The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) marked the completion of its Patient Room Rebuild Project at St. Marys Memorial Hospital with a grand-opening celebration on June 11.
The newly constructed wing is set to reopen this week, welcoming patients to the upgraded space.
Among those in attendance were St. Marys Mayor Al Strathdee, Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae, HPHA staff, donors and members of the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation. Strathdee addressed the crowd, congratulating all involved.
“We know how important the hospital is in our community and we’re very grateful to all the donors and the staff who work here to make this project a reality,” he said.
The multi-year project has transformed patient-care areas with a strong focus on accessibility, infection control, safety and overall patient experience.
Upgrades include barrier-free washrooms, wider doorways, improved lighting with patient-controlled options and enhanced heating and cooling systems.
Rae emphasized the importance of creating adaptable spaces to meet future health-care needs.
“Technology, as those in health care know, is changing rapidly. Making rooms that can accommodate equipment that may not even be invented yet is key,” he said.
Other design changes — such as relocating radiators to the ceiling and streamlining bedside infrastructure — have improved comfort and functionality within the existing
(AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE PHOTO)
AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE
St. Marys Memorial Hospital celebrates
of patient room rebuild project
footprint for both patients and care teams.
Francesco Sabatini, project manager in HPHA’s facilities management department, spoke about the collaboration that made the renovations possible.
“This impressive renovation is a culmination of a huge team effort made
over many years,” he said. “I think we can all agree this demonstrates HPHA’s continued dedication to improving how health-care services are delivered in the Town of St. Marys and surrounding communities.”
The renovations also include enhanced safety systems, additional handwashing stations, an isolation room and separat-
ed clean and soiled utility areas to support high infection-prevention standards and staff efficiency.
“It’s not just a milestone, it’s a reflection of a community that stands behind its hospital,” said Lynanne Mason, HPHA vice-president of partnerships and transformation and chief nursing executive. “This is a hospital that is
committed to delivering care that meets the needs of today, and now we’re ready for tomorrow.”
HPHA extended its thanks to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation and its donors, whose generous support was instrumental in bringing the project to life and ensuring continued access to high-quality, modern care close to home.
noted how smaller, rural communities in Ontario can help take the housing burden off larger, urban centres while supporting the rural industrial and agricultural sectors in helping them retain a strong, trainable workforce needed for growth in both sectors.
“Affordable housing is very hard to find. Buying or renting has been pushed out of the attainable range for many households,” Pridham told the Independent after her resolution was passed.
“Small towns and rural Ontario are in a housing crisis but that seems to be overlooked by the federal and provincial governments when it comes to grant approvals to advance affordable-housing opportunities. Grant money is consistently directed toward larger cities.”
Pridham said town staff and members of council heard from local industries at a recent breakfast meeting. They said their employees have no choice but to travel distances to work locally because securing housing options in St. Marys is very challenging, which in turn makes it challenging to attract new employees and retain the existing workforce.
“My hope is that this resolution will bring attention to the fact that smaller municipalities and rural Ontario are also in need of attainable housing,” she said. “That approval of housing and infrastructure grant applications will assist in addressing our local housing crisis, and in turn support industry, agricultural and other businesses in our area.
“It would be ideal if other rural municipalities pass a similar resolution to voice their concerns and be heard by
federal and provincial governments.”
After its approval, the Town of St. Marys forwarded council’s resolution to Primer Minister Mark Carney, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO), Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, Perth-Wellington MP John Nater and Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae.
“I think it’s an excellent motion; it’s trying to bring the focus to rural Ontario by both levels of government and it just makes sense to get (support for) us to help other people live in rural communities,” Coun. Marg Luna said before seconding Pridham’s motion.
According to afforda ble-development housing consultant Stephen Giustizia, who spoke before council at a recent meeting of the special priorities committee, many small towns, including St. Marys, are still missing the lowest rung on the housing ladder – public and subsidized housing – which means the lowest-income earners and the town’s most vulnerable residents have little to no options for housing.
“You’ve got a lot of people who are working in the service industries and in those modest-ranged jobs that always had housing available to them, that right now don’t have housing available to them,” Giustizia said at that meeting. “
… You often see people who are stabilized in their existing housing now, but that existing housing may not be appropriate housing. What I mean by that is you see people who are aging in place,
you see people who are with more family members than there are … bedrooms in the home by a longshot, or you may see people who are needing specialized housing because of a medical need or aging in place that don’t have those options available to them.
“And when those options aren’t available to them, there is no difference between that as a housing need versus the needs related to a growing population.”
The vast majority of the available government funding for public and non-profit housing offered through programs like the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund, Giustizia said, is going to larger, urban, faster-growing cities, leaving towns like St. Marys with this crucial housing gap. While working
with developers and builders has been successful in creating additional rental housing elsewhere in St. Marys’ housing spectrum, without public and non-profit housing, there will always be residents without appropriate housing, especially when people who can afford housing elsewhere on the spectrum have no option but to remain housed where they are.
Giustizia said it is important for St. Marys and other small towns across Ontario to advocate for support for public and non-profit housing at the provincial and federal levels by highlighting the challenges faced locally and how more housing can support local industry in attracting and retaining workers.
EDITORIAL
Gardening take two: Breaking in our new backyard
GALEN SIMMONS Editor
As some of my readers may remember, last year, I wrote about my now fiancé, Julia, and my first year growing vegetables and herbs in our backyard gardens.
Mostly, it was an experiment in learning how to grow seedlings indoors, how and when to transplant them outdoors, and finding out the hard way what grows well together and what doesn’t. Though not entirely successful (RIP broccoli, you never had a chance), our experiment yielded some misshapen cucumbers, a handful of undersized bell peppers, and more San Marzano tomatoes than I ever thought possible from such a small plot of dirt.
This year, as some of you may recall, Julia and I purchased our first home together, a process that unfortunately involved Julia falling and breaking her leg on moving day. So, needless to say, gardening was not the first thing on either of our minds for several months after we moved in.
However, after the snow melted, we found we had three small, raised garden beds along the perimeter of our new backyard. So, with some of the hard work of establishing new gardens already done for us, we figured it would be fairly simple to pull out the weeds from those beds, add soil and manure, and begin planting both seeds and more mature plants we bought from Walmart, even as Julia’s leg was still recovering.
In the first bed, which we planted back in early May, we looked for early season veggies that would do well if temperatures dipped down around the 10 degrees Celsius mark at night. They included kale, two types of lettuce, cabbage, carrots, beets and green onions. So far, the leafy greens, which we bought as more mature plants, are doing wonderfully, and the other vegetables, which we planted as seeds, have poked their way up through the soil and are looking quite promising.
In our second garden bed, I discovered a potential bounty. As the spring season began to warm up, I noticed the tall, stick-like plants that had been left in that bed by its previous owners were starting to grow leaves that
looked oddly familiar. I remembered picking raspberries while camping in Algonquin Park as a kid, and quickly realized we had a bed full of raspberry plants. Julia, who knows much more about gardening than I do, told me raspberries take over whatever garden or container they’re in, so we decided to dig up and transplant as many of those raspberry bushes as we could into large planters.
So far, those bushes seem to be doing well and buds have started to appear, which means by July, we should have plenty of raspberries to enjoy or freeze for smoothies. At the same time, with a bounty of berries on our minds, we planted strawberries and a blueberry bush in smaller planters, the former of which is already beginning to produce berries.
Back in that second bed, we put in tomato plants, both a jalapeno and bell pepper plant, a litany of herbs, and we planted seeds for cucumbers, corn and pole beans. What we didn’t quite realize at the time was because the fence around our backyard is quite tall, that bed really doesn’t get enough sun for some of those plants. While the corn and beans seem to have sprouted quite nicely, the tomato plants didn’t seem to be growing at all, and one of our basil plants died altogether.
Ultimately, we opted to move the tomatoes and pepper plants to the final garden bed, which gets a lot more sun throughout the day. We even added two more mature tomato plants and another jalapeno pepper plant (I like to pickle jalapenos for friends and family as gifts) to fill the rest of that garden.
The last piece of the puzzle, at least at this point, was intended to be a hanging basket with cucumbers that would grow their vines down to the ground so the cucumbers could ripen uninhibited – an idea Julia found on TikTok. Unfortunately, when I tried to buy cucumber plants at Walmart, I unintentionally grabbed several varieties of squash, so I guess that’s what we’re growing there now, even though Julia doesn’t particularly like squash. Oops!
We still have a long growing season ahead of us and I still have many more mistakes to learn from, so stay tuned for a summer-harvest update!
Bravo Boo
We have 3 Bravos this week.
1) Bravo to the workers who rebuilt the RR crossing on James Street. A big bravo for the smoothest RR crossing I have used in a long time if not the smoothest ever.
2) Bravo to all of the fabulous divas who put on electric performances on Friday night at the St. Marys Legion’s Ladyless Lip Sync Competition. We’re so lucky to live in town that offers such fun and colourful nights out!
3) Bravo to Brent Kittmer for his repeated turtle rescues!
We have 2 Boos this week.
1) Boo to those loud Canada Geese. We were enjoying the pristine silence of nature by the river when our reverie was disrupted by a gang of honking menaces. Pipe down, you lousy cobra chickens! I’m a taxpayer!
2) Boo to the humans that use Sparling Bush as their personal toilet. Shame on you!
Quote of the Week
“Canada has what the world wants and the values to which others aspire. The G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis is a moment for Canada to work with reliable partners to meet challenges with unity, purpose, and force. Canada is ready to lead.”
- Prime Minister Mark Carney at the start of the G7 summit
Restoring small-town journalism, one community at a time!
St. Marys Independent
Publisher
Stewart Grant • stew@granthaven.com
Regional Editor
Galen Simmons • galen@granthaven.com
Graphic Design / Sales Inquiries
Tyler Carruthers • info@stmarysindependent.com
Business Development
Heather Dunbar • heather@granthaven.com
Billing Administrator
Cindy Boakes • boakescindy1576@gmail.com
Administrative Assistant
Wendy Lamond • wendylamond74@gmail.com
Contributors
June Grant, Nancy Bickell, Mary Smith, Nancy Abra, Lauren Eedy, Spencer Seymour, Sarah Cairns, Paul Knowles, Jake Grant, Julia Paul, Emily Stewart, McGinny Photography
36 Water St. St. Marys, ON, PO Box 2310 N4X 1A2 info@stmarysindependent.com | 519.284.0041 | granthaven.com
The St. Marys Independent THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK
Sponsored by:
The highest form of knowledge is empathy.
We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone.
Make no judgements where you have no compassion.
If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.
St. Marys Summerfest returns July 3-6
Summerfest stands as a celebration of community spirit, shining with a mix of nostalgic family-friendly fun (rides and midway), community connection (live music, tournaments) and local pride.
The St. Marys Kinsmen Club’s continued efforts to expand rides and boost entertainment offerings show their dedication to making this year’s festival the most memorable one yet. You won’t want to miss it!
With accessible pricing and ample activities for all ages, Summerfest continues to be a major highlight of St. Marys’ summer calendar. Whether you’re singing along at a concert, competing with friends in cornhole, or simply enjoying an evening ride under the summer sky, the event once again promises unforgettable moments.
Mark your calendars for July 3-6, join in the fun and support local community efforts because Summerfest isn’t just an event; it’s shared memories in the making.
TRIATHLON VOLUNTEER CALL OUT
The Stonetown Triathlon, organized by the Balance Point Triathlon Club is coming to St. Marys on July 6. Volunteers are needed to support various aspects of the Stonetown Triathlon.
Interested in volunteering? townofstmarys.com/triathlon
Residents are encouraged to provide feedback on transit needs in the community. We want to hear from you! Survey closes on June 27 at 12 PM (noon).
townofstmarys.com/transitstudy
LEAF AND YARD WASTE COLLECTION
Leaf and yard waste collection is currently ongoing. Remember to have yard waste to the curb by 7 AM on collection days and place yard waste in kraft-style bags or reusable containers. Full schedule, map and details can be found on our website. townofstmarys.com/yardwaste
Are you interested in being a part of a great event this summer? We’re currently looking for volunteers to join us at the Stonetown Heritage Festival on July 12. Apply to become a volunteer today! townofstmarys.com/volunteer
ST. MARYS KINSMEN CLUB
Contributed Article
Senior of the Week
Our senior of the week is Liz Moran. Liz was born in Zurich. She lived and grew up in London and is the proud grandma of two. Liz enjoys plants. She loves growing them and taking care of them. She spent a lot of time in the garden and always had a vegetable garden and a flower garden.
If you would like to nominate someone for Senior of the Week, contact us at 519-284-0041 or info@stmarysindependent.com.
Donor wall at St. Marys Memorial Hospital unveiled
couple of personal stories about the importance of the hospital. At the donor event were members of the Finnie family who have always been big supporters.
By Jake Grant
The completion of a big project is always a great time to celebrate.
The St. Marys Healthcare Foundation’s Here for you Today, Building for Tomorrow campaign wrapped up last week with a donor-recognition event followed by tours of the newly renovated west wing at the St. Marys Memorial Hospital.
Projects like this would not have been possible if not for generous donations from the community. The crowd was welcomed by the health-care foundation chair Amanda McCurdy, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) project manager Francesco Sabatini, manager of patient care Arlene Lanting and past foundation chair Cindy Bilyea.
The donor wall is located just off reception and has a beautiful background picture of the Grand Trunk trestle bridge taken by Lucid Musings’ Sean Camp.
The donor wall, put up by the health-care foundation, includes a recap of the project, a list of donors and a
Joan Finnie-Leistner shared with the Independent her thoughts on the importance of our hospital and her appreciation for the foundation.
“The donor event and the ribbon-cutting celebration was way more than we expected,” she said. “St. Marys knows how to recognize all the donors in a wonderful, sincere way. Our donations were really a thank-you for all the years of the hospital supporting the community.
“Myself and all my siblings were born at the hospital and had the normal scrapes and incidents that the hospital cared for while we were growing up. My Mom was on the hospital board before the alliance, the auxiliary and the Ontario Hospital Association, and my dad received so much great care in his declining years. I’m sure the care for both parents was what kept them going into their early 90s.
“Thanks to the foundation and the teamwork that got the hospital rebuild accomplished.”
Pictured from left to right are Breken Finnie, Glenn Finnie, Joan Finnie-Leistner, Barbara Finnie and Marilyn Finnie-Armstrong, local donors who were on hand at St. Marys Memorial Hospital for the donor-wall unveiling.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
The donor wall is located by reception at the hospital.
(WENDY LAMOND PHOTO)
WENDY LAMOND Independent Reporter
The Town of St. Marys extends its thanks to Armstrong Paving and Materials Group Ltd. for their gold sponsorship at the Stonetown Heritage Festival this year. Horse and wagon rides will be made possible thanks to their gracious contribution. The rides will take place at Milt Dunnell Field on Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. “St. Marys has been home for Armstrong Paving for many years, and many of our employees call St. Marys home as well. Family and community have always been core values, and this is just one way we can help support our community. Armstrong Paving is proud to again be a sponsor of the Heritage Festival.” – Armstrong Paving and Materials Group Ltd.
SHOW YOUR CANADIAN PRIDE ON US
This year, we’re celebrating Canada Day by including a FULL-COLOUR CANADA DAY FLAG in our upcoming edition - perfect for displaying in your window to show your patriotic spirit! We’re also inviting local businesses to join the celebration. ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES START AT JUST $65 - a great way to reach your community and be a part of this special issue.
St. Marys Quarry opens for the season on June 27
Canada’s largest outdoor, freshwater pool is nearly ready to welcome visitors for the 2025 season!
The St. Marys Quarry will open on Friday, June 27, offering daily swims from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission to the quarry costs $5 for children and youth (ages three to 18) and $7.50 for adults.
A resident season pass will be available for purchase, offering a discounted rate for loyal local swimmers. The pass is $74.80 for children and youth (ages three to 18), and $114.19 for adults. It is valid for weekday admission throughout the season; regular admission applies on weekends. Pricing for these passes may vary depending on date of purchase and are pro-rated according to the remaining time in the quarry season.
Back by popular demand is the Super Splash inflatable park. This will also be open for fun starting on June 27. Ideal for group or family outings, this water playground offers exciting challenges such as the 14-foot Ice Tower and 12-foot Action Tower. Admission to the Super
Splash is separate from regular quarry admission; pricing and pass information is available at www.supersplashstmarys. ca.
FOR SALE BY TENDER
4725 Line 14, Perth South
Complementary parking is available directly across the street from the quarry, as well as in nearby lots within a short walking distance. For a compre -
hensive parking map, visit www.townofstmarys.com/quarry. To ensure safe and easy crossing, a pedestrian crossover is provided. Additionally, bike racks are conveniently located at the front entrance, offering cyclists a secure spot to park their bikes.
The Lind Sportsplex offers room rentals and bookings. This space offers unique views overlooking the St. Marys Quarry and is perfect for special events like birthday parties and community gatherings. For more information on pricing and availability, contact 519284-3090 or aquatics@town.stmarys. on.ca.
Follow the Town of St. Marys (@ stmarysontario) and Super Splash St. Marys (@supersplashstmarys) on Facebook for regular updates about the quarry and the inflatable park, including weather-related closures and last-minute openings.
For questions about the quarry, contact 519-284-3090 or aquatics@town.stmarys.on.ca; questions about the Super Splash inflatable park can be directed to 519-808-5121 or supersplash2022@ gmail.com.
FOR SALE BY TENDER
Approximately 75 acres of prime farm land located just north of the Town of St. Marys. There are 60 acres of systematically tiled workable land with 7 acres of pasture, and 7 acre woodlot. Topography of the lot is level with good access from paved road and no ditches crossing the workable lands. Sale of the property is subject to a farm house severance approval.
2129 Road 133 Perth South n
Approximately 70 acre parcel of bare land with 56 workable acres located just north of the Town of St. Marys. All Offers are subject to far m house severance approval This is an exellent opportunity to add to your existing far m base of operations
TENDER DEADLINE: 6:00 pm, Tuesday May 6th, 2025
TENDER DEADLINE: 6:00 pm Wednesday June 25th, 2025
For full terms of sale, tender package and viewing appointment call:
For Full Terms of Sale, Tender Package & viewing appointment call:
(PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF ST. MARYS)
St. Marys council approves BIA-led utility box artwrap concepts
they hope to add to the art later on.
Downtown St. Marys will soon be a little more colourful after St. Marys council approved several artistic concepts by two local artists that will be used to create art wraps for four utility boxes in the downtown core.
Last year, the St. Marys Downtown Business Association (BIA) approved a budget of $10,000 for a utility box art wrap project that will see the installation of art wraps on utility boxes within the downtown core. The BIA would seek additional funding in the future to complete further utility box art. After the project was presented to the town’s heritage and culture advisory committee for its approval last August, general themes of nature and heritage were decided on for the art, and the BIA put out a call for submissions from artists.
The BIA selected the submissions of two artists – Heather Poechman of St. Marys and Liz Emirzian of Stratford –and, in May, the advisory committee recommended council approve their designs for the utility box art wraps at the June 10 council meeting.
“The committee at (the May 7 meeting) had no real concerns about their drafts,” said town cultural services manager Amy Cubberley. “One recommendation they did make was to install QR codes on the art so it can take visitors to a website that explains more about the project. The BIA has made the decision not to move forward with that at this time, partially because they’re still working on a website and that’s something maybe
“This was prompted by the fish ladder. We in St. Marys are home to the oldest fish ladder in Ontario, and one of the artists really ran with that, which I think is great, but there wasn’t really that context there. So, the artist was really accommodating of that feedback and added a little paragraph there about why we would have a fish-ladder themed utility box in our downtown.”
The four utility boxes selected for this first phase of the art-wrap project are located at the northwest corner of Queen and Church streets, the north side of Queen Street between Church and Wellington streets, the north side of Queen Street between Wellington and Water streets, and the northwest corner of Queen and Water streets.
Poechman’s contributions to the artwrap initiative are called “Fish Ladder” and “Shop Local,” while Emirzian’s pieces are called “Birds of the Thames River” and “Town Critters.”
“I’m excited about this project, too,” said Coun. Dave Lucas. “I had some concerns about the designs at the May meeting, but … now that I see the finished product, I think they look awesome. I’m really excited to see all the colours and (images) show up on the boxes.”
“This has been a long time in the making for the BIA,” added deputy mayor Brogan Aylward, council’s representative on the BIA board. “We’re very excited to get our toes in the water for public art; I know that’s something this council’s been asking for, for quite a while. I think this is a solid achievement and I think they look excellent.”
The front panel of artist Heather Poechman’s “Fish Ladder” utility box art-wrap design.
(IMAGE BY HEATHER POECHMAN)
A front or back panel for artist Heather Poechman’s “Shop Local” utility box art-wrap design.
(IMAGE BY HEATHER POECHMAN)
A side panel for artist Liz Emirzian’s “Birds of the Thames River” utility box art-wrap design.
(IMAGE BY LIZ EMIRZIAN)
A side panel for artist Liz Emirzian’s “Town Critters” utility box art-wrap design.
(IMAGE BY LIZ EMIRZIAN)
GALEN SIMMONS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Verwaayen honours late mother in Portrait Society of Canada contest
EMILY STEWART
Independent Reporter
A local artist sent in her largest piece yet for a chance to be selected as the people’s choice winner for a contest run by the Portrait Society of Canada.
St. Marys artist Sylvie Verwaayen is featured in the Portrait Society of Canada’s contest. The Portrait Society of Canada will select two winners at the end of June, one for people’s choice based on results from voters, and one selected by the society. Verwaayen’s piece, “Memories of My Mom,” is number 50 out of 201 self-portraits.
In the piece, Verwaayen incorporates traits of her late mother in a variety of ways. The self-portrait of the artist sits in the same position her mother would and wears an orange shawl and crystal necklace that belonged to her. The pansies in the vase were her mother’s favourite flowers.
“I tried to introduce aspects of her within the composition,” Verwaayen said.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she used just acrylic paints in her artwork. However, she felt like she couldn’t capture the realism with it alone. Now, she uses a mixture of acrylics and/or wax and oil-based coloured pencils in her
work, including in “Memories of My Mom.”
“The shawl itself, I could not have done that with brush. A lot of that was done with markers for the details,” Verwaayen said.
“Memories of my Mom” is her largest piece yet, with the canvas measuring at 30 by 40 inches.
“I’m really lucky I got a beautiful studio and the space to do it, and it was a wonderful project over the winter to work on and get through the winter,” Verwaayen said. “Many years ago, I found that painting really colourful paintings really do help you get through the grey days.”
Verwaayen is also grateful for the support of those who voted for her piece so far.
“My family has been really supportive and even friends of my family are being supportive with saying ‘I voted for you,’ so it’s been really nice that the people are reacting to it and feeling enough that they want to vote,” she said.
Voters for the people’s choice award from the Portrait Society of Canada have until June 20 to cast their votes. To vote for Verwaayen’s painting, visit www.portraitsocietyofcanada.com/confvote.php?conf=164.
Sylvie Verwaayen’s “Memories of my Mom” self-portrait painting honours her mother, who passed away in 2021. The artist incorporated flowers, body language and accessories that represent her mother.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF SYLVIE VERWAAYEN)
Colin Poulton receives prestigious award from Western University
WENDY LAMOND Independent Reporter
University of Western Ontario student Colin Poulton had a very exciting day at graduation on Monday, June 9.
Poulton was graduating with an honours specialization in pure mathematics and a minor in computer science. He was awarded the Gordon, Miriam and Pater Magee Gold Medal and Scroll, which is awarded for having the highest standing in Western’s undergraduate mathematics program. The award was endowed in memory of Professor Gordon R. Magee, the head of the department of mathematics at the University from 1950-1967 along with his wife, Miriam.
Poulton grew up in St. Marys and attended Little Falls Public School and St. Marys DCVI before moving on to the University of Western Ontario for the last four years.
“For a while, I’d been having doubts about whether I could make it in academia,” Poulton said. “I’ve been doing a math research internship this summer and the first couple of weeks were a real struggle, so receiving this award gave
my confidence a much-needed boost.”
Poulton shared that his education is not yet complete. This fall he is going into the master’s program in mathematics at Western and then he’s hoping to eventually get his PhD. Gabrielle Poulton, Colin Poulton’s mom, teaches English at Western and is very happy her son is following in her footsteps, though in a much different subject. Both Colin Poulton’s parents are very proud and excited about him receiving the award.
Gabrielle Poulton gives a lot of credit to the staff at DCVI who supported Colin Poulton at a time when he was struggling, especially to Mr. Sumstad whose music classes kept him motivated.
“It’s been great to see him find a subject he’s really interested in and to be successful. I never thought this day would come back when he tried to get out of studying for Grade 11 physics by throwing his textbook into the recycling back at DCVI,” Gabrielle Poulton said.
Both his parents are very excited to see what is next for Colin Poulton as he starts grad school. Congratulations on the award, Colin!
Colin Poulton at the University of Western Ontario campus after receiving the Gordon, Miriam and Pater Magee Gold Medal and Scroll.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
St. Marys to commemorate Canada Day at Cadzow Park
ST. MARYS INDEPENDENT
Staff Contribution
There’s no better spot to celebrate on Tuesday, July 1, than Cadzow Park in St. Marys! Join the town for a festive gathering, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Start the day with the vibrant Canada Day parade! This year’s parade route departs from the Pyramid Recreation Centre at 11 a.m., travels up James Street South, turns left onto Queen Street East to make its way downtown, then left on Wellington Street South and finally left onto Park Street, ending at Cadzow Park. The parade is free to enter; register a float by calling organizers Don and Margaret at 519-284-1548. The deadline to register a float is Friday, June 27.
The official flag-raising and singing of the national anthem will take place at 12:30 p.m. Indigenous elder Patsy Anne Day will then lead a land welcoming ceremony to honour and acknowledge the Indigenous homelands.
Two musical acts will take the stage at Cadzow Park after the ceremony. Bradley Kerr will kick things off at 1 p.m. followed by indie-folk duo York Street
Thought Process at 2 p.m.
Activities for all ages will be offered throughout the afternoon, including an
crafts with EarlyON, classic lawn games and activities with the St. Marys Public Library. Pack a swimsuit as the splash pad will be open all day, as will the St. Marys Museum with exhibits and children’s crafts. Admission to the museum is free; donations are appreciated.
After working up an appetite, indulge in a delicious bite at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s fundraising barbecue. The Sunset Shack will also provide an exciting array of street food available for purchase. Additionally, attendees are welcome to enjoy a complementary treat at the event, generously provided by Tremblett’s Your Independent Grocer!
Canada Day at Cadzow Park will be a day to remember filled with community spirit and national pride.
For more information on the event, visit www.discoverstmarys.ca/canadaday or call 519-284-2340 ext. 249.
86th Embro Highland Games set for July 1
The Zorra Caledonian Society is putting the finishing touches on the 86th Embro Highland Games (EHG), taking place Tuesday, July 1 at the Embro Zorra Community Centre (EZCC), 355644 35th Line, Embro.
Gates open at 7 a.m. and there is a full lineup of family-friendly activities that will appeal to visitors of all ages. There are over 248 entries in the individual piping and drumming competitions which begin at 8:30 a.m. with the highlight of the day being the Massed Bands taking the Main Field at 12:30 p.m. and at 4:30 p.m.
Back by popular demand, Grade 2 Pipe Bands have been invited to Embro; travelling from further afield and performing with a higher degree of difficulty. Their skills only add to the day! For guests wanting to take in some true Scottish culture, the Highland Dance competition begins at 9 a.m. and runs all day with 84 dancers registered so far, four from Scotland and one from Australia.
New this year, the dancing will be held indoors for some much-needed shade. In keeping with the theme, a wide variety of Scottish vendors will be onsite selling Scottish jewelry, food, tartan clothing and Celtic arts and crafts and more.
Back again in Embro is the popular Tug-of-War competition with five teams registered including local teams Ellice (near Stratford), Bluewater (Dashwood) and an army team from London. There are also teams from Nova Scotia and from Minnesota travelling to compete. Heavy Events (complete with the caber toss), featuring male and female athletes from across the province vying for top honours, starts at 10:30 a.m.
For those animal enthusiasts, the Scot-
tish livestock area will be open all day with breeds of cattle, horses and sheep that would have all originated in Scotland. Scottish Dogs on Parade, always a favourite show for visitors, will “strut the ring with their humans” at 11 a.m. There will also be two Dog Agility shows and three Sheep Herding demonstrations.
Returning to Embro are local craft breweries Upper Thames Brewing Co. (Woodstock) and Junction 56 Distillery (Stratford), and new to the games is MadMash Brewery & Restaurant from Tavistock. The Paddy Stones and the Doppelgangers will perform three sets each for some rousing live music in the Muckle Tent.
New this year, the Embro and Zorra Agricultural Society is organizing the wee Highlanders’ play area so our youngest guests can blow off some
steam! For those wanting a slower pace, the Scottish Tea Room will be open from noon to 4 p.m., hosted by the Knox Presbyterian Church, with the volunteers serving a selection of teas and traditional delicious delights to enjoy in the arena lobby.
Inside the Great Hall (complete with air-conditioning), the following events will take place. From 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., the children’s Scottish Crafts will engage and entertain the wee visitors as they embrace and create with Scottish culture in mind! A new Celtic Fiddle Fun Showcase will take place starting at 11 a.m. At 1:15 p.m., there will be a special ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the twinning of Tamsui, Taiwan, and Oxford County followed by entertainment showcasing Taiwanese Culture. This segment ties in with the Zorra -Taiwan connection and our shared
“son,” Rev. Dr. George Leslie Mackay. Lastly in the Great Hall, MadMash will do a Scottish cooking demonstration at 3 p.m.
Under the new pavilion, the Oxford Weavers & Spinners Guild and the Visitors’ Information area (selling Zorra Caledonian Society tartan) can be found. Six Scottish clans have registered to participate in the games this year rounding out a full day of family fun with a Scottish flair! Open all day are exhibits in the Great Hall which include the Taiwanese legacy of George Leslie Mackay, Tartans on Display, the Mighty Men of Zorra and Zorra Heritage.
For those who are unsure what a Highland Games is all about, four professional one-minute videos are available to watch online at www.embrohighlandgames.ca.
Admission at the gate is $30 for adults (or $ 27.50 if bought online in advance). All visitors under 18 years of age are admitted at no charge. Parking is complementary. Visitors are welcome to bring along a lawn chair and a refillable water bottle, as the new hydration station will be debuted!
There is lots of accessible parking spaces and a free shuttle service operates in the parking lot to get visitors to the entrances.
The Zorra Caledonian Society is a non-profit community organization formed in 1937 that celebrates and promotes the Scottish heritage of Embro-Zorra. Their signature event, the Embro Highland Games, brings thousands of visitors to Oxford County and is the oldest highland games in Ontario. The Embro Highland Games truly exemplifies an entire community coming together for the celebration of all things Scottish! Follow us on Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.
St. Marys BIA levy remains unchanged as council approves 2025 BIA budget
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Somehow, the St. Marys Downtown Business Association (BIA) will operate this year with the same amount it has levied from downtown businesses for the past 16 years.
At the June 10 St. Marys council meeting, BIA treasurer Sue Griffiths presented the BIA’s proposed 2025 budget, which incudes $45,000 to be levied from downtown businesses, which council approved later in the meeting.
“This would be year 17 that we are working with the same levy, so we’ve continued on without an increase since 2008,” Griffiths said. “I’m not sure how
much longer we can hang on with that.”
In addition to the $45,000 levy, Griffiths said the BIA will have an additional $2,400 HST refund at its disposal this year.
Of that total, $16,000 has been allocated to downtown beautification, which includes $5,000 in support of the town’s flower and watering programs, as well as $11,000 for streetscape beautification.
A total of $18,000 has been allocated for communications and marketing, which includes social-media management, photography and newsletters, and $8,500 is earmarked for sponsorships of events and initiatives like Poetry Month, Soup Crawl, Stonetown Heritage Festival, the Kinsmen parade, Halloween and
Christmas.
The remaining $4,700 will support the BIA’s operations, which includes funding for the BIA’s Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) membership, internet, annual general meeting, annual audit and office supplies.
“Thank you to Sue for managing this budget and kind of tracking everything,” said deputy mayor Brogan Aylward, a council representative on the BIA board of directors. “This has kind of been her baby as the treasurer and we really appreciate all of the work that she does for the BIA.
“The budget is well-categorized and we’ve used it to definitely make things
happen over the last year.”
Town staff calculate the annual BIA levy based on the commercial assessments within the BIA boundary, taking into account the minimum levy of $100 and maximum levy of $761.25 for single unit and $971.25 for multi-unit properties. The BIA board has indicated it intends to review these minimums and maximums in the near future.
The town collects the BIA levy through the final property tax bill each year, and it sends a quarterly payment to the BIA of $11,250. The final payment is adjusted for any assessment related adjustments.
The 86th Embro Highland Games are set for July 1.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
ZORRA CALEDONIAN SOCIETY Contributed
GALEN SIMMONS
Stratford–St. Marys Friendship Force welcomes visitors from Ohio
GARY WEST Independent Reporter
Stratford and Perth County are known for their warm hospitality, and one local group is helping to extend that reputation across borders.
The Stratford–St. Marys Friendship Force recently hosted 11 visitors from the Dayton, Ohio Friendship Force Club from May 30 to June 5. The exchange offered guests a chance to experience Stratford’s charm while exploring the region’s surrounding communities and countryside.
The week began with a relaxing lunch along the Avon River followed by a stroll through Stratford’s downtown shops and a performance at the Festival Theatre. During their visit, the group was welcomed at city hall by Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma, who shared insights about the city and its vibrant culture. Visitors were impressed with his enthusiasm and hospitality.
Throughout the week, the Dayton group toured local businesses and organizations to gain a deeper understanding of life in Stratford and the surrounding agricultural region of Perth County.
Those interested in learning more about the Stratford–St. Marys Friendship Force or becoming involved can find the group on Facebook.
At right, members of the Dayton, Ohio Friendship Force Club visited Stratford city hall during their recent exchange visit and were welcomed by Mayor Martin Ritsma, shown in the second row of the group.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
IONE GROVER
Contributed Article
I guess I’m boasting a little even though I was brought up with the understanding that you should never brag. I have published four books (two poetry and two spiritual non-fiction) but I am especially proud of this one, A Different Joy. It feels like it was written through me rather than by me.
I never expected to publish another book, but one day I was scrolling through my iPad and, much to my surprise, I found these 26 poems that I had written a while back and had completely forgotten about. I found it curious and even mysterious that they all explored different aspects of the same theme. That theme was about waking up to who we truly are as humans who are also part of the Divine Source.
I decided to experiment with placing two questions after each poem, inviting the reader to ponder about their own experience. I had done this in my nonfictions books but never with poetry, but I know that poetry can evoke deeper aspects of our being. My hope was that the poems along with the questions could help readers know the truth of who we all are as part of the Divine Source.
My daughter, Paula, published the book online. It was her idea that we also have pictures including some original artwork after each poem. Eight of the drawings were done by my dear friend, Nancy Vermond, who passed away suddenly last October. The book is dedicated to her memory and one of the poems celebrates her unique, loving life.
The title of the book came from one of my poems which describes how joy is different at this stage of my life.
“Joy is different now. It is gentle and quiet. More like a still pond than a rushing river. … It is not lesser, just not so loud.”
The book signing and launch will take place on Sunday, July 6 from 2-4 p.m. at the Riverwalk Commons on 84 Water St. S in St Marys. There will be readings from my book as well as singing by my granddaughter, Samantha, and also light refreshments. I am delighted that a few children from the Coyote Nature School will read some of their poems. This event is a fundraiser for the school.
I hope you will join me on July 6. Books are $10. I think it would make a great gift. A Different Joy is a small volume with a bright-yellow cover and you don’t even have to be too much into poetry or spirituality to appreciate it.
Domino’s Pizza opens on James Street South
Smiling for a first day photo at 162 James St. S are Domino’s Pizza St. Marys General Manager Abhishek Salian - General Manager and Supervisor Brandy Van Every.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
These high school students were among the many that flocked to Domino’s Pizza on its first day of business on Thursday, June 12.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
St. Marys Independent SPORTS
Young Guys repeat as Ryder Cup golf champions
On the same weekend (June 6-7) that the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame celebrated its newest inductees, another sports tradition continued at the St. Marys Golf & Country Club where the club’s top players contested the annual Ryder Cup competition in their own pursuit of excellence.
Legendary American athlete Bo Jackson (of football and baseball fame) never played for the Blue Jays or Expos and thus will never be enshrined in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, but Stonetown’s Bo Jackson etched his own name into local sports history this year with an MVP performance that helped propel the Young Guys to a 20-12 margin of victory and repeat as Ryder Cup champions. His talents not restricted to the barbershop, it’s now official: “Bo knows golf.”
Young Guys captain Tristan Dundas said that Jackson, who had never before played in the pressure-packed Ryder Cup, was a fitting choice to be named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“He played incredibly well, probably over his head, in terms of what he brought to the table in playing with (and against) some really good players. Being put in that position as a rookie and coming out 3-and-0, we felt he was our MVP.”
St. Marys’ Ryder Cup is inspired by golf’s famous Ryder Cup, with team players partnering on Saturday for a Best Ball match followed by an Alternate Shot competition. Sunday’s play then features 16 different singles matches. The squad with the most wins is crowned that year’s champion.
As in prior years, two teams of 16 players represented the Old Guys and Young Guys with the split occurring around age 43 – an annual adjustment designed to keep the tournament as competitive as possible.
Jackson wasn’t the only addition to the Young Guys’ team to make an impact.
“We got lucky and added some players that were plus-handicaps,” said Dundas. “Darryl Sterkenburg’s a plus-
one and Jeremy Foran is a plus-three. Being able to put them up against the old guys’ best players made a big difference,” said Dundas.
Sunday’s final two pairings, which were split with one win apiece between the two teams, featured Sterkenburg and Foran for the Young Guys while Marty Rutledge and Rick Fifield anchored the Old Guys’ squad for captain Brian Humphrey.
Despite the Young Guys being heavily favoured to win this year’s tournament, the experience and grit of the Old Guys kept the event quite close through
the first day of play. Losing by narrow 4.5 to 3.5 margins in both the Best Ball and Alternate Shot matches, going into Sunday’s singles matches the Old Guys trailed the Young Guys by a small 9-7 total.
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
- Mike Glover was named captain of the Young Guys team for 2026 while Greg Wolfkamp will lead the Old Guys.
- Joining Bo Jackson with perfect 3-0 records this year were Young Guys teammates Mark Vandenberk and Mitch Watt.
- Since 2004, the Young Guys have won 10 times while the Old Guys have won on 11 occasions.
The overall depth of the Young Guys’ squad became more evident during Sunday’s singles matches. Eleven of the 16 matches were won by the Young Guys (Matt Murray, Mark Vanderberk, Alan Johnston, Kyle Heinbuch, Bo Jackson, Jarrett Smith, Kellen Fifield, Alex Taylor, Evan Bechtel, Mitch Watt and Jeremy Foran). Prevailing for the Old Guys on Sunday were Mike McMullin, Troy Carter, captain Brian Humphrey, Tom Westerveld and Marty Rutledge.
The Young Guys are the 2025 Ryder Cup champions at St. Marys Golf and Country Club. Pictured from left to right are Jeremy Foran, Darryl Sterkenburg, Mike Glover, Kellen Fifield, Matt Murray, Brandon DeGroote, Alan Johnston, Evan Bechtel, captain Tristan Dundas, Mitch Watt, Jarrett Smith, Jordan Leyser, Mark Vandenberk, Bo Jackson, Kyle Heinbuch and Alex Taylor.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Michael Nixon, Dr. Karl Weselan and Dr. Reem Amayem
DCVI hosts annual athletic awards banquet
Pictured from left to right are Lauren Pfaff, Morgan Reid, and Evan Wolfkamp. Not pictured is Will Richardson. Pfaff won the Intermediate Girls’ MVP Award at the St. Marys DCVI Athletic Awards banquet held at the school on June 12. Reid received the Intermediate Girls’ Sportsmanship Award. Wolfkamp was awarded the Intermediate Boys’ MVP Award. Richardson earned the Intermediate Boys’ Sportsmanship Award.
Pictured from left are Nicki Wilson, Zach Larmer, Charlie Bender, Donovan McGregor, and Charlotte Richardson. Wilson was awarded the Junior Girls’ Sportsmanship Award. Larmer received the Junior Boys’ Sportsmanship Award. Bender and McGregor were co-winners of the Junior Boys’ MVP Award. Richardson earned the Junior Girls’ MVP Award.
Pictured from left are Oliver Black, Graham Rae, and Abby Martin. All three received the Colin Hood Award. The Colin Hood Award is given out annually to one graduating male, one graduating female, and one coach in every school in Ontario who, throughout their high school career, have been committed to the success of sport at their school.
Pictured from left are Danny Dittmer, Reid Watson, Lily Hollestelle-Black, and Lena Thompson. Dittmer was presented with the Grade 9 Boys’ Sportsmanship Award. Watson won the Grade 9 Boys’ MVP Award. Hollestelle-Black received the Grade 9 Girls’ Sportsmanship Award. Thompson won the Grade Nine Girls’ MVP Award. Athletic director Stephen Chateauvert said over 200 athletes played sports at DCVI this year.
Pictured from left are Hayden Brintnell, Anna Ropp, Griffin McGregor, Marin Chateauvert, Olive Aarts, and Trevor Aarts. Brintnell and Trevor Aarts shared the Senior Boys’ Sportsmanship Award. Ropp and Olive Aarts were co-recipients of the Senior Girls’ MVP Award. McGregor earned the Senior Boys’ MVP Award. Chateauvert won the Senior Girls’ Sportsmanship Award.
(TURNER ROTH PHOTOS)
Pictured is Kiara McGregor, who won DCVI’s Graduating Athlete Award. McGregor has been a consistent and versatile member of many sports teams in her five-year high school tenure at DCVI. Pictured on the right is Trevor Richardson, who earned the Bill Salter Award, presented annually to one male and one female student in the entire WOSSAA conference.
Ball, McKeen compete in Brantford tournament
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
from left to right are Landon Ball and Nathan McKeen, who teamed up to compete in the Echo Bowl Softroll tournament in Brantford on June 14. The duo finished seventh out of a field of 18 teams and played five games in the tournament. McKeen rolled scores of 211, 315, 155, 167, and 200 for an average of 209. McKeen’s 315 score was his first-ever game eclipsing 300 points. Ball recorded an average of 158 with scores of 158, 166, 139, 159, and 170.
MARYS MEN’S SLO PITCH LEAGUE STANDINGS (as of June 16th) (W-L-T)
Stonetown karate students capture seven medals at GMA Championships
Three Stonetown Karate Centre (SKC) students combined to win seven medals and an overall division title at the GMA Championship tournament hosted at RIM Park in Waterloo on June 7.
Morgan Houston, competing in the 35+ women’s advanced division, scored a pair of gold medals, finishing atop the field in both traditional forms and traditional weapons.
In the same age group and competitive level, Shannon Campbell also picked up a first-place finish in point fighting. Campbell also came in second in traditional forms.
Sensei Jalyne Lorentz came first in creative weapons in the 18+ women’s black belt bracket, and also picked up bronze medals in traditional forms and traditional weapons. Overall, Lorentz finished as the grand champion for the 18+ women’s group.
Sensei Jeremy Lorentz described his pride in his students.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Morgan, Shannon and Sensei Jalyne,” said Jeremy Lorentz. “Their performances were a true reflection of the dedication, perseverance and passion they bring to their training every day. Watching them succeed was an incredible moment, not just as their instructor, but as someone who truly believes in their potential.”
Pictured
Pictured from left to right are Shannon Campbell, Morgan Houston, and Sensei Jalyne Lorentz. The three Stonetown Karate Centre students combined to win seven medals and one Grand Title at the GMA Championship on June 7 at RIM Park in Waterloo.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Addison Poetker launches a shot on target during this past Sunday’s U10 Girls Tier Three St. Marys Storm game.
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
Carlie Muir steps into a kick outside the box during the U18 Girls Tier Three St. Marys Storm game last Wednesday.
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
Bryson Nairn tosses the ball to second base during the St. Marys Firefighters U9 OBA St. Marys Rockies game last Wednesday.
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
Isiah Omel drives the ball towards the net during last Thursday’s U14 Boys Tier Three St. Marys Storm game.
(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
Briella Graham drives into the box for a shot during the U12 Girls Tier Three St. Marys Storm game this past Monday.
(TURNER ROTH PHOTO)
Travel journalist honoured for feature writing, leadership
Travel journalist Paul Knowles, who writes a regular travel feature for this newspaper and eight other papers in the Grant Haven Media newspaper group, was doubly honoured at the annual conference of the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC).
The TMAC conference was held earlier this month in Saskatoon, Sask., where
the hosts – Discover Saskatoon and Tourism Saskatchewan – encouraged members of the travel media to continue to write about the province and the city. Though parts of Saskatchewan are currently suffering major wildfires, the province’s tourism leaders stressed that continued tourism is crucial to the economic welfare of the province.
During the conference, Knowles was honoured for his service as president of TMAC. He has served in that role for
two years following two years as vice president and previous time on the national board and as chair of the TMAC Ontario chapter board. Knowles also received an honourable mention as one of five finalists for the “TMAC Best Food and Drink Story” for a feature published in the Grant Haven Media newspapers in 2024. The TMAC awards received about 500 entries this year.
Close to 200 TMAC members came from across Canada and the United
States to attend the conference. TMAC is a unique association because half of the membership are Canadian travel media while the other half are destination representatives from Canadian and international travel destinations and attractions. The TMAC conference offers the premier networking opportunity for Canadian travel media.
Perth County Reads launches its 2025 season with celebrated author Dan Needles
The
County Information Network (PCIN) is thrilled to announce the official launch of Perth County Reads, a community-wide reading initiative designed to inspire conversation, connection and a shared love of literature
across the region. This year’s title is Finding Larkspur by acclaimed Canadian author Dan Needles. Best known for his beloved Wingfield Farm series, Needles’ storytelling captures the heart of rural Ontario life, making him the perfect voice to bring the community together through reading.
The Perth County Reads program encourages residents of all ages to read the same book and participate in a variety of events and discussions throughout the summer. The initiative is supported by libraries across Perth County and aims to foster a deeper sense of community through the power of shared stories.
The launch event will take place on Saturday, June 21, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stratford Public Library, located at 19 St. Andrew St., Stratford. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.
For more information, contact Ellen Whelan (ewhelan@northperth.ca)
Travel journalist Paul Knowles was a finalist in the “Best Food and Drink Story” category at the TMAC Media Awards in Saskatoon for a feature published in Grant Haven Media newspapers.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Incoming Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) president Jerry Grymek (right) presents a framed photo signed by all TMAC board members to retiring president Paul Knowles.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Gammon competing with national U18 dragonboat racing team in world championships
EMILY STEWART
Independent Reporter
Elissa Gammon of St. Marys will be part of Canada’s U18 dragon-boat racing team in the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, from July 14-25.
“It feels absolutely surreal and incredibly exciting,” Gammon told the Independent. “Being chosen to represent Canada on the world stage is a huge honour, and I’m so proud to be part of a team filled with such hardworking and passionate athletes. This opportunity means the world to me and I’m beyond grateful to paddle with Team Canada in Germany this summer.”
Gammon’s several years of experience includes competing in both dragon boat and outrigger canoe. She is a member of the Thames River Paddling Club and paddled in local, provincial and national
events.
“I’ve always pushed myself to grow both physically and mentally through training and teamwork,” she said. “As well, the support from my coaches (Marieve Lessard and Ben Gerber) has pushed me to always try harder than the last time.”
Leading up to the international dragon-boat competition, Gammon will continue to practice with both dry-land workouts and on-water sessions. Her training with her coach, Geoff Johnston, for Canada’s U18 dragon-boat racing team will focus on power, endurance, technique, mindset and body recovery.
To cover the cost of traveling to Germany, Gammon is hosting a raffle, a bake sale, a garage sale and has launched a GoFundMe page.
“Any donation or help spreading the word would mean a lot,” she said.
McConnell Club supports Goals program
The McConnell Club, represented by president Louise Bell, recently presented a $200 cheque to Chris West, a director of Goals – a program designed to provide living skills to public school students, to enhance self esteem, nurture positive attitudes, deter substance abuse and provide nutritious breakfast during the school year. The McConnell Club has been active in St. Marys and area for 111 years. Whether supporting local initiatives like the Goals program or providing financial support to individuals in need, the McConnell Club continues its original purpose of providing social enjoyment to its members and charitable works to the community.
IN THE KNOW!
Elissa Gammon is training to compete with the national U18 dragon-boat racing team at the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, from July 14-25.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
(CINDY BOAKES PHOTO)
(MELISSA BARTON PHOTOS)
Broken Rail quenches thirsts at Brews, Bites and Tunes
On Saturday June 14, Happy Hills Resort held their annual ‘Brews, Bites and Tunes’ in the orchard. St. Marys’ local Broken Rail Brewery provided beverages for the day.
(NANCY BICKELL PHOTOS)
COLUMNS
UKRAINIAN CORNER:
Ah, summer! It’s that magical time of year when the sun shines bright, popsicles are a food group and the air is filled with the joyous, ear-splitting screams of kids at the splash pad.
For us parents, it’s our chance to briefly believe we’re nailing this whole “good parenting” gig, even if our grand visions of daily Goderich beach trips (my personal slice of heaven, by the way) inevitably shrink to a quick dash to Cadzow Park. I mean, a splash pad is basically a mini-ocean, right? And let’s not forget the never-ending parade of park birthday parties!
Speaking of these outdoor extravaganzas, it got me pondering the vast cultural differences when it comes to celebrating our tiny humans’ big milestones. Specifically, how Canada throws a party versus how we do it back in Ukraine.
Back in Ukraine, the notion of a kids’ park birthday party simply doesn’t exist. We might arrange a charming photoshoot or create a festive atmosphere, but a full-blown outdoor celebration? Not so much. But Canada, oh Canada, you’ve truly embraced the great outdoors with gusto!
One of the first things that truly bewildered my Ukrainian brain was the backpack invitation. One day, my son, Alex, strolled home with a crumpled piece of paper, bursting with excitement because he was invited to a birthday party.
In Ukraine, once kids hit about eight, they don’t just invite anyone to their party unless their mom already has a rapport with the other kid’s mom. It’s an entire web of parental connections, where playdates require pre-approval from the family matriarchs. Sounds a bit unfair, doesn’t it? After three years of living here, I can confidently confirm, yes, it is a tad unfair! But that’s just how it was. So, this casual, school-backpack invitation system was quite a jolt. My initial thought was, “Do these parents even know each other?” Turns out, usually not. They’re simply trusting their kids to be good judges of character.
Now, let’s chat about guest numbers. In Ukraine, even if a child is old enough to pick their own party pals, they’d typically invite a snug group of two to four best friends. Picture intimate, focused fun. In Canada? Forget “snug.” We’re talking about inviting the entire class and then some! Did your child have a friend from last year’s class? Pop them on the list! Daycare buddies? Absolutely! My son, bless his Canadian-influenced heart, has fully embraced this “the more, the merrier” philosophy. Every year, his guest list balloons and my eyebrows follow suit.
This annual surge in attendees always sends me into a planning frenzy. How do you keep a small army of energetic
There are vast differences between kids’ birthday parties in Canada
youngsters entertained without transforming your house into a toy-strewn apocalypse zone? Last year, we ventured to an adventure farm in London, which was a huge hit with the kids. But coordinating transportation for everyone was a logistical nightmare. Trying to synchronize pickup and drop-off times for a dozen kids and their parents? Let’s just say I needed a stiff cup of tea (or something stronger) by the end of the day. You want everyone to feel at ease, not like they’re solving a complex puzzle just to get their child to the festivities!
So, this year, after much agonizing (and a quick sanity check), we decided to go full Canadian and host a park party right here in St. Marys. My initial skepticism was strong. When kids are younger, you’re essentially a human safety net and the idea of supervising a horde of tiny humans in an open space felt terrifying.
But then I thought, “Why not?” The biggest wild card, of course, is the weather. However, with a solid backup plan of indoor activities (think board games, art supplies and enough snacks to bribe a small village), you can handle whatever Mother Nature throws your way.
First order of business: I reserved the pavilion at Cadzow Park. Confirmation in hand, I’m now diving headfirst into orchestrating the ultimate Canadian-style birthday bash in the park.
I actually found joy in meticulously planning every little detail myself. Last year was different. Yes, you got everything at that adventure farm and could just relax with the kids and other parents, but honestly, nobody needs to go above and beyond my expectations! Plus, those farms get incredibly busy on weekends, making true relaxation elusive.
Then, while mapping out this year’s party, a realization hit me: Moms often don’t enjoy the party themselves, but
they are the source of joy for others. I get it. I can’t foresee every little thing at a park party. But still, when you stay in town, it feels like a cozy get-together with friends even if you’re wrangling 20 kids!
In Ukraine, we typically ordered a complete package: a chosen theme, cake, menu and entertainment plan. And parents didn’t just drop off their kids and return later; they stayed because, you know, they were already acquainted, and enjoyed snacks and drinks. To be honest, I totally prefer the Canadian method; dropping my kid off and having some fun by myself!
Now, my absolute favourite aspect of Canadian kids’ birthday parties is when
you (or rather, your child) receive those adorable “thanks for coming” goodie bags with treats. They are just so sweet! It’s a perfect way to ensure your child leaves the party safely and happily. We sadly don’t have that in Ukraine.
Another point I want to celebrate is the affordability and easy availability of decor and party supplies. And it’s fantastic to have these readily accessible, even in a smaller town. That’s why I believe setting up a birthday party from scratch is much simpler for parents in Canada. In Ukraine, similar stores are gaining popularity, but mostly in larger cities.
One more observation: kids in Ukraine are usually thrilled to have pizza at a birthday party, but parents typically allow it after serving something healthy like mashed potatoes and a meat patty with salad (I’m talking about youngsters under seven). And soda is generally an exception. So, when pizza isn’t a common occurrence, it’s far easier to get excited about it! I remember initially struggling with the menu for kids at a birthday party here because pizza isn’t viewed as a special party meal when it’s so frequently available. I ended up preparing chopped fruits and veggies and roasted chicken slices on skewers. And, of course, pizza.
Whether it’s a Canadian celebration brimming with joyous energy and many sweet treats, or a more traditional Ukrainian gathering filled with heartfelt toasts, children’s birthday parties truly are unique experiences. Ultimately, they’re all about creating wonderful memories, just be sure to have some strategies ready for managing the post-party excitement and tackling any delightful, glitter-infused aftermath!
Ask the Arborist
By Joel Hackett | 519 272 5742 | jtsquote@gmail.com
Dear Arborist,
Do you have WSIB? Is it required in your trade? It seems some Arborists don’t?
Thanks, Nic
Dear Nic,
Yes we carry WSIB. I am not sure if it is required or voluntary. We also carry liability insurance. If you are concerned about liability insurance you can request proof of insurance for liability. If you are concerned about WSIB, you can ask for a clearance certificate. It is also possible to check online if a company has WSIB and
see the clearance certificate. You go to www.wsib.ca/en/businesses/ premiumsand-payment/clearances and you click on quick access clearances. Then you use search to find the company you wish to validate.
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
(ALONA VASYLIEVA PHOTO)
and in Ukraine.
HISTORIC ST. MARYS:
MARY SMITH
Independent Columnist
Recently, the 100 Years Ago section of the Independent’s Looking Back column featured the story of a 17-year-old Scottish girl, Elizabeth Adams, who died of appendicitis in late May 1925. She had been employed by Mr. and Mrs. John Lind. The Linds had paid for her medical care and arranged for her funeral and burial. The files at the St. Marys Museum contain details that give this sad story a more complete context.
In the summer 25 years ago, a woman wrote to the St. Marys Museum from Spain with an interesting request for information. She was writing on behalf of her mother who lived in Scotland. When her mother was very young, her older sister, Elizabeth Adams, had gone to Canada, and she never saw her again. She knew that she had worked as a housemaid in St. Marys and had died there in 1925. She was anxious to find out more about the circumstances of her death and where she had been buried. If possible, her mother would come to St. Marys and visit her sister’s grave. Sara Jewson was the student assistant at the Museum that summer. An excellent researcher, she tracked down an article in the Journal Argus, June 4, 1925, that described Elizabeth’s death. Sara transcribed it and sent to off to the researcher with a helpful letter providing information about St. Marys. From the Journal Argus, Sara learned that Elizabeth had travelled across the Atlantic with a friend, Margaret Nimmo. Both were from Bo’ness, a seaport on the Firth of Forth, not far from Edinburgh. The article said that they “arrived in St. Marys on February 17th and immediately secured a position in the household of Mr. and Mrs. John Lind.” It is not clear whether they came directly to St. Marys when they arrived in Canada or lived somewhere else for a while. They may have been in Toronto, responded to Mrs. Lind’s advertisement for domestic help in a Toronto newspaper, and travelled by train to St. Marys for an interview. At any rate, Mrs. Lind hired them. They likely shared a bedroom in a corner of the Lind house near the kitchen. The girls found themselves in an interesting household. The head, John Grieve Lind, had been born in 1867 on a farm near Pond Mills, now the southeast corner of the city of London. He had left home at an early age and worked his way across the continent, reaching Seattle on the west coast. From there, in the 1890s, he went north to prospect for gold in Yukon Territory and was an experienced sourdough by the time of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898. He was a wealthy man when he returned to Ontario. He invested in the cement industry, was a major shareholder in the St. Marys Cement Company and, as plant manager, was the only one of the directors to live here. His family came with him to St. Marys and became part of the community.
In 1925, the Lind family lived in a 10-room home on a spacious lot on Church Street South, adjacent to St. James Anglican Church. John Lind and his wife, Gertrude (Heming) Lind, had five children: Jean, the oldest, was 17, and her brother, Jack, was 16. The younger children were Walter, 10, and the youngest, Gertrude, age 3. Another son, Murray, age 6, had special needs. Mike King, one of Gertrude Lind’s granddaughters, recalled that her grandmother preferred to employ Scottish help because she believed they were quicker to train than Canadian girls. Elizabeth and Margaret had housekeeping duties that probably in -
Elizabeth Adams (1908-1925)
This small bolster-shaped marble stone in Section B of the St. Marys Cemetery marks the grave of Elizabeth Adams. She died on May 28, 1925, not quite 17 years of age. Over the years, lichen has made the inscription difficult to read.
cluded dusting, cleaning, and helping in the kitchen. There would have had extra work when Mrs. Lind entertained. It was a busy household.
It would have been challenging for the two young girls to adjust to their new positions in a small town, starting, as they did, in the middle of a Canadian winter. Not much information has been found about Margaret Nimmo, but Elizabeth had left behind two brothers, as well as her parents and her younger sister, in Scotland. She must have missed them. The girls would have had limited time off but maybe they were able to meet some local people, perhaps at church on Sundays. Maybe they explored the shops downtown or visited a photography studio to have pictures taken to send back home.
As February, March and April passed and the warmer spring weather arrived, everything must have seemed brighter and easier – except that Elizabeth kept getting abdominal pains. She dismissed them, at first, as trivial. But in early May – just three months after she had arrived in St. Marys – she was “seized with violent pains.” When she realized how ill Elizabeth was, Mrs. Lind did everything she could to help her. She summoned the family physician, Dr. W. F. Brown, who lived nearby at 224 Jones Street East. The diagnosis was appendicitis and an appendectomy was performed. But infection had already set in. In the days before antibiotics, Elizabeth could not recover. She died three weeks later. According to her death certificate, she was actually only 16 years old, still a few weeks away from her 17th birthday.
Although Elizabeth’s family were Presbyterian, it was the Reverend A. B. Farney, the Anglican rector, who visited the girl when she was so desperately ill and who conducted her funeral. The Linds attended the Anglican Church next door to their home. Farney is remembered as a kind, compassionate man. He took the time to write a letter to Elizabeth’s bereaved fam -
ily in Bo’ness, giving them the details of the funeral. Margaret Nimmo, Elizabeth’s friend, placed this note of thanks in the Journal Argus: “Margaret Nimmo wishes to thank Mr. and Mrs. John Lind, Rev. A. B. Farney, the Doctors and Nurses and the many kind friends who so liberally gave of their kindness during the illness and after the death of her friend, Elizabeth Adams.”
In early September 2000, Elizabeth’s sister and niece arranged to come to Canada to visit St. Marys. Museum staff went to the cemetery to see how Elizabeth’s gravestone had weathered the intervening 75 years. It was at the extreme south end of the cemetery and easy to find, but it had sunk partly into the ground and was covered with lichen. Kevin Hyatt, cemetery superintendent, heard about the visitors from Scotland and reset the stone so that it sat properly on its base. The grass was clipped around it and enough lichen removed so that the inscription was clear. All was ready for the visit.
The Scottish visitors arrived in the early fall and went to the Museum for directions to the cemetery. Staff were expecting a frail, elderly woman but Elizabeth’s younger sister, Isabella MacKay Adams MBE, was a very fit 87-year-old. As a Member of the Order of the British Empire, she was addressed as Dame Isabella. She was certainly the first – and likely the only – Dame to visit the St. Marys Museum. She had earned her honours as a younger woman when she had been a champion competitive cyclist. Dame Isabella and her daughter visited the grave and laid some Scottish heather beside the stone. Her beloved sister was remembered 75 years after her death so far from home.
Museum volunteer researcher, Ken Telfer, discovered that Isabella MacKay Adams MBE eventually went to Spain to live with her daughter. She died in Majorca in 2017, age 104.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ST. MARYS MUSEUM)
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO:
To go or not to go, that was the question
I got the question a lot in the weeks leading up to my trip. “You’re going where? In June? What about the fires?”
Yes, I was bound for Saskatoon and points north in Saskatchewan to attend the annual conference of the Travel Media Association of Canada and to spend a few days on golf courses, part of a pre-tour before the conference. I would be in Saskatchewan from May 31 to June 8 and during that time, parts of the province were being devastated by wildfires. Since I write this a few days ahead of publication, I can only assume the crisis continues.
So, I was faced with four key questions.
First, would it be safe to go to Saskatoon?
Second, would I be occupying accommodations needed for evacuees from the fire zones?
Third, what about the smoke in the air?
Fourth, should I even write about visiting Saskatchewan at such a time?
The answers I found to those
questions tell us a lot about what tourism means today; especially what it means to the destinations involved.
Since you are wondering about the answers to those four questions (and yes, I did go, by the way), here’s what I learned.
I was entirely safe in Saskatchewan and any potential visitor who consults with either Discover Saskatoon or Tourism Saskatchewan will be, too. Our hosts made our safety job one; my pre-tour was monitored, hour by hour, to be sure we were in no way threatened. I got to golf three terrific golf destinations and you will hear more of that in coming weeks.
It’s not that the crisis was not in evidence. When they weren’t assigned as our hosts, the two Tourism Saskatchewan staffers who accompanied our golf trip were normally responsible for relations with outfitters who serve fishers and hunters in northern parts of the province. They were on their phones fairly often trying to reassure or comfort worried or devastated clients. We saw the occasional chopper flying overhead and, at one point, a herd of ambulances transferring patients from the La Ronge south to Prince Albert assembled in the parking lot of the Elk Ridge resort where we were staying and playing. But all of this was being carefully monitored and we were safe and welcome.
When it came to accommodations, it was intriguing how some bits of information get misunderstood almost immediately. There were, indeed, news reports asking people to stay
away from a fire-ridden province because accommodations would be needed for evacuees, but those requests did not come from Saskatchewan – they were from Manitoba, an entirely different province!
Those Manitoba requests were sincere. By coincidence, we flew to Winnipeg to visit and stay with family after my return from Saskatoon, and before publication of this article, the tourism office made sure we were not taking up hotel space needed for evacuees. But that wasn’t the case in Saskatchewan, even though a few conference registrants decided not to come for that misunderstood reason.
And what about dealing with smoke in the air? This may be the oddest part. Our most northern destination was the village of Waskesiu, which is less than an hour’s drive from the closest wildfire. Yet in my nine days in Saskatchewan, I smelled or spotted smoke only once – on the day of my arrival in Saskatoon.
As our small group travelled north, playing golf all the way up to Elk Ridge, the skies were clear and blue. Meanwhile, I kept hearing about smoky air in southern Ontario, Québec, the U.S. and even Europe. It all depended on wind direction – and there definitely were powerful winds.
At one of the wonderful dinners we enjoyed as guests of Tourism Saskatchewan, I wondered aloud if I should write about all of this any time soon. Our hosts, Daryl Demoskoff and Travis Pool, were surprised
that I would even think about delaying publication of the several good stories I came home with.
“Tourism is an essential part of Saskatchewan’s economy,” they said. “And as you have seen, there is lots of Saskatchewan that is open and ready to receive guests. Don’t tell your readers not to come – tell them they are welcome!”
Let’s be clear. That’s the message from Saskatchewan, where most of the communities and areas hit by wildfires do not have large populations. It’s not the case in Manitoba where there are well over 20,000 evacuees and where tourists have been asked to stay away.
But as far as Saskatchewan goes, you are welcome.
And leaving the topic of wild -
fires aside for a moment, I have to say that Saskatchewan was a wonderful revelation. I had never visited the province, except as a drive-through. Turns out, I could not be more wrong. Saskatchewan is an amazing destination in its own right and you will be reading more about Saskatchewan in the coming weeks right here, including a feature on making some pretty spectacular Saskatchewan-created cocktails!
Stay tuned.
Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and Past-President of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden.net.
PAUL KNOWLES Independent Columnist
Clear skies over Saskatoon; while the Tourism Saskatchewan and Discover Saskatoon conference hosts monitored the fire situation constantly, the visit to Saskatchewan proceeded essentially as planned, and local tourism authorities encouraged writers to continue to produce Saskatchewan travel stories.
(PHOTOS BY PAUL KNOWLES)
A beautiful day for golf at Elk Ridge. None of these photographs were photoshopped or improved in any way.
Lakefront at Waskesiu, less than an hour from the nearest fire.
FROM THE GARDEN: Supporting our feathered friends
We garden for various reasons – to add beauty to our yards and landscape, to grow our favourite perennials and flowers, or perhaps to grow food. Whatever the type of garden, there should be a balance in that landscape to sustain biodiversity. In the last few years, there has been more emphasis on growing native plants to attract various pollinators, those ‘good’ bugs, but these plants can also attract and support our feathered friends.
You may not consider birds as an important part of the garden’s biodiversity. Not only do they contribute to interest and sound in our landscape, but birds also participate in a balanced and thriving ecosystem.
Birds are excellent pest control mechanisms in our gardens. Insects and caterpillars that feed on our plants provide
delicious packets of protein for birds. Warblers and chickadees depend heavily on caterpillars. For instance, over the course of a typical nesting period of 16 days on average, chickadee parents deliver over 6,000 caterpillars to raise one nest of their baby birds to fledging. That is over 350 caterpillars per day depending on the number of chicks in the nest, which can be from six to eight. Douglas Tallamy, an entomologist, ecologist and conservationist from Delaware, US explains in his book ‘Nature’s Best Hope’ how we can help nature in what we plant and grow. This book is an excellent and interesting resource.
Just like we plant milkweed varieties to support the monarch butterfly, I plant extra parsley and dill to support the swallowtail butterfly. And for those birds that need to feed their growing families, besides adding some native plants, I grow other plants that caterpillars love to munch on. Having these types of plants in our gardens helps cut down the feathered pest controllers’ travel distance from food source to their baby mouths. For instance, I find growing lance or dinosaur kale, which gets quite buggy, provides a good food source for the birds. Besides, this variety
of kale lures pests away from other kale and brassica varieties.
Robins, known for their love of worms, also feed their young a variety of insects. Wrens, too, actively hunt insects to feed their growing family. Some finches and tanagers sample nectar from flowers, though they primarily eat seeds and insects. So, it is very important we avoid using pesticides in our gardens and let the birds do their foraging.
We don’t consider birds as pollinators. But hummingbirds are excellent in spreading pollen as they dart throughout the garden sipping nectar from their favourite flowers. They prefer monarda or bee balm, cardinal flower and other bright coloured trumpet type flowers in our gardens.
Many of us enjoy growing sunflowers. Their tall, majestic, yellow flower heads add colour and interest in our gardens. But sunflowers are also a great food source for many bird species, particularly finches, sparrows, and cardinals, as well as grosbeaks, nuthatches, jays, and woodpeckers. These birds are attracted to the nutritious seeds that sunflowers produce in the late summer and into the fall.
There are also birds that love feeding on the fruit of native
trees and shrubs. Serviceberry, elderberry, dogwoods, viburnums and chokecherry provide a valuable food source as well as a habitat for various bird species including robins, waxwings, cardinals and jays. Birds are also indicators of
the health of our environment as they are very sensitive to changes in their habitat. Birds don’t just exist in nature, but they play an active part in the biodiversity of our landscape and gardens.
NANCY ABRA Independent Columnist
Riddles
I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for five minutes. What am I?
Your breath.
What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it?
A promise.
Which question can you never answer “yes” to?
“Are you asleep?”
What’s something that, the more you take, the more you leave behind?
Footsteps.
What kind of lion never roars?
A dandelion.
What has a thousand needles but cannot sew?
A porcupine.
What’s bright orange with green on top and sounds like a parrot?
A carrot.
Why do bees have sticky hair?
Because they use their honeycombs.
What do you call a bear with no teeth?
A gummy bear.
What’s black, white and blue?
A sad zebra.
Riddle Kid
- Word Search -
SPONSORED BY:
Adult Learning Programs of Perth, Upstairs at the St. Marys Public Library (700 Church Street North, St. Marys, ON) | Phone: 519-284-4408 | Cell: 226-374-8231 alearning@town.stmarys.on.ca | www.adultlearningperth.ca | Facebook: @AdultLearningProgramsofPerth
STRAWBERRY SEASON
Mid June
Late July
Yummy
Ready picked
Pick your own
Everbearing
Greenhouse
Shortcake
Pie
Cobbler
Mousse
Sorbet
Jam
Freeze for later
Delicious
Nutritious
St. Marys Veterinary Clinic is pleased to be the sponsor of the
PET OF THE WEEK
Pets can get sunburn just like people. It’s important to take precautions to protect them from the sun’s harmful rays, especially during peak hours. Sunburn can be painful and in severe cases, increases the risk of skin cancer. Always provide adequate shade and consider pet safe sunscreen.
SOPHIE
Our Pet of the Week is Sophie, a domestic longhaired feline who has been a member of the Betteridge household for 14 years. Sophie loves to hunt mice on the riverbank and enjoys naps with her two canine companions. Another of Sophie’s favorite places is under the peony bush.
Thorndale News
4H BBQ & Bake Sale June 20 11:30-1 p.m. at Thorndale Country
Thorndale Optimist Club hosts Bike Rodeo
For over 40 years, the Thorndale Optimist Club has hosted an annual bike rodeo for the children of the community.
On Sunday, June 8, there were 19 children, ages three to 13, who attended this event. A few members of the Optimist Club along with two OPP auxiliary officers, Tori Garrett and Dave Messeroll, were on hand to inspect each bike for the proper safety equipment, as well as riders for the proper helmet.
After a brief safety lesson, the children, one at a time, were directed through a course to prove their riding skills from manoeuvring around pylons, stopping, turning and using the proper hand signals. As a token for completing the course, each child received a prize which included safety bells and horns, reflector tape and a light for their bicycle.
The bike rodeo event concluded with a draw of two bicycles which went to Norah Poelman, 10, and James Allely, four, purchased by the Thorndale Optimist Club.
Thorndale & Area Horticulture Society presents Green Thumb Garden Tour
June 22, 11 am to 4 pm, rain or shine
Thames Centre firefighters visit with Nissouri Public School kindergarten students
Thorndale horticultural society to host Green Thumb Garden Tour
lections and stunning floral displays, all in urban and rural settings.
For over 25 years, the Thorndale and Area Horticultural Society has hosted its Green Thumb Garden Tour, an annual fundraiser for the society.
Over the years, the society has showcased more than 125 private gardens, a few twice, in the village of Thorndale and surrounding area. These gardens offered garden enthusiasts and curious nature lovers a glimpse behind the gates of private homes. From compact, strategically planted landscapes to vast vegetable and flower beds, the variety of gardens has included everything from natural prairie, woodland and unique water exhibits to prized perennial col-
This year’s Green Thumb Garden Tour runs on Sunday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will showcase three private gardens in Thorndale, a special private garden south of Thorndale near Highway 2, as well as the residents’ gardens behind the West Nissouri Manor. The horticultural society would also like tour participants to take in the public gardens in Thorndale that the society plants and maintains.
Tickets for the Thorndale and Area Horticultural Society Green Thumb Garden Tour are available from society members prior to the event and on June 22 at the cenotaph on the corner of Harrison and King streets in Thorndale.
Come tour large and small gardens in urban and rural settings! Adults $10 | Children under 12 free, accompanied by adult Tickets will be available near the Thorndale cenotaph
NANCY ABRA Independent Reporter
Thorndale Horticultural Society members Marilyn Anger and Trudy Nieuwland planting one of the 13 cement planters in Thorndale the society plants and maintains.
(NANCY ABRA PHOTO)
As part of the kindergarten students learning about their community helpers, Thames Centre Thorndale station firefighters visited the school with their rescue truck and fire engine so the students could learn more about the firefighters and their equipment. Firefighter Olds on the left and Firefighter Denkers showed these young students inside the fire engine and the equipment in the rescue truck.
(NANCY ABRA PHOTO)
Winners of the Thorndale Optimist bike draw. Pictured are Norah Poelman with auxiliary OP officer Davee Messeroll (left) and James Allely in front of auxiliary OPP officer Tori Garrett.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
NANCY ABRA
Independent Reporter
OBITUARY
Malo
With heavy hearts, surrounded by his family at home Henri Simon Malo passed away in his 88th year on June 14, 2025.
Beloved husband of Racie (Helena) Malo, father of Andrew Malo (Stephanie), Eileen Stacey (Daryl). Loving Opa to Tyler, Annabelle, Isaac, Natasha, Brittany and Travis. Beloved brother of Jim, Aida, Leyla, Hulia, Katia. Brother-in-law of Betty, Gary, Ria, Joyce, Margie, Ann Marie and Carien. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents Yvonne and Zeki Malo, sister Eva and brother-in-law Chris.
Henri was a hard working man who loved to travel, play poker, watch wrestling, and play golf. He was a family man who loved his family deeply and enjoyed life.
We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Burley and Dr. Hepburn at Happy Valley Family Health Team, for their support and kindness during this difficult time. Cremation has taken place, and a private funeral will take place at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the Ontario Heart & Stroke Foundation. Online tributes at www.hodgesfuneralhome.ca.
OBITUARY
Franke
Otwin Rudi Franke, age 87, of Seebach’s Hill passed away peacefully at Stratford General Hospital on June 7, 2025. Born in Wenden, Germany, March 12, 1938, son of the late Heinrich and Erna Franke. Beloved husband of Karin (Meyer) for 65 years. Loving father of Dirk (Karen), Oliver (Susanne – deceased), Roger (Deborah). Grandfather of Katie (Blake), Haden (Ana), Amanda (Christopher), Sabrina, Samantha (Adam), Connor and Alexander. Family and friends are invited to a service for Otwin at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on (July 10, 2025) at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow. Interment at Avondale Cemetery following the reception.
Memorial donations in Otwin’s memory may be made to the Stratford General Hospital Foundation the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of one’s choice. www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
OBITUARY Jeffrey
JEFFREY: Donna Marjorie (Thornicroft) formerly of RR 4 Denfield. November 1, 1934 – June 14, 2025 passed away peacefully at McGarrell Place, London, on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the age of 90. Beloved wife of Bob Jeffrey for 68 years. Cherished mother of Scott and Cynthia Jeffrey, Brenda Jeffrey, Lois and Steve Davies, and Tim and Jan Jeffrey. Adored grandma of Matthew (Holly), Andrew (Jenny); Rob (Maggie), Greg (Brit); Sarah, Ben; Jack, Ruby; and great-grandma of Blair, Theo, and Talon. Predeceased by her parents Harold and Honey Marjorie (Whitehall) Thornicroft, and brothers Bruce (Clari) Thornicroft, and Bob (Marg) Thornicroft. Dear sister of Murray (Myrna) Thornicroft, Frances (Ron) Hand, and Janet Mitchell. Sister-in-law of Elizabeth (Gray) Montgomery, Audrey Jeffrey, and Keith (Ann) Jeffrey. Fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews.
A gifted baseball player and avid Blue Jays fan, a talented pianist, and a sudoku master, Mom’s greatest joy came from spending time with her family. We will cherish the memories of her love and laughter always. She was the best.
Visitation will be held at Haskett Funeral Home, 223 Main Street, LUCAN on Monday, June 23rd from 5 – 7 PM.
Donna’s funeral service will be held in the funeral home the following day, on Tuesday, June 24th at 11 AM. Interment will be held at a later date at the Birr United Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in memory of Donna are asked to consider Asthma Canada or the Canadian Lung Association.
The family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at both McGarrell Place and Richmond Woods for their care and compassion shown to both Donna and Bob.
John Robert Mountain
February 20, 1956 - June 18, 2018
It was marvellous to know you
And it isn’t really through.
Crazy business this, this life we live in Can’t complain about the time we’re given
With so little to be sure of in this world, We had a moment!
A marvellous moment!
Always, Greg
There is no one on this earth who could replace you You were one of a kind and you were ours. We will miss you for as long as we live. Love you forever Sam, Erin & Jesse & family
Straight from the Shelves
LAURA MCASH
The adventures never stop at the St. Marys Public Library, and that’s never truer then when our Summer Reading Program is in full swing! Coordinator Allie Mills is hard at work planning for a summer full of hands-on experiments, creative endeavours, inquiry-based learning, and rewarding reading challenges. Themed weekly programming and exciting Funday
HOURS
TUE – THURS 3PM - CLOSE FRI & SAT NOON - CLOSE SUN & MON - CLOSED
WE ARE OPEN FRIDAYS FROM NOON UNTIL CLOSING HOT DOGS AND MORE FRIDAY LUNCH
MEAT DRAW EVERY SAT AT 5 PM, PLUS A 50/50 DRAW
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE HALL FOR RENT
Friday events will keep the fun rolling all summer long, while one-on-one reading help will assist young readers in boosting their literacy skills. Thanks to our sponsor, the Friends of the Library, all programming is free to attend.
The 2025 Summer Reading Program runs from July 7 to Aug. 22. For more information, stay tuned to the Library’s Facebook page and sign up for the “Summer Program 2025” newsletter here: tinyurl.com/SMPL-Newsletters Up This Week
Fri., June. 20: Open 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., June. 21: Open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mon., June. 23: Euchre Mondays (10:30 a.m.), Learn to Play Bridge* (1-3 p.m.), Trivia Night at Gilly’s Pub* (7 p.m.)
Tues., June. 24: Tuesday Book Club* (11 a.m.) Wed., June. 25: EarlyON Play and Read (9:30-10:30 a.m.), Mahjong! (1-4 p.m.), Chocolate Bar BINGO! (7 p.m.)
Thurs., June. 26: Open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
*Registration Required/Reservation Recommended ~Held at Gilly’s Pubhouse (17 Water St. S, St. Marys)
By Amy Cubberley
LOOKING BACK Creamery owners hit jackpot
25 years ago (2000)
Deidre Zervos, who owns the Parkview Creamery with her husband Pete, won the biggest bingo jackpot in Canadian history last week. Diedre won $835,793 at the Pot of Gold Bingo Hall in London.
For the first time in three years, a playoff was needed to decide a winner at the 17th annual St. Marys Jr. B. Lincolns’ golf tournament on Saturday at Science Hill. The winners were Dave Baskette, Dan Poort, Steve Hayes, and Duane Harris of Ingersoll. Settling for second place was the local foursome of Paul Stephens, Dave Shepley, Dan Dick, and Kurtis Forster.
50 years ago (1975)
Unseasonably cool weather over the past weekend reduced the expected large crowd of campers at St. Marys Flats for the Ontario Citizens Band radio enthusiasts’ annual jamboree to a few hundred people.
Rick Fifield, former top performer with St. Marys Jr. B Lincolns, walked away with a good share of the honours as the Continental Senior Hockey League held its annual banquet in Stratford last Saturday night. Rick received the league’s most valuable player trophy, the trophy for top scorer (51 goals), and was named to the all-star team. This was Rick’s second season with the Lucan-Ilderton Jets.
75 years ago (1950)
Some garden plants in the community were frozen early Sunday morning by a white frost.
Night-ranging foxes have mauled or killed about fifty March pullets on the farm of Warren Waves, near Wellburn.
Roy Scott, Parks Superintendent, has been busy the past day or two repairing the concrete floor in the Cadzow Park swimming pool, ready for opening when schools close. The floor is apparently heaved by frosts during the winter owing to the pool being empty at that time.
100 years ago (1925)
Mr. John Muir, grocer, of Niagara Falls, a former well known resident of St. Marys, is president of the Retail Merchants Association of Ontario and delivered an address before the Association yesterday.
Airplane passengers from London to Paris are to be entertained by movies. If a journalist of fifty years ago had described a flight across the English Channel, with moving pictures in operation and a radio set affording music, what a romantic he would have been considered. ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION PERTH
66 CHURCH STREET NORTH, ST. MARYS 519 284-2267
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. We are at the Pinery Market at Grand Bend every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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)
For Rent
Large 3 bedroom downtown apartment in 3 story walk up above Gilly’s, includes all utilities, wifi, laundry, parking. References required. Available July. Please call 519-6974985
For Rent
Loft apartment for rent on 3rd floor. Fully renovated with new kitchen plus five appliances. New three piece bath. Located downtown near plaza. $1450 per month plus hydro. Call 519-662-2914
WEEK AHEAD
SPONSORED BY:
PRC & Friendship Centre events – See the Stonetown Crier on Page 5
St. Marys Public Library events – See Page 33
Friday, June 20
- 4H BBQ & bake sale at Thorndale Country Mills store – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Royal Canadian Legion “hot dogs and more” lunch at Noon
- St. Marys Presbyterian Church pork chop BBQ –Drive-thru advance tickets only $25. Pickup time
– 4:30-6:30 p.m., Tickets available at Lyric Flowers, church office or any elder
- A.N.A.F. meat draw – 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 21
- St. Marys Farmers Market at Milt Dunnell Field – 8 a.m. to Noon
- Perth County Reads launch event at Stratford Public Library – 2-3 p.m.
- Royal Canadian Legion meat draw – 5 p.m.
- A.N.A.F. chicken dinner served from 5-6 p.m., Tickets $35
Sunday, June 22
- Thorndale & Area Horticultural Society garden tour
– 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Adults $10
- Jean Sterritt 90th birthday open house at pavilion behind Little Falls School – 2-4 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25
- Alzheimer Society Huron Perth annual general meeting at Listowel Agricultural Hall. Light dinner at 5:30 p.m., meeting at 6 p.m., panel discussion 7 p.m.
