Tillsonburg
JEFF HELSDON Editor
The new Tillsonburg Unattached Care Clinic opened on Monday.
The Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, in partnership with the Oxford Ontario Health Team, announced on Friday that the clinic would be open for booking appointments starting Monday. The first patients were seen on Tuesday in the location at Roulston’s Phatmacy. For people without a doctor or nurse practitioner only, the clinic is a temporary solution launched to deal with a large number of Tillsonburg and area residents without access to primary care. The hope is it will gain permament funding in the next year.
The Ingersoll NPLC will operate the Tillsonburg Unattached Care Clinic with support of Oxford OHT partners.
“This clinic represents a collaborative response to a growing gap in access to primary care,” said Stephanie Nevins, executive director of the Ingersoll NPLC.
The initiative has been made possible through funding from the Town of Tillsonburg and with the support of Oxford OHT members, including the Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, Roulston’s Pharmacy-Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, and the Thames Valley Family Health Team.
It was an exciting day for Jessica Carrasco-Hardin, the nurse practitioner, who will be at the clinic. She comes to the position from working as the clinical lead RN at Alexandra Hospital Ingersoll with a background in emergency medicine.
Fishing derby smiles
Not everyone had success Saturday at Tillsonburg’s 11th Annual Free Fishing Derby at Lake Lisgar, but Theo Bowman of Tillsonburg caught his share.
“Probably about… six or seven,” said seven-year-old Theo, fishing with his two-year-old sister Myla Bowman and mother Laurel Dade – and live releasing back into Lake Lisgar with help from Myla, who had witnessed her
first derby fishing with their mother in 2023.
“Want to see the carp I caught?” Theo asked, proud of the big one he caught Thursday at Coronation Park, photographed on his mother’s phone. “We caught a five-pounder.”
“Usually he catches the big fish,” said Laurel. “Pittock (Woodstock), Otterville… we’re all over the place. Theo loves fishing!”
“Should we catch some more?” she asked.
Dave Metselaar, a volunteer at Tillsonburg’s 11th annual Free Fishing Derby on July 5, measures a fish brought in by Johnny and Lucas Harms.
(CHRIS ABBOTT PHOTO)
CHRIS ABBOTT Post Contributor
First week full for new unattached health care clinic
Carrasco-Hardin has 11 years of experience as an RN and finished the nurse practitioner course in 2024.
“Watching this come to fruition as a nurse practitioner is exciting because about building the community to be better,” said Carrasco-Hardin. She was so excited that she returned early from maternity leave when she saw the job posting.
The phones were busy Monday, with most of the week filled by 11 a.m., just two hours after staff started answering them. Carrasco-Hardin was assisting and was working through a list provided to her by Lopes of people without a doctor who had prescriptions filled.
“The list of patients in this area , not just Tillsonburg but surrounding area, is quite long and right now, we’re happy trying to give that access to people,” she said. “There shouldn’t be a worry for people that used to go to emerg for a lab requisition.”
Leading what she called a “small and mighty team”, Carrasco-Hardin is assisted by RPN Mackenzie Tibbits and medical office assistant Cait-Lynne Anderson.
Appointments will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for more in-depth issues. There will also be same-day/ next-day 15-minute appointments for simpler problems, such as colds and earaches, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
She said health care accessibility is also essential for the farming community. For farmers without a health care provider, she said those without a doctor often put off seeking health care knowing it can take three or more hours out of their day to seek help. Carrasco-Hardin understands this results in an income loss for them, so healthcare is put aside during busy times, and conditions can worsen, leading to an ER visit.
Another hope is the clinic will reduce visits to ER.
“The Unattached Patient NP clinic supports patients to get the primary care they need in an appropriate location,” said Nadia Facca, Integrated
President & CEO of AHI and TDMH.
“The hospital is hopeful that this should reduce visits to our Emergency Department for health issues that can be appropriately managed at the clinic".
The clinic came together when Tillsonburg town council supported funding to get it off the ground temporarily.
“This important step forward would not have been possible without the leadership of the Oxford Health Team— thank you for your dedication and vision,” said Mayor Deb Gilvesy. “I also want to express sincere gratitude to our town council for their fiscal support and to the Health Care Committee for their tireless efforts in bringing this project to life. Thank you as well to Roulston's and the Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic for partnering on this meaningful investment in the health and well-being of our community."
Deputy Mayor Dave Beres, who is also the chair of the town’s health care committee, said committee members have been working with the Ministry of Health and the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) in recruiting health care professionals to town.
“The opening of the primary care clinic is a giant step forward in building a family health team model.,” he said. “MPP Ernie Hardeman, along with Ontario's Health Minister Sylvia Jones and members of OMA, have been extremely helpful in guiding Tillsonburg in building a model for attracting physicians and health care professionals to our community.
David Lopes, pharmacist/owner of Roulston’s Tillsonburg, was excited to be a part of the clinic. He has seen an influx of people looking for primary care since opening six months ago.
“It’s great to have a collaborative approach,” he said.
To book an appointment, call 519544-1185 Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. The clinic operates by appointment only and is not a walkin or urgent care facility. The clinic is located at 12-671 Broadway St.
Staff at the Tillsonburg Unattached Care Clinic have been busy answering phones since the clinic opened on Monday, with most of the week’s appointments filled within two hours. Left to right are: Mackenzie Tibbits, RPN; Jessica Carrasco-Hardin, NP; and CaitLynne Anderson, medical office assistant.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Dav Benne Bob Arppe * Taylor Thoonen * Realty Team ONE
Brandon Koppert ** Dane Willson **
Derrek de Jonge * Eva Krahn * Deepanshu Pal * Jennifer Dalley * Samuel Koppert * Breanna Averink * Grant Sumler *
Linda Coldham ** Crystal Ketchabaw *
Samantha Hamilton * Scott Hamilton *
Rob Koppert
of Record/Owner
Twice a Pioneer: A history of Oxford County Library Services
Local History Speaker Series returns this summer with an in-depth look at the Oxford County Library on its 60th anniversary
Oxford County Library and Oxford County Archives proudly present the third installment of the Local History Speaker Series in 2025, Twice a Pioneer: A History of Oxford County’s Library Services on Saturday, July 19, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ath the Tillsonburg branch.
Join local history specialist Dr. Matthew Griffis as he provides the complete history of the Oxford County Library. As the Oxford County Library celebrates its 60th anniversary, we recall our origins as one of Ontario’s first county libraries. The presentation will feature archival images and other historical items that the public has not seen in over 60 years.
This presentation will provide residents with a better understanding of how the Oxford County Library was established and why it was only the second county library to form in Ontario. The library as we know it today in Oxford County began with the formation of
Nominations open for the
The call for nominations for the annual Oxford Tourism Awards of Excellence is now open. Launched in 2022, the tourism awards recognize the region’s tourism businesses, organizations, and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in product development, partnerships and collaborations, innovation, inclusivity, leadership, sustainability, and attraction to the region. The program also highlights the collaborative efforts of partners who are working side by side with Oxford Tourism to enhance regional tourism and
Restoring small-town journalism, one community at a time!
Publisher
Stewart Grant • stew@granthaven.com
Editor
Jeff Helsdon • jeff@granthaven.com
Graphic Design / Sales Inquiries
Stacie Eden • info@tillsonburgpost.com
Business Development
Heather Dunbar • heather@granthaven.com Administration
Jen Gaetan • jen@granthaven.com
Contributors
Jeff Tribe, Laurel Beechey, Debbie Kasman, Paul Knowles
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the Oxford County Library Association in 1937 and the Oxford County Library Cooperative in 1948, culminating in the establishment of the current Oxford County Library system in 1965.
Space is limited, and registration is required. Register for the in-person event at the Tillsonburg branch of Oxford County Library by calling (519) 842-5571 or register online for the in-person or virtual event via the Programs and Events calendar at www.ocl.net.
Dr. Matthew Griffis currently works as one of Oxford County Library's local history specialists. Formerly a senior professor of library and archival studies, Griffis holds master's and PhD degrees in library and information science and has conducted historical and social studies of public libraries as community organizations, the evolution of library architecture, and the history of public library development in North America. Griffis has spoken at many professional and academic conferences, including four annual conferences of the American Library Association, and has published his research in the United States and Canada.
2025 Oxford Tourism Awards
provide exceptional visitor experiences.
The 2025 Award Categories are: Tourism Partnership Award, Best New Tourism Product Award and Special Event of the Year Award.
Applications are open to individuals, small businesses and non-profit organizations based in Oxford County. Businesses are encouraged to self-nominate or nominate a local business they admire. The deadline for submissions is August 3.. The 2025 Oxford Tourism Award ceremony will take place in October.
“The Oxford Tourism Awards celebrate the champions and innovators of our tourism industry,” said Meredith Maywood, Manager of Tourism, Oxford County. “The award ceremony is a time to celebrate the people who work tirelessly to offer unique experiences, invest in new tourism products and provide the small-town charm that keeps people coming back to Oxford County.”
For more information about each category and the application process, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/Business-in-Oxford/Tourism/Tourism-Awards.
Editor’s Note: Talented writers wanted
Writer’s Corner is a new feature in the Tillsonburg Post, featuring the talent of our local writers.
Author Norma Collis has graciously provided material to launch this new column, but features are welcome from other local writers.
Submissions should be 600 to 800 words in length.
Submitted material doesn’t need to be about Tillsonburg, but a connection to the town is a bonus. Topics are diverse, but should not be business promotion or political opinion pieces.
E-mail editor Jeff Helsdon at jeff@granthaven.com with any questions.
Opening of health clinic is a reason for celebration
Accolades were coming from all directions as the new Tillsonburg Unattached Care Clinic opened on Monday.
And they should.
The clinic was a real colloborative effort to bring much-needed primary health care to Tillsonburg. Planning for a nurse practitioner-led clinic has been underway for some time, but funding attempts were unsuccessful. The final ticket for success seemed to be funding from the Town of Tillsonburg to get it going on a temporary basis. Hopes are it will receive permament funding.
The challenges to the opening reveal some of the inadequacies of our health care system. While Tillsonburg residents without a doctor – and they number in the thousands with two recent doctor retirements – believe immediate action was needed, they aren’t wrong. The situation is multi-layered and reveals some of the inadequacies of our health care system.
The Ministry of Health looks at the county as a whole, and viewed that way, the situation is not as dire. However, Tillsonburg doctors service a large area in Norfolk and Elgin Counties that don’t show up in Oxford statistics. It may be easy to say people can drive to 30 or 40 minutes to shop, for children’s sports or for
supper ,so why not for a doctor’s appointment, but what is not taken into consideration is shopping and sports are leisure activities enjoyed in the evening. Having a family doctor or nurse practitioner nearby is a necessity, and those visits need to take place during business hours. For many, that means leaving their jobs for a doctor’s appointment and since that isn’t always easy, health care gets put on the back burner.
Kudos go to Tillsonburg council members for supplying the funding, but they shouldn’t have needed to. Credit also needs to go to Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman for fighting for approvals.
However, Ontario’s health care budget is already the largest expenditure in the provincial budget at more than 35 per cent. The most fundamental part of health care is primary care and this should be the utmost goal of the health care ministry.
The solution is a complex one, and the present Progressive Conservative government is tackling a problem that has been building for years, but in the meantime people’s lives and health care is at stake.
In this case, what needs to be remembered goes back to the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Letter to the Editor
Reader calls for more flag flying
After reading your article about the lack of people flying our flag, I agree with you. I was especially disappointed in the lack of businesses in our downtown area not displaying our national emblem. It should have been a wave of red. Perhaps next year?
My neighbours in Hickory Hills certainly made our community look very festive.
Sincerely
Miriam Schernekau
Coming home to a different kind of beautiful
EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL
People often ask if she misses living in Vancouver, but Lori Sawyer (nee Cameron) is grateful to be back in Tillsonburg. She describes driving in the countryside, wildflowers lining the road and layers of tree and sky, and said, "It's a different kind of beautiful."
She shared numerous photos of the wall of windows in her Rolph Street apartment, which offer a beautiful view of the sunset. Compared to her windows in Vancouver, which framed a view of the alley, it's a welcome change. She met her husband Scott in 1996 and they moved out west shortly after they were married. They lived in a nice community right on the ocean where everything was walkable, including an island for whale watching, but she said, "I wasn't ever home to enjoy it, and Vancouver was getting a bit rough."
"I missed how the birds sound," she said, "and how pretty it is here, lush and green. Being away gave me a new appreciation for it and I realized how I never really
felt at home anywhere else."
She was born and raised in Tillsonburg, the eldest of three girls. She attended Rolph Street Public School, Maple Lane, Annandale and Glendale, where her father Dave taught physics.
Her mother is now an avid gardener, but Lori has fond memories of an easel set up in the kitchen for her mother's oil paintings, alongside a chalkboard for her. Despite these early artistic influences, Lori didn't embrace art until later in life. She began to work with graphite, charcoal and coloured pencils as a refuge from the pressures of work and life’s challenges. It was relaxing and therapeutic.
She used reference photos to create realistic drawings of fruit, tulips, and portraits of her daughter, as well as family and friends, or their pets. She often framed and gifted her work.
"It's my passion," she said. "I love being able to capture the essence of somebody on paper, and people love their pets!"
With two adorable Pomeranians at home, she can understand that.
Their living room features a wall of her artwork. She wanted to create a really cozy space for relaxing together in the evening, with cushions and candles and that exceptional view.
"It's peaceful here," Sawyer said. "There's a different pace. It's like going back in time 20 years. It's grown, but things haven't changed that much, it's still Tillsonburg. It's nice, people are nice here."
The contrast is evident after 30 years in Vancouver, with a stressful job that included a one hour commute
that made for long days.
She now works full-time in the pharmacy at Shoppers Drug Mart.
"It's busy," she said. "It's not exactly low key, but it's great to support people and I'm serving a community I love."
She's currently using her artistic talents to knit and crochet, using luxurious natural yarns to create charming dolls, fruits and animals, which are available at Betty's Marketplace.
"I'm wired for creativity," Sawyer said, explaining that her grandmother taught her how to crochet.
"I think of her a lot when I'm making them," she said. "She did incredibly intricate work. Swans, bells, you’d pin on your lapel at Christmas, and small pillows laced with ribbon that looked like little jewels on her bed."
She confesses that she's not very business-minded about it, because it's the process that she values the most.
"The older I get, the more I need it. I have an ability to hyperfocus. I like the challenge of putting the patterns together like a puzzle, and the connection to my roots."
She's grateful for those early creative experiences, and living at Rolph Street has added another layer of nostalgia.
"I walk by my Grade 1 classroom to get my mail," she said, "and I remember the feel of the air, the smell of the air, searching for snails, the dirt, the bugs and the big tree with it's spreading roots in the schoolyard. It's ingrained in the cells in my body. Little me started out here, and I live here now, being creative in a place where I have history."
ROBIN KRAFFT
Tillsonburg Post Columnist
Summer sunset.
(STACIE EDEN PHOTO)
Spur line railroad artifacts unearthed during road construction
Do you enjoy watching shows where they dig up treasures from the past, or shipwrecks at the bottom of the ocean? Be it a treasure ship or a destroyer from the Second World War, you imagine being there when the stories of something from the past suddenly become facts. Well, that just happened in Tillsonburg. Granted there was no treasures, or mummies just a small piece of our town’s past.
George Tillson made sure all roads came to Tillsonburg. His son Edwin Delevan [E.D.], an entrepreneur and manufacturer, brought railroads to town to ship his and many other industrial and manufacturing goods to the major centers around the world. Of course, he wanted all manner of goods imported to manufacture and for the stores to sell as well. But location of the five train stations was not necessarily conveniently located close to the manufacturer’s product, and the goods had to be loaded on wagons to move to and from the trains. It was a lot of work, so the railways-built spur lines and work yards to transfer their goods, but E.D. could not get them to build a line to his mills on Bloomer Street and John Pound Road.
In early January 1883, the Canada Southern Railway came, under the control of the Michigan Central Railway (MCR). Two years later, the MCR made a deal with E.D. to build
a spur line from the north end of town where their tracks came into town. Today the tracks are gone, and it is the Trans Canada Trail. The train station still stands, now known as Jim Thompson, Desjardins Insurance.
Finally, in 1885, the MCR cut a deal with him to build a spur line from the MCR station at the north end town down into the south end of Tillsonburg. E.D. provided the land and the manpower for grading the line. MCR provided the surveying, supervision, and track material for the project. The track headed south a block or so west of the present day Tillson Avenue for about a mile. It would then travel the east side of Lisgar Ave, to Brock St. where it crossed into the ravine. The MCR would not build tracks down in the ravine and terminated the spur near the top of the hill. [about Lisgar and Brock St. E.] but E.D. kept his gang grading south along the Clear Creek ravine, heading towards his mills.
Finally in 1891, E.D. was granted royal assent to incorporate the "Tillson Spur line Railway Company" After much red tape and many delays, construction began in the fall of 1894. If you look you can still see the ledge for the track on the side of the ravine by Tillson Ave. It exited the ravine, at, and crossed Oxford Street, heading along Bloomer Street until meeting John Pound Rd. E.D. also built more spurs to his various mills on both sides of the roads from his main spur. One week before Christmas of that year, heralded the arrival of the first train in front of the mills, on the track built by E.D. Tillson's own men.”
Today, 131 years later The Tillson Milling Empire, including the Famous Pan Dried Oats’ mill, is no longer across the street. The only mill left standing is the pea and barley mill, now known as The Mill, where John Pound Road goes uphill and becomes Broadway. Last week, in front of The Mill the road was torn up as they updated the water and sewage. Did they
find a treasure? Les Lonsbary of The Mill and I thought so!
There was one railroad tie 9’11” which came up complete with the metal plate holding the 11’9” track and spikes in the wood. The was a smaller sizes than the remanent of more modern tracks around town. Maybe not much smaller, but they are a tangible reminders of the spur line which E.D. designed, engineered and his men built long ago.
The next day a monstrous 16’ long x14”x12” post was pulled out, as were numerous others of varying sizes, some altered over time or damaged in in excavation. They looked like a
tall tree cut evenly down the middle, leaving one side straight with the exterior still rounded. They had three, three-inch peg holes in each end, using three-inch wooden dowels or pegs that attached them all together.
Why? To make on impressive wall? Part of a dam on Clear Creek that would regulate the flow of waterpower to the oat and pea mills? One of the construction crew had been told by a local there was a foot bridge near where they were buried. Older maps show small bridges over the Otter and Clear Creek, but none near the oat or pea mill.
Maybe someday we will know.
LAUREL A. BEECHEY Tillsonburg Post Columnist
New president at local Legion branch
JEFF HELSDON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
There’s a new leader at the top of Branch 153 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
After Dianne Hodges 12 years at the helm of the Tillsonburg branch, Tom Brown took over as president, effective March 1.
Brown has been a Legion member for years, and a member in Tillsonburg for eight. He comes to the branch with a wealth of military experience.
A native of Sydney, Nova Scotia, he joined the military in 1966 after finishing high school, choosing to serve with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Brown served as an air defence technician initially. In that position, he worked at a radar site as part of the Defence Early Warning (DEW line) to watch for planes coming into the country.
“My job was to coordinate and assist controllers,” he said.
Brown’s job was also to send out Canadian aircraft if Russian planes came over Canada’s air space.
He spent a lot of this time stationed in Gander, Newfoundland, but was also in Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Figuring he wanted a change, Brown then switched to construction engineer, trained as a plumber/gas fitter and was stationed in Chilliwack, B.C. He retired from the military as manager of maintenance in Kingston as a Warrant Officer Construction Master Technician in 1995. Brown continued to work as a contractor for Defence Construction Canada, a Crown corporation , for a decade.
His sister and brother-in-law retired to Tillsonburg. Visiting them once, started another move.
“My wife said, ‘I really like this town’,” he recounted. They sold their property in Kingston and moved to Tillsonburg.
“Tillsonburg is a really interesting town,” he said. “People in this town and surrounding area are so welcoming.” He joined the Legion, and was asked to be sergeant-at-
arms about a year after joining.
“I slid into that job because I had background in the military conducting services,” Brown said.
He was also service officer, helping veterans filling out paperwork for Service Canada and Veteran’s Affairs, and eventually moved up to vice-president. Hodges was zone commander for Zone B, and serving as president as well.
“She was doing both jobs,” Brown said. “Because I was vice-president, she would hand a lot of stuff off to me.”
Hodges continues to serve as zone commander and handed the role of president over to Brown.
As president, Brown has an executive committee to which he delegates jobs that need to be done. In addition, there is a sports officer, poppy chair and service officer.
“Everybody steps up and helps each other,” he said.
Brown is taking over the leadership of one of the healthiest branches of the Legion in the area. There are all kinds of activities, including snooker, darts, cards, and shuffleboard. The branch sponsors minor sports teams and the children’s chocolate bar bingo.
“We want to give back to youth as well,” Brown said. A big focus of the branch is still the fundamental the Legion was founded on: helping veterans and their families. Tillsonburg holds a bi-weekly coffee hour for veteran’s that has grown in a short time to over 30 participants.
“We want that comradeship,” Brown said. “We want them to realize they’re not alone out there.”
He added they do everything they can to assist at the branch level or with dealing with veteran’s affairs.
“We don’t want to see veterans homeless and, on the streets – absolutely that shouldn’t happen,” he said.
They also have a buddy system so veterans aren’t sitting at home alone.
Tillsonburg and the Legion has become a family thing for the Browns. After Tom moved to town, his brother Joe followed. He was with the Black Watch. Brother-in-law Claude Archbeault is also a member, and will be helping more if the new president has his way.
Tom Brown became the new president of the Tillsonburg branch of the Royal Canadian Legion earlier this year. He comes to the position with a significant military background.
(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)
Pump
CHRIS ABBOTT Editor
Norfolk County’s Station 6 hosted the annual Norfolk County Firefighters Pump Competition in Courtland on Saturday, July 28.
“It’s good just to get all the families together, one more thing for all of us to do,” said Captain Adam Ryde, Station 6 Courtland, at the Courtland Lions Community Park. “Get all the members of the department that often don’t see each other to kind of come together and just have some fun.”
Firefighters from Norfolk’s Courtland, Vittoria, St. Williams, Port Dover, and Fairground stations, and SWOX - Brownsville (Oxford County) competed in four events – pump, water barrel, bucket relay race and truck pull.
“These are not the same drills that we use on the fire ground, but it’s team building and teamwork,” said Ryde. “Even just the communication is big. Advancing hose lines, there’s a lot of little things that can help us in the fire services. And if nothing else, it’s a day of exercise to keep us moving.”
With food trucks and children’s activities on site, the pump competition is truly a family event.
“Firefighting is a family, 100 per cent. It’s not just us responding, it’s the families that have to deal with us leaving, or not being there. It’s definitely a full family thing, so any time we can get everybody together… it’s nice to get everybody involved.
“And the more people we can get involved, the more people see it, then the more people will want to participate in the future.”
Captain Brad Easter, South-West Oxford Fire and Emergency Services – Brownsville said the firefighters most enjoy the camaraderie.
“It’s bringing people together,” said Easter. “We get to see familiar faces that we’ve seen through training and sometimes mutual aid calls. It’s a different circumstance to meet people. Today, it’s more about fun.”
The competition allows them to use some of their firefighting skills in a different manner –without the pressure, he said. Their pride may be on the line, and bragging rights – they keep track of the results and hand out trophies – but it’s all ‘in the family.’
“You want to be the best, that’s part of who we are,” Ryde smiled. “It’s a lot of fun, but there’s definitely a rivalry too.”
“I think everybody takes most pride in the
pump competition itself, because that’s the one that showcases the skills that we use as firefighters,” said Easter. “It requires the team to be more dynamic and use different skills – there’s hooking up hoses, deploying the hoses, using your fire streams, and operating your pump. So that’s the one that most of the pride’s involved in.”
The bucket brigade relay and antique truck pull test their teamwork, strength and endurance.
“The truck pull is more about speed – digging in and going hard. You’ll see in the simulated ‘tug-of-war’ where we use hoses to hit the barrel, teamwork and communication come into play, coordinating how the hose moves. We’re not just battling the bucket, we’re battling the other team.”
Port Dover (Norfolk County Station 2) went up against Brownsville early in the best-of-three water barrel showdown. Brownsville triumphed in the first ‘round’ but Port Dover won the ‘match.’
“I think what happened there… I was a little too close to the barrel,” said Port Dover Station 2’s Gavin Chapman. “So once it got over top of me, I lost all ability for that momentum to move forward. All of a sudden, I’m on full defence as opposed to offence.”
For the second round, he brought himself back a bit, giving them a better angle and momentum to move forward.
“It’s such a mix of luck and skill, it really is.”
He kept the same strategy to win the best-ofthree, but there was a moment when Brownsville held the line, and pushed back a bit.
“They are a great team, there was a moment of worry for sure,” said Chapman.
“There’s a lot of really good firefighters here, so it’s always an honour to be in this competition and get together with our brothers and sisters and have a good time.
“This is my third year in a row doing it, and every year it’s a blast. It’s camaraderie, it’s fun. It’s great for kids. I just think it’s a great community event. Every game is so fun, the food is always good, and the community support is always out of this world – and every single thing we do is for them, so to feel that support for our games, there’s no word but honour.”
Saturday’s overall winning fire station was Courtland, winners of three events. Port Dover and St. Williams tied for second. Third place was a tie between Fairground and Brownsville (winners of the truck pull), one point back. Vittoria was fourth.
Next year Station 8 Fairground is expected to host the pump competition.
Courtland firefighters (Norfolk County Station 6) compete in the bucket relay Saturday during the annual Norfolk County Firefighters Pump Competition in Courtland.
(CHRIS ABBOTT PHOTO)
Bringing the community together to celebrate our heritage
ROBIN KRAFFT
Post Contributor
The Station Arts Centre’s Canada Day Pancake Breakfast has become a beloved tradition in Tillsonburg.
Thanks to many generous partners and sponsors in the community, this year's event was an incredible success. 587 breakfasts were served, with dedicated volunteers - including the mayor and town councillors - cooking up 1,500 pancakes and 1,200 sausages. A bouncy castle, provided by the Tillsonburg BIA, contributed to the overall enthusiasm and worked up appetites.
"The event has become deeply ingrained into the town,” said Sarah Senior, chair of Station Arts Centre’s board of directors, "and it's a brilliant way to bring people together and celebrate Canada Day."
The pancake breakfast has been running for 24 years, and many residents remember attending with their families every summer. As parents themselves, they are now kicking off Canada Day by bringing their own children to the breakfast, often reuniting with people they haven't seen for a while.
"Arts, culture, heritage and community are the foundational pillars for The Station, and at events like this we bring our community together to celebrate all those things,” Senior said.
It's also an important fundraiser, with donations and events generating 80 per cent of their budget. As a non-profit, with two fulltime and one part-time staff, the Station Arts Centre is governed by a board of volunteer directors.
"We foster and maintain relationships with donors and benefactors who continue to contribute," Senior said, adding, "They understand the importance of a creative and diverse community and they want us to succeed and bring that forward into the next generation."
Their biggest fundraising event of the year is the Gala and Charity Auction. This year, it’s a Bridgerton-inspired evening, taking place on Oct. 4. It will feature regency decor and a live and silent auction, including donated art from local artists. Dressing up isn't necessary, but many attendees enjoy the creative process of designing their costumes. All of the Station Art Centre’s events are made possible through community partnerships and donations of time and resources from local businesses and volunteers.
This high level of engagement and generosity enables the Station to offer free admission to their three galleries, which display a wide variety of art forms, changing throughout the year.
"Funds raised help us continue to provide accessible and affordable access to the arts in Tillsonburg and the surrounding communities",
Senior said, including their numerous programs and popular summer camp. "Art enhances children's development and provides social opportunities and improved mental health for adults of all ages."
As a community, she added, "we need to support a space for self-expression; art is a storytelling medium, and an opportunity to explore our cultures and heritage."
In today's society, she noted that art may be less valued, and yet
everything we see and use reflects art and design.
"It is an underestimated part of our lives, yet it's so important. It needs to be at the heart of the community because this is the starting ground."
The Station Arts Centre celebrates the diversity and rich cultural heritage of Canada year round, welcoming over 30,000 visitors a year.
This photo from the Station Arts Centre’s archives shows the kick-off of the pancake breakfast more than 20 years ago. Left to right are: Diane Patenaude, an unidentified speaker, Mayor Irv Horton, MPP Ernie Hardeman, Liz Lessif and Virginia Armstrong.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Fishing derby smiles make it all worthwhile
“Why not,” said Theo, setting up with rod in hand near the Lake Lisgar boat launch.
Less than two minutes later, another fish was biting.
“Oh, mom, something’s taking it,” said Theo.
“Spit it out at the last second,” Laurel nodded. “Almost. I saw it.”
“It was a giant!” said Theo.
“Even the little ones are giants,” Laurel smiled.
“100 per cent, we’re happy with the turnout today,” said co-organizer and sponsor Rosemary Dean, pleased that 476 people registered for Saturday’s derby, held during an Ontario Free Family Fishing Week (June 28July 6). “I’m not worried about the numbers, I’m just glad that people are
coming out.”
“Today is my first day fishing this year,” said Francis Benke of Tillsonburg. “I didn’t even bring my own fishing pole. Rosemary actually gave this to me for the fishing derby. Jen (Dean) got the worms from Chrissy’s.
“I like getting my hands nice and dirty, putting worms on hooks and catching fish,” smiled Benke, who had a good fish-catching strategy.
“You’ve got to let the fish bite,” he explained. “You’ve got to let the fish pull the line. And when you know you’ve got a bite, bam! Reel that baby in.”
It is a lot of work organizing a successful fishing derby, but the smiles make it worthwhile, said Rosemary.
“We do it for the smiles, the smiles on the faces. And the families out here getting together - they’re spending a beautiful day out here. It’s the smiles, honestly. That’s what it’s all about. Young or old, you can fish with us.”
“A huge shoutout to my wife, Rosemary, who did most of the organization of this derby,” said co-organizer and sponsor Mike Dean. “And RRT (Rapid Relief Team) for supplying the hot dogs, water and pop, and all of our
other sponsors.”
“Rapid Relief, they’re great,” nodded Rosemary. “They have supported us from Day 1… so 11 years of working with them.”
“Lots of families here today,” said Mike. “We’ve got people coming back year after year… and we have a lot fishing for the first time. That’s what I want - I want to see people out with their families, and that’s what we got. So, for us, it’s a success. They are out with their families, they are enjoying the day.
They are enjoying our beautiful lake we have here. And people from all over, not just Tillsonburg.
“We have great volunteers,” said Rosemary. “Whether it’s family, friends, community. We had volunteers from the fire department and OPP Auxiliary. We also thank the Town for letting us use the grounds.”
“We can’t thank our volunteers enough,” Mike nodded.
Kids received ‘swag bags’ at the derby. There
were also category prizes, like biggest bass and catfish, and draw prizes.
“We try to have a lot of prizes for everybody – we want every kid to be super excited they’re fishing and super excited they’re getting a swag bag. We find a way,” said Mike. “Sobeys were super generous with bags this year. Maple View Variety donated water, pop and freezies. Tillsonburg Tire, Marcel Rosehart, Shaw’s Ice Cream… we appreciate all the sponsors and support.”
“Inspiring
Mackenna from Port Burwell fishes from the Lake Lisgar rowing dock Saturday
(CHRIS ABBOTT PHOTO)
Theo Bowman, 7, and his two-year-old sister Myla live release a sunfish Saturday during Tillsonburg’s 11th annual Free Fishing Derby.
(CHRIS ABBOTT PHOTO)
Photo: Danielle Cargill Photography
Downtown Otterville was a busy place on Canada Day, with trucks, tractors and floats rumbling along Main Street. While many parents were able to stay in the shade, the kids were eager to collect treats given out by passing floats.
Guide Harrison Lackenbauer in left centre is surrounded by visitors exploring the Old Mill. Jamie Dickson and his wife Sharryn just happened to run into old friends Richard and Marlene Learn, by the entrance. The Grist Mill was built in 1845 and is available for scheduled tours.
Club Car races: Mom Shanon Wilson, far right, juggles her phone and a drink to video the photo finish for her daughters May and Millie looking on from the starting line.
Volunteers for the Historical Society Chicken BBQ, Dylan, Trae, Garret and Pamela are preparing hundreds of half chickens for their fund-raising barbecue. This year will be the The Historical Society’s 150th year celebration.
OPP grateful for community help
Between June , and July 2,members of the Town of Tillsonburg were responsible for calling in three traffic complaints where they suspected the driver may be intoxicated. Thanks to those calls, Oxford OPP were able to locate the individuals and arrest them before causing injury or damage.
The incidents were:
June 9 – Broadway Street, approximately 8 p.m.
June 22 – Dogwood Drive, approximately 2
a.m.
July 2 – Tillson Ave, approximately 1:30 a.m.
“No amount of alcohol or drugs is safe to consume and drive. If you suspect an impaired driver, call 9-1-1. Your call may help save a life. Oxford OPP is grateful to the members of the community who call in a suspected impaired driver. Together we help to keep the Town of Tillsonburg safe,”
Said Randi Crawford Community Engagement Officer, Oxford OPP
Buddies Fest brings top talent to town
This weekend’s Buddies Fest will bring top-rated entertainment to town, as well as hundreds of concert goers.
Planned July 11-13 at The Mill and Copper Mug, the main venue will be on an outdoor stage at The Mill. Food trucks, vendors and a beer tent will be part of the festival grounds. Each day will see four bands on the main stage.
“With the same ticket or weekend pass, they are able to come inside the mill and in the basement in Paddy’s Underground there are bands playing as well,” said organizer Ben Andress. “There are official after shows being hosted by the Copper Mugs after the main stage shuts down.”
Friday’s headliner is Dillinger Four, an American punk band formed in 1994 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“They’ve been releasing albums for years on pretty large labels and have a large following,” Andress said.
Chris Cresswell and Greg Norton are two of the highlight acts playing at Paddy’s on the Friday.
Jon Snodgrass is playing on Saturday on the main stage. He is one of the originators of the Buddies Fest concept.
“He suggested originally we should do a Tillsonbud fest, and it turned from a one-day thing to a three-day thing while planning it - just so many people loved the idea,” said Andress.
All will be playing with former singer Scott Reynolds on Saturday, and current singer Chad Price on Sunday.
“All is one of those bands with deep roots in the rock and punk scene,” Andress said. “Most of the members are from a wellknown band called the Descendants. They’re one of those bands that if you go to a punk show somewhere, more than 50 per cent of the people in the audience will have a Descendants tattoo or an All tattoo.”
Saturday’s headliner is the Canadian band The Flatliners.
Andress said other notable mentions of Sunday’s bands were onelinedrawing and Jim Bryson.
Amongst the bands playing at the Copper Mug are locals The McBains, Deal Breaker and Seas.
“In my opinion all the bands are headliners but top to bottom
it’s a pretty solid line-up,” Andress said.
Tickets are $69 for single-day passes, or $174 for weekend passes, available at buddiesfest. com. The festival grounds have a capacity of 500 people and Andress expected it to fill up. Tickets have already been sold to people as far away as Calgary, British Columbia, Los Angeles, New York and Montreal.
Andress said all the hotels in Tillsonburg are booked for the weekend and he is glad to see the tourism draw for all local businesses.
Although some question why Tillsonburg, saying it’s in the middle of nowhere, Andress counters it’s in the middle of everywhere, being two hours from Toronto and Detroit. He also hopes that locals attend.
“We want our local buddies to come and see bands they would have to go to Toronto or somewhere to go see,” he said.
Summing up the weekend, he concluded, ““It’s a notable mix of buddies, they either toured together or have a connection somehow. They are buddies somehow. That’s the whole thing is bring your buddies and have a good time.”
JEFF HELSDON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Jon Snodgrass, one of the organizers of Buddies Fest, will take the stage three times through the weekend. He is playing Friday with Drag the River as well as with Greg Norton and buddies, and Saturday with Snodgrass and Stevenson.
MUSIC CORNER
Buddies, guitars, and Tillsonburg pride: The Mcbains are ready to rip
BEN ANDRESS
Tillsonburg Post Columnist
In a town where the air smells like fresh farmland and guitars echo through red brick alleyways, punk rock has always had a home. Tillsonburg’s loudest export The McBains made major waves in 2024. In a short amount of time, with the help of their catchy songs and blistering live sets, the band has officially released their first fulllength album with Fast-
er and Louder Records, the high-octane Ontario record label known for championing underground punk. The McBains are not slowing down.
Formed by drummer Vlad Staver, bassist and vocalist Doug Gibbons, and guitarist Joe Sym, The McBains have carved out a reputation across the province for their raw sound and razor-sharp hooks. Now they’re pushing beyond familiar borders with a fall East Coast tour and a slot at Buddies Fest this weekend with a set Saturday, July 12th at The Copper Mug in Tillsonburg.
“The recording process was a lot of fun.” recalls bassist and vocalist Doug Gibbons. “It was our first time recording in a studio. Most of it was banged out over a weekend, having to return a little later for some overdubs. It was a great learning experience. Dan Price did the record-
UPCOMING SHOWS
ing. He was a great host as well.”
“After three days we ended up tracking all the instruments and vocals for 17 songs - 13 of which made the final cut on our first full length,” Guitarist Joe Sym adds. “A couple of the other songs ended up being used on compilations.”
The debut is tight, punchy and delivered with the kind of urgency only a first record can carry. It’s already gaining traction with Faster and Louder’s loyal fanbase and beyond. The wheels are in motion and the band isn’t letting off the gas just yet.
“We want to give this release some time to circulate but we are definitely planning another full release. We have tons of new material, some of which we’ve been adding in our sets here and there lately,” says Gibbons. “We also have three new songs com-
ing out on some upcoming compilation albums later on in the year.”
Their upcoming September tour will be their first time venturing past Ontario which is a huge milestone for the four-piece.
“Honestly, we are excited for all the shows on this tour,” Doug adds. “We are really looking forward to playing outside of Ontario in general. New towns, new people. I think the energy of our live shows is something people seem to enjoy, so hopefully we can bring that energy and make a few new friends and fans.”
The band has a tour kick-off show booked in Tillsonburg and then they head out east for a week’s worth of shows.
“I'm most excited for the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shows. I've never been past Montreal so I'm pretty excited for
those.” Sym says.
Before the van is packed, The McBains have one more mission which is rocking out in their hometown at Buddies Fest, a weekend-long celebration of punk, folk and roots music taking at The Mill, Paddy’s Underground and The Copper Mug in Tillsonburg, July 11th to 13th weekend.
“There are so many great acts at Buddies Fest! Legends! Anything with Bill Stevenson will be great. I think we’ll just watch them all. I know people won’t want to miss Drag the River,” Doug grins when asked about who he excited to see.
Joe is equally as excited. “That Buddies Fest lineup is something else and the fact that it is in Tillsonburg just takes it over the top. I'm most excited for Dillinger Four, All, Flatliners and Single Mothers.”
With rising momentum, support from scene veterans and supportive hometown venues behind them, The McBains are stepping into the next chapter of their story and they are doing it with a new buddy.
“Buddies Fest will be our first show with our new lineup. Earlier this year we parted ways with our original bass player. We continued on as a threepiece but this gave us the opportunity to bring our longtime friend and fellow musician Trevor Kostyria into the fold,” Sym mentions.
Catch The Mcbains live at Buddies Fest. Full schedules are now online at www.buddiesfest.com with the ability to purchase weekend passes and day tickets. Follow The Mcbains on Facebook or http://themcbains.bandcamp.com for new music and upcoming tour dates.
Tillsonburg Minor Soccer Club, Basketball Tillsonburg support youth sports in Kabura, Rwanda
JEFF TRIBE Post Correspondant
a little better, because this version of Santa had both soccer and basketballs in his sack.
“Munyezamu, Munyezamu, Munyezamu!” scores of onrushing uniformed students chanted as we pulled into the Kabura, Rwanda, Umurava Primary School parking area.
It was a powerful moment along a full-circle journey for Umoja (unity in Swahili) Community Mosaic (https://umojamosaic.org) Executive Director Jean-Claude Munyezamu. A Rwandan native and 1994 genocide against the Tutsi survivor, he arrived in Canada as a refugee. Settling in Calgary, Munyezamu’s efforts to improve his public housing neighbourhood resulted in the foundation of Soccer Without Boundaries, harnessing the power of sports to influence young people in a positive direction. This entity morphed into a multi-faceted movement adding a food bank, girls’ leadership training, after-school programs supporting working parents and a popular community sewing connection.
As the 30th anniversary of the genocide approached, Munyezamu found the courage and grace for a return to his home community. Based on unique understanding of both its challenges and potential, the ‘Ejo’ (tomorrow in Kinyarwandan) project was added, originally under Umoja auspices. Its outline follows basic Umoja tenets of building community and a sense of belonging while solving rather than managing problems through providing a hand up instead of a hand out. In short, offering hope for a brighter future, without which people cannot see possibility.
In conjunction with external financial support, most notably from the Stampede Rotary
Club in Calgary, a 700-foot pipeline bringing clean drinking water to Umurava Primary School was connected with community labour, a basketball/volleyball court was constructed, and a wide variety of academic and athletic supplies provided. Aligning with the foundational principle of community ownership, and by extension, maintenance, their handover to Kabura was celebrated Friday, June 20th. A ceremony featured local and regional officials, community members and importantly, ranks of students lining the court’s outer boundaries, excited and celebrating under the hot African sun.
A little bit of Tillsonburg was included in the festivities, the gracious donation of 24 soccer balls courtesy of the Tillsonburg Minor Soccer Club (TMSC), along with 20 basketballs from Basketball Tillsonburg. The connection between the two communities came via a long-
time Tillsonburg sports guy reaching out to long-standing community sports members after being invited to accompany Munyezamu to Rwanda.
It’s hard to overstate the excitement the donations generated. Historically, soccer balls in the area were made out of banana leaves and twine, an evolution featuring plastic bags and other materials a familiar sight on school or community soccer pitches, front yards and roadways. The skill Rwandan kids display with these homemade versions in sandals or bare feet on undulating, hard-packed dirt pitches with holes and the odd patch of grass is incredible, equalled only by their passion for the game. Passing factory-made soccer balls along was always a major event, celebrated and drawing an appreciative crowd, recipients clearly considering themselves a form of lottery winners. Munyezamu judiciously distributed balls
amongst individuals and schools, sharing the love so to speak between the K-6 Umurava Primary, Kagura’s K-9 GS Rubira he had also attended, and an institution in the Rwandan capital Kigali for worthy, yet financially-challenged students.
Far more than mere athletic implements, the balls are seen as tools to pull children into sports’ positive power, keeping kids in school, active and encouraging community-building by resultantly bringing their parents along with them.
Rwandan kids have a ‘huge passion’ for soccer said Umurava coach Patrick Ndagijimana via translator, playing ‘whenever they have a moment.’
Basketball is a new sport in the area, he continued.
“For that specific school (Umurava), it’s the first time,” said Ndagijimana, who played point guard during his youth, and enhances his coaching skill via YouTube.
“Even if it is a new game to them, they have the basketball court. They’re going to make sure they raise their talents for the game.”
Although soccer is more familiar, Ndagijimana says basketball provides an alternative for those who ‘prefer another game.’
“We have everything it takes,” he said. “The basketballs and a playground (court) which is modern.”
Although a soccer striker, coach and passionate fan, Munyezamu’s support for basketball reflects belief in the power of every youth sport, combined with the challenge of dedicating larger patches of valuable agricultural land required for soccer fields.
It can be hard to compete with soccer admitted Rwanda Basketball Federation Executive Director Fiona Ishimwe.
“But we can see basketball really growing here in Rwanda.”
Formerly captain of the Rwanda’s national women’s team, Ishimwe was both pleased and a little surprised Umoja had independently dovetailed with Giants Of Africa Masai Ujuri’s goal of building an additional 10 outdoor courts in the country.
“Come back in five years and do an interview and you will be amazed,” Ishimwe promised.
Basketball Tillsonburg’s (BT) Jesse Goossens was pleased the donated basketballs found such enthusiastic homes.
“I think that’s pretty awesome,” he summed up, reflecting on kids he sees playing with BT balls at home on Southridge Public School courts. “Now we’ve got kids over in Rwanda doing the same thing,” Goossens laughed, enjoying the thought of an international connection between youth on different continents, effectively enjoying hoops together.
“That’s what they’re supposed to be doing,” he said, happy to share in some small way, Tillsonburg’s broader love for the game. “That to me is a fundamental reason why we do this stuff.”
TMSC President Frank Deutsch was also pleased to hear of the impact his club’s donation had. At its heart, soccer is a simple game, he said, happy to encourage broader participation.
“You just need yourself and a ball.”
In a sense, soccer, or sport in general is also a universal language, Deutsch agreed, offering a positive connection between the communities.
“We’re glad to support that.”
In conclusion, Ndagijimana expressed appreciation for a contribution which will be ‘very helpful.’
“When you go back, please say thank-you very much. Whoever wants to come and visit us, they will be warmly welcomed.”
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
A Umurava Primary School student in Kabura, Rwanda shows off a prized soccer ball donated by the Tillsonburg Minor Soccer Club.
Red Sox knock out a win against Simcoe Seniors
That’s more like it boys. Steady hitting combined with dominate pitching propelled the Tillsonburg Red Sox over the Simcoe Seniors 11-8 in their home game Friday night at Sam Lamb Field. The full team effort saw all 10 batters reach base during the seven-inning affair, with four players having multiple hits in the game.
The Red Sox found themselves down two runs after the top half of the first. They rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the inning thanks to an Iron Ring Rachar leadoff-double followed up by Laird McPherson’s two bagger to left that plated Rachar. Jeff Prouse slapped a single to center and McPherson came hustling home to even the score.
Four more runs were tacked on to take the lead in the third with 10 ‘Burg batters coming to the plate. Tillsonburg had finally cracked the puzzle that is the Senior’s slow-ball pitcher Shortt. Rachar singled to lead things off and showed his speed by swiping his way to third. Fish Verschueren walked to put runners on the corners. Brother Josh Verschueren grounded out, but moved Fish into scoring position. Back-to-back singles by McPherson and Prouse cashed two runs. Kid Appleford reached on a bloop base hit, followed by a Jordan Vitias smash to center that was good for an RBI and snapped his 0-10 slump. Zippin’ Zack Kreller broke a cold streak of his own when he reached on a hit by pitch that brought in a run.
Vitias started on the hill for the Red Sox and made easy work of the Seniors in the second, third and fourth. The Madonna University (Michigan) star pitcher ran into some trouble in the fifth when three walks loaded the bases, and a run came into score on a wild pitch. Kylen Miners relieved Vitias, inherit-
Tillsonburg Red Sox Batting Stats
Summary: ER, Simcoe 3, Tillsonburg 11; LOB, Simcoe 9, Tillsonburg 9; 2B, Knelsen, Rachar, McPherson; RBI , Knelsen (2), Smith (2), B. Verschueren (2), McPherson (2), Prouse (2), Vitias, Kreller (2); W, Vitias; L , Schortt; BB, Shortt (2), Smith (1), Vitias (3), Miners (2), B. Verschueren (2); K , Shortt (2), Smith (1), Hare (1), Vitias (3), B.
ing two base runners with one out. A routine fly ball to short stop was dropped by Rachar and the throw to pick off the runner at third was muffed to send a run in to score for Simcoe. Miners stayed strong on the mound to get out of the inning but Simcoe had rallied to come within one run.
Tillsonburg would answer with three tallies of their own in the home half of the fifth, highlighted by a Kreller bunt-single that cashed one run and a
Fish Verschueren two-RBI single to deep right field. Fish was tapped for mound duty in the final two innings where he struck out six, allowed two walks and plunked a batter that resulted in one Simcoe run. The Red Sox are on the road for the remainder of July with stops in Port Dover and Simcoe.
The following are the Red Sox batting statistics through the first twelve games of the season for players who have played a minimum of 5 games.
Verschueren (6);Time, 2:36
EYE ON SLO-PITCH
DAVE WEAVER
Happy belated Canada Day to everyone in the slo-pitch community.
The calendar has turned to July, which means the Toronto Blue Jays are playing meaningful baseball, and the same can be said for our slo-pitch teams that look to make their climb in the standings in both leagues.
Ladies’ A Division
The Jays won a pair of 8-2 decisions last week that included a win over their A rivals Foldens Machine Works.
Foldens won two others, mercies over George’s Auto and Resting Pitch Face.
Trillium Court knocked off Simmonds Mortgages, winning by six which followed up a mercy over Resting Pitch Face.
Simmonds mercied the Wildcats to round out the week’s action.
Trillium Court-12, Simmonds Mortgages-6
Trillium-Michaela Wilford 2-2; Jen Grzech 2-2.
Simmonds-Christine Gubesch 1-1; Kalyn Salmon 3-3.
Game Synopsis-Trillium's pitcher, Forrestt Ashley, helped her own cause hitting a bases-clearing triple in their five-run fourth.
Simmonds Mortgages-18, Wildcats-2
Simmonds-Amanda Stubbs 4-4; Tracey Carruthers 3-3.
Wildcats-Ashley Anderson 2-2; Krystal Sivyer 2-2.
Game Synopsis-Corrie Smith and Tracey Carruthers each scored three runs for Simmonds, Smith and Amanda Stubbs each drove in three runs.
Jays-8, Foldens Machine Works-2
Jays-Candi Obar 3-3; Maddi Obar 3-3. Foldens-Amber Woolgar 3-3; Jen Francis 2-3.
Game Synopsis-A four-run fifth won it for Jays. Deanna Laemers and Sara Dyck hit back to back doubles in the rally.
Foldens Machine Works -18, George’s Auto-3
Foldens-Adelle Depaepe 5-5; Mackenzie Brackenbury 4-4.
George’s-Emily Goodall 2-2; Kristin McDowell 3-3.
Game Synopsis-Trisha Mckenzie and Adelle Depaepe each scored four runs for Foldens.
Trillium Court-24, Resting Pitch Face-1 Trillium-Lisa Wheeler 4-4; Vicki McFarlane 4-4.
Resting-Brie Kett 2-2; Amber Smith 2-2.
Game Synopsis-All 10 of Trillium 's batters reached base at least three times.
Jays-8, Kyle Nesbitt Trucking-2
Jays-Kayla Bond 4-4; Elisha Duyvestijin 4-4.
Nesbitt-Tammy Griswold HR; Nicole Morgan 2-3; Gemma Ladosz 2-3 .
Game Synopsis-Heidi Teichroeb and Mayra Baelde tripled and doubled respectively in Jays four-run second.
Game Synopsis - Outfielder Nicole Morgan made a miraculous diving catch for Nesbitt 's in the fifth inning.
Foldens Machine Works-19 , Resting Pitch Face-6
Foldens-Amber Woolgar 4-5; Monica Barnes 4-4.
Resting-Jenna Wilford 2-2; Kia McAllister 2-2.
Game Synopsis-Ashley Aker and Trisha Mckenzie each scored four runs for Foldens.
Ladies’ B Division
The first-place Kyle Nesbitt Trucking hung in for a while before dropping a six-run decision to A's first place Jays, and followed that up with a mercy over Resting Pitch Face.
Wildcats earned a split with their win being a mercy over George’s Auto.
Wildcats-21, George’s Auto-6
Wildcats-Nikki Lama 4-4; Lingli Wong 4-4.
George’s-Reina Dewatcher 3-3; Pam Devlin 2-3.
Game Synopsis-Ashley Anderson reached and scored all four times for Wildcats.
Kyle Nesbitt Trucking-22, Resting Pitch Face-7
Nesbitt-Tammy Griswold 4-4; Nicole Morgan 4-4, HR; Gemma Ladosz 4-4, HR.
Resting-Martina McCallum 2-3; Danielle Cherewka 2-2.
Leeswood-Jarrett Anderson 4-4; Macauley Goldsmith 4-4; Tim Townsend HR; Alex Penders 2 HR; Cory Smith HR; Devin Lee HR.
O&L-Jayden King 5-5, 2HR; Craig Smith 4-4; Craig Robb HR; Connor Smith HR.
Game Synopsis-Leeswood won it scoring 11 over their final two at-bats and Alex Penders homered in both innings.
1,2 Seal Insulation Hawks-16, Courtland Landscape and Grounds-9
Hawks-Daniel Klassen 4-4, 2 HR; Daniel Enns 4-5; Martin Klassen HR; Johnny Klassen 2 HR.
Courtland-Darryl Vandendriessche 3-3; Kieran Taylor 3-4.
Game Synopsis-The Hawks scored seven in the second and fifth innings. Johnny and Daniel Klassen each homered twice and scored three runs to lead the winners.
The Mill-30, 1,2 Seal Insulation Hawks-14
The Mill-Bryan Deblaire 5-5; Steve Derks 5-5, HR; Billy Wilson 2 HR; Ryan Black HR; Tim Morgan 3 HR.
Hawks-Ben Bueckert 4-4, HR; Johnny Epp 4-5, 2 HR; Evan Bueckert 2 HR.
Game Synopsis-It was all Mill in this upset win. The Mill 's top three batters in their order, Steve Derks, Bryan Deblaire and Billy Wilson, each scored five runs while Tim Morgan belted out three homers.
The Mill-30, Cobra Chickens-28
Game Synopsis-Gemma Ladosz and Nicole Morgan hit back-to-back homers in the winner’s six -un second.
Men's A Division
The Mill pulled off a pair of upset wins last week beating up on first place 1,2 Seal Insulation Hawks and winning in walk-off fashion over third -lace Cobra Chickens scoring 30 runs in each win. Hawks evened their week with a victory over Courtland Landscape and Grounds. Leeswood Construction Dirty Mitts narrowly escaped with a one-run decision over last place O&L Duct Design Ducks and earned a draw against Bill Klyn Carpentry the next night. Bill Klyn mercied Hit N Run in their other game.
Leeswood Construction Dirty Mitts-16, Bill Klyn Carpentry-16
Leeswood-Alex Penders 5-5, 3HR; Tim Townsend 3-4; Thom Puhr 2HR.
Bill Klyn-Ryan Miller 3-4; Jake Millar 4-4, HR; Nathan Boldt HR; Dallas Dalby 2 HR; Rob Stortz HR; Kyle McDougall HR.
Game Synopsis-Each team homered in their half of the seventh resulting in the tie.
Bill Klyn Carpentry-23, Hit N Run-8
Bill Klyn-Mitch Wass 4-4; Nathan Boldt 4-4, HR; Randy Miller HR.
Hit N Run-Diedrich Klassen 3-4; Peter Klassen 3-4.
Game Synopsis-Lead-off batter Alex Dalby scored four runs for the winners.
Leeswood Construction Dirty Mitts-23, O&L Duct Design Ducks-22
The Mill-Bryan Deblaire 5-5; Josh Stubbs 5-6, HR; Darren Pace HR; Logan Kloet HR; Bob Evans HR; Billy Wilson HR; Tim Morgan HR.
Cobra-Johnny Froese 5-5, 2 HR; Fred Froese 4-5; Nick Blatz HR; Marcus Peters HR; Wyatt Blatz 2HR.
Game Synopsis-This exciting high-scoring match was decided by The Mill's Josh Stubbs walk-off homer.
Men’s B Division
Bayham Construction Lumberjacks are tied for first place with Underhill Farm Supply but have four games in hand over them. Bayham cooled off the hot Pelicans squad beating them by two on Friday night after a mercy win over Copper Mug-Lubricare Wannabee's the night before. The Pelicans had defeated Sandy Shore Brew Jays the night before setting up the big match-up. Underhill Farm Supply recorded an eight-run win over At My Playground/ IQT Logistics, helping them pull into the first-place tie. They also mercied Designated Drinkers. At My Playground beat John Beere by five. Copper Mug-Lubricare evened their week with a lopsided win over John Beere. Underhill Farm Supply-31, Designated Drinkers-13
Underhill-Curtis Chambers 6-6, HR; Aaron Dyck 6-6, 2HR; Troy Sebok 2HR; Chris Dyck HR.
Drinkers-Cole Palen 4-4; Bryan Lampert 4-4.
Game Synopsis-No power shortage in the Underhill's lineup as they belted out six homers in the win with Troy Sebok and Aaron
Post Columnist
Tracy Shackleton of the Jays swings at a pitch during a game against Kyle Nesbitt Trucking last week. Her team won the game 8-2.
(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)
Dyck each hitting two.
At My Playground/IQT Logistics-15, John Beere-10
At My Playground-Marshall Baker 4-4 Brandon Balazs 4-4 Riley Balazs Hr
John Beere-Bob Long 2-2 Shawn Elliott 2-3
Game Synopsis-At My Playground stole this one away with a seven-run seventh rally. Riley Balazs led off the inning with a homer.
Underhill Farm Supply-18, At My Playground-10
Underhill-Clay Thompson 4-4; Chase Corbeil 4-4; Aaron Dyck HR; Chris Dyck HR; Troy Sebok 2HR.
At My Playground-Kenny Coyle 3-3; Riley Balazs 3-4; Duncan McLean HR.
Game Synopsis-Underhill won it with their power again out-homering their opponents four to one.
Copper Mug-Lubricare Wannabes-17, John Beere-6
Copper Mug-Lubricare-Jeremy Hill 4-5; Owen Oates 4-5, HR; Phil Beauvais HR.
John Beere-Bob Long 4-4; Keith McMerty 3-3, HR.
Game Synopsis-Copper Mug-Lubricare playing with just eight were led by Owen Oates’ four hit-three run performance.
Bayham Construction Lumberjacks-22, Copper Mug-Lubricare Wannabes-7
Bayham-William Loewen 4-4; Nicholas Klassen 4-4; Jake Sawatsky HR.
Copper Mug-Lubricare-Cody Long 2-3; Phil Beauvais 2-3, HR.
Game Synopsis-William Loewen and Jake Sawatsky each drove in four for the winners.
Bayham Construction Lumberjacks-15, Pelicans-13
Bayham-Matthew Klassen 4-4; Nathan Peters 4-4, HR; Jake Sawatsky HR.
Pelicans-Chris Parker 3-4; T.J. Neville 3-4, HR; Ryan Verbuyst HR.
Game Synopsis-Pelicans scored eight runs over their last two at-bats but came up two short. Nathan Peters was just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle for the winners and was a solid glove in the outfield.
Pelicans-18, Sandy Shore Brew Jays-13
Pelicans-T.J.Neville 4-4; Andrew Dawson 3-4.
Brew Jays-Duane Nutt 3-3; J.D. Collier 3-4.
Game Synopsis-Pelicans scored runs in every inning. T.J. Neville led the winners with a pair of triples.
Men’s C Division
Shaw's Ice Cream Sluggers continue to lead the pack as they registered their tenth win of the season on Thursday night, and in doing so handed Smokin Aces just their second setback of the season. Sticky Bandits beat Team Swingers by 10 in the only other C action.
Sticky Bandits-18, Team Swingers-8 Bandits-Tyson Krahn 4-4; Makaio Thiessen 4-4.
Swingers-Luke Thomas 4-4; Nate Bridges 3-4.
Game Synopsis-Tyson Krahn reached four times and scored three runs for the winners.
Shaw's Ice Cream Sluggers-12, Smokin Aces-3
Shaw's-Sebastian Plain 3-4; Steve Annett 3-4.
Smokin Aces-Jacob Froese 4-4; Herman Froese 2-3.
Game Synopsis-A 10-run bat-around seventh won it for the Sluggers.
CANADA DAY IN TILLSONBURG
Attendance at Tillsonburg Canada Day events up
JEFF HELSDON
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Numbers were up at all locations for the town’s events on Canada Day.
The morning started with increased attendance at the Station Arts Centre for the annual pancake breakfast, with the line-up around the corner and going up Bidwell Street at some points. Almost 600 people were served in three hours, a number higher than last year.
“We had great weather this year, which may have played into our attendance, and our staff have also been working really hard to promote the Station and our events,” said Sarah Senior, chair of the Station Arts Centre’s board of directors.
She said the group also worked to keep the costs down to make it affordable for families.
“We’ve been kicking off Canada Day celebrations in the town for over 20 years - and want to make sure that we keep our prices affordable to continue this tradition. We have been supported by really generous local businesses, who have helped us reduce our costs through either food, service or cash donations for the event and that means the world to us.”
Senior gave credit to the volunteers for making the event occur.
“This whole event would not be possible without our incredible team of volunteers,” she said. “From Mayor Gilvesy and town councillors making pancakes, high school students helping set up the marquee and tents, to members of the Station whisking batter - we all come together to celebrate Canada Day and our community here in Tillsonburg. Many people have been doing it for years, it’s a
tradition for the volunteers now too. It’s such a great way to kick off the day.”
As the pancake breakfast wound down, activities at Annandale House were ramping up. Attendance records were also broken, hitting 1,600 people.
Attendees could play games on the lawn, take part in activities and or join the annual search for stuffed otters throughout Annandale House.
“There is a feeling of renewed interest in civic pride, local histories and Canadian cultural heritage,” said Kate Bakos, cultural heritage manager/curator.
“Within our community, I feel there has always been an interest in supporting local and propping each other up, but it is
so beautiful to see these invisible forces harmonize together in one great big event. It truly was a privilege to have so many people here at Annandale celebrating Canada Day and our shared local history.”
She gave credit to organizer Kathleen Watkin, cultural and heritage programs coordinator, and all staff for organizing the event and to the volunteers for pulling it off.
“We had 51 volunteers this year, and we cannot thank them enough for giving us their time, enthusiasm, and humour to help celebrate with the community,” Bakos said. “During the day, we even had a walk-on volunteer, who saw there was a
need for help and they just started helping – what a blessing. In saying that, we can always use more volunteers.”
At the noon ceremony at the Cenotaph, numbers were also up, being estimated at close to 50.
“This was up from the previous year, and we think is probably due to the pride of Canadians,” said Legion President Tom Brown.
He noted that many people thanked veterans for their service.
The day ended with fireworks at Memorial Park. Firefighters assisted with crowd control during the event and believe the attend was down, but only slightly.
(JEFF HELSDON PHOTOS)
Whle all the glory goes to the pancake cooks and servers outside, the mixing crew is an essential part of the pancake breakfast. Left to right are: Maxine MacPhail, Carol Nant, Sharon Brassard and Heather Cnockaert.
The Station Arts Centre’s pancake breakfast was a big hit with the line-up stretching around the corner at some points through the morning.
What’s a birthday celebration without cake? Canada Day at the Station Arts Centre was no exception with several local dignataries taking part in the cake cutting. Left to right are: (front) Councillor Kelly Spencer, Tillsonburg Station Arts Centre board of directors chair Sarah Senior, (back row) Deputy Mayor Dave Beres, Coun. Dave Beres, Mayor Deb Gilvesy, Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman, and Coun. Chrissy Rosehart.
The Legion colour party marches up to the cenotaph for the ceremony at noon.
Finding the otter was part of the activities at Annandale National Historic Site on Canada Day. Participants had to look for stuffed otters hidden throughout the house. Evie Varga is pictured here after finding an otter and adding it to her list.
Packed would be a good word to describe the crowd at Annandale House with a variety of activities for families and kids, including games, free cotton candy and popcorn, face painting and more.
Volunteer Courtney Phelps was one of the artists painting faces at the Annandale House face painting area. Despite three stations, there was still a line-up for youth to sport their Canada Day colours. James Reeves was one of the many who took part.
Free candy floss was a big hit at Annandale House. Left to right are cousins Crew Shearer, Addison Mudford and Zara Shearer enjoying the sweetness.
It was a mother-daughter duo working the candy floss machine at Annandale House. Michelle Wegg, left, and daughter Lilly had a good time while completing their volunteer duties.
All was not food at the Station Arts Centre’s breakfast on Canada Day as bouncy castles were set up for the kids who had completed their breakfast.
Ronda’s reality: overtourism or economic bonanza?
PAUL KNOWLES
Tillsonburg Post Columnist
OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO!
“Overtourism”. You made have heard the word before, but if not, the outcry against the Bezos/Sanchez wedding in Venice last month would have brought you up to speed. In short, there are places in the world that are simply getting swamped with tourists. Too many visitors, too little space, too much garbage, too little privacy for the locals. In Barcelona last year, locals took to shooting water pistols at unwanted tourists. In Paris, the Louvre was recently shut down by overwhelmed staff, pushed past their limit by the hordes of people wanting to get the briefest of glimpses of the Mona Lisa.
I think the closest Canada gets to overtourism is probably Niagara Falls. In high season, it’s always elbow to elbow around the best viewing areas.
But therein lies a difference – you seldom hear of anyone from the Falls complaining about the visitors. Tourism is the key to their economic wellbeing, and most of the residents know that.
I’m not saying the folks of Barcelona are wrong, or that the Niagara Fallsians are right. But there are always two (or ten?) sides to every story.
Last March, we had the chance to visit one of the most tourist-packed places in Europe – the town of Ronda, in Spain.
Ronda is historically important, as the birthplace of bullfighting. But even more to the point, it is spectacularly beautiful. And
the sheer beauty of the place is probably why most visitors come – although many of us also spend time touring the still-active bullring.
Ronda’s population is about 40,000. But each year, this community welcomes – or at least, tolerates – 1.2 million visitors. One of our guides during our visit to the south of Spain made it very clear: “Tourism has changed the way of life along the Mediterranean coast, and the economy.” The Costa del Sol was virtually unknown in terms of tourism until the early 1960’s. Today, tourism is far and away the number one economic driver.
And that is certainly the case in Ronda.
Ronda is gobsmackingly beautiful. The highlight is the gorge; visitors cross a bridge and access a point that offer incredible views of one of the most spectacular landscapes I have ever seen. The gorge is 100 meters deep, from the bridge straight down to the Guadalevín river.
The view is awe-inspiring, but that’s just one of the many astonishing panoramas visitors enjoy as they tour the town. Because Ronda is located atop a cliff, and spectacular cliffside viewpoints exist all the way around the town.
Not surprisingly, this Costa del Sol community is actually part of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park.
Visitors – whether you approve of bullfighting or not – will want to visit the Ronda bullring, if only for its historical and architectural significance. The bullring dates back to 1785; the first bullfighter, honoured with statues in the town, was Pedro Romero.
Bullfighting continues as a much-revered national sport in Spain, but it is nonetheless declining in popularity. Our guide in Ronda went so far as to wonder aloud if bullfighting may be in its last generation.
Maybe, maybe not. En route to Ronda, we passed a farm dedicated exclusively to breeding and raising bulls for the ring.
Bulls can cost up to 12,000 euros (almost $20,000 Cdn) apiece.
On the other hand, Ronda, the original location of bullfighting, now only hosts one day of bullfighting each year. On all the other days, the bullring is a museum, and at times a performance space.
But while much curtailed, bullfighting still exists, and we learned that matadors can earn up to 200,000 euros (that’s about $360,000 Cdn) for three hours work. Pretty intense work, I grant you.
A walking tour of Ronda – which becomes much less crowded, the moment you are away from the gorge or the bullring – takes you through historic architecture including 13th century Moorish buildings (the Moors were the Moslem conquerors of southern Spain).
And speaking of architecture, most day tours to Ronda will include a stop at Setenil de las Bodegas, a village about 25 minutes north of Ronda. Here, you can stroll among shops and homes that are located in caves, deep in overhanging cliffs.
Visitors relax in cafés that line the already narrow streets, sandwiched between the cliffs and the river that runs through the heart of the village.
Walking around the village, even on a sunny day, you might wish you had an umbrella, because the streets run under the overhanging – and dripping-wet – cliffs. With its unique but almost claustrophobic setting, Setenil de las Bodegas presents a dramatic contrast to the sweeping panoramic views you have just enjoyed in Ronda. So – is Ronda a victim of overtourism? Well, there are a great many tourists, but I don’t think the folks benefiting from it would see themselves as victims.
And one side note – yes, the place is busy, but we managed to find a table for ten in a café on a plaza with no trouble. Conclusion? Ronda is ready and able to welcome you.
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.
The cliff-top town of Ronda offers incredible panoramic scenes.
Ronda’s bullring, the birthplace of bullfighting.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
A statue outside the entrance to the bullring.
Modern flavours, nostalgic fun
SUPPA SWIRLS wants to bring joy to communities through delicious, high-quality soft-serve ice cream, creating
experiences
swirl
time.
New to Tillsonburg, the SUPPA SWIRLS brand is a vibrant fusion of contemporary tastes and the timeless joy of the neighbourhood ice cream truck experience.
“We're not just about delicious softserve; we're about creating unforgettable moments and bringing out the inner child in everyone,” says Victor Suppa, owner of SUPPA SWIRLS.
From a young age, Suppa had a dream as sweet as the treats he imagined serving. He envisioned himself as the friendly neighbourhood ice cream man, a symbol of joy and happiness, bringing smiles to the faces of children and adults alike with every scoop of ice cream.
“Ice cream is my passion project,” said Suppa, now in his second year operating SUPPA SWIRLS. “It was a childhood dream to have an ice cream truck.”
It wasn't just about selling ice cream; he says it was about ‘creating an adventure, a moment of pure bliss in the everyday routine.’
“I just thought it was a happy place. I just wanted to have some fun.”
He envisioned a mobile ice cream parlour that would roll through the streets, its familiar jingle echoing through the air, invoking a sense of nostalgia and excitement.
“It’s almost like it hasn’t been seen before (in Tillsonburg),” he smiled. “It’s a lot of fun.”
The SUPPA SWIRLS soft serve truck, custom built in Courtland, is Tillsonburg’s first licensed mobile ice cream truck, approved through Town by-law, the fire department, and public health.
“The kids really like it… and the adults become kids. It’s nostalgic –
you grew up with an ice cream truck, you’ve experienced that joy, and now you can pass it down to your kids.”
He is permitted to take his soft serve ice cream truck to public parks and through the residential streets of Tillsonburg, within specified boundaries. He plans to operate the truck from May-October.
Special events are his main focus –from soccer tournaments to fairs and festivals, from corporate to school events and birthday parties.
“We can serve up to 500 people.”
He recently serviced events at Monsignor JH O’Neil and St. Joseph’s schools, and Turtlefest.
“I’m getting my feet wet in the community.”
Suppa is proud to support local, and uses ice cream from Shaw’s Ice Cream in Tillsonburg.
SUPPA SWIRLS’ full menu can be found on its website, suppaswirls.com.
Soft serve ice cream flavours include vanilla, chocolate swirl, strawberry, birthday cake, tropical orange,
cotton candy, blue raspberry, and coffee & cream. You can even have different flavours on the same cone.
If you’re feeling creative, add sprinkles and dips.
There are five flavours of slushies, and milkshakes come in vanilla, chocolate or strawberry flavours.
For something different, try an iceberg – a refreshing fruit slushy topped with a swirl of ice cream.
There are banana splits and classic ice cream sundaes, ice cream & cookie sandwiches, and of course, nondairy frozen items like snow cones and rocket popsicles – perfect on a hot day.
For large events, four pre-set packages are available to help streamline the menu.
“I just booked one yesterday, 250 people, and they are ordering cones and slushies. For big events, we try to keep it simple.”
Contact SUPPA SWIRLS through their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Victor Suppa, owner of SUPPA SWIRLS soft serve ice cream truck, is living his childhood dream.
This summer’s most anticipated reads
BOOK TALK
It’s that wonderful time of year when the skies are brighter, the sun is warmer, and “vacation mode” is the standard state of mind. It’s hard not to love summertime —but one thing I love just as much is a great summer read, and this year’s lineup does not disappoint. Here are some of this summer’s most anticipated books:
My Friends by Frederik Backman
Written by New York Times bestselling author Frederik Backman, this book tells the story of a remarkable painting, four teenage friends, and the enduring powers of love and art. This is a heartwarming novel that explores the challenges and joys of life, of loving and trusting others, of unexpected change and unexpected hope. Fans of Backman’s other books, such as Anxious People and A Man Called Ove, will find themselves immersed in this story about one summer and the transcendent work of art that emerges.
The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware
In this follow up to The Woman in Cabin 10, Lo Blacklock returns to attend the opening of a luxury hotel, only to find herself in a white-knuckled race across Europe. This mystery thriller is full of plot twists that will keep readers guessing. With great pacing and tension, readers will be swept into a
story showcasing the lengths people will go to get what they want or feel they deserve. If you’re a fan of this series, a film version of The Woman in Cabin 10 is set to be released on Netflix this fall.
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
This is the true story of a couple who find themselves shipwrecked in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Maurice and Maralyn Bailey walked away from their lives to seek adventure on the high seas. What they didn’t expect was to be stuck on a tiny raft for 118 days. Beautifully written, this is a riveting tale of survival in the most extreme circumstances, and of the power of love when all appears lost.
One Golden Summer by Carley For tune
Romance fans will fall in love with this hot-off-the-press sequel to Every Summer
After by Canadian journalist turned novelist, Carley Fortune. The story follows Alice, a photographer seeking a quiet, restorative summer at her childhood cottage with her grandmother. Her plans for a peaceful summer are upended by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it. Is love in the air? You’ll have to read this one to find out!
Whether you’re headed to the beach, cottage, backyard, or living room couch, a great book is an excellent companion. If you’re looking for your next summer read, why not give one of these books a try? All highlighted titles can be reserved today by visiting www. ocl.net and placing a hold.
If you’re looking for a fun reading challenge, there’s still time to join the Oxford County Library’s Adult Summer Reading Challenge. Participants are invited to “read around the world” this summer. The chal lenge runs until Aug. 30. Visit your local branch for details.
Heather Mathers is the Branch Services Li brarian at the Oxford County Library’s Till sonburg Branch.
BINGO FOR KIDS
These friends enjoyed Canada Day bingo at the local Legion. About 20 children, ages four to 15 were in attendance. All who attended received a door prize. The next kids’ bingo at the Legion is planned for October.
HEATHER MATHERS Community Librarian, Oxford County Library
(DEBBIE KASMAN PHOTO)
TOWNSHIP OF NORWICH NEWS
Working group created to develop road conversion plan
LUKE EDWARDS Post Contributor
Seemingly at a crossroads, councillors are hopeful a working group will come up with solutions that will make Norwich’s road conversion program more seamless.
Councillors at the June 24 meeting passed a motion that was initially brought forward at the June 3 meeting. It calls for a working group to be struck including two councillors, the appropriate staff, and potentially an outside consultant “to determine the most cost effective and appropriate reconstruction processes before moving forward with the gravel road conversion program.”
The two councillors who will sit on the group are Adrian Couwenberg and Lynne DePlancke, even though DePlancke opposed the motion in preference of a modified version of what staff originally recommended.
Council’s idea to form the group came about after a staff report in early June recommended postponing planned resurfacing projects for portions of Firehall Road and Beaconsfield Road. The original staff report said additional testing suggested those roads would require more extensive reconstruction. Moving ahead with what was originally planned could lead to issues on those roads similar to what happened when the township tried to resurface Curries Road.
An inadequate base level was blamed for the damage on Curries Road.
To avoid a repeat, staff recommended postponing the work on the two roads, and including funds in the 2026 budget for full reconstruction of those sections of Firehall and Beaconsfield, as well as including funds in next year’s budget to fix Curries Road.
However, some councillors said they
were frustrated with the road conversion process, arguing some areas of the township have been ignored as well as having concerns about the balance between projects and project cost.
“I do believe in doing things right, but I also want to move forward with it,” said Coun. Shawn Gear.
DePlancke’s preferred route would have seen some work done this year, including preliminary work on Beaconsfield.
“We are fairly confident we could do the base this year and have it as a good solid base gravel road over the winter and then probably put the surface treatment on in the spring,” said CAO Matt Smith.
Under that plan, only a small section of Firehall Road would be worked on this year, and only because it would coincide with resurfacing plans for the fire hall’s parking lot.
DePlancke feared a working group would
only amount to micromanaging and would accomplish little. Couwenberg said his intent wasn’t to micromanage the projects, but with limited resources he admitted micromanaging the funds was a part of it.
But Couwenberg nominated DePlancke for the group, saying it’ll be more successful if people with different perspectives contribute. While she seemed to remain skeptical, she accepted, saying she’ll give it a try.
Smith said he wasn’t immediately sure how the group would operate, and that they’ll have some early meetings to figure that out.
Mayor Jim Palmer, who also opposed forming the group, argued they’ll probably just end up back at the original option.
“I think we’re actually going to end up at Number 1 because it’s going to take so long to do this to get any approvals we might as well have done Number 1,” he said.
Norwich ended 2024 with $700K surplus
LUKE EDWARDS Post Contributor
The more than $700,000 surplus Norwich Township realized in 2024 will be put into various reserve funds.
A report to councillors at the June 24 meeting outlined staff’s plans for the money. They include $250,000 to the gravel conversion reserve to help offset costs to repair Curries Road, $150,000 to the fire vehicle reserve mostly to pay for two trucks that are coming in 2025, $100,000 to the road equipment reserve to mitigate the increasing costs of large equipment, and $100,000 each to the bridge and road
construction reserves for future projects.
Another $52,000 is planned to go into the contingency reserve, however that may end up being less. Staff said the results presented are unaudited and there were some discrepancies that needed to be ironed out.
Interest rates that remained higher than expected was the main push for the surplus, treasurer James Johnson said.
The township also did a good job adhering to the budget, he added.
“We’re actually under budget by less than one per cent, so I don’t think we could have done a better job if we tried,” he said.
by Jake Grant
Harvard planes provide a connection to the past
Post Contributor
Many things stand out at the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, which celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Tillsonburg Regional Airport on Saturday, July 5.
The glue that holds CHAA together, said Shane Clayton, is the love of the history of the aircraft itself and the camaraderie of those that share similar passions.
“With the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, it was our greatest single contribution to the Second World War. We did a hell of a job with that,” said Clayton, CHAA Chief Technical Officer and in charge of the museum and archives, “and the legacy of our excellence in training pilots and air crew and all that.”
Clayton said CHAA aims to keep their
for the people,’” said Shepard. “If you’re thinking about volunteering for CHAA, and you want something where your time and effort give back to the community, this is the place to be. We are a family here and we much appreciate what has been done.”
Shepard thanked everyone for coming to Saturday’s anniversary ceremony.
“Thank you for your involvement and I hope we see you all here in the future… and your young ones especially, because if we don’t keep young people involved in CHAA, we’re not going to go much farther. So we want to keep the hope alive.”
“Forty years, isn’t that amazing,” said CHAA president Walter Irie after the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 153 colour party concluded Saturday’s ceremony. “Something that started out as an idea, and now look at it today 40 years later.
Second World War Harvard training planes in the air as long as they can – as long as they have access to aviation fuel and propellor blades.
“We have lots of engine parts and we can make airframe parts. It’s a nice goal to hit 100 years, but let’s not stop there, let’s keep going. As long it’s not going to be $3,000/hour to operate.”
It’s one thing to have a static museum full of planes, he said, but it’s an entirely different thing to get the full experience at CHAA, to hear, smell and feel what the Greatest Generation did 80-plus years ago.
“You can’t say enough praise for all the effort and time that people put into keeping CHAA alive for 40 years,” former president Bill Shepard said during the 40th anniversary ceremony.
Shepard, who joined the CHAA in 2001, starting as ground crew, and progressing to pilot and president, said it’s important to keep the history alive, and to honour the memories of people who were part of the “Greatest Generation.”
“One of the phrases often said here is, ‘People come for the planes and they stay
(Shepard) talked about us being a family, and it’s been very much that since the very beginning. Everybody is welcome here. We’re a community organization and we really want to get the next generation involved. It’s a real connection to the past and we don’t want that connection to be broken.”
Shepard, who has flown a P-51C Mustang for the CAF (Commemorative Air Force) Red Tail Squadron, and currently belongs to two squadrons, now flies a TBM Avenger (torpedo bomber), based in Dallas, at a half-dozen air shows a year.
The Woodstock pilot said each sub-section of CHAA has its own lifeblood – its own pulse. There are cycles for the maintenance and ground crews, fundraising and membership drives, and restoration.
“Our motto is to acquire, preserve, restore, maintain, display and demonstrate the Harvard,” said Shepard, “and other training aircraft associated with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and Royal Canadian Air Force. That’s our main focus, the glue that keeps us together.”
Group, 532nd Squadron flying out of England. His plane and crew were shot down Feb. 22, 1944, on their 16th mission. Bukowski was a POW at two different prison camps (Stalag 6 and 4) and he was part of ‘The Long March.’
Seeing the Harvards Saturday, known as the T-6 Texan in the US, brought back memories.
“I was training in gunnery school with those… the T-6 in Arlington, Texas. As a matter of fact, it was the first plane I trained in.”
Bukowski, first in aircraft mechanic school when he first enlisted, said he did not remember anything special about the T-6. But still enjoys seeing them.
“I am always interested and I often wonder, which one of those did I fly in? But I know the chances are very, very slim,” he added with a laugh.
The plane that is closest to his heart, he said, is the B-17.
Three men got together and had this great idea to preserve these aircraft and dedicate them to the RCAF and the public.”
“It started in 1985,” said former president Pat Hanna. “There was a few guys up in Woodstock who had Harvards and they realized they weren’t going to be around forever to fly them, so they looked for interest in the community to start an association. They found out there was a lot of interest.”
Hanna, one of the first generation of CHAA members, said they wanted to draw in ‘the next generation’ to learn about Harvards, what they served for, and the sacrifices made by the pilots who flew them.
“It was very important to us that their legacy did not disappear into the history books. Now, we’re into our third and even fourth generations of Harvard members coming along.
“The thing that is amazing to me is that it is 100 per cent a volunteer organization and has been for the whole 40 years, who keep all these Harvards flying, and have stuff like this (Fly Day and Open House). And it’s a close-knit organization. Bill
Casey Bukowski, 101, from Lancaster, New York, visited Saturday’s 40th CHAA anniversary with friend Amy Beechler.
The World War II veteran was a gunner in a B-17 bomber in the 381st Bomb
“I always try to find out the names of them, and see if I remember flying with them. Ours was ‘Friday the 13th.’ While in training, we lost a (plane) on a training mission. Two engines caught fire and the pilot ordered abandon ship. All of the crew made it out safely and back to our base. And all this happened on August, Friday the 13th.”
CHRIS ABBOTT
The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association held an open house and fly day on July 5, celebrating its 40th anniversary.
(CHRIS ABBOTT PHOTO)
Casey Bukowski, 101, and Amy Beechler from Lancaster, New York visited CHAA’s 40th anniversary open house and fly day on July 5.
(CHRIS ABBOTT PHOTO)
Former CHAA president Bill Shepard says ‘People come for the planes and they stay for the people.’
(CHRIS ABBOTT PHOTO)
519-842-4234
82 Bridge St. E, Tillsonburg
I’m not a cat, but I purr and roar. I have four wheels and love the open road. What am I?
Car
I can be long or short; I can be grown or cut. People often judge me, but I’m just on your head. What am I?
Hair
I have pages but I’m not a website. I tell stories without speaking. What am I?
Book
I go tick-tock but have no mouth. I keep things on track but only my hands ever move. What am I?
Clock
I go up when the rain comes down. What am I?
Umbrella
I’m a room you can’t enter. What am I?
Mushroom
I can be written, spoken, broken, and made—but I can’t be seen. What am I?
Promise
SWOX NEWS
‘South West Oxford and Malahide say NO to Wind Turbines’ holds community celebration
About 60 people attended the ‘South West Oxford and Malahide say NO to Wind Turbines’ community celebration in Brownsville on June 26.
South West Oxford (SWOX) Council declared the township an “unwilling host” to future wind turbine projects in a 5 to 1 vote at its June 17 meeting. Malahide Council declared Malahide Township an “unwilling host” in a unanimous vote on June 5.
SWOX Councillors Pickard, Buchner, Durston, Gillis and Way voted to support the “unwilling host” motion and Mayor David Mayberry voted against. Councillor Pete Ypma, who was not at the meeting, signed a lease option with the Cedar Flats wind project and declared a conflict of interest on June 3 when a staff report on the subject was included at a council meeting. Passing a resolution declaring a township an “unwilling host” does not legally prevent a wind energy proponent from approaching council with a formal request
for municipal support. An “unwilling host” resolution is not binding and does not preclude the township from receiving or considering future proposals. Under the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO’s) current procurement processes, what matters is whether a Municipal Support Resolution (MSR) is passed.
When the Ontario Green Energy Act, 2009, was repealed on January 1, 2019, it gave municipalities more control over the siting of renewable energy. The Green Energy Act was a major point of political debate in Ontario, and its repeal was a key promise of the Progressive Conservative (PC) party during the 2018 election.
According to Wind Concerns Ontario, 159 municipalities have passed formal resolutions declaring themselves to be “unwilling hosts” to new industrial wind power sites.
The last of the donations ‘South West Oxford and Malahide say NO to Wind Turbines’ group collected are being donated to the Brownsville and Springfield Fire Halls. Each fire hall will receive $118 in donations.
DEBBIE KASMAN Post Contributor
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
COME ON
Organizers welcome the community to their wind turbine celebration in Brownsville
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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.
DECORATION DAY FOR FORESTVILLE
CEMETERIES Fairview Cemetery, 698 Charlotteville Road 1, Forestville
Sunday July 20th , 2025 @ 2:00 p.m.
Rain or shine. Bring your lawn chair, a friend, and umbrella. Music will be provided by “Blue Chickory”. Everyone welcome!
PIZZA FEST
Thursday July 24, 2025: 4 pm - 8:30 pm Downtown Ingersoll
Live Music - Rated Blue, Street Performers, Car Show, Vendors, Stores Open Late, Children's Activities, Hands On Exotics Safari Adventure, and lots of Pizza! Seating available. Free Admission - Food Tickets: $1 ea. Pizza Slice: 3 Tickets Pop/Drink: 1 Ticket. Proceeds to local charities. Visit us on FB/Instagram: Ingersoll BIA
DELHI & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL POT LUCK
at the Quance Dam Gazebo
Monday July 14th/25. Set up at 5:30 pm
Bring your favourite dish to share, plate and utensils. Also, a special thank you to the community & surrounding areas for supporting our Plant Sale. Much appreciated.
KIDS' ACTIVITIES
CRAFTS, GAMES, AND STORIES
Every Saturday in July and August, 1-3 p.m.
The Edison, Vienna, & Area Museum 6209 Plank Road, Vienna, ON FREE admission, no pre-registration necessary. Contact bayhamhistoricalsociety@hotmail.com for more details.
THE EDISON, VIENNA, & AREA MUSEUM SUMMER PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
The Edison, Vienna, & Area Museum 6209 Plank Road, Vienna, ON
July 12: The Edison Phonograph
July 19: Cars (Coinciding with the Car Show)
July 26: The Edison Lightbulb
August 2: European Vienna
CLASSIFIEDS
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)
August 9: Party Time! (Coinciding with the Ontario Trillium Foundation Recognition Gala)
August 16: Movies
August 23: Brownie Cameras
August 30: Back to School
FREE admission, no pre-registration necessary. Contact bayhamhistoricalsociety@hotmail.com for more details.
CANADIAN HARVARD AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION
OPEN HOUSE & FLY DAYS
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.
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,
Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy vehicles of all makes and years. SPONSORED BY
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.
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 519-4435588 or teetervillelegionbranch526.ca
WEEKLY CRUISE NIGHTS
Hosted by the Tillsonburg Cruisers at the Tim Hortons/ Wendys.
Keep your dollars in Canada to strengthen communities and support local businesses, including your local newspaper.
Keep your dollars in Canada to strengthen communities and support local businesses, including your local newspaper.
Keep your dollars in Canada to strengthen communities and support businesses, including your local newspaper.
400 Simcoe St., Tillsonburg
