It’s official! Perth's off-leash dog park set to open Oct. 4 at Darou Farm
Perth - Laurie Weir
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The long-awaited offleash dog park in Perth is almost complete, with fencing now being installed at Darou Farm and a grand opening celebration scheduled for Oct. 4.
TG Landscaping is handling the fence installation, expected to be finished on the 1.3 acre section in the coming weeks. To enhance the space, the town has added a new parking lot closer to the entrance and invested in extra touches, including felt and small rocks around the fence base to prevent weeds and grass
from growing up along the line. Officials say the addition will keep the site tidy and visually appealing.
According to Tania Cadeau, co-chair of the Friends of the Perth Dog Park, the finishing touches are coming together quickly.
“The fence is going up now, and we’re really excited to see everything taking shape. The town has been very supportive, and we can’t wait to welcome the community to celebrate this milestone on October 4,” she said.
A “wish list” of park items will be released by the town for those who would like to contribute amenities. Three benches have already been
ordered, though they may not arrive in time for the opening event.
The Friends of the Perth Dog Park is planning the grand opening festivities. The event will include live music, gift bags, and local vendors. Perth Barkery will sell handmade dog treats with half of the proceeds directed to the park. Other fundraisers will feature winter dog clothing, booties, collars, and harnesses, with all proceeds going to amenities. Dana from Lanark Village Pets will provide on-site nail trimmings, and Perth Dog Park-branded clothing will be available. Perth Brewery
will also be on hand with non-alcoholic beer.
A project years in the making
The off-leash dog park has been on Perth’s agenda since 2009, when residents first began calling for a dedicated space. Ten years ago, council approved the idea in principle, but required the community to raise funds before a location would be provided.
Interest surged again in recent years, with residents pushing for Last Duel Park as a possible site. In October 2022, council reopened the discussion, directing staff to prepare a detailed report on options and
costs. A decision was deferred in December 2022, but by April 2023, council opted to gather public feedback through a survey and an open house.
In the spring of 2023, residents provided input through a survey, followed by an open house at Town Hall on May 11. On June 20, 2023, Darou Farm was formally designated as the location.
By August 15, 2023, council approved the park’s proposed layout and annu-
al operating costs of $9,000, with the condition that the community raise 50 per cent of the capital costs. The Friends of the Perth Dog Park successfully raised the $30,000 target, unlocking town support and allowing the project to proceed. Alongside the dog park, the Darou Farm Working Group was created to plan for the broader use of the property, ensuring the land continues to serve recreational needs for the community.
Future of Mill of Kintail collections still uncertain
ReGIonal - Laurie Weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The fate of the James Naismith and R. Tait McKenzie collections at the Mill of Kintail is still unknown following a Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) board meeting on Sept. 8.
Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry urged the board to slow down its transition process and to consult more broadly with families, partners, and the public before making any decisions that could see the nationally significant col-
lections dispersed.
“To consider dispersing these collections now, without consultation, without transparency, and without involving the community, stakeholders, and most of all the families, is a violation and breach of trust,” Lowry told the board. She argued that when the Mill property was transferred to the MVCA in 1972, it came with a “social contract” to preserve the McKenzie and Naismith legacies on site in perpetuity.
Board members acknowledged the importance of the collections but cited financial and legislative challeng-
es. Conservation authorities are no longer mandated to operate museums under provincial law, and the Mill’s stone building lacks the climate controls needed to protect fragile artifacts. Operating costs are projected to outpace revenues, with the MVCA warning the current funding model is unsustainable beyond the expiry of its five-year agreement in 2028. No final decision was made on Sept. 8. The board agreed that community engagement must continue and noted a public survey is still open to gauge interest in fundraising and partnerships. Staff are expected to report back with the results later this fall. Several members indicated there is time to explore alternatives before any dispersal occurs. Mississippi Mills’ advocacy Mississippi Mills council has been outspoken in recent weeks about protecting the collections. On Aug. 12, council unanimously supported Lowry’s motion to engage directly with the MVCA, pressing for dialogue before any changes are made.
Continues on page 2
Photo credits: Tania Cadeau - Friends of Perth Dog Park at Darou Farm Facebook group.
Mississippi Mills photo.
Page Two
Letter to the Editor:
Rideau Lakes councillors must repay business-class train fares
Dear Editor,
From Jan. 18 to 21, members of Rideau Lakes Township council attended the ROMA conference in Toronto. Coun. Sue Dunfield booked business-class train fare for some councillors.
This violates Rideau Lakes’ bylaw on remuneration, which states: “For travel beyond 200 km from the municipal office in Chantry, members shall be compensated at the most economical transportation rate regardless of mode selected.”
A deputy reeve from a
neighbouring township told me their councillors never book their own travel for such events. Staff handle it.
I hope the councillors who benefited from this upgrade repay the extra cost, especially since a simple majority of council had just voted to award themselves $200 per day on top of their regular stipend before attending the conference. I recall one councillor saying she wanted more accountability.
Sincerely,
Robert Butcher Rideau Lakes Township
Future of Mill of Kintail collections still uncertain
ReGIonal - Laurie Weir
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Continued from page 1
This builds on earlier work: a 2021 special advisory committee, co-chaired by Lowry, recommended the MVCA keep both collections at the Mill. Council has repeatedly emphasized that the site is not only a local attraction but also of national importance, given that Naismith invented basketball and McKenzie gained international renown as a sculptor and physician. Council’s concern is that
dispersal would sever the collections from their authentic context in Lanark County, where both men grew up, studied, and created much of their legacy. What’s next
The MVCA board will continue its consultation process this fall, with results of the public survey expected to guide next steps. Board members signalled they are open to partnerships with municipalities, heritage organizations, or national institutions that could bring new funding or management options.
Get your copy of the Hometown News print edition at Your Independent Grocers across Lanark County.
Bike Night turns into summer tradition for motorcycle enthusiasts in Smiths Falls
Smiths Falls - Laurie Weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Beckwith Street rumbled with the sound of thousands of motorcycles this summer as the Smiths Falls Business Improvement Area launched its first-ever Bike Night series.
Held on the first Wednesday of June, July, August and September, the events drew riders and visitors from across Ontario, Quebec and the United States. By September, more than
3,800 motorcycles lined Beckwith Street, pushing the season total past 10,000.
“We did not expect it to be nearly as incredible as it was,” said Sherrie Axford, promotions chair and vicechair of the BIA. “Restaurants were overwhelmed, stores stayed open late, and it was just really incredible.”
Planning began in February after another community cancelled its regular bike nights. The BIA developed a traffic plan, coordinated with the Ministry
of Transportation, hired security and worked with fire services to keep lanes open. More than 40 vendors joined the final event in September. Businesses that normally close at 5 p.m. stayed open until 8 or 9, capitalizing on the crowds. While some concerns were raised about downtown closures, surveys showed most merchants saw a boost. Axford said accessibility issues will be addressed in 2026 with better signage and detours.
Visitors, she added, were respectful. Some even helped volunteers move tables and clean up. By 7 a.m. the next day, “the street looked like nothing had even happened.” Bike Nights will return next summer on the same Wednesday schedule. July’s event will coincide with Canada Day, which organizers expect will draw even more people. To accommodate crowds, live music will be staged at both ends of Beckwith Street.
Painting and Ponies fundraiser supports rescue care at Willow Creek Stables Oct. 18
Perth - Laurie Weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
A colourful fall afternoon of creativity and community spirit is coming to Willow Creek Stables in October.
On Saturday, Oct. 18 from 1 to 4 p.m., the gates will open for Painting and Ponies, a unique fundraiser that blends art, food, and furry friends, all in support
of pony rescue care. Guests can look forward to sign-painting activities, tasty refreshments and nibbles, and a chance to meet the stables’ sweet ponies up close. Selfies are encouraged, and the rustic-chic setting of Willow Creek, surrounded by rolling pastures, promises a relaxed backdrop for laughter and connection. Tickets are $75, with all
proceeds going toward the care of Willow Creek’s rescue ponies, allowing owners Korrine and Wayne Jordan to focus on Korrine’s cancer treatment and recovery.
Korrine has been candid about the challenges of chemotherapy and radiation.
“Week 2 has been more about the increased discomfort from radiation. It really has me wondering how I’m going to get through another five weeks,” she wrote in a recent Facebook post. Despite the fear and fatigue, she said she feels “overwhelmed by the love and support” of her barn family and friends who have stepped up to keep the ponies cared for. “When friends and family step in without being asked and just make our lives easier, it literally means the world.”
The GoFundMe campaign launched by Robin Norris highlights the reach of Willow Creek’s work. Over the past eight years, the Jordans have rehabilitated and rehomed 90 Newfoundland ponies, supported 4-H and Girl Guides, and offered therapeutic opportunities for seniors,
veterans, and individuals with special needs. Today, 22 sanctuary ponies, mostly seniors, continue to call Willow Creek home.
Rescue costs are significant: hay and grain (with extra rations in winter), dental floats for seniors, farrier visits for ponies like Devlin, who regained mobility after severe hoof neglect, medications for asthma and arthritis, and routine and emergency veterinary care. With regular fundraising programs such as summer camps, pony treks, barn visits, and open farm days on hold, donations and community events are critical to keeping the ponies healthy.
The Jordans hope to resume their traditional Valentine’s Day open farm day and winter pony treks in 2026.
For now, Painting and Ponies offers a chance to give back. Organizers say it’s not just about raising funds, but about celebrating the strength of community.
“Grab your friends and your paintbrush,” the invitation reads. “This is one afternoon you won’t want to miss.”
Publisher: Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia ca
Editorial Manager: Laurie Weir
Photography: Kathy Botham Laurie Weir Layout/Design: Tara McNeil
Mississippi Mills photo.
Kathy Botham photo.
Devlin is one special rescue pony and guests to Paint Night at Willow Creek Stables can learn all about him on Oct. 18 during a fundraising event, Painting and Ponies. Willow Creek Stables photo.
community
NEWS FROM THE HILL: Welfare state transfers wealth upward instead of helping those most in need
The stated goal of Canada’s welfare state has always been to redistribute wealth from wealthier Canadians to Canadians who have less. From its very start in the 1920s and 1930s, the goal of wealth redistribution from rich to poor has been supported by a broad national consensus. Over the years, Canadians have sometimes complained that taxes were too high, or that too much of the redistributed wealth was being used up in bureaucratic churn, but no major political actor has ever suggested a return to the old days, when tax rates were very low and the poor received no public assistance.
But recent public policy shifts have caused the welfare state to move away from this widely supported redistribution from rich to poor,
and towards something entirely different. Increasingly, the policy choices of Canadian governments at all levels (federal, provincial, and municipal) are having the practical impact of transferring wealth not to the poorest, but rather to parts of the population who are already relatively well-off.
Here are three examples, from a very long list:
• Canada’s publicly-funded child-care program, introduced last year, promises to offer significantly more affordable child-care to everyone. But in practice, the program is available only to people who live in larger population centres that are close to where the regulated day care spaces are located. This creates the following problem: state-subsidized
By Scott Reid, Member of Parliament for Lanark-Frontenac
child care spaces are available to urbanites (who are on average wealthier), but not to rural Canadians (who on average are less wealthy). Similarly, subsidized child care is unavailable for the children of shift workers, who are almost always less wealthy. So on the whole, this is a transfer that misses those who need help the most.
• Ontario introduced rent control in 1975. Concluding that renters are likely to have lower incomes, the province set itself the goal of keeping rents. Each year, rents are permitted to increase by only a modest amount (for example, 2.5% this year). This means even when a shortage in the supply of rental units drives up prices, existing renters will be protected.
So far, so good. But this does nothing to assist new entrants into the rental market, which means that young people, who are just leaving home, find themselves paying rents far in excess of those being paid by higher-income individuals who got into the rental market earlier. This is no small matter: nationwide, 34% of renters are paying more than half of their entire income, just on rent.
• The federal government’s “Incentive for Zero-Emission Vehicles” (iZEV) program, which was introduced in 2019, offers an incentive of up to $5,000 to purchasers of zero-emission vehicles. As a practical matter, poorer Canadians can’t afford the residual cost of an electric
car, even when the government covers $5,000. So this benefit is available only to people who were at or above Canada’s median income. The iZEV program was “paused” in January of this year, supposedly because it was oversubscribed. But it sure wasn’t oversubscribed by low-income Canadians.
I don’t think that the policies I’ve described here, and the numerous other ones like them, were intended to cause financial benefits to be redirected from those most in need towards those who are already prosperous. But an absence of malice doesn’t change the fact that we aren’t helping the people who are most in need.
The outcome has been that Canada continues to be a traditional welfare
state in the least desirable way: our taxes are punishingly high, compared to comparable states like Australia. High taxes cause us to be uncompetitive and slow our economic growth. But the thing that makes most people regard welfare states as being desirable--the guarantee that wealth transfers will be directed to help those who are most in need---has almost disappeared. Turning this dynamic around should be the prime directive of Canadian policy-makers. Contact your Member of Parliament Scott Reid at scott.reid@parl.gc.ca, visit http://scottreid.ca, or call his offices in Ottawa (613947-2277) or Carleton Place (613-257-8130). Your voice matters in shaping the policies that serve Canadians
Rideau Lakes supports delegation at ROMA for bass spawning sanctuaries
REGIONAL - Laurie Weir
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Bass may soon get a reprieve from early angling in the Township of Rideau Lakes. Council has agreed to support a request for a provincial meeting to advance the creation of bass spawning sanctuaries in local lakes.
At the Sept. 2 meeting, council endorsed a recommendation from the Rideau Lakes Lake Association Committee (RLLAC), which met Aug. 6, to authorize Mayor Arie Hoogenboom to seek a delegation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) during the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference.
Discussion focused on the science behind temporary fish sanctuaries. Hoogenboom explained that bass are vulnerable in spring when anglers targeting other species, like perch or crappie, inadvertently catch
nesting bass. Once removed from their nests, predators quickly wipe out the eggs and fingerlings, leading to significant declines in reproduction and recruitment.
Pilot sanctuaries on Opinicon and Charleston lakes are already showing promising results. Researchers from Queen’s University and biologist Dr. David P. Philipp have been collecting data in those lakes to support the proposal. The new plan would establish buoy-marked, no-fishing zones in additional Rideau Lakes waterways from midApril until early July.
“These are not permanent closures like the one on Upper Rideau,” Hoogenboom said. “They would be temporary, designed to protect bass during the nesting period.”
Coun. Marcia Maxwell said she had heard presentations at lake association AGMs and thought the program was already in progress. Hoogenboom said that MNRF approval is still re-
quired and must include consultation with anglers, landowners, and lobby groups.
“I know the sanctuary on Newboro Lake is permanent and you’re not allowed to go in there at all,” Maxwell said. “These were going to be more temporary or seasonal, with no fishing allowed until a month after the season opens to allow successful spawning.”
Hoogenboom noted that both conservationists and anglers have supported the concept. “If you’re a fisherman, you want there to be fish,” he said.
Coun. Linda Carr said enforcement is a key concern.
“You have to tell people not to fish in these fish sanctuaries. That’s your biggest problem. It’s not the fish. I know it is because I’ve seen it,” she said.
Hoogenboom agreed, adding that a formal sanctuary designation would allow for enforcement and fines.
Coun. Sue Dunfield said that a separate resolution has already gone to Parks
Canada, requesting that the bass season start two weeks later to better align with the end of the spawning period.
With unanimous support, the township will now press the case directly with the minister at the ROMA conference.
BACKGROUND
The issue of tournament pressure during bass spawning season has been simmering for several years in Rideau Lakes.
Starting in 2022, I reported for the Smiths Falls Record News on growing friction between cottagers and competitive anglers. Some shoreline residents described run-ins at public docks and raised concerns about environmental impacts. Tournament organizers pushed back, defending their catch-and-release programs and emphasizing the economic benefits of their events.
Those tensions helped build momentum for a science-based solution. With new data from snorkel sur-
veys showing improved reproductive success in temporary sanctuary zones, the township is now taking formal steps to support the program.
Dr. Philipp, a fisheries biologist and chair of the Fisheries Conservation Foundation, has studied bass ecology for more than 40 years. His research shows that male bass guard nests during spawning and are often disturbed or caught by early-season anglers. During pandemic restrictions, when there was less fishing pressure, nest suc-
cess rates jumped. Philipp promotes spawning sanctuaries that temporarily restrict fishing in 10 to 20 per cent of key shoreline habitat. Those areas would reopen in early July, after bass have completed their parental care. Pilot projects in Opinicon and Charleston lakes have demonstrated both ecological improvement and community compliance. Local lake associations say that protecting young bass will ultimately benefit anglers and the tourism economy.
Charleston Lake Association photo [charlestonlakeassociation.ca/fishing/]
Regional - LAURIE WEIR
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Behind the elegant stonework and stately verandahs of Lanark County’s grandest homes lies a swirl of romance, tragedy, and scandal. That’s the story local historian Arlene Stafford-Wilson uncovers in her latest book, Lanark County Mansions: Spectacular Homes and Fascinating Families.
This is Stafford-Wilson’s 13th book in her Lanark County series. She grew up on a small farm in the county, is an honorary life member of the Lanark County Genealogical Society, and in 2024 received the Perth Heritage Architectural Conservation Award for her archival work. Her research doesn’t just document the past, it animates it.
The scope in this book is sweeping. From the McMartin House in Perth to the Caldwell Mansion in Lanark Village, from Carleton Place’s Burgess Mansion to Almon-
Lanark County Mansions: When the walls could talk
te’s Thoburn home, and even the Gile Mansion in Smiths Falls, Stafford-Wilson profiles these landmark buildings and the families who lived there: the Burgesses, Caldwells, Thoburns, Codes, McIntoshes and many more.
To show just how alive these stories feel, I’ve paired each mansion’s tale with a playful “real estate listing” blurb. The twist highlights how Stafford-Wilson’s storytelling makes these heritage homes read like properties with character, and baggage, you won’t find on MLS.
In Smiths Falls, Glenwood Mansion at 22 Chambers St. rose as a symbol of industrial wealth. Alexander Wood, of Frost & Wood farm implements, “spared no expense designing his magnificent home and it truly was a reflection of his wealth and stature in the community” (p. 48). Its grand ballroom dazzled, but the ending was dark: “A gasoline fueled firebomb destroyed the historic Wood mansion and resulted in the loss of life of four residents” (p. 50).
Listing blurb: Three storeys of sandstone elegance, ballroom included. Comes with one of the most notorious arson cases in Smiths Falls history.
Then there is Perth’s Kininvie Mansion, at 50 Herriott St. This Edwardian dream home was built in 1906 by
Thomas Alfred Code for his wife Jennie. Stafford-Wilson writes, “Touched by both romance and tragedy, the architectural splendour of this Edwardian beauty continues to delight onlookers today” (p. 68). Tragically, Jennie passed away just a year later.
Listing blurb: Six fireplaces, manicured lawns on the Tay River, steam heat piped from Code’s Mill. Comes with one great romance, and one heartbreak you can’t renovate away.
Almonte’s Thoburn Mansion, at 161 Union St., tells a different story. Completed in 1887, it was “considered one of the most impressive residences in town” (p. 121).
William Thoburn parlayed his flannel mill fortune into politics, serving as mayor and later as a Member of Parliament. The home’s lavish weddings, Stafford-Wilson notes, were “the talk of the town” (p. 123).
Listing blurb: Two-and-ahalf storeys, hot-water heating ahead of its time, and a ballroom that doubled as a campaign office. Comes with political aspirations built right into the walls.
And then there’s Carleton Place’s Burgess Mansion, at 249 Lake Ave. E. is easily the most scandal-filled of the lot. Stafford-Wilson writes, “This family seethed and fumed together in an angry cauldron under the stately
roof of the Burgess mansion” (p. 15). With contested wills, political feuds, marital breakdowns, and whispers of affairs, it became a stage for public drama.
Listing blurb: Brick elegance, circular driveway, dining room for 50 guests. Price includes generations of family feuds, contested estates, and enough gossip to keep the neighbours busy for a century.
That’s the brilliance of Stafford-Wilson’s storytelling. She does more than catalogue architecture. She resurrects the people who built and occupied these houses; the fortunes, politics, and secrets that shaped Lanark County itself.
And for local readers, there’s another draw: the appendix of names. Staf-
ford-Wilson includes families in this book from Adams to Wylie. For anyone with local roots, this book doubles as a genealogical treasure hunt. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to linger over. Which brings me to this: how do you love your books? Do you keep them pristine, never bending a corner or cracking a spine, the kind of reader my mother admires? Or are you like me, folding pages, scribbling notes, highlighting lines so you can come back to the juicy bits? My mother would call that monstrous, but I call it living inside the pages.
Lanark County Mansions almost begs for that kind
of reading. There are many stories you’ll want to return to, whether it’s the grand romances, the whispered scandals, or the tragedies that echo in stone. Whether you treat your books with kid gloves or dog-ear the corners, this is one worth keeping close at hand.
Stafford-Wilson will launch her book on Saturday, Sept. 20 at The Book Nook and Other Treasures, 60 Gore St. E. in Perth, from 12 to 3 p.m. It’s a chance to meet the author who has spent decades proving that the walls of Lanark’s old homes do more than stand — they speak. Have a listen.
Arlene Stafford-Wilson has released a new book, “Lanark County Mansions: Spectacular Homes and Fascinating Families” set to launch Sept. 20 at The Book Nook and Other Treasures in Perth. She will be on site for a signing from noon to 3 p.m. Photo credits: Laurie Weir.
Steps for hope: Perth SuperWalk brings community together lifestyle
Perth - Sally Smith
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
It was a good day…sure, it was cool and windy and rained a bit…but it was still a good day.
Parkinson’s SuperWalk, Sept. 6 at Conlon Farm in Perth had $10,200 under its belt by the end of the walk, and still not a final tally; their goal this year is $20,000.
Parkinson’s advocate Pat Evans, who has Parkinson’s, was delighted to see people who have Parkinson’s and their families and friends there…people she sees and talks to frequently.
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological dis-
ease in the world and Canada has one of the highest rates. In Lanark-North Leeds the rate may be even higher — “may even exceed the national numbers,” Evans says, although no specific data is available. She adds, “There is also a strong connection to pesticides, chemicals and solvents, as well as a connection to well water.”
Eric Farrelly and Vera Dulysh walked; it was a difficult walk for Eric — he was “propelling”. That’s when you go to walk and your body gets ahead of your feet; it’s known as festination.
Dulysh adds “…it was almost like somebody was pushing him.” Another explanation: a temporary, involuntary inability to move, making (people with Parkinson’s ) feel stuck in place.
Denise Smith and her friend walked “chatting the whole time.
“We walked 3,979 steps,” they grinned.
Evans spoke about the Smiths Falls Support Group. It has the “highest in-person attendance of any other group in Canada.” This is why “it’s even more important to raise awareness and build a community.”
She also spoke about Dr. Sonia Mathur who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 27; she hid it from her colleagues for years until deciding she needed to “step out of the shadows”.
Today Mathur works tirelessly. “Hope is more than just a word for people with Parkinson’s. It is a therapeutic tool — one that empowers us to move, to
Want to volunteer?
Parkinson’s Support Group needs a volunteer — not just any volunteer — one who can assist facilitating the monthly Living with Parkinson’s Support Group — and eventually take over. As well as assisting the group, duties include planning, set-up, refreshments and finding speakers. Some experience in facilitating support groups or meetings would be an asset, as well as comfort and ability in discussing issues regarding Parkinson’s. A background in nursing, social work, physiotherapy speech language pathology and/or other medical aspects of Parkinson’s disease would also be an advantage. If interested, email elisabeth.schoep@parkinson.ca quoting reference SGF-SmithFalls.
learn and to adapt.”
Evans also spoke about Tom Isaacs, a British surveyor by trade, who founded an organization in England called Cure for Parkinson’s; it has since raised millions of dollars for research.
And while Mathur spoke about hope, Isaacs spoke about “optimism, humour and determination.”
Evans adds one more: knowledge. “When you learn about your disease, you can speak up,” she says. “Understand the symptoms, connect with others, realize you’re not alone.”
Here’s the kicker: everybody else has to buy in, too — “…care partners, families and friends.”
If you notice a struggle or a hesitancy, step up — “Encourage us to take a walk, make us a meal, give us our meds. For those living with Parkinson’s, support is not a luxury, it is a necessity.”
When asked why they were walking, a couple, the husband just recently diagnosed, explained they had just learned about the walk, joined in, called it a wonderful experience.
Evans concluded: “Every step we take is a step toward hope, awareness and better future for people with Parkinson’s.”
Big space needed!
We need a space, a big space. Presently there are between 17 and 20 in our Boxing Ties group, and the group is growing. Boxing Ties is a boxing/ exercise group for people with Parkinson’s. We’ve tried several spaces around town, but each time we move, we grow again. It has to be big enough to set out and arrange boxing figures, as well as being fairly central. If you know of a space, please contact Pat Evans at evans.patn@ gmail.com of Kim Ducharme at ducharmek@yahoo.ca
Start of the walk. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
A great day for a dog walk. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
The last two. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
By Brian Preston
As a Sommelier often working with restaurants putting on wine suppers and tastings, I have also become quite a foodie. Are you looking for something out of the ordinary grocery store when you go shopping? Well then, this article is for you. There is a fabulous specialty cheese and gourmet food wholesaler in Kingston that I recently visited. I used to be able to occasionally find my favourite Brie style cheese at a few stores. But not anymore.
Some of the best local cheesemongers include Foodsmiths and Perth Cheese Shop in Perth, and The Pickled Pig in Smiths Falls. But if you go to Kingston, you must visit Creel & Gambrel at 95 Jack Davey Drive in a little industrial park near Bath, west of Kingston. Take the Odessa exit on Hwy 401 south to the roundabout (Taylor Kidd Drive), turn right, and take the first right on William Henderson Drive with another right on Jack Davey Drive. As I said, this is not a retail store with a counter displaying all their products. Instead, check them out at https://creelandgambrel.com/ Justin and Josh McCamley are the co-owners and it is a true family affair with their mom Emily as the Office Manager manning the phone and cash register. Even their dad was there when I visited the other day. The products listed on their website include a large selection of cheeses, most from region-
al producers in Lanark, Frontenac, Glengarry, etc.
A Creel & Gambrel Exclusive is Bridge End Bloomy Rind, described as, “This irresistibly delicious new release from Glengarry Fine Cheese is taking the market by storm! Created from full fat cow milk, each round is approximately 200mm in diameter and weighs 800g. Take a nibble of this beautiful Ontario made cheese, and let your taste buds guide you. Its oatmeal texture rind encases an extremely rich, voluptuous, creamy paste that is not unlike a French triple crème cheese. Fantastic served on a warm baguette, and pairs well with a juicy berry Pinot Noir. But while this mouth-watering local cheese is hitting the market, I was in search of my old favourite Triple Cream brie-style cheese, the incomparable Riopelle de L’Isle from Fromagerie de L’Isle aux Grues, a small island in the Quebec St Lawrence River south of Quebec City and the larger Isle d’Orleans. L’Isle aux Grues was Canada’s Ellis Island where immigrant ships were quarantined as they came to Canada from overseas. It was also the
place that one of Canada’s foremost abstract Expressionist artists lived after a career in France – Jean Paul Riopelle. Several of his works hang in the National Gallery in Ottawa. He loved this very creamy cheese and painted the cover label, a colourful cock in full plumage! It is described as, “Winner of eight prestigious awards spanning the years 2002 to 2019; Riopelle de l’Isle offers a creamy soft dough thanks to milk cream being added during the manufacturing process. Covered with a flowery rind, it seduces with its texture of incomparable flexibility. In the mouth, its exquisite taste of butter will enchant you.”
There are some smaller wedge cheeses to select from to keep your costs down and increase the variety you can take home. For example, I also purchased a wedge of Celtic Blue Reserve from Glengarry Fine Cheese.
In addition to many types of cheeses (some from Europe too), they carry a range of gourmet specialty foods like sausage and charcuterie meat products, as well as Café Monte
coffee and Tea Monde from Calgary where a team of passionate tea lovers hand blend and custom craft a wide selection of all natural and organic teas. Check out their website to see all the products. Justin is always out delivering their products to their Food Service and Hospitality clientele that spans from Kingston up to Hwy. 7 and east to Ottawa. If you have a local shop and they don’t carry Creel & Gambrel
specialty cheeses, charcuterie and gourmet specialty items that you want, just tell your store to get in touch with Justin at Creel & Gambrel at 613-449-5320, and maybe you won’t have to drive to Kingston to get these fine products locally! And by the way, if you want any recommendations on wine and beer matchings on any of these products, just ask me, The Travelling Sommelier at brianpreston@hotmail.com
The Travelling Sommelier
local brewers & distillers updates
Column by Brian Preston | brianpreston@hotmail.com | 613.272.3129
It’s been a while, and I figured that you would like an update survey of some product highlights on the local scene. I put the call out to six establishments and received a call back for a phone interview from the following businesses:
Westport Brewery located on the water in Westport overlooking Upper Rideau Lake is a relaxing and cozy pub with indoor
and outdoor deck seating overlooking the lake. Their popular summer beer is Upper Rideau Blonde Ale, at 4.7%abv, it is a clean and well balanced light ale with a sweet, malty aroma; Beaver Pond Trail Brown Ale, is a medium, roasty brew with hints of coffee and chocolate, finishing dry at 5%abv; and Dock Days IPA, 6.9%abv, a hazy golden IPA with a bold citrus and floral aroma, smooth mouthfeel and pleasant sweetness, dry finish with minimal hop bitterness. Their restaurant seats 34 outside on the deck and 60 inside, with a range of dishes to please most palates. They also serve sampler beers, and on Saturday/Sunday they have live music from 2 to 4 p.m.
Perth Brewery is now under new management but continues to put out a wide variety of favourite and new seasonal brews. Their seasonal fall brew will be a small batch Märzen which is a German amber lager, named for the German word for March, traditionally brewed in the spring and aged through the summer, with a rich, toasty, bready malt flavour, moderate body, and a bal-
ance of hop bitterness and malty complexity. Historically served at Ocktoberfest in Munich, it ranges in colour from deep gold to copper and is known for its smooth, clean finish and pairings with German foods like sausages and pretzels. Their most popular brews remain Last Duel Lager, a light beer everyone loves; Easy Amber, a lighter style ale appealing to most palates; Calypso IPA, a lighter style IPA that is not your West coast extreme spruce taste you get in some of the BIG IPA’s.
They have three non-alcohol brews to meet increasing public demand for these products. Play, a crisp and refreshing lager with only 45 calories; IPYAY! IPA, another lighter style, low calories beer; and Unleashed Amber, their 90- calorie amber in a similarly lighter style.
Top Shelf Distillers in Perth continue with old and new products since they started several years ago and I featured them in an earlier edition. They produce classic spirits, moonshines, and liquors. They launched in March 2014 with Vodka and Gin. Once they got going, they
started producing and ageing corn and rye-based Whisky and launched Reunion Moonshine. Since establishing themselves in the sweet space with flavoured dessert and cream liquors, one of their favourites is their butter tart moonshine. I recommend it in the Reunion mini jugs that is even better than the LCBO release in the regular bottles. It has more range and depth of flavours! In response to public demand and popularity, they have increased the variety of dessert style products: check it out at https://topshelfdistillers. com/collections/dessert-liquor. Also check out their most popular products: https://topshelfdistillers.com/collections/all. If you don’t see some other local producers here that you like, it is not because I didn’t call them, but that they did not get back to me for an interview. Maybe next time they will so that word can get out to our wider regional readership about the old and new products they are producing.
Cheers!
Brian Preston The Travelling Sommelier
Photo credit: Westport Brewing Company Facebook page [www. facebook.com/WestportBrewingCo/].
Aging well: Canadian research shows the golden years can shine
For many Canadians, getting older doesn’t have to mean slowing down. New research is showing that the choices we make every day can shape how well we age — and the benefits can last a lifetime.
Movement as medicine
Canadian doctors say physical activity is one of the simplest ways to stay healthy as we age. A study published in the Canadian Medical
Association Journal found that older adults who get 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week lower their risk of dying from all causes by 31 per cent compared to those who remain inactive. Even smaller amounts of activity help. Researchers found that just 80 to 160 minutes of movement a week can still cut mortality risk by more than 20 per cent. As Dr. Jane Thornton
of Western University explains, “physical activity interventions for older adults are essential for aging well and can help prevent or reduce disease.”
Canadian advantage
The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging is following more than 51,000 people between the ages of 45 and 85 over 20 years. By looking at health, lifestyle, and social connections, the
study is helping to explain why some people age more successfully than others.
Survey results from Statistics Canada show that nearly half of Canadian seniors already rate their health as very good or excellent, a sign that healthy aging is possible for many. Social connections matter Along with exercise, staying socially connected is proving just as import-
ant. Research shows that strong social ties can protect mental health, support the immune system, and even add years to life.
With Canada now officially a “super-aged” country, where one in five citizens is over 65, maintaining these relationships is more important than ever.
Your future is in your hands
Experts agree: it’s never too late to start. With
more than 11,000 Canadians now over 100 years old, the evidence is clear that healthy choices can keep paying off well into later life. Staying active, maintaining friendships, and keeping up with preventive healthcare are the cornerstones of aging well.
The golden years don’t have to mean decline. For Canadians, they can mean continued growth and joy.
culture
- Heddy sorour editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The year is 1873. Senator Roderick Matheson has passed away, and his stately home on Gore Street is draped in mourning. This is the setting for Death in the Family: A Victorian
FINANCIAL MATTERS
STEP BACK IN TIME: Perth Museum’s ‘Death in the Family’ offers immersive Victorian mourning experience
Mourning Experience, the Perth Museum’s latest immersive exhibit exploring the customs and curiosities of 19th-century bereavement.
“We launched our first experiential tourism program last year, and it was a lot of fun,” says Katherine Jamieson, Manager of Tourism and Culture for the Town of Perth. “This year, we wanted to bring it back—with a twist.”
Running on select Saturdays, Oct. 4, Oct. 18, and Nov. 1, the event invites guests to step back in time for an afternoon of costumes, customs, and curious traditions. Each session is limited to just 10 participants, aged 19 and up, making for an intimate and unforgettable journey through Victorian mourn-
ing practices.
“Victorians were much closer to processes of getting a body ready for interment,” explains Devon De Rose, experience specialist at the Perth Museum. “I wouldn't say it's scary. We're going for more, you know, shivery, wind down your back kind of a feeling.”
The afternoon unfolds from 1 to 4 p.m., and guests are kept fully engaged from the moment they arrive. Attendees begin by changing into authentic Victorian mourning attire before rolling up their sleeves to bake mourning biscuits—a traditional funeral cookie shared with those paying their respects.
Participants will also craft hand-dipped candles and work together to solve
business
the mystery of the missing will—an interactive storyline enhanced by eerie background sounds and spiritual intrigue.
“Guests will have their photo taken with a ghost, while learning about the fascinating history of spirit photography,” De Rose adds with a wink.
The event is topped off with themed refreshments, courtesy of a collaboration with Top Shelf Distillery.
“We’ll be partaking of libations at the end,” says De Rose. “Spirits and spirits, you could say.”
The exhibit also features a compelling collection of Victorian mourning artefacts, including hair wreaths and mourning plates, captivating relics of a time when grief was both a personal and public ritual. It's going to be a lot of fun,” Jamieson assures “Three hours in the afternoon, you'll get some food to eat as part of the program and some local beverages. We’ll make sure everyone stays busy and happy and full.”
Financial security planning for people living with disabilities
Living with a disability can have a profound impact on one’s quality of life.
In addition to the medical issues arising from a disability, the significant financial impacts, including
lower median incomes and higher rates of poverty can make life difficult.
Planning for the longterm financial well-being of someone living with disability, and effective
use of the tools available to enhance that long term financial security can make a meaningful difference.
Outside of employer-sponsored Long Term Disability plans, people
living with disabilities are dependent on government programs, employment and family for financial security. But for most, income benefits are limited, leaving those living with disabilities living below the poverty line and in many cases, in deep poverty.
Whether income comes from Canada Pension Plan disability benefit, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or even Ontario Works where the vast majority of recipients are waiting for approval of ODSP, income benefits to Canadians living with disabilities are grossly inadequate.
But hope for improved financial security that can lead to a better quality of life is possible with tools and strategies that can build wealth without risking a clawback of government benefits. But knowing the rules and opportunities is vital.
With proper estate planning, parents and loved ones of an individual living with a disability can leave an inheritance in a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), testamentary trust or in life insurance or investment products with a life insurance company without risking a disruption to ODSP benefits. Additionally, up to $200,000 from
a Registered Retirement Savings Plan for Registered Retirement Income Fund can be rolled over to a RDSP at death.
With the majority of people in Ontario living with severe disability reliant on ODSP, the risk of clawbacks of this income is high without careful consideration, professional advice and the use of the proper investment products and/or trusts.
Everyone who qualifies for the federal Disability Tax Credit is eligible to be the beneficiary of a RDSP. These plans, new in 2008, allow an individual living with a disability or their family to accumulate money for their future in an investment vehicle without affecting their government benefits. Furthermore, even with no contributions, the federal government will add $1,000 annually to the plan (up to $20,000 total). Subject to income thresholds, up to $3,500 more in a government grant (to a lifetime maximum of $70,000) can be added annually based on contributions as little as $1,500. This means that an annual contribution of $1,500, government contributions of up to $4,500 will be added to the plan. Additionally, beneficiaries are entitled up to ten years of retroactive grants and
bonds subject to eligibility. Although a RDSP does not provide immediate benefits to a beneficiary, with proper planning and a reasonable return on investment, the value of the plan can grow significantly over time. Maximizing grant and bond deposits from the federal government can further ensure that the money in the RDSP will one day be able to provide additional monthly income to enhance financial security and ensure a better quality of life.
Planning for the longterm financial welfare of a loved one with a disability is complex, but there are tools and strategies that can make a real difference. Professional advice is essential. Speak with a Certified Financial Planning Professional who has the knowledge to help.
Shawn Pankow
Perth
A mourning wreath made from the hair of the deceased and their loved ones. Photo credit: Submitted.
A deep mourning lady's outfit Photo credit: Submitted.