Familiar faces in local places
The great divide Booze vs. pot
Grading the local police service
EAR CLINIC LINDSAY EAR CLINIC LINDSAY
SOUND SOLUTIONS FOR A CLEAR TOMORROW
At Lindsay Ear Clinic, our goal is to provide comprehensive audiological assessments. From the results of these assessments, we will educate, and inform our patients so they can make an informed decision about their hearing needs.
Your story is our priority, we’re here for you!
WE ARE A FULL SERVICE HEARING CLINIC
THREE AUDIOLOGISTS TO SERVE ALL YOUR HEARING NEEDS
Hearing Tests & Hearing Aids • Dizzy Assessments & Treatment
• Tinnitus Management • Wax Removal
CHOOSE A
Choose from one of our three locations in
Choose from one of our three locations in Lindsay, Bobcaygeon or Bancroft
BOOK A HEARING TEST
One
One of our Audiologists will run you through a series of tests and then discuss options
CHOOSE YOUR HEARING AID
We’re confident we can find the perfect device to suit your needs. BETTER HEARING IN THREE EASY STEPS
ANNE MARIE SINASAC B.A.(Hons.), M.Cl.Sc., AuD., Doctor of Audiology, Registered CASLPO Audiologist
DENYSE ROWE B.Sc., M.Cl.Sc., Aud(c), Registered CASLPO Audiologist
BRENT
REAL ESTATE UPDATE
FIRST QUARTER 2026
Author EVAN CONNOLLY
705.928.5604
Office 705.328.3800
birdhouserealty.ca
The start of the 2026 housing market has been buried under snow.
“Ontarios housing market is expected to stabilize in 2026 following a challenging 2025.”
- Kari Norman, Economist, Desjardins
Uncertainty driven by tariffs and mortgage renewal pressures carried over from 2025, keeping many Canadians sidelined to begin the year.
Straits of Uncertainty: Trade, Oil & Housing Markets
Economists, including Benjamin Tal of CIBC, suggest that tariff tensions and oil-related risks could ease by mid-year.
“While markets don’t like uncertainty, strong reactions to geopolitical events are generally short lived.”Vanguard, March, 2026
With shifting public sentiment and the upcoming U.S. midterms, there is growing expectation that these pressures ease over time.
“Mortgage rates have settled into neutral levels, and what you see on the ground at the start of 2026 is roughly what you should budget for over the medium term.” - Robert Kavcic, Senior Economist, BMO
Central banks across North America and Europe held rates in March, signalling stabilization.
Pent-Up Demand or Pent-Up Supply?
March marked the first time in 27 years that national average home prices declined over a five-year period, according to Robert McLister, a mortgage columnist with the Financial Post.
“What I would say about prices is, we need house prices to come down so that housing is more affordable.” - Carolyn Rogers, Bank of Canada, March 18, 2026
Will fading renewal fears, more balanced rates, and market conditions not seen in decades bring buyers back – creating pent-up demand?
Or will rising inventory dominate? With potential for rising supply –particularly if unsold 2025 inventory returns to market – prices may decline further.
“(Ontario) Active listings were 40.6% above the five year average and 54.8% above the 10-year average for the month of February.” - OREA, Feb. 2026
Time will tell which force defines the 2026 spring market.
Rebekah McCracken EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Denise Waldron WRITER-AT-LARGE
Robyn Todd visits Brouwer’s Bakeshop several times per week. In ‘The Regulars’ we look at why customers keep going back to their favourite spots. Photo: Robyn Best.
Deron Hamel WRITER-AT-LARGE Darren Hoiting ADVERTISING SALES
Cara Baycroft ADVERTISING SALES
Web Developer: Kimberly Durrant Printed By: Cofax Printing Cover Design: Ruth Kelly-Koebel
Please send editorial inquiries to Roderick Benns at roderick@lindsayadvocate.ca or 705-341-1496.
Please send ad inquiries to Darren Hoiting at 705-991-3188 or darrenhoiting@outlook.com, or to Cara Baycroft at 905-431-4638 or cara.baycroft@gmail.com lindsayadvocate.ca • @lindsay.advocate
Regulars are the lifeblood for small businesses.
Drinking and smoking cannabis are vices seen differently by each generation. letters to the editor 6 • benns’ belief 9 • business today 26 sarah’s say 30 • KL public library 36 • crossword 37 • cool tips for a hot planet 39 • just in time 40 trevor’s take 42 • the marketplace 44 • newcomer 46
Does the Kawartha Lakes Police Service get a good grade?
our mission
Fireside Publishing House is the premier print media company in Kawartha Lakes through its family of magazines and all-local weekly newspaper. We believe that community-based media can bring people together and change lives for the better through the power of storytelling, reflecting local culture, and creating informed and engaged citizens. Our commitment is to deliver high-quality and relevant content that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of our communities. We believe in the transformative power of local media to inspire, educate, and empower.
to the editor
Praise for Ross Memorial care
I am 90 years old and was recently admitted to Ross Memorial Hospital with pneumonia. I spent one day in emergency and was then moved to the fourth floor where I stayed for five days. I want to say that I had firstclass care from the nurses – Katie, Beth, Mickey, Sarah, Michelle – and my doctor also gave me first class care.
I was surprised that the nurses had to do things like empty urine bottles and fetch water. It would be nice if they had a designated person to do these mundane tasks so that the nurses could concentrate on nursing and attend to more serious things. I hear such terrible things about this hospital but this was not my experience.
I think that the people of Kawartha Lakes are very lucky to have a hospital like the Ross.
— Joseph Montague, Kawartha Lakes
Shame on those who litter
Now that the nicer weather is finally here and the snow is disappearing, it is beginning to expose the ignorance of many in our community who are treating our highways and byways as their own personal garbage dump.
This includes coffee cups (the red ones are so easy to spot) to alcohol cans (people are drinking while driving) to fast food containers, and even appliances. I recently picked up a whole vacuum cleaner from Tracey’s Hill Road. Another time, I saw the contents of someone’s home freezer (found on Frank Hill Road.). The sheer amount and variety of garbage is astounding.
I noticed someone recently picking up garbage along a section of Tracey’s Hill Road, and I applaud him, but we should not have to pick up after others. Much of the debris is recyclable. Keep our roads clean and shame on those who toss garbage from their cars.
— Ham Keillor-Faulkner, Kawartha Lakes
Lindsay helped shape young Kingston hockey player
I am writing on behalf of my family to thank the town of Lindsay for a being such a gracious and caring host to our son, Cole MacLean, who just finished his second season as a player on the OJHL’s Lindsay Muskies hockey club. We are from Kingston and in mid August 2024 we dropped Cole off in Lindsay to start this great adventure. Cole was billeted the last two years by Vanessa Archer and her son Jaiden. We could not have had a more supportive and caring family for Cole.
In his first season with the team, Cole attended LCVI for Grade 12. His teachers were fantastic and he developed many friendships with fellow students outside of the hockey community. My wife and I visited almost every weekend during the two hockey seasons, often staying over in a local hotel. We visited your local restaurants, shops, parks and everywhere we went we felt very welcomed and were always met with kindness. For Cole, during his time in Lindsay, he experienced that same goodwill. Many shops knew him by name and as a hungry teen, the sub shop knew his order as soon as he walked in!
Now Cole is moving on to study and play hockey at Norwich University in Northfield Vermont this fall. It is a great accomplishment for him and the town of Lindsay is owed a big thank you from Cole and our family. The support you provided him plays a part in making this opportunity come true for Cole. We are big Lindsay fans. We will continue to visit and promote the community.
— The MacLean Family (Philip, Cole, and Jackie.)
This letter was originally sent to Mayor Doug Elmslie.
Weighing options on energy is complicated
Re: letter in March Advocate, “Is nuclear the best way to go for energy?
I agree with Bill Steffler that cost and environmental impact should be major considerations when evaluating electricity generation in Ontario. However, the same standard should be applied to all sources of power on the grid, not just nuclear. Ontario relies on a mix of nuclear, hydro, natural gas, wind and solar. Each comes with costs and environmental tradeoffs. Nuclear plants are expensive to build and refurbish, but they produce large amounts of electricity for decades with very low greenhouse gas emissions and a small land footprint. A fair comparison should also include factors such as reliability, land use, system backup requirements and the additional transmission infrastructure needed to support different forms of generation.
Wind and solar can contribute to the system, but because they are intermittent, they require backup generation and additional infrastructure. Those costs and impacts also need to be part of any honest evaluation.
Ontario’s electricity sector already produces relatively low emissions by global standards. Even eliminating every remaining tonne of greenhouse gases from Ontario’s electricity system would have very little measurable effect on the global climate, but it could significantly affect electricity costs and reliability here at home.
— Carl Sweetman, Lindsay
Remembering Bill Bateman
William (“Bill”) Bateman was a steadfast and loyal friend to our community. An avid historian, he served on the Municipal Heritage Committee, the Victoria County Historical Society and he was a founding director of the Ottawa Huron Tract History Association. For the past decade, he, Guy Scott and I took original exhibits about local history to fairs, pioneer days and service clubs in the rural and more remote parts of Kawartha Lakes, including Stanhope, Wilberforce, Dorset, Minden, Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon, Lindsay and Manvers.
He was instrumental in securing a $1.5 million Canadian Heritage grant for the museum and he co-edited A History of Pandemics in Kawartha Lakes, published with funding from the City of Kawartha Lakes Community Pandemic Recovery Task Force. Bill was unassuming but he was always there, serving and supporting residents.
It is important to recognize, remember and honour the humble members of our community who work tirelessly without laud but without whom our small communities would be ever so much poorer.
As a member of the Municipal Heritage Committee, Bill was ineligible for a Kawartha Lakes Osprey Award for Community Heritage that recognizes individuals who promote or protect heritage in the city, but if ever there was a volunteer in our community deserving of that honour, it was the late great Bill Bateman.
— Joan Abernethy, Lindsay
The Advocate welcomes your letters. We do not publish anonymous letters unless it’s a matter of public importance and/or someone risks harm by writing us. We publish under strict guidelines & only if we can verify the person’s identity. Keep your letters to 200 words or less. Simply email roderick@lindsayadvocate.ca.
Friday, April 17: 4p.m. - 8p.m.
April 18: 10a.m. - 5p.m. Sunday, April 19: 10a.m. - 3p.m.
Won’t you join our supporter’s list?
The Advocate and Kawartha Lakes Weekly are your 100% local print media choices based in Kawartha Lakes. Visit our website and choose Support Us, or contact 705-341-1496 or roderick@ lindsayadvocate.ca. We thank the following people for their support:
Al Kingdon, Anne Melanson, April Scott, Audrey Burrows, Barb Taylor, Bill & Heather Peter, Bob & Carol Barkwell, Bruce & Debbie Peck, Cam Finley, Carol Bryans, Carol & Brian Kelsey, Catherine Hennings, Chris Yourkin, Christine Wilson, Colleen Newson, Cordula Winkelaar, D Ann Ostafichuk, Dale Urekar, David & Margaret Robertson, David Holloway, David MacMillan, Deborah Smith, Doreen Amos, Don Sangster, Donna Gushue & Jim Buchanan, Drew Davison, Edith Wood, Edna Calhoun, Elaine Heyes, Elizabeth Anne Patterson, Elke Danziger, Ellen Roberts, Gail Motzok, Garth & Marian Mackay, George Meyer, Glenda Morris, Grace King, Hannah Marnoch, Heather Muir, Hilary Grice, Jack Kyle, Jamie Anderson, Jane Walling, Janet Smith, Jean Wood, Jim Buchanan, Jim & Bonnie Hancock, Joan Shippel, Joanne Young, John & Elizabeth Gundy, John & Pauline Hunter, Joyce Dunning, Kevlyn Given, Laurie Jones, Lauren Drew, Lee Steeves, Leslie King, Linda Friend, Lorna Green, Lynda Palmer, Marci Stainton, Margaret Anthony, Maria Bennett, Marie Geelen, Marie-France Leclerc, Marnie Nelles, Mary Auld, Maureen Kalmykow, Maurice & Marie Jackson, Mehran Qaaboos, Mike & Cathy Puffer, Nanci Byer, Neil Campbell, Nelson Gingrich, Nora Steffler, Norman & Molly Feldman-Swan, Patricia Apac, Pamela Burtt, Paul Skipworth, Peter & Kathy Anderson, Peter & Sandra MacArthur, Ray & Lorna Smith, Richard Mason, Ron & Claudie Chartrand, Ross & Susan Beattie, Sandra Scott, Sandee & Stephan Willshaw, Sharon Tracy, Shirley Harnden, Susan Ferguson, Susan Stitt, Tegan Osmond, Vickie Schuett, Wanda Percival, Wayne & Cathy Alldred, William Steffler, Wayne & Wendy Brumwell, Zita Devan
Cannabis vs. drinking
By Roderick Benns Publisher
I had to be pushed by our team to green light this month’s cover story. I didn’t to be seen as endorsing increased marijuana use (or drinking, for that matter.) But of course, media writes about all sorts of topics every day and it doesn’t signal endorsement.
I guess I’m just Yesterday’s Man when it comes to pot smoking. Put it this way. If I walked into one of the many weed shops that now dot every town and city across the country, I wouldn’t even know what to say for my order.
“Hi, I’ll take one cannabis please.”
I mean, gummies were what I got as a kid if there was treat money left over from buying a bag of chips. Brownies were Little Debbie, not for relaxing Debbie Downers. And joints? Those are the things I find so sore lately.
And, if I’m being blunt, edibles are just anything I might consume for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Back in high school, I guess I was a little naïve. I didn’t know anyone was using The Cannabis or other drugs. I admit I heard the word “acid” a lot on my high school bus, but I just thought they were a bunch of science kids talking about homework.
I’ve heard some people say cannabis is a “gateway drug” to things more nefarious. With zero data to back this statement up, I confess to believing that some people are just more predisposed to addiction.
From what I’ve observed, though, it’s not exactly a motivational tool, being a Weed Man. This signals way too much relaxation. It’s anti-ambition.
But I suppose ambition is not the only goal in life. C.S. Lewis once said, “Ambition! …If it means the desire to get ahead of other people… then it is bad.”
For me, it’s not about getting ahead of others – but it is being able to get out of bed.
Back in high school, I guess I was a little naïve. I didn’t know anyone was using The Cannabis or other drugs.
As for drinking, the other focus of this month’s cover story, I’m only an occasional social drinker. If I’m home alone, I won’t touch the stuff – with one exception. Election night. (I know, you thought I’d say Super Bowl or something, but I don’t follow baseball.)
I guess an election beer is my way of celebrating democracy. Watching the red, blue and orange bars or numbers move up and down is exhilarating. (It’s more fun to watch swing ridings of course; observing this mono-coloured riding is about as fun as watching my grass grow.)
As a Gen X’er, moderate-to-not-so-moderate drinking was certainly the norm in my early 20s, at least on a weekend. Many of us learned it from our parents or even television. Today, I think it’s great that Millennials and Gen Z’ers are having just as much fun at juice bars. They’re asking for gut health lemonade and knocking back wheatgrass shots. And at closing time, just before the juice bar packs up for the night, they’re making romantic arrangements to have a nightcap together – pumpkin spice smoothies.
It’s true, I know nothing about the allure of The Cannabis. From social observation, I sometimes wonder if I’m the last one standing.
Follow Roderick on Instagram @roderickbenns
Inter national Women’s Day
Event recap
Ayesha Mansur Gonsalves, a Canadian actor and writer who lives in Lindsay, was the Advocate’s guest speaker in March for International Women’s Day.
She spoke at the Flato Academy Theatre about the powerful bonds of family.
Ayesha is currently in CBC’s Saint Pierre, and she has been in other productions like Star Trek: Discovery, Kim’s Convenience, and The Copenhagen Test with Simu Liu.
Lead Sponsor
Samantha Burke with Wendy
Ayesha Mansur Gonsalves.
All photos: Sienna Frost.
Luis Segura, Andrew Archibald, Jess Spagnolo. Leah Barrie and Sara Johnston.
Wendy Misener.
Jen Arnold served up sweet treats from The Sweet Kitchen.
Roderick Benns, Advocate publisher, Rebekah McCracken, executive editor, and Nancy Payne, writer-at-large.
The regulars
Where everybody knows your name
By Trevor Hutchinson
In his 1989 book The Great Good Place, sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third place” to describe community hangout spots like bars, restaurants and bakeries. To Oldenburg, if home is your “first place” and work is your “second,” these social hubs are the vital “third places” that keep a community’s heart beating. In a 2026 follow-up, co-author Karen Christensen takes it further, arguing that these spots are an answer to loneliness, political polarization, and even climate resilience.
The authors say true third places have a few things in common: they are open and inviting; comfortable and informal; convenient; and unpretentious. They have regulars, conversation is the main activity and laughter is frequent. Oldenburg notes the historical importance of such places, citing the American tavern in the American Revolution, the French cafe in the French Revolution, the London coffee house during the Enlightenment and even the agora in Greek democracy.
To see what it’s like to be a local regular, the Advocate caught up with three residents and the shop owners who keep their coffee hot, their beer cold and their food tasty.
Kim Wagg, co-owner of The Coach and Horses in Lindsay, sees a lot of regulars in the iconic Lindsay bar. Photo: Sienna Frost.
“I like the people,” says Ron Smith, a regular at The Coach and Horses in Lindsay. “There is the usual clientele and staff when I get there. I have developed some close relationships with the people there and enjoy their company. No one comes across as pretentious, but rather welcoming and friendly.”
Smith, who runs a small business, drops into the pub three or four times a week. For him, the Coach is a necessary escape from his home office.
“I work from home all day. To stay home in the evening after sitting at the computer or on the phone would make me go stir-crazy. It’s hard to work from home all day and then stay home all night. I’d say it’s good for my mental health (to have that) social interaction. I enjoy getting out and actually being with people. Beyond family, it’s really the only true social interaction I get.”
“The food is awesome, too,” he adds.
Robyn Todd is a retired medical transcriptionist who has called Downeyville home for 30 years. She visits Brouwer’s Bakeshop one to three times a week. When asked what keeps her coming back, she starts listing almost everything on the menu — from the fresh bread and pizzas to the gourmet coffee and ice cream.
But for Todd, it’s about more than the treats. It’s a place where she can bring visiting family and always feel welcome. “The staff know everyone’s name and you’re always greeted with a smile. It’s where I catch up with my neighbours or chat with folks just passing through town.”
While these spots might feel like public living rooms, they are also small businesses that count on those familiar faces to stay afloat.
As Hannah Brouwer, owner of Brouwer’s Bakeshop, notes, “Having a business in a small town like Downeyville means that a very large chunk of our customers are considered regu-
“I like the people. There is the usual clientele and staff when I get there. I have developed some close relationships with the people there and enjoy their company. No one comes across as pretentious, but rather welcoming and friendly.”
lars. The regulars tend to be Downeyville locals and I think they just enjoy having somewhere to stop in on their way to work or wherever they are heading off to. These types of customers are such an important part of our business and help keep things moving for us year-round. Overall, our business thrives on having regulars. Of course, the winter months slow down for us, but we can still always count on those regulars. We’re so grateful for them.”
Samena Kennedy, owner of The Locker at the Falls, agrees. “Regulars are the backbone of any hospitality business. Things have become very unstable and unpredictable postCOVID and regulars really help keep our faith in our community and operations going.”
“Overall, our business thrives on having regulars. Of course, the winter months slow down for us, but we can still always count on those regulars. We’re so grateful for them.”
“Whether it’s a daily, weekly or once-a-month visit, we rely on connections built with our regulars to maintain a certain level of incoming sales, which ensures employment of individuals and supports our community,” she adds.
But it’s not just about the bottom line. Everyone we spoke with describes a bond that goes way beyond a simple monetary transaction.
For Jake Martins, a butcher and lifelong Fenelon Falls resident, the connection at The Locker at the Falls was instant. “The first time I stepped foot in the building over six years ago, I knew from that experience that this was gonna be my local watering hole,” he says. “I have grown very close with the staff over the years, considering them like family; they are always very welcoming, love to have a laugh and are amazing at what they do,” he adds.
Robyn Todd is a regular at Downeyville’s much-loved Brouwer’s Bakeshop. Photo: Robyn Best.
Jake Martins has been a regular at The Locker at the Falls in Fenelon Falls for six years. Photo: Geoff Coleman.
And sometimes, these family-like relationships can become the real thing.
“Some of our regulars have become integrated into our outside lives,” Kennedy explains. “My soon-to-be sonin-law was a regular before he became engaged to our oldest daughter. They met and their love blossomed from our first Locker location. And one of our groomsmen from my wedding was actually a bar regular from my service days 16 years ago.”
That sense of family is exactly why Kim Wagg and her sister, Nicole, decided to buy The Coach and Horses. “The regulars were the main reason we wanted to take over the pub,” Wagg says.
Of course, being like family means sharing the hard times, too. As Wagg explains, “Our regulars begin to feel like family and when one is suffering, our little community rallies together to help. When one of our regulars is hurting, our little community pulls together,” she says. “It’s heartbreaking when we lose someone to illness or age. It’s why many families have chosen our pub to hold a celebration of life, because the families know that their loved ones loved it here and were loved here.”
And that important emotional support goes both ways. Kennedy reflects on a dark time in her life. “I suffered a personal tragedy many years ago with the loss of a child. My regulars from the establishment I served at all showed up
“Whether it’s a daily, weekly or once-amonth visit, we rely on connections built with our regulars to maintain a certain level of incoming sales, which ensures employment of individuals and supports our community.”
for the funeral. I have never felt more supported and honoured by a group of regulars in my life. Years of service does gain loyalty and respect for each other.”
Of course, even the best relationships have their quirks. If you follow any servers on social media, you’ve probably seen the memes that both poke fun at and praise the “classic” bar regular.
“I have grown very close with the staff over the years, considering them like family; they are always very welcoming, love to have a laugh and are amazing at what they do.”
Kennedy says that because regulars feel so at home, they can get pretty attached to the way things are — which can make it a challenge to change up the menu or the layout. There is also a real emotional bond that grows between the staff and the people they serve.
“It can be incredibly hard for staff to move on to new careers because they know they’ll miss their customers after years together,” Kennedy says. “I’ve even seen servers keep just one shift a week after getting a new job, simply because they didn’t want to lose that connection with their patrons.”
According to Kennedy, that sense of ownership can get pretty specific. “Some regulars have ‘their’ seat. It’s always funny to watch them get a little flustered if someone else is sitting in it. It’s that classic Cheers mentality — everyone knows your name, and everyone knows exactly where you’re supposed to sit,” she laughs.
But it’s that sense of place that regulars get in their local establishment that often contributes to a form of greater civic engagement.
“At the Coach, the regulars aren’t just there for a pint — they’re there to help. With their support, we hold two charity golf tournaments a year, plus food and toy drives,” says Wagg. “Last year, we served nearly 200 people at our free Christmas Day dinner. We couldn’t do any of it without our regulars.”
In the end, while every customer makes a choice where to spend their money, the “regulars” in Kawartha Lakes are doing something more. They’re building a community, one conversation and one laugh at a time.
LA Trevor Hutchinson is a writer, musician and not-forprofit executive. He lives in Lindsay with his wife and two of their children.
Local retired lawyer issues report card
Grading the Kawartha Lakes Police Service
By Jason Ward
I support the Kawartha Lakes Police Service.
But support must be grounded in accountability.
As a retired local lawyer who spent decades working within the justice system, I have seen firsthand how policing decisions affect individuals, families and communities. Public institutions entrusted with authority deserve careful, evidence-based evaluation.
This report card is based on the most recent complete year of published data available (2024), together with publicly available information released since that time.
In other words, it’s based on what has actually been published — not what may exist but is not publicly available.
Community Safety Outcomes:
The most important question is simple: Are serious crimes being addressed effectively?
According to the Kawartha Lakes Police Service 2024 Annual Report:
• 523 violent crime incidents
• 68.3% violent crime clearance rate
• 1,539 property crime incidents
• 22.4% property crime clearance rate
• 16,737 total calls for service
A violent crime clearance rate approaching 70% is strong. These are the offences that most directly affect public confidence and victim safety. Property crime clearance remains challenging across Canada, and the 22% rate reflects that broader reality.
Nearly 17,000 calls for service in one year also demonstrate demand and accessibility.
This performance is occurring during a period of continued population growth in Kawartha Lakes — particularly in Lindsay — placing additional strain on infrastructure, housing, social services and emergency response systems. More people means more calls.
Kawartha Lakes Police Service on Victoria Street, Lindsay.
Workload and Modern Policing:
Policing today extends far beyond traditional enforcement. Officers regularly respond to mental health crises, addiction-related incidents, vulnerable persons calls and community disorder.
Police have increasingly become the 24-hour service of last resort. When no one else answers the phone, police do.
Sixteen thousand calls reflect volume, but also complexity. Many calls require de-escalation, coordination with health services and professional judgment — not simply arrests.
What is not yet publicly detailed — and would improve transparency — are response-time breakdowns by call priority. Publishing that data would strengthen public understanding.
Given rising population pressures and expanding policing demands, KLPS appears to be managing workload responsibly.
Grade: A-
Accountability and Complaints: Traffic Safety:
Accountability is measured not by whether complaints exist, but by how transparently they are addressed.
According to the 2024 Annual Report, 16 public complaints were recorded through Ontario’s Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA), the province’s independent oversight body.
The published record identifies the number of complaints. What is not detailed publicly are complete breakdowns of dispositions — for example, how many were dismissed, withdrawn, informally resolved, or substantiated.
In a service responding to nearly 17,000 calls annually, complaints are inevitable. That’s democracy at work. The essential question is whether they are processed independently and according to provincial standards.
There is no public evidence of systemic failure. However, fuller reporting of complaint outcomes would strengthen confidence. Sunshine is good for public institutions.
Grade: B
In 2024:
• 547 reported collisions
• 1 fatal collision
• 1,334 traffic enforcement tickets issued
Traffic enforcement remains one of the most practical forms of preventative policing. Active enforcement reduces harm before tragedy occurs. With growing traffic volumes in both urban and rural areas of Kawartha Lakes, this engagement is significant.
Speed limits don’t enforce themselves.
KLPS publishes an annual report with meaningful statistics and narrative context. Many comparable services provide less.
At the same time, modern accountability would benefit from:
• Quarterly key performance dashboards
• Response-time reporting by priority
• Public satisfaction metrics
The foundation is solid, but reporting depth could expand. Clearer numbers mean fewer assumptions.
Costs and Municipal Strain:
Policing is also one of the largest line items in any municipal budget.
As population grows and service demands expand, policing costs inevitably rise. That creates tension for municipal councils balancing tax pressures, infrastructure needs and public safety expectations.
Residents want safe communities — but no one enjoys higher property taxes. The relevant question is not whether policing costs money. It does. The question is whether the community is receiving measurable public safety value in return. Based on available data, the answer appears to be yes.
Grade: A
Grade: B+
Drug Crisis and Community Impact:
No evaluation of policing in 2024 can ignore the impact of drugs, particularly opioids.
The opioid crisis affects every Ontario community. It contributes to property crime, repeat police contact, overdoses and public disorder. Police are often first on scene at overdoses, even though addiction is fundamentally a health issue.
KLPS operates within its legal mandate: enforcing trafficking laws, responding to overdoses and addressing criminal supply chains. But policing alone cannot resolve addiction. Arresting addiction is not the same as treating it.
Within its role — amid population growth and province-wide drug pressures — KLPS appears engaged and responsive, though continued collaboration with health and community partners will be critical.
It is also important to recognize that modern policing includes responding to serious offences such as human trafficking and sexual exploitation — crimes that are often hidden, multijurisdictional and complex. While these offences may not generate frequent headlines locally, they remain Criminal Code matters within the mandate of municipal police services, often in collaboration with provincial and federal partners. Addressing such crimes requires investigative resources, victim-sensitive approaches and inter-agency coordination — all of which add to the demands placed on local policing.
Given the seriousness of these offences, future annual reports could also benefit from clearly identifying whether such incidents occurred locally — even if the number is zero. Explicit reporting on serious but less visible offences enhances transparency and prevents speculation.
How We Compare:
To put our local numbers in context, it helps to compare them to provincial and national trends. Statistics Canada reports that the national Crime Severity Index (CSI) for Canada in 2024 was 77.9, reflecting a modest decrease in the seriousness of police-reported crime compared with the previous year.
By comparison, Kawartha Lakes recorded a CSI of 96.2 in 2024 — meaning the overall seriousness of crime here is higher than the national average and higher than many similar Ontario municipalities.
What does that mean?
It means our local police service is operating in a community where the volume and seriousness of crime are relatively elevated compared to national norms. In other words, KLPS is not policing in a low-pressure environment.
That context matters.
A higher Crime Severity Index does not mean substandard policing. It reflects broader social factors — including drug activity, population growth, economic pressures and repeat offending — many of which extend beyond the control of a local police service.
So, keep in mind, when evaluating clearance rates and performance outcomes, it is fair to acknowledge that KLPS is working within a comparatively challenging environment.
Grade: B+
Some Will Say…
Some will say any grade less than perfect is unfair to officers working under intense pressure.
Others will argue that no police service deserves praise in today’s climate. Both positions miss the point.
Public institutions should neither be shielded from scrutiny nor judged by ideology. They should be evaluated by evidence — and within the realities they operate in.
Final Grade:
When safety outcomes, workload pressures, oversight, enforcement activity, transparency, drug-related realities, rising costs and rapid population growth are weighed together, the conclusion is clear.
The Kawartha Lakes Police Service is performing very well within the real-world demands of modern policing.
Not perfect. Not immune from improvement. But delivering measurable public safety in a growing community under financial and social pressure.
Public trust is built not through slogans, but through results.
On the evidence available, the overall grade stands: A
Municipal Minute
Go Paperless – A Small Change with Big Benefits
Across Kawartha Lakes, we’re looking for ways to make municipal services easier to access, more efficient, and better for the environment. One of the ways we’re doing that is by encouraging residents to ‘Go Paperless’ for their property tax and utility bills.
Doug Elmslie, Mayor
Today, we manage many parts of our lives online, from banking to communication Papeless billing is another simple step in that direction By going paperless, you can receive your tax and utility bills securely online, where they’re easy to access and store, and you’ll never pay the $31 bill reprint fee again
To encourage you to make the switch, we’re offering a small thank-you. Anyone who signs up for electronic billing will be entered for a chance to win $100. And there are 25 chances to win!
This is about more than billing. It’s part of a corporate-wide initiative to modernize how we do business with residents. Every time we print and mail a bill or process a manual payment, it requires more time, money, and paper than necessary In fact, the cost of printing and mailing property tax and utility bills in Kawartha Lakes is over $250,000 each year By shifting to paperless billing and electronic payment, we can reduce these expenses while improving service
The benefits add up quickly We reduce printing and postage costs, free up staff time for higher-value work, and cut down on paper use and transportation. That also helps support the environmental and sustainability goals our community values.
If you haven’t already made the switch, I encourage you to Go Paperless. It’s convenient, secure, and helps us deliver municipal services more efficiently for everyone Visit www kawarthalakes ca/paperless to sign up today
Jason Ward is a retired lawyer and longtime Kawartha Lakes resident. He often writes on issues of public accountability, community safety and justice system performance.
From wine glass to weed gummies
Is drinking vs cannabis a generational divide?
By Denise Waldron | Illustrations by Ruth Kelly-Koebel
For many years, people marked the end of the day by opening a bottle or dropping ice into a glass. Now, for a growing number of Canadians, it’s the soft chew of a fruityflavoured gummy, a puff of weed, or the pop and hiss of a cannabis beverage being opened.
The Cannabis Act in Canada allowed legal sales of dried and fresh cannabis, oil, plants, and seeds in 2018. A year later, the act also included cannabis topicals, edibles, and extracts.
The potency of different cannabis products varies, and the consumption method influences how rapidly users experience the effects. All legal cannabis products must follow strict labelling and packaging rules, including THC content and health warnings. (THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis responsible for the “high.”) The government says this helps to ensure the quality and strength of products.
For many users, there is a growing interest in cannabis for perceived better wellness, sleep quality, and mental health. Hangover avoidance and better productivity the day after imbibing are also reasons people are shifting to cannabis. Some say it’s perceived as cleaner and less toxic than alcohol. There is also the rise of “California sober” or moderation culture. “California sober” (or “Cali sober”) is a slang term for a form of sobriety that involves abstaining from “hard” drugs and alcohol while continuing to use marijuana, and sometimes, psychedelics. They consider it a harm reduction approach that permits the use of substances deemed safer or less harmful instead of committing to total abstinence.
Seventy-six-year-old Cindy Hughes* of Lindsay says the beginning of her recreational cannabis use was during university in the 1970s and 80s. It was common among her peers, despite being illegal at the time. After completing her education, she discontinued its use until the 1990s when MP Alan Rock’s government established medical marijuana research at the University of Toronto, reigniting her interest in cannabis for legitimate medical purposes.
Hughes’ primary motivation for cannabis use now is pain management related to trauma injuries, including being hit by a car. She holds a prescription for Tylenol-3 but finds it ineffective. “It’s like a groin injury, and it affects my colon as well, so everything kind of goes into spasms. Opioids make that worse.”
A former educator, she uses cannabis flower (dried bud) which she purchases from local dispensaries in Lindsay. She uses cannabis on an as-needed basis rather than daily, preferring to remain active and avoid feeling overly sedated. Hughes specifically seeks sativa strains, which she understands provide more energizing effects compared to indica strains that promote relaxation. She rolls small joints.
“I would light it and inhale — like one inhalation. And that’s enough. That’ll take care of it.”
Regarding edibles, Hughes has experimented with cannabis oil without success and expresses concerns about liver metabolism effects, drawing parallels to Tylenol-related liver damage. She plans to try low-dose gummies but remains cautious about long-term liver health implications.
She values the immediate onset and controllable dosing of inhaled cannabis compared to edibles’ delayed and unpredictable effects.
Another local senior, 67-year-old Vickie Smithhurst*, tried alcohol at 14 and liked it. “I used to steal booze from my parents and then fill up the bottles with water. So they got watered down booze —as if they couldn’t tell,” she chuckled. Her initial encounter with cannabis in college at 18 was not a good one. “I got too high the first time. I was scared.”
For many users, there is a growing interest in cannabis for perceived better wellness, sleep quality, and mental health. Hangover avoidance and better productivity the day after imbibing are also reasons people are shifting to cannabis.
Eventually, she used cannabis for pain control, relaxation, and for the social aspect. Years ago, Smithhurst, her spouse, and another couple grew their own. Now, “it’s too easy to just purchase it.”
She and her friends considered getting licensed to open a cannabis business, but the requirements were “too rich for their budget.”
“As a caregiver, there are the times I use pot to escape,” adds Smithhurst, whose parent is over 90, has dementia and lives with her. “It’s getting harder everyday. My heart breaks just a little more, watching my mom disappear.”
The Kawartha Lakes resident doesn’t like the taste of cannabis and prefers to vape flavoured cartridge varieties. She has used edibles and enjoys the flavours available. While Smithhurst enjoys cannabis for many reasons, she won’t soon be giving up liquor. “ I like the various tastes of alcohol.”
* Names have been changed for anonymity.
Lucas Margulis isn’t surprised by the number of seniors partaking in cannabis use. He is the founder and president of High Bar Hospitality, a cannabis bar service company based in Toronto. It provides coast-to-coast cannabis bar services for private events, including weddings and bachelor parties, and has provided cannabis bars for events in Kawartha Lakes.
“When we do social events like weddings and so forth, they (the seniors) are at a bar the most — lining up all night.”
Some suggest seniors stopped smoking cannabis in their younger years and want to revisit the product, while others were initially put off by the strong smell and unknown strength and are now curious about modern cannabis joints, mocktails and edibles.
The company serves cannabis in one-milligram doses, significantly lower than the 10-milligram standard for retail cannabis beverages, allowing guests to control their tolerance and avoid overconsumption.
“When we do social events like weddings and so forth, they (the seniors) are at a bar the most — lining up all night.”
Addressing concerns about second-hand exposure, Margulis clarified that most cannabis consumption at events involves beverages rather than smoking. When smoking occurs, it follows all smoking bylaws and takes place outdoors. The company provides odourless glass containers called “dube tubes” to contain pre-rolls, ensuring no cannabis smell enters the venue when guests return from smoking breaks. They place the lids on the tubes and keep the cannabis for later use.
Margulis’ event staff are SmartServe certified, even though they are not serving alcohol. “We want to assess if someone’s intoxicated under alcohol as well, so that we can cut them off. It’s just about responsible consumption.”
The entrepreneur notes only two venues out of thousands still refuse their services because of outdated “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies. He argued that denying professional cannabis services actually increases venue liability, as 20-30 per cent of guests bring their own cannabis anyway, often unregulated black market products with mould, pesticides, and unpredictable THC levels. His company holds $5 million in liability insurance and shows up with all relevant paperwork if asked by law enforcement or municipalities’ bylaw officers.
While the two cannabis users above are in the senior category, it’s not seniors overall who are making pot usage spike – that would be Gen Z and young Millennials. This cohort dominates cannabis use in Canada, according to the 2024 Canadian Cannabis Survey.
(This contrasts with Gen X and Boomers who use far less.)
Twenty-eight-year-old Tiffany Abbey*, a Gen Z/Millennial cusp hairstylist, has been putting ideas together for her wedding. While there are many bridal decisions needed, one she is sure of is including a cannabis bar. “Absolutely the smoking kind, the eating kind, and the drinking kind — all three.”
Abbey’s early exposure to alcohol came through family celebrations where beer drinking was common. When she first tried alcohol around age 16, she experienced negative effects including nausea, feeling “thick,” and unpleasant hangovers that would disrupt her days. She also began experimenting with cannabis at the same age, initially smoking it since edibles weren’t readily available at the time. High school dealers provided her early cannabis experiences because legalization was not yet in effect.
The
Lindsay resident cites her decision to stop drinking alcohol because of its negative impact on her mental health and exacerbation of anxiety.
The Lindsay resident cites her decision to stop drinking alcohol because of its negative impact on her mental health and exacerbation of anxiety. She also says the high cost of bar drinking, poor sleep quality, and the association of alcohol use with harder drugs like cocaine in social circles didn’t align with her values.
According to Statistics Canada’s latest numbers, alcohol sales in Canada just saw the largest annual drop since tracking began. Sales declined for the fourth straight year in 2024-25. The agency says ciders and coolers were the only categories to grow, while spirits, wine, and beer fell in volume and sales.
She also says the high cost of bar drinking, poor sleep quality, and the association of alcohol use with harder drugs like cocaine in social circles didn’t align with her values.
Abbey says her preference for smoking over edibles, is because of unpredictable duration and delayed onset of edibles. She consumes cannabis daily after work responsibilities are complete, typically smoking half to a whole joint. She says the primary benefits for her include relaxation, ritual comfort, and help in managing her ADHD symptoms. Cannabis helps her hyperactive brain wind down and transition from work stress to home relaxation.
After being close to and touching people all day, she sometimes gets “peopled out.”
“It helps me disconnect from whatever happened at work.”
She says it can enhance intimate, physical experiences through increased relaxation and heightened sensations. The downside? It can make a user’s mouth dry.
Abbey thinks her generation has more access to information and are health conscious as the reasons they are giving up alcohol and turning to cannabis. “We’re more aware of what alcohol long-term does to our bodies, we’re more aware of the cancer risk.”
While Abbey believes she is a light cannabis smoker, she emphasizes the need for balanced information about its use. She knows a few people who ended up with Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome, a serious medical condition resulting from heavy daily use that can cause severe nausea, vomiting, electrolyte imbalances, and potentially kidney failure. One person she knows ended up requiring hospitalization.
According to a new study about users who partake in a non-problematic way from the University of Montreal, as a rule researchers found that non-problematic cannabis users are women who consume only occasionally, in a social context and as they consume alcohol. The study authors note there are risks, but they are not universal.
Abbey also advocates for purchasing from legal, regulated sources rather than street dealers due to safety concerns.
Robert Brunsch agrees with Abbey’s purchasing sentiment. He is the general manager at the Sparkq Retail Group of cannabis stores, including one in Lindsay.
Abbey thinks her generation has more access to information and are health conscious as the reasons they are giving up alcohol and turning to cannabis.
He explained CBD products are popular among customers seeking non-psychoactive benefits, with some purchasing only topical products or CBD-only items. He notes many customers choose cannabis beverages over alcohol because they offer a low-calorie, low-carb alternative without the alcohol hangovers.
“I think the biggest driving factor of the switchover is exposure and the stigma slowly being eroded and societal norms changing.”
Brunsch says the changing social dynamics around cannabis consumption is that it is becoming less stigmatized and more socially acceptable. “I think the biggest driving factor of the switchover is exposure and the stigma slowly being eroded and societal norms changing.”
He notes Gen Z has grown up around cannabis being legal, whereas pre-legalization, everybody had to go to “that guy” in a parking lot or to their house, or wherever it might be. “Very much that clandestine feeling. Back-alley dealings, if you will.”
You are not imagining cannabis shops are ubiquitous. As of June 2025, there were 3,761 legal recreational storefronts across Canada, according to various sources. Ontario accounts for about 48 per cent of all licensed cannabis stores in Canada according to Strattcan. Brunsch says he thinks the government set up the store openings following a free market approach. “The idea, I believe, was eventually the market will dictate how many stores in a given area it can support.” He said a lot of operators saw it as a “bit of a gold rush” and that they were going to make a lot of money. “Sadly, that has not been the case.”
He notes with market saturation, pretty much all retail stores across the province are fighting for smaller pieces of the same pie. “However, as different regions start to level out and stores are shuttered, stores that remain will benefit from increased traffic.”
None of this matters to Lindsay’s Gary Miller*. He will never darken the door of a cannabis establishment as a dedicated beer drinker. The idea of drawing smoke into his mouth and nose has always been unappealing to him, as he has never smoked. He appreciates the social acceptability and ease of ordering beer in public settings, contrasting this with lingering stigmas he associates with cannabis use, despite its legalization.
The 67-year-old semi-retired beer imbiber says pot was around growing up, but it didn’t interest him. He saw his uncles drinking beer and thought it looked kind of neat. “Once I turned of age, I tried it. It took a long time before I liked it.”
Miller has had surgeries and suffers from regular pain. His coworkers have suggested cannabis to mitigate his discomfort. He says after surgery he would not accept any pharmaceuticals for pain. “I’ve chosen not to, because I’ve always felt you can get through the pain faster and better if you don’t take any kind of outside stimulant.”
As a drinker of one or two beers a day, he feels Canada’s guidance on alcohol recommendations of one or two alcoholic drinks per week is an overreach.
“You’ve got to have vice in life — as long as it does not become addictive.”
Denise Waldron is a feature writer for the Advocate
Cautionary statistics:
Since cannabis legalization in Canada in 2018, several long term studies have emerged. Longitudinal research points to potential mental health impacts: a 2021 meta analysis of prospective studies found that cannabis use is associated with about a 25 per cent increase in the odds of developing an anxiety disorder. Reports from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and Health Canada further link regular, long term cannabis use to cognitive difficulties and an elevated risk of psychotic symptoms or disorders, particularly when use begins in adolescence or involves frequent or high THC products.
BUSINESS Today
BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING
Lack of formal plans are costing local jobs and diminishing local wealth creation
By Deron Hamel
Canada is teetering on a mass small-business exodus, according to statistics, as a majority of owners plan to retire within the decade without a succession plan. It’s a trend Wesley Found warns could have financial implications for local entrepreneurs and cost the community jobs and services if businesses are forced to close.
Found, chair of the Lindsay Downtown BIA and president of Linborough Property Corp., said there is going to be “a tsunami of wealth transfer” in the next decade as baby-boomer entrepreneurs retire. For many, the bulk of their wealth is tied up in their businesses, he added.
According to the most recent data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), 76 per cent of small-business owners nationwide plan to retire within the decade, yet only nine per cent have a formal succession plan in place.
Wesley Found, president of Linborough Property Corp. Photo: Robyn Best.
The CFIB report found that 49 per cent of owners plan to sell their business to an unrelated buyer, 25 per cent to family members and 23 per cent to employees. More than half of entrepreneurs surveyed – 54 per cent – cited the inability to find a suitable buyer as the greatest challenge to succession planning.
Found said not having a viable succession plan could leave owners financially vulnerable.
“If they can’t find someone to buy their business, there goes the majority of their net worth,” he said. “So, is it a huge problem right now? I think it’s a problem. Is it a problem that’s going to become exacerbated because of the demographics? Absolutely.”
These concerns were echoed by Laure-Anna Bomal, a CFIB research analyst who co-authored the 2023 study.
According to the most recent data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), 76 per cent of smallbusiness owners nationwide plan to retire within the decade, yet only nine per cent have a formal succession plan in place.
“Not having a formalized succession plan could result in lost jobs, bankruptcies or loss of stability for the business,” Bomal said in a statement that accompanied the report. “A majority of business owners rely on the sale of their business to fund their retirement. If they can’t sell their business, they’d have to delay their retirement. That adds another stress to the owner, their family and employees.”
Lack of succession planning can also hurt smaller communities like Kawartha Lakes, Found said.
He estimates that 90 per cent of registered businesses in a city the size of Kawartha Lakes employ 200 people or fewer. Of those, roughly 90 per cent have five employees or fewer. This means businesses with five or fewer employees make up close to 80 per cent of Canada’s private-sector businesses.
“Most of our businesses are considered small and collectively employ the majority of our residents,” Found said. “When viable businesses close due to lack of buyer visibility or transition support, communities lose jobs, services and economic continuity that could have been preserved through a sale.”
Adding to the challenge is a lack of business brokers in Kawartha Lakes. These are intermediaries who help buyers and sellers transfer ownership of privately held businesses, Found said.
The city’s small size makes it financially unattractive to brokers, he added.
“There is a lot of work involved, and a lot of people around here cannot fathom giving away eight to 10 per cent of their business in brokerage fees,” Found said. Without brokers, prospective buyers and sellers often struggle to find each other, he noted.
So why don’t entrepreneurs simply advertise that their business is for sale?
“A majority of business owners rely on the sale of their business to fund their retirement. If they can’t sell their business, they’d have to delay their retirement. That adds another stress to the owner, their family and employees.”
Found said business owners looking to sell typically prefer to keep their succession plans private. In a smaller, tight-knit market like Kawartha Lakes, a for sale sign can trigger a flurry of unintended consequences – from unsettling long-term staff and loyal customers to inviting aggressive employee poaching from competitors.
Terry Guiel, executive director, Lindsay + District Chamber of Commerce.
“Because we’re in a small community, nobody advertises that they’d be willing to entertain selling their business; they think that this is risky information to have out there,” Found said.
Terry Guiel, executive director of the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, said policy changes aimed at encouraging employee ownership could improve the sustainability of local businesses after an owner retires.
“Our Chamber community has been active in seeking changes within the office of the Minister of Finance and National Revenue to entrench employee ownership trusts as viable succession options for Canadian business owners,” Guiel said.
“If the government can make the employee ownership trust and worker co-operative tax incentive permanent, that could have some hugely beneficial impacts for succession planning. Making succession easier and more affordable for each party would be better for all.”
Guiel added that the economic impact on the local community when a business closes depends on whether the business is viable.
“If that particular business was not viable in customer demand or profitability, then nature takes its course and there is always a new business that can take over the empty storefront,” he said. “It’s sad to see a long-time business we grew up with close, but on the other hand it’s exciting to see a new store open.”
“If the government can make the employee ownership trust and worker co-operative tax incentive permanent, that could have some hugely beneficial impacts for succession planning. Making succession easier and more affordable for each party would be better for all.”
Guiel said there is also good news on the horizon. Research indicates that “thousands of healthy businesses” are expected to change hands in Canada in the coming years. Demographics, he noted, suggest Ontario trends are in line with the rest of the country.
While parents passing their businesses to their children has become less common, Ontario is seeing a surge of younger people looking to enter the business world, Guiel added.
“The good news is entrepreneurs are getting younger –in Ontario, especially,” he said. “Small business is the garden where entrepreneurs begin. Whether it is turnkey possession, passed down generationally or a completely new venture, all three are viable alternatives.”
PLOT TWIST: KENT BOOKSTORE NOW FOR SALE AS TURNKEY OPERATION
By Deron Hamel
While many aspiring entrepreneurs want to start a business from scratch, members of the local business community say buying a turnkey operation – a business that’s already running with established customers, suppliers and financial records – can offer a lower-risk alternative.
Cheri Hogg, who owns Kent Bookstore in downtown Lindsay, is preparing to retire and wants to sell her business while it’s performing well.
Hogg said her husband retired in October and she feels it’s time for her to do the same. She has stepped back from some of the things she used to do at the book shop, such as hosting promotional events and readings, leaving opportunities for someone looking to take on a new venture.
“I think the store has a whole lot more potential, especially with the population increase and people coming from areas that have big bookstores, and I’m gaining new customers every day,” Hogg told The Advocate.
Hogg said she knows firsthand the benefits of buying a turnkey business. Her mother opened Kent Bookstore in 1993, and Hogg later purchased the store herself.
For an aspiring entrepreneur to start a business from scratch, banks expect a multiyear financial plan, which, Hogg noted, can be “all guesswork – it’s what you think you can do and then you have to do a lot of market research.”
Cheri Hogg, owner of Kent Bookstore in Lindsay. Hogg is hoping to sell her business so the store remains a downtown fixture.
Photo: Deron Hamel.
However, with a turnkey operation, buyers can obtain established customer lists, supplier contacts and a marketing track record, often making it easier to get financing.
“They get everything so they don’t have to figure out how to set it up,” she said.
Wesley Found, chair of the Lindsay Downtown Business Improvement Area and president of Linborough Property Corp., said many people assume they cannot secure financing for a $200,000 or even $1-million business that’s for sale.
However, he said banks are often more willing to provide financing for buyers of turnkey operations than for startups. Found also noted that vendor take-back arrangements, where a seller loans part of the purchase price, can make acquisitions more feasible.
“It’s a lot less of a barrier than what they think,” Found said. “There are a lot of ways you could potentially (buy a small operational business) with minimal to zero money down.”
Found added that turnkey businesses are less risky because buyers inherit a revenue base, clients and established operational processes.
“As a startup, good luck trying to find money, but with these businesses, banks would be able to finance them because there is a track record,” he said. “When you do a startup, the statistics show that you are likely to fail.” LA
The quiet economy of favours
By Sarah Fournier Contributor
There’s a whole economy most of us rely on that never shows up in our bank accounts.
It runs on shared dinners, borrowed time, and the kind of text you send when you need a hand. It looks like watching someone’s kids for an hour, dropping off a meal, or showing up without being asked. No money exchanged. No contracts. Just people helping each other.
And lately, I’ve been noticing how much our family depends on it.
We’re lucky to have built a group of friends where dinners happen easily and often. Someone hosts, fridges and freezers are ravaged for dinner contributions, kids play endlessly, and the expectation is to show up as you are. We step in when someone needs support, we share what we have, and we care for each others’ children as if they were our own.
No one’s keeping score. And yet, somehow, it works.
In a world where so much is transactional, this kind of exchange feels different. There’s no invoice, no formal agreement, no guarantee of return. And yet, for many of us, it’s the system that makes everything else possible.
This quiet economy of favours isn’t extra, it’s essential. It’s how families function, how businesses survive, and how communities stay resilient.
And in a time when everything seems to cost more — gas, groceries, childcare, even time itself — its value only grows. These small, everyday exchanges help
absorb the pressure in ways formal systems can’t. They fill the gaps. They make things manageable. They remind us that we’re not operating alone.
But this doesn’t happen automatically. It relies on people staying connected, showing up, and being willing to both give and ask for help. It’s built over time, through small, consistent interactions that don’t always feel significant in the moment, but are.
This quiet economy of favours isn’t extra, it’s essential. It’s how families function, how businesses survive, and how communities stay resilient.
As more of life moves online and becomes increasingly introspective, this kind of community mindset becomes invaluable. It’s easy to default to doing everything ourselves. Independence has long been the benchmark, especially for my fellow millennials. But there’s something more sustainable (and enjoyable) about relying on each other.
We often talk about building strong communities in big, abstract ways. But more often than not, it’s built through shared meals, exchanged favours, and the quiet understanding that we’re not doing this whole life thing alone. It may not look like much on paper, but it’s a system I can’t imagine living without.
When people think about leaving a home, they may picture their final walk-through or the last time the door closes behind them. Friends and family may gather then to say goodbye. But by that point, most of the hard work and the hard decisions have already happened.
Earlier in the process, there’s an opportunity to approach things a little differently.
One idea I suggest is something called a house cooling party. While a housewarming party helps someone settle into a home, this gathering helps someone prepare to leave one. Family and close friends are invited to come earlier in the downsizing process, walk through the home together, and help decide what items will move forward with them. It takes some of the weight of those decisions off the homeowner and brings clarity about what items they want to take forward, what items will be passed to family or friends, and what needs to be donated or sold.
Once the homeowner decides they are ready for a house cooling party, it’s important that those attending are ready to take action. The key difference is that decisions are made in the moment. If someone wants something meaningful, they take it with them that day. No “maybe later,” and no boxes set aside for future possibilities. By creating a moment for everyone to show up, speak up, and take responsibility for what they want to keep, the homeowner is no longer left carrying those decisions alone. It brings clarity to the process and allows the downsizing journey to move forward with far less uncertainty. A house cooling party isn’t just about saying goodbye to a home; it’s about creating a moment where memories are shared, decisions are made, and the next chapter becomes a little easier to step into.
Mindful Takeaway:
Clarity today can lift a surprising amount of weight tomorrow.
Your Dedicated Partner in Downsizing
Nicole Naylor REALTOR®
Find Sarah at colourandcode.ca
Your Hospital, YOUR CARE
CRITICAL CARE
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
• Nine beds dedicated to critical care medicine, with hemodynamic and respiratory support, intensive monitoring
• Admission when you experience a heart attack, unstable angina, difficulty breathing requiring mechanical support, or need careful management of blood pressure
• Patients present with a mix of cardiac, medical, and surgical health conditions
• ICU has admitted 546, 564, and 606 patients a year from 2023-2025, totalling 6,030 patient days
“Our mom was in the ICU fighting a serious illness and we were faced with some very difficult decisions. Through every tear, long night, and uncertain moment, the ICU team stood by us not just as medical professionals, but as kind and compassionate human beings. They treated our mom with such tenderness and care, and they treated us with patience, understanding and empathy. We trusted them completely and they never let us down.”
– M.H. & J.H. (Community Members)
CRITICAL CARE RESPONSE TEAM
• 24/7 CCRT Nurse supports inpatients in all areas of the hospital
• Provide assessment and intervention for at-risk patients to help prevent decline or complications
• Follow patients who have transferred out of the ICU
• Use their critical care nursing experience, with expanded medical directives, to accelerate diagnosis and care
• CCRT completed 183 consults in both December 2025 and January 2026, its first two months in operation
I was here
By Richard Gauder
I couldn’t believe what I was listening to…the voice of my grandfather from 1959.
The audio recording was a gift from my uncle. Apparently, my grandfather had recorded updates on reel-to-reel tapes to mail to my grandmother while she was still overseas. Hearing it stopped me cold.
Then I heard my mother’s voice. She was 27, singing to my three-year-old sister. A tear welled up. My mother left us when I was in my late 20s after a 10year battle with cancer. For years, all I had of her voice was a single 10-second cassette clip, an introduction to a music mix she had made for my dad. Hearing her sing again felt like a small miracle.
About 15 or 20 years ago, when video cameras became smaller and more affordable, I decided to start recording family stories. I began with my Italian father-in-law, a man with remarkable stories from the Second World War and from life itself. His emotional, expressive storytelling was captivating.
For years, all I had of her voice was a single tensecond cassette clip, an introduction to a music mix she had made for my dad.
I learned details of his life I had never known. And because my own mother had left us so early, I felt a deep responsibility to preserve this family’s history.
I recorded not just his stories, but the family home — walking room by room, capturing the spaces that shaped their lives.
Then I recorded my mother-in-law. Her stories were equally compelling: bombs falling on London while she sheltered underground, meeting and marrying her husband, raising their first two children in a 10-by-20-foot chicken coop before immigrating to Canada for a better life.
After they had both passed away, the family began gathering every September for a weekend together. Watching those videos became part of the ritual. Hearing their voices and seeing their faces made it feel as though they were still with us — still part of the weekend.
Paul Gauder, the author’s grandfather, at his high end tailor store on Yonge Street, Toronto.
Encouraged by that experience, I recorded my dad. Stories I had never heard emerged, and I am richer for knowing them. Now that he’s gone, that video is invaluable.
Over the years, I’ve recorded many other friends and relatives. I’ve found that children often don’t fully appreciate these recordings until their parents are much older. Grandchildren, on the other hand, are almost always deeply interested in learning who their grandparents were and where they came from.
I once watched an interview with an archaeologist who studied patterns across human history. When asked if there was one theme that stood out, she didn’t hesitate. It was simply this: “I was here.”
These videos can be recorded at any age, and I can’t recommend it enough. In fact, I’m seriously thinking of doing this for others.
Because hearing a grandfather’s voice for the first time—or listening to your 27-year-old mother sing, isn’t just nostalgic, it’s priceless.
It’s proof that you were here.
Richard Gauder is the co-founder of CMS Web Solutions, a Canadian web development, hosting and education company, now specializing in digital accessibility. He is an occasional writer for the Advocate.
Ted and Marianne Gauder, the author’s parents.
Celebrate Earth Day with Your Library!
Did you know that using the library is an easy way to help the planet? Instead of buying books, movies, and toys, the library encourages sharing, reducing waste and making the most of the resources we already have. By borrowing instead of buying, we help cut down on unnecessary production, packaging, and reduce landfill waste.
Beyond books, the library also offers a Library of Things collection where you can borrow sports equipment, STEAM toys and kits, and more. Whether you are planning a fun family activity, trying a new hobby, or just need something for a one-time use, borrowing makes it easy to save money and make sustainable choices.
Young Musicians Showcase
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026 AT 7PM AT CELEBRATIONS
35 LINDSAY STREET N
Join us at Celebrations Lindsay on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 7:00pm for an inspiring evening featuring student performers from Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute (LCVI), Mariposa Elementary School, Rolling Hills Public School, and Kawartha Lakes Youth Concert Band.
We also have some Earth Day–inspired programs happening this April:
Earth Day Challenge
Pick up an Earth Day Challenge kit at your local library branch and discover simple ways to make our planet a little greener! Each kit includes materials to create a Nesting Materials Bird Shop to support local birds. Kits are available at all branches from April 18 to April 25. Complete your challenge and return your card by Saturday, May 9 for a chance to win a Yeti water bottle. Open to all ages! Supplies are limited, so grab your kit while they last.
$10 PER PERSON
Pr oceeds to go to support Kawartha Art Gallery Tickets at kawarthagallery.com or at the door
190 KENT ST. W, 2ND FLOOR, LINDSAY ON KAWARTHAGALLERY.CA
Bee Green for Earth
Day
Saturday, April 18, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm | All Branches
“Bee” pollinator friendly! Design a garden marker and seed packet, then take home some wildflower seeds to grow.
There is always more to discover at your library. Visit kawarthalakeslibrary.ca to explore everything your library card offers.
Joan Corrigan
By Joan Corrigan, Fun & Done Crosswords
ACROSS
1. Dog or cat
4. Military air raid
9. Friend
12. Straighten, as car wheels
14. Hawaiian island
15. Number between zero and ten
16. Air Canada employee
17. Appetizer for an Italian meal
19. Building addition
20. Sum up
21. Blueberry and lemon meringue
22. Place to put things away for awhile
25. Took (someone) to court
27. Get smaller, as the moon
28. Turn to ice again
32. Tied up, as skates
34. Tyrannosaurus rexes
35. Toronto mayor Lastman, founder of Bad Boy Furniture chain
36. Egg cells
37. Wedding vow: 2 wds.
38. Sis's sibling
39. Twelfths of a year: Abbr.
40. Driveway or walkway brick
42. British noble
44. “With fronds like these, who needs ___?”
46. Three of a kind
47. Frosts a cake
48. Pessimistic about the stock market
51. Blink one eye
53. Tuna container
54. Female deer
55. Smaller cousins to tuna fish
58. Rear part of a ship
60. Kerfuffle
61. Fortuneteller's card
62. Buenos ___, Argentina capital
63. Strong yearning
64. Actors' platform
65. 24 hours
DOWN
1. *Linen item in Home Ec class
2. Self esteem
3. Dynamite
4. Piece of grass
5. Touch down at the airport
6. Earnings on a bank acct.
7. Mai ___ cocktail
8. *Sewing these fasteners in Home Ec is like pulling teeth
9. Sit for a photo
10. Picnic pests
11. Zodiac lion
12. Monkeys
13. Light, happy tune
18. Legislative assistant
20. Number of birthday candles
23. Bob, Ontario's 21 st premier
24. As well as
25. Spanish mister
26. Alien spaceship, for short
28. Travels by horseback
29. *Cross stitching, often taught in Home Ec
30. Freezing point in Celsius
31. Billionaire Musk
32. Toronto's castle, Casa ___
33. Shakespeare's river
34. Jumps head first
40. *Tricky items sewn into a pair of slacks in Home Ec class
41. One, in Dundee
42. Bikini top
43. Hot-___ balloon
45. Expensive fur
46. Two less than a dozen
48. Sew with long, loose stitches
49. Achy
50. Chicken-coop residents
51. Walk in shallow water
52. Graphic symbol
53. Drano's target
55. Month of Mother's Day
56. Rodent
57. Notable period of history
58. In low spirits
59. ___ Maria, coffee liqueur
Tips to reduce your plastic use
By Jessica Moynes
It’s hard to imagine a world before plastic. Today, it’s everywhere. Most consumer goods are packaged in it or made from it—even the tiny stickers on fruit are plastic. It’s in our clothing, our furniture, and even the personal care products we use daily. Petroleum-based materials have become so woven into modern life that imagining alternatives can feel nearly impossible.
With plastic so embedded in our daily routines, the idea of creating a plastic-free—or even plastic-less—home can feel overwhelming. But the truth is, meaningful change doesn’t require a complete lifestyle overhaul. A few simple shifts can make a big difference.
Refill, don’t replace. Instead of tossing containers when products run out, look for ways to refill them. Refilleries like Unwrapped allow you to fill up everyday items like laundry detergent, hand soap, shampoo, and skincare using your own containers. Bulk food stores, such as our neighbours Burns’ Bulk Food, also offer the option to refill pantry staples, reducing packaging and waste.
Start with small swaps. Choose a few items each month to replace with low er-waste alternatives. Trade plastic cling wrap for beeswax wraps or reusable bowl covers. Use silicone baking mats instead of parchment paper. Replace plastic dish brushes with natural fibre versions, and bring reusable cotton produce bags when grocery shopping.
Rethink pods. Laundry and dishwasher pods contain plastic films that release microplastics into waterways with every wash. Switching to plastic-free tabs, powders, or liquid options can help reduce microplastic pollution while also limiting unnecessary chemicals on your dishes, clothing, and skin.
Vote with your dollar. Every purchase sends a message to companies about what matters to consumers. Supporting brands that prioritize sustainable materials and responsible packaging encourages wider change across industries.
Reducing plastic can feel daunting, especially when images of polluted beaches and overflowing landfills dominate the conversation. But progress doesn’t require perfection. When many people make small, thoughtful changes, those choices add up to real impact—for our homes, our communities, and the planet. Want some help getting started? Visit us at Unwrapped for easy, low-waste swaps.
112 Kent Street West, Lindsay unwrappedkawartha.com
Advertorial
Plastic – not so fantastic
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t ask for cucumbers wrapped in plastic. It’s a waste, literally.
While some is collected, only about nine per cent of plastic is actually recycled. The government reports Canadians toss about five million tonnes of plastic waste annually. And it’s getting worse. Globally, plastic garbage is expected to more than double in 15 years. By then my daughter will be 45 and her generation will be stuck with an even more drastic plastic mess.
Almost all plastic is made from fossil fuels. As the world increasingly electrifies and uses less oil, gas and natural gas, the industry has been fighting hard to make more of the flexible synthetic stuff. They have to find uses for their product somehow.
That business model is tremendously damaging. Tiny plastic particles have been found in our soil, in water, in air, in our bodies. And plastic hurts the critters we share the planet with. Of the 16,000 identified plastics chemicals out there, more than a quarter are highly toxic. A growing body of research links plastic pollution to increasing rates of cancer, infertility, heart disease and cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s.
Plastic never really biodegrades into anything nature recognizes. Instead, a carelessly discarded plastic bottle will eventually break down into microplastics – an estimated 25 million particles. Then there’s the even smaller nanoplastic particles that more easily pass into the bloodstream. And most recyclable plastic can be recycled only one to three times.
The world has taken note. In 2022, this year saw the first global plastic treaty negotiations. Since then, the international group has met regularly but struggled to come up with a plastics agreement. It doesn’t help that chemical and fossil fuel industry lobbyists outnumber the scientists at these talks. While many delegates want to reduce plastic production and phase out certain plastics, the petrochemical industry is pushing for recycling to do the heavy lifting. And we know how successful that’s been.
Nonetheless, governments are starting to ban certain plastic products. Recently the federal court of appeal supported the Canadian government’s listing of plastic as toxic. That means the ban on single use plastics like grocery bags, straws, stir sticks, and cutlery will continue. It was up in the air due to a petrochemical industry challenge. Naturally.
That ban has yielded results. Since it came into effect, the number of plastic bags picked up around Toronto’s Don River has plummeted 99 per cent, the chair of Don’t Mess with the Don told CTV. Here in Kawartha Lakes “we have definitely noted a decrease in plastic bags during daily litter collection around the landfills,” said Waste Management Manager Heather Dzurko.
While we can’t avoid plastic, researchers have some tips to reduce exposure.
1. Avoid heating or eating food in plastic. And avoid hot beverages in plastic or plastic/lined cups. Time to take your to-go cup to the drive-through.
2. Choose natural fibres like cotton, wool, linen or leather over synthetics whenever possible. Polyester, nylon, acrylic and fleece are made from fossil fuels. They’re essentially plastic and they shed fibres. I just got rid of a zippered jacket made from recycled plastic bottles. And I have new-found respect for our ancient leather sofa.
3. Dust and vacuum often. There’s microplastic in those dust bunnies.
4. And if possible, choose a cucumber that’s not wrapped in plastic.
Ginny Colling was passionate about the environment before retiring from teaching college communications students. After retiring she trained with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. She has presented to numerous groups about the climate crisis.
From tapping to texting: Telegraphy in Kawartha Lakes
A sunny spring afternoon has come upon Lindsay as a group of senior students from one of the town’s secondary schools make their way across the Rainbow Bridge and walk north or south along the rail trail hugging the shores of the Scugog River. They are glued to their cell phones, watching the latest AI-generated wonder on TikTok – or perhaps pondering which emoticon they should use in a lively conversation with their friends on the other side of town via the miracle of text messaging.
So distracted are these teenagers by their phones that they scarcely notice the ghosts lurking in the bush at the side of the rail trail. Well, these “ghosts” aren’t really phantom spectres; they are in fact thin wooden poles standing about seven metres high (or, depending on their condition, canting out over the surrounding grass and water at an awkward angle). Some of them may still sport blue or uncoloured glass insulators on their cross-arms – if these Christmas bauble-like fixtures haven’t already been claimed by a collector or smashed by an errant rock or snowball.
These are among the last surviving telegraph poles in Kawartha Lakes, and in their heyday the messages their wires carried were awaited as anxiously as text messages are today.
North America’s love affair with electromagnetic telegraphy traces its origins to 1837, when the American inventor Samuel Morse developed an ingenious system of sending and receiving messages via a system of electrical pulses. Represented visually as dots or dashes (for short and long signals, respectively), these electrical pulses were in turn “spelled” out in the form of audible clicking sounds produced by an operator’s skilful manipulation of a telegraph key. Incoming messages were then transcribed onto slips of paper called telegrams and delivered to their intended recipients.
In their heyday the messages their wires carried were awaited as anxiously as text messages are today.
The system spread around the continent, and was especially embraced by those responsible for safe and effective communication along a burgeoning network of railway lines.
The first telegraph wires in what is now Kawartha Lakes appeared about five years after the Port Hope & Lindsay Railway laid its tracks into town along the western shoulder of Logie Street. A succession of snowstorms in February of 1862 had held up the postal system, prompting one editor to plead for the installation of something more efficient. “Now more than ever we feel the want of a telegraph line to this town,” he wrote in the Feb. 27, 1862, edition of The Canadian Post. “We are glad to learn that the Telegraphic Company have the matter under consideration, and that probably we shall, in a short period, be able to communicate with our neighbours, even though the trains cease running.”
A surviving telegraph pole, still carrying glass insulators, along the Rotary Trail in Lindsay. Photo: Ian McKechnie.
A Canadian Pacific telegram sent to future Lindsay lawyer, J.A. McQuarrie, from his parents upon his graduation from Queen’s University. In 1881, McQuarrie’s great-uncle, Donald B. McQuarrie, supervised the rebuilding of a telegraph line for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Missouri. McQuarrie collection.
By the end of the 19th century, with the Grand Trunk Railway’s trains running in and out of Lindsay in all directions, telegraph lines had become a familiar sight on the local landscape. It was 1904 that saw the rival Canadian Pacific Railway build a branch line from southwest of Janetville to Bobcaygeon via Lindsay – and with it came more telegraph poles, telegraph wires, and a demand for telegraph operators.
This latter need was filled by Alex Paton’s National School of Telegraphy, which operated for more than 20 years out of space on the third floor of the Academy Theatre. Here – in what is now the theatre’s storage room for costumes and props – aspiring operators sat at long tables equipped with miniature telegraph poles and learned the art of sending and receiving messages over the wire.
Mr. Paton – a career railway man, sporting enthusiast, and amateur poet – enthusiastically promoted this project among local residents. Young men and women who enrolled in his school were promised lucrative work in the field of telegraphy – not only in Lindsay, but across Canada, too. “James P. Davidson, who recently finished his course at Mr. Paton’s Railway School of Telegraphy in this town has been appointed operator at McTaggart, Sask., near Regina, on [the] C.P.R.,” The Lindsay Post reported on Sept. 29, 1911. A few days before, Paton bragged that Wilson Gillis of Sturgeon Point, Thomas Hetherington of Fenelon Falls, and Harold Evans of Yelverton had all secured positions with the Grand Trunk Railway in Ontario at $50 and $60 a month after taking his telegraphy course. While many of Paton’s protégés went on to work as operators in North America’s railway stations, others found employment in commercial offices or hotels – anywhere to which humming telegraph wires ran.
This telegraph pole, situated a short distance south of Mount Horeb Road, was part of a line following the Canadian Pacific Railway into Lindsay. Photo: Ian McKechnie.
Not even the telephone – patented 150 years ago this year – could replace the older technology. In a July 22, 1911, letter to the editor, Paton assured readers that he had been informed that “it is not the intention of the Grand Trunk or any other Railway system to dispense with telegraph instruments or telegraph operators.” Indeed, operators were still required even as the older electrical telegraphy gradually gave way to wireless telegraphy, which relied on radio waves to transmit messages.
Change was in the air, though, as railways began to centralize their traffic control operations and later as the internet made inroads in how people communicated with each other. Gone is the clicking telegraph key, but the utility poles dotting the Rotary Trail and Victoria Rail Trail’s south corridor remain as reminders that instant communication is something sought after by every generation. LA Ian McKechnie is a freelance writer, local historian, and researcher who has compiled and edited three books.
Second place
By Trevor Hutchinson Contributing Editor
Despite my many efforts, I can really suck at being a parent. Take, for example, my youngest daughter, who is still in high school. She’s really smart, works hard at a part-time job, and gets excellent grades. But despite often doing very well on tests, she experiences a fair amount of pre-test anxiety.
I suggested that she wouldn’t experience the anxiety of finishing second if she always finished first. That seemed like pretty easy math to my Gen-X brain. Apparently, though, that’s “bad parenting.” My bad. I was joking, albeit from a hard-wired place.
It’s just that my generation didn’t talk about feelings. We were latchkey kids who grew up in pre-internet isolation. We were conditioned to believe that toughness, silence, and being “in control” were superior to vulnerability. Coming of age in an economic recession with the constant threat of nuclear Armageddon over our heads, we developed a nihilistic stoicism.
Today, we have more mid-life distress than previous generations. More than 20 per cent of us have mental health issues, yet we are 16 per cent less likely to use mental health services than other demographic groups. (Our music is pretty good, though, if you don’t mind the over-the-top malaise and all the heroin.)
Millennials took that Gen-X stoicism and perfected “hustle culture,” where you “rise and grind” with a “you don’t win second, you lose first” attitude. At its worst, this success-at-all-costs view brought us “tech bros” and the glorification of the 996 mentality (working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week). This has led to a brand of “toxic individualism.”
Often embedded in the self-help movement, this trend damages our democracy and culture by promoting a “mefirst” mentality that erodes community bonds and civic engagement. By emphasizing total self-reliance and personal happiness, this movement undermines collective action, increases polarization, and ignores the systemic factors affecting people’s lives. It is a clear and present danger to our very way of life.
We were conditioned to believe that toughness, silence, and being “in control” were superior to vulnerability.
That chin-up attitude might have worked for me when I thought the Soviets would annihilate us at any second, but perhaps it’s time for my generation to take some cues from Gen Z, whose #softlife approach values mental health and social cohesion. The whole idea of a “soft life” may be anathema to Gen X’ers like myself, but so be it. I can’t not be Gen X, but maybe I can use our love of routine and penchant for eclectic, niche information to teach this old dog a new trick.
Maybe I’ll turn to local hockey lore and celebrate the Lindsay Carew Lumberjacks Midgets, who went to the Ontario finals in the 1946-47 season. That team was coached by local sports legend Elwood “Sixty” Coombs, Jr. They finished second. (That team should be inducted into the Lindsay Sports Hall of Fame — just saying.)
As it turns out, second place is more than just okay. It’s freaking great.
the M A R K E T P L A C E
SERVICES
LUXURY TRAVEL WITH ROBERT ALTMAN
Collector Car & Truck
Private Travel Planner in Kawartha Lakes
Appraisals
MTO Appraisals & Vehicle, VIN/Ownership
Leave winter in your wake –
Corrections
Plan your escape now
Call Ron @ 705-878-2372. Please visit RJVintageGarage.com.
Available - Lindsay & Area
Tailored journeys by land and sea. Private, Group, or Corporate Retreat.
LAWN CARE SERVICES
robert.altman@ traveledge.com 647-966-8985
Better Bins
Silversea • Explora • Viking • Silversea * Quark
WANTED ANTIQUES
WANTED FOR RENT
CP Painting
Interior, Exterior & Decks Locally Owned
Wanted Antiques
Free Estimates
705-887-8868
Furniture, signs, jewellery, watches, coins china, military item ings, records, boo metal toys, wood d snow shoes, padd more
Bob Carruth
For Rent - 1 and 2 bed units from $1,800 & up Heat, hydro & water is included. Adult building in Lindsay Call 705-324-9381.
Furniture; jewellery boxes, costume, silver or gold jewellery; old watches; silver items; china; military items; silver & gold coins; books; records; old toys; decoys, collectibles, etc.
LAWN
Austin’s Tree Care
705-887-1672
We Buy Vintage...
Provides reliable tree pruning, tree removals, and quality hardwood firewood sold by face cord or brush cord.
Four Seasons • Accor • Marriott • Hilton * IHG
Reliable Moving Solutions to take the Stress out of Packing.
Vinyl Records, Comics, Jewellery, Glass, China, Pottery, Toys, Sports & Collectibles We Make House Calls Cash Paid
Robert & Penny
905-244-5943 austintreecare1@gmail.com
Burns’ Snow Removal & Lawn Care Ltd. Grass cutting, fertilizing, trimming, organic topsoil & fall cleanup Snow contracts available. Commercial & Residential Fully insured Call David E. Burns
705-324-8154
Plastic M s We
705-879-2569
betterbinrentals @outlook com
OCEAN CONTAINERS
New (one trip) 20’ and 40’ containers.
705-324-2699 howling ks
Classic & Vintage Cars & Trucks Call Mark 613-360-2699
McKenzie’s offers all aspects of outdoor maintenance interlock lift and re level fencing gutter cleaning lawncare snow removal
Burns’ Snow Removal & Lawn Care Ltd. Grass cutting, fertilizing, trimming, organic topsoil & spring clean-up.
Commercial & Residential Fully insured.
705-934-4333
David E. Burns 705-324-8154
Free estimates
10th Annual WRITERS CONTEST
Adult - Youth under 18
Prose 1500 words max Poetry Open
Lock boxes for added security; Extra vents for increased air flow; Used units also available.
Fences, Gates, Railings & Verandas
New wooden fence installation
Wooden fence repairs & staining
Ask about storage options. Call for pricing
Perfect post holes
We Buy Vintage... Vinyl Records, Comics, Jewellery, Glass, China, Pottery, Toys, Sports & Collectibles. We Make House Calls. Cash Paid.
McKenzie’s offers all aspects of outdoor maintenance
interlock
lift and re level
fencing
Deadline: April 19, 2026
Call Joan Forsythe for submission details.
Great quality, pricing & reliability
Robert & Penny. 705-324-2699 howlingdog.rocks
Jeff 647-722-0044
Stephen 647-927-1580
gutter cleaning
lawncare
snow removal
705-934-4333 Free estimates.
705-340-5253
joanforsythe@bell.net
OBITUARIES
Zarina Khodaija DeCambra
August 11, 1943 - February 25, 2026
Our beloved Mom, known also as Nani, Aunty Z, Bhabi, Apa, and Zarina or Z to many, embarked on her final adventure on February 25, 2026, leaving a legacy of joy, celebration, boundless love, and enduring strength.
Born August 11, 1943, in Calcutta, India, Zarina was adopted by Kasim Dupley and Julia O’Shea, who provided her an enchanted childhood. Even as partition forced her family to move in 1947 to Chittigong in what is now Bangladesh, thanks to her adoring parents she never lost sight of the beauty the world had to offer. This eye for the wonderful never wavered, helping her develop and maintain decades long friendships with her Loreto Convent boarding school sisters. It stayed even as the India-Pakistan war sent her first husband, Sohail Mansur, on dangerous flight missions while she looked after their two children, Khaled and Omita Mansur. Even through the loss of their third child, Abubakar, Zarina celebrated his memory by hanging a Christmas stocking every year. As 1971 ushered in yet another war, the Bangladesh War of Independence, Zarina did what she had always done, she stayed strong and positive, ensuring her children felt safe through great difficulty.
A few years after the war, with a brief stop in Malaysia, the family journeyed across continents and oceans to make a new home in Toronto, Canada, in 1975. A year later, fuelled by sweets from her first job in retail, Zarina gave birth to Ayesha Mansur (Gonsalves), their second daughter. Working her way up into management, Zarina’s final and most fulfilling job was at Culture Link, helping refugees and new immigrants settle in Canada.
In 1990 she married her second husband Dennis DeCambra, a solid, loving, and dependable soul, a widower at the time and father to Maria DeCambra (McDonald). A calmer life emerged allowing a passion for travel that she carried with her from childhood to blossom. Over the course of the last two decades, Zarina visited more than 15 countries and 30 cities.
Through her children’s marriages her family grew, and as she would say, we are all the wind beneath her wings. This included son-in-law’s Halsey Gonsalves and Stephen McDonald, daughter-in-law Maita Sayo, and beloved grand kiddos Aliyah Mansur and James McDonald.
In 2021, Zarina moved from Toronto to Lindsay into a warm and fun-loving multigenerational home. Four wonderful years were enjoyed before the loss of Dennis in May 2025, shortly followed by her own decline in health. Lung cancer trapped her spirit in a body struggling to breathe. She is now free to traverse the stars and be with all who she loved and who loved her.
We would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Ross Memorial Hospital and Peterborough Regional Health Centre, the palliative care team through Hospice Services, the PSWs and support team at Ontario Health at Home, and the amazing community of friends who have shown so much love and support to Zarina and our family.
SUSSIE NYAYE moved to Lindsay from Kitchener in May 2025.
Lindsay Advocate: Why did you choose to move here?
SUSSIE: I chose to move to Kawartha Lakes because of its peaceful environment, friendly community, and the opportunity to experience a smaller town lifestyle while continuing my work and personal growth in healthcare.
Lindsay Advocate: What is your favourite thing about Kawartha Lakes so far?
SUSSIE: My favourite thing about Kawartha Lakes so far is the welcoming community and the beautiful natural surroundings, especially the lakes and parks.
Lindsay Advocate: What are your favourite local restaurants or shops?
SUSSIE: I enjoy exploring local cafés and restaurants in Lindsay and supporting small businesses in the community.
Lindsay Advocate: What do you think is missing from Kawartha Lakes?
SUSSIE: It would be great to see more community programs and activities that bring people together and support newcomers.
Lindsay Advocate: How were you involved in your previous community and how might you like to get involved in Kawartha Lakes?
SUSSIE: In my previous community, I was involved in healthcare support and community activities. I would like to continue contributing by participating in community events and supporting health and wellness initiatives in Kawartha Lakes.
Are you new in town? If you moved to Kawartha Lakes within the past two years and want to be featured here, email us at info@lindsayadvocate.ca.
Photo: Sienna Frost.
