That’s how East Zorra-Tavistock’s (EZT) Chuckee Zehr reacted a day after she and her band, SheWolves of London, won their second Forest City London Music Award at a ceremony on Sunday night in the blues category.
Zehr said the evening was a celebration of all genres
“There was a lot of energy in the crowd and they were paying tribute to all kinds of music – classical, jazz, world, hip-hop, rap, DJs, blues, rock and country. You name it, they are celebrating everything and there are a lot of younger musicians around now and they were really excited to be there.”
MP Tim Louis is working alongside one of the fed eral Liberals’ most prominent cabinet ministers.
government departments. His current focus on enhancing Canada-U.S. trade relations and dismantling internal trade barriers has placed him at the centre of national policies aimed at economic unity and resilience, especially in the context of global
The group was playing a gig in London several years ago and needed to come up with a name.
“Someone said SheWolves and I said SheWolves of London! Just like the song, ‘Werewolves of London.’ It stuck.”
The bandmates started playing just before the pandemic when they were forced to take a few years off. Zehr said the youngest member of the band, Sarah Smith, now lives in British Columbia and keeps a busy schedule.
“She’s full of energy and is playing all
Kitchener-Conestoga
Serving New Hamburg, Tavistock, Baden, Wellesley, New Dundee, St. Agatha,
From left, Adaline Rose, Elise Bowman and Dorothy Weicker share a fun moment with firefighter Alyssa Habel, who is holding Chloe Bowman, during the Tavistock Optimist Club’s annual Parkfest — a day filled with sunshine, smiles and community spirit. Full story
photos on page 4.
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
LEE GRIFFI
Louis tapped for key trade role in federal cabinet
trade challenges.
Louis will be helping LeBlanc to work on legislation to standardize professional licensing, allowing skilled workers to move freely between provinces. The ministry is also leading reforms to harmonize food, alcohol and construction regulations, a move welcomed by small businesses and trade associations.
“The file for the minister is quite large, so it’s been split into two components. The portfolio that has been given to me is intergovernmental affairs,” Louis said. “That would be the one Canadian economy, lowering trade barriers and building major projects in Canada. I’ll be working with Indigenous people, the environmental sector, provinces and territories, as well as other stakeholders.”
The Gazette asked Louis how his workload will be increased as a result of the promotion.
“I’m cutting this interview a little shorter than we usually do,” he joked. “I am always conscious of my time and other people’s time. Now I’ll have to get more done in less time. That’s what Canadians expect.”
It is still early days following the announcement of which MPs are supporting what cabinet ministers, and Louis said he hasn’t been fully told what his new role will encompass.
“I would expect to do more travelling within Canada, but at the same time, there are more parliamentary responsibilities. I will be spending more time in the House of Commons and today I am prepping for Question Period.”
Louis explained he will host more meetings with stakeholders in Ottawa and will deliver more speeches on behalf of the government. He added eliminating interprovincial barriers is top of mind for Canadians.
“It’s an honour to serve in this capacity and I am humbled. All the conversations I had with Canadians before, during the
election campaign and even since; this is an issue that is top of mind. There are billions of dollars in barriers right now. We could boost our GDP, have labour mobility and do major projects using Canadian labour, steel and aluminum. Canadians have sent us here to work together and we are setting some pretty fast deadlines and moving quickly.”
While he knows LeBlanc as a colleague, Louis said the pair hasn’t had the chance to sit down and discuss his role due to the minister’s busy file and travel schedule.
“He’s been travelling himself right now, but I am expecting to meet with him very soon. I’ve been meeting with the department and starting the briefings. I’ve been handed huge binders full of information, so the work has already started. So has the increased coffee consumption.”
He said the news hasn’t spread across the riding yet, but word travels quickly in Ottawa.
“When news happens on Parliament Hill, it spreads quickly, so the conversations I have been having with people here all know. I was at many events over the weekend and people were congratulating me and asking for more details.”
The MP added Kitchener-Conestoga and other area ridings will benefit from strong trade agreements with our neighbours to the south.
“The Waterloo Region is one of the most affected areas in the country as far as tariffs and trade with the U.S. It will be very applicable to people in my riding and boosting our economy is good for everyone. I look forward to getting the work done and will find more hours in the day to do it.”
Louis was named parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian heritage back in February, but barely settled into the role before the 44th Parliament was dissolved and an election date of April 28 selected. It followed an earlier prorogation on Jan. 6 after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis announced via social media that he has been appointed parliamentary secretary to the minister responsible for intergovernmental affairs, a role that will see him helping dismantle trade barriers and support economic unity across Canada.
(TIM LOUIS FACEBOOK PHOTO)
SheWolves win big at Forest City Music Awards
Continued from page 1
the time. She goes to Europe a couple of times a year and we are hoping to get the band over there. The other girls and I all play in different configurations with other musicians as well, but we like this one.”
Zehr, who retired once the family sold the Tavistock Golf Course, said at this stage in her life she is able to pick and choose when and where she performs.
“I still like to play. Cheryl (Lescom) and I do a lot of duos together and I do some solo gigs. I’m in another five-piece band with musicians from London and Niagara Falls, so it’s a nice variety, but SheWolves is probably the best combination.”
The Kitchener Blues Festival has a blues camp every year, which occurs the week before the event. Zehr said she and Lescom have participated as vocal instructors for the last few years.
“I also help with the keyboard and they have professional musicians teaching other instruments like drums and the bass. The kids then put on the first show of the weekend. It’s been great to see some of these kids grow up and turn into amazing musicians. The camp has broken many of them out of their shells and taught them to play multiple instruments.”
The band recently completed a live
album, SheWolves of London - live from London, that is currently on CD and will be offered later this month on Spotify and Apple Music. The album was recorded at the Aeolian Hall in the Forest City.
Alison Dale, left, and Chuckee Zehr are two members of the band, SheWolves of London, which won its second Forest City London Music Award at a ceremony on Sunday night.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)
This photo is taken from the back cover of the band’s new album. From left to right are Chuckee Zehr, Sarah Smith, Cheryl Lescom and Alison Dale. Seated is Dale-Anne Brendon.
Tavistock Optimist Club hosts annual Parkfest under sunny skies
The Tavistock Optimist Club hosted its annual Parkfest on Saturday at the Optimist Park, welcoming more young families than ever under clear, blue skies.
With a large number of members on hand, the club was busy throughout the day organizing activities, from bouncy castles and face painting to giving kids a chance to see tractors and harvesters up close. Tavistock firefighters were also present with fire trucks offering fire-safety education and answering questions from children and parents alike.
The Optimist Club provided free cotton candy and freezies, and offered wagon rides on their newly built wagon designed by Optimist Ken Meadows and friends. Linton Window and Door, a company from Shakespeare, also joined in by setting up a tent with contests, prizes and balloons for the kids. At the end of the day, club members expressed their appreciation for the perfect weather and the strong community response with many families taking the time to thank them for a wonderful day of fun in the June sun.
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36 Water St. St. Marys, ON, PO Box 2310 N4X 1A2 thewtgazette@gmail.com | 519.655.2341 | granthaven.com
June
Kevin Whaling, Stratford
June 06 Alan Sinnamon, Sebringville
June 07 Barry Logan, Stratford
June 08 Nellwyn Cepriaso, Thamesford
June 09 Danny Hunter, Stratford
June
June
June
June
June 14 Dan Scheerer, Dublin
A newly constructed Optimist wagon, complete with benches and safety rails, gave parents and kids a ride around the park.
GARY WEST
Gazette Correspondent
(JESSE WEICKER PHOTOS)
Two young future firefighters, perhaps, stand with their fathers learning about the up-to-date equipment used by the Tavistock firefighters.
No Tavistock Optimist event would be complete without their fry wagon, where chefs Eric Bender, Colton Zehr, Rob Van Boekel, Rodney Ramseyer, Matt Lambing and Jesse Weicker kept everyone fed.
SHOP WILMOT, TAVISTOCK & AREA
Just shy of its 75th anniversary in business, Yantzi Home Building Centre in Tavistock, now in its second and third generation of ownership, remains a destination where customers from across the region can find the supplies, materials and expertise they need to make their home-renovation dreams a reality.
Now run by Darlene Yantzi, Joyce Ropp and Steffan Yantzi, who took over as a co-owners last year from Steffan Yantzi’s late father, Jim Yantzi, Yantzi Home Building Centre is much more than meets the eye. Yantzi Building Supplies, the business’ original name, was founded by Jim Yantzi’s parents, Andrew and Doris Yantzi, in 1951 and, alongside his sisters Joyce Ropp and Darlene Yantzi, Jim Yantzi operated the family business for close to 45 years before his passing in May 2021.
“It started with my parents shortly after they were married,” general manager Darlene Yantzi said. “(My dad) started building homes and sheds then he would bring in his own commodity items and started to sell building materials to other contractors, so he decided to go into retail and leave the home building to contractors.”
Today, though the business is housed in a deceptively small building, it has anything one might need for home renovations. From in-house kitchen design, floor coverings and window treatments to paint, home décor and a lumberyard with all types of building materials, Yantzi Home Building Centre is a one-stop home-improvement centre.
“People seeing the building from the outside don’t realize how large the store and design centre are or the products we carry. When they visit our kitchen and bath department as well as the upstairs second floor, flooring and home décor department, they are very surprised to see how large the showroom really is and the amount of product that we carry in our store,” Darlene Yantzi said.
“The most common comment we get is, ‘Wow, I had no idea this store had all this product in here,’ “ Steffan Yantzi added.
And part of the reason customers keep coming back to Yantzi Home Building Centre is because many of the same, knowledgeable staff they’ve worked with for years continue to work at the business today. Recently, the business
celebrated the 30th work anniversary for one of its employ ees – a true testament to that all-important continuum of excellence in customer service.
“Sue’s been here longer than I’ve been alive,” Steffan Yantzi laughed. “It’s incredible.”
“My father was definitely all about serving the customers and he loved people,” Darlene Yantzi added. “And that’s what we find with our staff, too. They like sales, they like working with customers, therefore we have lots of wordof-mouth customers.”
As Tavistock continues to expand and as word of the business travels to communities further away like Stratford, Woodstock and Kitchener-Waterloo, the business caters to customers of all kinds, whether they’re a contractor or DIY expert with specific plans or simply a homeowner with a dream looking for somewhere to start.
Staff can provide free, in-home consultations or connect customers to the right contractor for the right job.
“It’s great because they can come to the store with a bathroom or kitchen they’re trying to renovate. In the process of working with our staff, they may need a contractor to remove walls; we can assist with connecting you to great local contractors if they don’t have one they are working with.” Steffan Yantzi said.
For more information on Yantzi Home Building Centre, call 519-655-2014 or, better yet, stop by in-person and see everything the business has to offer for yourself.
General manager Darlene Yantzi and dealer Steffan Yantzi stand within Yantzi Home Building Centre’s kitchen department, where they help make kitchen renovations happen.
GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
(GALEN SIMMONS PHOTO)
All-terrain vehicle collisions on the rise
OPP encouraging the public to drive safely
LEE GRIFFI
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Ontario’s All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety Week recently concluded and the Oxford OPP are hoping riders get the message to reduce collisions and fatalities.
The OPP’s West Region, which includes Oxford, had six fatal collisions in 2024, along with 46 personal injury collisions. Across Ontario last year, 34 people died in collisions while 253 were injured.
“Across the board, they’ve been increasing and that’s what is so alarming,” said OPP Const. Randi Crawford. “Even with the safety messages we are getting out there and information from the Ontario Federation of Ontario All-Terrain Vehicles Clubs, people are just not adhering to the rules and tips.”
The vast majority of regular motor-vehicle collisions are caused by driver error, and causes include speeding, distracted driving, following too closely and failing to yield. Crawford said many of the same mistakes are being made by ATV drivers.
“There are some instances of
impaired driving on these vehicles and people are not aware of their surroundings. Speed is a big factor, even when going around the corner of a trail. You take that too fast and you’re flipping over on these big, heavy machines. It’s just you and a helmet. That can cause a lot of damage.”
While no specific statistics are available, studies by Public Health Ontario find regions classified as “mainly rural” consistently show higher ATV-related injury rates, suggesting greater ATV use in those areas compared to urban zones. Crawford explained many people use the vehicles as part of their farming operations.
“We aren’t necessarily seeing those types of people being involved in collisions; it’s more people who are going out and riding them for leisure. There are fewer people driving ATVs, but when a collision does occur, similar to motorcycles, the chances of a serious injury or death are that much greater.”
Crawford said police are frustrated at the increase in collisions but added they will continue to work hard to bring those numbers down.
“We are going to keep trying. Every time we talk, I always remain hopeful that we are going to keep the messages out there to improve safety for all motor vehicles, and one day the light bulb is going to go off. They are going to realize they can still have fun riding my ATV, but within safety parameters. They can ride on really cool trails, but be careful when required.”
Crawford is reminding ATV
drivers their vehicles must be registered, have a displayed licence plate and be insured under a motor-vehicle policy.
She also recommended any rider review Ontario Regulation 316/03 for a complete list of provincial highways where offroad vehicles are permitted as well as prohibited. If there is no bylaw for a municipality, check whether it is listed under Ontario Regulation 8/03 for municipal roadways where they are permitted.
“If every off-road vehicle operator does that part to stay alert, stay safe and stay sober, they can help reduce these types of collisions and allow everyone to enjoy the use of these vehicles for work and play,” added Crawford.
The 2025 All Terrain Vehicle Safety Awareness Week ran from May 30 to June 8. For more information on ATV safety, visit ofatv.org or www.ontario.ca.
Tavistock Men’s Club hosts another successful June Fish Fry
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
The Tavistock Men’s Club once again delighted fish lovers with its annual June Fish Fry, drawing close to 600 attendees for the popular event.
The “all you can eat” meal featured pickerel fillets, which many praised as the best-tasting ever. Men’s Club president Brian Boland said no one ever seems to leave disappointed.
“It’s something we’re always glad to hear,” he said, noting how the club’s many members and volunteers contribute to the event’s ongoing success.
The club’s signature red shirts were a familiar sight at the fryers, where volunteers prepared pickerel, French fries and all the trimmings that made the meal a highlight for those who dined in and for the many who took their meals to go.
The evening also included a 50/50 draw organized by Robert Routley with winner Al Green taking home $430. The Men’s Club donated the other half of the draw proceeds to local 4-H clubs and the Tavistock Figure Skating Club.
The many helpers at the Men’s Club annual fish fry are always ready to lend a hand, with members saying they could never do it without the support of wives, partners and friends.
(GARY WEST PHOTOS)
Robert Routley, who organized the 50/50 draw, presented winner Al Green with his $430 prize. The other half of the draw went to local 4-H clubs and the Tavistock Figure Skating Club.
The red shirts of the Men’s Club were busy at the fryers, preparing pickerel, French fries and all the extras.
Many attendees chose to eat inside at the Men’s Club, where no one went home hungry. There was also a large number of takeout meals.
Funding for living snow fences to be made available through Perth County Stewardship program
GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
To improve safety on county roads in the winter, Perth County will fully fund the planting of living snow fences on private properties through its annual stewardship program.
Though some of the details still need to be worked out by staff and reviewed by councillors, county council approved the new funding stream in principle at its June 5 meeting. According to county resiliency and stewardship coordinator Hannah Cann, encouraging local farmers and landowners to plant living snow fences along road-facing sections of their properties can have a number of benefits.
“Living snow fences are rows of trees, shrubs or standing crop oriented in a strip parallel to the roadway with the primary purpose of reducing snow drifting and visibility concerns during winter months,” Cann said. “There are several other benefits of living snow fences including lowering operational expenses related to treatment materials like sand and salt. Other benefits of living snow fences include increased safety for the road user and meeting several goals within our county and local agencies including addressing winter hazards.”
Living snow fences also have environmental benefits
Factory Trained Technicians ~ Accessories ~ Service to all Makes Shrink Wrap & Winter Storage ~ In House Financing
including increasing biodiversity by adding new habitat for pollinator species, thereby potentially improving crop production, improving soil conservation through the natural stabilization of soil by the trees or shrubs’ root systems, and increasing carbon sequestration.
The county’s public works department maintains an inventory of areas within the county road network that are more susceptible to drifting and blowing snow conditions. Most of the roads are oriented in the north-south direction and experience northwesterly winds, which often carry lake-effect snow from Lake Huron. However, other roads of concern oriented on more of an east-west tangent also experience drifting under certain conditions. Wind direction and wind speed can vary considerably during winter storms, so drifting and blowing snow can occur in any area.
The general best practice for placement of living snow fencing is 35 metres from the road edge. This distance provides a sufficient offset from the travelled portion of the road to allow for snow to accumulate as it falls. For many county roads, and most local municipal roads, this offset is beyond the limits of the public road allowance and falls on adjacent private property, necessitating the need to work with and incentivise private landowners to plant these snow fences.
According to Cann, living snow fences can take some time to grow; they can offer some protective benefit within about five years, with full benefits between eight and 10 years after planting.
“I think this is a great program. I’ve been hoping to see something like this for a number of years now,” Coun. Matt Duncan said. “ … It’s going to take buy-in, there’s no doubt about it, but when we allocate tax dollars to this, this is a benefit to everybody that lives here. It’s not just a benefit to that landowner; it’s a benefit to everyone who drives down that road and I think this is a really good allocation of tax dollars to try and make our roads safer through natural means.
“I received a number of communications this year, definitely about (Perth Line) 86, about drifting snow over the
winter and I think the more these living snow fences we can put up along our county and municipal roads, it’s going to save a lot of winter maintenance and possible accidents in the future.”
According to Cann’s report to council, the county’s agriculture working group recommended Perth County implement a funding stream specific to living snow fences under the stewardship program and that successful applications made to that funding stream be fully funded to cover the cost for the planting and maintenance of a treed living snow fence under a 20-year agreement with the landowner. In doing so, Cann said the landowner is incentivized to plant this type of wind break while the respective municipality receives the future benefit of mitigating drifting hazards on the adjacent county or local road.
Other county councillors, however, were left with questions they wanted answers to before this funding stream opens for applications. Those questions included what would happen if a property with a living snow fence changed ownership during the 20-year agreement with the county; whether farmers would be compensated for the loss of productive farmland; how the snow fence would affect access for large equipment to the farmland between the snow fence and the roadway; and who would be responsible for replacing snow-fence trees if they were to die.
While the next application-intake period for the 2025 stewardship program is set to open on July 2, council voted to have staff bring back more details about the 20-year agreement at its July 3 meeting, during which councillors will review those details, make any changes and approve the agreement before staff begin accepting applications for that particular funding stream.
During this discussion, councillors also asked John McClelland, the county’s executive director of public works, whether staff was also looking at asking farmers to leave up some of their crops to serve as living snow fences through the winter. McClelland said staff are looking into that this year and noted it would require a strip of roughly 12 rows of corn located 35 metres back from the road to serve as an effective snow fence.
McClelland said the county would likely need to compensate farmers for leaving those crops unharvested through the winter and said he’d bring a report back to council later in the year with more information.
Wellesley family donates to Rotary Hospice Stratford-Perth
GARY WEST
Gazette Correspondent
A Wellesley family who will never forget the compassionate care the Rotary Hospice Stratford-Perth provided during Steve Baechler’s final 11 days has made a generous donation in his honour.
Baechler’s wife, Beth, and sons Sam and Alex, along with family and friends, recently presented a cheque for $10,340 to Lucie Stuart and Melissa McManus of the Rotary Hospice. The funds were raised through a bike ride fundraiser known as Stevie B’s
Ride for Hospice.
Steve Baechler, an avid cyclist, inspired the ride, which was coordinated with the Wellesley Township Flyers on the G2G (Guelph to Goderich) Trail, starting from Linwood.
“The hospice was honoured to help the Baechler family in their time of need. This generous donation will go a long way in supporting hospice care for others for years to come,” said Stuart, the director of fund development and stewardship for the Stratford Perth Hospice Foundation.
Pictured with the $10,340 cheque at the Rotary Hospice Stratford-Perth are, from left, hospice social worker Melissa McManus, Jeff Ohlhausen of the Wellesley Township Bicy
cle Flyers, Sam, Beth and Alex Baechler, family members Tanya and Ethyan
and Lucie Stuart, hospice director of fund development and stewardship for the Stratford Perth
is
-
Johnstone,
Hospice Foundation. Missing
Damon Johnstone.
The 45 cyclists who took part in Stevie B’s Ride for Hospice, raising $10,340 for the Rotary Hospice Stratford-Perth.
(GARY WEST PHOTOS)
Tavistock welcomes the world for 24th annual Crokinole Championship
DANEN Gazette Correspondent
The first weekend of June once again brought the world to Tavistock, as the village proudly hosted the 24th annual World Crokinole Championship.
With record-setting attendance, international guests and strong local support, this year’s tournament was a great success.
The tournament recognizes crokinole’s strong local heritage. The oldest known crokinole board was made in 1876 in nearby Sebastopol by Eckhardt Wettlaufer as a birthday gift for his son. Today, that original board resides at the Joseph Schneider Haus Museum in Kitchener, serving as a lasting reminder of the region’s connection to the game.
This year, more than 400 players, ranging in age from five to 91, filled the Tavistock and District Recreation Centre. A total of 152 crokinole boards were in play during singles competition alone, highlighting the game’s growing popularity both locally and abroad.
While crokinole has long been considered a uniquely Canadian pastime, this year’s tournament confirmed its growing international appeal. Competitors travelled from as far as Japan, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, as well as from 16 U.S. states, including Michigan, Massachusetts
and Colorado. Seven Canadian provinces were represented, along with several First Nations communities.
“By making the tournament bigger, every year we give ourselves more work to do,” joked organizing committee
Thank You to our Sponsors & Donors
South Easthope Mutual Insurance (Tavistock) Tavistock Men's Club
AMKAD Metal Components INC, Bender- Reibling Family, Brenwood Farms, Sandra Eby-RE/MAX a-b Realty Ltd., Famme and Co., Josslin Insurance, Krug’s Meat Market, Clive A. Lawry, McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers, Mornington Communications, Opti Mrs. Club of Tavistock, Optimist Club of Tavistock, Pletsch Electric, Raymer Financial, SWD Foods Ltd.-Sam’s Your Independent Grocer, Schultz Plumbing, Schultz Automotive, Scotiabank Tavistock Chamber of Commerce, Tavistock Dental, Tavistock I.D.A., Brian & Kyle Wilhelm-RE/MAX a-b Realty Ltd, Yantzi Home Building Center, Crokinole Depot, Bright Cheese and Butter, Keith Brenneman, D&D Homestyle Cuisine & Cafe, Edge Electrical Solutions, Erb Transport, Mountainoak Cheese, Owen Sound and Scone Crokinole Clubs, Quehl’s Restaurant, Tavi Chill, Tavistock Gas and Variety, Tavistock Home Hardware, Tim Hortons-Tavistock, Tracey Boards, Waldor Industries Ltd
Special thanks to the staff at Tavistock Recreation Facility and all the volunteers who helped on Friday and Saturday The World Crokinole Committee: Jason Beierling, Keith Brenneman, Paul Epp, Val Kropf, Allen Pengelley, Kathy Rosenberg, John Schultz, Jeremy Tracey, Nathan Walsh
the Milverton Crokinole Club, won the cues singles division for the first time. Other singles winners included Kyle Grasby (recreational), Peter Stokoe (intermediate) and Dietrich Clark (junior).
The doubles divisions also featured some exciting wins. Jeremy Tracey of Elmira and Andrew Hutchinson of Kitchener captured the competitive doubles title. In the cues doubles, brothers Jeremy and Jon Brubacher from Cambridge and Kitchener celebrated their first championship win together. The recreational doubles went to father-son team David and Peter Stokoe of Toronto, while brothers Knox and Norton Clark of Ohio earned the youth doubles title.
As always, none of this would be possible without the incredible support of local volunteers. From setting up and keeping score to taking photos and cleaning up, Tavistock residents and visiting players pitched in to keep things running smoothly. The organizing committee extends a sincere thank-you to everyone who helped make the day such a success.
member Nathan Walsh. “Tavistock should be proud; nowhere else in the world could a crokinole tournament like this be held.”
This year’s tournament was a year of firsts. In the competitive singles division, Shawn Hagarty took home his first world title. Millbank’s Ezra Jantzi, representing
Plans are already in motion for next year’s milestone 25th anniversary tournament. Organizers promise it will be bigger and better than ever and encourage anyone interested in volunteering to get in touch at worldcrokinole@gmail.com.
For a full list of results, visit www. worldcrokinole.com/results.html.
From left to right are referee Keith Reibling of Innerkip, competitor Randy Harris from Colorado and longtime organizer and referee Keith Brenneman, who has volunteered for 10 years. Harris made the trip to Tavistock with his wife in their motorhome to compete. The couple plan to continue their travels to Halifax after the tournament.
DIANE
(DIANE DANEN PHOTO)
Volunteers Suzanne Brocklebank of Shakespeare and Loralee Smith of Stratford spent Saturday morning working at the tournament draw table.
(DIANE DANEN PHOTO)
This rare crokinole board, donated to the Tavistock and District Historical Society, sparked curiosity at the World Crokinole Championship on June 7. Researchers are now working to uncover its origins and see how it compares to the oldest known board at Kitchener’s Schneider Haus Museum.
John Schultz of the World Crokinole Championship committee congratulates world singles champion Shawn Hagarty of Guelph.
(MARILYN PEARSON PHOTO)
(MARILYN PEARSON PHOTO)
Grace United garage sale a community tradition
DIANE DANEN Gazette Correspondent
The annual garage sale at Grace United Church continues to be a popular stop for many bargain hunters.
For the past four years, Mary Bolan, retired minister at Grace United, has taken
on the job of organizing the sale with the help of church member Tricia Wettlaufer.
What started as a simple fundraiser has grown into a much-anticipated event, with dozens of volunteers and hundreds of donated items.
Most of the items come from members of the congregation, but donations from
the wider community are also welcomed. Plants are also available to purchase.
“We start accepting donations on Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday. That gives us time to sort and price items,” said Bolan. “We’re so grateful for the generous support we receive year after year from the congregation and the community.”
Volunteers from the congregation help with everything from setup to cleanup. Proceeds from the garage sale go directly toward supporting church programs such as the youth group, Sunday school and Bible study.
Pictured left, Esther Van Slageren and Bella Snyder of Plattsville browse for bargains at the Grace United Church garage sale.
(DIANE DANEN PHOTO)
North Easthope’s Food Truck Night a big hit for playground fundraiser
GARY
Gazette Correspondent
Supporters of the North Easthope Public School senior playground fund gathered for an evening of food trucks and fun at
the school west of Amulree last week.
The event drew a large crowd of students, teachers, parents, grandparents and friends who enjoyed not only the delicious food but also took part in raffle draws, a silent auction and a 50/50 draw.
At the end of the evening, after more than a year of dedicated fundraising, the home and school committee and principal Charles Longston announced the playground campaign had surpassed its goal and they were ready to order the new equipment.
Longston thanked the entire North Easthope community for their unwavering support and extended special gratitude to the committee for its tremendous work.
Food trucks were busy last week at North Easthope Public School, helping raise funds for the new senior playground.
WEST
(GARY WEST PHOTOS) Pictured at the school’s ticket raffle are, from left, Cherise Pletsch with daughter Carley, Pat Eidt, Emily Windsor and Yvonne Pletsch who took home $425 in the 50/50 draw. Carley, Cherise and Yvonne represent three generations of North Easthope Public School graduates.
A garden to visit every season
LAURA GREEN
Braemar Women’s Institute
Braemar Women’s Institute (WI) members couldn’t smell the roses in the garden that surrounded the bust of the playwright William Shakespeare since the roses were not in bloom yet, but there were lots of herbs and other spring flowers blooming at Stratford’s Shakespearean Gardens during a recent trip.
Did you know that the first two rose bushes planted were a “gift from King George VI” which represented the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster. Also presented to the parks board were rosemary and thyme bushes from Shakespeare’s birthplace when the park first opened.
The Shakespearean Gardens were built on the site of the Dufton Woolen Mill, which was built in 1874 and burned down in 1919. The only piece of the mill which remains standing is the 65-foot-tall chimney.
The gardens have 60 varieties of herbs, flowers and shrubs, which are mentioned in 29 scenes from Shakespeare’s plays that take place in gardens or in orchards.
The gardens were officially opened by Lord and Lady Tweedsmuir on May 28, 1936. In January 2025, the gardens were designated as a historic site.
As we travelled to Dave’s Diner in Sebringville for lunch and a business meeting, we travelled over the oldest double-arch stone bridge in Ontario on Huron Street.
Pictured are members of the Braemar Women’s Institute who love learning and exploring new sites. In the front row are Linda Hammond and Norma Howe. In the back row are Linda Howe, Laura Green, Anya Donaldson and Sue Simonson.
(BRAEMAR WOMEN’S INSTITUTE PHOTO)
Proposed changes to Perth County forestry conservation bylaw to be brought to lower tiers and public before approval
GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Amid rumours about how proposed updates to Perth County’s forestry conservation bylaw will affect farmers and the use of their land, county staff will soon be taking those changes on the road to educate lower-tier councils and staff, as well as the public, on the soon-to-be updated bylaw.
Representing the county’s agricultural working group – an advisory committee representing the interests of Perth County’s farming community, industry and commodity groups – deputy warden and working group chair Dean Trentowsky presented the updated bylaw to county council at its June 5 meeting.
“Council direction was given in March 2024 to review the existing forest conservation bylaw,” he said, noting the agricultural working group was tasked with reviewing the bylaw and comparing it with those of other nearby counties including Oxford, Huron, Wellington and Chatham-Kent.
“ … Having secured all the information and having had that April meeting with the recommendations, the ag. working group submits a report to council with proposed bylaw updates including clarified definitions for the existing forest conservation bylaw, the addition of a windbreak definition, amendments previously passed by council and a proposed committee exemption process.”
The committee exemption/appeal process, Trentowsky explained, is based on the process included in Oxford County’s forestry conservation bylaw. It allows applicants who have issued a notice of intent to injure or destroy trees in accordance
with the forestry bylaw who are not satisfied with the expert opinion of the county forestry inspector to appeal their decision and have it reviewed by the county’s land-division committee. A fee of $200 would be charged before the inspector’s decision is referred to the committee.
A number of terms within the bylaw have also been clarified or added through the proposed updates including Christmas tree plantation, cultivated fruit or nut orchard, windbreak and woodlot. According to Perth County forestry inspector and bylaw officer Marvin Smith, the definition for windbreak and woodlot has led to some concern among councillors and landowners in the county as their sizes relate to those set out in provincial legislation.
According to the proposed updates, a woodlot in Perth County is land at least 0.2 hectares in area and no greater than one hectare in area, with at least 200 trees of any size per 0.2 hectares; 150 trees measuring over five centimetres in diameter per 0.2 hectares; 100 trees measuring over 12 centimetres in diameter per 0.2 hectares; or 50 trees measuring over 20 centimetres in diameter per 0.2 hectares, but does not include a cultivated fruit or nut orchard, a windbreak or a plantation established for the purpose of producing Christmas trees or nursery stock.
A windbreak, meanwhile, is a linear treed area consisting of one to three rows of planted trees less than 0.2 hectares in size.
“Starting with the size of woodlands defined in The Municipal Act, there is not a conflict between the two,” Smith said. “The Municipal Act actually gives opportunity for a very restrictive definition for what can be protected as far as trees and
what can’t. … It distinguishes between which level of government has the authority to (enforce) the restriction. It sets out that the minimum size for an upper-tier municipality size limit is one hectare, but the size limit for lower-tier municipalities is not given as minimum. In other words, lower-tier municipalities could regulate individual trees.
“So, the way that the forest conservation bylaw in Perth County operates is, for decades, the minimum size was set at one half-acre or 0.2 hectares. When The Municipal Act became the provincial legislation that oversaw forest conservation bylaws in 2001, that’s when the change occurred for the County of Perth to continue with its same minimum size limit of one half-acre or 0.2 hectares. The county needed to get the delegation of authority from the lower-tier municipalities to allow it to do that, and that process is set out in The Municipal Act. The bottom line is there’s no conflict with how The Municipal Act does it, it’s just a change in what the process is.”
While Smith noted there is very little the county can change in the updated forestry conservation bylaw, county councillors said they’ve continued to received questions and concerns from residents about what they can and can’t do when it comes to removing or injuring trees on their properties and how the proposed changes to the bylaw might impact that.
Expanding on a public communications plan for the bylaw update proposed by the agricultural working group, council ultimately voted to have staff present the bylaw changes to Perth County’s lower-tier municipal councils and staff, and the general public at an open house or public
meeting, to provide information and education on the changes before county council considers approval.
“(The lower tiers) can make recommendations … for something they want in (the bylaw) or something they want taken out; is that not the idea of going to lower tiers if more recommendations come forward?” Coun. Rhonda Ehgoetz asked.
“Going to the lower tiers, as I understand it, is part of the educational aspect,” Smith said. “There are many things in the bylaw that can’t be touched because they’re set out in The Municipal Act. One is the one you’d mentioned earlier about the authority of municipal governments to do certain things when private landowners can’t. … You can’t take that out. There’s a whole string of things there. The wording in the forest conservation bylaw was not dependent on a group of people at some time in the past set out by the County of Perth to come up with. There’s a lot of it that’s word for word what’s in The Municipal Act, and so there are limits there as to what you can change.
“Certainly, I think the county, in going to the lower-tier municipalities, is quite open to any feedback. I think part of it is an educational aspect as to why certain things are set out the way they are. … Obviously, there’s a need for that kind of education. … There’s a lot of rumour and what I call rural myths that go on about forest conservation bylaws.”
Perth County staff will work to set out a schedule for lower-tier presentations and public meetings or open houses, which the public and the local farming community will be made aware of.
Pictured is a contented herd of purebred Holstein dairy cows west of Wellesley, but still in Perth County. Herds that produce organic milk must be let out to pasture in favourable weather, as is the case with this herd. It still brings back
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Shakespeare Optimist Club hosts Family Fishing Day
The Optimist Club of Shakespeare held its annual Family Fishing Day this past Sunday at the farm of Murray and Charlotte McTavish.
The McTavish’s have been hosting the event for over 20 years.
With perfect weather and a pond
well-stocked with bass and perch, there was plenty of action as participants reeled in fish throughout the morning, releasing them back into the water ready to be caught again next year. For those not interested in fishing, there was still plenty of fun things to do. Kids explored the shoreline, collecting snails and tadpoles and even discovering a few painted turtles.
With a great turnout of around 50
children and nearly 100 people in total, the atmosphere was friendly and laidback. Running from 9 a.m. to noon, the event wrapped up with a hot dog barbecue lunch served by Optimist Club members.
Hailey Jackson reeled in a 13 and threeeighths-inch bass, earning $20 and bragging rights for the biggest catch of the day. All participants had a chance to win prizes, including gift certificates from
local favourites like Moo’s Ice Cream and the Shakespeare Community Athletic Association (SCAA) Booth.
The Family Fishing Day, hosted by the Optimist Club of Shakespeare, offered a fun-filled morning for all who participated. The event provided a great opportunity for families to enjoy the outdoors, connect with nature and spend quality time together.
Lincoln Matthews, five, of Tavistock, and Mark Rizzi of Shakespeare cast their line into the McTavish Pond. Lincoln proudly reeled in his very first fish at the Family Fun Day!
DIANE DANEN Gazette Correspondent
(DIANE DANEN PHOTOS)
Hailey Jackson, eight, presents her 13 and three-eighths-inch, prize-winning fish to Optimist Club member Frank Meconi as her dad, William Jackson, looks on.
Jaxon Trachsel, five, Mark Trachsel and Rilynn Basisto, six, proudly show off their first catch of the day!
Javi Graham, three, shows off her fish before releasing it back into the pond.
Optimist Bike Rodeo a resounding success at Tavistock Public School
Anyone who noticed an unusually large number of young cyclists heading to
Tavistock Public School on Friday wasn’t imagining things. Students brought their bikes to school to take part in the Tavistock Optimist Club’s annual Bike Rodeo.
Optimist members kicked things off
with a brief safety talk covering everything from working warning bells and proper hand signals to tire-pressure checks and helmet fitting.
Students then put their skills to the test
on a chalk-marked course next to the school, complete with stop signs and rail crossings, designed to help them become more confident and safer riders.
More than 100 bikes were parked beside Tavistock Public School on Friday as students waited for their turn on the Optimist Bike Rodeo course.
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
(GARY WEST PHOTOS)
Optimist members Kris Zehr and Mitch McKay explain safety tips to a lineup of eager young riders.
Students line up for their turn on the safety course, guided by Optimist members John Markle, Bruce Swartzentruber, Dan Brenneman and Denise van Griensvan.
Tavistock moms lend a helping hand to young bike riders. From left, Hallie with mom Tori Wagler; Willa Boer and brother Sutton (in red); and Lella Gribble with mom Shannon. They said the day was a great learning experience and thanked the Tavistock Optimist Club for organizing it.
Wellesley council narrowly approves exemption to microchipping requirement for seven existing dog kennels
GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Seven existing dog kennels in Wellesley Township where operators use tattooing as a form of identification are now exempt from a new requirement in the township’s recently amended dog and kennel bylaw that would have them microchip all dogs and puppies instead of tattooing them.
After hearing from two local kennel owners who requested exemptions to the microchipping requirement on religious grounds at council’s May 13 meeting, telling council they and other owners from Amish-Mennonite communities are not comfortable using the microchipping and scanning technologies, Coun. Claude Hergott introduced a motion at council’s June 10 meeting exempting all seven of the township’s 23 active kennels currently using tattooing as a form of identification from the bylaw’s microchipping requirement.
“The two breeders that contacted me said they both had $100,000 or more invested in their kennels and they’ve invested that money on the assumption of the previous identification (requirements in the) bylaw,” Hergott said. “They’re asking for an exemption from the microchipping. They’re still willing to follow the previous 2022 bylaw. This motion would only affect the current kennels, and any new
kennels would have to comply with the 2024 bylaw.”
“I completely agree that microchipping is a good thing and beneficial to animals; I don’t believe it’s our business,” Coun. Derek Brick added. “ … I fully support microchips and their benefits; I just advocate for the Ontario government or somewhere overreaching to push for it. Having owned cattle and sheep and pigs, all the mandates (for radio-frequency identification tagging) come from the Ontario and federal governments, and they’re great programs and they’re well run, and they’re used by all the people in our township, so that’s where I think it should be run.”
Mayor Joe Nowak, who voted in favour of the exemptions with Hergott and Brick, suggested the onus for microchipping shouldn’t be on kennels but on the people adopting dogs or puppies. He made that point during presentations earlier in the meeting by two delegates who spoke of the benefits of kennels being required to microchip their dogs before they are sold.
“(Microchipping is) safe, it’s easy, it’s inexpensive and they can’t be lost unlike a collar because they can be scanned, looked up online and then we look up the information for the owner of the pet,” veterinarian Dr. Alison Rideout told council, adding microchips are much more ethical than tattooing as they require just one
injection by way of needle, while tattooing is accomplished using multiple needles to inject ink under the skin. “If I find a dog with a tattoo, that means nothing for me. There’s no way for me to look up what that tattoo means or where that animal may have come from.”
“Microchipped dogs are two-and-a-half times more likely to be returned to their owners,” added Kathryn Ladano, senior development officer for the Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford-Perth. “ … Unidentified pets can cause significant strain on us – on our organization, but also on all animal shelters and on our municipal animal-control workers as well. Microchipped pets are typically reunited within hours of being found.”
Ladano also told council microchipping reduces the instances of pets roaming, which can pose public safety hazards through biting incidents or by causing traffic collisions, they can verify vaccination status and medical histories, and they deter abuse, abandonment, neglect and theft of animals by connecting them back to their owners. She said requiring kennels to microchip their dogs and puppies ensure those animals can be returned to their owners if lost and doesn’t leave it up to their new owners, who are not required to microchip their pets or may wait weeks or
months to do so.
Councillors Shelley Wagner and Lori Sebben, who voted against the bylaw exemption, said that while they respect all religions and associated freedoms, there is some hypocrisy in that local Amish or Mennonite bishops can grant permission for followers of those faiths to use certain technologies that also contain microchips, like skid steers or radio-frequency ear tags on livestock, but they won’t permit the use of microchips in dogs and puppies.
Wagner also expressed concern for the breeding dogs, which she said are often only kept by a kennel until they are five or six years old. After that, she said there is no way for local bylaw officers, the Humane Society or the kennels to track them because they are not microchipped, and she is concerned many of those breeding pairs are being abandoned based on calls she has received from constituents in her ward.
She also noted dog-rescue operators are starting to turn away former kennel-breeding dogs as they believe kennel owners should have a plan for what to do with those dogs after they’re no longer useful for breeding.
Hergott, meanwhile, said he was under the assumption breeding dogs were adopted out between the ages of five and six.
A special birthday for a special lady in Tavistock
For Marjorie Wisby, who recently turned 93, every day is a good day — especially when one is still as healthy and vibrant as she is.
Wisby celebrated her birthday on Sunday at Grace United Church in Tavistock where the congregation and well-wishers gathered to mark the occasion. Amidst balloons and pageantry, Wisby cut the first
slice of cake in the church auditorium, sharing smiles and laughter with friends and family.
As church members ensured no birthday cake would be complete without ice cream on a warm day, Wisby expressed
her thanks for the wonderful celebration. She noted she still feels as young as ever, a sentiment echoed by those around her who remarked on how young she still looks.
Marjorie Wisby cuts the first piece of cake to celebrate her 93rd birthday on Sunday at Grace United Church.
Marjorie Wisby (in pink) enjoys a piece of birthday cake with Grace Church friends Mary-Ann Klein and Jean Lowe.
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
(CAROL YOUNG PHOTO)
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
Open House and free barbecue celebrate four new businesses in Tavistock
Tavistock was bustling on Saturday as residents enjoyed garage sales, Optimist activities, the World Crokinole Championship and a free barbecue on Woodstock Street North.
The four businesses now calling the former Francis Furniture building home — Breaking Element Dance Company, Built Fitness, Crescent Ridge Services and Stonecrest Engineering Inc. — welcomed visitors for a grand opening and open house. Many commented on how impressed they were with the transformed space and the thriving local businesses.
Guests were pleased to see Bruce Bechtold, founder of Crescent Ridge Services, on hand to wish the business well. Wayne Blenkhorn, who founded Stonecrest Engineering in 1995, and his son, Gary, were also in attendance to greet farm and construction owners at the new location.
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Stonecrest’s Nick Hendry and founder Wayne Blenkhorn get ready to cut the Stonecrest cake — baked by Ritsma Bakery — at the official opening on Saturday. Partners Nick Hendry and Bram Van den Heuvel plan to continue Stonecrest’s trusted engineering legacy.
Wayne Blenkhorn, Stonecrest founder, and son Gary Blenkhorn greet visitors at the grand opening in the newly renovated Francis Furniture building on Woodstock Street North.
A team of grill masters served free hot dogs and drinks to guests at the open house, raising $1,000 in freewill donations for the local Tavistock Assistance Program. From left are Annabelle Hendry, Tara McIntosh, Myra Hendry, Mason Trussell, Cameron Zurell, Joseph Olmez, William Welsh, Brenda Holst and Carol Patterson.
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
(GARY WEST PHOTOS)
Shakespeare Presbyterian Church hosts Strings, Pipes and Chords concert
June marked the first anniversary of the pipe organ’s arrival at Shakespeare Presbyterian Church, and to celebrate, the congregation hosted a community concert called Strings, Pipes and Chords.
Organist Paul Hyatt delivered an impressive performance on the pipe organ, affirming the congregation’s decision to bring the instrument to Shakespeare Presbyterian Church.
The vocal quartet, Imagine That, made up of longtime friends, brought high energy to the stage with a set of familiar songs
that had the audience singing along.
The Huron Harp School filled the sanctuary with the beautiful sound of 11 harps playing together. Hyatt joined the ensemble for an Irish folk tune, a rare and well-received blend of harp and organ music. Elysha Vorstenbosch shared her talent with a beautifully performed harp solo.
The event wrapped up with time for conversation as audience members spoke with performers and took a closer look at the instruments. Refreshments and fellowship were enjoyed in the church hall. The concert was a memorable evening marking the organ’s first year in its new home in Shakespeare.
Young Tavistock girl reads scripture at Grace United Church
At just seven years old, Blakely Griffi stood confidently at the pulpit of Tavistock’s Grace United Church on Pentecost Sunday, reading scripture aloud and clear for the congregation. With her mother, grandmother and great-grandfather watching proudly from the pews, Blakely’s courage and determination were an inspiration to everyone present. After the service, the church community gathered for a social where Blakely was met with congratulatory comments and smiles of admiration. The event was part of a service celebrating the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada. Rev. Marilyn Arthur shared the church’s message of “Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship and Daring Justice,” echoing the spirit Blakely embodied so well.
Organist Paul Hyatt welcomes performers and guests to the Strings, Pipes and Chords concert.
The Huron Harp School joins Paul Hyatt on the organ to perform an Irish folk song.
DIANE DANEN Gazette Correspondent
(DIANE DANEN PHOTOS)
Members of the quartet, Imagine That, perform to a full house at Shakespeare Presbyterian Church.
Seven-year-old Blakely Griffi reads scripture at Tavistock’s Grace United Church during Sunday’s Pentecost service, watched proudly by Rev. Marilyn Arthur and the church choir in the background.
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
Quiz
By Jake Grant
1. Who won the 2025 RBC Canadian Open?
2. What is the population of Canada?
3. How do butterflies taste their food?
4. How many ounces are in a cup?
5. Which US president delivered the Gettysburg Address?
6. What gives plants their green color?
7. What is the title of the final Harry Potter book in the series?
8. What type of bean is used for making miso?
9. What is the mascot of the Walt Disney company?
10. What is Spain’s busiest cruise port? Answers found on the classified page
The Old Gazettes
By Sydney Grant
Slowly but surely, I’m reading through the past pages of the Tavistock Gazette (est. 1895). Within this weekly column I’d like to share with you some of my findings.
June 10-17, 2020, Edition (5 years ago)
June 17th Issue is the first printed edition since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared on March 11th - where with many businesses and all events shut down we made the decision to carry on with publishing but only with the online version.
Once again, due to the restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Tavistock Community Garage Sales were cancelled and the 21st Annual World Crokinole Championships was also postponed until 2021. To continue with their fundraising opportunities and in place of the Garage Sale, Grace United Church accepted donations from those who would ordinarily attend their garage sale as well as accepting regular donations to the church. In addition, for residents who are in need of masks while they are out in the community and where physical and social distancing is a challenge, the church was offering custom-made masks by donation.
How many hymns have you heard played in three-part harmony on trombones? Probably not many unless you are a resident or staff member at peopleCare retirement and nursing home in Tavistock. Almost every Sunday morning since March 29th, 2020, peopleCare Chaplain and Pastor Will Kramer and at least one of his three children stop by the home to serenade residents and staff by playing their trombones. “The first week we were wearing gloves, hats, and winter coats,” he said. Like so many Sundays over the past 12 weeks, Pastor Will, his son, Cameron, and daughter Olivia, found a place to stand in the warm sun in the courtyard outside the home to play some familiar hymns.
June 9-16, 2010, Edition (15 years ago) 17-year-old Justin Slater made history Saturday night as the youngest player to win the World Crokinole Championship. He edged three-time World Champion Brian Cook in a third-round tie breaker on the last shot of the third game, recording five
TOWNSHIP OF EAST ZORRA-TAVISTOCK
GRACE UNITED CHURCH 116 Woodstock St. S., Tavistock Phone: 519-655-2151
All are welcome
Service led by Rev. Marilyn Arthur Music by Marilyne Nystrome
TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH SEBASTOPOL-TAVISTOCK
20’s for the win. Justin, who placed twenty-third overall in singles competition last year and third with his father, Fred, in last year’s doubles competition, has quickly advanced through the National Crokinole Association tour of tournaments this year. He was co-winner with Ray Beierling of Dorchester for the most points in the 20092010 season. Justin also won the St. Jacobs and Hamilton tournaments.
Staff at Tim Hortons Tavistock had a successful Camp Day last Wednesday, June 2nd with all coffee sales going to camps for kids. Tavistock’s coffee sales reached $3,200 while games and donation proceeds totalled $680. Emily Lockwood guessed closest to the correct number of candies in a jar. Morning employees are Nicole Pye Kirkpatrick, Cathy Mohr, Manager Cheri Sywyk, Terri Reid, Jane Panneton, and baker Anne O’Driscoll.
What does it take to put on a play, the likes of The Lion King? Ask any student at Hickson Central School, teachers, and parents and you’ll get the same answer - “a lot of hard work.” A cast of nearly 30 students saw the rewards of their work last week as they put their hearts and talents into the production. Three shows were enjoyed by the hundreds attending, one on Wednesday afternoon and one each Thursday and Friday night. Director and producer John Kozak praised the troupe for their dedication and wonderful work during a long rehearsal process. “From week to week this group kept trying and would suddenly make gigantic steps and amaze us.”
June 7-14, 1995, Edition (30 years ago)
About one hundred and eighty residents of the three Tavistock nursing homes, friends and staff, along with Miss Francis’ Grade 1 class of Tavistock Public School participated in the annual Pushathon for Alzheimer Awareness last Wednesday, June 7th. The parade of supporters left the peopleCare Centre, met up with Maples residents on Woodstock Street and rolled to the centre of the village where they were met by Bonnie Brae participants. Those willing to make a second round of the block before returning to the peopleCare Centre for a barbecue dinner.
Pastor Steve Hoffard
Church Office 519-655-2372 trinitylcoffice@gmail.com www.trinitytavistock.com
TAVISTOCK MENNONITE
Pastor Julie Ellison White 131 Wettlaufer St., Tavistock 655-2581
Sunday Worship services begin at 9:45am, with coffee and fellowship to follow at 11am. All ages Junior Sunday School will follow after the service. All are Welcome Stream services online at www.tavistockmennonitechurch.ca
677044 16th Line Road, East Zorra Pastors Ray Martin & Mike Williamson www.ezmennonite.ca
Service audio recordings available at: https://ezmennonite.ca/worship/
WILMOT TOWNSHIP
ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH
Corner of Waterloo St and Byron St, New Hamburg Weekly Sunday services at 10:15 am. All are welcome. https://www.stgeorgesnewhamburg.com
St James Chapel of Ease 4339 Huron Rd Wilmot Township All are welcome.
Rev Margaret Walker; Office: 519-662-3450 sgacnewhamburg@gmail.com
St Agatha Mennonite Church 1967 Erb's Road St Agatha 519-634-8212
Pastor Jim Brown
Worship service 10am followed by coffee hour and sermon discussion.
All are welcome
The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette
SPORTS
Firebirds hand out the hardware
WILMOT-TAVISTOCK GAZETTE STAFF
thewtgazette@gmail.com
The New Hamburg Firebirds gathered recently for their annual awards banquet.
The organization celebrated another successful season, making the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) final four.
They captured their third Doherty Division Title in four seasons and second consecutive South Conference title.
Here is a list of the award winners:
• Regular Season MVP, Leading Scorer and 3-Stars Award - Owen Fischer
• Playoff MVP and Most
Tavistock Athletics
Sportsmanlike - Antonio Pasqualino
• Most Valuable Defenseman, Local Player of the Year - Matt Domm
• Rookie of the Year - Aydan Burns
• Most Improved Player - Jordan Jacobs
• Award of Merit - Jake Thompson
• Most Popular Player - Owen Bruder
U-19 women win gold in Cobourg
Tavistock continues to be home to many great fastball teams, and one opposing fan at a recent tournament noted how tough it is to play against the teams from the area.
One of those teams, the U-19 Tavistock Athletics, captured gold in the Provincial Women’s Softball Association of Ontario (PWSA) Tier II division in Cobourg on the weekend. Congratulations to the team and coaches for a great tournament!
• For the Love of the Game - Billie Jo Mark
• Most Important Person - Kaitlyn Kelly
• Executive of the Year - Rick Haffner and Katie Cook
Pictured right: U-19 Tavistock Athletics gold medal winners, in the front row from left to right, are Olivia Faulhafer, Alex Murphy, Grace Demeio and Lily Giesbrecht. In the middle row from left are Tori Burchatski, Morgan Yantzi, Josie Walker, Ella Riddick, Nicole Alexander, Isabelle Schmidt, Nyla Giesbrecht and Ava Glaab. Missing is Avery Faulhafer. Team coaches (not pictured) are Chris Faulhafer, Rob Faulhafer, Bill Riddick and Trevor Glaab.
(TREVOR GLAAB PHOTO)
Braves announce two major signings as rules on player movement change
LEE GRIFFI Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
If the last week is any indication, the Tavistock Braves will be a tough team to beat once the puck drops on the 2025-2026 Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) season.
Coming off a disappointing regular season, the Braves pushed the New Hamburg Firebirds to the brink in their first-round playoff series before bowing out in seven games. The Braves suffered from some inconsistency between the pipes last season, something the team hopes to reverse with the signing of Waterloo native Blake Richard.
“It shores up our goaltending here for the next couple of years. Bringing in a guy like Blake will be a huge addition for our club,” said Braves general manager Brent Lange.
Richard joins the Braves after spending parts of four seasons with the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s (GOJHL) Waterloo Siskins. In 50 games, he had a record of 29-11-0-4-4 with a 2.23 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. He also spent the 2023-2024 season with the Firebirds, posting a 1.66 goals against average in 23 games.
“Our goaltending last season was a bit
of a back-and-forth juggling match until the playoffs with one young goalie and a veteran goalie. Blake is our guy this season and is going to be great for us. It also helps that he lives with a couple of our returning players at school, so it will make the transition for him nice and smooth,”
Lange said.
The team has also signed offensive defenceman Ryan McKellar who spent the last four seasons with the Ayr Centennials of the GOJHL. The Kitchener native scored 114 points in 177 games, was named an Eastern Conference all-star last season and led the league in goals scored by a defenceman.
“Ryan is a great d-man who will help our back end and our powerplay. We’re excited to add a defenceman of his caliber to our club as we haven’t had an offensive guy like him since Thomas Haffner in 2019-2020,” Lange said. “
Returning along the blue line are Carson Bernhardt, Keaton Bartlett, Timothy Mervyn and Nate Brenneman.
“Our backend is already looking to be much stronger and stable than last season,” added Lange.
There could be many more signings by PJHL teams thanks to a significant change to player movement rules. As of June 1,
players from Junior A and Junior B were allowed to sign with PJHL teams without needing a release or permission from their current clubs. No compensation or transfer fees will be required between teams.
The rule change reflects a growing understanding that junior hockey players aren’t just athletes, they’re also students, employees and young adults making important life decisions.
“As players move through their late teens and early 20s, many begin to prioritize education, career opportunities, or staying closer to home. The PJHL recognizes this and now offers a more flexible, accessible path for players who still want to compete at a high level while balancing life outside of hockey,” said league commissioner Terry Whiteside.
He added the change gives players more control over their future.
“When hockey is no longer the only priority, the PJHL offers a competitive option that better fits their evolving goals.”
Lange said the window closes on Sept. 10, and adding players at no charge to the team is a game, but once the first game in the season starts, it ends.
“Those teams where a player was taken from for free, and if he was a good, impactful player for them at that time, they will
remember that. If you go asking around at Christmas time with them, you’re going to pay a higher premium to get a player, even if he is a depth piece. They won’t forget what happened in the summer months, so it can backfire as well.”
Lange said he has good relationships with Junior B general managers, and if he is interested in a player or two, he would reach out rather than go behind their backs.
“I will reach out to them first about it to see their plans with the team and players rather than go behind their backs. As a small market team like us in Tavistock, we could not afford to pay through the teeth for a player at Christmas time if we needed to bring in someone to help.”
The Braves held a skate last week and most of the team is set. Captain and Tavistock resident Marc Dionne will return up front as will assistant captain Carter Arseneau, Jacob Reid-Brant, Stephen Peppas, Blair Stokes and Nick Hambly.
“We have signed and committed to some new players such as Felix Isert-Bender and Hudson Gordan. There will be a few spots still open going into camp in August.”
Isert-Bender, a Plattsville native, played one season of junior hockey in Germany last season with SC Riessersee U20.
ISC’s third-ranked team playing pair of exhibition games in Tavistock
Event will raise funds for minor ball
LEE GRIFFI
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
One of the world’s top fastball teams is coming to Tavistock for a doubleheader.
The North East Drillers are ranked third in the International Softball Congress (ISC) rankings and feature players from around the globe, including the United States, Argentina, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. The team is based out of Richmond, Va. They will battle the Tavistock Merchants at 6:30 p.m. and Tavistock Hops at 8:30 p.m. on June 17 at Queen’s Park.
Dave Nahrgang is the president of Tavistock Minor Baseball and said the scheduling worked out well to host the Drillers.
“They have two tournaments in Ontario with a week off in between. Rather than go home, they’re trying to get a few exhibition games in and have chosen Tavistock because they know they can play some good teams and get a good crowd.”
Most players on the Drillers are considered the best in their respective countries and are regarded as some of the world’s top players.
“I hope Queen’s Park is full of young ballplayers that night to see some great fastball and to see the abundance of talent that Tavistock has produced. It’s amazing what Tavistock players have done and continue to do, and I hope young players can see what’s possible for them as well,” Nahrgang added.
Tavistock Minor Baseball is not holding the annual Cephas Roth Tournament this year, an event that was the organization’s top fundraiser. Nahrgang said the scheduling just didn’t work out.
“The World Cup of Softball is in Prince Albert, Sask., and is the exact same weekend we would have held the Cephas Roth. It’s not easy to try and host on another weekend as the ISC teams have a pretty solid summer schedule already booked. So, we had to make the decision to pause the tournament in 2025, but we’ll be back in 2026.”
Merchants head coach Kevin Zehr said he received a call from one of the Drillers coaches and everything was worked out from there.
“Doug Eidt, who is from Mitchell and is one of the coaches for the Drillers, reached out to me directly. We were in and the
Hops agreed to participate right away. It also worked out well for minor ball, who were looking to organize a fundraiser in place of the Cephas Roth Tournament this year,” Zehr said.
The games will feature some of the world’s top players facing off against some of Canada’s top players, as several Merchants and Hops players have represented Canada. Zehr said fans are in for a great evening of ball.
“This is top-tier fastpitch; some of the best players in the world are taking the field. Whether it’s Team Canada guys, ISC veterans, or future national team talent, this is the real deal. Fans can expect intense, fast-paced games. If you’ve never seen this level of fastball before, I think you will be surprised just how fast and competitive this level of ball really is. And for those who follow it regularly, you already know you’re in for a treat.”
Tavistock and Hickson have both been able to attract some of the world’s best ball players and teams over the years for tournaments and exhibition games. Last summer, the New Zealand national team battled the Merchants and Hops in a
doubleheader at Optimist Park.
“It’s a testament to the reputation our towns have built in the ball community over the years. Tavistock and Hickson both have deep roots in fastball. There’s a history here, and players and teams from across North America know that,” said Zehr. “When you combine that legacy with passionate organizers, great facilities and community support, it becomes a place people want to play. Plus, players talk. When word gets out that an event is wellrun and the crowds are into it, it doesn’t matter how small the town is. They want to be part of it.”
Zehr added he wanted to send a big thank-you out to the volunteers, sponsors and fans who make events like this possible.
“It’s a huge lift to organize and none of it works without community support. We’re excited to put on a great show and we hope everyone comes out to enjoy some worldclass ball right in our own backyard.”
Admission to the games is $5, but any Tavistock Minor Baseball players can see the games free of charge. There will also be a charity barbeque and refreshments.
Shakespeare Falcons U17 girls capture Barrie Bash title
GARY WEST
Gazette Correspondent
The Shakespeare Falcons U17 tier II girls fastball team delivered an impressive performance this past weekend, emerging as champions at the Barrie Bash tournament.
Coaches praised the squad for their grit, determination, growth and team chemistry across eight games.
The Falcons faced a tough start on Friday, falling 7-1 to the hometown Barrie Storm. But they bounced back in commanding fashion, defeating the Alvinston Riverhawks 13-2 to end the day.
Saturday’s pool play saw the Falcons take a 6-5 win over the Mississauga Lady Jays, suffer a hard-fought 9-5 loss to the Barrie Storm and finish strong with a 10-3 victory over the Halton Hawks. In the playoff opener, the Falcons once again faced the Riverhawks. After giving up two early runs, the team responded
with a seven-run rally in the first inning and sealed the game with a mercy in the fifth.
The semifinal match-up against Barrie’s 2009 team was a back-andforth battle. The Falcons emerged with an 11-6 win, punching their ticket to the championship game.
The final was a tense affair from start to finish. The Falcons jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first, but Barrie countered with five runs in the bottom half. Tied 5-5 after four innings, Shakespeare surged ahead with four more runs in the fifth. Barrie answered, knotting the game at 9-9 heading into the seventh inning.
With the pressure on, a lead-off walk and stolen base set the table for the Falcons. A clutch line drive to centre brought in the go-ahead run, followed by a single that threatened again before a double play ended the rally. The Falcons held firm defensively, sealing the championship with a pop-up to first base for the final out.
The Shakespeare Falcons U17 team celebrates their Barrie Bash championship victory. Pictured in the front row from left are Kalia McLaren, Ava Harmer, Olivia Parsons, Annalise Glaab, Taya McLaren and Adele Helson. In the back row from left are Matt McLaren, Andrew Medhurst, Kennedy Vail, Sierrah Babcock, Eden Fraser, Cam Medhurst, Deanna Halls, Bree Weber, Taylor Pletsch and Randy Halls.
(ROSLYN MCLAREN PHOTO)
Shakespeare’s U-13 Falcons impress at Innerkip fastball tournament
The Shakespeare U-13 Falcon boys made their mark on the diamond this past weekend in Innerkip, winning three exciting round-robin games before narrowly losing in the final.
They opened the tournament with a 12-8 win over Ayr. Blaine Follings pitched the victory while Jaxon Fisher-Nagtzaam collected two hits to power the offence. In their second game, the Falcons edged Embro 11-10 in a close contest. Elliott Peters earned the win on the mound and added a grand slam to his impressive day at the plate.
The third game saw Shakespeare handle Cambridge 12-5. Blake Wilhelm pitched the win while Nash Wynette contributed two hits in the victory. Their strong play earned them a spot in the final against Chesley, where they fought hard but came up short in a 5-2 loss. Keegan Hodgson pitched three shutout innings and Garrett Bell and Dakota Maue each knocked in a run.
“The boys keep improving every game,” said coach Fred Follings. “All the coaches were very proud of the way they played their hearts out, and we’re already looking forward to the next tournament.”
SHOW US YOUR WILMOT
A vibrant, smart, and endlessly entertaining large-breed pup who’s been patiently waiting over 200 days for her forever home. This highenergy girl is full of promise and looking for an experienced, active adopter who understands working or guardian breeds.
Oakley loves long walks, and cuddling on the couch after a busy day. She’s still mastering her manners, but with structure, training, and enrichment, she’ll shine.
Come meet Oakley at the Humane Society’s Adoption Event June 14 & 15! She just might be the adventure buddy you’ve been waiting for.
The U13 Shakespeare Falcons include (back row, from left) coaches Fred Follings, Kyle Wynette, Dan Brenneman and Matt Hodgson (absent: Danielle Wilhelm, Sheila Bell, Casey Nagtzaam). Middle row (from left): Nash Wynette, Isaac Brenneman, Elliott Peters, Jaxon Fisher-Nagtzaam, Keagan Hodgson, Silas Dronfield, Blaine Follings, Garrett Bell and Keegan Brighton. Front row (from left): Dakota Maue, Miller Follings and Riley Witzel (absent: Blake Wilhelm).
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Rebecca Lynn March shared this delightful duck duo in the Show Us Your Wilmot group — first posing sweetly, then going “bottoms up” for a snack!
My kids are very active in the summer and dehydration scares me. Should I give them sports drinks?
HEAPS OF HEALTHY TIPS
By Mercedes Kay Gold
Hot and humid days increase the risk for dehydration, and the popular water-replenishing goto is not water but rather a long list of bougie aquas and cans or single-serving powders backed by superstar past-and-present professional athletes. They are unfortunately marketed as scientifically formulated products designed to replenish the body rapidly. They come in a rainbow of different colors and fabulous flavours but the bulk sold are essentially a rainbow of risks. Firstly, artificial colourings are associated with heaps of health concerns, and without being overly dramatic, deadly. The snazzy, eye-catching drinks are made with petroleum-oilbased chemicals. There are seven food dyes posing potentially harmful effects according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) including Blue Dye No.1, Blue Dye No.2, Green Dye No.3, Red Dye No.3, Red Dye No.40,
Yellow Dye No.5 and Yellow Dye No.6. Dyes are linked to behavioural and developmental risks in children. Many countries have already restricted or banned these chemicals but the United States and Canada is slow to the game.
Purchasing Canadian made products? Keep an eye out for Allura Red, Sunset Yellow, Fast Green FCF, Tartrazine and Brillant Blue FCF. Food dye may cause inattentiveness, impaired memory and restlessness in kids. Some studies have shown an association between food colouring and ADHD. Red Dye No.3 caused cancer in rats. Why are we giving this to the ones we love and ourselves?
Limiting sugar is essential. Most sports drinks contain as much sugar as soda pop. Type-2 diabetes, once occurring in adults only, is quickly increasing in teens and children, the highest risk being found in Canadian children
from ethnic groups. Sugar also leads to tooth decay. Children of any age should not be consuming processed or raw organic sugar whether honey, agave or maple syrup in excessive amounts. Skip the sugar-free drink alternatives. They contain an array of additives such as citric acid, maltodextrin, better known as MSG, silicon dioxide and modified tapioca starch for starters. The drinks and powders both contain zero fruit juice. The calorie-wise version, aka sugarfree and low carbohydrates, contains sucralose. These drinks are simply filled with fake flavours. The sodium is questionable. If sea salt was used, this certified holistic nutritionist is confident companies would be bragging.
Yes, kids like fitting in, but teaching the value of nutrition in the formative years lays the foundation for a fit and fabulous future. The whole purpose of replacement drinks is to replenish potassium, magnesium and sodium after a sweat session. There’s no need to shop conventional. Mother Nature is capable of nourishing every cell with a bounty of fabulous fresh fruit and slews of specialty salt. There are endless options, so serve sample sizes and simply find a winner to swap out sport drinks! Choose your favorite fruit
as a base. How about watermelon, kiwi or pineapple plus a dash of lime or lemon juice, unsweetened coconut water, filtered water and salt? Choose from Himalayan pink, Celtic or Redmond salt to round out the trio needed to compile essential electrolytes.
Essential electrolytes
1 ½ cups unsweetened coconut water
½ cup of your favourite fruit, juiced
2 tablespoons of fresh lime or
lemon juice
1 tablespoon unpasteurized honey by Riverside Bee Yard
½ teaspoon salt
Combine and stir until the salt dissolves.
Keep cold and serve.
For an adult pre-workout, I love using half coconut water and half cold-brewed green tea for the caffeinated jolt to kickstart my workout!
Have a fun-tastic fitness summer!
(VECTEEZY PHOTOS) Skip the rainbow of risky sports drinks—refresh naturally with real fruit, filtered water, and a pinch of mineral-rich salt.
Stepping back in time on the last Edwardian passenger liner
OH, THE PLACES WE'LL GO
By Paul Knowles
There is no question the most important event in the 50-year history of Kingston’s Great Lakes Museum happened just last year. That’s when the first visitors were able to board the luxury Great Lakes steam liner, the S.S. Keewatin, for a tour of this unique vessel.
Visits to the museum almost quadrupled last year compared to the previous season, and with the museum – and the Keewatin – now open for this 2025 season, those numbers will probably grow even more.
The Great Lakes Museum itself, located in historic buildings in the Kingston Dry Dock National Historic Site, was founded in 1975 by a group of local divers. The waters of the St. Lawrence River around Kingston are home to dozens of shipwrecks and the divers created a space to display finds they had brought home from their dives.
The Kingston shipyards, once a bustling place of business, had closed down in 1968 and the historic buildings – from the 19th century and the periods of World War I and World War II – were sitting empty. So, the Government of Canada agreed to lease the property to the founders of the new museum for $1 a year. The attraction now known as the Great Lakes Museum was born.
Manager and curator Doug Cowie told me the location was ideal and things progressed well for a number of years. Kingston had been an important port, both for dry dock repairs and for shipbuilding.
“They built 12 corvettes here in World War II,” Cowie explained. But it all came close to ending in 2016. The Canadian government decided to sell the facility. A developer bought the property; the Museum’s holdings were moved into storage, though a small, storefront facility continued to operate.
Cowie admits those were bleak years, but the development proposal faltered and a benefactor bought the property in 2019 and donated it to the museum. They now have a permanent home right back where they started, and it
gets better every year thanks to a team of volunteer engineers who are continually rehabilitating the mechanisms that date back to the 19th century.
And then came the best news of all. The owners of the last remaining Edwardian passenger liner in the world agreed to give her to the Great Lakes Museum. The dock area was enlarged to hold the 300-passenger vessel.
This is a special ship – the only one of her kind left in the world – and she is remarkably well preserved because she spent her life in fresh water.
Today, visitors to the museum can take any of several tours offered aboard the Keewatin. To board the ship is to step back in time, and the museum staff and volunteers have gone full out to enhance that experience. A sign in the Museum acknowledges 102,473 volunteer hours contributed since Keewatin’s arrival in Kingston.
The Keewatin was built in Glasgow, Scotland, and arrived in its Canadian home – Port McNicoll on Georgian Bay – in 1907. It was owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway and passengers who made the two-and-a-half-day voyage to Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) typically came by train from Toronto, and continued by train to points west of the Great Lakes.
But for their two-and-a-half days aboard the Keewatin, they were assured of first-class travel.
I was guided around the Keewatin by collection and programs coordinator Daniel Rose. Rose had some fun with the idea of “first class,” admitting every stateroom was, indeed, first class, but there were “firster class” staterooms and six “firstest class” rooms, which cost twice the price but included that very rare amenity, a private bathroom.
The Keewatin has four decks, two for cargo and two for passengers. Today, many of the staterooms on both decks are fully furnished and authentically decorated to match the periods in which the Keewatin sailed.
And that timeframe saw huge changes in Canadian society; her last passenger voyage was in 1965. She continued to carry
cargo for two years and then was to be sold for scrap, but was saved from demolition by an American entrepreneur who opened a museum in Michigan. The ship eventually came back to her home port, Port McNicoll, in 2012. Her voyages finally reached their end when the Keewatin arrived in Kingston in late 2023.
The ship indeed has all the accoutrements of a luxury liner. From the dining room, where guests dressed for dinner, to the bell service that brought eager young boys to answer guests’ every need, to the ladies’ lounge, to the grand piano in mid-ship, it is all here.
The museum offers three ways to visit the ship from the Engine Room Experience (Adults are $25, less for kids and seniors) to the Essential Experience (Adults are $31.50) to the Passenger Premium Experience (Adults are $41.50). Those prices also include admission to the museum with its galleries, mechanical rooms and a gallery dedicated to the Keewatin, especially good for visitors for whom the not-all-accessible ship tour could be a challenge.
For more information about the Great Lakes Museum and its unique and spectacular ship, visit greatlakesmuseum.ca.
Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and past president of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@ golden.net.
The last remaining Edwardian passenger liner in the world, now receiving visitors in Kingston.
(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS)
Great Lakes Museum’s Daniel Rose leading a tour of the Keewatin.
The piano lounge in mid-ship.
The luxurious dining room features chairs bolted to the floor to keep diners in place in high seas.
A furnished and decorate stateroom; the bunkbeds are behind the fur coat.
Are we the problem?!
CLIMATE CORNER
By Ashley Ropp Nith Valley EcoBoosters
How many times have you heard the phrase, ‘It’s human nature to be selfish?’ Let me guess; too many times to count.
With this narrative, we don’t need to question who’s to blame for the climate crisis. We’ve accepted that it’s human nature to be selfish, and that we’re all hurtling towards disaster because we all just can’t stop being so selfish. What if I told you that this is untrue, and that the truth of who’s to blame may be more complicated?
Claiming that all of humanity is equally selfish, and therefore equally responsible, is not only misplaced blame, but also just plain wrong. Look at the commitment that activists and advocates put into this cause; how can we claim that people just don’t care enough? Clearly, we care a lot! Many people care enough to sacrifice convenience through actions such as participating in boycotts, or avoiding single-use plastic. Many people care enough to invest valuable personal resources such as spending money to make their home more energy efficient or taking their time to go to a protest.
Many people even care enough to put their lives on the line! We saw this at the Standing Rock Protests. The Standing Rock Protests were started by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota to oppose and halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protested on the grounds that the pipeline would threaten their water supply, threaten sacred lands (such as burial grounds) and, as all pipelines do, cause major environmental harm.
The most notable aspect of the campaign was the Sacred Stone protest camp. Many people lived at this camp for months, with supporters from all over the U.S. joining. The activists and supporters faced great plights; there were attempts by the state of North Dakota to remove their drinking water supply and sabotage other necessities. On multiple different occasions, they faced extreme police and military violence simply for protecting the land. This violence included
security dogs attacking, rubber bullets, pepper spray and direct physical assault. The odds were not in these activists’ favour, and the odds continue to be stacked against many other activists to this day.
Obviously, we care very much, but when faced with so many threats, people often have to choose between standing up for the environment, or losing their jobs, their safety and sometimes their lives. We also are left with very little – if any – time and energy to act. Due to the cost of living, we are made to either work outrageous hours or sacrifice financial stability and safety. When we are put in a situation where we cannot adequately act because of violent opposition and coercive means, lack of action is not due to selfishness.
Even more, we, everyday people, didn’t cause this in the first place! While large percentages of emissions do come from the culmination of household energy use, transportation and other sectors that we participate in, we did not choose this system.
For example, I drive a gas car, which contributes emissions, but what other choice do I have? Like many people, I can’t afford an EV (and as I’ve mentioned before, EVs come with their own issues). Infrastructure all around the world is built for driving, not for walking, not for biking and not for accessible public transit. I vote, I make my voice heard, I walk when I can and guess what? We still live in a car-centric society. That is not the fault of average citizens; rather, it’s the fault of our systems, our infrastructure and the people that perpetuate it. Not only are these emissions not our choice, but many are not even our actions! I have no say and no part in fracking, industrial projects, pipelines and military violence. That last one may seem out of place, but don’t worry, a full article on that will be coming. In short, military violence is severely under-looked as a contributor to climate change. Unsurprisingly, bombs and missiles create tonnes of emissions.
To summarize, our govern-
ments and large corporations shape the societies and economies that lead us to be dependent on fossil fuels. We also have evidence, such as Standing Rock, that shows lack of adequate action is not from selfishness, but rather because we are put in positions where action is incredibly difficult or potentially dangerous. So, no, people who drive to the grocery store instead of walking are not the ones to blame. It’s our economic and societal systems that cause dependency on fossil fuels, and the people with the power to reinforce these systems. We need to challenge the belief that all humans are evil, or that any individual is to blame. In my next article, I’ll talk about why – despite all this – individual actions still matter, and how to make these actions effective.
Climate Corner represents Nith Valley EcoBoosters, an environmental advocacy group in Wilmot and Wellesley Townships. To learn more about
us, or read my previous articles, visit nvecoboosters.com. If you have any feedback, questions,
or suggestions for future articles, feel free to email me at ashleyropp7@proton.me.
SHOW YOUR CANADIAN PRIDE ON US
(VECTEEZY PHOTOS)
Keeping comestibles cold
VINTAGE VIEWS
By Tim Mosher Tavistock and District Historical Society
This photo answers last week’s History Mystery that was #12 in this series. The question was, “How did businesses and homeowners keep food and drink cold during hot weather, long before electric refrigeration became popular?” This question was open to anyone under the age of 22. No one forwarded the correct answer. The best response is: Mid-winter blocks of ice were sawed by hand from the frozen lakes, rivers and the like and stored year-round in ice houses insulated with straw or wood chips.
The ice was sold to homeowners who had an insulated ice box in which to place the block on top and their food and drinks below. Sawing ice was a labour-intensive business thriving in northern climes that quickly disappeared when electric refrigeration gained popularity in the mid-1920s and was widespread by the 1950s.
No doubt the oysters that were advertised for sale at the Vance Meat Market in Tavistock in last week’s Vintage Views article were shipped by train from the East Coast and kept cold with ice blocks harvested from the lakes of Atlantic Canada. The ice would have been replenished through Quebec or New England as it took a few days for the seafood to arrive locally.
This photo shows six local men using two-handed ice saws and large tongs to remove thick blocks of ice. A horse and cut-
ter would be nearby to slide the blocks onto a sled and then take them to an ice house insulated with natural materials to preserve the ice year-round. Sawing, lifting, loading and transporting the ice blocks was both backbreaking and dangerous. Some markets were lucrative enough to harvest the blocks until well past sundown when the labourers worked by lantern light.
Men who were employed during the summer on farms and had little income mid-winter were often hired to do this gruelling labour, though the season was short – typically January and February. Horses sometimes dragged an iron blade along pre-measured lines to score it or even cut it up to 25 centimetres (10 inches) deep and then the workmen would finish it.
This photo was taken in 1914 and was supplied to the Tavistock Gazette in 1981 by John Currah of Tavistock. It’s not known where this picture is today or who the photographer was. If you have a copy of this image, the Tavistock and District Historical Society would like to make an improved scan of it for our collection.
Think of the very first pioneers who arrived here decades before this in the 1830s and what they did to keep their foods cool and safe, and the scarcity of doctors and medical facilities. A hardy bunch who we have a lot to learn from.
This week’s History Mystery: Despite Tavistock not having a lake, natural large pond or river, what was the local body of water that froze and supplied the village and environs with ice? This question is open to all ages. Send your first and last name, community name or rural route number and your answer to tim_mosher@hotmail.com. Whoever sends the first correct answer will have this information published in the next edition.
Early refrigerators used blocks of ice to cool them year-round and were called ice boxes. No electricity was required but where did they get ice mid-summer? Usually from lakes mid-winter. Pictured here harvesting ice are, left to right, Henry Feick, Adam Falk, Henry Vogel, Henry Kaufman, George Herman and Charles Weitzel of Tavistock. Photographer Unknown; Picture courtesy of John Currah
Jennie Burns spotted this graceful guest enjoying a leafy snack at the Mike Schout Wet
lands Preserve — nature’s buffet is open!
Full moon names
BACKYARD ASTRONOMY
By Gary Boyle, The Backyard Astronomer
The moon is by far the most observed object in the sky. Whether spotted during the day when mostly fully illuminated or gazed upon at night, our natural satellite amazes us. For centuries, the moon has been portrayed in works of literature, paintings and songs. There are even ancient artifacts of a flat piece of animal bone with notches etched into it. The cave dweller at the time was recording the ever-changing lunar phases.
Because of its 29.5-day rotation around the earth from full phase to the next full phase, we see a slightly different face each night. This is the best time to examine the lunar terrain with a telescope as long shadows drape across the terminator – the dividing line between the lit and unlit side of the moon.
When the moon rises in the east at the same time the sun sets in the west, it appears perfectly round and is now 100 per cent illuminated. By the way, the dark band
rising in or near the moon is the Earth’s shadow. The full moon is the worst time to examine it with a telescope as the moon appears one-dimensional – a circle with smaller circles on it.
We do not just call it the full moon. Each month of the calendar year is assigned a name. The most common reference we have heard is the Hunter’s Moon in October but there are 11 others. Dating back hundreds of years, some early Native American tribes only used the four seasons as their calendar, while other tribes adopted a 12-month system of full moons reflecting the conditions of that time of year. The various names given for each month are still found in the Farmer’s Almanac. Notice the pattern of seasonal change from month to month:
• January – The Full Wolf Moon
• February – The Full Snow Moon
• March – The Full Worm
Moon
• April – The Full Pink Moon
• May – The Full Flower Moon
• June – The Full Strawberry Moon
• July – The Full Buck Moon
• • August – The Full Sturgeon Moon
• September – The Full Corn or Harvest Moon
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: An open letter about Strong Mayor Powers to Mayor Salonen and Wilmot council
I am writing to express my concern with the recent addition of Strong Mayor Powers to include Wilmot. I believe Strong Mayor Powers diminish municipal democracy and weaken the role of our elected members of council.
There are concerns I have with regards to Strong Mayor Powers, not limited to but most notably:
• Erosion of Democratic Checks and Balances
- Enabling Wilmot mayors to override council decisions undermines local democracy and the principles of shared governance.
• Risk of Corruption and Cronyism - In smaller townships like Wilmot, where oversight is limited, Strong Mayor Powers could lead to unchecked influence from developers and political allies.
• Marginalization of Council Voices - Council members may feel sidelined, reducing the diversity of perspectives in decision-making and potentially alienating constituents.
• Environmental and Planning Concerns –Mayoral ability to fast-track sprawl developments on farmland, or the ability to veto bylaws, raise concerns about long-term
planning and sustainability.
Municipal governance requires proper checks and balances, transparent processes, and inclusive decision making. I believe Strong Mayor Powers threaten these principals, particularly in smaller communities like Wilmot.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
As a community granted with Strong Mayor Powers, Mayor Salonen holds tools that can accelerate progress but also reshape how democracy functions in Wilmot.
I hope Mayor Salonen and future mayors of our township use these powers to lead boldly but thoughtfully; to continue to collaborate, not dictate; to build trust, not just buildings; to protect Wilmot’s long-term interests, balancing growth with sustainability, without undue influence from developers or special interests.
I will continue to keep a watchful eye as this unfolds, as I hope all Wilmot residents will do.
Thanks,
Rory Farnan, Wilmot Township
• October – The Full Hunter’s Moon
• November – The Full Beaver Moon
• December – The Full Cold Moon
There are times when there are two full moons in the same month. One appears on the first or second of the month with the assigned name while the second full moon is seen on the 30th or 31st. This is called the Blue Moon occurring about every thirty months or so.
Another term we hear in the news is a Super Moon. Coined by an astrologer back in 1979, it is the combination of the Full Moon and its closest approach to the Earth. The moon has an elliptical orbit with a 50,000-kilometre variance. During a Super Moon, it appears 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than when it is farthest from us.
The moon is tidally locked to the Earth so we only see one
side. So, the next time you look at the moon, you are looking at the exact same face as did your ancestors dating back hundreds of years.
Clear skies,
Known as The Backyard Astronomer, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and former monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as well as a certified STEM instructor. His articles have appeared in newspapers across Canada and he has been interviewed on more than 80 radio and television stations across Canada and the USA. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Facebook and his website: www. wondersofastronomy.com
(PHOTOS COURTESY OF GARY BOYLE)
The ever-changing face of the moon has fascinated humanity for centuries—each full moon with a name and a story.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
Scotiabank and Tavistock Community Health Inc. is hosting a charity barbeque 11:00 a.m.
Burgers, hotdogs, chips and drink. In support of the medical clinic Alley between the Scotiabank and the IDA pharmacy in Tavistock
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
Wilmot-Heritage Fire Brigade Open House and BBQ
Events runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Games for the kids and the whole family all day (Please note: there will be no breakfest) Bell Street in Baden, behind the fire hall
“Breakfast on the Farm”
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Farm and Food Care Ontario is inviting all area residents to come Hoenhorst Dairy Farm near Innerkip
SUNDAY, JUNE 15
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
ONLY 200 TICKETS AVAILABLE
Hickson Lions Club’s 10th Annual Brunch in the Park
Call Valerie 519-462-2786 or Heather 519-4622048 or contact any Lions Member Hickson Lions Park
Father’s Day Car Show (weather permitting) & Breakfast in the Park 8:30 am to Noon Petersburg Park,
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18
Community Dining for Seniors in Wilmot and Wellesley Townships
12:00 p.m.
Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Please register byJune 13 by calling 519-664-1900 or toll Free: 1-855-664-1900. Wilmot Rec Complex, 1291 Nafziger Rd, Baden East Zorra-Tavistock Council meeting
7:00 p.m.
Council chambers 89 Loveys Street East, Hickson
THURSDAY, JUNE 19
Fundraising Golf Tournament
Tavistock Community Health Inc. is hosting a fundraising golf tournament. All the money goes to the renovations at the Tavistock medical health building in Tavistock. Information is available at: info@tchi.ca River Valley golf club 4725 1 Line, St. Marys
The Optimist Club of Tavistock Annual Steak Stag
From 6:30 to 8:30 (rain or shine). Tickets are available from any Optimist member in Tavistock. In the Optimist Pavillion.
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
Food and History Walking Tour
12:30 p.m.
Presented by New Hamburg Board of Trade
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25
Community Dining for Seniors in Wilmot and Wellesley Townships
12:00 p.m.
TUESDAY, JULY 8
Wilmot Council meeting 6:45 p.m.
Council chambers
Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Please register byJune 20 by calling 519-664-1900 or toll Free:
1-855-664-1900.
Linwood Community Centre, 5279 Ament Line, Linwood
Wednesday Walk in Wilmot Wonderful Woods
We’ll stroll along a few streets in town to see dozens of different trees. If we’re lucky, we can enjoy the fragrance of the Little Leaf Linden flowers. Details/register at letstreewilmot. ca/ events
Downtown New Hamburg
MONDAY, JUNE 30
Food Trucks at Grace United Church. Tavistock
4:30 - 7:30
Wild Boar, Berlin95, Los Rolling Tacos, Moreish Ice Cream. Proceeds go to Agricultural Society
TUESDAY, JULY 1
Wilmot Canada Day
Indigenous Sunrise Ceremony starts at 7:00 a.m. Canada Day events at 1 p.m. with Opening Ceremonies
251 Jacob St, New Hamburg, ON SATURDAY, JULY 5
Deadline: Tuesday prior at 3 p.m.
Contact: thewtgazette@gmail.com
4805 William Hastings Line, Crosshill
THURSDAY, JULY 10
Bechthold Home Improvement Cancer BBQ
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
100% proceeds go to Childhood Cancer research
1239 Notre Dame Drive, Petersburg
THURSDAY, JULY 17
Pic-nic In the Park
For Seniors Activities Tavistock Entertainment : Dianne & Gary The Cavaliers, with Johnnie Givens on fiddle. Lunch : 12:00 to 1 pm from Tavi Chill Music & Dancing : 1.30 to 3.30 pm Bring lawn chair.
Call Don Junker details and tickets (519) 535-7072
Queens Park Pavilion
1 Adam St, Tavistock
FREE SENIORS ACTIVITIES
Tavistock Seniors Activities
Pickleball Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon, 12-4. Contact: Don Junker 519-535-7052
Cards Monday , Wednesday afternoon 1-4, euchre, crib (bring board), etc. Just drop in to play, good to bring someone . Contact: Bob
The Community Calendar allows non-profit organizations to promote their free
CLASSIFIED ADS —
CONDO FOR RENT
Available July 1
$1950/ month plus utilities.
This unit features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom Open concept ground floor unit. Perfect for retirement living! In-suit laundry 1 parking space
Garbage collection, snow and lawn maintenance included.
This unit is pet free and non- smoking. Book a showing call or text Byron 519-272-6600
FOR SALE
Antique Lighting and Lots of Antique Lighting parts. Very Reasonable 519-302-0588 New Hamburg
FOR SALE
Hundreds of shade trees, fruit trees, apples, pears, peaches, plums, sweet and sour cherries, apricots, nectarines, blueberries, haskapp grapes, raspberries, elderberries etc. Lots of spruce, pine, cedars for windbreak and privacy hedges. Sizes 1-8 ft. in containers ready to go. Flowering shrubs and much more. MonSat 7:00am to 6:00pm Martin’s Nursery, 42661 Orangehill Rd Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0 (1 Conc. North of Wroexter on Belmore Line)
PRAYER TO ST. JUDE
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us; St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us; St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer nine times a day, by the eighth day this prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. S.F.
WANTED
$ Cash Paid $ for your RECORDS and LPs. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Folk, Soundtracks, and more. Selectively buying CDs, Cassettes, Turntables, and Stereo Equipment. For more information: DIAMOND DOGS MUSIC 114 Ontario St. Stratford/ 226-972-5750
WANTED
I will pay cash for antiques and collectibles. Coca Cola, Pepsi, any pop company, Brewery items Kuntz, Huether Labatts, etc. Old radios and gramophones, Wristwatches and pocket watches, Old fruit jars, Beaver Star Bee Hive etc. Any old oil cans and signs Red Indian Supertest etc Any small furniture. If you are moving or cleaning out stuff please contact me - 519-570-6920.
•
• Evening and Weekend shifts required
Job description available at wellesley.ca Deadline to submit resumes June 27, 2025
PICK UP YOUR COPY OF
New Hamburg
Thrift Centre, Short Stop, Sobeys, Office Pro, No Frills, Mario's Chicken, Library, McDonalds, Tim Hortons, Nith Valley Butcher, The Whining Tree, Town Square Pharmasave, Heart'n Home Creations, Cook's Pharmacy, Great Canadian Dollar, Wilmot Recreation Centre, Pizza Arca, Old Country Restaurant, Cloverleaf Leaf Farms Tavistock
Double D's Restaurant, D&D Homestyle Cuisine, Tim Hortons, Hasty Market, Sam's Independent Quehl's Restaurant, IDA Pharmacy, Shell Gas, Library, Tavistock Arena, Scotia Bank
Baden
Tim Hortons, Circle K, Subway, Mars Variety, Baden Coffee Company, Pharmacy in Baden Plaza
New Dundee
New Dundee Village Market
Wellesley
Pym's, Schmidt's Bulk Pantry, Cook's Pharmacy Schmidtsville Restaurant, Wellesley Service
