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Vol. 8

No. 3

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

MARCH 2021

No local news: why you should care Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pd gmedia.ca Full disclosure; I have been a contributor, columnist, and reporter for area news media for the last 40 years. I have written for the Ottawa Citizen, Postmedia, Metroland Media, Hometown News and Lake 88 radio news.

While our current Covid-19 pandemic has wrought havoc and devastation across a wide range of businesses and organizations, local news media have been suffering for much longer and many information outlets have either disappeared completely or drastically reduced their output. Some point to the practices of large corporations such as Facebook and Google as contributing factors, as these firms benefit financially from advertising revenues without compensating news facilities for their content. The recent legislation in Australia to address this, The News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code, became law on Wednesday Feb 24. This rule forces the web giants to pay for news content on their sites, but a rush of major news organizations (Private Media, Schwartz Media and Solstice Media) to ink their own deals with Facebook recently seems destined to leave small and medium sized groups out in the cold. The Australian law was heavily opposed by Facebook who took the unprecedented step of blocking all news content in that country on their site in February. Canada, and the rest of the world, are watching these developments carefully, and similar laws are expected to be enacted in a number of countries in the near future.

The Canadian government has pledged support for news groups, but many in the industry fear that, like in Australia, small players will be forgotten. Most Canadian newspapers took a bold step to highlight this crisis on Feb 4 by printing blank front pages.

So, what’s all this got to do with you sourcing credible news on local issues? The answer: more than you’d think. Take for example, our current pandem-

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ic. If you go online and search for Covid-19 information, your device might likely crash from the overload of details from a seemingly limitless number of sources; many credible ones and also many questionable groups.

Sorting through the jungle to find out what’s relevant to us, as well as what’s accurate, is a daunting task. Local journalists and reporters have been able to provide focus because they live and work in our communities and have a keen insight on what matters to area residents.

Coverage of municipal government activities is another area of concern. At one time (when in-person meetings were allowed) almost every local council meeting permitted questions from the press and the public without the need to preregister as a delegation. In fact, Montague Township Reeve, Bill Dobson made it his practise of asking for questions of those in attendance at the end of every session. Now it seems that municipal administrators and elected representatives work harder at crafting the ‘right’ message rather than taking on controversial topics live and in person.

There’s no doubt that how people access their news and information has evolved. Printed pages seem to be continually losing favour compared to online deliveries, as just about all of us carry an advanced computer in our pockets in the form of a smartphone. And news outlets have evolved to meet this change, but they still need feet on the ground to research and ask hard questions to get the information that the public deserves and needs.

When these dedicated and talented types are forced out the door, all we will be left with is rehashed press releases that are completely one-sided, meaning less independent news. So what can we do?

First, support your local news organizations. Shop at their retail advertisers and let them know where you saw their promotions and learned of their businesses. If and when pay-

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walls are present for local news, put your pennies down (it really is that cheap). Trusted, credible news costs money to produce and represents real value to consumers. Don’t depend on major news groups to supply information on local issues. They have reduced their range and you’ll seldom find anything more than a few paragraphs on topics outside of their large urban centres.

Our public health lock-downs and restrictions have created a boon for international online retailers such as Amazon and have decimated local businesses. Remember, Amazon won’t be supplying uniforms and equipment for local youth sports organizations or financing local initiatives and charities.

We are really all in this together and if local news disappears we will only have to look in the mirror to find the cause. Remember, open democratic governments can only exist and really serve their constituents when there are independent news groups covering their actions.

Photo credit: News Media Canada

Lake 88 changes ownership

Photo credit: facebook.com/lake88fm

Perth - Brian Turner editorial@pd gmedia.ca On February 26th, Lake 88 Radio’s co-owner Brian Perkin announced that the 14 year old independent FM station, located in Perth, was being sold to the My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) media company, headquartered in Renfrew. The sale is pending approval from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission and is expected to finalize on May 1st. Perkin owns the station with his wife Jennifer, hav-

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ing taken full ownership from its co-founder Norm Wright when he retired in 2014.

MBC operates 21 radio stations in Ontario, several within listening range, broadcasting from Renfrew, Gananoque, Pembroke, and Arnprior. Lake 88’s press release noted that Perkin would be staying on as station manager for two years till his retirement, and no immediate changes in programming or staff were planned.

In his statement, Perkin commented that it was an extremely difficult decision to make and

that he had become very attached to the staff, listeners, and advertisers. He took pride in building the station from scratch and developing it into a trusted and accessible service used by so many.

He added, “MBC is a well-respected broadcaster with many of the same values that Lake 88 has embraced over the years. These include a strong commitment to the coverage of local news and information and a dedication to maintaining a real presence in the community. We felt MBC’s long-term strategy was the right fit for Lake 88.”

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A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So let's all choose to challenge.

How will you help forge a gender equal world?

Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

March 8, 2021

#ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021

New owner for Carleton Place Canadians Junior A's Perth - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca

On May 1st, a new owner takes over the helm of the Carleton Place Canadians Junior A team. Brent Sullivan from Dunrobin (born and raised in Carp) has been a fixture in hockey in the Ottawa Valley and environs for most of his life and took some time out of a busy schedule to talk with Hometown News about this new venture.

Sullivan has a strong history in the game having been a defenceman with the Brockville Braves and Sarnia Sting and Carleton University Ravens. Due to some repeat injuries, he turned to coaching and has spent the last 5 years behind the bench for the University of Ottawa Gee Gees as an associate coach.

To say he’s excited about the prospect of heading up the Canadians would be an understatement. He sees this as a great opportunity to continue the winning legacy of Jason Clarke which includes 4 Bogart Cups, 3 Fred Cage cups along with 3 consecutive trips to the national Junior A championships.

He’s had the time to start connecting with local businesses and organizations and says the corporate support for the Canadians is incredible. He plans on having lots of conversations to introduce himself to Carleton Place. He and his fiance are in the midst of relocating to Almonte.

The current renovations of the Neelin Street Arena are another big plus for Sullivan and the team, as is the unprecedented growth

of the town. Asked how the team acquisition came to be, he said he’s known Clarke for years as Eastern Ontario hockey really is a small world and one conversation led to another and before he knew it, he was the new owner.

He’s looking forward to building new relationships and contacts with the community. The players are keeping their skills honed and improving them with daily practices and scheduled developmental scrimmages against other teams, proving that even in the middle of a pandemic, some Canadian traditions continue. The season start date hasn’t yet been finalized, but Sullivan knows that he and his team will be ready, bringing another season of excitement to fans and players alike.

opinion: Am I the only one?

Carrie Wynne

Don’t Play Victim

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I have no idea how to have a caring conversation with someone who always plays the victim card. Am I the only one? Victims feel sorry for themselves and blame other people. Yes of course there are genuine victims that we must help.

Then there are fake victims who have this underlying envy and an inventory of excuses for why they can’t have what they want. People who can’t see the forest for the trees have a thick layer of denial. That’s a hole I won’t be climbing

into anytime soon. I recognize that every situation requires a response from me and although my first impulse may be to blame someone else or feel sorry for myself, I remind myself that it will not give me what I want. At some point you have to jump into the driver’s seat and create the life you want rather than make excuses for why your life is unsatisfying.

A victim mentality lets you take the moral high ground. All it really is, if you look at it, is the refusal to take responsibility for the circumstances you find yourself in. Suppose that you were mistreated by your spouse or unfairly fired from a job. If you blame it on your wife or

your boss, you create your own misery and give away your power.

The road to victory lies in the paths we take and although it is tempting to blame others and make excuses it will not ultimately give us what we want. I guess what I’m saying is if you want a different life take responsibility for creating it. Stop waiting for others to fulfill you. Take matters into your own hands. Fight for the life you want and as Winston Churchill said, “if you’re going through hell keep going.”

Am I the only one?

The opinions stated in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hometown News’ management, staff or writers.

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March 2021

community Smiths Falls' historic post office restoration garners provincial award Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca A two-year labour of love for former Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton and a team of local contractors has won recognition from the province of Ontario.

Linton’s project to restore the historic Fuller Post Office building in Smiths Falls, which he calls “the nicest building in town,” has received the Lieutenant Governor’s Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation.

“It’s good for the town; it’s good for everyone,” said Linton in response to the award, which was presented Feb. 18.

In a recent interview Linton said his interest in the former post office, located on Russell Street, dates back to 2013. At that time he made an in camera presentation to town council about his plans to buy the abandoned Hershey plant and convert it to a cannabis production facility. Driving through the town to become more familiar with the community he noticed the landmark building and thought, “it’s the nicest building in town. Why is it in such rough shape?”

Linton did not actually acquire the building until the fall of 2018. In August, Tweed hosted a “shindig” featuring a surprise guest – famous rapper Snoop Dogg. Linton and Mayor Shawn Pankow arranged to have dinner with Snoop Dogg at Chuckles Jack on his arrival in town, but the musician was late. While they were waiting, the conversation turned to the old post office just across the street. Pankow gave Linton the information he needed to get in touch with the owner and offer to buy it.

When Snoop Dogg finally arrived, Linton re-

called, “I told him, ‘you owe me a lot of money for being late!’”

Giving a new lease on life to the building, which dates back to 1894, proved to be a much bigger undertaking than its new owner originally thought. The post office was designed by Canada’s Chief Dominion Architect, Thomas Fuller, who played a role in the design and construction of every federal government building from 1881 to 1896. It consists of the original building fronting on Russell Street, a later addition at the rear, and the clock tower which was the final addition. Giving all these structures the necessary facelift required some “fairly heavy engineering,” said Linton, and the project quickly went well over budget.

The 15-month restoration was carried out by a team of 75 professionals, almost all recruited locally. Linton said the main consultant on the project, Dwight Brown, a friend, helped assemble the team. Other key members included architect Eddie Edmundson, engineer Mike Cleland, mason Paul Moore, plumber Tom Sullivan, electrician Mike Prevost, and HVAC specialist Dennis O’Conner.

Dave Ritskes was responsible for ironwork, Andy Brown for millwork, and windows were installed by Bruce Healey.

“We intentionally wanted local folks,” said Linton.

Linton noted the project has restored the original colour of the building’s red sandstone, darkened over many decades by soot and acid rain.

The old post office has had a colourful history, featuring both saints and sinners. The addition to the north end was added in 1914, and the clock tow-

er in 1915, according to information compiled when the building received heritage designation in 1978.

Originally the post office occupied the ground floor, while the second floor served as a customs office.

The building’s caretaker and his family lived in an apartment on the top floor.

The post office was closed in 1964 and the building was taken over by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kingston. The diocese ran a catholic high school (Grades 11 and 12) on the first floor while nuns lived upstairs. The building was sold again in 1977 and was later occupied by downstairs law offices and upstairs apartments.

At one time, said Linton, the basement was home to a “key club” or after-hours bar. Those who had keys could get in and obtain their choice of soft drinks or alcohol.

Some of that history will live on the new owner’s plans. The basement will have a bar once again, as Linton is working with Pat Maloney, owner of nearby establishment Bowie’s, to set it up.

After renovations, the building can be heated using only 10 percent of the energy that used to be required. Although the original post office was very modern for 1894, featuring indoor plumbing, electricity and a coal furnace, insulation was not a priority.

In its new configuration the building has a fully furnished apartment on the top floor and three apartments on the second floor.

The ground floor is intended for commercial space.

The occupants will include lawyers and engineers, and Linton plans for the team to offer their services to other businesses hoping to get established downtown.

TOP: A view of the west side of the former post office, which was built from red sandstone in 1894. The clock tower was added in 1915. Photo courtesy of Ryan Peters.

RIGHT: This historic photograph shows the Russell Street post office under construction in 1894. Very modern for its time, the building was equipped with both electricity and indoor plumbing. It housed both the post office and a customs office. Photo courtesy of Ryan Peters.

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March 2021

community

Lamborghini likes ice cubes in her water…

Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Jane Cairns says she’s fielding about 20 calls a week at Baytree Kennels from people looking for puppies. Recently she reached the point where she decided not to take names for at least two years.

That’s going to be hard because one of her border terriers — Lamborghini — is starring in a just-released motion picture this month.

Chaos Walking is a science-fiction action adventure set in the not-too-distant future where all but one of the characters is male.

This put Lamborghini’s nose out of joint a bit because she’s female…but to add even more insult, she was hired as the double for Winston and so was ‘male’ in the movie.

Cairns says she’s seen Winston in a “lot of the action shots” and admits that not only is Lamborghini “a bit of a chicken” but also “there’s a lot of water in the movie and Lamborghini doesn’t like water.”

“She’s very quiet, not a typical border.”

But will you be able to tell it’s her? “Oh,” Cairns says glancing sideways at me, “I’ll be able to tell…although no one else will.”

Border terriers are smallish dogs, up to 15 pounds, and have a double coat — a short, wiry outer coat and a dense, short undercoat.

The outer coat is stripped by hand “down to the under coat,” Cairns says. “These coats take some work.”

Originally they were bred “to hunt badger and fox.”

The thick pelt protected them “if they were caught by a badger,” Cairns explains.

Cairns arrived in Canada in 2003 from Hampshire in the south-east of England.

In her early life she worked as a chef but didn’t want to do that in Canada so drove a school bus for a year when she got here. “They send you out in anything” all weather and all conditions, so she left that behind, found work at a veterinary clinic and started her breeding program. She’s been at it for 19 years now.

“I went to country fairs in England and started seeing them (border terriers) there,” she recalls. That’s

when she fell in love with the breed and started her search for a “good breeder” to find a dog. She had no intention of breeding, only wanted a pet.

But, as life unfolds, Cairns started taking Ellie to shows and she had a lot of wins. So she bought a male, Widget, and these original two made up her “foundation crew.” She started breeding when she came to Canada with two borders and today has four dogs — Dilly (15), Primm (8), Lamborghini and Scotia who’s only 18 months.

Cairns, like most everyone today, is hoping for a quick end to Covid-19 because she “can’t wait to get back in the show ring again.

Scotia hasn’t been out in a ring yet, and she’s a year and a half. Normally I have them out at six months.”

If all goes well, though, the first show for Scotia will be in Arnprior next year around Mother’s Day. And Cairns is also looking forward to the all-breed Long Sault show in 2022 which hosts lots of specialty dogs, like border terriers.

So how did the movie

Lamborghini. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

come about?

The tip came through another breeder and the call came “totally out of the blue.” Though when Cairns heard Lamborghini would have to leave for six months, her first thought was “I couldn’t let her go.” However when she met and talked with the dog trainer from an animal acting agency, she agreed. “I took three of mine to meet her and she chose Lamborghini.”

Cairns admits that she has not trained Lamborghini herself “to do anything much, really…” but she was trained to do a lot in the movie (although Cairns is

Sometimes Jane Cairns walks Primm and Lamborghini at Lower Reach Park in Smiths Falls. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

“not sure what,” she says, laughing a bit.) Chaos Walking was filmed in Quebec, and Cairns heard there was also some filming in Iceland and Scotland “but they didn’t take the dogs.”

So for the moment Lamborghini is at home, relaxing, having had her 15-minutes of fame. She’s had one litter of pups (five males) sitting in a chair at

the Carleton Place Veterinary Clinic where Cairns works, and Cairns says she hopes to breed her again in the near future.

Lamborghini’s a bit of a diva — she likes ice cubes in her water — and if Cairns lets her daughter Sophie name the next litter, maybe she’ll get a Ferrari or a Maserati…

Women in business:

resilience in times of uncertainty Smiths Falls Shannon McLellan editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Pictured above is Kelly Ilan, owner of Ilan Treasures. Photo credit: Shannon McLellan.

International Women’s Day on March 8 reminds us to honour and celebrate women everywhere.

2020 was a year of an unprecedented barrage of social, environmental, and cultural change. The world health organization reported that Covid-19 had a stronger negative impact on women than on men both at home and at work, especially those entrepreneurs in sectors particularly affected by lockdowns, i.e., retail and trade, hotels and restaurants and education. Women everywhere are exhibiting the power of resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A perfect example of the power of resilience is the

passion and persistence of local resident Kelly Ilan, owner of Ilan Treasures in Smiths Falls. Since she was a little girl playing shopkeeper in her dad’s garage, Ilan dreamed of opening her very own retail store and in September of 2018 she did just that.

Ilan said that “I felt that the town needed a gift shop that is a one stop shop.”

Everything from giftware, sterling silver jewellery, women’s clothing, food items and more can be found at Ilan Treasures located at 3 Main Street West in Smiths Falls.

Bringing her dream to fruition didn’t come without its challenges. Kelly has had several obstacles to overcome. After losing both her mother and her brother in a short period

of time, Kelly said that she came to the realization that “life is too short. These losses were a rude awakening”.

Since the start of the pandemic, women-owned businesses have been hit hard by COVID-19-related closures and changing workplace models. Women-owned businesses are more likely to be in the service based industries, such as retail, accommodation, food service, tourism and fitness or wellness that have been particularly hard hit the past several months.

They have had to adapt quickly for their businesses to survive.

Most recently Ilan, a certified florist, has shifted her retail business to add in flowers and floral services.

She made this adaptation to her business during the

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most recent Covid-19 lockdown just in time for Valentine’s Day. The lockdown gave Kelly the opportunity to spend some time in the store painting and revamping to accommodate her retail flower space within the store. Ilan Treasures now offers floral arrangements for funerals, weddings, special occasions etc., and is offering free local delivery for flowers as well.

Like many, Ilan has faced her share of personal challenges throughout the Covid-19 lockdown, such as depression and anxiety, but she didn’t let that keep her down. She said that “it’s important to push-on. For anyone out there feeling defeated, there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. Things will be okay.”

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March 2021

International Women's Day International Women’s Day: Challenge toxic messages and beauty standards Regional - Shannon McLellan editorial@pdgmedia.ca In today’s world, we are exposed to numerous ad campaigns and TV personas that exhibit completely unrealistic beauty standards. These expectations are detrimental to a person’s self-esteem and can push them to make questionable choices when it comes to appreciating their own unique selves.

This shift in the way beauty is increasingly defining people means it is functioning as an ethical ideal.

It is the standard we use to judge ourselves and others, whether right or wrong.

All of this has a significant impact on how people feel about themselves.

Everywhere people look they see expectations of what their appearance “should” be. This can lead to mental health issues among other issues. It can also cause people to try to change themselves to fit society’s ideal image, thus making it challenging to be one’s authentic self and feel confident in one’s own skin.

Not only are women up

against unrealistic beauty ideals, young people and teens are also facing the negative exposure of toxic underlying messages behind ad campaigns, such as a recent marketing campaign by Garage Clothing.

The Montreal fashion retailer is being condemned for a recent email marketing campaign that urged female recipients, some of them said to be pre-teens, to “send nudes.” The brand bore the all-caps message “SEND NUDES” followed by “Swipe right on your new fav lounge looks, sleep sets, and more comfy stuff you’ll wanna get in bed with.” The message was accompanied by photos of what appeared to be a young female model in neutral coloured loungewear. Social media rapidly called out Garage for the sexually suggestive cam-

paign, a brand whose social media presence appeals to adolescent females.

While the company is not requesting nude photos of these young women in a literal sense, the concern is the underlying message. Not only is it a reality that young women are being asked to send nudes, it’s becoming normalized and accepted by society and that message is terrifying and toxic.

Now more than ever it is important to challenge these messages of impossible beauty standards, biases, gender inequality and the sexualization of children, and create new ideals that support and lift each other up.

In light of this year’s International Women's Day theme #ChoosetoChallenge, we have called on a variety of women across Lanark

Marketing campaign, Shannon McLellan

Garage

County and area to share their Choose to Challenge pose and message.

“A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose

Clothing.

Photo

credit:

to seek out and celebrate women's achievements.

Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

“From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge.”” International Women’s Day (n.d.) https:// www.internationalwomensday.com

Linda Seccaspina “I choose to challenge impossible beauty standards.”

Cheryl Staby “I choose to challenge impossible beauty standards.”

Janelle Labelle “I choose to challenge the media’s sexualization of children.”

Jacqueline Marie Stanzel “I choose to challenge impossible beauty standards.”

Amanda Jordan “I choose to challenge society’s unrealistic beauty standards.”

Rachelle Rash Elie “I choose to challenge impossible beauty standards.”

Laurie-ann Sheldrick Shannon McLellan Ainsley Charles Melanie Ireton “I choose to challenge gender “I choose to challenge gender “I choose to challenge gender “I choose to challenge unequal inequality.” inequality.” inequality.” opportunity for women.”

Dark local legend inspires first-time author Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca A dark local folk tale has inspired a young author to publish the first in what she hopes will be a trilogy of novels.

Catherine Poag, who was born and raised in Smiths Falls, is a third-year student at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.

During visits to the family cottage on Miller’s Bay, just across the river from Rideau Ferry, Catherine learned about the old legend of the ferry man – a story which has inspired her forthcoming novel, The Ferry Man’s House.

Rideau Ferry was originally known as Oliver’s

Ferry, named after a settler, John Oliver, who arrived in 1816. Following Oliver’s death, a legend took hold that human bones were found on his property when buildings were torn down to make way for the bridge over the Rideau that took the place of the ferry. According to the story, the ferry man stuck to a tight schedule. If a traveller missed the boat, he would offer to let him stay for the night. Those travellers were never seen again.

“I took the tale and gave it a back story and characters,” said Catherine. “It’s a murder mystery, a thriller kind of idea.”

An avid reader herself,

Catherine began writing at a very early age. She started working on The Ferry Man’s House between Grades 8 and 9, and decided to finish it last year during the forced isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic. In all, the book was six years in the making.

Throughout the process, she said, “my family has always been so supportive.”

An English major at St. FX, Catherine is also the editor of the weekly school paper, which she said has been “an awesome opportunity” to get to know the local community of Antigonish, NS, which she considers to be similar in some ways to Smiths Falls.

The novel is being pub-

lished with the assistance of FriesenPress, a Canadian company. It should be on bookstore shelves by July, and will also be available through Amazon and Chapters. The Smiths Falls Art Hub has also offered to sell copies. Catherine has set up an Instagram page called The Ferry Man’s House where updates can be found.

The book, added Catherine, is “full of little mysteries,” for those who enjoy solving them. “There’s a cliff hanger in every chapter.”

The goal is for book two of the trilogy to be ready in another two years. “I don’t feel that the story is over,” said Catherine.

Photo credit: Catherine Poag's Facebook

6

March 2021

lifestyle New video series offers stress relief for students, teachers

Sandy Prentice, who has been teaching mindfulness based stress reduction courses for 30 years, recently created a series of 10 short videos in collaboration with the Country Roads Community Health Centre so people can learn and practice the techniques at home. Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.

Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Getting an education during the COVID-19 pandemic may not be quite as stressful as walking through a minefield, but it’s been no bed of roses

either. The forced closure of schools, online learning, and reopening amid a changing series of public health guidelines has put students and teachers under a unique kind of stress.

Portland-based Country

Let's Eat

Opening or even reopening a restaurant in the middle of a health pandemic isn’t something for the faint of heart. And considering a venture like this in a small town in a facility in need of an interior rebuild, without any promotion or advertising would seem to be an impossible task. But fortunately for the residents of Portland and the surrounding region, George and Nick were more than willing and able to pull the impossible off by restoring a familiar food destination to its well-deserved glory by bringing The Portland Family Restaurant and Pizzeria back to life.

Since a very soft and quiet opening of this Colborne Street institution in January of this year, the phone hasn’t stopped nor has the constant flow of traffic, filled with hungry locals looking to get their pizza fix along with a good selection of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and finger foods.

Maroni, a very wellknown name in local pizza and family dining was the original name on the Portland building, but a few years back it was leased to an independent operator who closed the operation, leaving the restaurant in less than

Roads Community Health Centre, with funding from the United Way of Leeds and Grenville, has a developed a series of 10 short online videos intended as a resource to help teachers and youth reduce stress in these challenging times.

CRCHC Executive Director Marty Crapper told the Hometown News that 80 per cent of Ontario’s health services are now being delivered remotely, due to the pandemic. The health centre has been offering a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program for several years through an in-person, 10 week course.

Incorporating the core elements of mindfulness based stress reduction into a short online course “seemed a logical idea,” he said.

“COVID-19 created significant and urgent needs affecting vulnerable populations in communi-

ties across Canada,” said Marci Bruyere, coordinator of health promotion and community development at the CRCHC. “The Mindful Moments series is of particular interest to those who wish to practice at home, and for youth in classrooms, easily through virtual connection.”

With the help of the United Way, the CRCHC successfully applied in 2020 to Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund.

The funding has been used to offer two full mindfulness based stress reduction programs (delivered via Zoom) and the Mindfulness Moments series, said Bruyere. All the programs have a waiting list and “have been received positively throughout our communities,” she added.

The video series was created by instructor Sandy Prentice, who has been

teaching mindfulness based stress reduction for about 30 years. Technical support and expertise was provided by John Pringle of Westport Video. It has been online at the CRCHC YouTube channel since the end of January.

Mindfulness based stress reduction programs were originally developed in 1979 by John Kabat-Zinn, an American professor of medicine. Because it incorporates concepts drawn from yoga and Buddhism, said Prentice, the core ideas date back to ancient times.

Each video in the series provides a different tool to help relieve stress. Prentice suggested viewers should try each one to see what works best from them, like choosing their favourite items from a buffet. The techniques, such a focussing on our breathing and how we are feeling in the

Food & Drink

moment, need to be practiced several times to ensure they work, she added.

The goal is not to eliminate stress, but to change one’s relationship to stress.

The video series can be found on YouTube by searching for Country Roads Community Health Centre.

The description for the introductory video states that “just a few minutes a day of Mindfulness, paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally with compassion, can decrease stress, increase resilience, kindness and ‘rewire the brain’ to improve executive functions, be more focussed and have greater emotional regulation.”

Prentice said the series was originally developed for high school students and teachers but can be useful to anyone 12 or older.

Portland Family Restaurant and Pizzeria: good food returns to the lake Brian Turner

desirable condition. The ground floor including kitchen and dining area has been completely revamped providing a beautiful seating room with three full walls of windows.

I dropped by on a recent weekday evening and the stream of customers was non-stop.

But I managed to catch a few words with George as he was manning the oven and sandwich/wrap bar, taking phone orders and greeting people with a big smile behind his mask. Full disclosure, I grew up in Gananoque and spent many a great time feasting on Moroni’s pizza and enjoying the atmosphere of a welcoming restaurant packed with loads of diners of all ages. So I just had to get a Moroni special pizza topped with pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, bacon, and sausage. And it was just as delicious as I remembered.

George mixes his own dough daily, along with sourcing and selecting only the freshest of toppings. His unique use of a baking pan instead of letting the crust touch the stone floor of the oven (along with a few secret tricks) keeps the bottom of the pizza from burning in spots, deliv-

ering a perfectly toasted base for the loads of combinations on the menu.

And the skill that he has developed over the years with pizzas, he now puts to use with some great local favourites like Philadelphia Cheese Steak sandwiches and Buffalo Chicken wraps.

Plans are in the works to renovate the outdoor patio and provide delivery later this spring before the summer population invades. Current pandemic restrictions do allow in-house dining.

Why no advertising?

In a small area, word of mouth informed almost every household within a 50 km radius of the reopening within just a few days and that’s all it took to keep the kitchen humming, even in a pandemic. Currently they’re open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm and on Sundays from noon to 6:00 pm, but those hours will likely expand in the spring and summer. You can reach them at 613272-2878.

For access there are several steps up to the front door.

Photo credit: Brian Turner

7

March 2021

culture Perth Inside Out:

terry o'hearn

Many Perth pilots served their country

The long and colourful history of aviation in Perth and area now finishes with an account of the career of a modern Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, and a recap of the stories of other RCAF pilots from previous eras.

First, a reminder of the sad tale of Perth’s Flying Officer William Kyle, who went missing during World War II over the jungle of what was then known as Burma, along with five other crewmen.

The Dakota aircraft disappeared on June 21, 1945, and although the men were all presumed dead, nothing more was known about their disappearance until one fate-

ful day in 1995 when a native hunter walking through the jungle discovered evidence that would lead to the recovery of the wreckage and bodies of the lost crew. On March 5, 1997, the remains of the six airmen were buried together near Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Rangoon, Burma), with many family members present. The complete story of Kyle can be found at this link: www.hometownnews. ca/pilot-william-kyle-honoured-museum/ Also chronicled was the career of the late Lieutenant-General Donald M. McNaughton, CMM, CD, a Perth area boy who flew to the top of his profession with the RCAF. He joined the force in 1952, and became Commander of Air Command in 1985. He subsequently served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the top Canadian in the NORAD

command structure. McNaughton was the highest-ranking military officer ever to call his hometown Perth. A booklet titled “McNaughton of Prestonvale” was produced from the columns which appeared here, and has been distributed by the Hall of Remembrance military museum.

Although there were other military flyers from Perth along the way, a third notable career came many years later, in the name of now-retired Lieutenant-Colonel Troy Paisley. Paisley was born in Kingston, Ontario, but moved to Perth at a young age when his father Roy was transferred here by the Ontario Provincial Police.

While attending PDCI he became aware of an interest in flying, after experimenting with home-built rockets.

Hobbytown store on Gore street was the place to go for the next great rocket engine, and numerous rockets were sent aloft during those high school years, many “never to be seen again.”

After high school, Paisley attended Ryerson University, graduating with an Aerospace Engineering degree in 1989, and then worked as a research engineer for a while before deciding the military was his best option for the future he imagined. By chance, he encountered an Aerospace Engineering Officer at the recruiting office, a field which sounded at first like a perfect fit. The honesty of the officer enlightened Paisley as to the duties involved in that career path, and it did not seem like the way to go. “As I was about to leave, he asked if I was interested in being a

Lieutenant-Colonel Troy Paisley is shown here at the Perth Legion before marching to the Cenotaph for a recent Remembrance Day ceremony, where he laid a wreath as Commanding Officer of 436 (T) Squadron, Trenton. Inset: The late Lieutenant-General Donald M. McNaughton, CMM, CD, with his Bell Twin Huey CH-135, one of the many aircraft he mastered during his illustrious career. Photo credit: Terry O'Hearn

pilot.” And so, in the spring of 1991, it was off to basic training in Chilliwack, BC. “Relishing the rain and cold, not knowing it would be almost four more years until I would receive my wings.”

In 1995 Paisley was assigned to fly the C130E/H Hercules aircraft at 436 (T) Squadron, Trenton, and then in 2000 was promoted to Captain and posted to 429 Squadron, where he continued to fly the C130 as an instructor. In 2005, a promotion to the rank of Major resulted in a 3-year ground tour in Air Force Procurement. Another promotion, to Major, sent him back to 429 Squadron as the Deputy Commanding Officer.

He flew the newly acquired C-17 Globemaster from 2009-2012, during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.

Six months of 2011-2012 were spent on deployment to Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, as the Air Detachment Commander coordinating the “Air Bridge” for

supporting Canada’s commitment to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Afghanistan. After another short ground tour in 2013 at Canadian Joint Operations Command, he became Squadron Commander at 436 (T) Squadron in 2014 and flew the C130J Super Hercules.

That two-year second tour as 436 Squadron Commanding Officer “was the highlight of my career … It is the largest squadron in the RCAF, with 400 personnel and 17 aircraft. Leading those fantastic men and women was something special, and something I will cherish my entire life. One day, we were able to launch ten aircraft in formation for a mass drop, a feat that hadn’t been done since the late 1980s.”

After that command position, Paisley had a stint at National Defence Headquarters in administration, but he decided to retire in 2017 after 26 years of service. He had accumulated 5400 flying hours, including 79 Tactical

Airlift missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Apollo and Athena from 2001 to 2011. “My RCAF experience allowed me to fly to just about every continent on the planet.”

Paisley “returned to the skies” with Air Canada, and found himself in the First Officer seat of a Boeing 767-300 in August of 2017.

However, he had his sights set on Air Canada’s newest aircraft, the sleek Airbus A220, and was recently promoted to a Captain of that aircraft. He now flies mostly domestic routes, while Air Canada is expanding its network with more aircraft.

Please take a moment to think about these and other brave warriors who chose to protect us from above, and of course we also salute those who protect us by land and by sea. Thank you all for your service.

If you have any comments, or wish to have a PDF copy of the McNaughton booklet, please email me at: terry@ pdgmedia.ca.

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