Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News April 2019

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Vol. 6

No. 4

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

APRIL 2019

Docs on Ice donate, skate and celebrate in Lanark County

King of the Swingers making the rafters ring in the Old Perth Shoe Factory. Photo credit: Bonnie Joyce

Some of the Sons of Lanarky in their matching jerseys. Photo credit: Bonnie Joyce

Smiths Falls - Janelle Labelle editorial@pd gmedia.ca When he talks about the 2019 Docs on Ice, Dr. Bob Van Noppen's eyes light up and he seems to almost hum with eager energy. This year, March 28-30 marks the first time the annual hockey tournament / fundraiser has ever been hosted in Lanark, and along with his team of dedicated local doctors, the self-styled “Sons of Lanarky,” Van Noppen has been going all out.

The Sons of Lanarky - doctors from Lanark County who hosted this year’s event - are more sedately known the rest of the year as Dr. Bob Van Noppen, Dr. Bill Blaine, Dr. Paul Turner, Dr. Dan Kruszelnicki, Dr. Mike Horsey, Dr. Paul Miller, Dr. Peter Cunniffe, Dr. Spencer Gutcher, Dr. Steve Rad-

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ke, Dr. Benjamin Blain, Dr. Adam Neilson, Dr. Anil Kuchinad, Dr. Troy Neufeld, Dr. Alain Gauthier, Dr. Robin Kennie, Dr. Graeme Hendry, and Dr. Cory Scott.

Docs on Ice is an annual charitable fundraiser, held in a different locale each year. Among the local charities receiving funds from this 2019 event is PEP Seniors' Enrichment Program a program of individualized care, direction, and therapy, which was developed to help seniors in Perth and Smiths Falls stay healthy and stay at home longer. The Lanark County Therapeutic Riding Program (LCTRP) is also one of this year’s charities. LCTRP provides specialized horseback riding lessons to children and adults with physical and or developmental disabilities, offering a unique form of therapy, rehabilitation, and recreation.

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Project Trauma Support, Perth FireDawgs, and The Table are also included in this year’s list of Docs on Ice supported charities. While the final tally is not yet complete, Van Noppen estimates the Docs on Ice fundraising total to exceed $100 000.

Games were held in Lanark, Westport, Beckwith, Perth, Smiths Falls, and Carleton Place.

The tournament itself welcomed over 800 participants, 60 teams in 12 divisions, and this year saw the inclusion of a first-ever all-women’s division.

“We know we've got a special location,” Van Noppen explains, “we're hosting in Lanark County, holding the tournament on nine different rinks. We can welcome the participants with a small town warmth and coziness, that personal touch, that they'd never get in a big city. That's going to make it great. But we've never hosted this here before, and we probably never will again. So our standard can't just be great. Our standard,” he declares, eyes dancing, “is epic.”

“When we planned our events, we needed to make sure they met that standard. So we're having a nice catered meal, and sure, you've been to a fancy dinner before,” he says, “but have you ever

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been served an entire canoe filled with oysters? Now that's epic!”

And just so, the Sons of Lanarky hosted an absolutely epic weekend.

Thursday’s opening game was a Legends of Hockey party, with hockey legends like Wendel Clark, Geraldine Heaney, Matt Barnaby, Chris Neil, Guy Carbonneau, and more.

The small town charm was in full display with more than thirty six hundred cookies pulled hot and fresh from local ovens.

When each team came off the ice, they were greeted with a plate of handmade cookies to help them recharge for the next game, and to thank them for pouring their efforts into fundraising for local charities. “Cookies were the surprise hit,” says Dr. Paul Miller, “We had hot tubs at rinks, massage and physiotherapy, we gave each team a Bluetooth speaker and curated playlists to amp them up pregame.

Even with all that, the most comments we heard were about the cookies. They loved them, loved the community engagement it implied.”

And finally, an epic party on Friday night was served by a slew of local shops and producers.

Drinks were supplied by Perth

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Groceries Produce contactus@pdgmedia.ca

613-284-9826

Brewery, Weatherhead Brew Co., Top Shelf Distillers, and Scheuermann Vineyard & Winery. Catering was provided by Leatherworks, and specialty foods were served by The Stone Cellar, The Perth Cheese Shop, Perth Pie Co., and Law and Orders. The visiting doctors were treated to performances by Tom Watson, The Ramblers, King of Swingers, The Jimmy Tri-Tone Band, Marc Doucette, and The Peter Wood Trio.

There was a wide range of fun activities - a poutine bar, sumo wrestling, a casino room, and more. “One of my special projects was the 70s style pinball arcade set up at YAK. It was a real nostalgia trip for many of my vintage colleagues,” shares Dr. Miller.

Looking back at this intense and enormous weekend, Van Noppen says his highlight was working with his colleagues, the Sons of Lanarky. “Such a great bunch of guys. It was so great to see how proud and pleased they were of it.”

The Sons of Lanarky wanted to host an epic, truly fantastic event for the fundraising Docs. Did they succeed? Yes, says Van Noppen, “The Docs loved it; they went ahead and really enjoyed it, which was our goal. That is the ultimate compliment.”

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April 2019

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Page Two Wishing you and your Family

Happy Easter From every one here at

Hometown News

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle

FREELANCE REPORTER-PHOTOGRAPHER WANTED

A Look Back to 1982 - Bridge Street Downtown Carleton Place

Hometown News is a leading community media provider covering Lanark and Northern Leeds Grenville Counties. Our team is growing and we have an opening for a Freelance Reporter-Photographer. This is an ideal position for a retired journalist or someone looking for flexibility in their job. This is a part-time freelance position based in Smiths Falls with opportunity to turn into full time position.

Responsibilities -Covering regular meetings of council, breaking news, feature stories -Sourcing and producing interesting and local newsworthy stories and features, along with compelling images for print and digital publications.

-Produce engaging content for website and social media including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

-Strong communication skills, both verbal and written skills (Canadian Press Style).

-Familiar with Microsoft Word, Gmail and Google Calendar -Competent with Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and possess online posting skills -Superior photography skills with an “eye” for capturing dynamic images.

-Required to travel throughout our coverage area to cover events and stories -Availability outside of “Typical” work hours including evenings and weekends.

-Regular communication and coordination with the Managing Editor, Copy Editor and Graphics Team

Key Accountabilities

Construction is looming for downtown Smiths Falls but they are certainly not the first of our communities to have their downtown torn up. This photo was taken in the summer of 1982 in downtown Carleton Place.

Photo Credit: Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum.

-Diploma or Degree in Journalism or relevant experience.

-Strong Attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and a “nose for news” -Self-starter with the ability to exercise solid judgment.

-Ideal candidate is actively involved in their community and cares about their community and matters affecting it.

-Must have access to a reliable vehicle and valid driver's licence.

-Must have reliable laptop computer, appropriate digital camera and cell phone with data coverage.

-Effective organizational skills, ability to manage time and prioritize tasks appropriately.

-Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline driven and demanding environment.

To apply, please send your resume, along with writing samples and a brief cover note explaining why you are interested in working with us to contactus@pdgmedia.ca.

We thank all those who apply, but regret that only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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April 2019

3

community Carleton Place Mayor focused on the future

Carleton Place Mayor Doug Black took office in October, 2018 with 2,578 votes. Photo submitted.

Carleton Place - Jane Hobson editorial@pdgmedia.ca A lot has happened in Carleton Place since Doug Black was voted mayor in last fall’s election.

Council passed the 2019 budget that will see the Central Bridge over the Mississippi River replaced in the next five years along with updates to the Car-

leton Place Arena dressing rooms. Council also recently approved a new seniors’ centre that is set to open later this year.

With so many projects on the horizon, Mayor Black says he is completely focused on the future.

“The objective is to leave a very experienced and competent council in four years, and that we never engage an integrity officer in the dealings amongst this council,” says Black, who was born in Trenton, Ontario but grew up in Carleton Place and served as a councillor last term.

Black’s philosophy for municipal politics is that council is seen as a united community front, rather than the mayor being the front of council.

“Communities demand

that politicians get along and they get mad when that doesn’t occur. [This council will] share the responsibility and give everyone the opportunity to articulate in a constructive manner,” says the new mayor. “We all sell the town.”

Black says he thinks the extensive training councillors have undergone this term will benefit absolutely everyone.

“It’s important that I create a constructive atmosphere at council,” says Black. “Staff have done an excellent job in education and orientation [for new councillors]. It takes a lot to get comfortable but we can’t afford that time because the decisions [council makes] are significant and they are forever.”

Most exciting for Black

is the opportunities for growth facing Carleton Place now. This expansion includes thousands of residential homes that are ready to be built, he says, along with plans for council to address community concerns about the municipality’s development permit policies to reflect this growth. The townspeople can also expect improvements to the water and sewer systems in the next four years.

In terms of socializing, the mayor says he senses an underlying desire from the community for more social events throughout the year.

“We’re a bedroom community [meaning that a lot of residents work outside of Carleton Place], but we are going to build on participation within the com-

munity,” says Black. This will likely manifest in more family-friendly events that encourage people to socialize, shop, eat, and relax in Carleton Place outside of work hours.

Black anticipates the biggest challenge for the town facing this growth will be preserving Carleton Place’s acclaimed small-town vibe.

He says maintaining this sense of community comes right down to the every day conversations between councillors, town staff and the entire community.

“It’s all about relationships. It’s the relationships between all of us that creates the [sense of] community, and with that comes a positivity from the mayor to lead this great community and build on what it has to offer.”

Canadian bats hit a hit in Cuba

Smiths Falls - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca Bats and balls, gloves and cleats and other sporting equipment often lie untouched in a garage or basement once the kids who enjoyed them have moved on.

Tucked away at the end of a season, they are forgotten or outgrown and then just sit, unused, before heading to the dump in a big bout of spring cleaning many years later.

What if that equipment still had some life in it?

That’s the question Smiths Falls woodworker Bill Ryan is asking. “We believe that there are thousands of unused pieces of sports equipment sitting in homes and in storage across Canada.

With help, we will collect these items, send them to Cuba and put them back into the game. With one baseball or one soccer ball, 20 or more kids can get into the game.”

Ryan has long had a soft spot for Cuba.

In 2009, on the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, Bill Ryan made a bat to present to Ricardo Alarcon, the President of Cuba’s National Assembly, who was a guest speaker at Queen’s University in Kingston. (Why a bat?

Baseball is Cuba’s national sport.) “There, it was suggested that I should [make] a bat for five Cubans who were in prison in the U.S., the Cuban Five, heroes in Cuba who were pretty famous at the time.” The Cuban Five were Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, and Rene Gonzalez, Cuban intelligence agents who had been apprehended in Miami in 1998, and convicted of spying on the United States government. Their arrest and subsequent treatment was widely criticized by the international

community, including Amnesty International.

Ryan agreed to this request, crafting five more bats; and in late 2009 he and his wife Nora traveled from Smiths Falls to Cuba to deliver the bats to the families of the Cuban Five.

Adriana, wife of Gerardo Hernandez, met the Ryans and received the bat on his behalf. She sent pictures of the bat to her husband in prison, and he wrote a thank you letter to Ryan.

The two began to exchange letters and formed a fast friendship.

Hernandez, who was serving a double life sentence, asked Ryan to make a bat for his favourite baseball player. From there, Ryan began making bats for the professionals’ batting practice, and “next thing you know, they’re [being used] in the game.

They got fairly well known, and fairly popular.” Thus began Cubacan Bats, a

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Smiths Falls

Around the corner from Pizza Pizza

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Ryan with a bat hand-painted by his guest and renowned Cuban artist Michel Mirabal.

Photo submitted.

joint creation of Gerardo Hernandez and Bill Ryan.

“We’ve sent hundreds of bats; probably over a thousand bats to the Cuban National Series.”

Hernandez was released from prison as part of a prisoner exchange with Cuba in 2014, and reunited with his wife Adriana. He took Ryan to the factory in Havana where Cuba’s bats were produced, and showed him the stock of maple wood and old equipment that had not seen an upgrade since the late 1950s. Ryan took on the project of helping the producers access good quality Canadian maple, and providing them with new equipment. By 2018 they had produced 15 000 good quality bats.

This year, Ryan would like to help transform Cuban children’s access to sports as well. This dream first sparked to life when he and his wife, Nora, watched a boys’ baseball game in Cuba in December, 2018.

“The game was a blast, so much fun. The kids were healthy, happy and well coached. But, as with so much in Cuba, the tools of the game were lacking. Here are some examples: baseball gloves were shared. As one team left the field the gloves remained at the base for the next team to use. They had 3 bats between them, one of which had no end on the barrel.

[They shared] one batting helmet between both teams.”

Ryan is asking people to go search in their closets and basements, attics and cottages. “Is there any sporting equipment you’re not using? Give it to us and we’ll send it to Cuba.”

To cover shipping and related costs, there will be a few fundraising events in June. In Lanark, there will be a Cuban pig roast, and the Cuban Embassy will supply the food and staff. The Ottawa Champions will also be hosting the Cuban National Baseball

Team for a game on Saturday, June 15. There will also be a raffle, with first prize being a trip for two to - you guessed it - Cuba.

“It’s a bit of a challenge to motivate people to go dig in their closets,” Ryan acknowledges. “Hopefully this will encourage them to bring their equipment to the Stadium in Ottawa on June 15, go to the game, meet the players, and enter the raffle.”

Ryan notes that “while our emphasis will be on baseball equipment, we will accept gear for all summer sports such as soccer, basketball, etc. The equipment will be delivered to the Cuban Ministry of Sport. The equipment will be distributed to Cuban kids where it is needed the most.”

To learn more about Cubacan’s story and to donate your sports equipment, check out cubacan.org, pop over to their Facebook page Cubacan Kids, email cubacanbats@gmail.com, or call Bill Ryan at 613-284-0254.

April 2019

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Perth Inside Out:

community

Terry O'Hearn

Sergeant Major’s missing trousers

The Sergeant Major knew he was in a pickle when he went to dress for the Queen’s inspection of his troops, and the trousers were missing from his fulldress uniform. You see, he had been very forceful addressing the men beforehand, about making sure they brought all uniform and kit to the event. “You must not find an article of uniform missing when you go to dress,” were his instructions.

Retired Chief Warrant Officer Les Closs, from Lanark Village, was describing just one such incident in a fascinating career with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS or RC Sigs), a discussion which came about as a result of last month’s column on CFS Carp Richardson Detachment. He and his wife Rose both retired in 2006.

Moving on with the story about the Sergeant Major’s trousers: the incident occurred during Queen Elizabeth’s solo visit to Ottawa from June 30 to July 2, 1992, and the man with the missing pants was the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Honour Guard for the event. Apparently his trousers had fallen off the hanger while he was carrying his uniform, but the RSM was fully aware he must face the music, or his troops would be laughing alone.

And so, he stood bravely in front of the assembled Guard, and asked if any man was his size. That man would be excluded

from parade, in favour of the RSM having a full uniform. As luck would have it, one of the Guardsmen had brought two pairs of the correct size, and the extra pair were gladly given up to the RSM for the inspection. The RSM thought he heard sniggering all along the ranks as he did an about turn, but he had met an embarrassing situation like a true soldier, and the day was saved for him.

Closs later took over that same position as RSM for the Honour Guard, and in 1997 led a 50 man Guard to the Dieppe ceremony in France for the 55th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.

He held that position for about two years.

Upwards of 80 Dieppe veterans were able to make the pilgrimage that year.

They were ferried across the English Channel, and the ferry Captain allowed the Canadians to stay topside during the landing. “It was very emotional for the old vets when they saw that skyline for the first time in 55 years. We saw Canadian flags on display everywhere when we disembarked,” said Closs.

A story in the Nov 1, 1997 Legion Magazine titled “Pilgrimage to Dieppe”,

by Ray Dick, chronicles the trip which Closs and his Honour Guard had taken: “The weather was clear and hot when the ferry from Newhaven, England, arrived at the French port of Dieppe. It was August and several of the men lining the rails were Canadian veterans who on a similar morning 55 years ago, landed on the rock-strewn beach. But back then it was a living hell that greeted the Canadians as they rushed ashore into vicious German machine-gun fire.”

Closs recalled the mass of neatly arranged graves in the main cemetery - the

stone markers were arranged in rows of two, back to back like brothers-inarms on guard for eternity.

The men also did a tour of Vimy Ridge cemeteries following the Dieppe ceremonies. Although Closs would later attend such events as the Princess Anne visit to Kingston in September, 2003, and was deployed to Sarajevo in 1999 with NATO troops, he said the Dieppe trip “was the highlight of my career.”

When Closs spent time at CFS Carp from 1973 to 1976, he found that “it wasn’t like anywhere else in Canada.” His trade, and that of his wife Rose, was Radio Operator or RadOp. They were usually posted together, or at least to bases which were close to each other like Kingston and Ottawa, but had to be in different units when posted to the same base. Les was usually on the field side, while Rose worked the base side (not going on exercises or with a mobile unit). They both retired as CWOs in 2006.

Closs still belongs to a close-knit group of CFS Carp alumni, who hold a gathering each year in the old mess hall of the former base. The facility has been known as the Diefenbunker Museum since it opened in 1998 - with the designation of a National Historic Site of Canada. “Diefenbunker was like a big extended family. The All Ranks Mess was a melting pot of people who had a strong bond.”

Les and Rose Closs embody the motto of the RC Sigs: “Velox Versutus Vigilans”, (Swift, Skilled, Alert).

We salute you both, and thank you for the many years of service to Canadians.

4-H workshop takes keen eye and with good reason

Ethan Stone ranked the same heifers in the same order as Jack Oattes. His hope is that his name will be as well known as Oattes’ is some day. Photo credit: Sally Smith

Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Jack Oattes knows his cows. Hailing originally from Cobden, pretty much his whole life has been on a path to what he does and where he is now.

On Saturday, he spent the morning on a farm in North Gower presenting a judging clinic sponsored by the Ottawa Valley Hereford Club to over 50 4-H Club members.

It was cold, rainy and wet but the kids, ranging in age from eight to 19 seemed eager to get some tips before Valley fairs start late summer.

Oattes says it’s never too soon to get an early start on the work that needs to be If you have any comments done in the process to get or suggestions, please email calves ready; he also told me at: terry@pdgmedia.ca the kids (thinking about future jobs) that someone who has been involved in 4-H will be “in demand” from employers.

The session started with basic anatomy. Each participant was handed a label with a cow part on it. In turn, each taped the label on the cow where it belonged — pin bones, face, tail, tail head, brisket, chest floor, teat, neck, and others — until the cow was well labelled.

Oattes spoke about each, how each worked with the other and how, ultimately, they all fit together to make a ‘good’ calf, or an even better one, to a judge’s eye. To him, there are two fundamentals he looks for — sound on feet and leg (number 1), with “body and rib in them,” (number 2). There are extras, he says, like muscle, width and power, longer neck, Les Closs with his wife Rose Closs, on the occasion of Rose’s promotion to Chief Warrant Officer. and extended front end, but at the end of the day Photo submitted.

probably all the good ones have these.

Oattes left Cobden for school in the states, nabbed a judging scholarship and eventually ended up at the University of Illinois as a graduate student in Beef Cattle Nutrition and Management. He says he’s passionate about cows, grew up raising Charolais and Simmental, and has been involved all his life.

At this session, Oattes used as examples three heifers — two Herefords and a Simmental.

Throughout the two hours, he spoke about each, what his ‘judge’s eye’ saw, and eventually explained why he would place the three heifers in a specific order in a show ring.

As this was a judging clinic, he explained to the 4-Hers how, if they were ever in a judging position, to deliver the rankings. Say something positive about each, point out where they could be better and give reasons.

Of the three heifers, one caught his eye immediately and, in the mock judging, he ranked her first. “This heifer catches your eye when she walks in. It’s hard not to notice her. I saw this one and thought ‘she’s really nice’, her general look and balance from the side, the build of her hind leg from the side, the set to her pasterns, her hock, her levelness of hip, her strength to the top line, the femininity about the front end, the depth of rib as well.”

He commented she could use “a bit more muscle, be a bit more square in the hock, but her look and quality are really nice.”

Oattes further explained that judging is “subjective” and that he wasn’t com-

paring one to the other but making an “individual evaluation.” In his eye, the Simmental took second, and the other Hereford placed third.

One of the 4-Hers, 19-year-old Ethan Stone from Maynard, echoed Oattes’ rankings…and gave his own reasons. Taking nothing away from the black heifer, he commented “there’s lots of depth, lots of performance there,” and further commented on the third place heifer — “she doesn’t carry the same capacity through her chest floor, her flank. She’ll be a great brood cow, though.”

The winner “blends really well from the chest floor right back into the flank with lots of depth.”

Stone owns his own herd now — nine cows, eight calves and three heifers. He’s been showing since he was 11 and already is knowledgeable about selling and growing his herd. He’d like to judge, like Oattes, but can’t until he’s 21 and finished with 4-H. “You kinda have to be asked,” he admitted, adding he’s working up a name for himself. “By the time I’m 21 or 22, I’ll be well known — people will know Ethan Stone,” he grinned.

Kids came from all over for the clinic — Shawville, Richmond, Stormont, West Carleton, Richmond, Stittsville, Grenville, Carleton Place, Metcalfe, and Jennifer and Don Hess hosted the day.

For information about the Ottawa Valley Hereford Club, go to www.ottawaherefords.ca or www. facebook.com/OVhereford . Hess is the secretary/treasurer of the Club.

April 2019

5

community

The IDA Carleton Place Drugmart supports the hospital Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca The IDA staff and store love giving back to their community.

The team are proud to have raised $4,218 in 2018 for the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPD-

MH) Foundation through their annual Employee Matching Gifts Program!

The thoughtful staff at IDA Carleton Place have made generous monthly donations in 2018, totalling $2,109. Store owners Esmail and Karim Merani

are loyal supporters of the hospital and were thrilled to then match their employees’ donations. A total of $4,218 was raised through their matched gift. Funds will be used to purchase much needed patient care equipment for

their local hospital.

The IDA Carleton Place is a full service pharmacy which offers quality care and service. “We’re a team,” stated Dr. Esmail Merani, co-owner of IDA Carleton Place and Board member for the CPDMH Foundation. “It’s our responsibility to work together to build a healthy community. We’re proud of our hospital and the quality care that they offer close to home.”

In 2018 our Emergency Department alone serviced more than 18,000 patients.

“Generous donations like these help our staff to have state of the art equipment to help our community members,” added Robyn Arseneau, Executive Director, CPDMH Foundation. “We appreciate the IDA giving back to our community; their loyalty to our hospital is invaluable.”

To learn more about IDA Carleton Place and

how they work to build a healthier community, please visit their store at 47 Lansdowne Avenue in Carleton Place or visit their website at idapharmacy.com.

To learn more about all the great things happening at CPDMH and the Foundation, please visit our website www.cpdmhfoundation.ca, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts @CPDMHFoundation.

Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston Green Party Nomination Meeting April 10 Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Pictured above are monthly supporters, IDA Carleton Place Drugmart Staff, Co-Owner Karim Merani (top left), CPMDH Foundation Board Members (left to right behind cheque) and CPMDH Foundation’s Executive Director, Robyn Arseneau (bottom right). Photo submitted.

Celebrating Empty Bowls Perth Perth - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Come listen to some wonderful music and support Empty Bowls Perth on Saturday April 13th at 2:00 pm at Code’s Mill Atrium in Perth. Jazz n’ Tonic is a double choir event. Tonic, led by Nicola Oddy of Perth, and Martello Alley Cats (MAC) of Kingston, led by Stephanie Lind of Queen’s University, are joining together for a second time, raising money for organizations in their communities. Enjoy the jazz, the folksongs, and songs from around the world, and donate to Empty Bowls Perth when they pass the hat.

For 18 years Empty Bowls Perth has been supporting local food security programs by selling handcrafted bowls donated by local potters. The Perth based project was founded by potter Jackie Seaton.

Jackie, who died in 2013, was a tireless advocate for food security in our community and this spring The

Photo submitted.

Table Community Food Centre will honour Jackie’s contribution with the dedication of the Empty Bowls garden and the installation of a handmade bench crafted by Jackie’s good friend, David Ambrose.

Every spring since 2002, many in our community look forward to seeing, purchasing and filling Empty Bowls. Empty Bowls Perth is part of an international grassroots effort to fight hunger in our communities and unfortunately, there are still many children, youth, adults and seniors in our community who do not have enough to eat.

For those new to Empty Bowls, the basic premise is simple: potters create handcrafted bowls. The community is invited to enjoy a meal of soup and bread in exchange for a cash donation of $25. Donors keep their bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world, and that food is not just a commodity but a basic right.

We hope to see you at the

Festival of the Maples on Saturday April 27th 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. The Empty Bowls booth will be set up outside Riverguild Fine Crafts (51 Gore Street East).

Purchase a bowl and fill it with delicious soup or chili donated by Perth restaurants, along with artisanal bread donated by Barnabe’s.

If it’s too early for soup, enjoy a complimentary coffee from Coutts & Company.

As in past years, the beautiful hand-made bowls will be available at Foodsmiths in Perth in April, and are also available year-round at the Riverguild Fine Crafts while supplies last.

Donations support The Table Community Food Centre, YAK Youth Services, Food for Thought: Lanark County school nutrition program, and the Lanark Highlands Food Pantry, as well as the Guatemala Stove Project.

For more information about Empty Bowls Perth, visit www.emptybowls.ca or facebook.com/emptybowls.ca.

The Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston Green Party of Canada Association is excited to announce that three area residents are seeking the nomination to become the Green candidate in the upcoming federal election. There is an almost electric sense that 2019 will be the year that Greens make a real breakthrough at the federal level after nine Greens have been elected into the British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Ontario provincial legislatures.

The local nomination meeting will take place at McMartin House in Perth (125 Gore St E, Perth) on Wednesday April 10, 2019.

Doors open at 6:30 pm; the meeting is in the upstairs room and starts at 7 pm sharp. The venue is accessible.

The candidate nominees are Douglas Barr, Kelvin Hodges and Stephen Kotze.

Doug Barr, a resident of Tay Valley Township, is a professional musician and advocate of sustainable living. Barr was motivated to run for Tay Valley Township Council in 2018. He said "I want to be able to tell my Grandkids I tried to DO something about Climate Change to give them a world, a future, that they deserve."

Kelvin Hodges, a resident of Perth, owns and runs a solar energy and storage business. Previously Hodges ran a media company that worked for Canada's largest corporations and government departments.

Hodges is motivated by bees. When, in 2013, the bees didn't return to his locust forest’s spring blooms; his research led him to take action. He is running for the Green Party nomination to continue acting on climate change.

Steve Kotze, a resident of Lanark Highlands for 35 years, is an accountant specializing in small businesses and non-profit organizations. A father and grandfather, Kotze volunteers extensively. Kotze wants to run for the Green Party to continue his ser-

Douglas Barr. Photo submitted.

Stephen Kotze. Photo submitted.

Kelvin Hodges. Photo submitted.

vice to the people of his community and because he believes that the Green Party is the party of the 21st century.

Only Green Party members as of March 10th who

are present at the meeting can vote. Everyone is welcome to attend, member or not. For more information contact Anita Payne De Gaia at 613-267-0881 or payanita@gmail.com.

April 2019

6

lifestyle Patients in need of after care to prevent opioid addiction Perth - Emilie Must

editorial@pdgmedia.ca The national opioid epidemic has taken the lives of thousands of Canadians, and forced many more to struggle with addiction. Locally, one man bravely shared his story with the Hometown News.

Fernando Scatozza, 67, worked at Sherwood Packaging in Smiths Falls for 32 years. In his retirement he spent his time playing guitar and singing, until he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. In October 2018 he experienced a different kind of debilitating pain, this time in his lower back.

“I remember it was the Monday of Thanksgiving that I got out of bed with tremendous pain that I couldn’t manage,” Scatozza said. “I couldn’t stand up. I couldn’t do anything.”

His doctor did X-rays and discovered restriction on his vertebrae, diagnosing him with spinal stenosis. He was recommended for surgery to remove the muscle tissue and inflammation. Unfortunately, there was a three-month

wait between discovering the source of his pain and the surgery. That is when Scatozza first took 90 mg morphine pills for his pain.

According to Statistics Canada, “29 per cent of Canadians aged 18 and up reported using some form of opioids in the past five years, with more than one-quarter reporting they have leftover opioids stored in the home.”

The surgery on Feb. 21 was a success, and after spending three days in the hospital he was sent home. However, after taking morphine every day for months Scatozza knew he was at risk of addiction.

“I knew that I was hooked.

When it’s time for me to take the next pill my body starts craving for it. You can feel it through your body.”

Scatozza decided to quit taking morphine cold turkey and was shocked by his withdrawal symptoms that lasted for weeks. His symptoms included insomnia, restless leg syndrome and hot and cold sweats.

“I was in the middle of it.

I knew I had my morphine right here and I was looking

at it. Should I take it or take half of it? I didn’t, because I said it has to be an end to this. If not tomorrow then next week, at least there’s an end to it.”

His doctor gave no instructions on how to safely wean himself off of the morphine.

“I think there’s a lack of post-op care, a follow-up on people who have been given opioids for such a long time. Opioids and morphine have a really good role in the system,” Scatozza said. “It did allow me to function almost normally while waiting for surgery and that’s okay.

What’s not okay is that I’ve been left alone battling the withdrawal. That’s what I want to declare, I want to put the word out it is easy to get hooked.”

Currently, there are no support groups specifically for patients dealing with opiate withdrawal in Smiths Falls or Perth.

“I think this to me is a social issue,” Scatozza said.

“The government should be involved in that and the medical association should be involved in that.”

AGH Physiotherapy team supports patients with osteoarthritis

Physiotherapist Janet McGonigal (left) demonstrates a GLA:D OA neuromuscular training exercise with fellow physiotherapist Kim Dyer. Photo submitted.

Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca When Jane Young heard about a new program to help deal with her knee pain, she was very happy. When she found out the program was being offered right in Almonte just a block from her home, she was ecstatic. “It’s a marvelous program and the physiotherapists at Almonte General Hospital are amazing,” says Jane. “I can’t say enough about the program. Most of all, it’s bought me some time and eased my pain.”

Almost 40% of patients with osteoarthritis referred for possible surgery are either

not yet ready or not medically appropriate for a joint replacement. Now they have another option, thanks to a provincial pilot project at Almonte General Hospital (AGH). The physiotherapy team offers a new non-surgical management and treatment option for osteoarthritic hip and knee joints.

The Goodlife with OsteoArthritis from Denmark (GLA:D OA) program supports patients through an eight- week treatment plan that includes exercise and education sessions. Clients are referred to AGH Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre

by Advanced Practice Physiotherapists at Queensway

Carleton Hospital (QCH) Total Joint Assessment Clinic. They participate in two education sessions and 12 neuromuscular exercise sessions. Clients must meet specific criteria including a commitment to participate in the classes over the time period.

“They showed me simple things that I never would have thought of,” adds Jane.

“The class size was small, so everyone felt comfortable asking questions. They even provided an at-home program. I don’t have the same level of pain that I had before.”

To date, 30 clients have participated in the pilot program. “The feedback has been excellent, and we are seeing exciting results in both significantly increased mobility and decreased pain,” says Physiotherapy Director Patti Morton. “Clients come to us from throughout the region including Almonte, Carleton Place, Arnprior, and Carp. They are reporting that the program is making a difference in their lives and are very pleased to receive the support and education close to home.”

The pilot program has been so successful that it has been extended another year.

AGH Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre has been contracted to serve another 60 clients through to the end of March 2020. For further information on accessing this free program at Almonte General Hospital, please call 613-256-1965.

Photo credit: Emilie Must.

Sexual violence art piece will be publicly unveiled on May 17 Carleton Place - Stacey Roy editorial@pdgmedia.ca The elongated spiral design of Lanark County’s new pebble mosaic aims to be a conversation starter around the persistence of sexual violence in our society and the need to eliminate it for good.

The captivating piece will be installed into the parkette beside Town Hall in Carleton Place this spring.

Project organizers plan to host a public unveiling on May 17, at 1 p.m. in the park.

Erin Lee, executive director of Lanark County Interval House received unanimous support for the public art project from Carleton Place Council this past February, but local politicians didn’t stop there.

Many paid a visit March 6-8 to help in building the pebble art piece alongside members of the public and project hosts.

“I’m 100 percent behind them and proud to have them in town,” Mayor Doug Black said.

Lee and project backers have been pleased with the support from local politi-

cians. She hopes the mosaic’s location beside the seat of political power will remind those who take office to always keep the eradication of sexual violence in society on the political agenda.

“It’s awesome to be here in Carleton Place and it’s awesome where its going to be placed,” said Roberta Della-Picca, member of the Ottawa Valley Creative Arts Open Studio and Red Dress Productions, two of several organizations that has made the art project possible. Lee said the town hall parkette is a special place for local advocates as it is where the annual Take Back The Night event begins.

The first two days of the mosaic project, participants were asked to draw what it is they carry around with them and what they would like to be set free from as a result of sexual violence.

‘It was very emotional,” Lee said.

The finished design that will be unveiled May 17 is the result of these in-depth discussions.

“It’s really about creating awareness of sexual violence.” Lee later added she

hopes survivors of this type of violence hear that their community believes them, honours them and will not forget what happened.

That is what Emily McLeod was thinking when she was filling rows of rocks March 8. The Early Childhood Educator has been interning at Lanark County Interval House’s children’s department, but took her day off to come down to the church basement March 8 and be part of this legacy pebbles mosaic project.

“I’m hoping people will take the time to acknowledge it and understand the meaning of it,” McLeod said.

The Lanark County pebble mosaic is one of four being completed in the province this year. Others will be unveiled in Peterborough, North Bay, and Brantford, Ontario. All four are part of a larger Countdown Public Art Legacy Project, which began in 2016 through a collaboration between the Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County, Red Dress Productions, and the Ottawa Valley Creative Arts Open Studio.

Roberta Della-Picca of the Ottawa Valley Creative Arts Open Studio and Red Dress Productions proudly holds the approved artist rendering of what Lanark County’s pebble mosaic will look like while the work in progress lies behind her March 8, 2019 inside All Nations Church on Bridge Street, Carleton Place. The mosaic honours survivors and victims of sexual violence and will be installed May 17, 1 p.m. in the parkette behind Town Hall. All are welcome to attend.

Photo credit: Stacey Roy

Presents:

A world class tribute to Johnny Cash

takes the stage at the Gallipeau Center Theatre May 11

Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Johnny Cash was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of being inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame, with Legendary Hits like I Walk The Line, Folsom Prison Blues, Boy Named Sue, Ring Of Fire, Man In Black and many more.

Canadian Jim Yorfido is best known for his starring role as Johnny Cash in The Sun Records Show, the official international touring show of the famed Memphis based label that launched the career of the Man in Black in 1955. It’s a

role Yorfido has been honing for about nine years; the latest part of a music career that spans more than four decades since his teenage years growing up in Welland, Ontario, Canada. While he’s always included some Johnny Cash songs in his repertoire – Folsom Prison Blues is a favorite – he really got into the swing of things when he joined The Sun Records Story.

The Honky Tonk Angels Jim is accompanied in this show by his lovely and talented wife Pam Yorfido.

Like a chameleon, Pam changes her look, her costume and her voice. Then like magic she becomes country singing legends Loretta Lynn, June Carter Cash, and Tammy Wynette.

You will hear the the unforgettable hits of Loretta Lynn like Coal Miner's Daughter and You Ain't Women Enough (To Take My Man). Pam will perform country song clas-

sics from Tammy Wynette such as I Don't Wanna Play House, Apartment No. 9, D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Take Me to Your World, Another Chance, Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad, and the favorite classic Stand by Your Man. Pam has won rave reviews across Canada for her portrayal of June Carter Cash, alongside her husband of 27 years. She comments, "It's fun to do the shows with Jim. We enjoy ourselves on stage and off, and I think the atmosphere really comes across to the audience." This is a must see show for all Johnny Cash and country music fans alike.

Cash bar & canteen available.

Saturday, May 11, 2019 Get your tickets In Person: The Gallipeau Center Theater Box Office - 361 Queen Street, Smiths Falls, ON

By Phone: 613-284-9916 Online: www.galipeaucentertheatre. com or www.dreamrock.ca

COMING UP NEXT IS

Events around the region CARLETON PLACE Tuesdays CP Bridge 1:00pm - 4:00pm Carleton Place Legion 177 George St tdimnik@yahoo.com 613-492-1099 Olde Time Bingo 7:00pm - 9:15pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 Carletonplacecivitan.com

Wednesdays Open Jam 9:00pm - 1:00am Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 facebook.com/TheWaterfrontGastropub

Sundays Blues w/Redneck Limousine 3:00pm - 6:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub. ca

April 5 - 7 Home Show April 5 at 5:00pm 9:00pm April 6 at 9:00am 5:00pm April 7 at 11:00am 4:00pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 facebook.com/CarletonPlaceSpringHomeAndFashionShow

April 5 Watoto Children’s Choir 6:30pm Cavalry Pentacostal Church 7196 County Rd 29 Mississippi Blues Society

April 6 Antiques & Collectibles Show 10:00am - 3:00pm Carambeck Community Centre 351 Bridge St. arizaconsulting1@gmail. com facebook.com/CavanaghFamilyMarketplace Bob Pepin 9:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub. ca Creating Positive Change w/Nichiren Buddhism 3:00pm - 4:30pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. lanarkchanting@gmail. com 613-286-5704 Sgicanada.org

April 16 Ketogenic Diet: Panacea or Fad? 6:00pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702 carletonplace.ca/library-c234.php

month at Mamma's 2nd & 4th Thurs at the Mill of Kintail's gatehouse boardroom almontecarver@gmail. com Menssheds.ca 613-461-0013

April 4

DIY Craft Club 6:30pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702 Olco.ent.sirsidynix.net

Travelogue: S. Africa 7:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St. missmillslibrary.com kpillsworth@mississippimills.ca 613-624-5306

April 26

April 4 - 7

April 22

Celebrate Nature with Poetry 6:30pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702 carletonplace.ca/library-c234.php

Phantom of the Hubera April 4 - 6 at 7:30pm April 7 at 2:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. 613-256-9090

April 5

Lanark Laughs 8:30pm - 10:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub. ca

Trip to Fulton's Pancake House 9:30am - 1:00pm Mississippi Mills Youth Centre 134 Main St. 613-256-5959

April 26 & 27

April 6

'New To You' Rummage Sale April 26 at 9:00am 6:00pm April 27 at 9:00am 2:00pm Zion-Memorial United Church 37 Franklin St.

Workshop: Seed Saving 10:00am - 12:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St kkiddey@mississippimills.ca 613-256-1037

April 26 - 28 Vintage Clothing Sale/ Fundraiser 10:00am - 4:00pm Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum 267 Edmund St. 613-253-7013

April 26 - 28, May 3 & 4 We Will Rock You April 26 - 27, May 3 - 4 at 7:30pm April 28 at 2:00pm Carleton Place Town Hall 175 Bridge St. 613-257-1976 mississippimudds.ca

MISSISSIPPI MILLS Mondays Cancer Support Group 10:00am - 11:00am Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-726-8040

Wednesdays Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Almonte Legion 100 Bridge St. 613-256-4747 Open Celtic Jam 7:30pm - 10:00pm Naismith Pub 411 Ottawa St. 613-831-6208

Thursdays Naismith Men's Shed 1st & 3rd Thurs each

Rob Lutes Songwriting/ Storytelling Workshop 1:00pm - 4:00pm Big Stone House 218 Strathburn angie@bigstonehouse.ca www.bigstonehouse.ca Meet the Artist: Jeremy Price 3:00pm - 6:00pm Sivarulrasa Gallery 34 Mill St. info@sivarulrasa.com 613-256-8033 Sivarulrasa.com Rob Lutes House Concert 7:30pm Big Stone House 218 Strathburn angie@bigstonehouse.ca www.bigstonehouse.ca

April 6 & 7 Ten Collective Art Exhibit 10:00am - 6:00pm Mississippi Valley Textile Museum 3 Rosamond St. E info@mvtm.ca 613-256-3754 Mvtm.ca

April 7 Vernissage: Ruby Ewen 1:00pm - 4:00pm Mississippi Valley Textile Museum 3 Rosamond St. E info@mvtm.ca 613-256-3754 Mvtm.ca The Brindled Cats 7:00pm - 9:00pm Almonte Lobby Bar in Alm Riverside Inn

81 Queen St. facebook.com/almontelobbybar

April 7 & 15 Songwriter Circle April 7 at 1:00pm April 15 at 6:30pm Mississippi Mills Musicworks 453 Ottawa St. mmmusicworks.school@ gmail.com 613-256-7464 Mmmusicworks.com

April 8 How Love Continues: Recognizing the Afterlife 6:30pm - 8:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St.

April 9 Music Trivia 8:00pm Almonte Lobby Bar in Alm Riverside Inn 81 Queen St. facebook.com/almontelobbybar

April 11 Volunteer Appreciation Night 5:00pm - 7:00pm Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St. tmaclaren@mississippimills.ca 613-256-1077

April 13 Vernissage: Tania Love 2:00pm - 4:00pm Mississippi Valley Textile Museum 3 Rosamond St. E info@mvtm.ca 613-256-3754 Mvtm.ca AiC: Piano & Cello Duo 7:30pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. Almonteinconcert.com

April 14 Fiddler's Friends Concert 12:30pm - 4:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. 613-256-3786

April 15 Almonte Quilters' Guild 7:00pm - 9:00pm Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St. almontequiltersguild@ gmail.com

April 16 Earth Day/Climate Action Rally 12:00pm - 1:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. 613-267-0881

April 17 Nat't Cdn Film Day: The Gardener 1:30pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-1037

April 20

April 28

Open House 10:00am - 5:00pm Carriageway Studios 65 Mill St. facebook.com/carriagewaystudios

Trad Song Pub Session 2:00pm - 4:00pm The Barley Mow 79 Little Bridge Street dave@barleymow.com 613-256-5669

Dye Easter Eggs All Day Peches & Poivre 89 Mill St. 613-256-5764

April 22 Tree Walking Talk 4:00pm Shipman Dr. 613-256-1077 Exploremississippimills. ca Almonte Hort: Perennials 7:30pm Cornerstone Community Church 1728 Concession 11 cornerstone@cornerstone-almonte.ca 613-256-4995

April 23 Meet the Author: Noel McDermott 7:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St 613-256-9090 Millstreetbooks.com

April 24 The Strangest Dream: A Play on Body Image & Esteem 5:00pm Mississippi Mills Youth Centre 134 Main St. info@classictheatre.ca 613-264-8088 Tree Talk 7:30pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. 613-256-1077 Exploremississippimills. ca

April 25 Community Meal 5:00pm - 7:00pm Mississippi Mills Youth Centre 134 Main St. 613-256-5959 Meet the Artist: Charles Spratt 7:00pm - 9:00pm Fairview Manor 75 Spring St. 613-256-3113 almontegeneral.com/fvm Tree Walking Talk 7:00pm 246 Mitcheson St. 613-256-1077 Exploremississippimills. ca Workshop: Investing 101 7:00pm - 8:30pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-1037

April 27 AGH Eddy & the Stingrays Dance 5:30pm - 10:30pm Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St. 613-256-2514x2296

PERTH Tuesdays Brock Zeman 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

April 4 - 7, 12 - 14 Hamish April 4 - 6, 12 -13 at 7:30pm April 7 and 14 at 2:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E 613-485-6434 studiotheatreperth.com

April 5 Riley Donnelly 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

April 10 Sir 2:00pm & 7:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. filmnightperth@gmail. com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com Green Party Nominations 7:00pm McMartin House 125 Gore St. E. payanita@gmail.com 613-267–0881

April 12 Tom Watson 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

April 13 HowToIn10 Festival 10:00am - 1:00pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St. eheesen@perthunionlibrary.ca 613-267-1224 www.perthunionlibrary.ca Jazz n’ Tonic: Choirs 2:00pm Code's Mill 17 Wilson St. E. Tea & Chocolate: Exploring Flavours 5:15pm Artizen Kombucha 12 Gore St. E. www.artizenkombucha.ca Joseph McDonald 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

April 14 Floral Fusion 1:00pm - 3:00pm Strévé Design 16 Gore St. E. strevedesign@gmail.com 613-267-0230

April 19 Stephen Mark Fisher 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

April 20 Easter Egg Hunt 11:00am Stewart Park Herriott St. 613-267-1947

April 22 P'Earth Day Parade 4:00pm Perth Town Hall 80 Gore St. E. 613-267-0881

April 24 Mademoiselle de Joncquières 2:00pm & 7:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. filmnightperth@gmail. com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

April 25 The Strangest Dream: A Play on Body Image & Esteem 6:30pm Perth Legion 26 Beckwith St E. info@classictheatre.ca 613-264-8088 Perth Library Wine & Cheese 6:30pm - 8:30pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St.

April 25 - 28, May 2 - 5 Generals Die in Bed April 25 - 27, May 2 - 4 at 8:00pm April 28, May 5 at 2:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. 613-267-1884 Barndoorproductions.ca

April 26 A Star is Born 7:30pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com Jono Townsend 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

April 27 Local Colours Art Exhibit 9:00am - 5:00pm McMartin House 125 Gore St. E. Empty Bowls - Riverguild 10:00am - 4:00pm Riverguild Fine Crafts 51 Gore St. E. 613-267-5237 www.emptybowls.ca Maple Paint In 11:00am - 4:00pm Strévé Design 16 Gore St. E

strevedesign@gmail.com 613-267-0230

SMITHS FALLS Mondays Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. office95@cogeco.ca 613-256-4747

Tuesdays Duplicate Bridge Club 1:00pm Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. office95@cogeco.ca 613-256-4747

April 5 Student Drop-in Events 10:00am - 3:00pm Ontrac Employment Resource Services 52 Abbott St N., Unit #2 www.getontrac.ca 613-283-698

April 6 How-To-Fair 10:30am - 1:30pm Smiths Falls Public Library 81 Beckwith St N 613-283-2911 smithsfallslibrary@vianet. ca ABBA Revisited 8:00pm Gallipeau Centre Theatre 361 Queen St. Gallipeaucentretheatre. com 613-284-9916

April 7 Big Brothers Big Sisters Annual Purse Event 1:00pm - 4:00pm SFDCI 299 Percy St

April 11 Sir 2:00pm & 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. filmnightperth@gmail. com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

April 12 Easter Eggstravaganza 5:00pm - 6:00pm Settlers Ridge Centre 275 Brockville Street 613-283-0737

April 17 The Strangest Dream: A Play on Body Image & Esteem 4:30pm Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre 71 Cornelia St. W. info@classictheatre.ca 613-264-8088

April 20 The Great Easter Egg Hunt 11:00am - 1:00pm Kinsmen Pavilion Lower Reach Park

April 24 Mademoiselle de Joncquières 2:00pm & 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. filmnightperth@gmail. com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

April 26 - 28, May 2 - 5 The Faery's Kiss April 26 - 27, May 2 - 4 at 7:30pm April 28, May 5 at 2:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com

April 27 Two Rivers Market 10:00am - 2:00pm Gallipeau Centre 361 Queen St. 613-284-9916 Gallipeaucentre.com Under the Sea Mystical Ball 1:00pm - 5:00pm Gallipeau Centre Ballroom Ducks Unlimited Smiths Falls Annual Banquet and Auction 5:00pm Lombardy Fairgrounds 6 Kelly's road Tom 613-284-7825 Jim 613-285-9268 Kris 613-407-1063

April 28 Spring Fling Running Thing springflingrunningthing@ gmail.com SFRunningthing.com

The Continentals 8:00pm - 11:00pm CC's on the Rideau 1030 Rideau Ferry Rd. 613-267-6060 Ccsontherideau.com

April 11 Brea Lawrenson & Shawn McCullough 6:30pm - 9:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

April 13 Al Lerman 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

April 19 BOTR: Rick Fines & Suzie Vinnick w/Band 7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

April 20 Tim Moxam 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

April 26 Jazz w/Spencer Evans Trio 8:30pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

April 27

Wednesday

RIDEAU FERRY

April 13

April 5

The Easter Hop 8:00pm - 12:00am Royal Canadian Legion 613-283-8119 613-283-5189

Benni Vander 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Tim & The Glory Boys 7:00pm - 9:15pm Gallipeau Centre 361 Queen St

Halfcocked & Lonesome 7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

WESTPORT

WESTPORT & RIDEAU LAKES

Green Book 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com

April 14

1030 Rideau Ferry Rd. 613-267-6060 Ccsontherideau.com

Chris Murphy of Turpin's Trail 6:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Open Mic w/Shawn McCullough 6:30pm - 9:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

April 12 & 13

The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

April 6 Peter Brown 5:00pm - 8:00pm CC's on the Rideau 1030 Rideau Ferry Rd. 613-267-6060 Ccsontherideau.com

April 13 John VW 8:00pm - 11:00pm CC's on the Rideau 1030 Rideau Ferry Rd. 613-267-6060 Ccsontherideau.com

April 6

April 20

WAC Kitchen Party w/ Kingston Ceili Band 1:00pm - 4:00pm

The Celtic Kitchen Party 8:00pm - 11:00pm CC's on the Rideau

April 27

REGIONAL APPLETON

April 7 Talk: Memories of '42, Stories of the Almonte Train Wreck 2:00pm North Lanark Regional Museum 647 River Rd. appletonmuseum@hotmail.com 613-257-8503

April 13 Garage & Bake Sale 8:00am - 12:00pm North Lanark Regional Museum 647 River Rd. appletonmuseum@hotmail.com 613-257-8503

April 27 Regular & Bid Euchre Party 1:00pm North Lanark Regional Museum 647 River Rd. appletonmuseum@hotmail.com 613-257-8503

BECKWITH

April 6 Lanark Genealogical Mtg 1:30pm Brunton Community Hall 1702 9th Line lcgsinfo34@gmail.com

April 20 Tree Planting w/Beckwith Youth Cttee 11:00am Beckwith Park 1319 9th Line 613-257-1539

LANARK

April 15 Lanark Community Dinner 4:00pm - 6:00pm Lanark & District Civitan Club 2144 Pine Grove Rd 613-259-2435

MCDONALDS CORNERS

April 9 Easter Community Potluck Dinner 5:00pm - 7:00pm MERA Schoolhouse 974 9th Concession A meraschoolhouse@bell. net 613-278-0388 meraschoolhouse.org

PAKENHAM

April 5 Classic Films: The Greatest Show on Earth 1:30pm Pakenham Library 128 MacFarlane St. paklib@lanarkcounty.ca 613-624-5306 missmillslibrary.com/pakenham-programmes/

April 6 & 7 Classic Films: The Greatest Show on Earth 10:00am - 5:00pm Pakenham Village Mapleruntour.com

April 6 & 20 Pakenham Youth Group 10:00am - 2:00pm Pakenham Library 128 MacFarlane St. 613-257-9772

April 11 Feeling Good: Colours, Clothes & Comfort 1:30pm - 2:30pm Pakenham Library 128 MacFarlane St. paklib@lanarkcounty.ca 613-624-5306

April 12 Classic Films: My Fair Lady 1:30pm Pakenham Library 128 MacFarlane St. paklib@lanarkcounty.ca 613-624-5306

April 13 Bridges Blues Series 6:00pm - 10:00pm Bridges Bar & Grill 2496 County Rd. 29 613-624-5939

April 17 Pakenham Hort: Kitchen Gardens 7:30pm St. Andrew's United Church 2585 County Rd 29 pakenhamhort@gmail. com 613-800-1236 www.gardenontario.org/ site.php/pakenham

April 19 - 22 Easter at Fulton's 10:00am - 2:00pm Fulton's Pancake House & Sugar Bush 399 Sugar Bush Rd. info@fultons.ca 613-256-3867 www.fultons.ca

April 26 Tree Walk 7:00pm Bridge Garden 5 Span Bridge 613-256-1077 Exploremississippimills. ca

April 28 Roast Beef Dinner 4:00pm - 6:30pm Stewart Community Centre 112 MacFarland St arthurlevi@sympatico.ca 613-256-4126

April 2019

11

lifestyle

Garden Matters:

Perennials ~ Multiply by Division Lanark County Master Gardeners

opinion: Am I the only one?

Carrie Wynne

Change nothing - nothing changes

Photo submitted.

Dividing your perennials is an easy way to improve the health of mature plants and increase your stock at the same time. Beginner gardeners often think of perennials as a low maintenance way to have a showy gardenjust plant them and forget them! The truth is, all perennials will require some upkeep. One of the most important tasks is to divide and remove the oldest portions of the plant and replant the sections that have vigorous new growth.

Although division may seem like drastic surgery, it will, in fact, improve the health of the plant. As a by-product of this job you will likely have more plants to give away or spread around your property.

All new growth in a perennial plant occurs at the perimeter of the plant. As the plant ages, its centre is often well past the vigorous growth stage and the plant starts to decline.

Division will increase the vigor and promote better flowering. Overcrowding is another reason to divide.

A plant’s natural rate of growth will determine how frequently it needs division. Some plants like iris, monarda, phlox and artemisia will need to be split in 1-3 years. Others like lilies, campanulas and helenium will be happy and healthy for 4-5 years before they need more space. Still others, such as lady’s mantle, cranesbill geranium, and pulmonaria will probably not need lifting for 6 or

more years. Then there are the homebodies that are happy to stay put for 10+ years- peonies, butterfly weed, baptisia and gas plant, etc.

The two seasons to divide plants are spring and fall. Early spring, when growth is just starting is the ideal time for fibrous rooted perennials. Cool air and abundant moisture at this time of year minimizes stress on the plant as it reestablishes. Spring division also allows the plant to grow a vigorous new root system before the next winter. Many fibrous rooted plants can also be divided in fall with care. Fleshy rooted plants like Siberian iris, lilies, peonies and Oriental poppies prefer September division.

The one major perennial that is best divided in summer is bearded iris.

At that time of year it is semi-dormant. Perennials that are divided in summer or fall should have their foliage cut back by one-half to minimize water transpiration.

Hostas and daylilies are two tough perennials that will tolerate division any time of the year. There may be some flower loss but they will rapidly re establish.

The first step in division is to remove the entire plant from the ground. The splitting will be much easier and you can improve the soil before replanting. Use a spading fork to free the plant’s roots. Once the plant is dug, wash the root system and crown with a garden hose.

Then you can often tease the roots apart with little damage. Large, old clumps will probably have to be pried apart by the two fork method.

Insert one fork into the centre of the plant. Then insert another fork back to back with the first.

Push them back and forth until the clump separates into sections.

A knife can be used to make smaller portions.

Since peonies have very brittle roots, a sharp knife works best and does the least damage.

Replenish the soil before replanting with 2-3 inches of compost. Be sure to keep the new division moist while you prepare the site of replanting. Groom the plant by removing dead foliage and damaged roots. Spread its roots out evenly in the hole.

Plant it a little higher than it was prior to disturbance. The newly turned soil will settle in time and then it will be at its proper level. Water well at planting time and keep moist over the next few weeks. A starter solution of fertilizer will help get the plant off to a good start. A mulch of straw or evergreen boughs will be very beneficial over the winter. Divison of plants is essential for a good perennial garden.

Written by Helen Halpenny who is a member of the Lanark County Master Gardeners. Want to know more about the Master Gardeners group or ask a gardening question? Visit our website at www.lanarkmg.blogspot.com or contact us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

These are exciting times in Smiths Falls and despite all the haggling about parking we should be celebrating.

Canopy Growth has exploded. This massive new global leader has made Smiths Falls home, bringing with it many newcomers, visitors and something this town desperately needed, JOBS. We are so fortunate.

As an observer, there’s a disconnect for me about the downtown core. I love a walkable shopping experience and so do seniors and tourists.

Downtown should be a place to shop, eat, drink and explore. Most of the prime shopping and dining locations are taken up by services. Are we a tourist town or not? I don’t think tourists need to get their taxes done.

Photo submitted.

Can’t these services be moved around into the vacant malls to make room for more shops?

Has anyone ever been to Bayfield or Stratford, Ontario? These towns know how to cater to tourists.

The hotel on the waterfront is a really a sad looking thing. I think a new hotel or a condo complex with shops and cafes would be a great draw for the town.

I wish I had more insight into all these downtown observations. Maybe people won’t budge.

Perhaps one day someone might explain it to me.

I think Smiths Falls is an active growing community for young families to thrive. Our real estate prices are rising and strong. Businesses are inquiring every week about investing here and new homes are being built. We have gorgeous well-maintained parks and world class golf. We have Jobs. Our lifestyle, schools and athletics are the best around and there’s Awana programs and Youth programs at Calvary Bible Church.

The competitive side of me is still a little jealous that Perth’s pub is busier than ours and Swiss Chalet in Brockville is jam packed with customers every day.

I get defensive when people who live and work here trash the town. If you aren’t part of the solution you are part of the problem. We know what the town can do for you. What can you do for the town?

I’ve met all kinds of neat people here: village explainers, town criers, muckity-mucks and strange little bands of characters trudging through life.

There’s something for everyone.

Last fall we voted for the voices we trusted.

Maybe we should trust them.

The secret to change is to let go of the past and focus on building the new. 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.

April 2019

12

lifestyle

Food & Drink

Beer, Wine & Spirits

The Spirits of Japan No this is not a story about the spirits that roam the famous, or should I say infamous, Aokigahara, a forest northwest of majestic Mount Fuji so thick with foliage that it's known as the Sea of Trees and famous as a place where Japanese will go to commit suicide. This is a lighter tale of what I think is the most beautiful country in the world which produces a range of beers, some wines, and several world class single malt whiskies. It is also the home of Sake which comes in a myriad of styles and tastes. Did you know that sake is not a distilled alcohol? It is brewed! The prepared rice is washed and fermented creating: Junmai-shu: This can be translated as pure rice sake. Nothing is used in its production except rice (milled down 30%), water, and koji, the magical mold that converts the starch in the rice into fermentable and non-fermentable sugars.

The taste of junmai-shu is usually a bit heavier and fuller than other types, making it a good match with foods.

Honjozo-shu: Honjozo is sake made with a bit of distilled ethyl alcohol (called brewers alcohol) to the fermenting

sake at the final stages of production producing a lighter sake, sometimes a bit drier, and in the opinion of many, easier to drink. Water is added later, so that the overall alcohol content does not change and it also makes the fragrance of the sake more prominent. Honjozo often makes a good candidate for warm sake. Note that most run-of-the-mill cheap sake has an excessive amount of brewers alcohol added to it, which is not good. Honjozo has only a very small amount of added alcohol.

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Ginjo-shu: This is sake made with rice that has been polished (milled) so that no more than 60% of its original size remains. In other words, at least the outer 40% has been ground away. This removes things like fats and proteins and other things that impede fermentation and cause off-flavors. But that is only the beginning: ginjo-shu is made in a very labor intensive way, fermented at colder temperatures for a longer period of time. The flavor is more complex and delicate, and both the

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flavor and the fragrance are often (but not always) fruity and flowery. It should be served cold.

Daiginjo-shu: Daiginjo-shu is ginjo-shu made with rice polished even more, so that no more than 50% of the original size of the grain remains, and some are even milled to 65% before brewing. Daiginjo is made in even more painstaking ways, with even more labor intensive steps, so this is the most expensive sake.

It too should be served cold.

LCBO now carries a range of sake and if you can get a plum sake, it is a fruity and wonderfully semisweet way to end an oriental meal. The LCBO also carries the following Japanese beer brands too.

The three main beer producers in Japan are Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo.

Asahi Super Dry is Japan’s most popular beer, and is known the world over. It has a light, crisp, and bitter aftertaste which matches Japanese food very well.

Kirin Lager is a Japanese pale lager-style beer which has a nice grain aroma and crisp taste. Sapporo is the oldest brand of beer in Japan, founded in 1876. The legend began with the adventurous spirit of Seibei Nakagawa, Japan's first

ery located between Kyoto and Osaka on the main island of Honshu, an absolutely gorgeous single malt at 43%abv with oak age taking on ripe apple, violet and a deep, sweet oakiness. It has a mossy, pine-like character and a richness in the middle mouth that Yamazaki is known for. At Nikka Distillery in Yoichi on the north coast of Hokkaido, I discovered Nikka Distillery's Nikka Miyagikyo 10 Year Old ($16 for 375ml in 2014), a single malt with a floral nose: lilies and lilac with a touch of anise in the background; taste: balanced, crisp oak, some butterscotch notes and a pine-like finish. Great value! It is also home to a great museum and multiple buildings to tour the entire production process of making single malt.

This was started in 1934 by the Father of Japanese Whisky, Masataka Taketsuru, who also built Yamazaki Distillery, the first in Japan in 1924. In 2001 their whisky was rated Best in the World!

I know that I mentioned Japanese wines at the outstart, but even after 5 trips to Japan I still feel that they are 'nothing to write about'...so I won't. Cheers!

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It was a magical cold night in November a couple of years ago visiting the old Sapporo brewery on Hokkaido, the north island of Japan. The building was lit up, there was no snow but a few flakes were falling, and the trees in the compound had Christmas lights on them making it feel more like a German Christmas Market! The old brewery is no longer used as such but now it is a restaurant with an allyou-can-eat/drink prix fixe menu of lamb strips and vegetables which you cook on a hot metal dome like the helmets used by Genghis Khan's army which they put over a fire to cook with. Sapporo Beer Garden Genghis Khan Hall (http://www. sapporo-bier-garten.jp/).

Kessel Hall is a huge, open concept, multi-storey post and beam hall housing a giant beer-brewing cauldron/kessel which was made in 1912 looming over all the tables and diners.

As for single malts, I discovered The Yamazaki 18 Year Old (($119 in 2014), by Suntory Distill-

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April 2019

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April 2019

14

business Locksmithing, shoe repairing keep Clark in Smiths Falls for 40 years Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Don’t expect to just pop into Tom Clark’s Locksmithing business on Main and leave a few minutes later. It won’t happen.

Clark is a talker. He knows a lot of people in Smiths Falls, he knows their stories and he’ll tell you all about them — you don’t have to ask.

The month of March marked 40 years in business for him; he has the framed 1979 vendor’s permit hung above the entrance door of his shop. He has other pictures there, too, and (again) if you ask, he’ll tell you — be prepared to stick around for a good story.

First, probably, he’ll tell you about his dogs — Spike, Sheena, Tank — when he got them, when they died, and being a bit of a mystic, the date March 13 keeps popping into the telling. That’s the day his first dog died, the day a stray dog wandered into his heart and, sadly, the day his brother-in-law died.

“How does all this happen?” Clark asks.

Clark will be 59 in June and admits there have been

A celebration of 40 years in business. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

Tom Clark makes keys in the back room of his shop on Main St. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

times when he was ready to throw in the towel, but he’s still here and his customers are still coming. Within the space of an hour-and-ahalf, the door opened eight times; Clark knew everyone by sight, knew (mostly) why they were there, said he was busy but he’d get their jobs done. He answered the phone three times, ate lunch,

“Pretty good,” he told Wanless, “but it’s hard to break the door down when someone’s been in the business longer than you.”

That’s when Wanless told him his business was for sale.

“It [the shop] was rack and ruin at the time, a mess, full of stuff that had been here for 40 years.

“I went home and talked to my parents. I started my business with $63 that Dad had in his wallet. That’s what he gave me to start with.

“A month later I owned it.”

That was the shoe business. The lock business started from scratch because he was fascinated, as a five-yearold, when he went with his father to the old boat houses along the shore and saw padlocks hanging on the walls with no keys.

“What are you doing with the old padlocks?” he asked.

“Could I have them?”

The old guys, who had no idea where the keys were, said ‘sure’. Clark took them home, fooled with them to figure out how they worked, and at 10, his Dad bought him a key machine from Bill’s Locksmithing, then situated across from Rideau Lumber. Clark has a theory as to why the locks had no keys; ask him.

Clark doesn’t just cut keys — he makes them. “I just know how to do it. I have the tools, it comes natural. There are lots smarter guys than

made some keys…and talked.

“I came here to get heels on my boots February 15, 1979,” he says, sweeping his arm around indicating the store.

John Wanless, then-owner of the shop, asked him how his small business was going — Clark had a small-engine business fixing lawn mowers and chainsaws, making keys.

me in the cities dealing with high security locks but some of the old-fashioned locks are every bit as secure-proof as new stuff today because they’re uniquely made.”

To date he hasn’t come across a regular door lock he couldn’t make a key for; but…the unique ones, like a 1930 Model A car lock with a plug in it, is a challenge.

“You can’t see where the pin is that holds the plug because it’s chrome-plated over top.

You can’t get that pin out to take apart to make a key for it, so you have to do it with an impression — put the key in and fit it by impression. So you put the key in, wiggle it back and forth with a pair of vice grips until it leaves little marks on it, take it out, file it a little bit here and there, or read it with a special light, or mark the key with black.

Then I can see where it’s rubbing or catching. Then I file it down and it’ll work.

“But there’s an art to doing it.”

Another part of Clark’s art is his shoe repair. Shoe repair is “crafting”, especially the orthopaedic work. Again Clark says there’s “an art to doing it, and I take pride in my work.”

He is married, has been for 38 years. He met his wife outside the front door of his business on Main. Today, he lives in the same house he was born in almost six decades ago.

He has strong opinions. Sit

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with him for awhile, watch how he deals with his customers (some of them lifetime friends), listen to what he has to say.

“I gave the mayor s - - yesterday, up one side and down the other over this parking deal. It’s making a mess of the downtown corridor.” He floated a thought of imagining the Town back in 1855 for a week, “a neat old-fashioned way.”

He’s made 30 keys for Le Boat, put a deadbolt lock on the door at the Lockmaster’s House and has observed, with some asperity, that payment comes from Europe.

Of Canopy Growth, “he’s not in favour of selling pot unless for medical purposes.”

And, back to the Mayor — “the taxes keep going up, they’re not going down.

Where are they spending the money, what are they doing with it?”

So this is a small cameo of Tom Clark — he likes people, he likes to talk, he’s opinionated, he admits to “being peculiar. I know I am,” he loves dogs, he’s lived and worked here his entire life, he has a genuinely good heart.

Mike Herbert, his Gr. 7 teacher, came to congratulate him on the day of his anniversary in business. Herbert had noted in his diary (way back then) that Tom Clark “opens his business in 1979.”

And he came in to “shake hands with a special person.”

April 2019

15

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April 2019

16

business

Le Boat open for second season, with a new hub in Seeley’s Bay Regional - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca All eyes are on Smiths Falls as Le Boat prepares to open its second season in May. Representatives of the UK division of Le Boat sat down with the Hometown News for an exclusive interview about the success of the first year of Le Boat in Smiths Falls and what to expect for year two.

This year a second North American location is opening in Seeley’s Bay. This will allow customers a choice in which direction they go along the Rideau Canal.

Four new boats arrived in Smiths Falls on March 14, including two of the biggest boats to date known as the Horizon 5, which came all the way from Poland, where they are custom-built for Le Boat. The Horizon 5 sleeps up to 12 people with five cabins, ensuite bathrooms in each, as well as a barbecue on the upper deck.

“I like to sort of describe the boat as a floating condo. It’s like an apartment.

It’s beautiful,” Le Boat managing director Cheryl Brown said. “It’s got

fantastic facilities and it’s made very easy to drive.”

Bookings for 2019 are already 65 per cent sold with the majority of sales from European customers in the fall of 2018.

“We’re actually 29% up in bookings to Canada from around the world so it’s looking like a very exciting season ahead,” communications director Andrew Leduc said.

Le Boat operated mainly in Europe until two years ago when the company decided to expand to North America. “For us it was a $16 million Canadian dollar investment,” Brown said.

Le Boat has offices around the world including France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Australia and South Africa.

The first year was a success, not only for Le Boat, but for the tourism dollars it brought to the local community. Each customer spent an estimated $824 for a week-long vacation.

“We’re talking about over $1.1 million in terms of customers spent in the Rideau Region, which is fantastic,” Leduc said.

The towns of Smiths

Falls, Perth, Merrickville, and Westport all saw a rise in tourist dollars because of Le Boat.

Smiths Falls was chosen to be the North American base of operations because of its central location along the Rideau Canal. It’s in the middle, with Ottawa at the top of the Rideau Canal and Seeley’s Bay was the second base because it leads up the canal to Kingston.

“It’s probably one of the most varied cruising regions that we’ve got anywhere in our business. So between Ottawa where you’ve clearly got the city environment down to the great Rideau Lake part in the cruising area,” Leduc said. “There’s a massive difference so we’ve given customers the opportunity to experience different parts of that, which is important.”

Le Boat plans to add four boats every season to make a total of 32 boats after five years.

“Our biggest job as a global team is awareness,” Brown said. “You can hire a boat and you don’t need to have previous boating experience. We’re a great holiday to bring the dogs along as well.”

The Le Boat executive team huddled around the giant blue chair outside of the Smiths Falls headquarters at the old Lockmasters’ House. From left to right, UK communications director Andrew Leduc, top left, Lisa MacLean, Laurie Hudson-Craig, Amanda Breeze, Heather Whiting and top right, UK managing director Cheryl Brown. Photo credit: Emilie Must.

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