Local history series: Annie’s story
Women in Business Special Edition 2025
Do we celebrate women while undervaluing them?
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DAVE TURPLE President MIKE GALLAGHER Business Manager
Roderick Benns
Rebekah McCracken
Annie’s story reaches back into our local history.
Celebrating women in business and leadership.
Erica Ehm says it’s time to disrupt a system that still favours men.
to the editor 6 • benns’ belief 7
Please send editorial inquiries to Roderick Benns at roderick@lindsayadvocate.ca or 705-341-1496.
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Jabez ‘JB’ Bunting Whilte and Annie Eleanor Hugill. (See pg. 10 for story.)
to the editor
More conversations needed to combat racism
I read Roderick Benns’ column ‘Calling out the racism’ with interest, noting how very different our early life experiences have been.
I lived in the north end of Toronto from age 11 to 65 before moving to Fenelon Falls in 2016. As a professional recruiter who interacted with tens of thousands of IT professionals over a 36-year career, I was “colourblind” because employment opportunities and hiring decisions were based on merit. No other demographic factor mattered. Between 1992 and 2016, my Thornhill neighbourhood became one in which Caucasians, once the majority, had become a minority group. My last employer, an international consulting company, employed more Indians and Mexicans than any other nationality. In the GTA market for IT professionals after the year 2000, the numbers of Asian workers grew far faster than any other demographic. On a personal level, my girlfriend in the late 1970s was Japanese, and her family was a delight.
Racism seems only a problem when people become exposed to the unfamiliar at first. Benns is right. The best antidote for racism is to begin having more conversations with others. You are sure to discover, as we have, that they are all human beneath the skin.
— Gene Balfour, Fenelon Falls
Time to share small-town kindness with newcomers, too
I appreciated Roderick Benns’ column “Calling out the racism” in (Benns’ Belief, February Advocate.) I moved to this area 20 years ago from Kitchener-Waterloo, a much more ethnically diverse place even back then. Although I dearly love living in the small town of Lindsay, for many reasons I share his concerns about racism that I have heard, read online and observed towards recent newcomers – particularly those from India and Southeast Asia. It seems to come from a lack of lived experience. I agree with Benns’ challenge to start appropriate and organic conversations with strangers. Conversations lead to a feeling of “we are all in this together.” Small town Lindsay does this well with folks who seem “familiar.” Now it’s time to share that small town kindness with everyone who joins our community.
— Ruth Fallding, Lindsay
Racism column touched a cord
Racism has been such a huge part of my two older children’s lives and mine, then nine years later on my youngest daughter’s life as she circumvented the racism towards her. She was born in Toronto but birthright gave her no privilege or right. Once again I was excited to receive The Lindsay Advocate, February edition. I savour each column and article and treat myself each day to a new read, not wanting to read it all at one sitting.
The Benns’ Belief column entitled “Calling out the racism” touched a deep cord. This July will be our 50th anniversary as we arrived in Toronto as new immigrants. Racism touched our very core as adults and children. Scars that were deep and carried into adulthood and into being a senior. We have thankfully become stronger for it!
That is in the past and our life and future is now here in Lindsay. This year, 2025, will be our fourth anniversary of becoming Lindsayites! My experience has been nothing but positive. People in my path, as I walk everywhere, have been respectful, helpful, and a smile goes such a long way. Thank you, Lindsay.
— Zarina Decambra, Lindsay
A Festive Tradition: Lindsay Christmas House Tour on November 29, 2025 Call for homes
Have you ever, driven, or walked past some of Lindsay’s most aesthetically and architecturally-unique homes and wondered what delights in decor might grace their intriguing interiors?
For more than 30 years now, hospitable homeowners have been inviting the public into their charming homes, to admire their clever handiwork in making comfortable and attractive living spaces out of homes ancient and modern.
Organized by St. Paul’s Anglican Church, and under the auspices of the Kawartha Lakes Museum and & Archives, the Christmas House Tour has become an annual tradition for many long-time residents and visitors alike. It is something that kicks off “the most wonderful time of the year” in style.
Would you like to have your home featured on this year’s tour? For further info call Barb at 705-324-6257.
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. Simply email roderick@lindsayadvocate.ca. Keep your letters to 200 words or less.
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What happened to boys (and men)?
By Roderick Benns Publisher
As we celebrate International Women’s Day in March, it is not lost on me that boys are also in need of attention. And they have been for some time.
When I graduated from high school in Lindsay in the late 1980s, industry dotted the east ward of town. The wispy grey tendrils emanating from smokestacks were code for jobs, jobs, jobs. It was a time when we made things – lots of things. And no one benefited more from this than a certain subset of young men who were not bound for university. They may have chosen to go right into the workforce or do a short college certificate or diploma before finding themselves working at Union Carbide, Abex, Rosedale Plastics, or Fleetwood, among many other industries now long gone. Back then there were more pathways to stable, well-paying jobs without a university degree, particularly in trades and manufacturing. Boys who were less academically inclined still had clear vocational prospects. Today, the decline of these industries and the rise of the knowledge economy that places a premium on higher education leaves some boys disengaged.
But the evidence shows that even those boys who might be more academically inclined are still struggling to succeed at the level they once did. According to Universities Canada, women have outnumbered men in university enrollment since the early 2000s. Women receive approximately 59-61 per cent of university bachelor’s degrees whereas men earn about 39-41 per cent.
In Man Disconnected, a 2015 book by Philip Zimbardo and Nikita D. Coulombe, the authors explore how excessive engagement with video games and online adult content is impacting the development of young men. The authors argue that these digital distractions are contributing to a generation of boys who are increasingly disconnected
from real-world experiences, affecting their motivation, social skills, and academic performance.
Aside from the attraction of the screen, although key, there has also been a sea change in the way classrooms are set up. Now it’s all about collaborative learning, continuous assessment, and a stronger emphasis on language. Classrooms now often prioritize group projects, open discussions, and expressiveness. In the 1980s, teaching was generally more traditional, with a focus on individual work, rote memorization, and teacher-led instruction. The modern approach can be less accommodating to boys who might prefer hands-on or competitive activities.
The evidence shows that even those boys who might be more academically inclined are still struggling to succeed at the level they once did.
Another way school has changed, to the detriment of boys, is reduced recess and physical education time. Research shows that boys greatly benefit from physical activity to improve focus.
It’s also true that the teaching profession has seen a decline in male educators, especially at the primary level. Male role models in schools can positively influence boys’ engagement and attitudes toward learning.
In the end, we are talking about a core motivation that needs to be nurtured in boys. As the Man Disconnected book outlines, we must emphasize real-world interactions for boys, including mentorship, in this highly connected yet strangely isolating digital age.
Perhaps then we can reignite boys’ sense of purpose once again.
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Last fall, during a conversation about the Kawartha Lakes Moments and Memories project, a suggestion was made that I get in touch with Ellie White-MacNeil, who was known for her knowledge of her family’s local history. Contact was made with Ellie, and a meeting was arranged in Coboconk. We connected over our common interest in history, and details about her family’s early settlement in Victoria County were shared. One of the most prominent people she spoke of was her grandmother, Annie Eleanor White, whom she’s named after. Ellie shared of her family’s beginnings in England, where the Industrial Revolution was impacting the social and economic fabric of the land in the late 1700s and early 1800s as many previously labour-intensive tasks were becoming mechanized by steam or waterpower. Between 1815 and 1850, more than 800,000 people left England due to the scarcity of jobs
Annie’s story
By Laura Love
caused by industrialization. Many sought new opportunities in places like Canada. Annie’s grandfather, Joseph Hugill, was born in 1805 and was one of these emigrants who left looking for a better life for himself and the future of his children.
In 1844, feeling the pressures of industrial growth and seeking a fresh start, Joseph reached out to his brother-in-law, Richard Ruddock, who had emigrated with his family to Clarke Township, Durham County, Ontario in 1833. Joseph and his wife Ann Ward must have received suitable encouragement from Richard, as in 1845, they and their eight children left rural Yorkshire, England and made the long sea journey to Canada.
By 1871, the census records show William (Joseph’s oldest son), his wife Tamar Graham, their children and his two brothers, living on Lots 17 and 18, Concession 9 in Somerville Township, Victoria County, on what is now Hugill Road, north-east
Coboconk family’s rich history was impacted by Industrial Revolution
of Coboconk.
William eked out a living on the Four Mile Lake property. He and Tamar raised five children, including Annie Eleanor, who was born in 1869. In addition to improving the farm, he acted as host and guide to wealthy visitors from Toronto (including the Pellatt’s of Casa Loma fame) who came up for hunting and shooting expeditions. Ellie tells me of Annie’s childhood and growing up on the farm, gathering firewood, maintaining the stove and cleaning and preparing the birds that the hunters brought back.
Suddenly, we realize we’ve been chatting for hours.
A few weeks later, I’m invited into Ellie’s home, where her stories bring her family’s history to life. Through old papers and photographs, I’m introduced to her grandparents, Annie and Jabez Bunting (J.B.) White. Ellie suggests they likely met at church or school, as the White’s family farm neighboured the schoolhouse. The building was also used as the Methodist chapel on Sundays by itinerant preachers from Coboconk. Annie and J.B. were married on October 3, 1888, and their first son was born the next year in 1889, Edwin ‘Bersie’ Berson. Annie and J.B. lived with his parents on Lot 55 on Front Range Road (now 468 Baseline Road). The house still stands today. Not long after their marriage, J.B.’s father passed away, and J.B. inherited the responsibilities of the farm.
Below: Annie Eleanor Hugill,
J.B. and Annie welcomed their second child, a son, Roy in 1891. Sadly, within a month many families in the area were hit by an epidemic of diphtheria. Diphtheria, a disease caused by a bacterium which affects the lungs, heart and nerves, is now incredibly rare in Canada and other countries. Annie endured great personal loss. Both sons, Roy, age one month, and Edwin Berson, age two years, and three of Annie’s siblings all died within a month. The Christmas season of 1891 would have been incredibly tragic for the household and tight-knit community.
The White family grew again with the birth of their first daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, in 1892. In 1896, Vivian Lauretta was born on March 15.
Like his father-in-law, J.B. had an entrepreneurial spirit. He not only worked with Indigenous men who sold him ginseng, which he dried and shipped to New York City, he was also involved in grain harvesting and real estate in Brandon, Manitoba, often leaving Annie to take care of the children and to manage the farm alone. To my amazement Ellie produces letters written by Annie and J.B. during this time. The letters are captivating.
Left: Annie and JB with their children, Vivian, Elizabeth, William, David and Edward.
1956.
L to R- James Walter Hugill, Sarah Elizaebth Hugill and Annie Eleanor, 1874-75. Photograph by H. Fowler of Fenelon Falls.
Annie ran every acre of their farm in J.B.’s absence. She oversaw further farm improvements such as the “stumpers.” These men came to farms, set up wooden tripods and winched the stubborn stumps out of the ground to clear it for cropping. She would watch as over the years the stump fences grew and grew, forming an impenetrable barrier as the “line fences” delineating the farms. Annie would also prepare and drive the cattle to Kinmount to ship out. This would have required both physical endurance and a keen understanding of the animals. It was a task that many farm women of the time would have undertaken, showcasing their capability in the most practical and vital aspects of farm life.
While Annie kept the farm running smoothly, the growing family was an additional source of joy and responsibility. The birth of Willie in 1899, followed by David John in 1902 and Edward Basil in 1908, meant that Annie’s role as a mother only expanded. She was not just a caretaker of the farm, but a caretaker of her children, guiding them through life, teaching them the values of hard work, resilience, and perseverance, imparting the importance of the land, the cycles of nature, and the sense of community that came from sharing the labour of the farm.
In September 1905, Annie wrote to J.B. about the haying, mentioning they had already stacked 16 loads and stored additional hay for winter. She found it lonely and strange managing the farm with men working under her direction and J.B. not there. In October, she told J.B. she was busy churning and packing winter butter. There was never a still moment in the White house, whether Annie was tending to her garden, the
farm, the chickens, or the children, she always made time to embroider and to quilt and always observing Sunday as a day of rest. On Sundays, she would take her children to Sunday School and spend the afternoon relaxing, always with a grateful spirit.
After the tragic drowning of their two sons Willie and David on December 18, 1913, in a skating accident on Silver Lake, J.B. didn’t travel west again. One can only imagine the grief of Annie and J.B.
Together, J.B. and Annie continued working the farm and raising their surviving children Sarah, Vivian and Edward (Ed), who would later become Ellie’s father.
Annie’s devotion to the farm is well remembered by Ellie: “Grandma would crate the chickens up, put them onto the wagon, harness the team and drive 10 miles to Kinmount to ship the chicken out on the 2 o’clock train. It was a much shorter drive by buggy or wagon to take the milk to the train in Coboconk. She looked after the moving of the cattle from summer pasture back home to the farm for the winter.”
Annie endured further heartbreak on the death of her beloved husband J.B. in 1930, aged 66. At the time of his passing, their two daughters had already left home, and only their son, Ed, remained on the farm.
In 1934, Ed married his sweetheart, Lillian ‘Maud’ Fielder. Ed continued the farm work with Maud’s help, but his talents lay elsewhere. Meanwhile, Annie remained on the farm, happily taking on the role of caring for Ed and Maud’s children and tending to the garden. Ellie remembers walking with
The Hugill Log Cabin.
her grandmother through the farm. “As young children, we would walk the back lane with Grandma… Grandma would sit in the shade and teach us how to make a little basket out of a basswood leaf and we would fill it with wild strawberries, then make another leaf basket ...Soon we found we were picking berries in the shade. The sun was setting, and the trees were blocking its rays. Time to head home with our treasures. Grandma would gather up the corners of her apron, thus making another basket of sorts. We would fill this with our tiny basswood leaf baskets brimming with berries. We knew Mom would be so happy to see our offering for dessert.”
Despite the challenges life brought, Annie remained a cornerstone of her family, and her enduring strength helped shape the lives of those around her. She passed away in 1969, aged 99, closing a chapter on a life filled with resilience, love, and immense change.
“I can easily close my eyes and see Annie, on a Sunday afternoon, sitting by the sun-filled window, gently rocking in her rocking chair twiddling her thumbs, the hint of a contented smile on her face.” Ellie White-MacNeill. LA
This article would not have been made possible if it were not for the invaluable files, research, and photographs from the personal collections of Ellie White–MacNeil. The Kawartha Lakes Moment and Memories project records, shares and celebrates the intangible stories of our communities. For more information about this story, any other story, or to share your own, contact Laura Love at llove@kawarthalakes.ca or visit kawarthalakes.ca/en/business-growth/moments-and-memories.aspx.
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I started The Lindsay Advocate in 2017 to make a positive difference in my hometown of Kawartha Lakes. Then last summer, our small, independent team revived an all-local, traditional weekly newspaper — Kawartha Lakes Weekly.
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– Roderick Benns, Publisher
FIRESIDE PUBLISHING HOUSE FAMILY OF MAGAZINES
Ellie White-MacNeil.
Introducing The Mindful Move Method - a personalized, stepby- step system that takes the stress out of downsizing. From creating a customized plan to providing tailored support at every stage, this method ensures a smoother, more organized move with compassionate guidance along the way.
Come see me at the Kawartha Lakes Home & Cottage Show! REVEL Realty Booth | March 28–30, 2025 | Lindsay Fairgrounds
I’d love to meet you, hear about your goals, and see how The Mindful Move Method can help make your downsizing journey smoother, simpler, and more supported.
GRASSROOTS
folk & pop featuring artists from the 70’s and 80’s
March 23, 2025 • 2:30pm Cambridge St. United Church, Lindsay
Tickets $25, $10 for children 12 and under Purchase tickets at klsingers.ca, from choir members or at the door kawlakesingers@gmail.com
Plenty of events happening this month for Kawartha Lakes Pride
By Rylee Hynes Contributor
Advertise in the Kawartha Region’s premier publications: The Lindsay Advocate, Kawartha Social, and Play Stay Live. Connect with Darren at 705-991-3188 or darrenhoiting@outlook.com or Cara at 905-431-4638 or cara.baycroft@gmail.com
by the CFO for the Mark Doble Campaign
A scene from Pride in Fenelon Falls last year. This year, there will be more events in Lindsay, too.
As Kawartha Lakes Pride approaches its 10-year anniversary, we are pleased to announce new partnerships and initiatives. This year will be our biggest, proudest and best yet.
You can find us hosting monthly gatherings at Ampere’s Makerspace, located at 12 Peel St, Lindsay. Our first event will be held on March 21 from 7-9 p.m. Sahira, a long-time friend and trusted host will guide a community-oriented session to determine future events and opportunities.
KLP is also elated to announce our membership with the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce. Their support and unwavering commitment to diversity is nothing short of inspiring.
On Saturday, March 15, from 2-3 p.m., you can find a safe and inclusive queer experience at the Lindsay Public Library, 190 Kent St. W. Lindsay, for families with children from 0-12 years old. This ongoing event, Rainbow Story and Play, is held on the third Saturday of each month, hosted by Kawartha Lakes Public Libraries and Lindsay Midwives. Stay in the know and share any 2SLGBTQIA+ events to promote in our ongoing monthly article series with the Lindsay Advocate. All submissions can be sent to Kawartha LakesPride@gmail.com.
A newbie’s guide to making friends
By Aliyah Mansur Contributor
Community isn’t always the first thing on our to do list when moving to a new place. First there’s unpacking, adjusting to all the new sights and sounds around us, figuring out where to get our essentials, and getting settled into new routines. All these things take time and huge energy resources for just ourselves, let alone if the move is further complicated by those who need us to care for them, like kids, elderly parents, or a family member with chronic illness.
When I moved to the UK as a Canadian, everything was harder in ways I hadn’t thought it could be, even though I was in an English-speaking country. I expected it to be challenging but from day one even the simplest things presented a challenge. The first time I ordered a coffee in London the barista asked me if it was for sit-in or takeaway and my brain short-circuited. Silent, awkward seconds were passing. I was so used to being asked “for-here or to-go” in that context, she might as well have been speaking another language.
After the initial shock of just how different London was, I figured the best way to get through would be to make some friends and fast. Maybe they’d be able to give me recommendations for the best brand of dried pasta to get, the differences between Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose (all grocery stores) and overall help me translate my Canadianisms into Britishisms.
Making friends as an adult is hard, and without a job at that time I really didn’t have a place to go to meet people other than the big wide world outside my flat. So, I made a rule.
For at least six months I would say yes
to any social invitation, not something I would do naturally.
Moving within our own country certainly comes with more familiarity, but a lot of these difficulties can still be true of a more local move. In Saskatchewan a hoodie is called a bunnyhug and in Newfoundland instead of “wait there for me” they say, “stay where you’re at ‘til I comes where you’re to.” Even here, many people in smaller communities will have known each other since childhood, and it can be even harder to break into an already established group of friends.
The first time I ordered a coffee in London the barista asked me if it was for sit-in or takeaway and my brain short-circuited.
As a newcomer to Lindsay, I want to reach out to all fellow newbies in Kawartha Lakes. I know it’s hard, nerve-wracking, and sometimes it even feels embarrassing to try and make new grown-up friends. Especially these days, where everyone has limited time, and with no obvious evening hang-out spot in town, the conditions of our lives are not always conducive. But prioritizing friendships, in whatever small ways we can, is the life-line to building community in a new place. And if you’ve moved here in the past year or so, consider reaching out to us to share your story in our Newcomer feature on the last page of this very magazine.
Follow Aliyah on Instagram @bigyaps
WOMEN BUSINESS
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2025
SELF-CARE IS A COMMON NEED & THEME FOR BUSY LOCAL WOMEN
By Denise Waldron
Women in Business section is sponsored content.
Photos by Sienna Frost.
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, women’s workforce participation outside the home was minimal, primarily limited to roles such as teachers, nurses, and domestic servants.
In the 20th century, enormous growth increased in industrialized nations, employing women outside the home. Their positions were mostly limited to poorly paid or low-status jobs and they earned less pay than men for doing the same work.
A lack of higher education prevented women from accessing well-compensated positions and C-suite roles.
The employment market shifted in the 1900s. Women found office work that did not require heavy labour and gained education, allowing them opportunities for varied careers and higher wages.
These opportunities, though, weren’t free. Burnout may afflict high achievers. Long-term stress can cause emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion.
Accomplished women may find it difficult to balance their personal obligations, perform well at work, and uphold high standards. Some may juggle motherhood, struggling to maintain relationships and chores at home, and caring for older parents.
Stress is a fact of life. It’s perfectly healthy and can motivate us at moderate levels. However, over the long duration can cause stress burnout — which is a state of complete mental exhaustion.
Building a supportive network of friends or family can be helpful in managing these emotions and preventing burnout.
The topic of boundaries and stress management was a top concern for many of the women featured in this month’s issue of The Advocate.
Wards’ Lawyers emphasized the importance of mental health, managing
stress by prioritizing breaks, staying organized, and setting realistic goals.
Realtor Janet DiBello ensures balance by setting aside dedicated time. “I book self-care, time with family and making sure that that’s a priority.”
Other businesses, including Brock Built-in Specialist’s, close on Sundays for family time.
Gaby Gill of Bobcaygeon, says fitness was her salvation from a stressful time in her life. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back at those years, it definitely was my relief, my rescue, for sustaining my mental and physical capabilities.”
Gill has been a fitness and yoga instructor for more than 40 years — formerly teaching 18 classes a week at the Lindsay Recreation Complex and also running her own business out of Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon, Omemee and Kinmount.
She acknowledges, not all women have time to hit the gym or go to a fitness class. Breaking fitness into two 15-minute breaks throughout the day is fine too, noting, “you don’t have to do formal classes.”
When she was a single mother of two, Gill would get up at 5 a.m. and catch The 20 Minute Workout on TV. “Nowadays you have YouTube. That wasn’t the case when I started teaching.”
She offers a few sneaky tricks for getting in some stress relief, including taking the stairs instead of the elevator, eating lunch while walking and even a 10-minute High Intensity Interval Training workout.
Gill notes discipline is key for managing your stress through fitness. “I’m very lucky that I’m so disciplined because that’s really the word for it.” LA
The Canadian Mental Health Association offers some ideas to help cope with stress:
• Schedule brief breaks for yourself throughout the day.
• At the end of each day, set your priorities for the following day.
• Distinguish between work and personal life.
• Say “No” when necessary to establish boundaries.
• Take time to recharge.
• Practice self-awareness, for example, mindfulness meditation or cognitive-behavioral therapy.
• Reach out for support from friends and family.
— Denise Waldron is a feature writer for the Advocate and Kawartha Social magazine.
JANET DIBELLO Real Estate Broker
Q: How do you manage the demands of your business with your personal life?
A: This year I'm implementing time blocking and really trying my best to enforce those boundaries for myself, family and business.
Q: Describe your leadership style.
A: I like to push people outside of their comfort zone and get them to stop thinking about how they're going to be perceived and get them to do the things that are going to help close the gap from where they are, to where they want to be.
“I like to push people outside of their comfort zone and get them to stop thinking about how they're going to be perceived.”
Q: Do you have a mentor or a role model that was important to you?
A: In my early 20s, Wanda Burgshoeff took a shot with me and saw something I didn't. Sherry Peel of Bigley’s had ideas about how to go bigger. That's something I didn't realize was so valuable to me until I've started implementing that in my business.
Q: Your advice for young women entering your field?
A: Don't be afraid to ask questions and to ask for opportunities.
KELLY MURPHY Owner, Purple House & Care Crew Solutions
Q: How do you celebrate your work wins?
A: Staff bonuses, have fun gatherings, make gifts for clients, and celebrate all good things together.
Q: Do you have a passion project?
A: Purple House and Care Crew Solutions is my passion project. It's born from caring for my parents.
Q: Was there a specific moment when you knew you wanted to pursue this path?
A: The day I took my dad into the nursing home, I knew that there had to be more done for people with dementia.
Q: Any upcoming initiatives you're excited about?
A: Opening the supportive care home, Bob's Place after my dad.
Q: What legacy do you hope to leave?
A: Dignity, compassion, and lasting impact. To create meaningful change on how we care for our most vulnerable.
SIENNA FROST Owner, Frost Photos
Q: If you wrote a business book, what would it be titled?
A: The many hats of a business owner.
Q: What do you love about your business?
A: Capturing lifelong memories for people to cherish.
Q: What passion project would you like to tackle?
A: Creating a program for soon-to-be or new
JAMI JOY
Sales
representative, SRES
Royale Town and Country Realty Inc, Brokerage
Q: What's the tipping point that pushed you to start your business?
A: I was a hairdresser for 20 years, had my own salons. My body just told me I couldn't do it anymore.
Q: How do you navigate the technology in business?
A: The more time I'm behind my computer, the less time I'm with clients, so I have staff.
Q: What are your business glimmers?
A: Being able to change people's lives.
“I love being able to take people and help them navigate to a new beginning.”
Q: What do you love about your business?
A: I love being able to take people and help them navigate to a new beginning.
Q: Your ideas for redesigning how business works?
A: Bring back sitting down with clients instead of everything through email and technology.
Q: If you could do anything in your business without money being a factor, what would it be?
A: Our seniors and our homeless — those are the two things that really hurt my heart in this town and community.
LINDSAY
GRIFFIN-MESURE
+ ZOE
FRECH Owners, Great North Storage
Q: What sets your business apart?
A: Our facility stands out with enhanced security measures, hassle-free online booking, reliable indoor/outdoor lighting, a fully fenced perimeter with keypad access, exceptional customer service, and a strong commitment to community support and engagement.
Q: What advice would give a young woman new to business?
A: Ask and plan for what you want.
Q: Describe your leadership style.
LISA DOBSON Co-owner, Brock Built-In Specialists
Q: What is your proudest achievement in your business’s 50 years?
A: Our dedicated team includes two members with 37+ years — driving our growth.
Q: Who do you go to when you have good news about your business?
A: My dad, Ian Dobson, who started the business and my husband.
Q: What's one misconception people have about your industry?
A: People often buy systems from big box stores and juggle multiple apps. We offer integrated solutions for seamless control from one app.
brockbuiltin.ca
A: We inspire and empower our team, fostering collaboration while ensuring everyone understands their role within the organization.
greatnorthstorage.ca
ALICIA LAURIAULT, R.AC
Registered Acupuncturist | Owner & Clinical Director, Kawartha Holistic
Q: What inspired you to start this career?
A: Filling a gap in our busy medical system by offering alternative options. Acupuncture and herbal medicine work alongside conventional treatments to help people feel healthier and more balanced.
Q: What sets your business apart?
A: I combine traditional Chinese medicine methods with modern science. By incorporating neuroacupuncture and medical auricular therapy, I create personalized care plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Q: What advice would you give to women in business?
A: Trust yourself and your goals. Stay organized, be persistent, seek a mentor, and ask for help — it’s an important part of your growth.
Q: What is your proudest moment?
A: My proudest moments are seeing the positive changes in my patients’ lives— simply helping them feel like themselves again.
kawarthaholistic.ca • 705 878-0202
KATE WESTCOTT Owner/Designer, Kate Co Home
Q: How do you define success and has that definition evolved?
A: Originally it was to get the doors open and have people coming in. Success now to me is the fact I have followers. I talk to them all the time, I'm happy at what I'm doing, and I think that that gives me a very full heart and a feeling of gratitude.
Q: Has your background influenced your career?
A: I trained in fine art and worked for many years in home décor and paint, and this was a natural progression.
Q: How do you manage the demands of your business with your personal life?
A: I have a very understanding husband. He comes in and assists for certain builds or whatever, so we've worked together as a team.
katecohome.com • 705-880-5283
ANNE MARIE SINASAC Doctor of Audiology Lindsay Ear Clinic
Q: How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey and now?
A: At first, it was to have patients booked everyday. I’m thankful that has not been an issue since those early days.
“Now my definition of success is having a business that I enjoy coming to everyday.”
Q: What was the tipping point to start your business?
A: There were few audiology positions when I graduated. I worked in a few part-time positions before I took the leap to open my own clinics.
Q: How do you take care of your mental health while running a business?
A: Connecting with my family and friends and going for a walk outside, listening to a podcast, or music.
Q: What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter your field?
A: Volunteer or job shadow in audiology clinics. If they have a heart for helping people in this way, they will have a fulfilling career.
lindsayearclinic.com
Revel Realty Inc., Brokerage Kawartha Lakes
Q: Has your background or upbringing influenced your career choice?
A: I loved homes, home decor and wanted to help people get their new houses. But I also just loved seeing inside people’s houses.
Q: What qualities are important in a leader?
A: You need to be outgoing, friendly, and compassionate.
Q: Any upcoming projects or initiatives you're excited about?
A: The Cottage Life Show and then potentially opening up a new location in Peterborough.
Q: How do you mentor or support other women in business?
A: I treat everyone like family. I feel I empathize and encourage females to reach their goals, and am always there to help. We all need help at some point in our lives.
Q: Do you have any routines that help you stay productive and focused ?
A: I'm old school and like writing everything down on lists.
trishtodd.com
JENNIFER MABEE
CFP®, RRC®, CFDS Executive Financial Consultant Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
Q: If you could do anything in business without money being a factor, what would it be?
A: Teaching youth about financial planning. I love volunteering in schools because financial literacy is so important.
Q: What are you most proud of as an entrepreneur?
A: Our clients’ successes are our successes.
Q: Who would you have lunch with, if you could choose?
A: Canadian Olympian, Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser. She is inspiring, driven, passionate and compassionate.
Q: What inspired you to go into this line of work?
A: I loved investments at a young age. I also had my own business as a teen running a summer day camp for kids in my neighbourhood. So, I think the mix of entrepreneurship and finance together made sense.
Jennifer.Mabee@igpwm.ca 705.878.3530 x 6231
KARISSA
WARD, MELISSA WEMYSS, JESSICA BOLLA Management Team
Wards Lawyers
Q: Most important qualities in a leader?
A: Authenticity. Self-awareness. Resilience. Adaptability. Integrity. Accountability. Vision.
Q: What sets your business apart in the industry?
A: Our strong sense of community, authenticity, and innovation sets us apart. We are passionate about helping our clients and building longterm relationships in the community. We value the opportunity to provide strategic legal advice as trusted advisors through every life
“Our strong sense of community, authenticity, and innovation sets us apart.”
Q: How do you take care of your mental health while running a business?
A: Mental health is a priority. Personally, we manage stress by prioritizing breaks, staying organized, and setting realistic goals. As a firm, we actively support balance and well-being through encouraging open dialogue, delivering wellness initiatives inside the firm, and investing in a strong firm culture.
Q: Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re excited about?
A: Classics on Kent! This beloved event not only celebrates automotive history but will also raise funds for local charity, strengthening our commitment to giving
DEBORAH DIXON
Owner, Pawz and Company
Q: What are your glimmers?
A: Working with a reactive dog that is in desperate need, and we've made a breakthrough with them while they've been here for daycare, socializing — and to pass that on to the owners.
Q: Who is your mentor?
A: Veterinarian Dr. Kathleen Norman. We gravitated to each other personally and professionally. We think and treat the animals the same and we're after the same outcome.
Q: If you wrote a business book, what would the title be?
A: For the love of the animals.
Q: How do you mentor or support other women in business?
A: I try and do the same thing that Kathleen has done with me. Listen and then offer advice through my experiences and not tell them what to do.
pawzandcompany.com
GRACE FORBES + EMILY FORBES Entrepreneurs BÉS 57, Fenelon Falls
Q: Is there a misconception about your business?
A: Some think we’re expensive or just for young people, but we have something for everyonefashion, gifts, and novelties.
Q: What sets your business apart in the industry?
A: We source unique, sustainable, and womenowned brands, plus high-quality European fashion.
Q: What inspired you to start this business?
A: Our love for shopping and style started young, and when the chance to open a store on Fenelon’s Main Street came up, we jumped on it!
bes57.com
MICHELE KENNEDY CEO and Lead Designer Kenwood Drafting and Design
Q: If you could change your industry, what would you do?
A: Mandate buildings be designed to be healthy for occupants and our planet.
Q: How did you define success at the beginning of your business and now?
A: Initially, I thought success was wealth. Now, I believe success is our reputation; doing what makes this world a better place for all humans, animals and the environment.
Q: If you could do anything that didn't involve money, what would you do?
A: Design and build homes for the unhoused.
kenwooddrafting.ca
DR. JACKIE EVANS Dentist
Dentistry on Kent
Q: Your inspiration to get into this career?
A: My dad, Dr. Mark Evans. I saw how much his patients loved him and how much he loved his job.
Q: Advice for young women entering your field?
A: Work hard. Anything is possible and it’s rewarding.
Q: What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
A: I hope that my patients realize how much I love my job and that I've helped some of them overcome their fears or apprehensions about going to the dentist.
denistryonkent.com
CHANTEL LAWTON Lawyer, Kawartha Collaborative
Q: How do prioritize your mental health while running a business?
A: Self-care through meditation, setting clear boundaries between work and home, playing music, and staying connected with friends, family, colleagues, and community.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be?
A: My late grandfather, Orville Lawton. I’d love to hear his business insights. He recognized market shifts, moving from owning a country store to owning a school bus company.
Q: What are you most proud of as an entrepreneur?
A: I’m the only lawyer in my family and have successfully managed my solo practice for 23 years. I’ve adjusted when necessary while remaining true to my values.
Q: What’s one misconception about your industry?
A: Many think lawyers are like those on TV, solving everything in court within an hour. Most cases are resolved through negotiation and creativity, never reaching a courtroom.
chantellawton.com
TERESA JORDAN Executive Director Community Living Trent Highlands
Q: How do you celebrate your work wins?
A: I write things down. Every week I offer a Friday update. I often talk about my journey and I share it with all the staff. So certainly any triumphant occasions that have happened throughout the agency — I celebrate there.
Q: Do you have any routines that help you stay focused and productive?
A: I start every day really thinking about things that I'm grateful for, and take time away from my email.
Q: What qualities are most important in a leader?
A: They need to have a vision and be good at communicating that vision. Be willing to walk beside the teams and hear their feedback and ideas, and be willing then to move the marker based on their input and vision.
clth.ca
EMILY BEALL + SHANTAL INGRAM
Co-Executive Directors
United Way City of Kawartha Lakes
Q: What's the biggest challenge with the United Way right now?
A: Responding to community needs with the capacity we have.
Q: Upcoming projects you're excited about?
A: Collaborating with the Lindsay Chamber on projects including a silent auction at their Gala Awards and some summer events.
Q: What are you most proud of at the United Way?
A: Seeing Edwin Binney’s Community Farm go from an idea, to a full fledged working farm, and being able to give produce to many organizations.
ckl-unitedway.ca
JESSUP + DARA BERGERON Owners, Kindred Coffee Bar
Q: Misconceptions about your industry?
A: Many people assume because it’s a social environment, it’s not as challenging. It's fast paced and requires task, time, HR skills, and an eye for consistency and quality.
Q: How do you balance creativity and practicality?
A: We love testing new collaborations and offerings, but stay flexible and open to guest feedback and sales.
Q: Proudest business moment?
A: The New Business of the Year Award in 2024, and our second location in Bobcaygeon.
kindredcoffeebar.com
VICTORIA
Want to get a better “return” on your Return-To-Work practices? Prevention Link can work with the workplace parties to conduct an assessment and assist the parties in developing an effective RTW Program. Get started today by contacting Prevention Link at info@preventionlink.ca
This March Break, our branches are turning up the creativity with Make It! A week filled with hands-on crafts and interactive learning for kids of all ages. Running from March 8–15, 2025.
Featured Activities:
• Spikey Hedgehog – Use kid-friendly tools to build a wooden hedgehog.
• Jewellery Making – Design and craft custom accessories.
• Create a Case – Personalize a canvas bag for pencils, tech, or makeup.
• Boats That Float – Test materials to see which boats stay afloat.
• Candy Sushi – Roll up sweet treats using rice krispies and colourful candies.
• Clay Pot – Sculpt and decorate a pot with bright designs.
• Cookie Decorating – Get creative with icing and toppings.
Each location offers a selection of activities on different dates:
• Bethany: Jewellery Making, Spikey Hedgehog.
• Bobcaygeon: Cookie Decorating, Create a Case, Spikey Hedgehog, Jewellery Making, Candy Sushi, Boats That Float.
• Coboconk, Kirkfield, & Norland: Candy Sushi, Create a Case.
• Dalton, Dunsford, Kinmount, & Woodville: Boats That Float, Create a Case.
• Fenelon Falls & Oakwood: Boats That Float, Candy Sushi.
• Lindsay: Spikey Hedgehog, Jewellery Making, Clay Pots, Candy Sushi, Create a Case, Boats That Float.
• Little Britain & Omemee: Create a Case, Spikey Hedgehog.
With activities happening at every branch, families are encouraged to check their local library branch schedule for full event details. All sessions are free to attend, no registration is required. For a complete list of offerings, check out kawarthalakeslibrary.ca.
B is For Baby
Comic strip snore, in the U.S.
All-white cetacean
Young salamanders
Filling station fuels, to a Brit
Lazybones
Australian boot brand
Former TV "Dragon" Kevin 30 Provincial bird of Nova Scotia
Twitter posts
Advance gradually 38 Aykroyd/Belushi musical duo 41 Canadian jazz diva Diana
Cuts at an angle
"Hot" dish of Mexico 45 Earned after deductions 49 "The Racer's Edge" additive 50 Extra reward on a quiz, say
Wallin and Anderson 57 Radar's quaff on "M*A*S*H" 58 Economic cycle 62 Chum 63 '50s Ford flop
64 It comes straight from the heart? 65 Island in the Gaspésie 66 "I don't ___ respect" (Dangerfield quip)
67 Absorb, as gravy 68 Half of Cdn. postal codes
Garden party shelter 2 A lot to take in, visually
Rendezvous request 4 Wiarton Willie's mo. to appear
Chihuahua cheer 6 "Mea ___"
7 Challenge to ___ (fight like a knight)
8 Doesn't have a ___ stand on
9 "... one and ___ ..." (band leader's count)
10 Willy Wonka's creator Roald
11 Calculator of height and length, e.g.
12 Bad beginning?
13 "The Wasteland" poet's initials
19 Redblack's Ontarian foe, for short
21 Cake decorator's tool
24 "Animal Farm" penner
25 Science Guy Bill, et al.
27 There are three in goggles
28 Rip off, in politically incorrect slang
31 Lug like a sack of spuds
32 Reform Party co-founder Manning
34 Shoreline recession
35 Uno + due
36 Part of the U.S.S.R.: Abbr.
38 Babysitter's challenge
by Barbara Olson
39 "What'cha knowin'" addressee in "Feelin' Groovy"
40 Bills featuring Viola Desmond
41 Goldsmith's units: Abbr.
44 Irving Bacheller's "___ Holden"
46 Classy cravat clasp
47 Surround in a saintly glow
48 Past tense 2-pointers in Scrabble
51 ___ the hills (aged)
52 "Star Wars" home of Jar Jar Binks
53 Take by force
55 Mass agreement
56 Opposite of bueno
58 Say "pleeeease?"
59 Poem with "to a" in its title, often
60 Disco ___ of "The Simpsons"
61 Activate an iPhone icon
International
We celebrate women — but we still undervalue them, too.
By Erica Ehm
It’s hard to disagree with the fact that the tables are stacked against women in most arenas of life. Most of the domestic workload is shouldered by women, even though more than half of mothers with children at home also work full time. Yet, according to Statistics Canada, women are still earning 10-22 per cent less than their male counterparts — for the same job. How is this even legally possible?
A friend of mine holds a high-level government position, a role she balances alongside the relentless demands of motherhood. When COVID hit, it nearly broke her. During lockdown, the burden of domestic responsibilities fell on her shoulders while her husband continued working outside the home, undisturbed.
Overnight, she found herself with two full-time, essential jobs: managing a household full of children and attending back-to-back Zoom meetings, making critical decisions for the government. And yet, while her kids constantly interrupted her meetings — “Mom, I need help! Mom, I’m hungry! Mom, he shoved me!” — she watched her male colleagues remain undisturbed, their wives quietly delivering lunch in the background so their husbands could focus.
The stark reality was undeniable: her male counterparts had the luxury of undivided attention because they had wives. My friend needed a wife, too.
Here’s the irony of Women’s Day from my perspective. It’s the one day a year when a parade of accomplished women deliver inspirational speeches to rooms full of already
inspired women — about how we all need to be more inspiring. It’s an echo chamber. Talk about preaching to the choir.
Meanwhile, the people who hold the power to make meaningful change are nowhere in sight. It’s performative.
It’s not about men being bad; it’s the reality that when you’ve got a good thing going, why would you willingly disrupt a system that benefits you?
Here’s the kicker. Every year, event organizers, many of whom are women, reach out to accomplished women, eager to have them speak — except there’s often no budget.
The emails usually start with, “You’re so inspiring! Unfortunately, we can’t pay you.”
See the irony? The dark humour? The kind that makes you either laugh or cry.
The problem isn’t just individual men or women, it’s the system. Some call it the patriarchy, but let’s set labels aside
for a moment. It’s not about men being bad; it’s the reality that when you’ve got a good thing going, why would you willingly disrupt a system that benefits you?
So, how do we make International Women’s Day less weird? First, conversations need to happen daily, not relegated to once a year. More importantly, it’s ensuring men are in the room, listening to women’s experiences and recognizing the role they can play in gender equality. And that’s the real test, isn’t it? In The Good Guys, David G. Smith and W. Brad Johnson argue that true male allies aren’t just the ones who offer encouragement — they’re the ones willing to give something up. Real change happens when men support gender equality, not only when it’s convenient, but when it costs them power, privilege, or opportunity.
Otherwise, Women’s Day remains just another annual ritual — well-intentioned, but ultimately ineffective. LA
—
is
Erica Ehm
an entrepreneur and one of the original hosts of MuchMusic. She sits on the Flato Academy Theatre’s board of directors and is an occasional writer for Kawartha Lakes Weekly, Kawartha Social, and The Lindsay Advocate.
And now, for some good news
OK, things are bad. We’re in a trade war. The U.S. is pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord – again.
As well, 2024 was confirmed the hottest year ever recorded. The hottest in 50 million years, say those who study ice cores, ancient sea beds and the like.
We’ve watched the results of that extra heat. The Jasper fires. The GTA flash floods. The $3 billion Calgary hail storm. Quebec floods. And more recently, the horrific LA fires.
Weather disasters keep racking up billions in insured costs. In Canada, $8.5 billion in 2024 compared to less than half a million annually before 2009.
While it all sounds bleak, there’s also good news on the environmental front.
• We’re speeding into the age of clean electricity, thanks to plummeting costs and surging production of batteries and solar panels. “Low-emissions sources are set to generate more than half of the world’s electricity before 2030,” says the annual World Energy Outlook report released in December. We’re already at 30 per cent.
• Investments in clean energy were almost double the investments in fossil fuel projects last year.
• China’s carbon dioxide pollution is expected to peak this year, thanks in part to all their electric cars, buses and trucks.
• The UK shuttered its last coal-fired power plant last year.
• Amazon deforestation is slowing.
• Chicago is now powering its 400 municipal buildings with renewables, including 98 fire stations and two international airports. It’s among hundreds of cities with net-zero emissions targets, including Toronto, Hamilton and Guelph.
• Businesses like IKEA are slashing pollution while growing profits.
• Here at home, Canada’s climate efforts are starting to pay off. Emissions fell 6.4% in 2022 and a further 7.1% in 2023.
• Canada’s largest battery energy storage facility is set to open this year in southern Ontario.
• Kawartha Lakes began urban compost collection this year. That should mean less methane leaking from landfills.
• Sixteen northern Ontario First Nations are ditching their dirty diesel power and connecting to the grid, with federal support.
• Admittedly, we have a monumental task to reach net-zero global pollution by 2050. Emissions are still notching upward. The transformation to clean energy needs to accelerate, but more work is underway.
• MethaneSAT will be fully operating this year. The satellite tracks methane leaks in oil and gas production areas, so industry and governments can focus on plugging those leaks. Natural gas (mostly methane) is a much more potent global warming gas than carbon dioxide in the short term. Shutting off those leaks could quickly begin to slow warming.
• People everywhere are coming together to support climate progress. And 160 Ontario faith leaders recently spoke out against the province’s Highway 413 project and cycle lane bans because of their climate and environmental impacts. There are also relatively new groups like For Our Kids, Seniors for Climate Action Now (SCAN) and Fridays for Futures, among many others, working for the climate.
What can we do? Remember that every fraction of a degree of warming matters. Every action matters. Every vote matters. Since there’s strength in numbers, consider joining an interest group. SCAN has a Kawartha chapter. There’s For Our Grandchildren in Peterborough.
While we’re seeing setbacks, the trajectory is clear, says Simon Stiell, head of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change. “The world is undergoing an energy transition that is unstoppable. LA
Helping hands: The Women’s Institute in Kawartha Lakes
A group of elegantly attired women assemble in a large meeting hall and begin to set up chairs for the evening’s proceedings. The well-trod floorboards re-echo with the din of footsteps as more women enter the hall and take their places. They vary in age, in denomination, and in political persuasion – but each of them is committed to the cause of making their community, their province, and their country a better place. Conversation abounds about the issues of pressing public interest: suffrage, economic relief, the war. Recipes for cookies, cakes and canned pickles are exchanged. Minutes are read from an imposing-looking ledger book that has been trotted out for longer than anyone can recall. The evening wraps up with the singing of God Save The King.
Scenes of this kind played out across the many Women’s Institute (W.I.) halls that once dotted our municipality. Founded in 1897 by Adelaide Hoodless, a social and educational reformer from the Brantford area, the W.I. was and remains an important organization in not only Ontario but also New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere in the Commonwealth.
Given the W.I.’s prominence in the life and culture of towns and villages across Ontario, it would surely take a book to do justice to its history and impact here in Kawartha Lakes. Be that as it may, primary source material abounds and offers us a glimpse into what various branches of the
W.I. were up to in this area 70 to 100 years ago. Their meetings were documented in meticulous detail, and where they didn’t make the front-page news they nevertheless took up a great deal of column space.
Turning back the clock to March 1955, we would find some 225 members of the Cambray W.I. assembling in the basement of St. Paul’s United Church to mark their 50th anniversary. “The tea table was laid with white linen tablecloth with the three-tier birthday cake in the centre, cut glass candelabras with yellow candles, two beautiful arrangements of daffodils, hyacinth and huckleberry, (and) two silver tea services,” reported the group’s correspondent in the local paper.
There was indeed much to celebrate. In 1911, the group had spearheaded efforts to clean up and beautify the nearby Eden Church burying grounds. A few years later, the Cambray W.I. was kept busy in supporting the Red Cross and its wartime work overseas. And Cambray’s library and community hall, respectively, had benefited over the ensuing decades from the financial assistance provided by the W.I. “Help has always been given to anyone in need in our community, always remembering the sick and shut-ins,” said Mrs. A.E. Tamblyn, one of the branch’s past presidents. “Our Institute has always adapted itself to changing needs of changing times,” Tamblyn continued.
Above: Members of the East Victoria District W.I. gather for their annual convention in Omemee, mid-1950s. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (Lindsay) archives.
Right: This commemorative plate depicts the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless homestead, built ca. 1831, the birthplace of the founder of Women’s Institutes. A gift of the North Emily W.I., it now resides in the Kawartha Lakes Artifact Collection.
Two decades before, the Sunderland W.I. was hosting a dance in support of its efforts to make southwestern Victoria County a happier place – and happiness was certainly something in short supply during those dark days of economic depression. Feb. 27, 1935, saw throngs of eager residents flood the Sunderland Township Hall for an evening of euchre followed by dancing to the strains of music provided by Wilson’s Merrymakers, an Oshawa-based orchestra. In addition to providing sumptuous refreshments for attendees that evening, the Sunderland W.I. also raffled off a quilt, bringing in $24.70 in ticket sales (almost $540 in 2025 dollars) for its work in the community.
Ten years prior to that, the Lindsay W.I. was keeping busy with several civic projects. Meeting in the Kiwanis Hall during the spring of 1925 under the leadership of its president, Mrs. Brass, the Lindsay branch decided to commit itself to a tag sale on April 25 that year in support of the isolation hospital (a facility opened in 1918 to
treat victims of the influenza epidemic, funded in a large part by the W.I.). Thanks to the cooperation of Mayor Graham and the local council, the Lindsay W.I. tag day raised $282, which went towards equipping the facility – still in use even after the worst of the epidemic had come to pass.
Almost 130 years on from their inception, Women’s Institutes continue to play an important role in the life of the province, not least here in Kawartha Lakes.
Sandra Thurston has been a member of the North Emily W.I. since 1974, some 16 years after it was formed and began meeting in a hall once occupied by the Loyal Orange Lodge. “North Emily W.I. is one of two branches in Victoria West District,” Thurston points out, with Lorneville-Argyle being the other branch. “As a District we combine our forces and annually donate to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Kawartha Lakes Food Source, and the three local high schools.”
Although Thurston acknowledges that changing times have taken a toll on the membership of the W.I., she remains optimistic about what the future holds for this storied institution. “Recently I had inquiries from three young women in their twenties,” says Thurston. “They moved into our community last summer and expressed an interest in joining W.I. so they could meet their neighbours! Isn’t that food for thought!”
For more information about the North Emily W.I., please contact Valerie Knights, its vice-president and secretary at vknights@yahoo.com. LA
Victoria County Women’s Institute Rally, Fenelon Falls, July 9, 1908. Maryboro Lodge Collection.
Federal election: Are you a betting man or woman?
By Trevor Hutchinson Contributing Editor
I bet you this will get interesting. I occasionally like to make the odd wager. It’s usually a sports bet, and most likely hockey or international football (soccer). Because a wise person once told me never bet more than you can afford to lose, my bets are usually in the toonie range. During good times, my bets have been known to rise as high as a pint of beer.
I have allegedly bet on many Leaf and Argos games for years. Before 2021, it was technically illegal to bet on a single sport result in Canada. So hypothetically, if I bet on a single Leafs’ game before 2021, I would have been breaking the law. As if getting your heart broken every year wasn’t enough, one would have been committing a crime by placing and losing a single bet.
I’ve been thinking about wagering because of the timeline of writing this monthly column. Generally, this column is due by the middle of the previous month of the publishing date. Writing on something that will be current at the date of publication takes some prognostication. And writing about something that may happen mid-month is even more risky.
For example, there is a good chance that a federal election will be called this month, after the Liberal leadership convention which finishes on March 9. Every pundit will be opining on this. But thanks to the increased presence of gambling in our society, we can look at the betting odds for the election.
According to one betting house,
there is a 52 per cent chance that an election will be called between now and March 31. There is a further 25 per cent chance that the election is called between April 1 and May 31. So I’m going to go out on a limb and say the election will be called this month. I wish I could bet everyone a toonie on this, but alas this will have to be one single bet if I can find a taker.
As to who will win the coming federal election, this has been getting interesting. For months, the Conservatives have been wide favourites. But with the resignation of the prime minister, Mark Carney (there’s another toonie!) and events with the USA have shortened the odds in the Liberals’ favour. The Conservatives are of course still the overwhelming favourite, but some ‘smart money’ is now going on the Liberals, if only because that bet pays so well.
According to one betting house, there is a 52 per cent chance that an election will be called between now and March 31.
It may seem flippant to think of the results of an election like one would think of a basketball game. But there’s a chance these betting lines are just a weighted average of the bias of all media and are as valid as any talking head. And maybe I just like losing but for the moment I’m just happy that there is a democracy that I can bet on.
LOCAL SERVICES & OFFERINGS
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Grief: The Elephant in the Room
CCCKL Hospice Services is delighted to welcome the Hospice Peterborough What Now? Podcast team of palliative and bereavement healthcare professionals Julie Brown, Red Keating, and David Kennedy to an evening of information about living life with grief. Doors open at 6:00PM Thursday, March 20th, 2025, 6:30PM - 8:30PM
333 Kent St Lindsay 368 Angeline St S. Lindsay
HARSH VADHANANI moved to Lindsay to study at Fleming College’s Frost Campus in September 2023.
Lindsay Advocate: Why did you choose to move to here?
HARSH VADHANANI: Because I am studying at Fleming College’s Frost Campus, specifically the Environmental Land Management program. One of the key topics we focus on is urban and land use planning. It’s about balancing development with nature, ensuring that communities grow in a way that is sustainable and benefits both people and wildlife. We learn how to plan cities and rural areas in ways that reduce pollution, manage water resources, and protect green spaces.
Lindsay Advocate: What is your favourite thing about Kawartha Lakes so far?
HARSH VADHANANI: The environment, nature, peace, and the people. Kawartha Lakes is known for its beautiful natural environment, peaceful atmosphere, and friendliness. The strong sense of community and the focus on environmental conservation also make it a wonderful place to be.
Lindsay Advocate: What are your favourite local restaurants or shops?
HARSH VADHANANI: Mary Brown’s Chicken.
Lindsay Advocate: What do you think is missing from Kawartha Lakes?
HARSH VADHANANI: Entertainment. While Kawartha Lakes has some entertainment options like bars, live music, and seasonal events, the variety is not as broad as in larger cities. Adding more entertainment options — such as more
live performances, cultural events, or recreational activities — could make the region even better, especially for younger residents and visitors.
Lindsay Advocate: How were you involved in your previous community and how might you like to get involved in Kawartha Lakes?
HARSH VADHANANI: As a student advocate at Frost Campus, I want to promote both student well-being and environmental sustainability. I aim to support eco-friendly initiatives like waste reduction, green projects, and sustainable campus policies, encouraging students to take action for a greener future.
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.
I’ve sponsored two free public skates: Sunday March 9th - 2:15pm-3:15pm and Thursday March 13th - 10:15am-11:15am at the Lindsay Recreation Complex. Please visit www.kawarthalakes.ca/skate to learn more!
