in our community as they do their part to make Thorndale a little environmentally cleaner.

NANCY ABRA

Independent Reporter

NANCY ABRA

Independent Reporter

Independent Reporter

Thorndale Optimist Club member Patti Kemp briefs the children gathered at the Thorndale Optimist Easter Egg Hunt on where to hunt for the colourful, plastic eggs they needed to exchange for chocolate treat bags at the Thorndale Lions Community Centre April 19.

(NANCY ABRA PHOTO)

COLUMNS

UKRAINIAN CORNER: Mastering Canadian small talk

ALONA

VASYLIEVA

Independent Columnist

Since not many people follow me on social media, I decided to do it the old-fashioned way and document my notes about being an immigrant in Canada in the Independent.

And I’m truly delighted to have this chance to share some thoughts here.

Like many Ukrainian families who’ve found a welcoming, new home here in beautiful St. Marys, my family and I are currently navigating the rather twisty path towards permanent residency. We’ve sent our applications off into the great bureaucratic unknown and are keeping absolutely everything crossed for a positive outcome.

Honestly, it feels like we’re all juggling quite a bit these days!

You know those moments? Maybe you find yourself smiling and nodding during a colleague’s joke, desperately trying to catch the punchline that seemed to fly right over your head. Or perhaps you fumble for the “right” words during a cheerful morning greeting from a neighbour, wanting so badly to connect but feeling like you’ve missed a step in the conversational dance. It can definitely lead to feeling a bit self-conscious, maybe even a touch embarrassed, wondering if you accidentally said something utterly bizarre.

I know we’re not alone in this feeling. From chatting with other Ukrainian families here in St. Marys, it sounds like nearly everyone has submitted their PR applications. We’re currently residing

in the land of Limbo. With average processing times now stretching beyond the two-year mark, patience is definitely a virtue we’re all trying to cultivate, perhaps with varying degrees of success.

But hey, even with this underlying hum of uncertainty, life carries on. And amidst the paperwork and the worry, I’ve decided it’s the perfect time to dive deeper into understanding this fascinat-

Straight from the Shelves

St. Marys Public Library

Arising from the game of whist in the 19th century, bridge is a trick-taking game of strategy, communication, and perseverance. While this card game has adapted and changed over the years, it has remained beloved the world over. Learn how to play this classic game at “Learn to Play Bridge”, a weekly program run by experienced volunteer instructors. The first meeting is Monday, May 5 from 1-3 p.m. Register here for this free program: www.townofstmarys. com/library/bridge/ This Week’s Recommendation

In “Being a Beast: Adventures Across the Species Divide”, author and qualified veterinarian Charles Foster seeks to bridge the gap between human and non-human animals. He does so by detailing his experiences of eating worms amongst badgers, catching fish with his teeth as otters do, digging through trash like resourceful urban foxes, being

hunted by bloodhounds as if he were a red deer, and following the migratory patterns of swifts. By living like these different animals, Charles sheds light on how to view the world through their eyes. “Being a Beast” is available in hard copy and as an eAudiobook.

Up This Week

Fri., Apr. 25: Fun with Watercolour at the Library (1-3 p.m.)

Sat., Apr. 26: Open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mon., Apr. 28: Euchre Mondays (10:30 a.m.), Trivia Night at Gilly’s Pub*~ (7 p.m.)

Tues., Apr. 29: Tuesday Book Club* (11 a.m.)

Wed., Apr. 30: EarlyON Play and Read (9:30-10:30 a.m.), Mahjong! (1-4 p.m.), Scrabble (6-8 p.m.)

Thurs., May 1: Open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

*Registration Required/Reservation Recommended

~Held at Gilly’s Pubhouse (17 Water St. S, St. Marys)

ing country, Canada, and the wonderful people who make it tick – Canadians! So, where to start? Let’s talk about something seemingly simple but surprisingly complex for newcomers: the fine art of Canadian small talk.

Oh, the small talk. It’s everywhere, isn’t it? At the grocery checkout, waiting in line for coffee, passing someone on the street. It’s the social glue, the friend -

ly acknowledgement, the “how-do-youdo” of daily life here. But for someone new, it can feel like trying to solve a delightful little puzzle.

What exactly do you say back when someone chirps, “How’s it going?” Is it a genuine inquiry requiring a detailed report on your morning, or is it more of a rhetorical hello? A cheerful “Good, thanks. You?” or “Not too bad!” seems to be the secret handshake.

And the weather! My goodness, Canadians have a wonderful dedication to discussing the weather. Rain, sun, snow, clouds, the possibility of future weather – it’s a national bonding topic. It’s actually quite brilliant – a safe, neutral territory to connect for a moment. Though, figuring out the appropriate level of enthusiasm or complaint for the day’s forecast is another skill I’m adding to my Canadian toolkit.

If you’re ever stuck for something to say, mentioning the weather is almost always a guaranteed Canadian conversation starter. “Bit chilly today, eh?” or “Finally feels like spring!” are classic winners. I am assuming it is a universal Canadian password.

It’s all part of the adventure, isn’t it? Learning the language, the customs, the unspoken rules and, yes, even mastering the gentle dance of small talk. So, if you see one of us looking slightly bewildered during a quick chat, please bear with us! We’re learning, we’re observing and we genuinely appreciate the warmth behind those everyday interactions, even if our replies are still under construction.

Ask the Arborist

By Joel Hackett | 519 272 5742 | jtsquote@gmail.com

Dear Arborist,

I have a large hardwood tree and it is mostly hollow. How do I assess if it’s safe?

Thanks, Marg

Dear Marg,

Generally, a hollow is considered a lower risk at 40%, and high risk at 50% or more; 75% to 95% hollow is extremely high risk. When assessing a tree, you look for cracks, dead wood, hollow areas, and evidence of disease. You also would consider the shape of the tree, weight loads,

and risk in the event of failure. For example, a tree beside a house has a much higher liability than a tree in the middle of the forest.

Once you have these details, you can then determine if there is a necessary course of action.

Sincerely,

The Arborist

Joel Hackett is a certified Arborist residing in the St. Marys area. Currently, he spends most of the year running Joel’s Tree Service. For contact call 519 272 5742 or email jtsquote@gmail.com

LAURA MCASH

(PHOTO COURTESY OF ALONA VASYLIEVA)

As a newcomer, mastering the art of Canadian small talk is a process, and I don’t always get it right!

HISTORIC ST. MARYS: 1926 and another election!

MARY SMITH

Independent Columnist

Following the results of the federal election on October 29, 1925, although the Conservatives, under Arthur Meighen, won the most seats, they were still eight seats short of a majority. Mackenzie King, leader of the Liberals, refused to accept the advice of Governor General Lord Byng to step down. King believed, with the help of another small party, the Progressives, he would be able to keep governing. He thus prevented Meighen from becoming prime minister. The minority Liberal government survived several months, limping along with the Progressives’ help. But its Customs Department was discovered to be corrupt, officials sanctioning smuggling of certain products. With a scandal brewing, King knew his government was facing sanction. In June 1926, he visited the Governor General and requested dissolution. Lord Byng did not believe that dissolution was appropriate under these circumstances. He refused King’s request and on June 28, King resigned. Lord Byng then appointed Arthur Meighen as Prime Minister. But without a clear majority, Meighen was set up to fail. He was still trying to organize his cabinet so that the government could pass legislation in the current session when a few days later, with some Progressive supporters, King brought down the Conservative government on a confidence motion. Lord Byng was forced to call a general election, giving King what he had wanted after all. The election was set for September 14, 1926. King campaigned on the issue of Byng’s interference into Canadian affairs, claiming that Meighen had acted unethically, if not illegally, in accepting the appointment of prime minister. Meighen campaigned once again on protective tariffs, and on the advantages of an honest Conservative government over the corrupt Liberals.

In the South Perth Riding, the candidates for the main parties were the same two St. Marys men who had contested the 1925 election. Frederick Sanderson campaigned to retain the seat for the Liberals and Robert Graham tried again to win South Perth for Meighen’s Conservatives. When the results of the election in 1925 had been tallied, Sanderson had been conciliatory in his victory speech, promising to “serve all the people faithfully, regardless of politics.” Graham had been gracious in defeat, thanking the electors of South Perth for the kind and courteous reception he had received “throughout the whole riding during the campaign just closed.” The second time around was not as friendly. As the two candidates and their supporters campaigned, there was a definite edge to their rhetoric. The Conservatives were understandably angry that

Mackenzie King had brought down their favourite St. Marys “old boy,” Prime Minister Arthur Meighen, in what they considered a treacherous fashion. They had no hesitation in attacking King, his policies and his tactics. Sanderson, as the Liberal candidate, found himself on the defensive. But he could, as the sitting member, show a record of serving his constituency well. Tall, slim, with a military bearing, he had made a good impression in his short time in Ottawa. He had worked on various parliamentary committees and had been appointed one of the party whips. His campaign emphasized the Liberal government’s accomplishments and stated that the scandals were behind them.

Sanderson pointed out that the Liberals had lowered the tariffs on some products imported from the United States, making big items like automobiles less expensive. They had introduced Old Age Pension legislation, which had not been supported by the Conservatives. This legislation had not passed before the session ended. (The first national Old Age Pension was finally passed in 1927 although only those at the lowest income level were eligible and they had to pass a means test.) Sanderson emphasized his personal support for the farmers of the riding. His campaign material stated that: “He never forgot, in the last Parliament, that Agriculture is the basic industry in South Perth. If elected again, he will always remember that and support any legislation that benefits the farmer.”

Throughout his campaign, Robert Graham was on the attack. He joined forces with the Conservative candidates

in North Oxford and East Middlesex to purchase newspaper space to explain why they felt King had to be defeated. They asked these questions: Had King not acted unconstitutionally when he refused the Governor General’s request to step down as prime minister after the 1925 election? Had King tried to sweep the Customs scandal under the carpet? Why had Sanderson consistently voted to support King’s corrupt government? Weren’t King’s alleged tax cuts insignificant and outweighed by other taxes his government had imposed “on the over-burdened taxpayer?” These articles were titled: “Vote for Conservative Candidates in Every Riding!” A specific St. Marys concern was a lower tariff on cream separators. That meant increased American competition for a prominent local business, the C. Richardson Company, that made these machines for Canadian dairy farmers. C. E. Richardson, the company president, was an ardent Conservative supporter and strongly endorsed Graham.

Sanderson denied these allegations. For example, he believed that Richardson’s business was thriving. In fact, the employees in all local industries frequently worked overtime. In an open letter in the Journal Argus, he challenged Graham to a public debate in St. Marys or Mitchell. Graham could speak first, asking his challenging questions. Sanderson would then respond. Graham refused the invitation and gave his reasons in his own letter in the next issue of the Journal Argus: “The questions are so important that I think that all the electors of South Perth should know what your answers are. The answers, if given

in a public hall, either in St. Marys or Mitchell, would reach but a very few of the electors of this riding. I think that in justice to all the electors, I must ask you to give your answers in the public press.” Sanderson pondered in his subsequent advertisement why Graham would not meet him face to face on a public platform. Graham’s final charge was that Sanderson, by making an issue of this so-called debate, was trying to divert attention away from the real issue of this election.

Robert Graham’s arguments may have been strong but, on election day, Monday, September 14, they failed to convince the majority of South Perth voters. Again, although Graham won both St. Marys and Blanshard, the other rural townships favoured Sanderson and his support for area agriculture. He retained his seat with an increased majority of votes. The Journal Argus “bulletined the results as usual to great crowds that filled the streets until a late hour. Dominion results were received by radio, wire and phone.” These results showed that Mackenzie King’s strategy had paid off. The Liberals won 116 seats, while the Conservatives won only 91. Arthur Meighen lost his seat and resigned as leader.

Robert Graham continued to play a role in St. Marys as a respected businessman and civic leader. He never married or had children of his own, but he did leave a legacy. A few years after the 1926 election, he and his brother, J. W. Graham, started a service station beside the Thames River, just west of the Queen Street bridge. Now GraHam Fuel, it has prospered for almost a century. Robert Graham died in 1949, aged 82. His obituary described his wide range of experience and his life of public service. “Down through the years, R. S. Graham, though a quiet man, was vitally interested in the furtherance of community affairs and in politics.”

Frederick G. Sanderson continued to serve South Perth for the Liberals, winning three more federal elections. Even in 1930 when his leader, Mackenzie King, was defeated by Conservative R. B. Bennett, Sanderson was still re-elected. He retired in 1945 at the age of 75, having been a member of parliament for 20 years. Retired members in the 1940s did not receive the generous pensions they do today, and the Sandersons struggled to make ends meet. Frederick suffered from ill health and finally, as a veteran, was admitted to Westminster Military Hospital in London where he died at the age of 84. His obituary in the Journal Argus stated: “In St. Marys and district, the name of F. G. Sanderson was known far outside the ranks of his own party, and in all of his campaigns he gained many Conservative votes because of the manner in which he served for the benefit of all people of Canada.”

(PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ST. MARYS MUSEUM’S DIGITAL COLLECTION)

F. G. Sanderson, in his uniform, as an officer in the First World War. This St. Marys resident served as Liberal Member of Parliament for Perth from 1925 to 1945.

OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO:

The Cabot Trail - an iconic Canadian destination

We have all seen the reports: Canadian travel to the United States is down, way down. Canadians are choosing to go elsewhere in the world just now, or to stay home.

Well, if you are in the latter category, staying home can open an unending cornucopia of opportunities. This home of ours is gigantic; our home and native land stretches 5,514 kilometres from Cape Spear, Nfld., to the Yukon-Alaska border, and 4,634 kilomtres from Cape Columbia on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, to Middle Island in Lake Erie, Ont. Our country covers an unimaginable 9,984,670 square kilometres.

So, given all of this, where to go after we’ve decided to stay home? My features over the next few months will include several good suggestions, but let’s begin with one of my favourites, which we explored last summer, The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island.

Let’s admit the obvious, The Cabot Trail is a stunningly beautiful drive. It stretches 298 kilometres – which could be navigated in about four non-stop hours, I suppose, but should not be, at any cost. We

actually stayed four nights on or near The Cabot Trail.

Please take the time to stop, and to stop a lot. Stop at little shops where artisans are working on the spot with their wares on the stores’ shelves. Stop again and again to savour the ocean views. Stop to walk the paths and trails that will carry you through forests to waterfalls and lakes, or along beachfronts. There are walks and hikes for every level of activity, from brief, gentle strolls to steep climbs. Many of them are within the boundaries of the terrific Cape Breton Highlands National Park, yet another of Parks Canada’s gems. By the way, you can tell when you are within the boundaries of the National Park, because the highways are in superb condition. The moment you cross the border, not so much.

Our first port of call on Cape Breton Island was a few minutes from actual access to the Cabot Trail. We stayed at the Glenora Inn and Distillery where they produce truly excellent, single-malt whisky – they can’t call it Scotch because the Scottish distillers are litigiously protective of the name. Those who know me will know why I loved it, but more about this terrific place in a subsequent column.

Staying close to the trail meant we could begin our exploration early the next morning. We decided to travel clockwise, heading north and eventually east from the west coast of the island to the east. En route, we stopped to explore a craft shop and its neighbour, an ice cream parlour, in Cheticamp. We pulled off, often, to simply take in the incredible

ocean views and, of course, capture as many photos as we could.

And we opted to hike two of the dozens of trails in the national park, in both cases avoiding steep climbs, but nonetheless having to keep a watchful eye on the rock-strewn and tree-root-filled paths. It was definitely worth the effort and we recorded 13,400 steps on this first day on the trail.

Our first stop was at MacIntosh Brook, where a woodland trail took us back to a beautiful waterfall. Then, we explored the trail at Warren Lake, also in the national park. That trail circumnavigates the lake; there were signs cautioning hikers about coyotes, but we saw no large animals, only spotting four toads, three snakes, a white-tailed junco and a spotted sandpiper – at least, that’s my best guess as to the identity of those two Nova Scotian birds. It’s a very enjoyable walk.

Our next two nights were spent at the quaint Knotty Pines Cottages near Ingonish. The accommodation was fine, but the view from the deck was amazing! Our first night there was Sunday, so no restaurants open but the Co-op was, and we purchased the raw materials for a wonderful al-fresco dinner on the deck, where we watched the sun set.

And that reminds me, if you have the choice, explore The Cabot Trail on sunny days. That will make all the difference.

During our stay in the Ingonish area, we walked the beautiful beach; there are several great beaches along the trail.

Our final night on Cape

Breton was spent in one of the southern-most communities on The Cabot Trail, Baddeck. Baddeck is definitely worth a leisurely visit. I have written previously about the fascinating Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site here, but there is much, much more.

We stayed at the Inverary Resort, a complex of comfortable lodges and cottages that also includes a tiny chapel, dubbed the Conn Smythe Chapel because the curmudgeonly owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs donated the money for its construction. That, too, is another story.

While in Baddeck, we partook in two quintessential

Cape Breton experiences – a delicious lobster supper at Baddeck Lobster Suppers and a traditional Cape Breton concert (with an amazing fiddler, of course) at The Baddeck Gathering Ceilidh.

And all of this just scratches the surface of the experiences awaiting you right here at home – albeit a bit of a distance from your living room – on Cape Breton Island.

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.

Why vote now? The power of one multiplied

LOREENA MCKENNITT

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure it’s not news that the upcoming April 28 Canadian federal election is considered by many to have a once-in-a-generation significance.

As far as I can see, there’s little or no reason for folks not to vote unless they’re deathly ill. Even for those who’ve become increasingly cynical, choosing the best amongst the worst is better than not voting at all.

I guess the way I see it, to vote is to fulfill one of the obvi-

ous and not too onerous duties each of us has to help steer our country along.

My own litmus test is to imagine myself in the company of any of those who fought in the Second World War and explain to them why I’m not participating in the democracy they fought to defend. I try to envision their reaction.

Sometimes my family and I volunteer at the Canadian Legion in Stratford. Every time we’re there I’m reminded of the incredible sacrifices made by so many in order to give future generations the liberty of choosing how their country is

run. They passed that torch to us. We must not let them down. Democracies do not thrive as a spectator sport.

As the storms of authoritarianism blow more frequently and closer to home, we can remind ourselves that in addition to having the choice of whether or not to vote, we have the choice of who to vote for. This is not the case in other parts of the world, such as Russia. They dispatch the competition.

So, what can we do?

Given the threat to our nation, sober thought must be given to the options of who might best protect our democracy and sov-

ereignty – even if you’ve never voted for them before, or might never vote for them again.

Study up on the subjects and policies using reliable, regulated and accountable sources such as the CBC, our public broadcaster. Abandon the U.S.owned tech companies and their social media sites which are being weaponised against us by bad actors, foreign and otherwise.

Please keep in your hearts other subjects which we know to be true and for which future generations will bear the consequences, such as climate change and environmental issues.

Get out and vote. Vote early. Help and encourage your neighbours and family to vote, offer to drive them and grab an ice cream cone on the way home to congratulate yourselves. Reach out to any young people who might be voting for the first time. Get them excited about exercising this incredible privilege and learning how their country is run.

Please don’t sit this one out –or any election for that matter. Each and every vote counts. The power of one multiplied can have a profound impact. It can mean a life of liberty – or not.

PAUL KNOWLES Independent Columnist

One of hundreds of gorgeous views along The Cabot Trail.

(PHOTO BY PAUL KNOWLES)

Guest Columnist

FROM THE GARDEN: Gardening for the planet

Many of us garden for our own satisfaction – flowers to beautify our landscape, veggies and herbs to eat or perhaps, to have a personal connection to nature. But our gardens and what we grow are also important for our planet.

Recently, I attended a webinar on ‘Gardening for the Planet’ with speaker, Lorraine Johnson, author of numerous books on gardening, native plants and an environmental activist. She began her presentation with explaining the Canadian project, ‘Climate Legacy’. This undertaking began in 2019 to engage and activate older Canadians through their voice and their skills in climate action. Seniors comprise a significant force in combating climate change and are often overlooked in current mobilizing efforts. (www.climatelegacy.ca)

But it doesn’t take being an environmental activist to be on the front lines in climate change action. Johnson explained as gardeners, we can plant the seeds of opportunity to nurture, nourish the earth and support

biodiversity. “We need stewards of the land, nurturers and people who care” Johnson stated. “We need gardeners more than ever” she added. “We can change the world by planting more trees, native plants for biodiversity and plants to support our valuable pollinators”, she explained. “Gardeners is a gesture for our future, to express what we want the future to be. It doesn’t take any more extra gardening skills, time or expense to garden for the planet.”

As we anxiously wait for the weather to warm up significantly, it is hard to be patient. We shouldn’t start major clean up in our yards and gardens until the temperatures are consistently above 10C. Our bees and beneficial insects overwinter in dead plant material and need time to emerge as the weather warms.

Bumblebee queens often hibernate underground or in piles of sticks, while solitary bees like ‘mining’ bees and ‘leafcutter’ bees may nest in hollow plant stems or in dead leaf litter during the winter months. Butterflies such as Mourning Cloak hide in leaf litter or under bark during the winter, as too the Eastern Comma Butterfly also overwinters in sheltered areas like leaf litter and piles of sticks.

Planting native plants provide numerous environmental benefits. Besides supporting food and habit for wildlife, some of these plants improve drainage and soil health. Native plants

often require less water and are less susceptible to pests and diseases, reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers which can leach into our waterways. These plants are hardy for our region and more adaptable to changing weather.

We all know the trees are very essential. It has been said the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. Don’t let that statement put you off from planting a tree or perhaps three of them

this spring. Trees make the most of nature’s ability to combat our changing climate. They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it in their biomass. This process helps reduce greenhouse gas concentrations, mitigating the effects of climate warming. Additionally, trees contribute to a more stable climate by influencing the water cycle, reducing erosion, and improving air quality. They

Donald Trump may be making diamonds

Carbon is everywhere: in our thinking, in our environment, in our elections and in our bodies. Most recently, it had been the backbone of difference for

our political parties. It forms a key pollutant attributed to global warming. It is found in nature in several forms, including diamonds, which are a form of carbon that has been exposed to transformative stress and pressure.

Since Donald Trump’s re-election, Canada has become his “little stress ball.” He wants to squeeze Canada economically so that Canada will give up and fall into his hands. For better or worse, God is allowing him to exert tremendous pressure on us. Like ordinary carbon, hopefully Canada will respond by being shaped into

a beautiful diamond, radiant, multifunctional, more valuable and more effective in the world’s future.

Think of the carbon that each of us has under our personal control. Eighteen per cent of the human body is composed of carbon bound together with other elements to make complex human systems. Science-fiction entertainment occasionally refers to humans as “carbon units.” We Canadian carbon units are under pressure from threats, not only from America but also in our daily lives. We experience stress from our employment or lack of it, from

difficult interpersonal relationships, from our health and from our chosen bad habits. How we react to these pressures determines what we will become. Hopefully, we will all end up as diamonds – useful, radiant and able to use that inner light to show others the way. Those who are currently following the Lenten passages in the Bible are learning to become more like Jesus, our wonderful example and guide in the lead-up to Easter. You read and perhaps know that he faced tremendous resistance and pressure in his march to the cross and yet he did not give in. He

also support wildlife and their canopies cool our urban areas. Native trees are the best to plant such as spruce and pine varieties as well as deciduous broadleaf varieties like yellow popular (tulip tree), maples and of course oak trees, the keystone of our ecosystems. So as we plan out our gardens for this year, consider adding plants that will make a difference now and be beneficial for the future.

did not seek power yet humbly submitted to the pressures put on him. Like the finished diamond that he is, we sometimes call him the bright morning star. By yielding ourselves and by sharing in his passion, we too can offer ourselves to our communities as diamonds for use in God’s hands.

I invite your comments at andrewsbruce259@gmail.com

Bruce Andrews is a retired optometrist and member of the Worship and Membership committee of the St. Marys United Church.

NANCY ABRA Independent Columnist

BRUCE ANDREWS Independent Columnist

How many months have 28 days? All of them.

I have many teeth, but I can’t bite. What am I? A comb.

There’s only one word in the dictionary that’s spelled wrong. What is it? The word “wrong”

What has a thumb and four fingers, but is not a hand? A glove.

What kind of band never makes music? A rubber band.

What can fill a room but takes up no space? Light.

What two things can you never eat for breakfast? Lunch and dinner.

What kind of lion never roars? A dandelion.

What has a thousand needles but cannot sew? A porcupine.

How do you catch a school of fish? With a bookworm.

What is a tree’s favorite drink? Root beer.

What is the wealthiest nut? A cash-ew.

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Less bureaucrats and more accountability at town hall

Dear editor,

Perhaps we should change the name and slogan of the Town of St. Marys , “The town worth living in,” to “Trudeauville, where common sense and fiscal responsibility is a scarce commodity, and the building of a bureaucracy is alive and well, and concern for public safety and peace of mind for seniors takes a back seat.”

Imagine St. Marys having a cultural hub (former Mercury Theater) in town?? The town council has already spent $1.5 million to bring this building to a point where it can be ready for whatever future use the council sees fit. Future projected costs could be $3-4 million to bring

this building online. How much was this building purchased for? Did they have it thoroughly inspected and get a cost estimate to get it to its present state. How many quotes were obtained?

You should never buy a building without having a defined plan and cost projection because it’s irresponsible to do so when using taxpayer funds. Would it not be best to have a public vote on all expenses over $100,000 for new projects like this (not for road maintenance etc.)? I was once told by a councillor that we didn’t need these votes as that is why they were elected. But these types of irresponsible decisions can have longterm consequences for taxpayers (i.e. the

aquatic center) long after the councillors are no longer in office. They screw up and the rest of us pay!

People coming in to visit this proposed cultural hub may notice the advanced deteriorating condition of three of the five caps on the bases of the St. Marys signs at the town entrances. This damage resulted from poor construction processes and perhaps improper materials. They did however spend $161,000 on new signs that were placed all over town, and that were not really needed as they added no value to the town. If anyone thinks, including members of council, this is not a significant amount of wasted money, perhaps they should get

their chequebook out to pay for it next time. They also created a huge environmental footprint manufacturing and installing these signs.

The council is spending money we don’t have and causing damage that cant be reversed. To quote the Lorax, “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”

The whole business is bureaucracy at its finest (or worst) depending on if taxpayers like paying more taxes.

In conclusion, I feel we need less bureaucrats and more accountability!

Less people doing more!

Regards,

Dave Winchester, St. Marys

I was very saddened to read the story of a mother and the anguish she experienced as her young child suffered with measles. This is definitely a situation that did not need to occur if only people would understand the true value of vaccinations, respect the scientific evidence that verifies this value and not be influenced by inaccurate information. Unfortunately, we live in an age with social media that breeds misinformation fuelled by individuals who cherish their opinions over searching the facts, and are passionate to share their mistruths with a readership on these various social-media platforms that also do not wish to seek the truth. This unfortunate

story arises from this kind of scenario; individuals who continually spew lies that vaccinations cause more harm than good. This is then believed by people who do not want to seek the truth and who effectively deny the science evidence that vaccines are safe and highly effective to reduce infection in individuals and subsequently in community.

We know in evidence that measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998 following the widespread use of the measles vaccine. One of the primary reasons for the resurgence of measles cases today is a result of people refusing to vaccinate against measles. The impact of the measles virus circulating in

community, which is highly contagious, puts individuals who are under-vaccinated – in the case of this one-year-old child – unvaccinated, and those who have no immunity to measles at risk for contracting this illness, which can have some terrible consequences.

For the people who choose willingly to not vaccinate, putting other vulnerable individuals like this child at risk, they should consider that if they don’t embrace the strong research that goes into the development of vaccines to make them safe, then they should also refuse the next antibiotic they may need to treat their urinary tract infection or bacterial pneumonia they contract. This

is because how these medications were derived comes from years of scientific research rooted in our highly acclaimed universities and the passionate researchers behind them who work to seek the truth to create medicines that are safe and effective.

My analogies can continue as people who deny vaccines should also question their food safety or drinking bottled water or drinking water coming from their tap since it is science, too, both providing verifiable evidence to their respective safety.

Teresa Barresi, St. Marys

After reading the feature in last week’s newspaper where the Ontario government is extending greater power to the mayors of the towns/cities across this province, we all need to be greatly concerned about this move as the impact it will have affects us now and for generations to come. The proposal will effectively promote deregulation in the overall system, especially in the area of land purchase, land development, environmental controls – the list goes on! Is anyone surprised! This has been the

agenda of the Ford government in their first term with the push to have Doug Ford’s developer friends open up the Green Belt by simply obliterating the rules of protected lands and effectively undermining the wishes of our Indigenous peoples. Now, as he moves into this second term, passing this power to mayors/municipalities, Ford doesn’t have to take responsibility as there is a greater ease to commence with development projects all across the province, something this Ontario government has been

pushing for a very long time at all costs. Providing this power to mayors will exacerbate the climate crisis we are already in, as there will be less oversight on environmental regulation and promotion to develop at all costs. Towns/cities will sprawl, taking up precious farmland. With this new regulation, there will be greater ease for foreign ownership with very little rule and regulation, opening up areas for highway development into protected lands. Citizens in communities will have little or no say

to how their hometowns/cities are being developed.

The list will go on if we don’t take action to control this regulation and vocalize our concerns. Unfortunately, this ruling is a move in the wrong direction for the climate crisis we are in, and overall, our mental health as we all need beautiful, green spaces to nurture and grow.

Teresa Barresi, St. Marys

OBITUARY

Fluttert

Gary Henry Fluttert of Thorndale passed away surrounded by his family at University Hospital on Friday April 11, 2025.

He is survived by his wife Denise (Mahaffy) Fluttert and his four children Emily (Rutger), Mariel (Bryn), John (Isabelle), and Ben (Lina). Gary was excited when he became a grandfather enjoying his time with Beau and Nora. Gary is also survived by his parents, Johanna and Antonius Fluttert and brothers Henry (Tammy), Louie (Sandra), Willy (Pam), and Tony (Teri). He will be remembered by Denise’s family Rea and Rebecca Mahaffy, Ellen (Greg), and Rachel (Darryl), along with many nieces and nephews and extended family in British Columbia, The Netherlands, and Australia.

Born on April 3, 1964, Gary grew up on a farm just north of St. Marys. Gary purchased his first farm in 1985 near Fullarton shortly after graduating from Centralia College. In 1991, he and Denise bought their present home farm south of Thorndale where they have lived since their marriage on June 8, 1991. Here they raised their family and grew their farming operation. Gary continuously strove to improve his farming practices working alongside Denise and his children always maintaining very high expectations of himself. He enjoyed talking with friends and neighbours, attending his children’s events, and was well known for his healthy appetite and dedication to picking stones. He never hesitated to help anyone in need and was always available to offer support and advice to his family as they began to build their own lives.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the many dedicated staff and physicians at University Hospital who were involved in Gary’s care. A private family mass and burial will be held. In addition, a public celebration of life will take place at the Thorndale Community Centre (265 Upper Queen Street Thorndale) on May 3, 2025, from 1-4 P.M. and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Operation Walk Canada-London (Ecuador Mission) and 4-H Ontario. Online tributes at www.hodgesfuneralhome.ca.

OBITUARY McKay

William F. McKay

June 16, 1933 – April 16, 2025

OBITUARY Clifford

Lawrence Daniel Joseph Clifford, age 70, of Stratford passed away peacefully, this past Friday, November 29, 2024.

Born in St. Marys, son of the late Jack and Jesse (Bruder) Clifford. Beloved husband for 37 years of Judith (Whitham). Loving father of Robert Clifford and Jason Clifford (Krista). Grandfather of Brianna and Avery. Brother of Thomas (Heather), Gerald, John (Kim), Marie Goring (Tom), Patrica Cowsert, Rita Hoogenes, Theresa Noble (Doug) and Jean Clifford (Ira). Also survived by sister-in-law Elizabeth Clifford, brother-in-law Lyle Whitham (Leanna) and several well-loved nieces and nephews. Predeceased by brothers Robert and Joseph Clifford, sister-in-law Kathleen Poole (Derek) and nephew Dirk Poole.

Larry graduated from the Sault Ste. Marie College in Forestry and worked at TB Woods for many years. In retirement he enjoyed volunteering with the Spruce Lodge Swim Program. He had attended many churches over the years strengthening his faith with Avondale United Church being his final church home. Larry enjoyed driving for St. John’s Preschool and the local Cancer Association. An avid hunter, he enjoyed the hunts with family and eating the roasts and sausage from their success.

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of William Franklin McKay in his 92nd year. A man who brightened the lives of many. Beloved husband of Donna (Lewis) McKay with whom he shared 70 years of marriage. Together they raised five children: Margaret Hopkins (Russell), Pat Muir (Jim), Roger McKay, Lewis “Sandy” McKay (Anita) and Jody Spriel (Roger). He was predeceased by his parents Bruce and Margaret (Armstrong) McKay and his sister Anne Crawford (2024) also by his grandson Matthew Joseph Spriel (2001). Loving grandfather of 16 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; always proud of all their accomplishments. Bill worked at Hutton Transport for 36 years. He always enjoyed driving, knew the best routes to go and talking about his travels. We would like to extend our gratitude to the incredible caregivers who helped to provide special care and support to him and his family. Thank you for being by our side with compassion and love. Bill was a long-time member of Lakeside Doric Corinthian Lodge number 569. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brown’s United Church or VON Sakura House in Woodstock, Ont. through the Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home, St. Marys (519-284-2820) or online at www.hodgesfuneralhome.ca. Bill’s absence leaves a hole in our hearts, but his spirit will live on in the stories, laughter and love he leaves behind. Cheers to all!

Cremation has taken place. A public celebration of Larry’s life will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025 in the Reception Centre of the W. G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford from 2 – 4 pm with words of remembrance at 3 pm. A private family interment will take place on Monday in Avondale Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to the Terry Fox Foundation may be made through the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford. 519.271.7411 www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com

Ronald Wilson Craig passed away with family by his side at Jessica’s House, Exeter on April 18, 2025 after a short battle with cancer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years Marlene Craig (nee Annett) and his four children: Gord (Kendra), Karrie (Chop) Ben (Patricia) and Justin (Nikki). Proud Grandpa of Carlene, James, Nova, Colten, Wyatt and Paisley. Dear brother of Linda Dronyk (Bill) and brother-in-law of Linda Forman (Randy), Warren Annett (Terri), Lee Annett (Tracey), Special nephew of Mavis Monteith and remembered by many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents Gordon and Grace Craig, parents- in-law Lloyd and Norma Annett, brother-in-law Valley and nephew Benjamin Dronyk.

Ron worked hard as a truck driver. Hauling livestock, trusses and money for Brinks Canada. Dad loved a good auction. Ron was the proud owner of Nissouri Country Firearms. Ron taught hunting enthusiasts the Hunting and Firearms Education Courses.

An Open House Celebration of Life will be held at the ST. MARYS LEGION, 66 Church St. N. St. Marys, on Monday April 28, 2025 from 1 – 4 pm with Words of Remembrance at 2 pm. The family asks that those in attendance wear Toronto Blue Jays apparel or your favourite Baseball team jersey. A private family interment will take place in St. Marys Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to Jessica’s House Hospice in Exeter would be greatly appreciated. Online tributes at www.hodgesfunerlhome.ca

LOOKING BACK Passing the book

25 years ago (2000)

By Amy Cubberley

Public elementary students in Mitchell pass textbooks from household to household in the evenings so that all students can adequately complete their homework. Textbook shortages as a result of lack of government funding was an issue recently raised by Maggie Laprade, trustee for Perth South at a meeting of the Avon Maitland District School Board.

Another blindside hit has sidelined Ottawa 67s’ forward Mark Bell for the remainer of the OHL playoffs. The 19-year-old St. Paul’s native was injured in the second game of the recent Ottawa-Oshawa series, which the 67s won in five games.

50 years ago (1975)

The brine is being pumped back into the storage tanks these days at the St. Marys Arena as ice is removed from the building for a period of about ten weeks. Summer hockey school begins on June 30 which means ice on the floor again starting June 22. A number of dances plus a bingo are scheduled for the big floor prior to this June date.

A St. Marys truck driver escaped injury when his transport truck was cut in half by a train at a level crossing at Brantford last Thursday. Jack Coddington was driving his Hutton Transport Ltd. truck in the city when he approached a cross which does not have a signal light. The transport was severed just behind the cab by the impact of the train.

75 years ago (1950)

When Donald Somers, owner of a farm near Glengowan, set a match to an old brush pile at the bottom of his orchard Tuesday morning, he little thought he would regret the act before the hour was up. The drying sun and wind of the past few days made a tinder bed of long grass and in a few minutes, despite frantic shoveling and beating by Mr. Somers, the flames were racing towards the farm buildings. Mr. Somers jumped in the family car and drove to neighbouring John Ruthig’s house to call the St. Marys Fire Department. The fire was stopped a few yards from the house.

Council has passed a by-law for Daylight Savings to begin on April 23.

100 years ago (1925)

Mr. William H. Gregory of Queen Street east expired in the arms of his neighbor at his home about 10:30 this morning. Mr. Gregory’s wife died a few weeks ago, but the deceased had been in his usual health until this morning when he complained of a light illness.

Thirty years ago, there was but one motor car in the world. Today it is estimated that there are 19,000,000 passenger cars and 3,000,000 motor trucks.

HELP WANTED CLASSIFIED ADSCLASSIFIED ADS

Wanted

$ Cash Paid $ for your RECORDS and LPs. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Fold, Soundtracks, and more. Selectively buying CDs, Cassettes, Turntables, and Stereo Equipment. For more information: Diamond Dogs Music 114 Ontario St. Stratford/ 226-972-5750

Wanted

A working camcorder that will play Hi-8 digital tapes. Phone 519-284-3774

Wanted to buy

All collectibles including sports cards, beanie babies, Funko pops and stamps. Highest prices paid. Free appraisals.Are you downsizing or need an estate clean out? We can help. Call or text Stan anytime 519-868-3814.

Wanted

I will pay cash for antiques and collectibles. Coca Cola, Pepsi or any pop company. Brewery items - Kuntz, Huether Labatts, etc.

Old radios and gramophones, wristwatches, pocket watches, old fruit jars - Beaver Star, Bee Hive etc. Any old oil cans and signs - Red Indian, Supertest etc. Any small furniture. If you are moving or cleaning out stuff please contact me - 519-570-6920.

For Sale

Hundreds of shade trees, fruit trees, apples, pears, peaches, plums, sweet and sour cherries, apricots, nectarines, blueberries, haskapp grapes, raspberries, elderberries etc. Lots of spruce, pine, cedars for windbreak and privacy hedges. Sizes 1-8 ft. in containers ready to go. Flowering shrubs and much more. Mon-Sat 7:00am to 6:00pm. Martin’s Nursery, 42661 Orangehill Rd Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0 (1 Conc. North of Wroexter on Belmore Line)

Local Lawn Cutting

Prefer larger lawns. Insured, reliable service, fair prices. Call 519-933-8636

For Rent

Large 3 bedroom downtown apartment in 3 story walk up above Gilly’s, includes all utilities, wifi, laundry, parking. References required. Available April. Please call 519-697-4985

For Rent

Wildwood Care Centre (Retirement Living). Private room accommodations for Senior living available, can accommodate couples. Price $2800 to $4600 monthly. Meals, basic care, medication management and staff available 24/7. For tours call Lisa at 519-284-3628.

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 $5,900 for quick sale. Please leave message 519-453-4917.

For Rent

2 bedroom, one bathroom upper unit of house available May 1st. Laundry and parking on site. $1950 per month + hydro and water. Contact amberleypd@yahoo.ca for application and viewing

Wanted

A copy of Onion Skins And Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes. Price TBD. Phone Henery at 226 301 4425 (landline).

THE WEEK AHEAD

PRC & Friendship Centre events – See the Stonetown Crier on Page 5

St. Marys Public Library events – See Page 22 Friday, April 25

- Royal Canadian Legion “hot dogs and more” lunch at Noon

- A.N.A.F. meat draw – 6 p.m.

- St. Marys Lincolns vs Chatham Maroons at the PRC – 7:30 p.m.

- SMCP opening night “Over the River and Through the Woods” at Town Hall theatre – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 26

- Moving/garage sale at 401 Elizabeth St – 8 a.m. to ?, Rain or shine

- STSTT Spring Boutique Market at Thorndale Community Centre – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SUDOKU ANSWERS

- Station Galley exhibit “Hidden in Plain View”, Meet the Artists event at the Gallery – 1-4 p.m.

- SMCP presents “Over the River and Through the Woods” at Town Hall theatre – 2 p.m.

- Royal Canadian Legion meat draw – 5 p.m.

- Thames River Paddling Club fish-and-chips fundraiser at Joe’s Diner – 5 or 6:30 p.m., Takeout 5-7 p.m.

- St. Marys Legion annual steak BBQ – Takeout pickups 6 p.m., Dinner starts 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 27

- Thorndale Lions Club Spring Community Breakfast at Thorndale Lions Community Centre – 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

- SMCP presents “Over the River and Through the Woods” at Town Hall theatre – 2 p.m.

- St. Marys Lincolns vs Chatham Maroons at Chatham Memorial Arena – 7 p.m.

Monday, April 28

- Federal election – Polls open 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 29

- Royal Canadian Legion Buddy Check coffee at the Legion – 10 am to Noon

QUIZ ANSWERS

- St. Marys Lincolns vs Chatham Maroons at the PRC – 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 30

- Nature school for ages 18 months to 6 years at Wildwood Conservation Area – 9:30-11 a.m.