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UpFront

Local funeral homes kick-start funding to increase urban canopy of city

Mackey Funeral Home Inc. and Stoddart Funeral Home have made a total donation of $5,000 to help seed an urban tree canopy in Kawartha Lakes.

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The new committee of concerned citizens is known as Canopy Project Kawartha Lakes (CPKL) and was established under the administration of the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes (CFKL).

The first planting project that has been chosen by the group is the property owned by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes on Lindsay Street in Lindsay.

“The club is thrilled to have been approached to become the first site for an urban canopy project,” says Amy Terrill, executive director. “By increasing the tree cover and diversity on the site, we know that it will become a more welcoming, healthy space for children and families.”

Mike Perry, CFKL president, says this could make a practical difference.

“It is partnerships like these that are making a real difference in our community.”

To donate funds to the CPKL, e-transfer to the email info@kawarthafoundation.ca. In a separate email, provide your full name, address and date of deposit for the benefit of a tax receipt, as well as the answer to a security question. Otherwise cheques can be issued to Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes and mailed to: Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes Suite 211, Kent Place 189 Kent St. W., Lindsay, ON K9V 5G6. Or visit www.kawarthafoundation.ca Discussing plans for the first and follow the links on Canada urban canopy site in the city. Helps to make a credit card Photo: Roderick Benns. donation.

March for Basic Income Plus on Sept. 19

On Sept. 19, people in 36 cities across Canada (and still counting) will show their support for basic income with a march through their downtowns — including in Lindsay here in Kawartha Lakes.

Sponsored by CEOs for Basic Income, a Toronto-based group of 120 Canadian corporate leaders and business owners, the march will be organized locally by the Advocate.

Building on the momentum around basic income as a result of pandemicrelated government subsidies such as the CERB, citizens in Kawartha Lakes and other cities will be marching for Basic Income Plus.

This idea includes five issues: basic income, a green economy, affordable housing, universal pharmacare and more publicly-owned enterprises. Learn more in the Advocate’s editorial on page 12.

The Advocate will help connect unions, community service organizations, and concerned citizens for the march.

Contact Joli to sign up or for more information at jsbenns@yorku.ca.

Please wear a mask and observe all relevant public health guidelines.

BusinessUPFRONT

CMS Web Solutions founders have a passion for tech — and trees

Richard and Sandi Gauder have a few passions in life and two of the big ones are technology and the environment.

The Gauders own and operate CMS Web Solutions, specializing in custom-built WordPress websites for organizations — including taking care of the accessibility requirements now required by the Accessibility for Ontario Disabilities Act (AODA).

They also offer “green” and all-Canadian-based hosting. (Full disclosure: The Advocate’s much-read news site is hosted by CMS.) Green hosting simply means using green technologies to reduce environmental impact.

The Gauders moved to Lindsay from Port Perry a few years ago. Although they have clients across North America, they remain a business firmly anchored in this region. They love the fact that technology has allowed them to move farther north, away from the city.

“People ask me all the time why we live and work here. I tell them ‘Because we can,’” Richard says.

Their passion for the environment includes running Plant a Forest (plantaforest.ca) where their concept is simple. They buy trees and plant them — lots of them.

Pooch Pride

The staff at Adelaide Clinic, in co-ordination with Kawartha Lake Pride, organized the second annual Pooch Pride event recently. Dogs were decorated in rainbows and multicoloured hues while humans were encouraged to dress similarly to celebrate diversity. Given the pandemic it was a drop-in event this year, so people could take part in whatever part of the walk they wanted to do, with proper social distancing in effect. Adelaide Clinic used pool noodles to help gauge proper spacing.

The route went east on Kent, north onto Victoria Avenue North and west onto Bond Street, and then south on Adelaide Street North.

Richard and Sandi Gauder

In fact, last year they planted more than 600 trees. People can visit the website and click Support the Project to buy a tree or two. They make no money from the project and simply to do it to help the environment.

“We pool 100 per cent of the money, go straight to the tree nursery and buy the trees. We’ll even let you know where we’re planting them, so if possible, you can visit them and see them grow,” Richard says.

Trees and shrubs that they plant typically range from $2.50 to $15 each, so it’s an affordable way for most people to get involved, he says.

“The more money we raise for a project, the bigger

}} Dogs dressed to celebrate diversity

the trees we can purchase,” Sandi explains.

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