Provincial police in Perth County are asking for the public’s help after four flagpoles in the county were cut down over the weekend. All four were flying the Pride flag.
In Perth East, poles were cut at Central
Perth Elementary, Mornington Central and North Easthope public schools. Elma Township public school in North Perth was also hit.
“These incidents occurred between June 13 and 14 in the areas of Perth Line 72, Perth Road 131, Perth Line 43 and Perth Road 135. Police are seeking to identify two persons of interest who are news release.
“The persons of interest were observed in the area of these mischiefs operating an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).”
The Avon Maitland District School
"The man asked me, 'What do you want to pay?' so I made an offer, and he took it," Bunton told Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd. Unbeknownst to Bunton, he had acquired a rare sequential set of six Ithaca signs
LEE GRIFFI Gazette Reporter
SINCE 1895
Serving New Hamburg, Tavistock, Baden, Wellesley, New Dundee, St. Agatha, Shakespeare, Petersburg, Hickson, Punkeydoodle’s Corner and area
These young farm residents from South Easthope Township's Pork Street (Line 33) and Sebastopol Road (Line 29) put their own spin on the Shakespeare Field Day Parade's "Life's a Beach" theme. The group joked that with busy schedules on the farm, they were bringing the beach to Shakespeare instead of heading away on vacation. For more Shakespeare Field Day photos go to page 8.
Perth County school Pride flags targeted
Board (AMDSB) released a statement on Monday.
“Over the weekend, several school communities were victims of targeted acts of property damage. Multiple flagpoles, which were flying both the Canadian flag and the Pride flag, were deliberately cut down. Let us be clear; this was not a simple act of mischief. This was a targeted, costly and hateful act of vandalism.”
The statement added the school board continues to support 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff and families.
“We stand with you. This act does not change our commitment to you, nor does it diminish your right to feel safe, valued and celebrated in our schools. Our mental health and wellbeing team is available should any students or staff need support.”
The board added desecrating flag poles carrying the Canadian flag is extremely disrespectful to the country and the freedoms it represents.
“Replacing these poles is very costly, re-allocating taxpayer dollars that should be going directly into our classrooms to support student learning. It is shameful that community resources must now be diverted to repair the damage caused by this act.”
The AMDSB vowed to replace the poles as soon as possible.
“The flags will fly again. Our schools will remain safe spaces for everyone and our resolve to foster an inclusive environment is only strengthened by this incident.”
Stratford Perth Pride was also quick to condemn the acts of vandalism.
“We at Stratford Perth Pride are saddened
by the events that took place over the weekend,” said Sydney Boyle, the group’s social media coordinator.
“Currently, the OPP is investigating these incidents and why these hate-driven crimes occurred specifically during Pride Month. These incidents follow several similar hateful acts throughout southwestern Ontario.”
Boyle said the Pride flag stands as a symbol of unity for those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and towns or cities that fly it let everyone know they see those in that community and want them to know they are welcome.
“Taking down the flag doesn't make our community go away, trying to scare us doesn't make us silent. It adds fuel to our fire and makes it just that more important for us to be seen.”
She added Pride began as a protest, and no matter how many people try to push them down, they need to rise above.
“We need our allies and those dedicated to the community to help push our voices, make us louder than ever before. If you are interested in sharing your voice or need someone to talk to, send us an email at stratfordperthpride@gmail.com. And remember, you are never alone,” Boyle added.
Schools, businesses and residences in the Town of Norwich have also been targeted over the past two weeks. Flags have been stolen and burned, and a school also had a pole cut down. Gunn’s Hill Cheese, which took to social media to speak out against the vandalism, had its store sign cut down on Friday night.
Pictured is one of the flagpoles cut down by two suspects in Perth County over the weekend. Poles in Perth East and North Perth were damaged.
Perth OPP have released an image of two suspects after four flagpoles on Avon Maitland District School Board property were cut down over the weekend.
(PHOTOS COURTESY OF PERTH COUNTY OPP)
Rare Ithaca sign set found in Alberta sells for almost $40,000 at Miller and Miller Auction
created to advertise L.C. Gardner & Co., Druggists, The Rexall Store in Yarmouth, N.S. The signs were produced in the late 1920s and early 1930s, during the Great Depression.
The signs, measuring 36.5 inches tall and 12.25 inches wide (approximately 93 by 31 centimetres), are painted metal pieces featuring colourful images depicting the drugstore's various services above its name.
Made by Ithaca Signs of Ithaca, N.Y., a company that frequently produced signs for Canadian businesses, the set was known as the "six-pack sequence." The signs were part of Ithaca's trade catalogue and were offered in sets of six, 12 and 24. The sets also featured small numerical markings used to identify both the maker and the order in which the signs were to be displayed. The L.C. Gardner & Co. signs would have been placed one mile apart along a roadway, beginning six miles from the pharmacy. The campaign likely coincided with a prosperous period for Gardner and his partnership with the Rexall chain. Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd. came across Bunton's Facebook post after he turned to a vintage sign group to ask what he had found and whether the signs were worth anything. Fortunately, the auction house was able to connect with Bunton and let him know he had discovered something very special.
"We've seen these signs before, but usually not the full set of six. I've personally never seen a full set before," said Tim Wenn, catalogue manager at Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd. "He asked us, 'Am I going to double my money, or am I getting vacation money, or are we talking
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
A rare sequential set of six Ithaca signs advertising L.C. Gardner & Co., Druggists, The Rexall Store in Yarmouth, N.S., was offered as Lot 220 in Miller & Miller's June 13 Petroliana & Advertising sale and brought in nearly $40,000 for the happy seller.
down-payment money?' We were able to tell him these are among the most desirable pieces of advertising."
The Petroliana & Advertising sale took place on June 13, with hundreds of bidders across North America tuning in online to view and bid on a wide range of lots, including the Ithaca signs. The signs will now be on their way to the United States to the most recent buyer.
Petersburg community rallies for annual Childhood Cancer BBQ
DIANE DANEN Gazette Correspondent
The community is invited to the 22nd annual Childhood Cancer BBQ on Thursday, July 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Guests can enjoy a variety of barbeque items and refreshments while supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer. Hosted by Bechthold Home Improvements, all proceeds from food sales and 100 per cent of donations will be shared among three children’s cancer charities.
"Twenty-one years ago, we had a vision of raising funds to support families affected by childhood cancer. With a single barbecue, a couple of coolers, a sun umbrella and a lot of heart, our Childhood Cancer BBQ was born," said Bechthold.
The event's success is made possible through the support of numerous community partners. Bechthold Home Improvements works with local businesses, allowing every dollar raised through barbecue proceeds to go directly to the charities.
Last year’s event raised just over $38,000, and organizers are hoping to surpass $40,000 this year.
A special guest at this year’s barbecue will be Mike Farwell, who is expected to attend around 2 p.m. Farwell is well known throughout Waterloo Region as a broadcaster, journalist, community advocate and host of The Mike Farwell Show.
Bechthold said the fundraiser continues to grow thanks to strong community support and donations from businesses across Canada and the United States. What began as a local initiative has now expanded beyond provincial and national borders.
“We’re fortunate to receive support from
suppliers we work with,” said Bechthold.
“We have donors in British Columbia and on the East Coast, and even one in Georgia who supports childhood cancer efforts in their own community. Their contributions are added to our total.”
Bechthold said his family has been fortunate not to have experienced childhood cancer firsthand.
“Our family hasn’t had to deal with childhood cancer,” said Bechthold. “Our business has been blessed by community support for 44 years, so we are happy that we can give back to the community by hosting this barbecue.”
Area service groups also play an important role in supporting the event. The Petersburg Optimist Club provides the barbecue equipment, while the New Hamburg Optimist Club supplies tents for the site.
Members from a variety of community organizations also volunteer their time to help ensure the day runs smoothly.
Approximately 40 volunteers will help throughout the day. Several new volunteers joined the team after attending last year’s barbecue.
“Three or four people who came out last year thought it was a great cause and wanted to help,” said Bechthold. “They are now volunteers.
“We are extremely grateful for all the support of the community and businesses that make the annual Childhood Cancer BBQ event such a success.”
Anyone who is unable to attend but would still like to support this worthwhile cause can do so by ordering takeout lunches. Orders can be placed by calling 519634-5852 by July 7. Meals will be packed in coolers and ready for pickup.
Last year, several local businesses took part by ordering lunches for their
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employees.
“It’s a great way for businesses to support an excellent cause while showing appreciation to their staff by providing a barbecue lunch,” said Bechthold.
Historically, the event has served approximately 500 people. Community members are encouraged to stop by anytime between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, at Bechthold Home Improvements, 1239 Notre Dame Dr., Petersburg, to enjoy a meal while helping support children and
The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette
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families affected by childhood cancer.
One hundred per cent of the proceeds raised through this event and online will support the Children’s Health Foundation (London Children’s Hospital), The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and the Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation (Childhood Cancer).
To make a donation online, visit www. bechtholdhome.com/childhood-cancer-bbq until the end of July.
In response to growing demand for reliable service, we’re proud to offer complete property services and management.
Our new services include:
Weekly lawn mowing and maintenance
Yard cleanup and debris removal
Removal of sheds, fencing, playgrounds and unwanted structures
Flower bed and rock garden removal
Estate property cleanups for upcoming sales
Exterior home and deck power washing
Basement and garage cleanouts
Assistance with bylaw property cleanup orders
Skid steer services (regrading, backfilling, brush mowing, post hole augering and soil removal)
Locally grown tree sales (Grown by KandT Farms)
We will continue to provide our full range of professional tree services, including removals, pruning, stump grinding, and lawn repair.
Proudly serving our community with quality, care and local expertise.
CALL TOM to chat about how we can help
On Thursday, July 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Bechthold Home Improvements, 1239 Notre Dame Dr., Petersburg, will be ready to welcome the community to enjoy a meal while supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer.
Warren Bechthold, the driving force behind the Childhood Cancer Fundraising BBQ, is pictured with local paramedics who stopped by for lunch and to support the worthwhile fundraiser in 2025.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
MAINTENANCE
Landscape Division and Ground Maintenance
Landscape Division and Ground Maintenance
Landscape Division and Ground Maintenance
Lin Dunn Lane project approved to support new Linwood health centre
GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
Wellesley Township council has awarded a construction contract for upgrades to Lin Dunn Lane and the parking lot at the Linwood Community Centre, a project intended to improve access to the new health centre currently under development at the site.
At its June 9 meeting, council approved awarding the contract to Cambridge-based 5 Star Paving Inc. for a total tender price of $281,670.03, excluding HST. The work includes paving Lin Dunn Lane from Manser Road to the community-centre property, installing concrete curbs and completing parking-lot improvements adjacent to the new health-centre addition.
“This project came up relatively quickly; it wasn’t high on our priority list until the Woolwich Community Health Centre addition at the Linwood Community Centre
was proposed,” township director of public works Chris Cook said. “It made a lot of sense to pave this road and connect it at the parking lot.
“We looked at several design options and settled on a very simple paving project including Lin Dunn and some sidewalk and curb, and asphalt in the parking lot of the community centre.”
The project was identified during 2026 budget deliberations and included in the township’s 10-year capital forecast as a recommended upgrade from gravel to asphalt. Township staff noted the improvements will provide a continuous entrance to the community-centre property, making access easier for residents while also improving winter maintenance and waste-collection operations.
The parking-lot upgrades are specifically designed to support the new health-centre addition by providing parking for staff and patients close to the building’s main
entrance.
The work represents another step forward in the long-planned expansion of health-care services in Linwood.
In March, council approved a construction and funding agreement with the Woolwich Community Health Centre that allows the organization to build a new medical facility attached to the east side of the Linwood Community Centre. The 2,092-square-foot addition will include a reception area, waiting room, three exam rooms, a laboratory, pharmacy, office space and staff room.
The new facility is intended to replace the existing nurse-practitioner clinic in Linwood, which township officials have said is no longer large enough to meet the needs of the growing community and presents accessibility challenges for patients.
Council previously heard that site improvements associated with the health-centre project would include paving the
existing gravel parking area and opening Lin Dunn Lane to create a second entrance to the recreation-facility property.
Five bids were received through the township’s tender process, with 5 Star Paving submitting the lowest bid. The contract value came in below the $300,000 budget approved by council earlier this year.
Cook told council the project cost will be split three ways with half the project cost coming from the township’s infrastructure reserve and half from the recreation facilities reserve. Of the half being funded through the recreation reserve, 25 per cent will be funded by the Woolwich Community Health Centre to cover a portion of the cost of the parking-lot work.
Construction is expected to be coordinated with ongoing health-centre construction activities and must be completed by the end of October.
Three WRDSB schools go into lockdown
There was an increased police presence at three Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) schools on the morning of Tuesday, June 16, after reports of a threat to safety circulated.
In Wilmot Township, Baden Public School was affected, as were Alpine Public School in Kitchener and Ayr Public School in North Dumfries.
A Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) press release said all three incidents are being considered swatting, which is a form of criminal harassment in which someone makes a false emergency report to police. They typically claim serious crimes including a hostage situation, an active shooter, a murder or stabbing, bomb threat, or someone threatening suicide while armed.
The goal is to trigger a large, heavily armed police response, often a SWAT team or tactical unit, hence the term swatting.
“On June 16, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 9:10 a.m., three schools in Kitchener, Wilmot and North Dumfries received a telephone call from an unidentified individual. During each call, the caller stated they were enroute to the school with weapons and issued threats to harm staff and students,” said the release.
It added all three schools were placed under lockdown to protect the safety of staff and students. Officers attended and cleared each school.
“The calls are being treated as a swatting incident, a false report made to trigger an emergency police response. The investigation remains ongoing by WRPS’ general investigations unit,” the release added.
Police are asking anyone with
information to call WRPS at 5195709777 ext. 4496. Anonymous information can be provided to Crime Stoppers at 18002228477 or online at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.
The hold and secures were enough to make parents fearful for their children’s safety, including Joanna Guistini-Wilkins, who has two young daughters at Baden Public School.
“When we send our kids off to school every morning, this is the last thing we expect to happen. Their health and safety are everything to us. I have never felt so helpless in my life,” she said. “All I wanted to do was run to that school and wrap my arms around my girls. I know I’m not the only parent to feel that way.”
Forest Glen reunion supports school's breakfast program
She added once school was over, she went to pick her kids up and received an emotional response.
“When I went to the school to pick them up, my oldest daughter and her friends ran out to me and they all just hugged me. The relief we all felt in that moment could not be measured. My daughter said they were told everything that was happening and had to stay in place until they knew it was safe. She told me about the police officers
that were there to protect them and that made her feel better.”
Guistini-Wilkinson’s youngest daughter was not at the school as she was participating in a field trip.
“We were advised as parents to stay away so the police could keep the school shut. It was the hardest thing to do,” she added.
An announcement from each school went out to parents at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, notifying them of the lockdown and police investigation. The lockdown was lifted at 10:40 a.m.
“As part of our hold-and-secure protocols, students and staff remained inside. (They) were safe inside the school at all times. Our school remained in lock and hold until we were assured by Waterloo Regional Police Services that it was safe to return to our regular school routines,” said principal Jeff Brown.
“We will always take whatever precaution is necessary to ensure the safety students and staff. We want to thank our partners at WRPS for helping to keep our schools safe places to learn. We will provide updates as they become available. We ask that parents, families and caregivers please refrain from calling or coming to the school during a hold and secure as our staff’s main priority is to keep students safe.”
The school board is also making the board’s child and youth workers available for any students who would like to talk.
Three schools in the Waterloo Region District School Board, including Baden Public School, went into lockdown on Tuesday morning after receiving an external threat. Police gave the all clear just over an hour later.
LEE GRIFFI Gazette Reporter
(PHOTO COURTESY OF WRPS)
The committee behind Forest Glen Public School's recent 50th reunion presented a cheque for $746.29 to the school's breakfast program following the successful event at the New Hamburg Legion. The funds were raised through donations from the hundreds of former students, staff and community members who attended the reunion. Taking part in the cheque presentation are, from left, reunion committee members Ken Brown and Caren McLaughlin, breakfast-program coordinators Diane Satchell and Kathy Bender, and Forest Glen Public School principal Sherry Lawlor Alexander.
(WENDY BROWN PHOTO)
Shakespeare Field Day participants and attendees embrace the theme, ‘Life's a Beach’
The Bell family of North Easthope Township embraced the "Life's a Beach" theme during Saturday's Shakespeare Field Day Parade. Complete with a pool, beach toys, umbrellas and plenty of sand, the family's float earned top prize in its category.
and
record
this year's
A miniature horse team and stagecoach attracted plenty of attention during the Shakespeare Field Day Parade. Owner Tyler Tempas of Brucefield guided the team through the parade route. The scale-model stagecoach was built by his grandfather, Albert Tempas. Lois and Helen Thomson assisted with transporting the horses and coach to the annual event.
The Mitchell Legion Band once again provided musical entertainment during the Shakespeare Field Day Parade. Directed by Bert Vorstenbosch Sr., the band has been a longtime favourite at the annual community celebration.
Ideal weather and a dazzling fireworks display helped bring the 2026 Shakespeare Field Day to a memorable close Saturday night. Organizers with the Shakespeare Community Athletic Association (SCAA) said the fireworks show was one of the most impressive in the event's history. The committee extends its thanks to the many volunteers, participants, sponsors and visitors who helped make this year's celebration a success and is already looking ahead to the 80th anniversary of Shakespeare Field Day on June 12, 2027.
Members of the Shakespeare Men's Club show off their "beach bodies" while taking part in the Shakespeare Field Day Parade. The club's humorous float featured a homemade beach scene in keeping with this year's "Life's a Beach" theme.
Kaitlyn Hyde, left, and Jill Hyde embraced the "Life's a Beach" theme during Saturday's Shakespeare Field Day Parade. While the sisters are usually seen riding their quarter horses in the annual parade, this year they opted for a more lighthearted approach, riding a make-believe horse that required no feeding or watering after the festivities.
Members of the New
each year to entertaining the crowds lining the streets of Shakespeare during the annual Field Day festivities.
Melissa
Matt Hodgson, along with family and friends from Shakespeare, were among the many local residents who created floats for the annual Shakespeare Field Day Parade.
A
28 racers took part in
Shakespeare Field Day Soap Box Derby on Saturday morning. Organized by Melanie Higgins and a team of volunteers, the annual event once again attracted a large crowd of spectators who cheered on competitors as they raced for top honours and cash prizes.
Winners of the 2026 Shakespeare Field Day Soap Box Derby were, ages six to seven: Grayson Fuhr (first) and Duncan Lindner (second); ages eight to nine: Hailey Swain (first) and Carly Swain (second); ages 10-11: Emily Swain (first) and Mike Missie (second); and ages 12-14: Quinn Hodgson (first) and Kaylee Rose (second).
Hamburg Concert Band perform during Saturday's Shakespeare Field Day Parade. Led by Steve Wagler, the band looks forward
(GARY WEST PHOTOS)
Optimist fry wagon keeps crowds fed in Tavistock and Shakespeare
Less than 24 hours later, the fry wagon was on the move again.
A few years ago, the Tavistock Optimist Club made a significant investment when it purchased its own fry wagon.
Since then, the mobile kitchen has become a familiar sight at community events throughout the area and has proven to be a valuable fundraising tool for the club.
The wagon is perhaps best known for the club's popular Friday Night Fries events, where residents regularly line up to enjoy fresh-cut fries prepared by Optimist volunteers.
Last Friday was no exception, as club members served more than 500 pounds of potatoes to hungry customers at Optimist Park on the west side of Tavistock.
The trailer headed north to Shakespeare, where Optimist Club members joined forces with volunteers from the Shakespeare Community Athletic Association (SCAA) during the annual Shakespeare Field Day celebrations.
Hundreds of people attending the popular fish fry and other Field Day activities enjoyed servings of fresh fries prepared by the Tavistock volunteers.
Members of the SCAA have long appreciated the support of the Tavistock Optimist Club, whose volunteers continue to play an important role in helping make the annual event a success.
The club's next Friday Night Fries events are scheduled for July 10 and Aug. 7.
Bob Lantz wins $500 in Shakespeare firefighters' 50/50 draw
The Shakespeare & Community Athletic Association (SCAA) would sincerely like to thank our generous sponsors for their financial support towards the SCAA 79th Annual Field Day and Fish Fr y!
• Optimist Club of Shakespeare
• KYJO Steel Inc.
• Adams Building Supply
• Hyde Construction Limited
• Joe Bell Trucking Inc.
• TLC Pet Food
• Westlandyn Egg Farms
• Bruce Kropf Forestry
North Easthope Township resident Bob Lantz had an extra reason to smile following this year's Shakespeare Field Day Firefighters' Breakfast.
Lantz was the winner of the firefighters' annual 50/50 draw, taking home $500 after purchasing a ticket in support of the local department's fundraising efforts.
One of nearly 400 people who attended the popular breakfast on Saturday, Lantz said he was happy to support the firefighters and was pleasantly surprised when his name was drawn as the winner.
"For once I got lucky," he said with a smile after receiving the cash prize.
Known throughout the community as someone who can repair just about anything with a motor, Lantz has spent many years helping friends, neighbours and local organizations whenever he can.
He was also one of the founding members of the Shakespeare Optimist Club more than 50 years ago and has remained active in supporting community initiatives ever since.
Shakespeare fire station chief Greg Ankenmann said proceeds from the annual breakfast and 50/50 draw help the department purchase updated and lifesaving equipment for local firefighters.
Lantz said he was pleased to support the fundraiser and was happy to donate back to the cause.
"You never know when help from the local department will be needed by friends or neighbours," he said.
The annual breakfast continues to be one of the most popular events during Shakespeare Field Day, drawing hundreds of residents and visitors while helping support the work of the Perth East Fire department.
• All Shores Fencing & Deck
• Bulk Tech Shakespeare
• Dordan Mechanical Inc.
• Fred Schuler Family
• Jake Hovius Excavating
• MNP Accounting - Jordan Bowles
• Linton Window & Door Corp.
• MTE Consultants
• MTH Construction Ltd.
• Paul & Heidi Dietrich Family
• Reis Construction Ltd.
• Ron & Brenda Hyde
• South Easthope Mutual Insurance Company
• Steeplehigh Farms
• Wilhelm Concrete
• Mark Cook Drainage Inc.
• The Shakespeare Men's Club
• Rob & Linda Danen and Family (Danen Dale Holsteins)
• Berger Plumbing
• Dalaine Farms - The Leis Family
• Jeff & Ann Skubowius
• Michael Wilhelm Excavating Ltd.
• Perry Wilhelm Excavating Ltd.
• Shakespeare Mills Inc. (S.M.I.)
• Ted & Diane Danen and Family (Danesville Holsteins)
• Trouw Nutrition Yantzi's Feed
• Ed & Julie Danen and Family (Danzel Holsteins)
• Shakespeare Brewing Company
• Shakespeare Variety
• Stratford Motor Products
• Stonecrest Engineering
• Black Swan Brewing Company
• Janice Danen and Family (DaneHolm Holsteins)
• Royal Bank of Canada
We would also like to thank our numerous individuals and businesses that donated items to support and make our Silent Auction and Online Auction a great success. Thank you also to our many many volunteers! WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT ALL OF YOU!!
Shakespeare Fire Chief Greg Ankenmann presents Bob Lantz of North Easthope Township with the $500 prize from the annual Shakespeare Field Day Firefighters' Breakfast 50/50 draw. Behind them is a full-sized Ford Bronco, one of Lantz's latest restoration projects.
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
Al and Ellen Fuhr, both recipients of the Shakespeare Community Athletic Association's Honorary Service Award, wait for an order of fresh-cut fries during the annual Shakespeare Field Day fish fry. Serving customers from the Tavistock Optimist Club fry wagon are Jeff Stoesser, left, and Jesse Weicker.
GARY WEST
Gazette Correspondent
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
Longtime horseman continues family tradition at Shakespeare Field Day Parade
GARY WEST
Gazette Correspondent
For as long as he can remember, John Thomson has enjoyed taking part in the annual Shakespeare Field Day Parade.
The North Easthope Township resident continued that tradition again this year, riding his Appaloosa stallion, Chief, through the village streets alongside family members and friends.
Thomson drew plenty of attention from parade spectators thanks to the ornate silver-trimmed saddle and bridle adorning Chief. The highly decorative tack features an impressive amount of silver and gives the horse a distinctive appearance during parades and special events.
Thomson said he purchased the tack specifically for use at parades, where it helps dress up the horse and adds to the western atmosphere.
He has also heard a story that the saddle and bridle may once have been used on a horse that participated in the famous Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., though he is unable to confirm whether the tale is true.
A lifelong horseman and western rider, Thomson said participating in the Shakespeare parade has long been a family tradition and remains one of the highlights
of the year.
Joining him in this year's parade was his sister, Pearl Fawcett, riding her horse, Queenie. Walking alongside was Brandy, a three-week-old filly and the first offspring of Chief born to the Thomson family.
The young horse attracted plenty of attention from parade-goers as she confidently made her way through the route beside her mother.
Also riding in the parade was longtime family friend and neighbour Joe Bell, continuing another tradition that many local residents have come to expect during Shakespeare Field Day celebrations.
For generations, members of the Bell family have participated in the annual parade, often on horseback and more recently with the family's popular parade float entries.
Bell Trucking, founded by Bill and Emmalene Bell, remains one of the event's longtime sponsors and supporters.
The family's connection to Field Day continues today through Joe Bell's sister, Deb Bell, who chairs the organizing committee and helps oversee the annual event. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers and community supporters, Shakespeare Field Day is set to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2027.
STRATFORD NISSAN
John Thomson rides his Appaloosa stallion, Chief, during the Shakespeare Field Day Parade on Saturday. Chief's silver-trimmed saddle and bridle drew plenty of attention from spectators as Thomson proudly carried the Canadian flag through the village.
Pearl Fawcett rides Queenie while threeweek-old filly Brandy keeps pace during the Shakespeare Field Day Parade. Brandy is the first offspring of Thomson's Appaloosa stallion, Chief. Also pictured is longtime horseman Joe Bell riding his horse, Sixteen. Members of the Bell family have been a familiar part of Shakespeare Field Day celebrations for generations.
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
Nowak seeks fourth term as Wellesley mayor
Editor
Wellesley Township Mayor Joe Nowak is seeking a fourth consecutive term as mayor, saying his experience and longstanding relationships with community partners, regional officials and senior levels of government position him well to help the township navigate a number of significant challenges in the years ahead.
Nowak officially launched his re-election campaign ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election, citing both encouragement from residents and a desire to continue work on several major initiatives already underway.
“There’s been a significant amount of interest in my running,” Nowak said. “I received a lot of encouragement from a number of people. There were people coming forward saying, ‘How can we help? Can we volunteer?’ It was hard to say no.”
Nowak was first elected to township council in 2000 and served six years as a councillor before an unsuccessful mayoral bid. He returned to municipal politics in 2014 when he was elected mayor and has held the position ever since. If re-elected, he would begin his fourth term as mayor.
He said his 18 years of municipal experience, including 12 years as mayor and regional councillor, have taught him the importance of collaboration.
“I’ve learned the value of working with my colleagues on township and regional
councils, federal and provincial counterparts, senior staff at all levels and community partners,” Nowak said. “The mayor is a chairperson at council meetings and only has one vote. To move an agenda forward, you need the support of council.”
Among the accomplishments he highlighted were helping establish child-care services in Wellesley, advocating for expanded health-care access through the community health-centre model and securing funding and partnerships for
community projects.
Looking ahead, Nowak identified several priorities he believes will shape the township’s future.
They include addressing a shortage of child-care spaces, creating more attainable housing options for young families and seniors, expanding employment lands, maintaining affordability for residents, improving library services, determining the future of the former arena lands and community centre, advocating for additional
health-care resources, supporting diversity initiatives and improving transportation options.
Nowak pointed to the township’s recently completed official plan and long-term asset-management plan as key tools for managing growth while maintaining financial stability.
“We’re going to be adding another 1,800 people over the next number of years,” he said. “The official plan identifies where growth can happen and where employment opportunities can happen. It’s about building a complete community.”
He also emphasized the importance of responsible financial planning.
“We have $400 million worth of assets in our township right now, and they have to be managed and kept in a state of good repair,” Nowak said. “We have a plan in place that should mitigate the need for any significant tax increases over the next 10 years.”
Among the projects he hopes to see move forward are a proposed regional transit pilot serving Wellesley Township and preparations for the township’s 175th anniversary celebrations in 2027.
“Growth brings both opportunities and challenges,” Nowak said. “Building on the progress we’ve made, I will continue to work with residents, businesses, community partners and all levels of government to ensure Wellesley Township remains a great place to live, work and thrive.”
Wellesley Township Mayor Joe Nowak has launched his campaign for re-election in the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 26.
GALEN SIMMONS Regional
(GALEN SIMMONS PHOTO)
Indigenous Peoples Day marked with sunrise ceremony in Wilmot, plus events across the region
AMANDA NELSON Gazette Reporter
Wilmot Township will mark National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is on June 21, with a sunrise ceremony on July 1 at 7 a.m. at Norm Hill Park, 251 Jacob St., New Hamburg, as part of the township’s Canada Day celebrations.
The ceremony will be led by an Elder and Firekeeper from Crow Shield Lodge. It is sponsored by Wilmot Township and the Wilmot Indigenous Relations Interfaith Working Group (formerly the Wilmot Ecumenical Working Group on Indigenous Relations).
All are welcome to attend. Organizers recommend participants bring a lawn chair and dress for the weather.
While Wilmot does not have additional dedicated programming planned this year, residents have several opportunities to take
part in National Indigenous Peoples Day and National Indigenous History Month events throughout Waterloo Region.
On Saturday, July 11, the Grand River Water Ceremony will take place at 8 a.m. at the Otterbein Kayak Launch in Kitchener. Participants are encouraged to wear ceremonial regalia if they choose and bring drums or shakers. More information is available at www.grandriverwaterwalk. com.
The University of Waterloo will host a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on June 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Student Life Centre Great Hall. The event will feature a sacred fire, Elders' prayer, Indigenous arts market, live music and Indigenous-themed food. All are welcome to attend this inclusive event.
Waterloo Public Library is marking National Indigenous History Month throughout June with reading lists,
educational resources and programming highlighting Indigenous cultures and history. Registration and details are available at www.wpl.ca.
Featured programming at the library includes an Indigenous Food Tasting Workshop with Chef Destiny Moser of FoodZen and Cedar Spoon on Wednesday, June 24, from 7-8 p.m. at the John M. Harper Branch. Participants will learn about Indigenous ingredients while enjoying Three Sisters Soup and Wild Rice Salad.
National Indigenous Peoples Day programming will be featured as part of the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival taking place June 20 and 21 from noon to 8 p.m. at Victoria Park in Kitchener. Activities will include Indigenous music, dance, storytelling, cultural workshops and community-led experiences. Festivalgoers can participate in
traditional drumming workshops, soapstone carving, moccasin stencilling activities and demonstrations on Indigenous crafts, including beading and medicine pouch making. A Sacred Fire, hosted by Crow Shield Lodge, will be maintained throughout the weekend, while opening ceremonies will be led by Clarence Cachagee of Chapleau Cree First Nation through prayer, song and smudging. Musical performances will include First Nations artist Natalie Martin and her band, Natalie and the Sarcastic Onions.
For those seeking national programming, CBC will mark June 21 with a full day of Indigenous-led content across television, radio and digital platforms. The broadcast will include documentaries, music, interviews and storytelling featuring First Nations, Inuit and Métis voices.
Oxford County opens annual online budget survey
WILMOT-TAVISTOCK GAZETTE STAFF
thewtgazette@gmail.com
No matter where residents live in Oxford County, the 2027 budget survey is a chance to have a say on which services should be a priority in the coming budget year.
Information collected will help the county and local area municipalities know how well their services are understood, how they are valued and which are a priority for residents.
“The survey asks residents and business owners from Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Ingersoll, Norwich, South-West Oxford, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and Zorra about services they receive from their local area municipality such as fire services, building and drainage services, parks and recreation, bylaw enforcement and more,” a county press release states.
The survey also asks about services provided by Oxford County such as roads and bridges, waste management, long-term care at Woodingford Lodge, paramedic services, human (social) services, water and wastewater, community planning and others.
Each participating municipality receives and reviews its own survey results to help plan 2027 budgets.
Municipal property taxes collected from Oxford County residents are distributed to other municipalities (township, town or city), Oxford County and the local school board designated by the homeowner according to the education tax rate set by the provincial government.
Oxford County’s special budget meetings for the 2027 Business Plan and Budget take place on Dec. 10 and 14, after the swearing in of a new council in November following October’s municipal elections. The 2027 budget will be presented for final approval at a regular council meeting on Jan. 13, 2027.
The survey is open until Aug. 31 and can be found at www.oxfordcounty.ca/speakup.
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Announcement comes after tragic collision in Mapleton
LEE GRIFFI Gazette Reporter
The West Region of the Ontario Provincial Police is launching the "Stop. Look. Live." campaign in response to ongoing concerns surrounding fatal and serious collisions at intersections across the area.
“Intersection-related collisions continue to have devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities,” said Sgt. Ed Sanchuk, the OPP’s coordinator of media services. “In both 2024 and 2025, 13 lives were lost each year as a result of failure-to-yield and intersection-related incidents. Since May, the West Region OPP has responded to three separate intersection-related fatal collisions, each claiming five lives.”
From June 15-21, OPP officers across the region will focus on enforcement and public education, targeting behaviours such as failing to stop at stop signs, failing to yield the right of way and inattentive driving.
The announcement comes just days after a tragic collision in Mapleton took the lives of five siblings from the same Elmira family.
“The campaign was in the works prior to this tragedy occurring. We were actually looking at kicking the campaign off on (June 15) due to other collisions that were related to intersections. What we've done is we've created the Stop. Look. Live. campaign. Unfortunately, it's coinciding with the tragic death of five young children who were involved in the crash,” said Sanchuk.
He added police want to make sure
people understand the campaign is about stopping and looking.
“Looking twice is going to save a life and proceeding through so that people don't become involved in these crashes. Unfortunately, since May of 2025, we have gone to three separate crashes at three separate intersections. Each collision involved claimed the lives of five people.”
In an interview with the Gazette, Sanchuk said he had a close call with a driver on Monday morning and used it as an opportunity to educate.
“I was coming to work this morning when a driver pulled directly out in front of me. I had the right of way. They had a two-way stop sign, and they said they didn't see me. It comes down to the fact
that we need to train our brain. If we need to get up earlier in the morning to make sure we make it to work on time, so we're not rushing, and we can focus on driving.”
He didn’t give the driver a ticket but was more than pleased to offer some education.
“Regardless of how upset people are, it comes down to the fact that this individual would have caused a serious crash. I was travelling at 80 km/hr, and they pulled directly in front of me. I took some evasive action to maneuver my vehicle and thankfully got out of the way, but we would have seen another intersection-related crash this morning.”
Sanchuk said drivers need to focus solely on driving by putting the distractions away.
“Stop looking at your GPS, stop drinking coffee, make sure you focus 100 per cent of your driving tasks so you make it to where you need to go, but more importantly, you get home safe to your families because the last thing that anybody needs is to have a knock on the door from a police officer saying that your loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of a preventable crash.”
Sanchuk said the time for people to change their driving habits is long overdue and he mentioned some egregious examples of misbehaviour.
“When you start looking at people in the mornings, again, you pull up to the intersection or at a stop sign, people are on their cell phones. Put the technology away. It's not worth risking your life for the lives of innocent people. I've also seen people doing makeup, brushing their hair. Do that at home. You don't need to be putting makeup on when you're travelling down the 401 at 100 km/hr or faster.”
He added the vast majority of collisions are preventable and preventing those collisions would ease the burden on police officers, firefighters and others.
“We just need people to know they're not invincible. We need to make sure people share the roadways, make sure they're polite to each other and just get to where they're going safely. It really hits home for everybody that's been involved, the first responders, call takers, dispatchers and even the good Samaritans who stopped to assist (in Mapleton). It was truly a horrific crash.”
No charges have been laid, but the investigation into the collision continues.
Petersburg Father’s Day Breakfast and Car Show returns
spirit and dedicated volunteers.
A popular Father’s Day tradition is set to return as the Petersburg Optimist Club hosts its annual Father’s Day Breakfast and Car Show on Sunday, June 21. Held at Petersburg Community Park, 1330 Notre Dame Dr., the event runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon and brings together families, volunteers and car enthusiasts for a morning of food, fun and fellowship. Guests can enjoy an all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring pancakes, scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, home fries, fruit cups, juice and coffee. Admission is $17 for adults and $10 for children under 10.
The event has grown into a major community gathering, typically serving breakfast to around 1,000 people.
The Waterloo County Shifters Car Club, based in Petersburg, showcases between 200 and 300 classic, vintage and exotic vehicles at the event.
The event’s success is built on community
“The Optimist Club of Petersburg is a small club, but we have a great group of volunteers who make it happen,” said club president Warren Bechthold, crediting the strong community spirit behind the event’s continued success.
That spirit is also reflected in the many volunteers outside the Optimist Club who help keep the morning running smoothly.
Local high school students volunteer to earn community service hours and give back to their community.
Members of Scouts Canada from the Waterloo Region also return each year to help out. The Optimist Club, which supports local youth programs such as Scouts, says the partnership is a meaningful way for Scouts to give back.
The Optimist Club of Petersburg is always welcoming new members and volunteers interested in supporting youth and community initiatives. For more information or to get involved, call 519-465-1157.
West Region OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk unveiled the “Stop. Look. Live.” safe driving campaign on Monday. The initiative aims to eliminate preventable collisions at intersections.
(WEST REGION OPP X SCREENSHOT)
The Petersburg Optimist Club will host its annual Father’s Day Breakfast and Car Show on Sunday, June 21, at Petersburg Community Park, 1330 Notre Dame Dr. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
DIANE DANEN Gazette Correspondent
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Tavistock Optimist Club hosts annual bike rodeo for public-school students
GARY WEST
Gazette Correspondent
Students at Tavistock Public School had an opportunity to sharpen their cycling skills and learn important safety lessons during the annual Bike Rodeo hosted by the Tavistock Optimist Club.
The popular event saw students of all ages navigate a bicycle obstacle course set up in the school's parking lot while receiving instruction on safe riding practices from Optimist Club members.
Before taking to the course, students learned about traffic safety, proper hand signals and the importance of wearing a correctly fitted helmet whenever they ride.
Optimist member Kris Zehr helped ensure helmets were properly secured and checked bicycles to make sure they were in safe operating condition, including
inspecting brakes and other key safety features.
Throughout the event, volunteers stressed the importance of obeying traffic rules and remaining alert while riding near roads and vehicles.
Students then had the opportunity to put those lessons into practice as they manoeuvred through a course of pylons designed to test their balance, control and bicycle-handling skills.
The annual Bike Rodeo is one of several youth-focused initiatives organized by the Tavistock Optimist Club and is aimed at helping young cyclists build confidence while promoting safe riding habits.
As an added incentive, three new bicycles will be awarded before the end of the school year through a draw for students who participated in this year's event.
Tavistock Optimist Club members involved in this year's Bike Rodeo included, from left, Rick Van Griensven, Andrew Herman, Kris Zehr, Mitch McKay, Brady Roth, Eugene Bender and Bruce Swartzentruber. Club president Jesse Weicker also assisted with the event.
Tavistock Optimist Club members provide cycling-safety instructions to students before they take part in the annual Bike Rodeo at Tavistock Public School. Participants learned about traffic rules, hand signals and the importance of bicycle and helmet safety.
Students navigate the obstacle course set up by Tavistock Optimist Club volunteers during the annual Bike Rodeo. The course challenged riders to demonstrate safe and controlled bicycle-handling skills.
(JESSE WEICKER PHOTOS)
A ‘double’ special for Maplewood Public School Reunion
LAURA GREEN
Submitted to the Gazette
“Boom-Chicka-Boom. Boom-ChickaBoom. Boom-Chicka-Rac-a-Chicka. Ric Rac Ree. Who are we? We’re from Maplewood. Can’t you see!”
This was the school chant that S.S. #11 West Zorra Public School would chant each year at the end of the parade at Embro Fair. It was chanted to close the afternoon reunion held on Saturday, June 13, at St. Andrew’s United Church in Brooksdale.
School Section (S.S.) #11 Maplewood was built in the hamlet of Maplewood on Road 96/Maplewood Sideroad on the lot beside the general store. The last owners of the store were Carl and Anna Wettlaufer. Teachers were thankful that the store had a telephone to use for emergencies since the school didn’t have one installed.
It was a special reunion for the last two classes held at the country school before all the 11 one-room schools in West Zorra closed. The Class of ‘64-‘65 had 31 students from grades one to six and the Class of ‘65-‘66 had 29 students. Grades seven and eight students were bussed to Zorra Highland Park School (ZHPS) which opened in 1959 for senior students from the eleven small “red schoolhouses.”
It was also a special reunion of these two years, for it was the first two years that Carol Clark began her teaching career. Clark was a fresh graduate from Stratford Teachers College who lived in Harrington,
so the Maplewood community had families new to her and she had to learn their names.
She remembers the school board chairman, Newton Bean, delivering her contract to her parent’s home for her to sign. Bean was a dairy farmer in the Maplewood area. Today, his grandson, Travis Bean, now owns the school lot and the schoolhouse was taken down by previous owners years ago.
Her first year teaching at ZHPS was
1966-1967. Now Mrs. Turvey (she married Dennis Turvey on July 9, 1966), she taught Grade 1 with three sets of twins in her class. She always looked forward to seeing her students from Maplewood School in the hallways or when on yard duty and making sure that they adjusted to the “big” school.
With the help of Lois Miller Horne and Kevin Steinacker, Carol Turvey was able to track down all the students except Tom Wilson, but she hasn’t given up yet.
Twenty-six people attended the reunion including 15 classmates.
Where are the students living today?
One student lives in Ireland and Carol Turvey visited with him at his mother’s funeral last month. Another one lives in North Carolina, a couple in Alberta, one in North Bay and the rest in southwestern Ontario.
“It is amazing what you find out about kids you taught when you started your career 62 years ago,” Carol Turvey said.
Lois Horne created a memorial table for the eight students of Maplewood classes (1964-1965 and 1965-1966) that have passed away. She framed their school pictures with their obituaries.
Carol Turvey rang the school bell to start the program with a roll call; the students had to introduced themselves and give a brief report about their careers and family life after they graduated from Grade 8. They continued getting re-acquainted over the past six decades while enjoying the celebration cake that had their edible school pictures on the icing and a glass of punch. Cheese and crackers also appeared on the table.
Like any family or class reunion, there was “guess the number of candies in the jar” and prizes from local business for the furthest travelled among other categories. Life is too short as the years pass, so these students of Maplewood P.S. want to continue to meet again. The building is gone but the school spirt is alive.
Magical. Simply magical. That’s how it felt today!
On the morning of Saturday, May 23, volunteers from Let’s Tree Wilmot (LTW) and the community planted phase two of the Carolinian Corner in Mannheim on Wilmot Township land.
That morning, Dean Peachey, LTW’s project chair, shared these thoughts.
“When I looked at the weather map at 7 a.m. this morning, I had a sinking feeling that this would be the first day when we would not be able to finish a planting. But people showed up and worked. We planted 335 trees and shrubs! And we were packed up and out of the site by noon. What an amazing experience. It is so great to be part of a group of people like this.”
It rained and at mid-morning, it became windy and chilly. The 30 attendees became wet, chilled, muddy and our hands looked like wrinkled prunes. We are Canadian, eh! Hot drinks and camaraderie warmed us. We welcomed the youths, the first-time planters and regular volunteers like our MP, Tim Louis, and Wilmot Coun. Steven Martin.
The Carolinian Corner project is introducing trees from the Carolinian Tree zone just south of Wilmot that are not common in our woods. We are excited about planting American Yellowwood, Cladrastis lutea, for the first time along the edges of the future trail. This Carolinian tree is drought
tolerant which is important in this sand/ gravel soil (former gravel pit).
We will need to wait to next spring for its showy floral display. The blooms are intensely fragrant, wisteria-like flowers that droop in long panicles of about 10-15 inches in length and will cover the mature tree in late spring. In autumn, the leaves turn
yellow-orange. After the blooms are pollinated, they form brown pods. Yellowwood is of the same family as redbud and honey locust of the large Fabaceae (pea) family.
This planting concluded Let’s Tree Wilmot’s spring planting season, but LTW volunteers continue their work.
Our Water Warriors with our truck, Billy,
water the one-year plantings weekly and our second-year plantings bi-weekly. The Warriors water about 2,600 trees, so we do prefer Mother Nature to do the job.
LTW also has a tree seedling bed to maintain, an inventory of planted trees and tree pruning to complete. The volunteers are also planning for LTW’s fall plantings by placing tree orders now.
Want to learn more about the Trails of Wilmot? One of our volunteers, Louis Silcox, leads strolls on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons throughout the summer. Check out our website for dates and times: letstreewilmot.ca/events. Let’s Tree Wilmot is a project of Garden Wilmot (Wilmot Horticultural Society); visit wilmothortsociety.ca for more information.
Volunteers continue to partner with Wilmot Township and private owners to increase the tree canopy in Wilmot township. We encourage all residents to plant native trees and shrubs on their properties to support biodiversity, prevent water runoff and provide beauty, wildlife corridors, windbreaks, cooling and escapes into nature.
LTW will be encouraging people to plant trees with the goal of a tree planted for every person in Wilmot since LTW’s birth in 2020. Our campaign is called Wilmot Rooted Together – a tree for everyone. Stay tuned for more details.
The committee for the Maplewood school reunion for the last two years of classes before the school closed were Kevin Steinacker, teacher Carol Clark Turvey and Lois Miller Horne. The reunion was held on June 13 at St. Andrew’s United Church in Brooksdale.
(LAURA GREEN PHOTO)
Volunteers with Let’s Tree Wilmot participated in the second phase of the Carolinian Corner tree-planting project in Manheim on a cool and rainy Saturday, May 23.
MARLENE KNEZEVICH
Let’s Tree Wilmot
(PHOTO COURTESY OF LET’S TREE WILMOT)
Teddy Bear Picnic returns to Brocksden Country School Museum
DIANE DANEN Gazette Correspondent
The second annual Teddy Bear Picnic returns to Brocksden Country School Museum on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
One of the museum's most popular events of the season, the Teddy Bear Picnic offers families a chance to step back in time and enjoy a day filled with old-fashioned fun in a unique historic setting.
Organized by Jessie Campbell and her daughter, Ester Campbell, the event will feature a variety of family-friendly activities, including bubble blowing, face painting, toys from long ago and a scavenger hunt that highlights the history of the one-room schoolhouse.
A special highlight of the day will be Grandma's Storytime, with Pat Campbell sharing favourite stories with children under the shade of a tree.
Visitors can also experience what school life was like in 1910 by touring the museum, meeting the school marm dressed in period costume and trying their hand at writing on a slate just as students did more than a century ago.
Families are encouraged to bring a favourite teddy bear, a blanket and a snack to enjoy picnic-style on the museum grounds. This charming community event offers a wonderful opportunity to make special memories and celebrate the arrival of summer.
Brocksden Country School Museum is located at 2719 Perth Line 37 on Vivian Street, just off Highway 7/8 between Stratford and Shakespeare.
For more information, contact Jessie Campbell at brocksdenschool@gmail.com or call 519-271-2619.
Grandma’s Storytime with Pat Campbell returns for the 2026 Teddy Bear Picnic, sharing favourite stories with children under the shade of a tree. Children are invited to bring their favourite teddy bear and enjoy a special story time together.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Pride march and rally in Norwich caps tumultuous time for movement
LEE GRIFFI Gazette Reporter
Over 200 Oxford County Pride supporters gathered at Emily Stowe Public School in Norwich on Monday night for a rally and march.
The event came after numerous flags were burned or stolen in the town, along with a flagpole being sawed off at the school.
One organizer and a former vice president of Oxford Pride addressed the crowd before the march.
“The reason we are here matters. … Nobody snaps a flagpole in half because they disagree with a colour scheme,” said Jordan Kent. “Nobody repeatedly targets flags across an entire community by accident. These acts were intended to send a message that 2SLGBTQIA+ people are not welcome here.”
Kent added the offenders want the Pride community to be quieter, less visible and less proud.
“That is why we are here today, to completely reject that message. …Volunteers, families, allies, faith leaders, businesses, community members and the Norwich JEDI, we all believe everyone belongs in Oxford County. We work to build a community where young people can be themselves, reflected, accepted and celebrated. I refuse to stand by while a small number of people try to drag our community backwards.”
The Norwich and Area JEDI Alliance, another of the event’s organizers, is a community volunteer group advancing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion across Norwich Township and Oxford County.
“The people tearing down these flags are not defending Norwich’s values; they are betraying them. Norwich is stronger than this. Norwich is kinder than this and Norwich is better than this,” said Kent, who then turned his attention to Oxford’s provincial and federal representatives.
“Where are Arpan Khanna and Ernie Hardeman? Where are their voices?”
He mentioned what he called an act of hate in April in front of Woodstock’s Turtle Island School, where a member of the Hindi community was verbally accosted by a
young offender who was eventually arrested and charged by police.
“There was a lot of outrage. Statements came quickly and demands for accountability came quicker. But now, after repeated attacks on Pride flags at private residences, places of worship and schools, that same urgency seems nowhere to be found.”
Khanna recently provided the Gazette with a brief statement on the string of crimes.
“Any acts of vandalism or property damage are unacceptable. The OPP is investigating this incident, and I encourage anyone with information to contact police and assist with their investigation.”
For the second straight weekend, incidents of Pride flag vandalism and theft are keeping members of the Oxford OPP busy. Between Friday, June 12, and Monday, June 15, several flags were reported stolen from multiple locations, including another one at Emily Stowe and private residences on Jerdon Street and Stover Street.
“Investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding these incidents and are working to identify those responsible. Police are encouraging anyone with information to come forward,” said a police news release.
“Residents and businesses in the area are asked to review any available video surveillance during the noted timeframes and report anything that may assist investigators.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oxford OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Provincial police in neighbouring Perth County are also investigating a series of Pride flag incidents. On June 14, police launched an investigation after receiving reports of multiple flagpoles being cut down at school properties across the county.
The incidents occurred between June 13 and 14 in the areas of Perth Line 72, Perth Road 131, Perth Line 43 and Perth Road 135. Police are seeking to identify two people of interest who are both described as male, wearing all black clothing and face coverings and carrying a saw.
The suspects were observed in the area of these mischiefs operating an ATV.
Kent, before he and the crowd marched through Norwich, called for community leaders to take the acts of vandalism more seriously.
“If vandalism is wrong, it is wrong. If intimidation is wrong, it is wrong. If targeting symbols of belonging is unacceptable, it is unacceptable. The standard cannot change depending on who is being targeted. Leadership means speaking out against hate every single time, not only when it is politically convenient.”
He also had a message of support for young people gathered at the event.
“You belong here. You do not need anyone’s permission to exist. You do not need anyone’s approval to be who you are. And you are not standing alone. Look around you.”
Kent promised to replace any flag that is removed.
“When a Pride flag comes down, we will raise another. When hate speaks, we will speak louder. When our neighbours are targeted, we will stand beside them. And we will keep doing it for as long as it takes because this community belongs to all of us and we are not going anywhere.”
Over 200 Pride supporters attended a rally in Norwich on Monday evening. The Oxford County town has been the scene of several Pride flags being vandalized over the last two weeks. One school had a flagpole cut down and the flag stolen.
(LEE GRIFFI PHOTO)
Irvin Zehr wins Tavistock Men's Club 50/50 draw
GARY WEST
Gazette Correspondent
A longtime supporter of the Tavistock Men's Club was all smiles recently after learning he was the winner of the organization's annual 50/50 draw.
Irvin Zehr took home half of the proceeds from the draw, which is held each year in conjunction with the club's popular fish fry fundraiser.
Men's Club member Bob Routly recently visited Zehr to present him with his winnings.
Well known throughout the Tavistock area, Zehr has spent many years volunteering with the Men's Club and supporting numerous community initiatives. He is also recognized as a longtime automotive mechanic, business owner and antique-car enthusiast.
For many years, Zehr operated a successful automotive business in Tavistock, helping keep local
residents on the road whenever they needed assistance. His son, Larry, continues the family tradition through Zehr Automotive on Woodstock Street South.
The annual 50/50 draw is one of several fundraising initiatives organized by the Tavistock Men's Club throughout the year.
Funds raised through club activities help support local organizations and programs, including area 4-H clubs, the Tavistock Figure Skating Club and a variety of other community projects.
Club members expressed their appreciation to the many residents who continue to support their fundraising efforts through annual events such as the fish fry, sauerkraut suppers and year-round sauerkraut sales.
The continued support of the community helps the organization carry on its tradition of giving back to local groups and causes.
Tavistock Men's Club member Bob Routly, left, presents Irvin Zehr with his share of the proceeds from the club's annual 50/50 draw held in conjunction with the recent fish fry fundraiser. The presentation took place behind Zehr Automotive in Tavistock.
(CAROLYN ROUTLY PHOTO)
Speaker highlights Shelterlink's work with vulnerable youth in Stratford
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
Members of the Shakespeare Optimist Club recently welcomed Michelle Cutts, development and community outreach manager with Shelterlink Youth Services in Stratford, as a guest speaker.
Cutts spoke about the challenges facing youth experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness and explained how Shelterlink helps young people between the ages of 16 and 24 find stability and support.
Located on the third floor of the former nurses' residence at 130 Young St. beside Stratford General Hospital, Shelterlink has been serving youth in the Stratford area since 1991.
BIRTHDAY
During her presentation, Cutts shared several statistics highlighting the organization's impact in 2025. Shelterlink provided 2,095 safe bed nights, supported 203 participants through 56 group programs and responded to 357 shelter calls throughout the year.
The organization offers a variety of free support services, including a youth treatment program, peer-support services and virtual youth counselling groups. Shelterlink also works alongside the Ontario Disability Support Program to help youth access additional resources and support.
Youth seeking assistance can call 1-877-330-3213 or text 211 for help. Cutts can also be reached through the Shelterlink office at 519-272-2294 ext. 106.
Following the presentation, Shakespeare Optimist Club members voted to donate $400 to Shelterlink and also committed to providing food donations for youth currently being supported through the Stratford-based organization.
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Sorry For Your Loss
Esther Violet Pfaff
It is with heavy hearts, we have to say our goodbyes to Esther. She left us behind on Wednesday June 10th, 2026 at St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre.
Born on April 30, 1938 to the late Harry and Louise Schaefer, Esther grew up in Petersburg. After marrying her husband Jim Pfaff, she lived all of her adult life in New Hamburg, until later, moving into assisted living in Paris, followed by long term care in Brantford.
Left behind is Mark Pfaff (Karen), Jill Osborne (Mike) and Lynn Lawrence (Jim). Esther was a proud grandmother and great grandmother and a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her brother Grant Schaefer (Joanne).
1. Who won the 2025-2026 Stanley Cup?
2. Who recently became the world’s first trillionaire?
3. What is the first stage of the rain/water cycle?
4. In “Goodfellas”, what character did Robert De Niro portray?
5. The thistle is the national flower of what country?
6. How did Oliver Tree die?
7. What is Duolingo's mascot?
8. Which dog breed was the first to have its evidence legally admitted in court?
9. In health, what does HDL stand for?
10. In what year did the first FIFA World Cup take place?
We can all rejoice that Esther is now reunited with Jim, walking hand in hand. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and gentle, quiet demeamor. Esther was also a wonderful pianist, tended gorgeous gardens and knit many lovely sweaters over the years.
In honouring Esther's wishes, no funeral will be held. Cremation has taken place and a private immediate family interment will be held at a later date where she will be laid to rest alongside Jim at Riverside Cemetery in New Hamburg.
Please feel free to contribute to The Alzheimer Society of Canada or St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre in lieu of flowers.
We can't thank the staff at St. Joseph's enough for the wonderful care and compassion they gave to Esther for the past eight months.
Online condolences and donations may be arranged through www.wmkippfuneralhome.com or by contacting Wm. Kipp 519-442-3061.
Shakespeare Optimist Club members welcomed guest speaker Michelle Cutts, development and community outreach manager with Shelterlink Youth Services in Stratford. Cutts spoke about the organization's efforts to support youth experiencing homelessness and shared Shelterlink's guiding vision of making youth homelessness "a rare, brief and non-recurring experience."
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
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 8 - 15, 2016, Edition (10 years ago)
Justin Slater joined the ranks of the other three-time winners Saturday night as he defeated Nathan Walsh in the twoout-of-three final round to take the $1,000 prize, trophy and bragging rights as the World Crokinole Champion for 2016. As the youngest player to ever win the championship (he was 17 in 2010 when he won his first title), Slater and Walsh were also the youngest players to play in the final together. Justin Slater and his father, Fred Slater, also earned the doubles title this year.
The 16th annual Relay for Life in Stratford was held on Friday, June 3, 2016 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Stratford Central Secondary School. Fifty-four teams were registered and raised more than $126,000 for cancer research. Among the top fundraising teams was “Walking on Funshine” led by Tavistock Public School teacher Lisa van Osch. Her team raised approximately $6,420. Tavistock Public School Grade 2 student Derika Scheerer, eight, had her own fundraising idea for this year’s event. She decided to cut her hair at Friday’s relay and donate it to charity. At school, she took donations with the prize being a fresh apple pie from Shakespeare Pies. Overall, Derika raised $775 for her mother’s team, which raised over $2,500.
June 7 - 14, 2006, Edition (20 years ago)
Two weeks ago, Chris Hilts was on his front lawn waving flags and celebrating the Edmonton Oilers’ playoff win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. But last Wednesday, he was standing in six inches of water while directing traffic in front of his Hope Street East home. “I’m starting to feel like a duck,” he yelled to friends on the street, in reference to the Oilers’ victims. And Chris wasn’t the only one in town feeling that way after a severe storm dumped about 100 millimetres (four inches) of rain on the village in a little over a half hour on May 31.
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in Ontario today. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which comes into force on May 31, is part of a broad effort to improve public health by reducing Ontarians’ exposure to and use of tobacco products. The legislation bans smoking in all enclosed workplaces and
enclosed public places to protect workers from second-hand smoke. The legislation also strengthens laws on tobacco sales to minors and restricts the display of tobacco products in retail outlets.
“The best perennials come out of the blue” – pots, that is! This catchy slogan, according to Heritage Perennials territory manager Richard Gruener is the marketing strategy of a business which operates a 35-acres green-house in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Owned by Valleybrook Gardens Ltd. of Abbotsford, B.C., the company is one of the largest wholesale suppliers of perennial plants to independent garden centres across Canada and the U.S. While Richard was educating and entertaining the society, Mrs. Anna Peterson, District 10 president of the Ontario Horticultural Association, judged a selection of blooms and plants for the annual flower show. With the recent hail and flooding, entries may have been down slightly, but the ones there were wonderful examples of locally grown foliage.
June 11 - 18, 1986, Edition (40 years ago)
Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN) offered some revealing reflections on the recent “Special Session on Africa” at the Rotary Club of Tavistock’s annual interclub meeting held on Thursday evening, June 5, 1986 in the Tavistock Memorial Hall. Mr. Stephen Lewis, Canada’s personal representative to the UN, journeyed behind the scenes in the world’s most respected and valuable institutions to tell the more than 300 in attendance how the United Nations is keeping the topics of arms control, disarmament, peace keeping and world population in the public eye, generating much needed discussion in the world community.
The Tavistock Squirts entered the Innerkip Tournament on Saturday, June 14, and came home the following day with the championship title. In Game 1, Tavistock defeated Innerkip by a close 6-4 score. Scott Houle allowed only three hits while his teammates made only two errors. Tavistock’s Jeff Weicker and Jim Junker had two hits each while Brad Roth, Mike Wiffen and Shawn Yungblut all contributed timely hits off of losing pitcher D. Skillings. In Game 2, Tavistock defeated Drumbo 9-6 despite a grand slam by S. Harmer for Drumbo. On Sunday, Tavistock played Hickson for the championship game and won a very close, exciting game 6-5. Tavistock had seven hits and only one error. Hickson had five hits and three errors.
TOWNSHIP OF EAST ZORRA-TAVISTOCK
GRACE UNITED CHURCH
116 Woodstock St. S., Tavistock Service starts at 10:30 am Phone: 519-655-2151
All are welcome
Service led by Rev. Marilyn Arthur Music by Marilyne Nystrome
TRINITY LUTHERAN (ELCIC)
Sebastopol - Tavistock 2210 Perth Line 29
Pastor Steve Hoffard
Worship In Person or on Zoom Sundays at 10:00 AM (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
Service - 2 pm Sunday 19 Wellington St., Tavistock stpaulstavistock@gmail.com
Pastor Rev Michael Mayer
EAST ZORRA MENNONITE
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
Annual Anniversary Service
Sunday June 14 at 3:00pm 4339 Huron Rd, Wilmot Township
Come join us to celebrate over 170 years of Anglican Worship in Wilmot. https://www.stgeorgesnewhamburg.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
OASIS MENNONITE CHURCH
66 Mill Street, Baden, ON Sunday School at 10:15 AM
Worship service at 11:00 AM
Pastors: Richard Bean and Gabriel Jantzi www. oasismennonite.com
To
your place of
The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette
SPORTS
U12 Wilmot Royal Blue win gold at Paris tournament
SPENCER SEYMOUR
Director of Sports
The U12 Wilmot Royal Blue minor soccer team captured the gold medal at the Twin Rivers Soccer Club Tournament in Paris June 14-15.
Head coach Jeff Nyenhuis told the Gazette the team put forward a strong, nonstop work ethic throughout the tournament.
“What stood out most was how well they played together and how consistently they competed in every game,” said Nyenhuis. “Their effort, teamwork and willingness to support each other were major reasons for their success. Most importantly, the players showed confidence, resilience and continued to improve throughout the tournament.”
According to Nyenhuis, the team’s play in the midfield was a marked bright spot of the weekend.
“One area that really came together was our control of the midfield,” Nyenhuis said. “We've been working on reacting quickly when possession changes and the players did a great job of winning the ball back and attacking with purpose.
“I also thought this was the best we've looked in terms of maintaining possession and making good decisions under pressure. Led by Nolan (Homes) and Alex (Nyenhuis), our midfield controlled the tempo of the game, connecting passes, winning possession and driving play forward.”
With a spot in the finals on the line, Wilmot Royal Blue withstood a second-half comeback to hang on for a 4-2
PHOTO)
The U12 Wilmot Royal Blue minor soccer team captured the gold medal at the Twin Rivers Soccer Club Tournament in Paris June 14-15. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Nolan Homes, Alex Gutscher, Max Kelly, Ayden Daviau and Ben Van Zwol. In the back row, from left, are assistant coach Rick Walker, Roman Nagy, Alex Nyenhuis, Alder Ambrose, Jacob Wittie, Dawson Walker, Lucas Manning, Kiaan Kipfer, Konrad Wittie, Levi Stacey, Andy Roy and head coach Jeff Nyenhuis. Not pictured were Lincoln Clark, Grayson Hann and Sheamus Steward-Davies.
win in the semi-final against Ayr Black, which Jeff Nyenhuis noted was a meaningful victory for his squad.
“The boys had to defeat a tough Ayr Black team to make the finals,” Jeff Nyenhuis said. “This was a great accomplishment as the team lost to Ayr Black recently in the regular season. We were able
The Tavistock Braves have added two new faces to the team for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. Defenceman Matthew Meyer (left) joins the team after spending the previous two seasons with the Woodstock Navy Vets. The Drumbo product earned 19 points in 95 career Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) games. Leo Lajeunesse (right) started last season with the Ayr Centennials before joining the Kitchener Junior Rangers U18AAA team and is expected to add speed and skill to the team.
stop by their netminder during the first half as turning the tide of the game in the direction of Wilmot Royal Blue.
“The final game was tied 0-0 in the first half when Wilmot Gold was awarded a penalty shot. Our goaltender, Levi (Stacey), made an incredible save to keep the score even. After this moment, the momentum turned in our favour, where our team was awarded a penalty kick thanks to a strong drive to the net by Alex (Gutscher). Cool under pressure, Andy (Roy) buried the penalty kick and sparked a huge celebration from the team.”
Jeff Nyenhuis also praised his group for a well-rounded collection of performances at both ends of the pitch.
“Anchored by Max (Kelly) and Ben (Van Zwol), our defence was relentless, breaking up attacks, winning crucial tackles and frustrating opponents every time they looked ready to break through.
“Our offence was dangerous all weekend, creating quality chances and consistently putting pressure on opposing defences,” Jeff Nyenhuis continued. “Key goals were scored throughout the tournament by Roman (Nagy), Alex (Gutscher) and Andy (Roy).”
(CONTRIBUTED
Tavistock Curling Club celebrates 50th anniversary
BOB REID
If it is possible to recreate the excitement from the moment of victory at a worldclass sporting event, surely that happened at a recent event in Tavistock.
The Tavistock Curling Club was celebrating its 50th anniversary. The guest speaker was Mark Ideson, Canadian gold medalist for the Paralympic Winter Games that took place in Cortina, Italy, in February.
Ideson made the winning shot in the final end of the game against archrival China with 2.8 seconds left on his time allotment before disqualification for a time violation.
A big-screen video on the playing surface at the Tavistock curling facility showed Ideson’s now famous shot, nudging his previous rock thrown just close enough to the button to win, as narrated by Ideson to the 150 attending the annual meeting and club founding celebration.
The audience, mainly comprised of curling club members both present and past, burst into spontaneous applause at reliving that moment in Canadian curling history.
“It must have been crazy to watch,” acknowledged Ideson after a show of hands indicated most of the club’s curlers had indeed watched the game live on television.
The win was particularly satisfying for the Canadian team as they had traded top spot at the Paralympics with China’s curling team multiple times. There was a determination to not let China win at the 2026 event, said Ideson.
Ideson, 50, had been a helicopter pilot and sports enthusiast leading up to a flying accident in 2007 that dramatically changed the direction of his life. In the accident, he sustained several injuries including a fractured left tibia, a fractured right femur, damaged pelvis and sternum, and several broken ribs. But the most serious was a spinal cord injury just below the neck that left him a quadriplegic.
The accident in North Dumphries
Township near Cambridge was witnessed by an eight-year-old boy. He notified his mother, who called 911.
Ideson was flown first to Hamilton General Hospital and later taken to Parkway Hospital in Toronto for further treatment of his injuries.
While friends suggested Ideson try wheelchair curling, he was first attracted to wheelchair rugby.
“I liked to watch quads smashing into quads,” said Ideson.
He gave the game a try but was too slow to excel at the sport so he reconsidered curling. He was careful not to compare his new body post-accident to his previous body capabilities in a sport he had played before and thus began curling again in 2011.
This brought him in contact with wheelchair curler and current Tavistock Curling
the ability to deal with a wide variety of situations faced by quadriplegics with only use of the upper body.
In recognition for his curling accomplishments, Ideson was the flag bearer for the Canadian Paralympic Winter Team in Cortina.
“It was a highly emotional moment for me,” recalled Ideson, who currently resides in London where he has taken up coaching curling.
His daughter won a Canadian curling championship and went on to represent Canada at a world competition, finally losing to Japan.
While Ideson can fondly recall the winning shot at Cortina, he is also considering the possibility of competing for Canada at the next Paralympic Winter Games being held in the French Alps in 2030. Closer to home, winners of draws over the past curling season at the Tavistock Curling Cub were honoured by being led in a procession before an appreciative audience by Scottish piper Jon Flemming of New Hamburg.
Club member Mike Munro. Playing on the same team, they captured a provincial champion ship in 2012.
This launched a climb up through the curling ranks for Ideson as he attended Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, Korea, Beijing – where Canada lost to China – and finally in Cortina, Italy.
During that time, Ideson was an alternate, a lead and a skip.
While extensive training and a competitive spirit contributed to Ideson’s success, there was a bit of luck involved. His wife had given him a “lucky loonie” which he secretly slipped between Styrofoam barriers between the sheets of ice at Cortina, the same loonie he had carried with him at previous Olympic events with good results.
Ideson identified his adaptability as being a main reason for his curling success;
The same honour was given to all past presidents at the beginning of the evening’s celebration.
The numbers at the annual meeting were swelled by many former club members, encouraged by the club’s executive committee to renew friendships first developed years ago on the ice surface and adjoining lounge.
Chair of the 50th anniversary event Andy Poth asked for a moment of silence to honour form club members who are now deceased. He also thanked the many volunteers who make the operation of the club possible and shared a small bit of curling philosophy in perhaps looking forward to the new curling season opening in October.
“You can always find a lot of reasons for missing a shot in curling – poor ice, the sweepers, the wind – without blaming yourself,” Poth said.
Mark Ideson with his Paralympics gold medal.
The special cake made for the Tavistock Curling Club's 50th anniversary.
Paralympic Winter Games Canadian curler Mark Ideson’s video shows him winning the gold medal at Cortina, Italy.
Scottish piper John Flemming leading draw winners from the past curling season at the Tavistock Curling Club in a procession before the audience in attendance.
Submitted to the Gazette
(LINDA REID PHOTOS)
Hickson students get hands-on farm-safety lessons
With farm safety remaining a priority across rural communities, students at Hickson Public School spent Tuesday, June 16, learning how to stay safe around farm equipment, animals and other potential hazards commonly found on farms.
The event was organized under the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program and brought together volunteers, agricultural leaders and safety professionals to provide hands-on learning opportunities
for students from kindergarten to Grade 8. Directors with the Embro and Zorra Agricultural Society helped organize the day, which is part of a long-running initiative aimed at teaching young people about farm safety. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the program, which rotates among schools throughout the area.
A variety of educational stations were set up on the school grounds, featuring tractors, balers, lawnmowers, all-terrain vehicles and other equipment commonly found on farms.
Students learned about the dangers associated with agricultural machinery and were shown practical ways to stay safe while working or playing around equipment.
One of the most memorable demonstrations involved a tractor power take-off (PTO) shaft and post-hole auger. Using a straw-filled mannequin, presenters demonstrated how quickly loose clothing can become entangled in moving machinery and why all safety shields and guards must remain in place.
Other stations focused on animal safety, ATV operation, fire prevention, chemical safety, water safety, sun safety, road safety, bicycle safety and lawnmower safety.
Organizers said the goal is to help students recognize potential dangers and develop safe habits that can prevent injuries both on farms and at home.
The annual program continues to receive strong support from local agricultural organizations and volunteers who recognize the importance of teaching safety awareness to the next generation.
Students watch a demonstration showing the dangers of a tractor power take-off (PTO) shaft during Farm Safety Day at Hickson Public School. Using a straw-filled mannequin, presenters demonstrated how quickly clothing can become entangled in moving machinery and emphasized the importance of proper safety guards and precautions.
A second demonstration reinforced the hazards associated with operating equipment around exposed PTO shafts. Students learned why they should never approach moving machinery and should always ensure protective shields are in place.
A local farmer explains safe operating practices around tractors and round balers, reminding students that safety should always take priority, even during busy farming seasons.
Members of the Hickson Fire Department demonstrate fire-safety practices and discuss the importance of smoke alarms, carbon-monoxide detectors and properly maintained fire extinguishers in homes, barns and other buildings.
Horse owner and instructor Elizabeth Burrill teaches students about animal safety. She explained the importance of approaching horses calmly from the front and avoiding sudden movements around large animals.
Students learn about ATV safety and the importance of responsible operation. Presenters stressed that wearing an approved helmet should always be the top priority when riding.
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
(GARY WEST PHOTOS)
iFarm program teaches local students where their food comes from
involved in producing food.
For three days each June, hundreds of grades three and four students from Stratford, St. Marys and across Perth County get a hands-on lesson about agriculture and food production through the annual iFarm education program at the Rotary Complex in Stratford.
The popular program brings together farmers, agricultural organizations and industry volunteers who spend months preparing educational displays and activities designed to help students better understand where their food comes from.
From dairy and beef cattle to pigs, chickens and grain crops, students have the opportunity to meet farmers, see animals up close and learn about the many steps
Organizers say the program plays an important role in connecting young people with agriculture, particularly as fewer children have direct exposure to farming operations.
Throughout the event, students rotate through a series of interactive stations where local farmers and agricultural experts explain modern farming practices, animal care, crop production and food safety.
The annual program continues to be one of the largest agricultural education events in Perth County and provides an opportunity for students to learn directly from the people who produce the food found on grocery store shelves and family dinner tables.
Egg farmers Sally Van Straaten of Sebringville and Julie Wynette of Tavistock explain egg production to local grades three and four students during the iFarm education program at the Rotary Complex in Stratford. The pair discussed the different types of laying-hen housing systems and highlighted the nutritional benefits of eggs as part of a balanced diet.
Dairy farmer Scott McLean of Hibbert Township, along with Judy Hall and Dean Bauman of Milverton and Millbank, explain how milk is produced and collected on modern dairy farms. Students learned about dairy-cow care and the equipment used in today's milking operations.
At the chicken-farming station, Jan O'Rourke of Dublin, Henry Koskamp of Sebringville and Chris Wood of Mitchell discuss poultry nutrition and daily water consumption with students. Many students enthusiastically raised their hands when asked if they enjoyed eating chicken.
Gay Lea Dairy Museum volunteers Haley Fleming, left, and Leah Heard explain the history of dairy farming to students from Romeo Public School in Stratford. Teacher Jacqueline Carter said the iFarm program is one of the most valuable educational experiences of the school year.
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
(GARY WEST PHOTOS)
Wild Hog Country Market celebrates five years of serving the community
GARY WEST Gazette Correspondent
Five years after opening its doors east of Stratford, Wild Hog Country Market is celebrating a milestone anniversary and thanking the customers who have helped make the business a success.
Located on Highway 7/8 east of Stratford, the market has become a popular destination for shoppers looking for locally sourced meats, fresh produce, baked goods and specialty food products.
Owners Marvin and Wendy Bachert, along with their son, Devin, said it is hard to believe five years have passed since the family opened the retail store.
The Bachert family's roots in the meat business go back even further. In 1975, Marvin Bachert's parents, Keith and Janet Bachert, established a butcher shop on the family farm. Janet Bachert, a member of the Bender family, has roots in the Tavistock area.
Today, the original butcher shop near Walton operates as Bachert Meats Inc., owned by the Bacherts' eldest son, Derick, and his wife, Kaitlynn.
Marvin Bachert said the family had long been involved in livestock production and meat processing but recognized the need for a retail outlet where customers could purchase their products directly.
That vision led to the creation of Wild Hog Country Market.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)
Wendy and Marvin Bachert invite customers to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of Wild Hog Country Market east of Stratford. The family-owned business is marking the milestone with special promotions, prize draws and customer-appreciation events throughout the week.
"As we reach this milestone, we would like to sincerely thank all our patrons for the support, loyalty and encouragement that have made Wild Hog Country Market
what it is today," the family said. "We are very grateful to be part of the Stratford and Perth County community."
To mark the anniversary, the market is hosting a week-long celebration from June 16-20 featuring storewide specials, daily prize draws, product samples, ice cream and other surprises for customers.
One anniversary feature is a special burger made from a blend of 50 per-cent beef and 50 per-cent pork. The burgers will be available at discounted pricing throughout the celebration week.
The market is also inviting customers to
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Working and walking among the living!
For thinking I had this day organized, I suddenly have too much to do!”
My wife said this with a huff of exhaustion and a tone of frustration. We’re both nudging 80 and it doesn’t get any easier the older you get if you care to stay involved in the work of living and moving forward.
Just like all other families with kids, a home, a mortgage and property taxes, we had the repetitive cycle of household and workday duties. No complaints! None! We chose our careers and did all the daily work it required, just like anyone else in their chosen line of work needs to.
We looked around and noticed that some people had the financial resources to hire people to do their daily chores for them. Does Wilmot?
Page 11 of last week’s Gazette had an article reporting that Wilmot staff wanted to hire two more people because a consultant hired by the mayor thinks that Wilmot is under-staffed and over-worked. But there’s no money budgeted for 2026 to hire more staff.
In their deliberations Wilmot staff uses comparator municipalities, like Strathroy-Caradoc, for rationale. The assumption is, if Strathroy-Caradoc can do it, then Wilmot should too. However, Strathroy-Caradoc has been doing things differently than Wilmot for a long time. They have an economic development officer who over the years has expanded and diversified their tax base. Thus, Strathroy has the financial capacity that Wilmot does not. They can afford things like a new firehall and fire trucks and staff.
(deputy is extra)
Econ. dev. officer 0 1
Legally, if a mayor chooses with council approval to use optional strong mayor powers then “the mayor must prepare a balanced budget for council’s consideration. The mayor’s budget must include estimates of both expenditures and revenues, including the amounts to be raised from the property tax levy and user fees, as required by law.”
The mayor has been quite proud of herself for unilaterally hiring KPMG to produce a 2026 budget for her. The mayor, it may be assumed, scrutinized the documents, double-checked the data, confirmed its accuracy, signed off on it and proposed it to us on Jan. 9.
But her proposed strong mayor budget was $5.4 million in deficit. The capital budget was $2.176 million in deficit. The water budget was $1 in deficit. The mayor’s proposed budget, already in deficit on Jan. 9, proposed debt financing of $4,865,381. However, the total amount of debt at the end of 2026 will be larger than the debt at the end of 2025. The mayor and senior staff spent January and February scrambling to conjure ways to balance it – with another large tax increase resulting. At one point near the end of deliberations a councillor
participate in a contest called "What Does Wild Hog Mean to You?" Participants are encouraged to submit photos and stories that capture their Wild Hog experience for a chance to win a specially curated gift package.
The Bachert family said they appreciate both longtime customers and those who have recently discovered the market. Whether shoppers have been visiting since opening day or are stopping in for the first time, the family hopes everyone will join them in celebrating five years of business and community support.
asked whether the council could revisit the budget and lower taxes mid-year if KPMG could find savings. The CAO’s response was, “Yes, if you have the courage.” Really? It takes courage to lower taxes? It seems senior staff has the courage to ask to increase base spending mid-year.
My wife and I have been paying property taxes for 49 years so far – about 18 years longer than the mayor has been living. Her worship’s budget, again, increased our property taxes significantly. We had to reduce other spending areas to cover it, and oh yeah, the mayor doesn’t pay property taxes.
If Wilmot wants to hire more people to become comparable to successful places like Strathroy-Caradoc, then maybe we need to match their strategies?
1) Eliminate a deputy CAO.
2) Compensate a CAO more competitively.
3) Hire an economic development officer to expand and diversify our tax base and thus our financial capacity so that we can afford it!
Coun. Wilkinson is quoted in the Gazette article as saying, “I think when you look at what we desire to add to our staffing complement and also taking into account what the tax increases have been over the last number of years, I’m hesitant to want to lock this in.”
Thank you to Coun. Wilkinson for considering those of us who actually do pay the property taxes; for remembering the large tax increase already in this year’s strong mayor’s budget; for remembering that you can’t buy more help to do your work if you don’t have the money in your budget, just like the rest of us.
Barry Wolfe, Baden
Wild Hog Country Market offers a wide selection of fresh produce, meats, dairy products, baked goods and specialty food items. The market is open Tuesday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
NEAT members enjoy breakfast stop at Monkton Diner
Members of the North Easthope Antique Tractor Club gather with staff at the Monkton Diner following breakfast last Thursday. At the back, from left, are Merlin Jantzi, Milo Westlake, Ro Price (partially hidden behind Dwayne Snyder in orange), Ken Dechert and Henry Dietrich. Diner staff include manager and head cook Denise Straiten, Kelly Battams-Trussler and Mary Ellen Ropp. Kneeling in front is Michelle Straiten. The antique Allis-Chalmers 185 tractor in the background is owned and driven by NEAT member Dennis Gerber.
Correspondent
Despite on-and-off rain throughout the morning, a strong turnout of North Easthope Antique Tractor Club (NEAT) members made their way to the Monkton Diner last Thursday for the club's regular breakfast gathering.
Several antique tractors were parked outside the popular restaurant as members enjoyed a hearty breakfast and the opportunity to catch up with fellow enthusiasts.
Guests were treated to a meal featuring bacon, eggs, coffee and the diner's well-known homemade fries, which have
earned a loyal following among local residents and travellers alike.
Many club members agreed the Monkton Diner remains a favourite stop whether they are heading to the lake or returning home.
In addition to its breakfast offerings, the diner is also known for its selection of fresh homemade pastries, baked goods and desserts, which continue to attract visitors from across the region.
The breakfast gathering provided another opportunity for NEAT members to enjoy good food, conversation and a shared appreciation for antique tractors and rural heritage.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Wilmot Lions/Lioness and Pet Valu express gratitude following Dog Guide Walk
The Wilmot Lions/Lioness and Pet Valu wish to thank everyone who donated, enjoyed our barbecue or came out for the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide Walk Sunday, May 31.
The weather was great over the weekend and we enjoyed seeing the dog guides who joined us from New Hamburg, Cambridge, Stratford and Innerkip.
Special thanks to Sean at Sobeys for assisting us with our barbecue on Saturday, May 30, outside their store. Also, thanks to Olivia at Canine Community Corner who was offering dog nail trims on the Sunday.
Joan Bilinsky, Wilmot Lions/Lioness Club
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Respect and courtesy
Respect and courtesy for self, others, others’ property and the environment is a traditional Canadian value which is usually taught and modelled by example in the family home and in the child’s school, place of worship and the community.
Our politicians provincially and federally have not always shown respect to others during House sittings shown on the televised news. Recently, there was a program on TVO implicating disrespect for others during government meetings in Iceland.
They tried something new. Each
member of parliament drew a seat number which they were to sit for that term. It meant that they did not sit with their party members or cronies; they got to know others with different ideas.
This proved to improve the respect of others and efficiency of business at hand in Iceland. Why don’t we try this in Ontario and Ottawa and work together towards a common goal rather than apart with their own agenda?
Sincerely, Anya Donaldson, Braemar Women’s Institute, Hickson
Gazette Puzzles
CELEBRATING FATHERS
Barbecue Best Dad Ever Family
Father's Day
TIGGER
Meet Tigger, our cute resident grump with a big personality. An expert side-eyer, he’s made it clear he values his space. His hobbies include dramatic sighs, the occasional hiss, and keeping a watchful eye on everything around him.
But beneath that spicy exterior is a cat who’s simply overwhelmed. He’s looking for a calm, patient, catsavvy home where trust can grow at his pace. With time, understanding, and a few of his favourite treats, his softer side is starting to shine through bit by bit!
If you believe the best bonds are built slowly, and you have a soft spot for a little sass, Tigger could be your perfect match. Interested in giving this grumpy gentleman his forever home? Meet Tigger at our Stratford Centre or learn more about him at kwsphumane.ca
GARY WEST Gazette
(GARY WEST PHOTO)
Style is something you learn
DRESS SHARP. SPEND SMART.
By Scott Dunstall
Looking through old photographs can be a humbling experience. Most of us have at least one picture that makes us wonder what we were thinking.
Maybe it was a tie wide enough to double as a sail, a jacket with shoulder pads that seemed reasonable at the time, or a shirt that looked fantastic under store lighting and terrible everywhere else. We’ve all had our moments.
The truth is those mistakes are often how personal style develops.
When people hear the word style, they often think about fashion trends, designer labels, or the latest look being promoted online. In reality, personal style has very little to do with any of those things. More often than not, style is the result of learning what works for you as an individual and becoming comfortable with the person looking back at you in
the mirror.
For most of us, that takes time. It starts with understanding fit. Then comes colour. Eventually, we begin to recognize which clothes make us feel comfortable, capable and authentic. Along the way, we buy things because they looked good on someone else or because we were dressing for the person we hoped to become rather than the person standing in the change room.
I had to be honest with myself at one point. I have a dad bod. I was never going to be a ripped fitness model, and that's perfectly fine. Once I stopped buying clothes for the person I imagined I might become and started buying clothes for the person I actually was in mind and body, getting dressed became a lot easier.
One of the biggest lessons people discover is that confidence and style are closely connected.
Clothing does not change who we are, but feeling comfortable with our appearance removes a distraction. When we are not worrying about how we look, we are free to focus on the conversation, the meeting, the event, or the people around us.
Think about the difference between wearing something that never quite feels right and wearing something that fits properly. When clothing is uncomfortable, awkward, or unflattering, we fuss with it throughout the day. When something fits well and suits us, we stop thinking about it. I’ve got tons of things in my closet that I thought would be a great pairing for things I already had. Many of those were a bust. That’s when I learned not to take the tags off until I could match that piece into three different looks (flashes, if you recall).
Style is also highly personal. A retired teacher, a small business owner, a farmer, a tradesperson and an accountant may all have different wardrobes and still be well dressed. Style is not about wearing the same thing as everyone else. It is about understanding yourself well enough to make choices that reflect who you are and how you live.
That self awareness can influence more than appearance. It may help in a job interview, a
presentation, a first date, a sales call, or a community event. Confidence does not guarantee success, but it often gives people the courage to put themselves in situations where success becomes possible.
People rarely remember the exact details of what someone was wearing. They remember how that person carried themselves. They remember whether the person seemed comfortable, approachable and at ease. Good style usually works quietly in the background. It supports confidence without demanding attention for itself.
Colour is another area where a small adjustment can make a real difference. Many people wear the same colours for years simply because they like them. Then they find a shade that suits them better and suddenly friends start asking if they have been on vacation or if they’re getting more sleep.
One final lesson is not to become too attached to the number on a clothing tag. Depending on the brand, a person can somehow be three different sizes while standing in the same change room on the same afternoon. At some point, common sense has to take over. If it fits well and looks good, the number matters far less than the result.
Perhaps that is why style
do some places in Waterloo Region keep calling you back? ... because they were designed for connection.
remains important regardless of age. It is not reserved for young people, professionals, or those with large clothing budgets. It is available to anyone willing to learn a little more about themselves. The process may take years and continue to evolve throughout life, but that is part of what makes it worthwhile.
In the end, personal style is less about clothing than it is about self knowledge. It comes from understanding what suits you and carrying that confidence into the rest of your life.
Scott Dunstall has been on a stylistic journey for over 10 years. His belief is that every guy has a style of their own. When it’s discovered, it empowers and builds confidence. Scott has appeared several times on Rogers TV Kitchener as a guest on DAYTIME. His writing has been republished by LinkedIn Top Influencer and INC. Magazine contributing editor Jeff Haden. He has also written several pieces for the Baden Outlook. You can follow Scott on Instagram @everydaystylebyscott or on LinkedIn @scottdunstall or Life & Style Wilmot on Facebook. Feel free to ask questions or propose collaborations: everydaystylebyscott1@gmail.com.
Vital Ideas®: Social Infrastructure and Places is a new report from Waterloo Region Community Foundation that explores how our region can design, invest in, and protect the places that bring people together. Written in partnership with Lead Author and Researcher Dr. Troy Glover, it includes research, community stories, and actions you can take.
Thank you to our sponsors
Green bean goodness
HEAPS OF HEALTHY TIPS
By Mercedes Kay Gold
Fresh garden goodness begins with the simplicity of the underrated and often forgotten green bean.
Health experts love shouting from the mountain tops about fresh, local produce in a variety of rainbow colours and this holistic nutritionist is no different. Green beans are nutritious, low calorie and low carbohydrate, making them an ideal option for heaps of health concerns.
Green beans technically come in other colours, yellow or purple, and contain just 31 calories in a cup. They are low in carbohydrates thanks to phenomenal fiber. Green beans are crazy high in vitamin K, best friend to vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin. Ample K is key to calcium absorption and your fast pass to strong bones.
Most people run to citrus for vitamin C, but green beans have you covered in this crucial immune boosting vitamin. Green beans are also known for B9, folate and even non-heme iron.
Supporting digestion is a snap with fiber-filled beans. Besides speeding up transit time, fiber
is a friend for those looking to control blood sugar. Stabilizing blood sugar helps you feel fuller longer, avoiding the ups and downs of energy surges and crashes throughout the day. A happy belly means no “hangry” outbursts.
Fresh farm-to-table green beans are rad raw or super steamed. Their simplicity allows chefs to come up with countless culinary creations to tempt the taste buds. From casserole to sauteed side dishes and even pickled, green beans are one vegetable that very few consider a yuck food. What sets your taste buds on fire? Sweet or savoury? Top green beans with dried cranberries for a smidge of sugar love, and for a tad of tartness, try a squeeze of lemon and grated zest – nutritious and delicious plus a burst of cold prevention – to oven-roasted beans.
Summer barbecues are a bevy of grilled meat, but with the growing number of plant-based lovers, one super salad is crucial at cookouts. Steam green beans and after a short ice bath, chop and combine with a can of mixed
beans. Top with a splash of olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Green beans are easy to grow, available at farmers markets and won’t break the bank.
Tired of the same mundane meals. Here’s my nutritious lunch for one and the reasons your body will reap the benefits. Green beans are the base. Feel free to eat beans to your heart’s desire. Let’s add protein power. Right now, sardines are all the rage. They are chock full of creatine, a one stop supplement for muscles and cognitive. Tuna, wild salmon and mackerel are also options. Focus on whole foods. Stay clear of seed oils. They cause inflammation and lead to disease. Staying satisfied, fueling the body and flooding cells with vital vitamins and minerals is always the goal. Proteins, carbohydrates and fats, better known as macros, are the mission of menu planning.
Carbohydrates found in conventional breads and pasta should be avoided. Type-2 diabetes is manmade and can be controlled through diet. Choosing fresh produce in lieu of bread and pasta as carbohydrates is key to regulating blood sugar. Indulging in a few potatoes is no problem when combined with the power of protein and healthy fats. Leave the skin on extra fiber and trace minerals.
Keep in mind, for optimal health, adults should aim to eat one gram of protein per pound of body weight. This powerhouse
lunch is almost 40 grams. Fall in love with this simple salad for one! What you choose to eat adds quality years to your life.
Ingredients:
• 1-2 cups of fresh green beans blanched in hot water until bright green and then placed briefly in an ice bath
• *1 can of sardines in olive oil
• 6-8 cherry tomatoes
• 3-4 anchovies
• 1 medium potato steamed or roasted then cut into chunks
• 2 medium hardboiled eggs cut in half
• 4-6 kalamata olives
• Fresh dill
*Drain the oil into bowl and mix with two tablespoons of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, fresh chopped dill, Himalayan pink salt and pepper to taste.
Happy June and joyous eating.
My first mammogram – and why it mattered more than I expected
more personal than that.
I'll be honest; I was nervous about my first mammogram.
Booking the appointment wasn't the problem; actually showing up was. Nearly every woman I spoke with had warned me it would be uncomfortable, and some described it as downright painful. By the time my appointment arrived, I had built it up in my head far more than I probably should have.
But when I walked into Stratford General Hospital, met the friendly technologist and sat in a waiting room filled with women wearing matching pink gowns, I felt surprisingly at ease. More than anything, I felt grateful to live in a country where preventative screening like this is available at no cost.
There's something about the word "screening" that makes it sound passive, like you're simply being checked over and sent on your way. In reality, it feels much
The Ontario Breast Screening Program provides publicly funded mammograms for eligible people across the province.
One of the biggest recent changes is that people aged 40-74 can now self-refer, meaning they no longer need a doctor's referral to book a screening mammogram. The province estimates that change alone could connect approximately one million additional Ontarians to breast cancer screening.
It's a significant public health step, especially when you consider how common breast cancer is. It remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among Canadian women, and early detection can dramatically improve outcomes.
According to Cancer Care Ontario, when breast cancer is detected at Stage 1, the five-year relative survival rate is nearly 100 per cent. That number drops significantly when cancer is found in later stages, making early detection one of the most
powerful tools available.
Across Ontario, approximately 700,000 screening mammograms are performed each year through the Ontario Breast Screening Program at more than 240 screening locations. Those sites include hospitals and community imaging centres serving Stratford and communities throughout Perth, Huron and Waterloo Region.
For decades, screening programs focused primarily on people over 50 because the majority of breast cancers are diagnosed in that age group. But the conversation around screening is evolving, and, according to ontario.ca, lowering the self-referral age to 40 removes an important barrier for many women who previously needed to navigate the health-care system to access screening.
Sitting in that waiting room, I thought about how many women I know who have postponed this appointment for years, not because they don't care about their health,
but because life gets busy and screening doesn't feel urgent until suddenly it does.
I also thought about how little we talk about what the experience is actually like – the vulnerability, anticipation and the anxiety that creeps in while you're waiting for your name to be called.
What surprised me most wasn't the mammogram itself. It was realizing that screening isn't just about finding disease early. It's about making a conscious decision to participate in your own health before something goes wrong.
You're not waiting for symptoms. You're not hoping for the best. You're choosing to look when nothing feels wrong.
In a health-care system built around early detection, the hardest step is often the first, booking the appointment, but once you do, you're taking the first step in managing your own health.
To learn more about early detection, visit www.ontario.ca/page/ breast-cancer-testing-and-prevention.
(MERCEDES KAY GOLD PHOTO)
A bevy of healthy and delicious green beans is the base for the spectacular summer salad.
AMANDA NELSON Gazette Reporter
The unusual contrasts in Monaco
OH, THE PLACES WE'LL GO
By Paul Knowles
The Principality of Monaco is truly a country of contrasts. But those contrasts don’t fit into the usual categories implied by that cliché. This is not a place of disparity between rich and poor, nor a country with a variety of striking landscapes.
The contrasts here are perhaps unique to this tiny nation. We encountered them as we were hosted on a Mediterranean Sea cruise aboard the Viking Sea, one of Viking’s small, ocean-going vessels.
First of all, there is no contrast between rich and poor here because to live in Monaco, you have to be rich. Our guide simply stated, “So many millionaires and billionaires are living here!”
As we explored Monaco on foot, our guide explained that virtually all the workers commute from somewhere else. About 40,000 arrive each morning and return home outside the tiny nation’s borders each night.
That number of commuters presents one of the contrasts because the out-of-country workers slightly outnumber the people who actually live in Monaco, a nation with a total population of only 39,000.
It gets odder; of those 39,000 people, only 9,000 are passport-carrying citizens. The rest are “residents,” people who have demonstrated they have sufficient financial assets to live in this country.
This is an independent nation with a population only slightly larger than the city of Stratford, Ont. To carry on that comparison for a minute, Stratford, an important Canadian tourist destination, draws about 600,000 visitors a year. Monaco’s annual visitor count reaches seven million.
Some of those visitors arrive on mega-yachts. Others arrive in the kinds of automobiles that cause gearheads to do triple-takes. Many are taxied in – but by helicopter –from nearby Nice airport. Nice, of course, is in France, but that’s not surprising because Monaco covers only 2.2 square kilometres. So, if you are standing anywhere in Monaco and looking up at the hillsides above the country, you are looking at France or, to the immediate east, at Italy.
Monaco is the second-smallest independent nation in the world
(only the Vatican is smaller), but there are four administrative districts in this 2.2-square-kilometre place. The most famous of which is Monte Carlo, home to the Monte Carlo Casino, which draws heavy duty gamblers from all over the world, and features in many movies, including James Bond epics.
But here’s another unique thing in this country of contrasts; while the 30,000 “residents” are welcome to gamble in the casino, the 9,000 citizens are forbidden to do so, which seems to suggest there may be an inherent caution about gambling in this country which is built on that very thing.
And that is the truth; there is no income tax in Monaco. The country runs on the income from the casino, as well as value-added tax (a hefty number when visitors number in the millions).
That hasn’t always been the case. Monaco has been ruled for seven centuries by the Grimaldi family. They conquered it and have run the nation ever since. At times during those centuries, the country verged on bankruptcy, but in 1865, the royal family founded the casino and in doing so, solved the nation’s money problems in perpetuity.
Today’s ruler is Prince Albert II. And therein lies another intriguing contrast. Albert and virtually all Monégasques (the name for citizens) are devoutly Roman Catholic. In the heart of the community – discreetly distant from the casino but near the royal palace – is the modern Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate. Pope Leo XIV made an apostolic visit to Monaco earlier this year. So, Monaco is Catholic
to its core.
And yet it is common knowledge that while Albert and his wife, Charlene, Princess of Monaco, have twin children, he is also the admitted father of two other children, born to two other women.
And when it comes to the twins, another contrast is apparent. This apparently modern country, which hosts Formula One race cars and sundry state-of-the-art mega-yachts, is run on rules that date back to the Middle Ages. The twins are Alexandre Grimaldi and Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, but the heir to the throne is inevitably Alexandre, because when it comes to royalty in Monaco, males rule. And neither of Albert’s other two children should even dream about inheriting the throne because in this uber-conservative Roman Catholic nation, that is unthinkable.
Let’s go back to the cathedral and to Albert’s daughter for a moment. The girl’s middle name is no accident – her grandmother was the legendary Hollywood star Grace Kelly, who left her thriving acting career while still in her 20s to marry Prince Ranier III. They were Albert’s parents.
Both are buried in the cathedral. Visitors can stroll behind the high altar to view a semi-circle of Grimaldi family tombs, the latest being those of Grace, who died in a car crash in 1982, and Ranier, who passed away in 2005.
We pondered, for a moment, this contrast between the glamour of Hollywood and the antiquated medieval reality of this unusual country. And then we strolled to a scenic lookout to view $500-million yachts and the route of the Monaco Grand Prix. And we quickly realized there is no other nation like this on the face of the earth.
Paul Knowles is an author and travel writer, and past president of the Travel Media Association of Canada. To contact Paul about travel, his books, or speaking engagements, email pknowles@ golden.net.
(PAUL KNOWLES PHOTOS)
The marina in Monaco hosts multiple mega-yachts. The famed casino is the building with the arches and the dark roof above the right-hand boats.
A statue of the late Princess Grace in the beautiful gardens dedicated in her honour.
The Monaco Grand Prix runs beside the harbour; stands are set up along the route.
The Royal Palace of Monaco, home of current ruler, Prince Albert II, and his family.
‘If it be
man's work, I'll do't.’ – Shakespeare
VINTAGE VIEWS
By Tim Mosher Tavistock and District Historical Society
William Shakespeare had it right in his play, Macbeth, when he mused about labour. Four hundred years later, these photos from the Lemp Studio Collection, housed at the Tavistock and District Historical Society, illustrate a mixture of clothing styles, tools of the trade and approaches to taking pictures of working people.
The staff photo of the milling company is rich with details as it captures the men and women in their work attire in a carefully arranged, professional studio picture. Three men and two women in the front row no doubt were employed in the front office, hence the formal clothes and no hats.
The other 16 employees are all dressed for their labour jobs in the mill wearing various hats to keep the flour out of their hair, akin to bakers' caps. One man is particularly dapper in the centre on the far right as he's wearing a tie, vest and a white news boy cap leaning against the wall. The man in the centre and the co-worker on his left hold, respectively, a small, difficult-to-see wrench and a heavy pipe wrench.
What made them think to bring these tools to this photo studio upstairs a few streets away from the mill? I don't know, but what great initiative!
I didn't put photo credits under any of these pictures because it's difficult to say who the photographer(s) were. This is because they're in the transition period between Tavistock's earliest group of photographers, all short term and some itinerant, from 18751905 and John “Jack” Lemp, the village photographer who built his own studio and captured local life for four decades starting in 1905.
It's possible, too, that when Mr. Lemp first set up his drug store and photo business, he used one or perhaps both of the earlier photographers' two studios on Woodstock Street. Later, he constructed his own studio at the back of his drug store, upstairs, on Hope Street a short distance away.
taken by multiple photographers or maybe just one, with a single purpose or vision that today we can only guess. In Hamlet, the character, Horatio, was skeptical, suggesting the world has mysteries beyond our understanding.
Despite the massive number of glass negatives being called "The Lemp Studio Collection," the photographers who pre-date Lemp and a few post-Lemp picture takers make up part of the 4,000-strong trove of analog images. It appears that among the early photographers, each one acquired the negatives of his predecessor and their predecessors.
“Jack” Lemp's negatives are by far the most numerous in the collection, hence it's named after him. His son, Lenny, took over the pharmacy but not the photo business but, very importantly, kept the entire collection of negatives in his store attic from about 1950 to 1977. If a fire or tornado destroyed the Lemp building, the village's photo history would be a paltry shadow of what it is today. Hats off to the saving habits of these generations of businessmen!
Not many small communities can say they have an archive of original photo material that goes back almost 150 years. Tavistock is very fortunate.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the six small photos is the question, “Why were they taken?” All of the workers are not at their jobs. Rather, they had an appointment with the photographer, had to make their way to his studio, climb the stairs and pose, but they're not typical advertising pictures, nor are they formal due to their grubby work ware.
What does one do with a posed photo of people set against an artificial, painted background and often dressed in their everyday, soiled work clothes? It's not exactly something that you'd have framed and sitting on the mantel for the visiting parson to admire over a cup of tea.
The purpose of the group photo of the 21 mill workers is evident though; it's either a for-the-record type of picture or perhaps used in advertising.
I looked carefully for photos of women in scruffy work wear in the Lemp Studio Collection; alas there are none.
Maybe all these photos were
The last History Mystery: The question was, "What can you see in the Arlington (Hotel) barroom that dates this picture to post 1915?" The first reader to answer this correctly was Marilyn Pearson of Tavistock. She wrote, "Hydro power was finally brought into Tavistock from Stratford in 1916," so the three electric lights hanging from the ceiling clearly date the photo to after 1915.
This week's History Mystery: In the photo of the Tavistock Milling Company staff, what hint says this group photo was not taken in John “Jack” Lemp's photo studio at the back of his Hope Street pharmacy?
Unidentified labourers in work boots, coveralls, gloves and pipes in place. The man on the right is wearing two pairs of pants and his hat is cocked at such a rakish angle that it gives him a slightly roguish look.
This is an unusual portrait because men didn't typically wear a suit to deliver milk! Only his dusty shoes might be fitting for this position. The bowler hat and stiff linen add-on collar lend an odd formality to this unidentified man.
This dour looking unidentified man holding a trowel, wearing work pants and sporting a chin curtain beard looks as though he doesn't enjoy having his photo taken. He's sitting on a late Victorian Eastlake-style parlor bench.
Two unidentified men, again, not in their Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes. The weather and the studio were likely cool, considering their thick layers. The fur rug and painted backdrop are in a number of photos from this period.
Henry Schmidt poses as you might expect a milk delivery man to be dressed on a cool day. The leather satchel hanging at his side no doubt had his list of customers and cash to use for change. His horse, carriage and ice box await him.
Again, two men – possibly brothers – pose with pipes in mouths, coveralls with cuffs turned up, rubber boots, caps and gloves against the same backdrop as Henry Schmidt, the milk man.
The staff of the Tavistock Milling Company gathered for this group photo in a Tavistock photographer's studio. A collective fashion shot spanning overalls to wing-tip collars and a toy horse. Back row, left to right: ?, Elton Krantz, Arthur Ratz, Sam Ratz, John Pfeiffer, Bill Ratz, Charlie Mohr. Middle row: ?, Henry Wilker, Jake Lingner, John Keutsch, John Hahn, Adam Davis, E. Bowman. Front row: Jack Phillips, Clarence Kaercher, Christina Ratz, manager Adam E. Ratz, Mabel Ratz, Bert Ratz, J. Raun.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Tavistock Mens Club Meeting
Dinner at 6.15 p.m.
Welcome to attend. Phone: 519-655-3573 Website: tavistockmensclub.ca
78 Woodstock St N
Wellesley special Council meeting
5:45 p.m. Council chambers
4805 William Hastings Line, Crosshill
FRIDAY, 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 by clicking on "Events and Fundraising" at: info@tchi.ca River Valley Golf Club
4725 1 Line, St. Marys
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Quilters Estate Garage Sale
8 a.m.
All Proceeds to Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth. Contact Linda for more information 519-272-7783.
Plattsville's 175 Anniversary Celebration
10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Shakespeare Presbyterian Church (located at the lights in Shakespeare)
Join us for: Firefighter Breakfast 10 a.m., Heritage Displays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Portraits of Honour, 12 noon Parade, Opening Ceremony 1 p.m., Car & Tractor Show 1-4 p.m., Live Music & Entertainment 2-10 p.m., Kids Activities, Vendor Market, Lions BBQ and the grand finale, an 18 minute Drone Show at 9:45 p.m. Free admission. Fun for all ages. Thanks to our Platinum Sponsors - Canadian Heritage and North Blenheim Mutual Insurance celebrating 165 years. www.plattsvilledistrictheritagesociety. com
Plattsville Park and Arena
68 Mill St E, Plattsville
Tavistock & District Historical Society Museum Open
1-4 p.m. (other times by appointment) Email: info@tavistockhistory.ca or call 519-6553334. All welcome.
37 Maria Street, Tavistock
MONDAY, JUNE 22
Food Trucks at Grace United Church Tavistock
4:30-7:30 p.m.
Berlin 95, Born2Eat, El Milagro, Ish n Chips Donations to TAP, Tavistock Assistance Program 116 Woodstock St. S. Tavistock Garden Wilmot visits Deep Purple Lavender Farm.
6:30 p.m.
Join us for a guided walk of the farm, nestled in a scenic valley with a wooded ravine, located south of Embro. FREE for GW members. For more info: https://wilmothortsociety.ca
Wilmot Council meeting
7-10 p.m.
Council chambers
60 Snyder’s Road W., Baden
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Oxford Philatelic Society
7-9 p.m.
If you have never belonged to a stamp club, now’s the time. Meet new friends, grow your knowledge and collection.
Contact: Don Eaton dhfe@silomail.com
Website: http://www.rpsc.org/chapters/oxford Church of the Epiphany
560 Dundas Street, Woodstock Ontario N4S 1C7
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
TOPS - Taking off Pounds Sensibly Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Contact Cathie 519-662-9273
St James Church, Baden
Community Care Concepts Lunch and Fellowship
12 p.m.
Please register by June 19 by calling 519-664-1900 or Toll Free: 1-855-664-1900 Linwood Community Centre, 5279 Ament Line, Linwood Wednesday Walks in Wilmot's Wonderful Woods with Louis 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Spend a pleasant evening strolling and learning about a few of the trees from their bark –burnt corn flakes, grey fettuccine. You’ll also have an audience with royalty. Registration and Details: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/ lets-tree-wilmot-34384003923
Walker Woods
2107 Walker Road, New Hamburg
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
5 Corners Summer Sips - Tavistock Fall Fair
Fundraiser
2 p.m. to Midnight
Get ready for a full-blown summer party with craft brews, food trucks and live music. Familyfriendly event. Kids 12 and under free. Visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/5corners-summer-sips for tickets. Early bird ticket special until June 1.
Tavistock & District Recreation Centre
1 Adam St, Tavistock
Explore Downtown New Hamburg’s Pageant of Trees with Louis 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
There is a pageant of a wide variety of tree species, and some of them are spectacular! Stroll along the sidewalks to see dozens of different trees. If we’re lucky, we can enjoy the fragrance of the Little Leaf Linden flowers. Registration and Details: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/ lets-tree-wilmot-34384003923
Kirkpatrick Park 122 Wilmot Street, New Hamburg
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Block Party Sunday
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Join us for an outdoor service at 11:00, followed by a Free BBQ, Cotton Candy, Games, Bouncy Castle, and more! This FREE, family-friendly event is for everyone in the community. For more information, find us online: www. facebook.com/tavistock.church
Tavistock Missionary Church
77 Mogk St, Tavistock, ON N0B 2R0
MONDAY, JUNE 29
Food Trucks at Grace United Church
Tavistock
4:30-7:30 p.m.
Pablas Street of India, Swat, Fo Cheezy Donations to TAP, Tavistock Assistance Program 116 Woodstock St. S. Tavistock
THURSDAY, JULY 2
East Zorra-Tavistock Council meeting
9 a.m.
Council Chambers
89 Loveys Street East, Hickson
TUESDAY, JULY 7
Wellesley Council meeting
6:45 p.m.
Council chambers
4805 William Hastings Line, Crosshill
FRIDAY, JULY 10
Optimist Club of Tavistock Friday Night Fries
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Optimist Food Trailer
Tavistock Optimist Park
MONDAY, JULY 13
Food Trucks at Grace United Church Tavistock
4:30-7:30 p.m.
SWAT, Pablas Street of India, Beavertails
Donations to Grace United Church
116 Woodstock St. S. Tavistock
TUESDAY, JULY 14
Perth East council meeting
7 p.m.
Council chambers
25 Mill Street East, Milverton
EVERY WEDNESDAY
TOPS - Taking off Pounds Sensibly
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Contact Cathie 519-662-9273
St James Church, Baden Euchre Night
Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
New Hamburg Legion
65 Boulee St., New Hamburg
FREE SENIORS ACTIVITIES
Tavistock Seniors Pickleball
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 12-4 p.m.
Contact: Don Junker 519-535-7052
Tavistock Memorial Hall, 1 Adam St.
Tavistock Seniors Card Games
Monday drop in 1-4 p.m.
Contact: Bob Routly 519-301-2118
Tavistock Memorial Hall, 1 Adam St.
VON Senior Exercise Drop-In Standing Class
Tuesday and Thursday 9-10 a.m.
To register contact 519-539-1231 ext. 6319
Tavistock Memorial Hall, 1 Adam St.
VON Senior Exercise Drop-In Sitting Class
Tuesday and Thursday 10:25-11:25 a.m.
To register contact 519-539-1231 ext. 6319
Village Manner, 98 Woodstock St., Tavistock
TAVISTOCK & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM DISPLAYS
Museum Display: "25th Tournament of the Tavistock World Crokinole Championship". Open 7 days a week until June 22
Tavistock & District Recreation Centre (arena lobby), 2 Adam Street, Tavistock Museum Display: "The Glasgow Warehouse" Can be viewed anytime
Tavistock Home Hardware (Front window), 24 Woodstock Street S., Tavistock Museum Display: “Heritage of Hickson Post Office”
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm runs until July 13
EZT Township Administration Building (lobby), 89 Loveys Street, Hickson
PLATTSVILLE & DISTRICT HERITAGE SOCIETY
Plattsville & District Heritage Society exhibit "Holidays & Celebrations That Bring Us Together"
June 6 to September 19 | Saturdays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Donations accepted. Refreshments. Contact plattsvilledistrictheritage@gmail.com or call 519.535.1417. Archive & Museum at Chesterfield, 816661 Oxford Rd 22, Bright SAUERKRAUT SALES
Tavistock Men's Club Sauerkraut Sales Wednesday, June 17 & June 24, 4-6 p.m. Saturday, June 20 and June 27, 11-2 p.m. 2 1/2 lb bag @ $5.00 per bag Call (519) 655-3573 or email info@ tavistockmensclub.ca
Tavistock Men’s Club building (rear) 78 Woodstock St N, Tavistock, ON
FOR SALE
6 Bose speakers $300, Fire Table like new $300 or $350 with the tank, Electric Fireplace 1500Watts with remote $250, Ladies 24" 18 gear Mountain Bike like new #100, $40 Planer, 16" scroll saw with table $40, Miter saw stand brand new in box $75, Worx table new in bow $75, Everlast heavy bag with 2 pairs of gloves $50, NordicTrack treadmill $300, accordion imported from Italy needs minor repair best offer. Contact Joe 519-242-7904
FOR SALE
Shade Trees; Maples, Oaks, Birch, Beech, Honey Locusts, Elms, Magnolia, Hydrangea Tree, Tulip Tree, Crab apples, Ivory Silk Lilac, Chanticleer Pear, Golden Weeping Willows and more. Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Apricots, Nectarine, Blueberry, Haskap etc. Lots of healthy strong Spruce, Cedars and White Pine for your privacy hedges and windbreaks. Hundred of flowering shrubs. Reg Hours 7am6pm Mon-Sat at Martins Nursery c/o Emanuel Martin. 42661 Orangehill Rd., Wroxeter, ON
LOOKING FOR
Senior living in central Tavistock looking for person to do light housekeeping including laundry once a month. Also need bi-weekly grocery shop. Fair compensation for gas & time (Cash). If interested, please call 519-655-3595 to schedule a meet and greet. Suitable candidate will be notified by phone.
PETS FOR SALE
SIBERIAN HUSKIES FOR SALE.
Home of Disney “Snow Dog.” Over 60 years experience. Colour choices. Vaccinated. Micro-Chipped. Intelligent. Excellent temperament. Loveable companion pets. BOARDING for all breeds. Pet supplies. OKIOK KENNEL , 35619 Salem Rd., Parkhill (near Mt. Carmel). 519-294-0494 No Texts.
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.
CLASSIFIED ADS
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
FOR SALE: 1968 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. VIN #158655397. Mileage 1686 miles. Coach built by Karmann in Germany. Yellow with a Black soft top. Chrome bumpers, running boards, front quarter vent windows, soft top & tonneau cover, vented decklid and dual "Pea Shooter" exhaust outlets. Body and paint in very good condition. Convertible top and tonneau cover are in "new" condition.
Factory 2 spoked wheel with a 1/2 horn ring, and a Wolfsburg crest center cap. Floor vent. Factory VDO speedometer.
Glass is in good condition including the glass rear window. Tires are 165 R15 86T Wide Track black walls in "new" condition. They are all mounted on factory chrome hubcaps.
The engine is a rear mounted 1.5 litre horizontally opposed OHV air cooled 4 cylinder with a single carburettor. Aftermarket NAPA battery under the rear seat (factory correct). Engine bay is clean with new firewall insulation. Single exhaust system with dual chrome tip outlets in good condition. The trunk floor and surrounding carpet/panels are in very good condition. A full size spare tire with rim in very good condition, believed to be original. Undercarriage, floor boards are all in good condition. Safety Standards Certificate completed in July 2025 and disc brakes replaced at that time. Original owners manual available. Vehicle appraisal report completed in August 2025. Replacement value put at $22,500 at that time by Collector Auto Appraisals in Kitchener. Used Vehicle Information Package states 2 previous owners, 0 liens. If interested, contact Tricia Wettlaufer at: tricia.wettlaufer@gmail.com
