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Vol. 9

No. 5

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

MAY 2022

Thousands of maple lovers flock to Festival of the Maples

Perth - Kathy Botham editorial@pd gmedia.ca

LEFT: After two years of celebrating online, thousands of people came out to celebrate in person. Photo credit: Kathy Botham. RIGHT: Photo submitted.

The 46th Annual Perth Festival of the Maples returned on April 30th after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gore and Foster Streets were lined with vendors of all kinds, selling everything from maple taffy to maple syrup, maple butter, jewellery, clothing and more, there were buskers, musical entertainment, a car show and a children’s play area at the Crystal Palace, but maple was definitely the focus for the all-day event For two years the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce “pivoted” to provide this festival

virtually during the pandemic. The tradition returned and drew out thousands of people all day long. It’s estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 people were in downtown Perth for the event.

This spring festival is typically the first one of the year. In addition to maple producers, there were vendors selling items such as crafts, jewelry, lawn tractors, toys, books, food and information sharing. The main stage had musical entertainment all day and some lumberjack games. The OPP and the Perth Fire Department had interactive displays for both children and adults.

The weather was perfect for this outdoor event. Blue skies and sunshine added to the success of the activities of the day.

So many people have great memories from attending one of the past 45 Festivals of the Maples. After two years of “pivoting”, this 46th festival will be one that people will be talking about for a long time. From maple taffy to Tupperware, this year’s Festival of the Maples once again had something for everyone which included getting to see each other again.

Dr Paula Stewart takes well-deserved rest Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pd gmedia.ca Last month, Dr Paula Stewart, Leeds, Grenville and Lanark’s well known Chief Medical Officer of Health announced she would be retiring this summer.

The good doctor has been the face and voice of a public service usually efficiently operating in the background, but which, thanks to COVID-19, was thrust into the spotlight. Stewart joined LGL’s team in 2010 and was formerly with the Public Health Agency of Canada, and previously with Ottawa Public Health.

Hometown News caught up with her for a chat to get her take on the last few years.

Stewart noted that the extreme duration of the COVID pandemic is what caught many healthcare professionals and the public off guard. She remarked about previous public outbreaks

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she’d dealt with that had relatively quick courses measured in weeks not months or years. But COVID has had a nasty side effect of disrupting a large part of daily lives and routines over the last 2 years.

We asked if she thought the public perception of our local health unit had changed over the pandemic’s duration. She believes the awareness of her team’s work has broadened, commenting on positive and informed feedback from clients in the wide variety of programs offered on a regular basis.

On the topic of cooperation levels with various levels of government, Stewart reported that she was pleased with the collective public health support received from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the provincial government, and the municipal and county councils and staff. This was expected as

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there had been good collaboration in the past. She was proud to call municipalities partners in every sense of the word.

At the peak, about 70% of Health Unit management and staff were involved on the COVID-19 front while keeping other crucial programs running under health protection restrictions. She was especially proud of their achievements and ability to pivot at a moment’s notice. For example, she mentioned when COVID vaccines first came out with sporadic and unpredictable deliveries, her team was able to organize community vaccination clinics with hospital and health care partners after very little notice. This continued for all of 2021 and into 2022. Public response on the efficiency and effectiveness of these clinics was highly positive.

She also singled out local media outlets for their support in

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Dr Paula Stewart. Photo credit: Bian Turner.

getting messaging and information out to the public. Her weekly radio interviews and question and answer sessions provided details in an easy to digest manner, thanks to her excellent communication skills.

Going forward she remarked that we still have to deal with all the effects of living through a pandemic. She believes we all need to

focus on supporting people with mental health and with addictions as social isolation and other factors have increased, often with substantial impacts on health.

She tells us she’s looking forward to some rest and relaxation and to tending to her gardens. If her skills in keeping us healthy transfer to botany, she will welcome a harvest like no other.

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2

May 2022

Page Two

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle

opinion: Am I the only one?

Carrie Wynne

The Perth Public Library - 1907

PART OF THE DISCOVER COMMUNTIY NETWORK

Hometownnews

The Perth Public Library on Gore Street was built in 1907 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. The building served as the library for Perth and surrounding areas until a fire gutted the structure in January 1980, destroying the interior and almost all holdings except the books that were out on loan. A temporary library was opened in McMartin House on Gore Street, until a new library opened at 30 Herriott Street in 1981.

Photo Credit: Arlene Stafford (both photos) and “Ottawa Journal”, Jan 5, 1980 (left photo).

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Kathy Botham

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Reporters Kathy Botham Sally Smith Chris Must Janelle Labelle Brian Turner Shannon McLellan

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program reviews

Every year with my Ontario sticker renewal, I get an application form to fill out to become a registered organ tissue donor. I’m already a donor but instead of a gold star, a thank you or a box check, I must go online and make sure that I am still registered. Perhaps The Trillium Gift of Life Network might acknowledge those who have already registered. I can think of at least a dozen ways they could do this but apparently 12 board members can’t.

My uncle and father both received covid relief cheques last year from the Government of Canada.

Let me just say neither one of them needed covid relief cheques. A friend rides around on his bicycle in a small town. He hasn’t owned a vehicle in 5 years and just received a cheque from the Ontario government for his sticker renewal refund. Although these

are anecdotal stories that only exacerbate the lack of trust in our establishments, they also point out a growing problem which is government accountability. Afterall, it is our money they are spending.

Public-sector employment is on the rise and while I may suffer from compulsive decluttering disorder, I often wonder if program reviews might help dig up some extra funds.

There seems to be no appetite whatsoever to change the status quo. For example, could the Ministry of Multiculturalism and Citizenship merge with Ministry of Francophone Affairs and language?

Could the Ministry of Education merge with the

Ministry of Colleges and Universities? It also sounds logical that Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Labour, Training, Skills Development all be under one Ministry.

Do we still need 76 school boards in Ontario or just 1? Ontario has over 540 agencies, boards, commissions, councils, authorities, and foundations. I wonder how many other agencies could use the technology at their fingertips to improve the quality of services they offer to the public.

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.

Hometown News is available at Your Independent Grocers across the region. Pick up your copy at: Andress' (Smiths Falls) • Barnabe's (Perth) Mitchell's (Carleton Place) • Patrice's (Almonte) PLEASE SUPPORT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES.

3

May 2022

community First CD for Otter Lake ‘Valley’ girl Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca So…who are you Dorothy Goubault?

Having talked for over an hour while gazing out on Otter Lake with two cats sprawled nearby in the sun, the question caught her attention.

She thought, and then — never one intimidated easily — she launched into who she is and why she’s that way.

“I truly am a girl from the Valley. I don’t complain…I just do it. I never look back.”

Her determination, she says, comes from her parents who brought her up with “phenomenal values.

My father used to say if a man can do it, you can do it.

Don’t ever take a back seat.”

And so she hasn’t.

About seven months ago she embarked on her latest project — to make a CD. This one, her first, is a tribute to and in memory of Gerald Arthur McBride, her true companion for many years.

He died February 13, 2020.

The words — ‘when will I see you again’ — became a mantra for Dorothy over the next couple of months. She

visited friends and relatives and when it came time to say goodbye at the end of each visit, the phrase ‘when will I see you again’ was inevitably on the tip of her tongue.

Her CD, When Will I See You Again, is anchored by the song of the same name.

Early one morning at her home on Otter Lake, the words flowed. “Mist was over the water, the sun was coming up, it was early in the morning…the loons were singing.”

In the other nine tunes, Dorothy plays melody, with Don Reed playing harmony. She adds, with a catch in her voice “…the fiddle tunes are tunes I played for Gerald’s service.”

Dorothy has sung throughout her life, and has some 200 plus fiddle lessons under her belt, so while she was comfortable with the musical aspects, she was less comfortable with the actual performance.

“I’m not a performer. I’ve never done anything like this in my life. I’ve never played fiddle in public… while Don Reed has played for the world!” Dorothy

says, a certain awe and respect in her voice.

With encouragement from a girlfriend, Dorothy set off for Westport and Summit Sound Inc. where she met Dave and Kathy Daw. Magically enough, Kathy, Dorothy’s girlfriend, and Dorothy, all came from “up there”, the Valley — an immediate connection.

Even more magically, if anything good can be said about Covid, the slowdowns and lock-downs gave people a certain drive to get back to work.

When do you want the CDs, Dave asked Dorothy.

“For Christmas…?” she answered And so they were.

By mid-November the tracks were being done. “I didn’t have a clue what I was doing,” Dorothy remembers. “I was a bit anxious.”

“Don — who’s a very shy man,” Dorothy remembers, “asked if I had my fiddle with me.

“I’d like to know how you bow,” he said. “I nearly fainted, but brought in my fiddle, hands shaking. I only had a couple of hundred lessons

under my belt!”

And then Dave started on her. “Dorothy, I know what the other people can do. You’re the wild card…”

“I told Dave I was a good soldier. Tell me what you want and I’ll do it.’

Dave explained about “tracks” and how the metronome would “count her in.”

Dorothy knew what a metronome was but had never used one. She grabbed all the information, stuffed it into her bag, picked up her violin and headed home.

There she made copious notes for herself before beginning on her 12 hour marathon to do the song and nine tunes.

Dave welcomed her back to Summit Sound early the next week, where she followed him to the sound booth.

“I got into the booth backwards,” she remembers, hooting with laughter. “They got me turned around, but I couldn’t hear anything.” She stops, rolls her eyes, still laughing. “Dave has the patience of Job,” she grinned, eyes behind red-rimmed glasses, twinkling.

Dorothy Goubault. Photo credit: Sally Smith

“I sang it through. There were a couple of glitches.” The glitches were soon cleared away…“and then the nine fiddle tunes.

“By two o’clock things were done.”

That’s the CD story (there’s more in the liner notes); the book is next.

Dorothy’s working on it, so

stay tuned.

All net proceeds from the CD and upcoming book go to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Check out the Heart Institute fall quarterly for Gerald’s story.

If interested in purchasing a CD ($20), contact Dorothy by email at dorothymgoulbault@gmail.com

Downtown Carleton Place BIA kicks off construction with a blast!

Carleton Place - Brian Turner editorial@pd gmedia.ca With the reconstruction of Carleton Place’s downtown stretch of Bridge Street set to begin on May 2, Downtown Carleton Place BIA figured it would be a great time to celebrate with their Downtown at

Dusk: Construction Edition street party. On Thursday April 28, between 5 and 8 pm, Bridge Street, between Lake Avenue and the river (now without a bridge), was closed to vehicles but wide open for fun and business!

Live music, sidewalk retail displays, cosplayers, bouncy cas-

tles, and more greeted the sizable crowds of residents and visitors.

The most popular display by far was the heavy truck and equipment exhibit put on by Louis Bray Construction that let kids (young and young at heart) get the chance to climb behind the controls and hit the air horns.

Photo credits: Brian Turner.

For Your Information with Kathy Botham

4

May 2022

community

Spring weather brings out barn quilts Town pays tribute to

TOP: During the workshop, Teresa Harrison and Ann Hedberg painted some small barn quilt squares. Keep an eye out for them in Olde Town Kemptville during the IPM. You may have a chance to win one in the daily draws. Photo credit: Sally Smith LEFT: A finished barn quilt. Photo credit: Sally Smith

Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca If you haven’t seen them yet…keep looking.

There are at least 40 of them around, and the spring weather should bring the barn quilt squares from inside to outside, hanging on barns, sheds, garages and even houses.

They’re kind of like (but not exactly) the beautiful, mysterious hex signs seen on old, heritage barns.

What is a barn quilt? It’s a piece of wood or sign board that’s been painted to look like a quilt block. And while some barn quilts are replicas of traditional quilt block patterns, others are unique designs featuring a favourite dog, a type of livestock or a farm logo.

Barn quilts tell stories about individual farms, historical events or even communities by adding eye-popping interest to a building.

They come in many sizes; those on barns usually measure at least eight feet square so they can be seen from a distance. Those on gates

can be as small as 12 inches square. In some areas, communities get together to create barn quilts around a theme which then form a Barn Quilt Trail.

Plans were underway by the end of February for a three-day barn quilt workshop (morning and afternoon) at Pierce’s Corners outside Kemptville near North Gower, and because both sessions were such successes, another twoday one was quickly filled in mid-April.

Though the name implies an entire quilt painted on the side of a barn, it generally is only a single square block. The size varies from small to large, and the shapes are simple — squares, rectangles or triangles; the simplicity of the shapes and the bright, striking colours make the blocks easily seen from far away.

Teresa Harrison and Nancy Grundy, co-chairs of the Quilting Committee for the September International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, worked quickly to get the barn quilt workshop off

the ground. “It was a grassroots movement,” Harrison explains. They drew volunteer Karyne Besso into their planning as Barn Quilt lead; Besso ordered the boards, had them cut, organized priming and just a few weeks later over 40 boards were ready for painting.

Participants at the workshop brought their own designs, and over the initial three-day and follow-up two-day workshops, amidst lots of chatter and laughter (with only one major spill) designs were pencilled on boards, squares/triangles/ rectangles taped off with Frog Tape, brushes dipped into chosen colours, and the end of the sessions saw bright, distinctive boards carried out of the small hall heading off to their eventual hanging spots.

The website barnquilttrails.ca lists 23 barn quilt trails in Ontario, the closest one probably being in Prince Edward County.

And even though some participants were not quilters, they thoroughly enjoyed the workshops be-

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Besso explains there will be even further promotion of the International Plowing Match through an art quilt workshop. This can be “appliqué, thread painting…an artistic rendition on cloth,” adding it’s “hung like a piece of art.”

She adds further: “Both the barn quilt workshops and the upcoming art quilt workshop are being offered to provide people with an opportunity to make these and then enter them in the quilt competition which will be held at the WB George Building, Kemptville Campus, August 19 and 20.

“Following the quilt competition, quilts will again be displayed in the quilt tent during the IPM.” If interested in painting a barn quilt yourself, Besso says another workshop is in the works for June.

She adds she needs eight confirmed participants to make it a ‘go’, the cost will be $50, the date is still to be decided, and if interested email her at karyne.besso@ yahoo.com.

Watch the plowing match site for further information about the International Plowing Match which is slated for just outside Kemptville, September 20 to 24 — www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2022.

long-time councillor

jack traynor

Jack Traynor. Photo credit: Town of Smiths Falls

Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Smiths Falls is mourning the loss of former town councillor and school board trustee Jack Traynor, who passed away April 22 at 80 years of age.

A statement from the town posted on Facebook recalled “Jack was a strong member of Council, always offering great professionalism; [we remember] his sense of humour and his unwavering faith (not only in God, but his community, family and friends.)”

Mr. Traynor served on council from 1998 to 2010.

Prior to running for council he was a Separate School Board trustee for seven years.

When he announced his

decision not to seek another council term, Mr. Traynor told local media he was tired and wanted to spend more time with family, but took pride in the achievements made by the town during his service as a municipal representative. Major changes during his time on council included a new water treatment plant, new Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute building, and the redevelopment of the Smiths Falls Site of the Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital.

In a recent Facebook post, Mayor Shawn Pankow said, “Jack was a true community builder who dedicated much of his life to making Smiths Falls the best it could be.”

The mayor added that his decision to run for the seat left vacant by Mr. Traynor in 2010 was partly due to the veteran councillor’s guidance and encouragement.

In his career Mr. Traynor also worked in automotive sales, most recently at Street Kia. Flags at town hall will remain at half-mast in memory of Mr. Traynor until the afternoon of his funeral. Details were unavailable at press time.

May 2022

5

Food & Drink

Beer, Wine and Spirits Let's Eat Wine trends in 2022

The recent inability of the average consumer to afford the classics (Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne, specifically) has forced us to be more creative about the wine that we consume and, as a result, you’ve seen the growth of other less expensive USA wines from the Pacific NorthWest (Columbia Valley), southern California (Santa Barbara area), and South America (Chile, Argentina). Sancerre lovers look to South African Sauvignon Blanc as a logical wine swap. Younger Millennials and Gen Z are exploring lesser-known grape varieties and undervalued regions. These rising stars might include little-known Italian grapes like Falanghina and Greco, Sumoll and Trepat from Spain, and Petit Manseng from southwest France. There’s also a budding chilled red wine trend which works especially well with lighter reds like an Italian Freppato or Dolcetto or French Beaujolais. As proof, look at any LCBO Vintages magazine and when you see these grape varietals as ‘new listings’, often from lesser known regions, you can be assured that they cost less than the well known grape varietals like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

In Canada and Japan, for example, the new rage is all about orange wine. This “fourth colour” is obtained by processing white grapes in a way typically used to make red wine, where the grape skins aren’t removed.

This kind of wine is also being actively developed in France, where consumers are learning to appreciate its acidity and tannic taste.

Some less expensive but good wines are coming from Eastern Europe, and South Africa is a good

source of quality, wellpriced wines by producers like Robertson. In the New World countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand, there are good values to be had but prices are rising and you have to look more closely to find those wines you really like at affordable prices.

If I am not mistaken, when people see wines going for over $20 that used to be around $14 a bottle, like me, I’ll bet that you begin to look at the price of all the coolers and beers that have flooded the market in the last few years.

When you can enjoy a large range of alcoholic beverages on their own and with food, that cost less and give you more, you are more likely to pass on that bottle of wine that only gives you 5 glasses! This is one of the main reasons that young drinkers have made this segment of the alcoholic beverage industry so popular. And it was the young that preferred wine over hard liquor which previous generations consumed in greater volumes. But now the young are going for the large variety of cocktails using hard liquor with these new mixers that have made a big come-back at bars and parties.

Heini Zachariassen, founder of online wine platform Vivino, believes that a rise in diversity will come into play. With the supply challenges of 202122 he says we will see the industry continue to push a more diverse range of wines. “While discovery becomes crucial out of necessity, wine drinkers who are naturally curious will embrace the opportunity to branch out.” Let’s hope so for the sake of winemakers!

And what about the advent of alternative pack-

Brian Preston

The Travelling Sommelier brianpreston@hotmail.com

aging for wines? Previous articles I have written addressed this change. To recap, we now not only have Tetra packs, bagged wines in boxes, but we have wine in cans. These are generally quaffable, fruity wines of reasonable quality sold individually in artsy packaging. Occasionally flavors or mixers will make an appearance in the blend. These cans are perfect for casual drinking, as the non-fussy packaging is small, non-fragile, and does not require an opener. People are transferring the wines to a glass or enjoying straight out of the can, often at the beach or at a picnic.

Last but not least, don’t be surprised to see female winemakers continue to gain ground throughout 2022 and into the future. It’s hard to gauge exactly how many female winemakers there are around the world today, but estimates suggest that it’s around 10% of all winemakers in Champagne, 14% in California, and 25% of Italian wineries are currently run by women. In Canada the percentages have to be at least 14% and growing.

So get out there to your favourite store and try something different; look for wines from regions and producers you are not familiar with, and seek those wines that don’t cost so much! You will surprise yourself with how good they are while you are keeping some of that money in your pocket.

Don’t forget to drop me a line if you have any questions, need a wine recommendation for dinner, or simply have a comment or suggestion about a topic you want me to write about in future. Until then, Cheers!

Harlem Stonegate Bed and Breakfast; Experiences tailor-made with flair

Harlem Stonegate Bed harlemstonegate.com

David Meyer and Alicia Ferdinand. Photo submitted.

While the purpose of this column is to focus on local dining treasures, it’s hard to separate garden bounty from the unique surroundings of a beautifully restored 1850s farmhouse when talking about Harlem Stonegate Bed and Breakfast (just outside of Portland on Harlem Road).

My partner and I enjoyed a sumptuous meal on a warm spring evening recently and were instantly made to feel very welcome by our hosts and owners David Meyer and Alicia Ferdinand.

Their dining rooms and screened patio are primarily occupied by overnight (or extended) guests, but with ease and a little flexibility, we were able to secure a reservation. We selected, from a very tempting menu, maple glazed salmon and herbed-dijon pork tenderloin for mains, and spiced walnut salad and roasted butternut squash soup for openers.

The rare lack of Saturday night guests gave us a great

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chance to chat with Alicia and David. They come from diverse backgrounds in natural resources, international banking, elite sport, and education. Only a few years ago they purchased the home, outbuildings, and 50 acres of pristine fields, gardens, and forest.

They recognized the recreational jewel that the Rideau Lakes area represents.

Their productive vegetable and herb gardens keep the kitchen well stocked and ready for hungry guests, and bringing more sustainability and ability to craft great flavours.

Our meals were perfect in both flavour and presentation. Both mains were well accompanied by garden herbs, greens, and vegetables. Unexpected touches such as home baked bread and candied walnuts simply added to the treats for the tastebuds. Our choice of fruit crepes and housemade French lemon tarts with berries was an over the top conclusion to a memorable experience.

Alicia and David credit their success to their principles of being flexible and

Serving our Community since 1997

Mac & Cheese (vegetarian) | Beef Stew | Bacon Carbonara | Moroccan Stew with Couscous (vegan) Sausage Penne | Chili | Lasagna | Chicken Broccoli Bake | Baked Beans | Scalloped Potatoes Spaghetti and Meatballs | Shepherd's Pie | Coconut Red Lentil Dahl with Jasmine Rice (vegan)

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Breakfast.

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welcoming to client expectations and requests. They welcome a wide variety of guests from corporate retreats to family events to weddings to trail-users and star gazers. People come to relax and soak in the environment while others energetically challenge the extensive network of worldclass trails and pristine waterways. David and Alicia have a knack for accommodating guests to connect with all the region has to offer. Their kitchen can craft gluten-free wonders that have received great reviews.

Harlem Stonegate has 3 guest rooms in their own second-floor wing of the home. B&B guests hiking, cycling, or road wandering to check out the small villages nearby can easily request some delicious box lunches to accompany their activities. This is more than a unique local treasure, it provides the freedom to explore what makes our region truly magnificent.

You can learn about bookings, amenities, and regional experience opportunities by going to harlemstonegate.com

6

May 2022

culture Smiths Falls History & Mystery: The adventures of Jason Gould

by Ted Outerbridge

In 1829, Jason Gould (1802-1864) made the journey from Roxbury, New York to the raw, undeveloped wilderness of Smiths Falls, Ontario. He had been hired to work on the Rideau Canal by his future brother-in-law, James Simpson.

Within two years, Gould had created the foundation for his future wealth. He constructed “flouring mills on Jason Island”, assembled a substantial wooden bridge connecting it to Ward Island, and built a dam to harness the abundance of waterpower. In addition, the ambitious twenty-nineyear-old had become an important member of the rapidly developing community.

The Simpson and Gould families were united when Nancy Simpson (18081861), married Jason Gould on September 3, 1834. Reverend William Bell, Perth’s first clergyman, conducted the ceremony. The day before the wedding, Gould and the Reverend traveled on horseback through the dense woods to Smiths Falls. Darkness descended and they became lost. Their shouts were heard by a hunter and his wife who gave them a candle made from birch bark. With this light, the two men were able to navigate through the dark forest and “with joy heard the noise of the water from the Falls.”

The marriage took place

the following morning at eight o’clock. The newly married couple from America departed for their honeymoon in the State of New York in “a traveling carriage drawn by two fine grey horses and attended by a black servant.” Upon their return to Smiths Falls they would have six children together in eleven years: William Simpson (1836-1862), John Wilson (1838-1860), James Henry (1840-?), Jason Gould (1843-1882), Welthy J. Walters (1844-?), and Anna Marie (1847-1895).

Although Gould had established several Smiths Falls businesses, including a gristmill and a foundry, he did not stop there. His quest for adventure prompted him to make the most of all the goods and travelers flowing into the Upper Ottawa Valley. By 1837, Gould was involved in lumbering, sawmilling, and was captain and owner of the steamer George Buchanan in the Braeside-Arnprior area on the Ottawa River.

He established the first general store in Portage du Fort in 1844, and later became the first postmaster there.

In 1849, he moved further north and surveyed and built a road “despite almost unsurmountable obstacles”.

The route led from Gould’s Landing to a settlement on Muskrat Lake which he founded, and named Cobden. By 1850, he was postmaster at this new destination. Accommodations were critical for the journey, and the Store Wharf and Inn in Cobden were owned

by Gould. Gould was the owner of the first steamboat operating on the lake, The Muskrat, followed by

ON JUNE 2ND

ted@tedouterbridge.com

Gould Family Bible. Photo credit: Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum

The North Star. The route he opened up was known as Gould’s Forwarding Line, and it played a critical role for incoming settlers to the region. It formed the missing link between existing river travel downriver to and from Ottawa. A booklet titled Union Forwarding Company’s Travellers’ Guide to the Upper Ottawa 1873 describes the journey as “most comfortable”, the scenery as “wild beauty”, and the hotel accommodations as “most ample and excellent”. Incredibly, Gould’s route was almost identical to the terrain plotted out more than two centuries prior by Etienne Brule, Jean Nicolet, and Samuel de Champlain.

Absolute proof of this claim was discovered in the form of legendary explorer Samuel de Champlain’s engraved

MARLENE

astrolabe, which was reportedly lost during Champlain's expedition to the Outaouais region in 1613.

On May 16th, 1853, a massive forest fire began in Pembroke and traveled all the way to Horton Township, destroying The Muskrat, Gould’s storehouses, and wharf. By a stroke of good fortune, The North Star was on the water at the time and managed to survive the fire. Sadly, the disaster had a devastating impact on Gould’s lungs.

He sold what remained of his business in 1860 and moved back to Smiths Falls, where he died at the age of 61 on October 23, 1864.

Gould’s brother-in-law James Simpson bequeathed all his property, including two large bags of gold, to his brother William Simp-

Jason Gould painting by Philip Mason. Photo credit: Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum

son. When William died in 1861, he was the single largest landowner in Smiths Falls. Gould’s surviving children were Jason, James Henry, and Anna Marie.

They inherited the entire Simpson fortune along with their father’s estate. The extravagant Gould monument at Hillcrest Cemetery in Smiths Falls attests to this sizable inheritance.

A partial list of Gould family businesses in Smiths Falls includes the Gould Sawmill (originally erected

by James Simpson), Fort Hemlock, Smiths Falls Woollen Manufacturing

Company, Gould Carding Mill, Gould's Rideau Foundry and Agricultural Implement Works (later known as Gould Manufacturing Company and which became home to Northern Buttons), and Citizen's Electric Light Company.

Ted & Marion Outerbridge are currently restoring a Smiths Falls heritage home built in 1893. They are also being swept away by local history & mystery. You can follow them on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok @thekeyholehouse or email ted@tedouterbridge.com.

ELECT SPRUYT

LANARK-FRONTENAC-KINGSTON

This election is about choices. It’s about leadership. It’s about you.

This election is the time to try bold new ideas on old problems. It is time to give the Green Party a chance. As the National Post recently said, “Ontario Greens could end up holding the balance of power”, or as we like to call it the “balance of responsibility”

We will double ODSP payments, and lift people with disabilities out of forced poverty. We will prioritize homecare, so that everyone regardless of age or ability can remain in their preferred home. We will make EVs more affordable by offering rebates of $10K for a new electric car, $1K for a used electric car and $1K for an e-bike.

AFFORDABLE Including improved access to housing, universal basic income, incentives for energy upgrades to homes and electric vehicles.

HEALTHY Maintain publicly funded health care including expanded access to mental health supports and pharmacare. Improve conditions in Long Term Care Homes, fair wages for all health care workers.

PROTECTED From the impacts of climate change through disaster planning and support for effects

of extreme weather events. Providing incentives to support the transition to a prosperous low carbon economy.

ACCESSIBLE Identify and remove physical and systemic barriers so every citizen, regardless of race, gender, orientation, ethnicity, age, health status or disability has access to the services they need to thrive.

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7

May 2022

culture

The Empress of Ireland tragedy: loss of life and lost in history

Canadian Pacific Steamship ‘Empress of Ireland’ at dock in the St. Lawrence River. Photo submitted.

Regional - Brian Preston editorial@pdgmedia.ca April 12, 1914: many know the Titanic sank on this day 110 years ago. Jeff Maguire, a columnist for the Smiths Falls Record News, wrote a wonderful article in their 14 April issue under the banner, “Titanic Tragedy has Canadian Connection” focusing on the victims being brought from sea to Halifax for burial in 3 graveyards there. More locally, Charles Hayes was on the Titanic coming home to preside at the dedication of the newly built Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa, one of his Grand Trunk Railway hotels built across Canada. Grand Trunk became part of Canadian National in 1923 and then Canadian Pacific in 1988.

I visited Fairview Lawn Cemetery which has the largest number of Titanic victim graves, and it is a somber sight.

But today I want to tell you about a Canadian connection that even fewer Canadians know about and, ironically, it is far closer to home in terms of ship ownership, passengers/crew and her sinking in the middle of the night in only 14 minutes when all the passengers were asleep below decks! This is the wreck of the Empress of Ireland

which sank off Rimouski (Pointe-aux-Pere) in the St. Lawrence River on 29 May 1914.

Being a scuba instructor and wreck diver, I dove this wreck in 1982 and was amazed to swim past port hole after port hole as she sits on her starboard side in over 100 feet of water in current and less than ideal visibility. It was legally discovered and claimed in 1964

by Quebec diver Phillipe Beaudry; he salvaged many artifacts which were put in a museum. I have pictures of me with Philippe standing as if on the bridge with the ship’s bell, the steering wheel and telegraph and other artifacts. It is a huge grave and was finally, after years of illegal treasure salvors, including a well-heeled American salvor who was destroying the wreck as a pirate to get at the silver bars being transported. I was frustratingly involved in trying to get four federal government departments talking to each other (each having partial jurisdiction on the wreck) to get Canadian legal protection of the wreck and site. Finally, it was the Province of Quebec that unilaterally stepped up to the plate in 1999 and declared the wreck a protected site in Quebec waters. Of related interest, I

remember asking Robert Ballard, who found the Titanic in 1985, when he was a guest speaker at our national Canadian divers convention a few years later, why he didn’t declare salvage rights which he legally could have done. He answered saying that was his biggest regret.

He didn’t think that technology would allow expeditions to the Titanic for many years and that protection measures would be put in place before then. But I digress.

The Canadian Pacific Steamship company owned several beautiful ocean liners, all named

Empress (of Asia, Japan, Britain, etc), that plied the ocean waters of the world for years. Their crews were from Canada and other nations. There was even an Inspector named John Edward Preston who perished along with 172 of the 450 crew on board.

(I’ll have to see if we are related as my Clydesbank Scottish grandfather, James Wilson Preston, was a merchant mariner who sailed the world during WW I and luckily was never torpedoed! But that’s another story!) Of 1057 passengers aboard, 840 perished bringing the total to 1012. The Titanic lost 832 passengers and 635 crew; the Empress lost 840 passengers and 172 crew. An unspeakably sad statistic was that only four children of the 138 on board the Empress survived the sinking. It is also notable that more passengers died in Canadian waters on the Empress than on the Titanic in the Atlantic ocean. Unusually, she sailed at about two-thirds capacity with only some 80+ in First Class, and just over half capacity in Second Class with 253 passengers, in large part due to a large party of Salvation Army members and their families, numbering 170 in all,

who were travelling to attend the 3rd International Salvation Army Congress in London. Sadly, 167 perished and 22 of their recovered bodies were buried in a memorial area of Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.

How did she sink? The Empress was fully loaded with passengers in Montreal and then Quebec City as she steamed into the night heading out to sea sailing for Liverpool, England. Inbound off Rimouski was the smaller Norwegian collier ship, the SS Storstad. They clearly saw each other and then both lost sight of each other in a rapidly rolling fog bank, common on the river especially in the spring. Had they both kept their courses they would have passed each other, but the Marine Enquiry concluded that the Storstad changed course colliding with the Empress of Ireland causing the disaster. She struck in the worst place possible, between the two smokestacks and the huge open engine rooms. The strong St. Lawrence current tore the ships from each other and water quickly filled the ship with below deck passengers succumbing in their berths while many upper deck passengers

scrambled onto deck and into only 5 lifeboats that could launch before she heeled over and sank. A sixth one capsized and none of the lifeboats on the port side were successfully launched because of the ship heeling over to starboard. The lights were out after only 5 or 6 minutes, no doubt causing further panic and chaos. In all, 465 passengers and crew survived; 1012 perished.

So why don’t we know about the greatest peacetime disaster and loss of life in Canadian history?

Remember that I said she sank on 29 May 1914? The only news was in papers and radio then. There was no TV, internet and instant communications other than by telegraph.

So what do you think was front page news in all the newspapers on August 4, 1914? World War I: United Kingdom Declares War on Germany, meaning Canada, as a member of the British Empire, was in a state of war. Further reports of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland were washed away from the public eye as Canada and Canadians faced a bigger catastrophe by having to go to war in what turned out to truly be of worldwide proportions.

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