Tillsonburg Post - May 29, 2025 - Online

Tillsonburg

Tillsonburg

Town council

likely closer to selecting town hall site

It’s likely Tillsonburg council is closer to selecting a site for a new town hall.

The word ‘likely’ should be used in connection with the matter, as a decision was made in a closed session resulting from a staff report outlining the costs and pros and cons of the three potential sites for the town hall.

CAO Kyle Pratt presented the report outlining the three sites with a recommendation that council select an option and proceed with a detailed design for the selected site. The three sites are the present customer service centre on Lisgar Avenue; what is referred to as the greyfield site, which is town-owned land at the corner of Harvey and Brock Streets; and the former Peavey Mart site at 121 Concession Street East. Each site had both a high and low-cost estimate.

The customer service centre at 10 Lisgar Ave would require the demolition of the current building. It has the highest costs with both low and high estimates of $10.9 and $12.4 million for a 19,745-square-foot building. Pros for this site included public familiarity with the site, the town owning the land, and high visibility. Cons for the site included high costs, an inefficient layout with a long and narrow property, temporary relocation costs, limited expansion potential, and limited parking.

The greyfield site has the lowest costs on both the high and low estimates at $7.4 million and $11.4 million for a square footage of 16,193. Construction costs for a new build were based on the costs of recent new town halls in Zorra Township and East Zorra-Tavistock with updates for inflation. This building would be two floors and would contain an elevator.

AND THEY’RE OFF...

The Tillsonburg

Stefan’s second-place duck earned her $1,000 and the third-place finisher was worth $500 to Melissa Carroll-Phillips. Proceeds from the event will go to the club’s food pantry project.

Frank Kempf named Citizen of the Year

On any given day, thousands of Tillsonburg residents walk, ride or drive by Lake Lisgar. The town’s only lake draws people in the way many bodies of water do, but its allure to one man turned into a symbiotic relationship that benefitted the lake in many ways.

His efforts to keep the lake healthy were recognized when Frank Kempf was named Tillsonburg Citizen of the Year. The honour was official when town council confirmed the minutes of its Museum, Culture, Heritage and Special Awards Advisory Committee at the May 12 council meeting. While discussing the nomination, Mayor Deb Gilvesy

commented that she calls Frank ‘The Keeper of the Lake’. Kempf was shocked when he learned he had been named Citizen of the Year. He was aware of the nomination, as fellow members of the Kinsmen Club had asked his permission to submit his name.

“I said if you feel I’ve made a contribution to the Town of Tillsonburg, that would be okay,” he recounted.

Kempf’s involvement with Lake Lisgar started in an ironic way. He was working as a constable with the OPP when a call came in about a chemical spill in the lake in 2011.

“Because I grew up on a farm, I knew it was just an algae bloom,” he said. However, in the ensuing conversation, Kempf was told he should do something about the problem, which eventually he did.

Rotary Club’s Duck Race saw 720 rubber ducks hit the waters of the Otter Creek on Saturday to see which would be the first through the winner’s chute in front of The Mill. Scott Wass’ duck was the winner, netting him $2,500. Melinda

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

JEFF HELSDON

JEFF HELSDON

Kemp’s contribution to Lake Lisgar earn him Citizen of the Year

Previously, the Lake Lisgar Renaissance was launched in 1993 to tackle long-standing water quality issues, such as algae in the lake. Pat Carroll, a big part of the original Renaissance committee, spoke highly of Frank’s efforts in a letter of support he provided nominator Shane Curtis for the nomination.

“Frank, basically is the caretaker of Lake Lisgar harbouring the Kinship 1 barge at his home on the lake and thereby putting in countless volunteer hours to maintain the beauty and ecology of this gem we have in the middle of our town,” Carroll wrote.

"The driving force behind the beauty and sustainability of Lake Lisgar is Frank Kempf, and for that he should be recognized, thanked and celebrated by our community,” Curtis said.

Fast-forward to when Kempf received the call, and the lake was worsening again. Kempf met Pat Carroll, who was part of the original restoration efforts.

“At that point we decided we would restart the program again,” Kempf said.

His wife Paula suggested contacting local service clubs to see if there was support for improving the lake.

“Everybody was excited about restarting the improvement project on the lake,” he said.

As a result, the Lake Lisgar Revitalization Committee was formed in 2011. Joan Weston was designated grant writer, John Glass was the chair, and Kempf was appointed to work in community relations, fundraising, and overseeing improvements. A

couple of other changes in Kempf’s life benefitted the lake: he joined the Kinsmen Club, which had been maintaining the lake, and he moved to a house his wife always loved—which was on Lake Lisgar.

Having the lake in his backyard made a difference for Kempf.

“I could see it every day,” he said. “I could see the deterioration and it was just unhealthy.”

Since the committee started, many improvements have been achieved. The most noticeable was when Kempf installed more aerators in the lake.

“They have made the largest difference in the lake oxygen,” he said. “Oxygen is the most important thing to make clean, healthy water. Sometimes Mother Nature just needs a helping hand.”

Other noticeable improvements the committee contributed to were the new docks for the rowing club and adjacent to Gibson House. Kempf also oversees ensuring the lake is stocked with trout every year.

Next on the list is tackling the siltation in the north end of the lake. Kempf has been talking to town engineers and Paul Gagnon of Long Point Region Conservation Authority—whom he gave a lot of credit to for helping—about what needs to be done. He believes a long-reach excavator will be the solution.

Outside of his contributions with the lake, Kempf was also involved in assisting with bringing several concerts to town with the fair board. These included High Valley, Aaron Pritchard, The Spoons and more.

Decision on town hall site went to closed council

Pros of this site include efficiency, improved functionality, nearby parking, no renovations, the town already owns the land, and no interruption of business, and revenue for the sale of the customer service centre. Cons of the greyfield site include the cost of relocating utilities, the loss of 50 parking spaces, possible site remediation and an existing lease on the property. There is also room on the site to build a daycare if council decides to go in that direction.

The Concession Street site comes with a middle-of-the-road cost, ranging from a low of $9.4 million to a high of $12.8 million for the largest building, which is 20,000 square feet. These estimates included the $3.8 million list price to purchase the property. It also comes with the largest attached lot at 2.42 acres. Town staff assessed the building's condition as fair and noted that the roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, requiring replacement at a cost of $700,000.

Pros for the site included a rectangular design that would allow for efficiency, onsite parking, and future expansion possibilities. Cons are having to purchase the property at a price of $2.8 million, it’s not in the downtown core, extensive interior and exterior renovations and relocating the fibre internet.

“One of the things I want to note about Concession Street is when you take in the cost per square foot, the greyfield site is still the lowest on the low, but Concession Street is the lowest on the high end,” Pratt said, advising council to look not just at the cost but also the pros and cons.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres, who originally suggested examining the Concession Street site, inquired about potential surprises associated with it and how it could be incorporated into the mix. Pratt answered that a conditional offer of sale could be used to that end.

Coun. Kelly Spencer noted the greyfield site was the only one marked high to achieve a carbon-neutral goal, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has a grant that can pay up to $10

million towards sustainable buildings. She asked about the possibility of accessing these grants.

Director of Finance/Treasurer Renato Pullia explained there is a grant for a feasibility study, which is necessary to access the grant, and for up to 20 per cent of the cost of the building. He said the grant for studies is closed due to high demand, and FCM is looking to fund the most innovative and impactful initiatives.

“Not all eligible projects will be approved for funding,” he said. “We could go through all that work to meet eligibility and still not receive funding.”

Noting Concession Street isn’t in the core, but may be if the BIA boundary expansion goes ahead, Spencer asked if the bus goes there. She was told it goes down Tillson Ave, which is just a short walk away.

Since town council previously passed a motion that construction of the town hall couldn’t proceed until 50 per cent of the construction costs were raised through the sale of assets, she asked how the funds for the property purchase would be raised.

Development commissioner Cephas Panschow said this could be through the sale of the existing customer service centre. Pullia added it could be funded internally or through debt financing.

Beres asked which of the options would allow the quickest occupancy and was told 121 Concession would.

Coun. Pete Luciani expanded on Spencer’s point on the funds for the property purchase and was told some land sales were complete. Pullia said the $11 million upside cost for the town hall set by council was for construction costs and the property purchase could be dealt with differently.

Beres presented a motion, which was approved, that council move into a closed session to discuss possible property purchases, a normal procedure for matters involving real estate. The report coming out of that session was that council discussed the town hall project and provided direction to staff.

Linda Co dham ** Crysta Ketchabaw * Brandon K **

Rob Koppert

Broker of Record/Owner

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

Frank Kempf was named Tillsonburg Citizen of the Year for 2025. Standing in his backyard overlooking Lake Lisgar, Kempf has a first-hand view of the lake and the changes, for good and bad.

Tillsonburg appoints new fire chief

JEFF HELSDON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Scott Tegler, who was the interim fire chief after the departure of Shane Caskanette, has accepted the job on a full-time basis.

Born and raised in Woodstock, Tegler started as a full-time firefighter in 1988 after working for the city in the parks and recreation department as a student while in college. While his career passion hadn’t been to be a firefighter growing up, while employed with the City of Woodstock at that time, an opportunity became available with the fire department, he became interested and thought he would try pursuing the opportunity.

Originally Tegler wanted to be a farmer, and studied agriculture in college. Musing about the switch to firefighting, he said, “I thought it seemed interesting, obvious things like helping people.”

He also grew up playing team sports like baseball and hockey and liked the team environment offered with firefighting.

Tegler moved up to an acting officer, and then deputy chief on a day etched in the collective memory of all firefighters: Sept. 9, 2001. In January 2003, he was made chief.

During his time in Woodstock, Tegler developed and executed the fire services master plan. He also led a multi-disciplinary team that restructured the voice and mobile data communications system to serve the fire department, police department and civic departments of the City of Woodstock.

Following a tragic event involving his family in 2016, Tegler made a choice not to return to the position. He and his spouse pursued some business opportunities and in late 2024, after hearing that Caskanette made a decision to move on, discussion of returning to the field as Tillsonburg’s interim fire chief occurred. Caskanette

was Tegler’s Deputy Fire Chief in Woodstock a number years ago where they both began their careers.

“I’ve seen the good things that Shane did in the time he was here,” Tegler said of his initial reason for applying.

“Scott brings a wealth of experience and education to his position with the Town of Tillsonburg including over 30 years of progressive experience in firefighting, emergency response and fire safety management,” says CAO Kyle Pratt. “I’m pleased he put his name forward for our consideration.”

He plans to continue Caskanette’s plan and add his “own flare to it.”

“I like developing people,” Tegler said. “Since coming to Tillsonburg and seeing the people and where the organization is at, I feel there is an opportunity to develop the next phase.”

He talked positively of the professionalism and assistance of his fire suppression crews and dispatchers since arriving. Additionally, Tegler credits the investment the town made in the dispatch centre, and the contracts Caskanette added to bring to 65 the number of stations that are dispatched from Tillsonburg. These range from Fort Erie and Halton Hills, north to Gravenhurst and the Bruce Peninsula.

Tegler plans on following the fire master plan and mentioned the growing number of new buildings that bring an increased need for more planning and prevention. He praised the town’s volunteer crews but said more systems and people need to put in place in the future. Facilities are aging, and lack sufficient space and generally accepted standards of a modern-day facility.

“It comes down to budgeting restraints and the wishes of council,” he said.

A new fire station is in the town’s capital plan, but 10 years down the road. In the meantime, Tegler said they need to manage.

Besides fire suppression and fire education, the chief will also oversee emergency management and disaster planning.

In the short term, Tegler plans on spending more time becoming acclimatized to Tillsonburg. He wants to work on developing more business for the communications centre and stay within budget for the year.

“Then I want to have a deeper look and talk to council about the future,” he said.

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Letters to the Editor

On May 20th, the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society hosted its 17th Annual Garden Auction and Plant Sale.

We would like to thank the business community for their exceptionally generous donations. We would also like to thank those who attended, whether it was simply to purchase plants or baking items, or to purchase chance tickets on the prize draw or to participate in the live auction, your contributions are very, very much appreciated.

On behalf of “the Hort”, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the entire community for your significant support which greatly helps beautify the town.

Sincerely,

Christine Nagy President

Regarding Laurel A. Beechey’s column on May 15, where she lists all the wonderful anniversaries going on around Tillsonburg, there’s another that can be added to the list.

The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year! I am a proud volunteer with CHAA, and it is wonderful to see this gem of an organization have such longevity considering it is all volunteer-run and gets no government assistance.

For those not familiar with the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association – and I hear there are some residents of Tillsonburg who still don’t know we exist – we are a registered charitable organization with a mission to restore, maintain and fly the Harvard aircraft as a legacy, and in honour of those who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. We are the bright yellow planes that fly over town all summer taking people for rides.

Come visit our hangars at the Tillsonburg Regional Airport on Tuesdays or Saturdays, or attend any of our monthly Open House events, which are always free to enter. Or even better, purchase a flight experience and come fly with us!

Diana Spremo, Volunteer, CHAA

Closing of theatre leaves a gap in town

Driving down Broadway, the closing of Broadway Cinemas already leaves a gap with the sign of coming movies being starkly empty.

When it opened, the movie theatre had been identified through a town survey as a needed amenity in Tillsonburg. About three decades later, the glaring question is if this is still a needed thing in Tillsonburg.

There is no question the last few years must have been a struggle for the owners, and movie theatres in general. Following Covid restrictions that caused closures, the movie industry had to grapple with the writers’ strike that limited the number of fresh movies to hit the big screen.

Yet when new, hot movies hit the screen – like Minecraft recently – there were huge line-ups of people wanting to catch the movie on Broadway Cinema’s large screen.

Movie theatres are something that have universal appeal to diverse age groups. There are movies which appeal to the younger generation – which is often the driver of a movie theatre – and those that draw people of all ages. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a blockbuster like Titanic or the Star Wars series in a few years.

Many local residents are noting the closing of the movie theatre is the loss of another thing for young people to do

in town. They aren’t wrong. The bowling alley was popular for people and a place for children’s birthday parties. Closing of the mini-golf and driving range is another loss that could be considered in the same category.

The movie theatre, bowling alley and mini-golf are all private businesses. Except for exceptional circumstances, money-making businesses don’t close.

There is no doubt Covid closures hit entertainment businesses especially hard. An argument could also be made these businesses assist with the mental well-being of youth and more government support should have been provided. However, it is too late for that.

Interesting parallels can be made looking at surrounding towns. There are bowling alleys in both Aylmer and Delhi, which are both considerably smaller. Simcoe, which is marginally smaller, still has a movie theatre. Although the Simcoe movie theatre is older than Tillsonburg, technology-wise it’s on par. On the movie front, many locals often ventured to the city and the newer technology.

Perhaps a lesson that could be learned for the people of Tillsonburg is to support the local businesses we have whenever possible.

Unique perspectives and diversity inspire the community

ROBIN KRAFFT

Tillsonburg Post Columnist

EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL

People who come to work and live in Canada from abroad contribute a great deal to our communities. A resident of Tillsonburg for only two years, Pastor Rockey Andrew will soon be on his way back home to South Africa. During his time here, he led the congregation at the Alliance Church and volunteered to minister and share a message of faith as part of The O.N.E. (Oxford, Norfolk, Elgin) Gathering. The non-denominational group meets at The Salvation Army through the generous permission of Lt. Drew Young.

Pastor Rockey and his family have lived in Bali, England and Canada, but he grew up in South Africa. His great grandparents were brought by the British from India to South Africa, and enslaved on sugar plantations. A great deal of change occurred throughout the next generations as the social and political climate shifted.

Always looking for a way to make a difference, and to address some of the needs that were evident during those tumultuous years, Pastor Rockey designed a curriculum and established a youth organization called Epic Youth Matters. The various programs were designed to equip children and young people with life skills, integrity, acceptance of diversity, a strong work ethic and an ability to set goals. The organization delivered their workshop-style lessons in South African schools. Pastor Rockey left it in the capable hands of the board of directors, who have continued to evolve and create new programs in response to the needs of their communities.

When he made the decision to come to Canada, with his wife Cheryl and two adult sons, their two adult daughters remained in South Africa. When they return, they’ll be assisting their daughter Rachel, who specializes in child development. In response to the dramatic increase in chil-

dren who are on the autism spectrum, she is endeavoring to establish a prototype program to inspire reforms in education.

Unlike Canada, where children are provided with additional support within the school system, there are no programs there to support students and families who are dealing with their exceptional child's education and care. There are no educational assistants in classrooms. Pastor Rockey described how the school system in South Africa, which used to be divided along racial lines, is now a matter of what families can afford to pay. A more expensive school has a lower teacher to student ratio and more materials and amenities compared to low-cost education, where there may be as many as 40 students crowded into a classroom with one teacher. Parents of children on the spectrum may attend school with their child or pay a private carer to support them; otherwise most must be homeschooled. Rachel's goals are to set up a training center that would support parents and caregivers, create a space designed for children on the spectrum, and establish a catalog of resources.

The family is at peace with their decision to return to South Africa. Aside from cultural and social differences, the cost of living in Canada was definitely part of the equation, which he notes is very high compared to the UK or South Africa. Coming to Canada isn't simple. Getting a work permit is an expensive and complicated process. Further steps, such as applying for permanent residency, and then citizenship, is a much longer and more detailed process.

As he prepares for this next chapter, Pastor Rockey reflects on his time here.

“I wanted to be connected to the people and the community,” he said, “I wanted to be that caring person.”

He was certainly appreciated. Many members of The O.N.E. Gathering have written letters on his behalf. He offered a unique perspective and message of gratitude and oneness, rather than sameness. A representative of the congregation described his contributions: “Rockey is our rock. He’s been through trials and fires and never wavers. Each Sunday, new people continue to flow in, hearing of his ministry of revelation and truth. Rockey made himself our sanctuary, a soft safe place to land where we’re free to seek our God with open hearts and grow stronger in spirit. Pastor Rockey made himself available, not just for Wednesday prayer meetings and Sunday service, but to pitch in and help anywhere he was needed. He has been a blessing.”

The Tillson family’s journey through early North America

In the 1600s & 1700s Europe, with so many people, had so little land, and so few prospects but North America was there for the taking. The French, British, Spanish, German, Dutch and Swedish were there doing the taking.

The Indigenous people helped and taught many Europeans how to stay alive over their first winters and how to use the land. With six different European languages, plus an assortment of tribal languages, somehow, they brokered land treaties. How could either side comprehend what the other actually expected?

“In 1626 Indians did everything by trade, and they did not believe that land could be privately owned, any more than could water, air, or sunlight. But they did believe in giving gifts for favours done. The Lenape—one of the tribes that lived on the island now known as Manhattan—interpreted the trade of goods as gifts given in appreciation for the right to share the land,” according to the National Museum of the American Indian, Do All Indians Live in Tipis? Europeans kept coming. More land was needed. The Tillsons, Barkers, my own, and perhaps your family, plus thousands of others immigrated to start a new life. How did the first Tillsons fare in New England? Edmond, George’s three-times great-grandfather, arrived in 1638, in Plymouth. The next few generations moved westward to Greenwich/ Enfield Mass. Tillsonburg’s founder, George was born there in 1782, although he moved north, in 1804 to Stetson, Maine for land.

Indigenous tribes had territorial disputes with each other but now partnered with the European tribes in trade and war. The Algonquians and Hurons allied with the French. The Iroquois Confederacy, with the Dutch and English. Did everyone get along? No. The Beaver Wars [French and Iroquois Wars] were all about the lucrative beaver pelt trade. But as the beaver population was decimated, trade moved west. The Four Anglo-Dutch wars were fought mostly at sea, however the disputes were over trade and colonial territories globally, and in the new world. Then the Acadian War with the French: who claimed our Maritimes provinces and Quebec; the four ‘Indian Wars’ and King Phillip’s War from (1675–76). King Philip was an Indigenous leader and this war “pitted Native Americans against English settlers and their Indian allies. It was one of the bloodiest conflicts (per capita) in U.S. history. These ‘wars’ scattered through the colonies, paled to the 1776 revolution which pitted family against family.

George Tillson married Nancy, whose father Daniel Barker was born 1754 in Exeter, New Hampshire. In 1775, the first alarm of US revolution sounded, and 21-year-old Daniel joined with Captain Isaac Sherman’s company in Cambridge, Mass. serving for six weeks.

Not having yet declared their independence, the “United States” Continental Army launched an invasion into Canada in the summer of 1775 led by Col. Benedict Arnold. He hoped to seize Quebec City for its strategic location on the St. Lawrence River and recruit French-Canadians to join their rebellion, whom declined. The army eventually retreated from Canada.

Daniel signed back up in 1776 with Capt. Amasa Cranson, and for this stint, he and later his wife received a pension.

Mercer V. Tillson’s Tillson Genealogy from 1911 lists many enlistments, such as Ichabod Tillson, a drummer in 1775, with “orders for bounty, coat or its equivalent in money due for eight months service in 1775 in Bridgeham’s Co.” John C.F. Tillson, graduated from

West Point and served Texas; New Orleans, Ft. McPherson, Atlanta Georgia with 5th Company and appoint Captain by President McKinley.

Thirty-six years later the United States, tried again to take Canada in the War of 1812-14, attacking multiple settlements, including Pt. Dover on the north coast of the border. Thomas Jefferson felt it was only a “mere matter of marching and will give us experience for the attack on Halifax, the next and the final expulsion of England from the American continent.”

George, Nancy and family moved to Canada in 1822.

One hundred years after fighting for their freedom from Britain, the Americans were at war with themselves - north against south - in the Civil War. In 1861, cousin Hiram O. Tillson, was 1st Sergeant of Co. K, 3rd regiment at Fortress Monroe, and was 27 years-old old. Later he enlisted with Capt. Josiah Fuller, Co. 3201, Mass. Reg. as lieutenant. Here he was “wounded in hip in an engagement with the enemy and returned home and shot himself, dying on April 15, 1865.”

LAUREL A. BEECHEY Tillsonburg Post Columnist

Tillsonburg council briefs

Voting method determined

When Tillsonburg voters cast their ballots in next year’s municipal election, they will again be doing it electronically.

Deputy Clerk Amalia Jaggard came to council asking for approval to continue the online and telephone voting used in 2018 and 2022, saying with early approval a better price could be sought through joint procurement of a service provider.

“The method offers increased accessibility, voter convenience, cost savings and quicker and more accurate results,” she said.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres asked if there will be paper ballots for people who are technologically challenged. Jaggard said just the two methods, but did say there will be assistance available for people struggling with the technology.

Hall of fame scoring criteria updated Tillsonburg council adopted updated scoring criteria for its Sports Hall of Fame as recommended by the Recreation and Sports Advisory Committee.

The committee recommended updates to the application process to make it simpler. A scoring matrix for applicants was adopted from other municipalities

To be selected as an athlete, a person “must have competed successfully in a local, regional, provincial, national, international, amateur, sanctioned, or non-sanctioned sport, having performed in such a way as an individual or member of a team to bring special honour to Tillsonburg.”

There was also criteria for a team which achieved a high level of recognition within a year. Coaches, officials, executive members, teachers, administrators or sponsors can be recognized as builders for their efforts on building sports in Tillsonburg.

The number of nominees in a year will be limited to two builders, two teams and four individuals.

Town’s first quarter finances favourable

Reports to council at the May 12 meeting showed the town is in a favourable financial position at the end of the first quarter.

Treasurer Renato Pullia’s report showed a favourable variance of $348,235. He did caution council that “this preliminary figure is not a certain indication of what may be expected as the year progresses.”

Record industrial building

The first quarter was mixed news for Tillsonburg in terms of building permits.

The good news is the first quarter’s $50.5 million worth of industrial construction was a record. The next closest for industrial construction value was 2022 with $5.6 million.

The good news continues in all sectors, except institutional, saw growth as compared to 2024. The bad news is the overall number of residential permits was only 17, compared to the record of 84 in 2021. This resulted in a slight deficit from the budgeted amount for permit value for the first quarter.

Lightweight Gym receives grant

Lightweight Gym, at 146 Tillson Ave., will receive A $5,000 grant through the town’s Community Improvement Plan.

An application was before council for the funding to cover renovations to add a second floor to the facility to host fitness classes. Council endorsed the application.

Animal control rates increased

Rates for animal control services in Tillsonburg increased with a two-year contract.

Hillside Kennels Animal Control Ltd., which previously provided this service in Tillsonburg, was the successful bidder in a request for quotations. The rates increased slightly and are based on a per-service fee. The fees provided were service calls, euthanasia dog, euthanasia cat and setting a trap. All went up $5 except for euthanasia cat, which went up $15 to $75.

Town adopts management of policies policy

The Town of Tillsonburg has a new policy to control its adoption of new policies.

Deputy Clerk Amelia Jaggard explained the policy will formalize how the town develops, reviews and approves policies.

“The policy distinguishes between corporate and administrative policies, outlines approval criteria, and sets a four-year review cycle,” the report on the matter stated. “It promotes consistency, transparency and alignment with the Municipal Act 2001, helping to reduce risk and improve accountability across the organization.”

Station Arts MOU amended

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Station Arts Centre and the town was amended to allow the construction of the Community Pantry.

Building such a facility was suggested by the Station Arts Centre in conjunction with the local Rotary Club, and was approved by council. The amendment puts all responsibility for the Community Pantry on the Station Arts Centre, and ensures that all town and health regulations are followed.

BIA proposed expansion

Coun. Chris Rosehart reminded local businesses who are tenants to have their say in the BIA expansion.

As reported in an earlier version of the Post, Tillsonburg BIA is proposing to expand the boundaries of the BIA outside of the downtown core. If passed, this will mean businesses in the expanded area will have access to BIA promotions, but will have to pay an annual BIA levy as part of their taxes. Businesses vote on if they want to see this occur.

Rosehart said during the public interest session that she has been getting a lot of calls on the matter. She was concerned letters about the expansion will only go to the property owner, and tenant businesses may be unaware.

“The tenants should get a letter from the owner of the building so they can also vote on this and a lot of that hasn’t been happening,” she said.

Poop and scoop reminder

During the items of public interest session at council, Coun. Chris Parker reminded the public that baseball is in full swing. He said there are people who are using ball parks as a dog park and not cleaning up their pet’s waste.

“The ball park is not the place for dogs,” he said. “It becomes disgusting at times.”

Local MP Arpan Khanna appointed to party executive

JEFF HELSDON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Oxford MP Arpan Khanna has a larger role in the Conservative Party as Parliament resumes.

Khanna was sworn in Friday at the House of Commons in Ottawa for the second time. Several Tillsonburg residents were amongst the 50 Oxford residents who made the trip to watch the ceremony. Khanna was proud of the diversity of the people present, mentioning there were Legion members, union representatives, farmers and small-business people present.

“I was truly humbled and grateful they made that trip

down,” he said Monday. “It’s a long trip down.”

Khanna was named national outreach chair, which made him part of the 11-member leadership team for the Conservative Party of Canada. He held this position previously, but not as part of the party executive. As national outreach chair one of his jobs will be to travel across Canada, talking to Canadians about the issues that are important to them.

The beginning of this session of the House of Commons has more prominence than normal with King Charles III reading the Throne Speech, which is usually done by the governor general.

“It always adds excitement when they do visit us,” Khanna said. “It’s the first time in 50 years a monarch has read a

Tillsonburg hospital emergency nurse Lisa Smith was the winner of $59,477 in the Split the Pot Lottery. Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation joined in the provincial lottery, which benefits more than 70 hospitals across the province, last year. When ticket purchasers choose TDMH Foundation, 20 per cent of the ticket purchase comes to the local hospital. Tickets are available online at on.splitthepot.ca for $10 and up. Tillsonburg resident Nancy Robson was also an early bird winner in the lottery.

throne speech in Canada.”

He is excited for debate to start in the House of Commons and wants to raise the many issues he heard from the people of Oxford during the campaign and over the last two years. He said if the Liberal government brings out common sense regulations that will make life better for Canadians, the Conservatives will support it. But, if the government “continues on the same path they were on before with Justin Trudeau” that brought on crises in many sectors, Khanna said he won’t be supporting the legislation.

“We are a bit nervous because of the past,” he said.

In Haldimand-Norfolk, MP Leslyn Lewis continues in her role as Shadow Minister for Infrastructure.

Doug

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

Local air cadet earns pilot scholarship

JEFF HELSDON Editor

A member of the 153 Varnavair Royal Canadian Air Cadets is one of an elite few who earned a scholarship that will give her a pilot’s license.

Flight Sergeant Addison Mabee, 16, of Delhi has been in cadets for four years.

“I heard through a family friend the cadet program was a great way to get into a leadership role in the community,” she said of the original reason she joined. “I stayed because of the opportunities it gave me and the ability to get my pilot’s license.”

It’s Mabee’s goal to join the military after she is done school, and do something in aviation. Mabee said she knew she wanted to be a military pilot two years ago when she took her first glider flight.

Last summer, Mabee earned her glider pilot’s license. She applied for a scholarship and went to Trenton for seven weeks last summer to earn her license to fly the

non-powered aircraft.

“They really want you to succeed,” she said of the glider training process. “It was a very positive environment. Every day they talked about how they wanted you to succeed.”

She has since earned her solo status by travelling every weekend to Centralia and Chatham to fly gliders. The next step in this process is her familiarization license, which will allow her to take passengers up.

“I help put cadets in the glider and discover their love for aviation,” she said of the weekend flights. “I hopefully get to fly once or twice per day.”

This summer’s scholarship and training will involve flying daily for five hours and five hours of ground school. There are 11 exams and two flight tests. The process started with ground school last October, which lasted until January. In February she wrote a qualifying exam. The application process looked at her marks and also what else she accomplished in cadets. Mabee completed marksmanship, biathlon and effective speaking to that end. An interview followed in March, and she found out recently she was successful.

After finishing secondary school, Mabee hopes to enlist, and go to Royal Military College to earn a degree in aeronautical engineering. That will be part of the pathway to fly fighter jets.

“It’s a challenge because not enough women want to do it,” she said. “The reason women don’t do it is because it’s a male-dominated field.”

There have only been seven female fighter pilots since the first in 1989,

With Canadians paying attention to what the country’s next fighter plane will be, this pilot hopeful weighed in, saying she hopes for F-35s.

Captain Mike Neff, commanding officer of 153 air cadets, said Mabee is not the first Tillsonburg cadet to earn her pilot’s license. There have been five before her, of which one was female. Although none of those cadets had the aspiration to fly in the military, Neff knows one flies for Air Canada now.

“We always tell them they get as much out of it as they put into it,” he said. “Obviously she put the effort in and sees the fruits of her labour.”

The Royal Canadian Air Cadets are open to youth from

12 to 18. There is no cost and uniforms are supplied. The program offers summer training opportunities, and the ability to be on staff in the summer as a paid job.

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(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO) Flight Sergeant Addison Mabee shows off the pins she earned for completing marksmanship, biathlon and effective speaking. The pins were one factor in deciding if she was to earn a pilot’s license scholarship.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

This photo shows Flight Sergeant Addison Mabee of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at her glider training school in Mountainview last year. She earned a scholarship for her glider license, and is hoping to gain a pilot’s license this summer.

Baldwin Ladies host fashion show fundraiser for Community Living Tillsonburg

LAUREL BEECHEY

Post Contributor

A fundraising fashion show for seniors by seniors? The Baldwin Ladies Luncheon pulled it off beautifully as part of the 70th anniversary celebration for Community Living Tillsonburg (CLT).

As noted in the March 19 edition of the Tillsonburg Post, “In the early 1950s, services for individuals with developmental disabilities were limited to segregated care in large institutions. In the mid-1950s, change started.”

That change continued, and Tillsonburg’s association was on board. With help from local service clubs and the community, a school was built. Every decade since has seen new and better ways to bring people with developmental challenges into society.

Group homes came and went. Today, children and adults with developmental disabilities are supported in their own homes, integrated in the mainstream, and working in the community. The organization’s name changed, too — it became Community Living Tillsonburg (CLT).

Today, CLT supports more than 300 clients across the region. There are seven group homes, 71 children in daycare, 50 families receiving support, and 48 individuals living independently. The Baxter Centre at 126 Con -

cession St. supports 90 people in a variety of ways. As you can imagine, fundraising is essential, abd the fashion show was part of that.

After a sneak peek at the racks of clothes, we enjoyed Bere’s fabulous spring-light buffet, learned more about Community Living’s inclusion work, and then the fashion show began! Seven models changed multiple times, showing off summer fashion, casual wear, and even a little glitter, all from Amanda and Pauline’s Y Knot shop in Port Rowan. The shop also donated 10 per cent of its sales and some door prizes to CLT.

Guests contributed many hygiene items and cash donations to help Community Living clients.

A generous number of door prizes were also donated by local businesses.

It was the best fashion show I’ve ever attended — because the models were my age, wearing clothes I could imagine wearing! Some were a little shy and self-conscious at first, but after a couple of outfit changes, they were strutting their stuff!

Kudos to the models, including Shannon and Lydia — clients of CLT — and volunteers from Baldwin Place and Hickory Hills: Lynne, Tracy, Glenda, Annette and Diane Dietrich. Diane not only modelled but also organized, set up and ran the event with a great team of helpers.

Oxford County Library introduces new home delivery program for rural families with newborns

The Oxford County Library is introducing a new delivery program called “Bundles of Joy” for families in our rural communities who have welcomed a new baby in the past 12 months. Each Bundle of Joy kit will contain books for everyone in the household, resources for parents and activities for older children. Each kit will be delivered monthly to your home by the Ox on the Run mobile library unit and will be picked up when the next delivery is dropped off.

Participants can access the program for up to one year, after which they are encouraged to visit their local library branch or visit one of the Ox on the Run rural stops in their community.

Deliveries for each community will be made the same day each month from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Participants do not need to be home to receive their kit or set out the previous months kit for pick-up. In the

case of rain or inclement weather, participants will be contacted to reschedule their delivery date. The delivery dates are different for each community. Oxford County residents can register for the program online at www.ocl.net/our-services/bundlesof-joy/. Participants must have an Oxford County Library card to register; visit a local branch or complete the library card application form online at www.ocl.net to get a library card.

PLANT AUCTION

Auctioneer Shelley Miller was following in her father Bev Burrill’s footsteps when she was the auctioneer for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society’s annual plant auction at the Tillsonburg Community Centre. Burrill has been an auctioneer for 15 years at the event. More than 250 people showed up for the fundraiser, which the society uses to raise funds for public space beautification, to fund its junior gardener program and to pay for speakers at its meetings. (Above photo) A wine raffle, sponsored by Century 21 Heritage House Ltd. Tillsonburg, was a new addition to the evening. Broker Laura Curtis and agent Tammy Kyle sold out tickets for the fundraiser.

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTOS)

OPP investigating a mischief incident in Norwich

A mischief involving a Pride flag has been reported in Norwich Township.

On May 20, 2025, members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Oxford detachment, were notified of a mischief that occurred at a school in Norwich.

At approximately 11:35 p.m. on Friday May 16, two individuals attended the Jerdon Street address, removed the flag from the flagpole and lit it on fire.

There are no descriptors of the suspects currently.

The investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided when available.

Police are asking that anyone with information about this investigation, including video surveillance to contact the Oxford OPP immediately at 1-888310-1122 or *677 via cell phone.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit an online tip at www.oxfordcrimestoppers.com where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.

Public help sought in dog-bite incident

Southwestern Public Health is seeking help to identify a dog involved in a bite incident in Tillsonburg.

The incident took place on Monday May 19, 2025, on the Trans Canada Trail between North and Broadway St. in Tillsonburg, ON around 2 p.m.

The dog is described as a medium-sized, light brown pit bull, walking with a dark-haired male, believed to be 30–40 years old and wearing a pink

T-shirt.

Public health wants to confirm the vaccination status of the dog to allow the victim and their healthcare provider to determine next steps related to rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.

If you are the owner of the dog or have information about the incident, please contact Southwestern Public Health at 1-800-922-0096 and ask to speak with a Public Health Inspector.

Weekend Quiz

1. What year did Ontario switch to 4-letter, 3-number license plates?

2. How many World Series titles does the Toronto Blue Jays have?

3. Big Ben is located beside the Palace of what?

4. Which great ruler’s tomb was kept secret by killing the builders and their executioners?

by Jake Grant

5. What video game character is blue and is a hedgehog?

6. Who could spin straw into gold?

7. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman co-starred in what 1995 film?

8. Where did pomegranates primarily originate from?

9. What does KO mean in boxing?

10. Budweiser Gardens is now called what?

Murder Amongst Friends

Welcome to 5 Minute Mysteries Sponsored by Habit of Murder opening May 29th 7:30 at the Theatre Tillsonburg. To celebrate our first Murder Mystery in some time, Theatre Tillsonburg is sponsoring a series of WhoDunits here in the Tillsonburg Post and on our Theatre’s social media sites. Our Mission: get our readers into the super sleuth mode, activate your detective mindset and challenge you with a series of written and visual mysteries to solve. This week is our third and final written mystery challenge “Murder Amongst Friends.” We invite you to solve this 5 Minute Mystery. The solution will be published elsewhere in this edition of the Tillsonburg Post – don’t peek until you have solved it! A special thank you to Jeff at the Tillsonburg Post who has supported and set this series up for you the readers to enjoy. During the run of Habit of Murder each night audience members will have the chance to SOLVE the Murder in the show and win a prize. Welcome to 5 Minute Mysteries sponsored by Habit of Murder running May 29- June 8 at Theatre Tillsonburg. Get your Tickets now and prevent a murderer from getting away! Comedy + Murder+ Mystery = Fun.

By Joe Sheik

When close friends gather it’s usually a memorable time. The night of June 8th , a closing time for so many of these friends, was no different. Emma Harrison was usually the first person out of bed in the mornings, however, on this cool June morning, she was still in bed at 10. The others in the Enns Bread and Breakfast all slept late that day, so they would say. The party of the night before was a huge success so the blearyeyed guests did not notice Winnie’s absence from the kitchen until Poppy the last person to arise, voiced his concern.

After several banters about parties and age, Leo, Winnie’s husband of 24 years, returned to the bedroom to check on his wife. Shockingly he found Winnie, a handsome woman of 44 years, dead. The only noticeable evidence of foul play was a small, round head wound near her temple, crusted over with a small amount of dried blood.

She looked as though she was peacefully asleep, which Leo considered was quite unlike her, as she was usually a noisy, restless sleeper owing to a lifetime of suffering with sinus issues. His undying affection for her overwhelmed him and he wept. The coroner placed the murder at some time around two in the morning.

The murder weapon, later discovered to be an ice pick, missing from the kitchen, killed her quickly. There was no blood on Winnie’s body or bed sheets.

The case stumped the many guests from the party as well as Officer Buddy Wallen. Several weeks passed, and June gave way to the dog days of summer. Leo invited his sister-in-law Sunny, a widow who lived in B.C., back to visit for the first time since her sister had been murdered. Sunny had been vacationing, staying with the Matthews family. She was nearly inconsolable, and Leo sent her to B.C. soon after the funeral.

Sunny had little use for Leo, whom she suspected of being a bit of a gambler and felt didn’t apply himself to his career. She and Winnie had been close when they were children, even with the age difference. They had shared a bedroom in their family’s small, B.C. farmhouse and also shared all of their hopes and dreams. Winnie’s death had been extremely hard on her.

The morning Sunny arrived, just after breakfast, Leo gathered all of the friends from the night of the murder back to the bed and breakfast’s spacious den. It was the first time since that horrible day they had all been together.

After a few minutes of awkward small talk, Officer Buddy Wallen cleared his throat and stated, “One of you murdered Winnie.”

He was stumped by the case, and he needed additional assistance. Sister Vivian Salter a Catholic nun known for her investigative skills was invited by her good friend Buddy to ask key questions in the hopes that one of the group remembered a detail they’d previously forgotten or might reveal something to the highly astute nun.

Officer Wallen explained that he wanted to bring them together to talk about Winnie’s murder again, with Sunny present as well as his investigative partner. Sister Vivian jumped to the point, “Did anyone see or hear anything out of the ordinary June 8th, the night Winnie died?”

The Harrison Bed and Breakfast was a big two-story estate house and well insulated. Sound did not carry well in it. Initially Sister Vivian was not surprised when nobody replied in the affirmative. But she held her tight stare on each until one of them spoke.

Poppy said, “I came home around midnight. I had slipped out and came back to the party a bit late. All the lights were out and I assumed everyone was in bed. I went to the den and watched TV. It must have been three or so before I went upstairs to bed.”

Emma offered, “I was on a video chat in my room, with the door closed. Adelle and I didn’t quit talking until 2:30 or so.” Emma gave Sister Vivian a guilty look.

Vivian then turned to Sunny, taking the room by surprise as they all knew the relationship between the sisters, Vivian asked, “And what about you?”

Sunny eager as always answered, “I went to bed around midnight and didn’t see or talk to anyone again

until next morning.”

She paused, and then said to Poppy, “I thought about coming downstairs to watch television with you, but could tell that you were watching one of those Rom Coms. I prefer Friday-the-13th-type movies.

Turning to Vivian, she said, “I didn’t hear anything from Winnie’s room all night long.”

Sunny and Vivian looked at each other. Sunny asked, “So what about Winnie’s risk-taking husband Leo?”

Vivian cut Sunny short with a reply of her own, “I’ll ask the questions here Sunny.”

Nonetheless Leo replied, “I went to bed at 11:30. I vaguely recall hearing Poppy come in downstairs as I was drifting off to a deep sleep. That’s the last thing I remember before awaking the next morning.” He shook, and his voice cracked when saying, “I didn’t notice anything wrong when I got up. I’m always groggy before morning coffee.”

Emma blurted out to the Nun, “You don’t really believe Poppy or I killed Winnie, do you?

She nervously glanced at Sunny and said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you killed Winnie.”

Emma’s cheeks were rosy red from embarrassment a contrast to her green tinted hair.

Vivian cut off the back-and-forth banter of the guests and zeroed in on Sunny. “You are the only one who cannot account for your presence during the window of time Winnie was murdered.”

Sunny thought a long moment, sadness washing over her as she looked at Winnie’s closest friends. Before Sunny could reply, Vivian steeled herself looking across the room.

“Sunny cannot account for her time. Then again, she need not explain it to me because it doesn’t make any difference. The game is up.” Officer Wallen dropping his investigative booklet in surprise at the suddenness of his friend asked “Well Viv who did it.”

...Find the solution on Page 31!

Solution to Death Of An Actor (Published last issue)

Emma Harrison had a look of surprise, saying, "Excuse me!”

Vivian smiled saying, "I know that you killed her because you were the only one without a witness. Max talked to his wife, and so she could be called as a witness. Your time leaving for the restroom would give you enough time to kill Winnie back stage with the urn and drag her to the ladies’ room in the hopes the men would not notice. All the while Ryan and Max were having a smoke, so they could witness each other.”

Vivian paused almost hesitant to go on. Buddy knowing his partner’s deductive skills like no one else, asked “what’s still on your mind Viv?“

Sister Salter grinned, having such a good close friend in town was a huge gift to her. He could read

2025 Large Item Collection

her as well as he read his own notebook. She continued, “My only question is why?"

Emma suddenly broke her faked stunned persona and with a strong powerful voice, one that she often used at open mic nights in town, replied, "Because I couldn't stand Winnie controlling this show. Acting means the world to me, and yet that rookie knew nothing of this art! She’s a urse for Pete’s sake! I wanted to teach her a lesson, and make it so I could run this show and take over theatre in Oxford County"

The murderous actress laughed maniacally just as she was hand-cuffed by Officer Buddy.

Vivian then sadly said, "It looks like her star has fallen from the heavens, and crashing here on earth." as Emma was escorted away by Buddy. “Another fine job my friend” Buddy shot back to Vivian as she smiled in her gracious way, giving thanks for her skills and determination.

Vivian continued on to ask Emma, “So Emma please explain to us what you were doing prior to the discovery of poor Winnie.”

Emma explained that she arrived early at around 6:50 p.m., but she had to wait outside the theatre until 6:55 because Max and Winnie were the only ones who remembered the passcode. She had coffee with Winnie, Ryan and Max at around 7:05, went to the washroom to refresh her make-up a little while later, and came out at around 7:25. Sister Salter continued to commit the details to memory as her partner Officer Wallen wrote down each of Emma’s facts. They then moved on to Ryan Callahan.

Being questioned by a nun didn’t sit well with Ryan, he grunted begrudgingly and began to explain. He had arrived at around 6:57 and saw that Max, Winnie and Emma were having coffee. Ryan went and made himself a coffee and they all drank together. At around 7:08, he saw Emma leave for the washroom. Winnie left shortly afterward to look for and check on some props behind the stage. Winnie was a trained nurse, and as such, was a devil for the details. It made her a perfect choice to double check props, and costumes. At 7:15, Ryan joined Max in smoking a cigarette until 7:20 when they both went back inside. Ryan went to the washroom at 7:30. He noticed both the ladies’ restroom doors wide open and discovered Winnie, slumped over in one of the stalls, her head in the toilet or so Ryan claimed. After hearing all of the testimonies, Sister Salter pondered the facts of the case.

Buddy caught her quizzical look. He knew his friend well from the years of solving crimes. Buddy glanced at his notepad and then closed it. He then said, "I’ll understand if you need some time to figure this one out."

Vivian smiled and said, "That won't be necessary. I believe the facts have led me to a clear conclusion that both you, I and the Lord will be comfortable with." Sister Salter then confidently pointed at the murderer and said, "Arrest this person for first degree murder!"

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

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• Items must be on your property, not across roads/ ditches, and easily visible (clear of tall grass).

• Do not place small items on top of larger items. Inaccessible material will be left behind.

DOES YOUR ITEM QUALIFY?

 Does it weigh more than 45 kg (100 lbs)?

 Can it be broken down into a garbage bag?

 Is it eligible for a recycling program?

 Is it small but you have a large quantity?

If you checked “yes” for any question, your item does NOT qualify.

New health care course offered at Glendale

JEFF HELSDON Editor

Besides offering a new opportunity to students, it’s hoped a new high school health care class can be part of the solution to Tillsonburg’s medical woes.

Walking into Kait Buchner’s classroom in Glendale High School gives more of a feeling of entering a health care setting than a school room. A pair of stretchers sit in what was once the front of the class, with a vital signs tower beside it. Human anatomy diagrams are on the wall. This is the Grade 10 Health Care class.

Although health care has been a course in a few other school in the Thames Valley District School Board for more than 10 years, it wasn’t in Tillsonburg. When Buchner, who was a paramedic before becoming a teacher, heard of the classes she started the process to bring the class to Glendale. She gave credit for principal Dave Chisholm for being supportive of the concept.

“It’s another tech program,” she said. “The students learn about different health care fields and get excited about it from hands-on experience and hopefully pursue

it for a career.”

Although some may wonder why it’s a tech course instead of being part of the science curriculum, Buchner explained it’s the hands-on aspect that gave the course that designation.

Part of Buchner's motivation for starting the course was seeing the shortage of health care professionals locally. Another was that it allowed her to combine her love of health care with her passion for teaching.

“There’s no good reason we should be doing this when there’s such a need in our community,” she said.

Teaching family studies, phys-ed and spec-ed, Buchner found herself with three full classes of Grade 10 health care students last fall. She covers patient care assessments, infection control, basic first aid and CPR.

Buchner had to build the program from the ground up as a new course. She gave credit to Tillsonburg hospital for providing used vital signs machines and stretchers. Other support came from Community Living Tillsonburg providing excess infection control material and Norfolk EMS. She said the program could lay the groundwork

been

for careers for paramedics, personal support workers, dental hygienists and massage therapists. In Grade 10, Buchner said it’s an introduction into health care and to let the students know what’s out there.

Students in the course had a tour of the Tillsonburg hospital and Fanshawe College’s health care programs. Guest speakers have included mental health, a nurse and doctor.

A Grade 11 health course is already an option for this fall to continue to build on

what the students have learned. It will include more on treatment and pharmacology. Buchner hopes for a Grade 12 course the following year.

“There’s definitely an interest, so that’s exciting,” she said.

The initial diagnosis is the class is promoting an infection of Buchner’s love for health care. She said students are already talking of careers in the field, with a lab technician, dentist, radiologist, and surgeon being bandied about.

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

Student Eunso Fehr, left is assessed by her fellow students Claire McCutcheon, centre, and Isabell Phongsavath as part of the Grade 10 health care class at Glendale High School. New this year, the class has

tremendously successful, with enough students for three classes.

SPORTS

PHARMACY

The Tillsonburg Gemini girls’ soccer team faced down both a determined Woodstock Huron Park Huskies opponent and brutal weather conditions en route to a 5-2 Thames Valley Regional Athletics South East Tier II soccer championship victory Wednesday, May 21 at Huron Park.

Nicknamed ‘the beautiful game’ by soccer legend Pele, this outing’s undeniable attraction came through gritty perseverance from both sides through every minute of the contest,

despite unseasonably-low temperatures chilled further by a stiff breeze.

“And the rain,” interjected Gemini coach Alison Wallace, of constant precipitation ranging from irritating drizzle to dense downpour.

“It was a cold rain,” added Tillsonburg’s Lainey West. “Ice rain.”

Gemini goalie Elysse Davis faced unflinchingly into wind and rain during the second half, along with the teeth of a determined Huskies attack striving to overcome a 2-0 deficit.

“She did great,” credited Tillsonburg’s Kherington Spanjers, who had opened scoring for the Gemini. “They

just really wanted it and they were very aggressive.”

Davis met Huron Park’s unrelenting assault with multiple saves, of particular note an 18-yard ‘cracker’ destined for the top, left corner and a pointblank mano-a-mano confrontation at the lip of her crease. Tillsonburg’s keeper was kept busy for the entire game, although she admitted with a smile, not to the point of staying warm.

“Not busy enough for that.”

The Gemini appeared to relieve the pressure with their third goal, a quick strike counterattack moved down the right wing and back into the centre, from where Spanjers notched her second marker of the contest.

To their credit, the Huskies kept on coming however, captain Payton Cowan setting up Gulalay Khan with a high, wind-altered cross from the right wing, landing near the far post for a tap-in. Cowan added the Huskies’ second goal, turning what had been a comfortable three-goal lead into a tense stretch run.

The Gemini showed resilience of the own, countering with another quick strike. Working the ball up the left side of the pitch, Vivian Suderman led Sophia Monsere with a pass up the centre, which the Tillsonburg forward advanced and buried to restore a twogoal advantage.

“I just ran into the open space and she did like, a beautiful pass,” credited Monsere.

A game with its share of drama added a little more before the final trio of whistles, Davis stopping a Huron Park penalty and the Gemini notched their fifth goal to round a hard-fought 5-2 victory. Spanjers and Monsere each finished with two markers, West adding a single.

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

The Tillsonburg Gemini girls’ soccer team battled a tough Huron Park opponent and brutal weather en route to a TVRA South East Tier II championship.

Carry head: Gemini girls win TVRA soccer title

Tillsonburg had completed its regular season with a 2-1-1 won/lost/tied record, advancing to the Tier II final with a comfortable 6-2 semi-final suc -

cess over Woodstock College Avenue. “They just came, wanted to win today and put every effort forward,” Wallace summed up in conclusion.

Tillsonburg launches new therapeutic swim program with Jumpstart grant

Children and young adults with disabilities in the Tillsonburg area now have an opportunity to develop fundamental swimming skills in a one-instructor-to-one-participant setting thanks to a grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.

“Our new Therapeutic Swim & Play program is an inclusive program designed to help participants (ages 4-25 years) become more comfortable and confident in the water,” says Andrea Greenway, Tillsonburg’s director of Recreation, Culture and Parks. “Each session will be tailored to the participant’s specific needs and goals, with the ultimate aim of supporting their physical and emotional well-being.”

“Adding barrier-free change rooms and a ramp into the indoor pool at the Tillsonburg Community Centre was

Red Sox down Port Dover 4-1 in home opener

GRAHAM NICKERSON

The Tillsonburg Red Sox won their first home game of the season on May 16th when they took on Port Dover under the lights at Sam Lamb Field.

Port Dover wasted no time getting on the scoreboard when G. Barnard led off and smashed a stand up double to right field. Heipel was second to bat and poked a single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. A Mitchell groundout scored Barnard, but that would be the only run the Lake Side boys would score in the frame.

The Red Sox bats struck early once again with an Iron Ring Rachar leadoff-double to deep right field followed up by a Skip King double that plated Rachar. Verschueren was next up and helped his own cause with a single to send a hustling King around third to score putting the Red Sox up 2-1.

Tillsonburg notched two more runs in the

home half of the third inning. King singled to center to start the rally, then promptly swiped second. McPherson’s single on a hanging curveball brought King around to score. Former London Major Bubba DeClarke got on with a base hit to move McPherson to second. Prouse slapped his offering to right field and third base coach Listar waved McPherson around third to test the arm of the right fielder. The throw was cut off by the Port Dover pitcher and the relay to the plate was bobbled as the big catcher slid in to score.

Fire-ball pitcher “Fish” Verschueren took to the bump for Tillsonburg and worked five steady innings only allowing four scattered hits while striking out seven and not allowing any free passes. King took over in the sixth and twirled two innings to put the game on ice for the hometown boys.

The score:

just the beginning of making recreation in Tillsonburg accessible to all,” said Mayor Deb Gilvesy. “We’re thrilled that Jumpstart is partnering with us to make this innovative program a reality.”

Helping to bring the swim program to life, the Jumpstart funding will cover the costs of registration, equipment and additional programming.

Therapeutic Swim & Play at the Community Centre began in May and will run until late June. Each class will be 30 minutes in length. A second session of classes will be offered from July through the end of August.

Visit www.tillsonburg.ca/guide to learn more about program dates and costs.

For more information on Jumpstart, visit www.jumpstart.canadiantire.ca

Summary: ER , Port Dover 4, Tillsonburg 1; LOB, Port Dover 4, Tillsonburg 7; 2B G. Barnard, Rachar, King; RBI , Mitchell, King, Verschueren, McPherson, Prouse; SB Heipel, King; W, Verschueren; L , Wilson; BB, Wilson (2); K , Wilson (8), Stelling (1), Verschueren (7), King (1);Time, 1:46

Baseball tournament here June 6-8

The Tillsonburg Fairgrounds will see exciting baseball action in the annual Red Sox tournament being held here June 6-8. Twelve ball clubs from all around Southern Ontario will be battling it out to claim the highly coveted trophy.

Four groupings of three teams each will compete in a round robin Friday and Saturday with the top teams moving on to the playoffs and final on Sunday.

The Red Sox are grouped with the Bolton and Kincardine clubs. The other

teams that will compete over the weekend are Simcoe Sr., St. Catharines, Lucan, Byron, Owen Sound, Simcoe Jr., River Canard, Port Dover and Woodstock. Tillsonburg’s first game is Friday, June 6 against Bolton with first pitch at 7 p.m. at Sam Lamb Field. Game two of their round robin play is Saturday June 7th at 9:30 a.m. when they take on Kincardine on Diamond 1 at the fairgrounds. The championship game will be played on Sunday June 8th at Sam Lamb Field at 5:30 p.m.

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Tillsonburg’s Paton Brezynskie (right) protects the ball against a Huron Park defender.

Gemini rugby girls looking for extended run through TVRA cup

The Tillsonburg Gemini girls’ rugby team had already had a good outing.

But they weren’t settling for that.

And so, after a game-tying Woodstock Huron Park Huskies try late on a rainy, Tuesday, May 13th afternoon on their home Glendale field, they pushed back.

It was a team effort, regaining possession after kicking to the Huskies and moving upfield. However, a powerful one-woman drive by Avah Sanderson was at the heart of the game-winning try in a 22-17 Thames Valley Regional Athletics Jill McCallum Division victory.

There is strategy in rugby, speed and skill in avoiding tacklers and finding open space. But this was simply Sanderson putting her head down and grinding forward against multiple would-be tacklers.

“That was just pushing it across the line,” credited Gemini scrum-half Sophie Hicks, of a play began by Asha David and ultimately carried across the goal-line and grounded in the try zone by co-captain Keona Cornish. “Avah was not going to be denied.”

“I’d rather win with a close game,” added fly-half Bree VanRybroeck. “A close competitive game where we have to do what we can instead of slacking off.”

Tillsonburg’s Carly Kennedy, Hicks, Olivia Silliker and Cornish each con -

tributed a try, with Sanderson kicking one two-point conversion. Ema-Leigh Hamilton had all three Huron Park tries.

The Gemini finished their regular TVRA season with a 3-1 record, good for second place in the McCallum division behind the undefeated St. Thomas Parkside Stampeders.

Well beyond their record, Hicks pointed to the fact Tillsonburg had main -

“Play to win every game, no matter the stakes,” agreed Hicks.

The Stampeders both continued their undefeated regular season and locked up the TVRA AA WOSSAA berth with a 55-10 win Tuesday, May 20 in St. Thomas. While naturally disappointed at the outcome, Gemini coach Shelby Colldock congratulated Parkside for securing the WOSSAA AA berth.

“Our girls can hold their heads high knowing they continue to perform their best yet.”

With that result, Tillsonburg is still looking for more from their 2025 season through a TVRA Cup quarter-final date with AAA London Catholic Central High School Wednesday, May 28 at the St. George’s Rugby Fields near London. The coaching staff is however, also very appreciative of what the Gemini have already accomplished.

tained the 32-member roster it began the season with throughout, compared to last year’s 17 at its conclusion. In her third season as a Grade 12 student, Hicks is encouraged at its expansion not only in terms of numbers, but skill.

“Interest for rugby has just…” she began.

“Skyrocketed, I feel that’s a good word,” interjected prop Megan Rearden.

Under the TVRA playoff system, the top two teams from the A/AA McCallum division and the AAA Veronican Harrigan Division would meet, with the winners advancing to their respective Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (WOSSAA) tournaments. The two losers will meet as part of TVRA Cup final playdowns.

Looking ahead to their contest against Parkside immediately following the Huron Park game, the Gemini knew they would be in for a battle.

VanRybroeck considered the opportunity to be the first girls’ rugby team to reach WOSSAA as a ‘big thing’ for the team and school.

“I feel it would be a real accomplishment,” she said at the time.

“Parkside’s really good,” added Rearden, mentally approaching the game as any other outing. “Have a good game, work and play hard, do what we can.”

Regardless of the outcome, whatever subsequent game the Gemini would be playing, she said it was important to ‘keep pushing.’

“The girls have grown stronger through excellent teamwork and communication,” Colldock concluded. “Our goal has been empowering them playing and being the toughest and most resilient team out there.

“Regardless of the outcome of Wednesday’s game, that goal has been achieved.”

JEFF TRIBE

Post Correspondent

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Tillsonburg Gemini ball carrier Asha David eludes a Huron Park tackler.

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Gemini Jordyn Androusick (top, right) reaches for the ball against Huron Park’s Reagan White during a line-out.

championship game.

“I love having him there,” said the 5’7”, 140-pound Van Den Neucker, who like his dad, relied an effective fastball historically clocked up to 79 miles per hour along with a deadly curve. “He taught me how to pitch - basically all of it.”

“Fastball was there, curveball was there,” credited Gemini catcher Liam Nunn. Van Den Neucker has both a change-up and slider in his repertoire, but Nunn only called a single of the latter on the day. “Really only needed two pitches.”

Van Den Neucker was one pitch away from a complete game, exiting in the top of the seventh with two out and one on. Tanner Jacko closed it out on a four-pitch strikeout, locking up both the victory and a Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association berth Tuesday, May 27 in Exeter.

“That was one of the best if not the best game I’ve seen pitched in my 17 years in high school ball,” credited Gemini coach Derek Partlo. “He was throwing any pitch in any count - that’s tough to hit against.”

The Gemini got all the runs they would need in the bottom of the second inning, putting the pressure on the Parkside defence and reaping the rewards from its struggles. A Tye Cooper ‘hustle double’ highlighted unearned runs scored by he, Jacko and Cohen Schott.

second base in a headfirst slide. Schott followed with a base on balls, bringing leadoff hitter Nathan Gaitens to the plate. He executed a tough ‘hold’ on a close two-strike offering, staying alive instead of striking out to subsequently ground a ball back to the mound which advanced both runners into scoring position.

Nunn lined the first pitch of his at-bat solidly into centre field, plating both and upping Tillsonburg’s advantage to five runs.

“Fastball,” reported Nunn, who went to the plate with a ‘yes, yes, no’ approach, looking to identify the pitch and put a good swing on it, “until you see it do anything strange.”

Unofficially, Partlo and coach Greg Hayward agreed Nunn is batting around .450 on the season, his contribution an important component of a Gemini recipe for success they hope continues at WOSSAA.

“Baseball is all about pitching and defence and timely hitting,” Partlo concluded.

It was a full-circle moment for Tillsonburg Gemini starting pitcher Brendan Van Den Neucker.

Growing up, he both watched and learned from his dad Brent’s approach on the mound. Not a huge man relying on physical dominance, Brent could get the ball to home plate with authority, his fastball made ‘faster' by quality off-speed stuff.

“He was tiny but threw pretty hard,” credited Brendan. “A good curve.”

Thursday, May 22 at Dorchester’s Royal Field, the mentor watched his son and student throw a masterful 83-pitch gem as Tillsonburg shut out St. Thomas Parkside Stampeders 5-0 in the Thames Valley Regional Athletics South East

Tillsonburg threatened to add to that 3-0 lead in the home fifth. Odin Oatway singled and Brody VanRybroeck doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. However, Parkside got out of the inning unscathed on a strikeout and nice running catch in right field.

The fact the game was far from over was underlined in the top of the sixth, the Stampeders getting two aboard on a single to left-centre and a walk, both advanced into scoring position with a two-out groundout to second. Van Den Neucker left both stranded however, ending the inning with a strikeout looking by painting the low, outside corner with a 1-2 curve ball.

Tillsonburg added a pair of welcome insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.

“That game could have went a different way,” said Partlo. “Like any sport, you’re a little bit more relaxed when you pad your lead.”

Cooper got aboard on a throwing error at short, taking

JEFF TRIBE

Post Correspondent

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

The Tillsonburg Gemini captured the TVRA South East championship with a 5-0 victory over the St. Thomas Parkside Stampeders Thursday, May 22 in Dorchester.

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Tillsonburg pinch-runner Quin Lessif gets back to the bag safely ahead of a pickoff attempt during the home fifth inning.

EYE ON SLO-PITCH

Game Synopsis-Foldens scored six in the first, Jen Cadman, Amber Woolgar and Andrea Deblaire all hit doubles in the rally.

Trillium Court-18 George’s Auto-7

Trillium-Forrestt Ashley 4-4, Ashley Gee 4-4

George’s-Justine Hanson 3-3, Brittany Sandham 3-3

Game Synopsis-Forrestt Ashley had a bases-clearing triple to lead Trillium.

May 14

Simmonds Mortgages-16, George's Auto-4

Simmonds-Anita Dahl 4-4, Corrie Smith 4-4

George 's-Kerilyn Bruckler 3-3, Brittany Sandham 3-3

Game Synopsis-Shannon Oneill had a single, double and triple while driving in three for the winners.

Foldens Machine Works-19, Kyle Nesbitt Trucking-5

Foldens-Jen Cadman 4-4, Trisha Mckenzie 4-4

Nesbitt-Claire Barker 3-3, Gemma Ladosz 2-3

Game Synopsis-Foldens first five batters crossed the plate three times.

Jays-10, Resting Pitch Face-1

Jays-Alana Haskett 3-3, Candi Hopper 3-4

Resting-Mariah Mackinnon 2-2, Katie Pittock 1-2

Game Synopsis-Jays scored three in the first and fourth innings in the win.

Wildcats-14, Trillium Court-12

Wildcats-Ling Li Wong 4-4, Krystal Sivyer 4-4

Trillium-Katy Wilkinson 4-4, Lyn Hewitt 3-4

Game Synopsis-Wildcats plated six over their final two at bats to steal the win.

3-4, Franky Klassen HR, Martin Klassen HR, Jacob Klassen HR

Bill Klyn-Dallas Dalby 5-5 HR, Mitch Wass 5-5, Nathan Boldt HR, Kyle McDougall HR

Game Synopsis-Peter Klassen had the game winning RBI in the sixth in this tight one.

Cobra Chickens-20, Smitty's Electrical-0 Cobra-Ethan Fehr 4-4, Marcus Enns 3-3

Ethan Froese HR, Wyatt Blatz HR

Smitty's-Jeremy Dennis 1-2, Brett Sinden 1-1

Game Synopsis-Ethan Froese was a double shy of hitting for the cycle for the winners.

The Mill-23, Courtland Landscape and Grounds-7

The Mill-Bob Evans 3-3, Josh Stubbs 3-3 HR, Jeremy Roy 2 HR, Steve Derks HR, Bryan Deblaire HR Courtland-Scott Harris 3-3, Zach Smith 3-3

Game Synopsis-The Mill put up seven in each of the second and fifth innings.

1,2 Seal Insulation Hawks-20, Leeswood Dirty Mitts-18

Hawks-Martin Klassen 4-5 HR, Evan Bueckert 3-4

HR, Johnny Klassen HR, Cam Bueckert HR, Daniel Klassen HR, Jesse Hiebert 2HR

Leeswood-Chad Vigar 4-4, Greg Onaitis 3-4, Thom Puhr 2HR, Kent Collings HR, Alex Penders HR

Game Synopsis-Daniel Klassen walked it off for the Hawks with a three-run blast.

Smitty's Electrical-12, O&L Duct Design-6

Smitty's-Chris Hass 5-5, Nick Dovsek 4-5

O&L-Spence Meron 4-4, Dave Vincent 4-4

Game Synopsis-Chris Hass scored four runs for Smitty's.

Underhill mercied John Beere and Copper Mug-Lubricare took care of Brew Jays to get their first win.

Side 2 Side Exteriors-16, Sandy Shore Brew Jays-13

Side 2 Side-Herman Enns 4-5, Henry Klassen 5-5

Sandy Mike Haegens 4-5, Devon Schultz 4-5 HR

Game Synopsis-Side 2 Side emerged with the win in the battle of nine versus nine.

Designated Drinkers-17, Sandy Shore Brew Jays-11 Drinkers-Kyle Postma 4-4 2HR, Matt Barker 4-4

Sandy Shore-J.D. Collier 5-5, Denver Barr 3-4

Game Synopsis-Kyle Postma hit a pair of three run homers and pitcher Matt Barker scored four runs.

Bayham Construction Lumberjacks-29, Side 2 Side Exteriors-12

Bayham-Benny Neufeld 5-5 3HR, Nick Klassen 4-5, Nate Peters HR, Tony Hamn HR

Side 2 Side-John Klassen 4-4 2HR, Herman Enns 3-4 HR, Henry Teichroeb HR, Jamie Teichroeb HR Game Synopsis-Nate Peters led the winners with a pair of doubles, a triple and a homer.

Amp-21 Copper Mug-Lubricare, Wannabee's-12

Amp-Logan Partlo 5-5, Ryan Balazs 4-4, Brandon Balazs HR, Travis Lamb HR

Copper Mug-Chris Childerhouse 3-4, Aaron Alexander 3-4

Game Synopsis-Brandon Balazs was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle for the winners.

Pelicans-20, Designated Drinkers-18

Pelicans-Ryan Marques 3-3, Chris Parker 3-3, TJ Neville HR

Welcome to the second column of the Eye On Slo-pitch in The Tillsonburg Post.

The Post is currently biweekly but the exciting news it will be weekly after this issue.

This week wasn't ideal weather-wise, that would be a huge understatement, but the Men's did happen to get games in on Tuesday and Friday. The Ladies League that doesn't schedule on the Victoria Day Monday was washed out on Wednesday.

Ladies

The season commenced on Monday, May 12 with all eight teams taking to the diamonds on the Wednesday as well.

A Division

Last year's champions, Simmonds Mortgages, opened with mercy victories over B teams Kyle Nesbitt Trucking and George’s Auto respectively. Jays opened with lopsided wins over Wildcats and Resting Pitch Face.

Foldens beat Resting and Nesbitt. Trillium were upset by Wildcats after taking their first against George’s.

May 12

Simmonds Mortgages-16 Kyle Nesbitt Trucking-4

Simmonds-Connie White 4-4 Jaelyn Fleet 4-4 Nesbitt-Kim Hurd 2-3 Nicole Morgan 2-3

Game Synopsis-Ten of Simmonds’ 11 batters crossed the plate at least once.

Jays-19 Wildcats-1

Jays-Brandi Cook 3-3, Bernita Jordan 3-3 Wildcats-Ashley Anderson 2-2, Christine Phillips 2-2

Game Synopsis-Bernita Jordan, Brandi Cook and Mayra Baelde each scored three runs for the Jays.

Foldens Machine Works-22 Resting Pitch Face-4 Foldens-Mandi Vickers 3-3, Andrea Deblaire 3-3, Mack Brackenbury HR

Resting-Martina McCallum 2-2, Amy Delaere 2-2

Men's A

1,2 Seal Insulation Hawks have started the season out in dominating fashion winning five straight. They collected a walk off win over Leeswood Dirty Mitts, lopsided wins over Cobra Chickens and The Mill.

Cobra Chickens sit in second place, they shutout Smitty's Electrical and won big over Courtland Landscape and Grounds.

Leeswood won a pair over Hit N Run and O&L Duct Design.

The Mill captured their first defeating winless Courtland.

Hit N Run squeaked one out over Bill Klyn Carpentry and mercied Smitty's.

Smitty's doubled up O&L.

1,2 Seal Insulation Hawks-36, The Mill-18

Hawks-Martin Klassen 6-6, Daniel Klassen 6-6 HR, Johnny Epp 2HR, Cam Bueckert HR, Johnny Klassen HR, Ben Bueckert HR, Abe Boldt HR, Jesse Hiebert HR

The Mill-Ty Cadotte 5-5, Josh Stubbs 4-5, Bryan Deblaire HR, Billy Wilson HR, Tim Morgan HR Game Synopsis-Daniel Klassen drove in six for the winners, Cam Bueckert and Martin Klassen drove in five.

1,2 Seal Insulation Hawks-20 Cobra Chickens-5

Hawks-Daniel Enns 4-4 HR, Peter Epp 3-3, Johnny Epp HR, Cam Bueckert HR, Jake Klassen HR, Evan Bueckert 2HR, Daniel Klassen HR

Cobra-Brian Dyck 2-3, Caleb Reimer 2-3

Game Synopsis-Evan Bueckert homered twice and drove in six for Hawks.

Leeswood Dirty Mitts-23, O&L Duct Design-11

Leeswood-Travis Nikin 4-4, Kent Collings 4-4 HR, Alex Penders HR

O&L-Dave Vincent 2-3, Andrew Garnham 2-3

Game Synopsis-Kent Collings was a triple shy of a cycle for Leeswood.

Hit N Run-16, Bill Klyn Carpentry-15

Hit N Run-Johnny Unger 3-4, Diedrich Klassen

Cobra Chickens-23, Courtland Landscape and Grounds-10

Cobra-Leonard Fehr 5-5, Matthew Reimer 4-5, Nathan Froese 3HR, Marcus Enns HR Caleb Reimer HR, Ethan Froese HR

Courtland-Adam Thomson 3-3, Zach Smith 4-4, Brooks Scharr HR

Game Synopsis-Nathan Froese had a solo blast and two two-run shots to lead Cobra.

Bill Klyn Carpentry-22, The Mill-16

Bill Klyn-Andy Lockstein 4-5, Nathan Boldt 5-5 2HR

The Mill-Josh Stubbs 5-6 HR, Darren Pace 3-5, Tim Morgan 2HR, Steve Derks HR, Bob Evans HR

Game Synopsis-The Mill hung tight till the latter innings despite playing with just eight.

Hit N Run 23, Smitty's Electrical-3

Hit N Run-Johnny Unger 5-5 HR, Martin Klassen 4-5, Diedrich Klassen HR, Franky Klassen HR, Peter Dyck GrSlam

Smitty's-Jason Martin 2-3, Doug Falkins 2-3

Leeswood Dirty Mitts-25, Hit N Run-16

Leeswood-Thom Puhr 5-5, Jarrett Anderson 4-5, Trevor Stuyt HR, Alex Penders HR

Hit N Run-Martin Klassen 5-5 HR, Diedrich Klassen 6-6 2HR.

Game Synopsis-Thom Puhr, Jarrett Anderson and Alex Penders all scored four runs for Leeswood.

B Division

Bayham Construction Lumberjacks have transitioned well into graduating to the B Division as they set atop the division defeating their rivals Underhill

Farm Supply and Side 2 Side Exterior Strike Force. Pelicans collected their first win of the season, winning a close one over Designated Drinkers. Drinkers came back with a six-run decision over Sandy Shore Brew Jays.

Amp, new to the league, won their first two beating Copper Mug-Lubricare and Sandy Shore Brew Jays in come from behind fashion.

Side 2 Side beat Brew Jays and Underhill.

Drinkers-Johnny Abele 4-4 2HR, Braydon Ambo 4-4

Game Synopsis-Pelican's second baseman Joe Kingsbury made two outstanding plays to close out the game

Amp-15, Sandy Shore Brew Jays-13

Amp-Riley Balazs 3-3, Duncan McLean 3-4, Keenan Coderre HR, Brandon Balazs HR

Sandy Shore-Devon Schultz 4-4, Dallas Losi 3-4

Game Synopsis-Amp scored seven seventh-inning runs to steal this one away, Keenan Coderre homered in the rally.

Bayham Construction Lumberjacks-18, Underhill Farm Supply-14

Bayham-Benny Neufeld 4-4 HR, Matt Klassen 4-4 HR, Silas Bueckert HR

Underhill-Jay Lampert 4-4, Cole Williamson 4-4 HR, Troy Sebok HR, Aaron Dyck HR

Game Synopsis-A seven-run fifth was key to Lumberjacks victory, Silas Bueckert led off the rally with a homer.

Underhill Farm Supply-22, John Beere-5

Underhill-Jay Lampert 4-4 2HR, Matt McQueen 4-4, Dave Phipps HR, Cole Williamson HR

John Beere-Keith McMerty 2-3, Trevor Fleet 2-3

Game Synopsis-Back to back seven run innings resulted in Underhill 's mercy.

Copper Mug-Lubricare Wannabes-22, Sandy Shore Brew Jays-11

Copper Mug-Brent Sproule 3-3 3HR Cody Long 3-4 Chris Childerhouse 2HR

Sandy Shore-Dave Weaver 3-3, Denver Barr 3-3, Dylan Cremery HR, J.D. Collier HR

Game Synopsis-Brent Sproule made his mark in this one with some slick fielding at short and three long homers to lead the winners.

Side 2 Side Exteriors-23, Underhill Farm Supply-20

Side 2 Side-Herman Enns 5-5, Johnny Klassen 5-5, John Klassen HR

Underhill-Bruce Hietkamp 3-4, Curtis Chambers 5-5 HR, Aaron Dyck HR, Troy Sebok HR Game Synopsis-Side 2 Side won this with a seven-run sixth, Jacob Klassen and Jacob Enns each drove in a pair.

DAVE WEAVER Tillsonburg Post Columnist

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

Ladies’ Slo-Pitch opened the week of May 12. One of the games of the first week was Resting Pitch Face against the Jays, which the latter won 10-1.

C Division

9 Inch Males have taken a commanding lead in the division.

Diamond Kings picked up their first win as did Cain 's Brickhouse Boys.

Diamond Kings-15, Shaw's Ice Cream Sluggers-14

Diamond Kings-Pete Goertzen 4-4, David Berg 5-5

Shaw's-Adam Vleeming 4-4, Jake Superales 3-4

Game Synopsis-Ben Bueckert drove in the winning run for Diamond Kings.

Tailgators-12, Bird's Golf-12

Tailgators-Paul Blouin 4-4, Glenn Hunt 4-4

Bird's-Justin Drake 4-4, Shawn Ryerse 3-4

Game Synopsis-Shawn Sivyer drove in the game's tying run for Tailgators.

Cain's Brickhouse Boys-22, Smokin Bases-21

Cain's-Jason Cronheimer 4-4, Aidan Hoshal 4-4

Smokin-John Gignac 4-4, Ian Barrett 4-4

Game Synopsis-Court Cronheimer drove in Brickhouse Boys winning run.

9 Inch Males-21, Diamond Kings-14

9 Inch-Brodie Earls 4-4, Randy Husbands 4-4

Diamond Kings-Frank Redecopp 3-4, Willy Martens 3-3

Game Synopsis-Brodie Earls scored four runs for the winners.

Shaw's Ice Cream Sluggers-25, Cain's Brickhouse Boys-11

Shaw's-Cole Seaton 5-5, Devon Killington 5-5, Sebastian Plain HR

Cain's-Jason Cronheimer 3-3, Brady Rangel 3-3

Game Synopsis-Sluggers plated seven in two consecutive innings.

9 Inch Males-12, Smokin Aces-8

9 Inch-Brodie Earls 5-5, Justin Dygos 3-5

Smokin-No last names

9 Inch Males-15, Team Swingers-14

9 Inch-Brodie Earls 3-4, Cory Chambers 4-4

Swingers-Noah Hamn 3-4, Quinn Babcock 4-4

Game Synopsis-Will Robertson's walk off base hit gave the winners the victory

9 Inch Males-17, Cain's Brickhouse Boys-3

9 Inch-Dave Court 4-4, Jake DeNobriga 4-4

Cain's-Tristen Lilley 2-2, Connor McDowell 2-2

Game Synopsis-Everyone in the winner’s lineup scored at least one run.

TURTLEFEST

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Special Olympics recently recognized its outstanding athletes for the year. Left to

right are: (front row) Bradley Sinden, most improved basketball; Tyler Allison, most improved basketball; Tenish Cole, most improved basketball; Jillian Polfliet, most improved basketball; (back row) Michelle Oatman, most improved cornhole; Jamie VanParys, curling award; Jake Wray, most improved cornhole; Dylan Osipenko, most improved golf; Joe Johnston, most improved golf; Zach Hill, sportsmanship basketball; and Dan Benoit, sportsmanship basketball.

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

Tillsonburg

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

Several members of Tillsonburg Special Olympics will be competing in the provincial games.

Left to right are: (front row) Jamie VanParys, soccer; Ann Marie D’Hondt, golf; (back row)

Dylan Osipenko, golf; and William Ypma, golf. Matt McNeil, who was absent from the photo will be competing in bacci.

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

Tillsonburg Olympics will be sending two athletes to the Special Olympics North American championships in Pennsylvania in late August. Both will be competing in golf. Rick Buck and Ann Marie D’Hondt earned this honour.

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

Special Olympics coordinator Patricia Benoit was the 2024 recipient of the Tillsonburg Special Olympics Spirit and Community Support Award. Laverne Sinden presented her with the award.

Torpedoes making a big splash with relaunch

The Tillsonburg Torpedoes swim team is back, and making waves in the recently-opened indoor pool.

Paul Armstrong is sharing the coaching duties with Dave Chisholm, principal at Glendale High School and a former high-level university champion, and Zach Sanders, son of Torpedoes alumni Joni Sanders and coach of the Wilmot Aces swim team. Isabel Willson, who is from Tillsonburg and a nationally-ranked swimmer

The swim team started on March 18 and already has 41 swimmers from ages six to 60. The older age group are part of the master’s program that already has 16 swimmers.

“A little bit of everything,” Armstrong smiled of the club’s program offering.

The interest is way beyond his expectations. He said interest spread by word of mouth, an ad in the community guide and a promotional story.

The team will continue practicing until June 20, and then take a break for the summer.

“Our plan is to grow and hit the ground running for September,” he said.

There have been no competitions for club members yet, but that is something that will be looked at next season.

Standing on the deck overseeing a swim practice is a bit of a homecoming

online.

Armstrong’s two children are on the Torpedoes and his wife in the masters.

“That’s really my motivation for getting this running, to offer competitive swimming in the area for my boys and wife, but also for anyone interested,” he said.

The Torpedoes have shone on the national stage, with several swimmers going to nationals, provincials and earning varsity scholarships. Evan VanMoerke competed in the Olympics in 2016 and Michael Heath in the Paralympics in 2012.

The goal of the revitalized Torpedoes is to have a program for swimmers of all levels, from pre-competitive, to competitive and masters. Using the master’s program as an example, which is for swimmers 18 and over, swimmers can practice up to three times per week for an hour, but can also choose to only come once per week. The other programs are set up the same way where the participants can choose how often they practice. Sessions are 30 minutes for the youngest swimmers and an hour for the intermediate age group.

for Armstrong. Originally from Saskatoon, he came to Tillsonburg to coach in 2003. After a five-year stint, he moved to the Brantford Aquatic Club. Armstrong will finish out the season in Brantford and will run swimming clinics for Olympians

across the country – from the east coast to the west - while coaching the Torpedoes.

“By doing that, I’ve had an opportunity to spend more time with my family,” he said, explaining many of the clinics are

“Ideally, we can put little kids and masters in the pool and get everyone swimming,” Armstrong said. “It really is a lifelong sport.”

The goal is to provide fitness and a healthy workout. Sign up is through the town’s recreation web site. For more information, e-mail swimmingtorpedoes@ gmail.com

JEFF HELSDON Editor

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

The Tillsonburg Torpedoes are back in the water. The swim team started in March, will continue to June and then start again in September. Programs are offered for ages ranging from six to adults.

Bigger, better Running with the Bulls planned

Those who know Tamara Bull know she is about giving back. When the second Tillsonburg Running with the Bulls takes place on the trail east of Tillsonburg on July 19, it will be one of her ways of giving back. It features a 10-kilometre run, five-kilometre event, one-kilometre Kiddie Bull Charge and a

two-kilometre memorial family walk. Registration is $55 until June 29, plus processing fees, then it goes up by $10 until the final registration date of July 18. There is no charge for the memorial or Kiddie Bull Challenge.

A long-time community volunteer whose face could be seen helping many community organizations, Tamara saw family adversity prior to Christmas

2023 when her son was diagnosed with a rare cancer. Doctors at London’s Victoria Hospital said there was little they could do as this cancer was so rare, there was little research done in Canada. They suggested MD Anderson Clinic in Texas or the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. With the treatment came a $900,000 price tag.

A generous GoFundMe campaign was launched to help offset costs. Although an alternative was found to American treatment, there were still massive costs.

“When I experienced the love and support from our entire community, not just with the GoFundMe but in so many other areas, I knew that thank-you wasn't cutting it,” she said. “I needed to give back somehow. Since I am a runner, I decided to create a running event.”

The initial Tillsonburg Running with the Bulls – which Tamara said is a catch on her last name, raised $20,000 for the Kindred Foundation to help infants and young adults under 30 with expenses related to cancer.

“My funds get priority in my area,” she said of the use of the money.

The launching of the event last year was a family effort with husband Rick designing the logo, and son Dylan setting up an email and web site.

The idea of the run came about as Tamara is a competitive runner and knew she wanted to organize a competitive event. Her motto in life is “Go big or go home” so it was to be expected this would be a top-rate event. The run is chip timed (where runners are timed with a chip and sensor at the gate), insured, certified and sanctioned.

“It is the only running event in all of Oxford County that covers off all of these features,” Tamara said. “Usually, you have to go to a larger centre for a run of this quality.”

Bull’s business plan for the run is to find sponsors to cover the $20,000 in costs for the event. This includes prizes for all age groups in the five and 10-kilometre events. With these costs covered, the registration fees will all go towards the Kindred Foundation.

Sticking with the “go big” motto, Tamara is planning for up to 600 runners this year. The event site is the corner of Tillson Ave/Clark St (Future Transfer Co Inc property).

New this year is Mascot, a bull who has been out and about promoting the run. Mascot will be named through submissions made at a tent on the site on event day.

In the meantime, Mascot has been out and about in the community, promoting the run and the sponsors to date.

Videos and photos on Facebook have recorded Mascot buying a car at My Motors, getting a pizza at Tillson Pizza, working out at Lightweight Gym, decorating Smile Cookies at Tim

Hortons and having a treatment at Baldwin Street Chiropractic. More sponsor visits are planned.

Tamara is also looking for volunteers to help on race day.

Registration and all details can be found on the website www.tillsonburgrunningwiththebulls.com

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO) Tamara Bull and Mascot go for a run along the rail trail east of Tillsonburg where the second Tillsonburg Running with the Bulls will take place on July 19. Funds raised at the event will be used to assist with the costs of dealing with cancer for children and adults under 30.

JEFF HELSDON Editor

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO) What name will the mascot of Tillsonburg Running with the Bulls end up with? Attend the event on July 19 to find out, or to contribute a suggestion.

(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)

This spring has been a long, and drawnout one in my corner of the world. The green haze over the trees is only now knitting together to obscure the branches, puddling the streets with their lime or bronze catkins. But spring is fleeting in Southwestern Ontario and will be gone in a blink.

We’re as likely to have sunburns by mid May as we are frost. But a slow start need not be a bare one. There are blooms to be had in the very early days if you know where to look. Before the heady rush begins, in the gentle, quiet time of early spring, there is a group of plants that offer us the first signs of the season to come. Ephemerals, as they are informally

known, are perennial plants that emerge, bloom and then quietly disappear, all in the space of a few weeks. This loose band of plants, many of them native to our own woodlands, bring some of the first colour to the year despite rain and freezing temperatures and even the occasional snow shower.

My own garden holds just a few examples of these vanishing beauties but there is one for almost every site and each is worthy of searching out. Their early appearance satisfies my (some would say,

impatient) poking about and provides a welcome distraction from the monotonous browns and greys of the early garden.

The first to bloom, in the dappled shade at the edge of a star Magnolia, is our native bloodroot, properly called Sanguinaria canadensis. Often nosing its way out of the ground by mid April; the lobed leaves clasp the flower buds as they make their way to the light, gently unfurling as the buds open into chalk white, daisy-like flowers. There are single and double types available, both offering handsome leaves that expand after flowers fade. Easily adapted to the garden in consistently-moist soil, this rhizomatous perennial goes completely dormant by mid-summer, so marking is recommended.

Just as the bloodroot finishes, Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda) begin. Delicately dissected leaves first appear in mid-April followed by daisy like flowers in shades of white, pink and purple. Flowers open with the sun and close each night, preserving their beauty and making this one of the longest lasting ephemerals in the garden. Leaves fade a few weeks after the flowers do and disappear by early summer. The small corms, dark and leathery, are planted in late summer or early fall in semi-shade with moist, well-drained soil, rich in humus. Most of the shrubs in the garden have their attendant spring bulbs; tulips, daffodils and windflowers, with their diminutive stature, are the carpet beneath them. Here, they are undisturbed as they form gentle drifts through seedlings and corm division. Corms are readily available in autumn through bulb catalogues or garden centres.

Although our native trout lily (Erythronium americanum) often lasts only a few days, it is well worth adding to your woodland garden. This member of the lily

family is native to eastern North America, and prefers dappled shade and moist, rich soil. Trout lilies are best in drifts, along stream banks and ditches where their nodding flowers can be best appreciated. Unlike most lilies, erythronium has handsome, strap-shaped leaves often mottled in bronze or cream. Various colours are available from the yellow and bronze trumpets of Erythronium americanum to white (E. albidum) and shades of lilac (E. dens anis). Look for the hybridized E. “Pagoda” for larger, golden yellow flowers. One of the earliest and brightly coloured of the ephemerals is spring blooming Corydalis. I had the pleasure of catching this dragon-mouthed beauty in mid-April as it swathed over a raised bed, under the bare limbs of Japanese maple. Waves of pink and purple covered the ground, seedlings and divisions, obviously happy under the chilly but bright sky. Corydalis cava (also sold as E. bulbosa) is a tuberous, hand tall member of the very large and diverse

Corydalis family. Forming mounds of lacy, pale green leaves much like those of bleeding heart (Dicentra), thickly packed racemes of blossoms appear shortly afterwards and last a week or more. Plants can self-seed if given ideal conditions: sun or light shade and moist but well drained, slightly acidic soil. Seedlings are best moved just after flowering and planted quickly to avoid tubers drying out. Well established patches offer vibrant drifts of colour early in the season, disappearing by the onset of summer.

Other species of Corydalis offer later bloom times and different colours; C. lutea blooms throughout the summer in golden yellow and C. flexuosa in blue over the summer.

The last of my ephemerals to bloom is

Mertensia pulmonarioides, more easily called Virginia bluebells. A mid-sized wildflower native to the eastern half of North America, Mertensia will send up single stems clothed in spooned shaped leaves in mid to late April. The leaves, flushed in warm, rosy hues are lovely as they emerge, ripening to a fresh, bright green with the topmost leaves still edged in rose. By early May and just as the dogwoods begin, each nodding stem is tipped in a cluster of pink buds that open and age to clear, turquoise blue trumpets. Lasting (in good weather) for a week, this member of the Borage family does best in partial shade with humus rich soil. Long lived and pest free, propagation is by division after the plant goes dormant in early summer or by seed. Virginia bluebells are a wonderful way to add some blue to the early spring season.

Your local Horticultural Society is a fantastic resource for early spring blooms, both in knowledge and plants. This year’s

17th Annual Garden Auction & Sale was held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and featured some new attractions this year.

SUE HEALEY Tillsonburg Post Columnist

(SUE HEALEY PHOTO) Bloodroot.

(SUE HEALEY PHOTO)

Corydalis.

(SUE HEALEY PHOTO)

Virginia bluebells.

(SUE HEALEY PHOTO) Virginia bluebells in bloom.

(SUE HEALEY PHOTO) Double bloodroot.

From Cue to Clue: A Show

JENNIFER ANGER JULL

Post Contributor

In a town where everyone knows everyone and suspects them too, ‘Habit of Murder’ is Theatre Tillsonburg’s latest riotous whodunit that’ll leave you laughing, not looking over your shoulder.

When a human skeleton is found in the wall of the United Baptist Church, Sister Vivian Salter is called in to unravel the mystery. As she coaxes the town to give up its secrets, she butts heads with the local officer, nursing staff, farmhands, and an eccentric mute who claims he convenes with spirits. No one seems to be missing and the locals want to focus on enjoying their recent Hockey Championship win. The case tests Sister Vivian's spiritual strength as she tries to determine who and what to believe. The more she digs, the more ghosts, murderers and memories she unearths.

Directed by Joe Sheik, this small-town comedy with a murder mystery twist brings everything audiences love about live theatre: big characters, sharp dialogue, and unexpected twists.

“This play has all the elements I love to work with when directing,” said Sheik. “It’s Canadian, it resonates in terms of message, it balances drama with comedy and it’s technically challenging, which makes it rewarding for both the team and the audience.”

From first-time performers to seasoned veterans, and from high school tech as -

sistants to industry-trained professionals, the cast and crew of “Habit of Murder” have built more than a play, they’ve built a family.

“The amount of support and love that was given to me as a first-time actor at Theatre Tillsonburg was crazy,” said Darla Enns. “It is truly a team effort.”

The story may be fictional, but the connections are real.

“I didn’t realize my life was missing theatre until I took the leap back in,” said Adelle Greenwood. “The people I’ve met and the things I’ve learned have inspired me greatly in my daily life. I’m so thankful for Theatre Tillsonburg and the family it has given me.”

Even offstage, the spotlight shines. Stage Manager Sabrina Janzen brings university-honed technical expertise to the production, helping Theatre Tillsonburg expand its capabilities.

“Sabrina has been a welcome, talented, and knowledgeable addition,” said Assistant Director Kelly Verhoeve. “She’s mentoring others and always has a warm smile to greet you. We’ve also loved seeing our high school volunteers, like Aiden and Harmony, step up and learn more about what it takes to bring a show like this to life.”

This production has pushed Theatre Tillsonburg into exciting new territory with its technical ambitions, transforming a cozy community theatre into a fully immersive murder mystery setting, complete with special lighting, immersive

sound design, and a meticulously crafted set.

“This show challenged us in the best way,” said Sheik. “From the timing of lighting effects to the layers of sound cues, and the complexity of the set changes, it’s been a full creative workout.”

Under Janzen’s stage management, pre -

cise blackouts, timed lighting shifts, and haunting music land perfectly.

The immersive sound design draws the audience deeper into the mystery, with everything from thunder and fire to eerie church music painting an audio-rich experience.

The set, too, is practically a character. Designed with layered intrigue and multiple play spaces including a creepy church basement, choir loft, outdoor campfire, and a modest nursing home. The stage transforms Theatre Tillsonburg into a suspicious slice of small-town Canada.

Add in a collection of props ranging from hazmat suits to a possibly cursed skeleton (last seen at cue-to-cue, now suspiciously missing), and it’s clear that no detail was left to chance.

In short, “Habit of Murder” isn’t just a show, it’s a handcrafted theatrical experience, built from the ground up by artists, techs, and creatives working together like a well-oiled (and possibly criminal) machine.

“Habit of Murder”, is a hilarious and cleverly-written Canadian comedy-mystery by Joanne Miller. Produced by Jeff and Sheila Tripp, this is one production that’s got everyone talking and laughing.

“Habit of Murder” is packed with quirky twists, lovable oddballs, and just the right amount of absurdity. It’s a small-town story with big laughs, where the only thing more suspicious than the murder… is how much fun you’ll have.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Victoria Coward plays Sister Vivian in Habit of Murder, which is playing at Theatre Tillsonburg May 29- June 1 and June 5-8.

Here kitty, kitty: a ‘Grand’ time chasing ‘Muddy'

The 14-pound mudcat had been playing possum, a lazy roll on the surface the most notable punctuation point to the comparatively calm exercise of easing rod tip up and reeling back down.

And then, it saw the boat and the bottom dropped out.

Not the acrobatic tail-dance of a smallmouth nor the line-stripping sizzle of a Lake Erie salmon. Rather, the powerful, primordial and unstoppable reaction of a runaway freight train turning on a dime and going straight down into the Grand River’s murky depths.

“Bigger than I thought,” mused Grand Sportfishing’s (https://grandsportfishing.com) James Houtby, as ever calmly as I hung on for dear life, rod buckling and drag singing.

“Teenager… low teens,” he assessed a minute or two later, the fish gently ensconced in his net. “He’s big but not that big - they get much bigger.

“Most people, that’d be the fish of a lifetime,” Houtby continued, deftly removing the single hook from its mouth and releasing it back into the Grand, turning to smile in my direction. “Kind of get spoiled fishing them all the time.”

My desire to chase channel cats had been formalized years earlier via an encounter with the Muddy statue in Dunnville, at 50 feet, the largest such homage to a channel cat in the world. Houtby came to the river via a childhood along the Welland Canal, enhanced by a move to Jordan Harbour, across the road from the former ‘Pirate Boat’ along the Queen E Niagara.

“That’s where my fishing addiction really took off.”

He and his two younger brothers grew up catching channel cats off the banks of 20-Mile Creek among other species. A millwright by trade, Houtby got married and bought his first house in Dunnville, attracted by affordable prices and the fact Lake Erie’s premier smallmouth bass and walleye fishery was a stone’s throw away down five miles of Grand River.

Nine years ago with the graduation of the couple’s children from high school, he turned passion into business pursuit with the purchase of a 20-foot Harbour Craft Discovery, rod holders, downriggers and an array of electronics. Houtby’s craft is powered by a 150-HP Yamaha outboard, 9.9 HP ‘kicker’ and an electric motor connected to a GPS unit which allows him to both manoeuvre along predestined routes and ‘spot lock’ in place.

“This is my summer job - I do this from April to Thanksgiving.”

A multi-species fishing guide, Houbty offers salmon (April to October), trout, perch, smallmouth bass, walleye (mid-June to October)and catfish (April to July) - charters. He takes up to four anglers and features a special youth discount for those under 12.

“Better than playing on a video game,” smiled Houtby, who also supports a kids catfish derby

June 15th and a May 24th fishing event in conjunction with Big Brothers/Sisters of Hamilton, Niagara and Haldimand. “A lot of memories made on this boat.”

Anglers pursue catfish in other locations including Otter Creek and the Thames River, however the Grand from Brantford to the mouth of Lake Erie is acknowledged as a hub, ‘basically the best spot, more or less,’ says Houtby.

We pulled out of Fishmasters Marina at 7 a.m. for a short yet scenic haul onto the Grand. We were just downstream from Dunnville’s downtown, the Highway #3 bridge visible in the distance, flights of ducks and geese and a lone Bald Eagle highlighting the area’s natural beauty.

Earlier in the season, Houtby chases cats later in the day when the water has warmed up, but with this year’s warmer waters from early May onward, they’ll bite all day long, and additionally, fight harder than in colder water. Deeper earlier, they disperse into shallower depths as the water warms. Some remain resident throughout the year but the larger ones head into the lake in July.

“You can catch fish all season long, but you’ll get smaller cats in the fall.”

Smaller cats are good eating says Houtby, firm, white flesh either blackened or battered and deep fried. Roughly one-quarter of his clients are looking to go home with the makings of a feast, the majority there for a catch-andrelease experience.

Tactically, Houtby uses 40 to 50-pound test braided line with a 30-pound mono leader holding a five-aught circle hook, anchored by two to three-ounce sinkers. A corky spin and glow floater keeps bait eight to 12 inches off the bottom, both for better scent trail dispersion and predator access.

“They can visually see it and just inhale it instead of rooting around on bottom.”

Catfish baits range through chicken livers in a stocking, worms, gobs of worms, raw shrimp, frozen smelt or herring, whatever is available at the grocery store smiles Houtby. He prefers brined natural baitfish, using cut sucker meat, bones and all, or alternatively, salmon belly repurposed from other charters.

“The fresher the meat, the more bites you’ll get,” he says, considering 20 to 30 minutes an

effective timeframe.

Houtby uses medium to heavy rods with bait runner reels, letting a cat run with bait before tightening the line to effectively set the hook.

“Normally they’re like a freight train when they grab hold of it,” he said. “If you don’t have your rod in a holder there’s a good chance they’ll pop it right into the water.”

That’s the basics, watching Houtby in action contrasts that broad outline with an approach honed by decades of experience. He has a range of spots, marked both by electronics and in his head, typically staying for 20 minutes in any one before moving on if it’s not producing. He indicated ‘cats’, white lines on his side-view sonar, a cluster of fish sheltering behind a log as we passed. But Houtby also has a ‘feel’ for the water, a sense of whether fish may be deeper in the channel or hanging on its edge.

Although the GPS/electric motor held us in place, some boat movement shifted baits, and Houtby will also reel in a foot or two on occasion, dragging the sinker along the bottom.

“They’ll hear the commotion and come and

investigate.”

We pulled fish out of Houtby’s first hole, he almost apologetic with the appearance of an ‘average’ cat in the five-pound range. Most range somewhere between six and 14, but 20-pound fish are not uncommon.

“You get some of the bigger ones on, they put up a battle,”

In practice, there were rod-bending strikes, no-doubters as a cat ran with a bait. There were also more subtle approaches, Houtby running a practiced eye over suspiciously-moving rod tips.

“There we go, getting something on this one - he’s getting ready to rip it,” he might say, or “He’s on there, playing with it, chewing on it.”

Tendencies quickly became apparent. Whatever their weight cats are ‘heavy’ fish, the wavelength of distinctive head shakes offering a clue to their size: smaller, more abrupt movements a smaller fish, larger, longer bumps from big brothers and sisters. Powerful on the way in, a significant majority hit the ‘down button’ on a powerful elevator at first sight of the boat. Expect to enjoy each fish, and with larger specimens, be prepared for an extended upper body, specifically arm, workout.

Working two rods, we landed a dozen fish from five to 14 pounds in three hours, not the 37 a father/daughter combination reeled in the previous week perhaps, but steady, enjoyable action. My quest completed, we lingered on the river, I enjoying the experience, Houtby I suspected, looking for that elusive 20-pounder.

“This could be it,” he said, still calmly, as a rod bent and line peeled. “Don’t get off,” he breathed - and I silently repeated - as a battle which began off the right stern continued as he ‘bulldogged’ under the boat, Houtby instructing me to submerge the tip into the water to avoid rubbing the line on the keel, and carefully navigating around the motor to a final conclusion in the back, left corner.

“A little better,” Houtby smiled, his ‘guesstimate’ speaking to a dark-skinned 18-pound male. “Thought he was going to be a little bit bigger yet - but still not bad.”

Arms burning, quest satisfied, I had to agree. Not bad. Not bad at all.

For video of this adventure, visit https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=b0qvp_1qqbs

JEFF TRIBE Tillsonburg Post Columnist

Grand Sportfishing’s James Houtby shows off an estimated 18-pound channel cat caught on the Grand River.

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

Dunnville’s 50-foot statue of Muddy the mud cat, the largest such in the world, respectfully pays tribute to the species.

(JEFF TRIBE PHOTO)

TOWNSHIP OF NORWICH NEWS

Norwich looks to update council code of conduct

LUKE EDWARDS

Before he took a bite or even accepted the invitation, a recent meal out had one Norwich councillor feeling a little queasy. But it wasn’t the state of the food that left him feeling uneasy.

Coun. Karl Toews had to ask himself when a meal becomes more than just a meal recently, when he was invited out to supper while attending the Good Roads conference. A company that regularly bids on township contracts offered the invitation. And while a review of the township’s code of conduct for councillors seemed to suggest accepting the invitation wouldn’t have crossed the line, Toews still wasn’t so sure.

As a result, he put forward a motion at the May 13 Norwich Township council meeting that called for a revamping of a section the township’s code of conduct for councillors.

“That’s a sensitive area to say the least,” he said.

“We shouldn’t be accepting any gifts or hospitality that could compromise our decision making.”

Councillors approved the motion, removing a section of the code that ostensibly gave councillors permission to accept such invitations.

Toews said the idea of unconscious bias is something political leaders should take serious -

ly. And while a random dinner out at a yearly conference may seem innocent, it’s something councillors should be very wary of.

The discussion led to councillors and staff trying to determine where to draw the line. For instance, at conferences like Good Roads there’s often a lunch provided that’s sponsored by a business. So, would that count?

Being careful not to overstep his own authority while also trying to help council along, CAO Matt Smith said the line might be where a councillor or township representative is specifically being invited out to a meal as opposed to a general sponsorship of a meal for all attendees.

“There’s a difference between the dinner at night time hosted outside the conference venue and the lunch hosted at the conference,” he said.

He said he’d been in touch with the township’s integrity commissioner, John Mascarin. The wording in Norwich’s code of conduct is common throughout Ontario and indeed is the same as Oxford County’s, however Mascarin told Smith his office is now wording things slightly differently, including putting a dollar amount limit.

The change might all be moot anyway, as Smith told council that there’s proposed legislation at Queen’s Park that would change the code of conduct rules so there’s one set of rules for all municipalities in the province. Nevertheless, councillors approved the motion.

Norwich councillors want more information on county’s child plan

agendas their child might be exposed to. So, I don’t think anyone should ever be in that kind of a position.”

Township staff have been asked to get more information on what Oxford County’s Child Care and Early Years system plan means when it discusses “creating inclusive and responsive programs and services” or increasing the availability of educational materials that “reflect the diversity of the community.”

Councillors asked for the additional information when the 2025-2029 plan was included in an agenda item at the May 13 council meeting. Oxford County council has already moved to support the plan, voting to do so at a late April meeting.

“Unfortunately the terms diversity and inclusion in recent years have become somewhat loaded terms,” said Coun. Karl Toews.

“I think of a young couple that needs child care and may have traditional views on issues of gender and sexuality, and may be struggling with sending their child into Oxford community child care for fear of what ideologies or

The plan includes five main priorities: increasing access, supporting inclusive and responsive programs and services, enhancing quality, improving affordability, and using evidence to improve outcomes for children and families.

While he couldn’t say for sure what was meant under priority two, CAO Matt Smith said it was likely equipping staff with the tools to work with children and families from different backgrounds, and providing resources that reflect those backgrounds.

“In this case I would be very surprised if it was anything other than a conversation about multicultural backgrounds. There’s a lot of educational research that says kids are more successful if they see themselves reflected in the materials that they’re learning from,” he said.

Toews, who said he had “no issue with at all and educating the kids about our diverse multicultural demographic,” nevertheless worried “there may be more to it than that.”

Post Contributor

LUKE EDWARDS Post Contributor

Cecil B. Death Cult: The Lexington Cure scores a coming-of-age catastrophe

BEN ANDRESS

Tillsonburg Post Columnist

On May 23, Tillsonburg-based post-hardcore band The Lexington Cure released their new EP titled Cecil B. Death Cult with Canadian independent record label Blacktop Records. It is a col-

lection of songs that feel like you have been invited to read diary entries pulled from the emotional wreckage of adolescence, adulthood and everything in between while being delivered through a sonic punch that is both raw and refined.

Formed in the underground circuits of Southern Ontario’s music scene in 2017, The Lexington Cure quickly earned a reputation for channeling brutal honesty through a tightly-wound blend of melodic aggression and lyrical introspection. Instead of chasing trends their music wrestles with themes of alienation, identity and emotional survival. This sound is brought to life by the band’s current line-up that features Alex Fruch on vocals, Alexander Winkworth on bass guitar, Jackson Cronmiller on

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drums and Justin Hammond on guitar.

“We’ve always had a pretty constant artistic vision,” says frontman Alex Fruch, speaking in a tone as thoughtful as the band’s lyrics. “One that involves questioning everything about the self and how it relates to the world. As far as the future is concerned, we hope to dive deeper into that initial vision.”

That intensity pulses through the title Cecil B. Death Cult which hints at both cinematic ambition and existential dread. According to Fruch it is more than just a collection of songs – it is a dissection.

“I just watched an old interview with Henry Rollins” Alex explains. “He talked about how the goal of his art was to ‘self-dissect.’ Whether that be on paper, on record or on stage. His reasoning was because he had no right to dissect anything other than himself. Anything else would be disingenuous and dishonest. I very much agree with this approach because the only thing I feel comfortable taking apart artistically is myself because it is the only thing I truly

know.”

That honesty is not just personal. The Lexington Cure frontman Alex Fruch believes that it is also a responsibility to the band itself. While discussing the band’s new batch of songs he reflects on the bigger picture. “The reason I don't feel comfortable doing anything dishonest is because I would be wasting the gift I'm given. That gift is a musical vessel created by the talented musicians that I call bandmates. If they are going to pour themselves into the masterful compositions I'm handed, then I would be wasting their efforts along with mine.”

The songs are steeped in cinematic imagery and emotionally scorched storytelling. Fruch mentions a few films that shaped the tone of the EP including Super Dark Times, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys and Ghost World. All three share similar themes and parallel outlooks on youth, discomfort and the dark corners of coming-of-age.

“These movies reminded me of my adolescence. Not because of the time they were released but because of their uncomfortable

nature. My adolescence was very uncomfortable.” Fruch reflects.

“Super Dark Times is about worst-case scenarios which I always felt like I was on the cusp of. The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys is about a group of friends whose lives revolved around comic books until puberty hits. Ghost World is about the nature of celebrated transformative moments in our lives and how sometimes they aren't worth being celebrated.”

Musically the songs on Cecil B. Death Cult thrive in a space where emotional turmoil and kinetic riffs co-exist. Fruch attributes that duality to the band’s roots in outsider culture.

“All of us share an appreciation for outsider music and fringe culture” he says. “For all of us finding punk rock music led to self-discovery and the eventual formation of identities. Through personal experience we all understand that life can be beautiful and it can be painful. We also understand that both ends of the spectrum are equally valuable. The juxtaposition between fast hooky music with dark lyrics doesn't feel like a juxtaposition at all.”

With the new four song EP recorded by Kyle Ashbourne at The Sugar Shack in London, Ontario the band reaffirms their commitment to crafting music that cuts deep both for the listener and for themselves.

“I approach everything with an existential lens” Fruch snickers “Unfortunately for myself I read deeply into almost everything. I compare and contrast everything I see, think and feel. All I can hope for the listeners to take away is a deeper understanding and appreciation for the difficult times and experiences that life throws our way.” he says. “Hard times are valuable. They give shape and definition to the good ones.”

The Lexington Cure’s Cecil B. Death Cult is available now on all streaming platforms. Limited edition physical media including CDs and tapes will be available on the Bandcamp platform as well as the band’s merch table at live concerts starting next month. For more details on the band and upcoming tour dates please visit www.facebook.com/thelexingtoncure

An unexpected artistic discovery

PAUL KNOWLES Tillsonburg Post Columnist

OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO!

Our first port of call was Kingston’s waterfront. I was part of a group of four travel journalists who were invited by “VisitKingston” to, well, visit Kingston, earlier this month. Our hosts had put together an unusual itinerary, in that we were not visiting the Kingston Penitentiary, Old Fort Henry, or any site connected to the Tragically Hip. The focus of this visit was the water, and our starting point was the rejuvenated Great Lakes Museum.

Let’s be honest: the big attraction at the waterfront museum is the restored and beautifully outfitted Great Lakes passenger steamer, the Keewatin, which became the star of the Museum last year, opening to visitors in 2024, and re-opening this month for the 2025 season.

So, sensibly, I should be writing about the Keewatin. And I promise, I will, and soon. But our tour of the Great Lakes Museum took us through a unique art exhibit that captured my attention, and inspired me to do some research into the life and work of a Canadian artist named Grant MacDonald.

The MacDonald exhibit is housed in one of the museum’s historic buildings that were once the Kingston dry dock. The works of art here are all sketched portraits of Canadian sailors, during World War II. And they are fascinating.

Grant MacDonald, who was born in Montreal in 1909 and grew up in Cambridge, Ontario, was an official war artist,

appointed by the Royal Canadian Navy during the second World War. Following the war, MacDonald moved to Kingston, where he lived until his death in 1987.

What caught my eye as I wandered around the exhibition of 25 sketches, was the vitality of the works. MacDonald had captured his subjects’ personality, in some cases highlighting their senses of humour.

The works are mostly black and white pencil sketches, but they come alive, none the less.

A biographical panel about MacDonald, part of the exhibit, includes a quote from Vice-Admiral G.C. Jones, Chief of the Naval Staff: MacDonald’s sailors “are typical of the Navy as a whole; and they are shown doing the things they do ordinarily… in a manner that has made it possible to show with admirable insight the hearts and souls of the men who so valiantly helped fight and win the battle of the Atlantic.”

“The men,” yes, but the exhibition does include a couple of sketches depicting enlisted women. The works on display are a fraction of the 300 portraits that are part of the collection held by the museum.

MacDonald is certainly not the only Canadian artist commissioned as official war artists by the Canadian armed forces. Group of Seven member Fred Varley had the same responsibility, as did many others. But MacDonald held a unique duty: he was asked to produce portraits showing the everyday life of the enlisted men and women. His art may lack the drama of battlefield conflict, but it captures the reality of what enlisted life was like for his subjects – often with a humorous twist. He might be seen as the artistic equivalent of iconic Canadian newspaper columnist Gregory Clark, who also found a way to make wartime experiences personal, authentic and often humorous.

MacDonald has been described as “one of Canada’s most successful portrait painters,” and since he earned his living as a painter for four decades following the

war, that seems to be true. On the other hand, tastes among art lovers change over the years, and today, I discovered, you can buy a MacDonald in an on-line art auction for under $200. Which seems a shame. (The same is true of wonderful landscapes by an amazing Waterloo Region artist –Matthew Kousal, who passed away in 1990. But I digress.)

Despite the whimsy evident in some of MacDonald’s portraits, he was a serious artist. As a high school student at Galt Collegiate Institute, he was chief illustrator for the school newspaper. In his late teens, he studied under eccentric Waterloo Region artist Carl Ahrens. He then pursued art study in New York City, and London England. He contributed illustrations to many major Canadian newspapers and magazines, and illustrated books. He also taught art courses at Queen’s University and at the University of Montreal.

And MacDonald became closely connected with Canada’s theatre scene; he il-

lustrated the book “Renown at Stratford: A record of the Shakespeare Festival in Canada”, written by Robertson Davies and the Festival’s first artistic director, Tyrone Guthrie.

MacDonald’s life as an artist is intriguing in its own right – and I would frankly like to know more about this under-the-radar man – but here, I am focusing specifically on the MacDonald exhibit at the Great Lakes Museum. Yes, there is much more to see at this site, including the Keewatin, and a good selection of memorabilia, artifacts, model ships, original dry dock equipment, and art by other artists, but when you go, be sure to take enough time to explore the fascinating works by Canadian war-time artist Grant MacDonald.

Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and President of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@golden.net.

Self-portrait of Grant MacDonald during his stint as a Canadian war artist.

(PHOTOS BY PAUL KNOWLES)

"The Gash Wagon", showing WRENs during their probationary period, collecting garbage. Pictured are, from left, probationary WRENs G.E. Webster, M.H. Struthers, M.L. Bean and M.R. Anglin.

The Great Lakes Museum is housed in historic naval buildings on the Kingston waterfront.

"The Bos'n's Pipe", a sketch of Ordinary Seaman W.D. Taylor.

COMING EVENTS

CRAVING SOMETHING LATE?

SWISS CHALET AND HARVEY’S ARE NOW OPEN LATER FOR DINE-IN, DRIVE-THRU, TAKEOUT, AND DELIVERY APPS!

MONDAY - FRIDAY: 11 AM TO 10 PM, SUNDAYS: 11 AM TO 9:30 PM

NEW DAILY SPECIALS BEING OFFERED FROM 8PM- CLOSE

Please stop by to see offers.

OXFORD GRIEF CARE:

FREE Monthly Grief Support Group Register at: oxford.griefsupport@von.ca or 519-539-1231 Ext 6299 or 6296

TILLSONBURG

WHEN: 2nd Tuesday of every month

WHERE: VON Oxford Office 24 Brock St. W., Tillsonburg

TIME: 6:30PM-8:00PM

INGERSOLL

WHEN: 4th Tuesday of every month

WHERE: Ingersoll Public Library 130 Oxford St., Ingersoll

TIME: 10:30AM –12:00Noon

WOODSTOCK

WHEN: 3rd Saturday of every month

WHERE: Sakura House Hospice 715180 Oxford Rd.4, Woodstock

TIME: 10:30AM-12:00Noon

INTERESTED IN BRIDGE?

Join us every Friday at the Tillsonburg Duplicate Bridge Club at 1 p.m. at The Senior Centre. Don’t have a partner? Come anyway and we will match you up with someone. For more information, visit their Facebook page: TburgBridge.

TILLSONBURG LIONS

The Tillsonburg Lions meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. You are invited to their dinner meetings in the Lion's Den at the Community Centre. If you are interested in giving back to your Community contact Jim at 519 409 0876 for more information.....all are welcome.

ARE YOU IN A JAM?

June 6 & 20 from 1-4p.m. Masonic Hall, 190 Thames St S, Ingersoll. Ingersoll's Country Music Jamboree Club is celebrating 40 years. New members wanted. Qualifications - love 50-70's country music. Listen, dance, enjoy! The club welcomes walk-ins at the door.

MEMBERS GENERAL MEETING

1st Wednesday of every month

Starting at 7:00 pm

Not a member contact us to join The Wagner Memorial Teeterville Legion Branch 526. 3890 Teeterville Road, Teeterville, Ontario. For More Information Call, the Legion 519-443-5588

https://www.teetervillelegionbranch526.ca

WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP AT ONE OF OUR EVENTS? WE WELCOME YOU!

The Wagner Memorial, Teeterville Legion Branch 526

3890 Teeterville Road, Teeterville, Ontario

You do not need to be a member to Volunteer, Just contact the legion and leave your name and number and purpose of your call. Someone will get back to you as to where you might be needed. Students and Adults welcome. Open hours. Wed.-Fri. 3 pm-10 pm, Sat.1 pm-10 pm, Sun.1 pm-6 pm. For More Information call, the Legion at 519-443-5588 or teetervillelegionbranch526.ca

BAKE, PLANT, PURSE, AND ACCESSORIES SALE

St John’s Anglican Church 46 Rideout St W, Tillsonburg. Saturday May 31st, 9am-noon Free admission.

WEEKLY CRUISE NIGHTS

Hosted by the Tillsonburg Cruisers at the Tim Hortons/Wendys.

Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy vehicles of all makes and years.

THE BROWNSVILLE ANNUAL SCHOOL REUNION

June 18, 2025 from 10:00am - 3:00pm at the Brownsville Community Centre. There will be a Potluck lunch, so please bring your favourite dish. All former students and spouses are welcome to attend. If you have any Historical information or pictures, please bring them with you. If you have any questions, please contact Patty Meertens at rpmeertens@gmail.com

INDOOR YARD SALE

St. Paul's United Church

88 Bidwell St., Tillsonburg, Ontario

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025

8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

We've got it all - clothing, books, Christmas items, children's toys, furniture and much much more. Also available - yummy baked goods from our U.C.W. as well as a food booth to keep your strength up as you shop. For more info please call 519-688-0011.

MULTICULTURAL FOOD FESTIVAL

Saturday, June 7th, 11am - 3pm

Delhi Tobacco Museum & Heritage Centre

- 200 Talbot Rd., Delhi

FeaturingL Korean, Fillipino, Jamaican, Mexican, Indian, Hungarian, Ukranian, German food & European desserts. $5 admission, children 12 & under free. Debit & cash payment, take-out & dine-in.

TILLSONBURG LEGION LUNCH

Wednesday June 11 from noon to 1pm.

Serving your choice of lasagna, or mac n cheese, or shepherds pie. Includes a side, dessert, tea and coffee for only $15 per person. Free live music by Four T Strings.

TILLSONBURG LEGION SUPPER

Friday June 27 from 5-6pm.

Serving Roast Beef with mashed potatoes, vegetables, gravy, dessert, tea and coffee for only $18 per person. All welcome!

"THE WRIGHT STUFF"

Live at the Tillsonburg Legion

Saturday June 28 at 7 pm.

Come dance to a 5 piece band featuring rock, country, and pop hits from 60's - 00's. $15 tickets available at the Legion. For more info call 519-842-5281.

OXFORD COUNTY ANNUAL COIN SHOW

Woodstock Coin Club Along with Ingersoll Coin Club Sunday, June 29th, 2025

Woodstock Agricultural Society Fairgrounds

875 Nellis St., Woodstock, On N4S 4C6 9:00am to 3:00pm

Admission: $4.00. Buy, Sell, Trade & Evaluate. Kid's Table | Free Parking | Food Booth is open

Contact: John Tryhub, (519) 608-8446 / john@woodstockgoldnsilver.ca

CANADIAN HARVARD AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION OPEN HOUSE & FLY DAYS

June 14 (Rain Date: June 15)

July 5 (Rain Date: July 6)

August 16 (Rain Date: August 17)

Sept 13 – Wings & Wheels

All event dates take place from 9am – 4pm Tillsonburg Regional Airport

Join us for our Open House & Fly Days during our special 40th anniversary season. These monthly family-friendly outdoor events are always FREE and offer the opportunity

to see our collection of Harvard aircraft up close, tour our hangars, explore restoration projects, purchase souvenirs, and best of all, purchase a flight! Pre-booking your flight experience is recommended by contacting crewflights@harvards.com. On July 5th, Join us for a very special Open House & Fly Day that will officially celebrate our special 40th anniversary! This FREE family-friendly outdoor event will offer lots of fun and entertainment and we invite you to be a part of it. As with all our Open Houses, visitors will have the opportunity to see our collection of Harvard aircraft up close, tour our hangars, explore restoration projects, purchase souvenirs, and best of all, purchase a flight! Pre-booking your flight experience is recommended by contacting crewflights@ harvards.com.

WANT TO HELP?

DELHI & DISTRICT

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

On Monday June 2, 2025 @ 6:00 pm we will be planting the flower beds and Cleaning Up at the Delhi Tobacco Museum. HELP IS WANTED as extra hands makes the job easier. Bring your own tools.

MSC TRAIL WALK & RUN WHEN: Sun, June 8 WHERE: Coronation Park TIME: 10:30 am, registration opens at 9:30 am

12th annual run/ walk event proudly sponsored by Zehrs Tillsonburg. 2.5 km & 5 km routes along the Carroll Trail. Register today! 519842-9000 or www.multiservicecentre.com

"JUMP INTO JUNE"

@ St.Pauls United church Messy Church June 7 10am to noon.

Food,fun and crafts too.88 Bidwell St.Tillsonburg.Children should be accompanied by an adult. Please note-we are taking a summer break resuming in September.

TOWNSHIP OF NORWICH

CANADA DAY CELEBRATION

July 1, Otterville, 1:00 pm

Parade, children’s activities in park, beer garden, music, pie & home decorating contest, baseball game, JPs BBQ, fireworks. Visit https://www.norwich.ca/media/fcvn1sbl/ canada-day-2025-poster-final.pdf

I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?

Map

What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?

The letter M

You can't hold me in your hand, but I can fill a room. What am I?

Light

I fly without wings. I cry without eyes. Wherever I go, darkness flies. What am I?

Cloud

I go up but never come down. What am I?

Age

I have a neck but no head, and I wear a cap. What am I?

Bottle

What can travel all around the world while staying in one spot?

Stamp

STELLA

RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES

Rainy Day Activities Word Search

CLASSIFIEDS

OBITUARY

McQUIGGAN GAIL PATRICIA

McQUIGGAN, Gail

Patricia (nee Jackson), formerly of Tillsonburg, Ontario, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Saturday May 17, 2025 at Caressant Care Mary Bucke in St. Thomas, Ontario.

Lovingly remembered by her daughter Shelly Riddell (Doug Bate), son Danny McQuiggan, and daughter in law Gloria (nee Ford) McQuiggan, grandchildren Melissa French, Spenser (Laura) Riddell, Chad McQuiggan, Chelsea McQuiggan, Jonathan (Megan) Bate, Jennifer Bate, Joseph Bate, Brittany Serrador, Brayden Shepley, Breanna Shepley, and Kristy Willeart Ragany, and by her great grandchildren Casey Bradley (Max Vinogradov), Aiden Bradley, Paisley Riddell, Allie DeRoo, Zaydon Patterson-Tiller, Jebediah Bate, Jonah and Kristien Ragany. Remembered by her sisters Valerie Perreault (late Maurice), Cheryl (Rick) Ross, and brother Lonny (Brenda) McQuiggan. Gail was predeceased by her husband Larry (2019), son Bud (2013), her parents Harvey and Mae Jackson, and father-in-law and mother-in-law Max and Gloria McQuiggan.

We would like to thank all Staff at Mary Bucke for lovingly taking such great care of Mom and treating her like family. There will be no funeral; interment will be in the Tillsonburg Cemetery. Memorial donations made to the Alzheimer Society or to Heart and Stroke are appreciated. Wareing Cremation Services, 161 Broadway St., Tillsonburg was entrusted with Final Arrangements. Your messages of remembrance and condolence may be shared at wareingcremation.ca

OBITUARY

GUILLEMAN

SOLANGE MARIA HUBERTA

(MAY 24, 1933 – MAY 13, 2025)

Passed away, peacefully with her loving family by her side, on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025, at LHSC – Victoria Hospital, London, Solange Maria Huberta Guilleman, formerly of Tillsonburg, in her 92nd year. Born in Aarsele, W.F. Belgium daughter of the late Marcel DeCloet and the late Levina VanNoten. Member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Tillsonburg and formerly of the St. Mary’s C.W.L. Solange was a dedicated employee of the former Livingston’s Industries, Fleck Mfg., Borden’s and cleaned homes as well. Marcel and Solange were also known to work seasonally in the Tobacco Harvest on area farms. Solange is predeceased by her much-loved husband of 36 years Marcel Maurice Guilleman (October 6, 1997). Loved mom of Brenda Molnar (Brian Evans), Vienna; Ron Guilleman (Lydia Johnson), St. Thomas; Dan Guilleman, Woodstock; and David Guilleman (Melissa), Niagara Falls. Proud and loving grandma of: Melissa Molnar, Samantha Molnar; Katelyn Guilleman, Matthew Guilleman (Samantha), David Handley (Valerie) and Devan Wilson (Caitlyn). Loving great grandma of: Owen, Quinton, Sylas, Oliver, Sullivan, Emma, Logan, Wren and Jack. Dear sister and sister-in-law of: Paul and Cecile DeCloet, Tillsonburg; Magda (Ghislain), Willie (Janine); and Raoul (Jacqueline), all of Belgium. Predeceased by a sister Noella Devolder and brother-in-law Roger. Survived by nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends, neighbours and relatives are welcome to visit with Solange’s family on Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes Chapel, 262 Broadway, Tillsonburg. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 51 Venison St. W., Tillsonburg by Rev. Fr. Seejo John, on Friday, May 23rd, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Interment follows in Tillsonburg Cemetery Columbarium. Everyone who knew Solange is invited to share favourite memories, photos, express personal condolences, order flowers or as expression of sympathy contribute memorial donations to “Heart and Stroke Foundation” or “Canadian Cancer Society” via Solange’s online tribute page at www. verhoevefuneralhomes.com or by contacting the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes- Burial and Cremation Services Inc., Tillsonburg (519)842-4238, which has been entrusted with all funeral arrangements, with confidence.

OBITUARY

COWAN

STUART (NOV. 25, 1940 – MAY 25, 2025)

The family of Doug Cowan sadly announce his passing on May 25th, 2025. He leaves behind his wife Jeanne, sons: Tim (Jeanette), Tyler (Kelley) and Cale (Jill). Also sharing the loss are his grandchildren Greg Cowan (Michelle), Hilary Cade (David), Cassidy Cowan, Jack Cowan and Sam Cowan, as well as seven great-grandchildren, a brother Harvey (Eleanor deceased) and a sister Norma Nickol (Brant).

Grief never ends but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. Grief is the price of love.

A family celebration of Doug’s life has occurred. Those who knew Doug are invited to share favourite memories, photos, express personal condolences or contribute memorial donations to any charity of choice via Doug’s online tribute page at www. verhoevefuneralhomes.com or by contacting the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes – Burial and Cremation Services Inc, 262 Broadway Street, Tillsonburg (519)842-4238, entrusted with all funeral arrangements.

THANK YOU

The family of the Late Carolyn Lamers wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all our relatives and friends for their kindess, tributes, cards, phone calls, memorial donations and heartfelt condolences.

Thank you to all of the attentive and dedicated personnel at Ostrander’s Funeral Home, Marcel and Laurie of Carriage Hall for their friendship and attention to detail in providing a beautiful Celebration of Life – Thank you – Thank you

The family of Carolyn Lamers

TREES

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)

Murder Amongst Friends solution

The murderer sat, surprised and shocked, in the big easy chair. The group of friends more like family sat motionless, hanging on the Vivian’s every word.

She began, “Like my friend Officer Buddy, I have been so confused since the killing that I had not been able to think straight almost as if voices were ringing in my ears. But, after listening to everyone this morning, the music stopped and the blinders lifted.”

“Winnie died around two that terrible night; or more precisely, early morning.”

Turning to Poppy, she said, “You could not have killed your dear friend Winnie. Sunny confirms you were watching television downstairs until a few minutes after three. You could not have been downstairs watching television and upstairs committing murder at the same time.”

Emma, a sensitive soul, was agitated and near tears. Sister Vivian addressed her next. “It wasn’t you either. It will be easy enough for your friend Adelle, and your internet provider, if need be, to verify you were on a video chat. I’m certain you would not have heard or paid any attention to unfamiliar noises when deep into conversation almost as if talking to yourself.”

Vivian offered a warm, comforting smile that settled Emma. The Sister now stony, but calm, in silence turned to Leo.

“Remember I said Sunny did not have to account for her time because it didn’t make any difference?”

Leo, in shock, barely nodded, but he understood what was being said. Vivian continued, “She was in her room alone all night with nobody to confirm it doesn’t make any difference because I know you Leo killed Winnie.”

Pausing, Vivian continued, “While Sunny does have a wild imagination fascinated with the macabre and a lover of movies like Halloween , “Do we really think she would kill her soul mate with an ice pick?” Staring intensely at Leo she went on, “Leo you forgot that the sisters grew up and slept in the same bedroom. Winnie a long-time sinus sufferer likely never had a sound night’s sleep in her life and would make more noise than a freight train.”

Leo replied, weakly, “Ssssshhh So what?”

Vivian could not believe Leo’s silence. “Are we really expected to believe that you were alert enough to hear Poppy come in downstairs, in a house that does not carry sounds well, but you noticed nothing unusual with a restless sleeper lying right beside you all night long? Leo you are a desperate man but the game is up – You killed Winnie.”

1. 1997 2. Two 3. Westminster 4. Genghis Khan

Sonic 6. Rumpelstiltskin

7. Seven 8. Iran & northern India

9. Knockout

10. Canada Life Place