Fleming students in turmoil as college makes deep cuts to programs
Wanted: Young doctors to call Kawartha Lakes home
Hundreds of short-term rentals still in noncompliance with city
As your locally owned clinic for almost three decades, Lindsay Ear is dedicated to serving Kawartha Lakes and Bobcaygeon. Our audiologists provide personalized solutions for hearing issues, vertigo, tinnitus, and advanced earwax concerns. Being independent allows us to prioritize your well-being with cutting-edge hearing aid technologies.
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Cover image: L to R, medical students Jeremy Penn, Sam Murray, Mahnoor Malik. Photo: Sienna Frost.
Please send editorial inquiries to Roderick Benns at roderick@lindsayadvocate.ca or by calling 705-341-1496.
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Dr. Stuart Bothwell encourages medical students to call Kawartha Lakes home. Photo: Sienna Frost.
If they get to know us, will new doctors consider rural life?
Short-term rental registrations off to slow start.
In 1855, The Lindsay Advocate was the very first newspaper in town. Now, more than a century and a half later, we have been proud to carry on that tradition in our city since 2018. As your local ‘paper of record‘ in magazine format, we take this responsibility seriously. Thank you for putting your trust in us as we work with you to strengthen our community.
Regarding the May editorial (Flato investments have helped community, May Advocate), it is not because Flato has attained prominence that it faces criticism but because it has a pattern of making large donations to organizations for naming rights to increase its visibility for what looks like trying to obtain favourable treatment from the communities and their governments.
No one objects to naming buildings after prominent people who have given selflessly over their lifetime to their community. For example, A Place Called Home shelter being named after Dom Fox, a prominent businessman recognized posthumously for his decades of contribution to this community, is a case in point. Same for our hospital being named by James Ross in memory of his parents, John and Mary Ross. These naming rights were given with no expected benefit for the named individuals other than preserving their legacy. Flato appears to be expecting a benefit. That is why its name on three Lindsay entities is met with resentment. This is not about capitalism but about respecting those that deserve it, not just those with money.
It is somewhat self-serving that your editorial would defend the Flato naming rights. The Advocate stands much to gain from the substantial advertising in its pages.
— Peter Petrosoniak, LindsayWe anticipated this response from a handful of community members, which is why we didn’t write this editorial until Flato’s advertising had nearly come to a close, three years after it began. With their advertising ending this summer, there is — and never was — any pressure on us to write such an editorial.
— The Advocate“A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.”
— Marshall McLuhanSend us your thoughts to be featured here!
Somehow it came as no surprise that the first editorial to be written in The Lindsay Advocate about Flato Developments would be in defence of Shakir Rehmatullah’s philanthropic largesse in the community.
While this magazine is not a recipient of Rehmatullah’s philanthropy, Flato advertising has been the most prominent feature of the back page for many years. Rehmatullah had much to gain from spreading a few million dollars around prior to gaining any permissions or permits to build in Kawartha Lakes. I mean, how can you say no to a guy who already has his name on public buildings in the city?
The rezoning of prime agricultural land on the east of Lindsay was not by an act of council but through a Ministerial Zoning Order. Ultimately, it was Rehmatullah’s friends at Queen’s Park who paved the way for this development.
— Brian Walsh, CameronNot to be rude, but the advertising in your publication would help with this editorial on Flato? (Flato investments have helped community, May Advocate) They are developers – for profit. The donations work to their advantage. Anyone who thinks they don’t is a tad naïve.
— Suzanne Alden, Kawartha LakesYou say, “The donations work to their advantage.” On behalf of the FLATO Academy Theatre, their donations also work to our advantage. Our partnership provides an essential annual investment in the theatre, something we desperately need. If you don’t like this developer, or any other developer, investing in the theatre, perhaps you could recommend some other businesses who would step up to support us. There’s always room for more.
—Craig Metcalf, General Manager, Flato Academy Theatre
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.
“Question Everything,” was the headline of Trevor Hutchinson’s last article in the May Advocate. It’s great advice! He described the attitudes and characteristics of people born between 1965 and 1980 – Generation X. My generation, the baby boomers, preceded Gen X, and I believe ours was the most fortunate in Canadian history.
I have been skeptical of so many news stories, “expert” claims and political promises that I lost count long ago. The internet has made Canadians of every generation digitally connected – especially the post-boomer cohort. Many are drawn to echo chambers of like-minded people who share stories and claims from their favourite information sources, usually to bolster their pre-existing beliefs.
My 92-year-old mother-in-law still receives the Toronto Star and watches cable news daily. Years ago, I abandoned cable news and sources of legacy journalism for a wide range of web sites, podcasts and digital news sources that I have come to trust over time. I seek a 360-degree perspective on topics and tap into my trusted information sources to compare, contrast, validate or reject popular narratives circulating in our communities.
It’s a great time to be alive if you live by Hutchinson’s dictum to question everything and take advantage of the extraordinary resources on the internet.
— Gene Balfour, Fenelon Falls
(Re: Social services plan laid out to support those in need over the next four years, online Advocate.)
If reliable transportation is a problem, why is not something being done about it? There was more transportation in Lindsay in the 1950s than now. There are no buses or transit to Toronto, Oshawa GO, or Peterborough. Why is this issue not being addressed by our council? More homes are being built and development continues with less and less services being addressed. Social services are fine, but we need services not just for these residents but our own senior citizens who are paying increased taxes and getting little value back.
— Dale Gillespie, Kawartha Lakes
Strawberry suppers have long been a much-anticipated highlight of the June calendar in Kawartha Lakes – and two are coming up this month. The 35th annual Strawberry and Salad supper is taking place at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Lindsay, on June 20. Sittings run between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., and tickets must be purchased in advance. They cost $20 for adults, $8 for children aged 5-12, and are available in the church hall between 9 a.m. to Noon Tuesday through Thursday. For more information, call 705-324-4666. More strawberries can be enjoyed on June 26 at the Valentia Church and Community Centre’s perennially-popular Strawberry, Ham & Salad supper. Sittings take place at 4:45 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, and tickets likewise must be purchased in advance. Call Barb at 705-340-1099 for more information.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Kawartha Haliburton has for several decades played a crucial role in ensuring that local youth can live up to their full potential, while reducing or avoiding the perils of becoming trapped in cycles of poverty, crime, and mental illness. Trained staff at the agency screen volunteer mentors and match them with young people having similar interests. Through a variety of programs, at-risk youth develop and build self-esteem and self-confidence, and are supported in mental wellness and in the development of leadership and life skills. But faced with a declining volunteer base and without ongoing funding, BBBS is at risk of having to close its doors. As such, organizers are asking anyone interested in making a difference in the lives of local youth to consider becoming a volunteer. Call 705-324-6800 or visit kawarthalakes.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca for more info.
For 134 years, the Sisters of St. Joseph have ministered to the Lindsay community through education and outreach. Many longtime residents will remember the old convent operated by the Sisters on Russell Street West, in which Fleming College’s Lindsay campus had its origins and in which many young people took music lessons. Even after the convent was demolished and the music school closed, the Sisters continued to serve the parish of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in various capacities. In 2024, the order will be pulling up stakes in Lindsay and the one Sister still residing in Lindsay will be relocating to the Mount St. Joseph convent in Peterborough. A special presentation will be taking place during the 11 a.m. service at St. Mary’s Church on Sunday June 9, followed by a reception. All are welcome to attend.
St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Lindsay, recently received federal funding to describe, rehouse, and increase access to the parish’s vast collection of archival materials. Parishioners Lorna Green and Barbara Truax joined archivist Ian McKechnie to launch the project in mid-May. This project has been made possible in part by the Documentary Heritage Communities Program offered by Library and Archives Canada.
Got news in your village? Email Ian McKechnie, city editor, at advocatecityeditor@gmail.com
Birdhouse Realty helped out four local charities recently with the Birdhouse Legacy Fund.
With every completed transaction by the realty team, agents contribute $50 to the fund, which is matched by the brokerage. This year, more than $16,000 was raised and then split equally among four local charities and non profits. The four organizations were Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kawartha Lakes & Haliburton (pictured), Kawartha Lakes Food Source, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes and Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
Members of the Filipino community who have settled in this area will find a network of more than 80 members in the Kawartha Lakes Filipino-Canadian Association. A charitable, not-for-profit organization, the association assists new immigrants in navigating the challenges of settling in a new country –and also organizes a variety of social and recreational functions for the Filipino diaspora that foster friendships and build relationships. The association is looking forward to marking the 126th anniversary of Philippine independence this year through traditional Filipino cuisine and local Filipino talent, on June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Ramada Inn. Learn more by joining the “Kawartha Lakes Filipino-Canadian Association” group on Facebook.
Alan Gregory
Barb Taylor
Bill & Heather Peter
Bob & Carol Barkwell
Bruce + Debbie Peck
Cam Finley
Catherine Hennings
Christine Wilson
Cordula Winkelaar
David + Margaret Robertson
David Holloway
Deborah Smith
Donna Gushue + Jim Buchanan
Eileen MacDonald
Elke Danziger
Glenda Morris
Grace King
Hannah Marnoch
Heather Muir
Ivory Conover
Jack Kyle
Jane Walling
Janet Smith
Jean Wood
Jim Buchanan
Joan Shippel
John + Pauline Hunter
Lauren Drew
Leslie King
Linda Friend
Lorna Green
Marci Stainton
Maria Bennett
Marie-France Leclerc
Margaret Anthony
Marnie Nelles
Maurice + Marie Jackson
Mieke Schipper
Mike & Cathy Puffer
Nanci Byer
Neil Campbell
Nora Steffler
Norman & Molly Feldman/Swan
Patti Siegel
Paul Skipworth
Peter + Kathy Anderson
Peter + Sandra MacArthur
Ron + Claudie Chartrand
Ross & Susan Beattie
Sandra Scott
Shirley Gleeson
Susan Ferguson
Tegan Osmond
Wayne & Cathy Alldred
William Steffler
Zita Devan
Go to lindsayadvocate.ca and choose Support Us or contact 705-341-1496 or roderick@lindsayadvocate.ca.
Thank you for your support!
A few months ago, some international news headlines shared recent data on the world’s happiest countries. Not to my surprise, the top four happiest nations on earth are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden – and Norway was seventh.
These are social democratic nations. They believe in free enterprise (think of companies like Bluetooth, Skype, Spotify, Nokia, or Minecraft) and yet they also believe in taking care of each other. The results are societies where wealth is being created by the private sector and yet there is a fairer distribution of that bounty through many social benefits.
This means that services such as child benefits, parental leave, health services and hospitals are all funded to a much better degree than in Canada.
But what about those awful taxes over there, ask North Americans, who drink from the well of American political discourse. Well, as the headline above says, the happiest countries pay more taxes. But admittedly that’s a bit of wink-wink click bait on my part.
Ana Partanen, the Finnish author of The Nordic Theory of Everything who experienced life in the U.S. when she moved there, shows that the U.S. pays more, gets less, and faces more risk than the Nordic countries. That’s because when you add up all the taxation in the U.S., including hidden taxes, and costs of childcare, senior care, and education, it’s an apples and oranges comparison.
In addition to their taxation belief, the U.S. also loves to talk about how free they are. As Partanen writes, “In the U.S., the absence of a social welfare system actually reduces our freedom, not only by limiting our choices based on
our family origins, but also by putting the burden of duties like health care and education on our social ties. How does it make sense that your health care depends on a partner or your education on your imperfect, mortal parents, and how do we call that freedom?”
For the record, Canada was 15th in the happiness index – and yet nine years ago we were fifth. We are dropping the ball on our once credible healthcare system (despite the awesome caregivers who work in it), other than a glimmer of hope pushed by the federal NDP on pharmacare and dentalcare. But what premier is doing the work to create a seamless, patient-centred health-
Ana Partanen, the Finnish author of The Nordic Theory of Everything who experienced life in the U.S. when she moved there, shows that the U.S. pays more, gets less, and faces more risk than the Nordic countries.
care experience? No one.
As well, this country’s housing situation has been an abject failure across party lines over decades. Increasing inequality has also been rearing its head here for too long. Is it any wonder happiness levels are decreasing, just from these three significant issues?
It’s time for our political leaders to make us all happier. As a citizen, I’d get behind all of them jumping on a plane and spending a week in Helsinki or Copenhagen if they could just take some notes and then actually find the courage to implement the successful prac-
In a recent decision that has sent shockwaves through the community, Fleming College has suspended 15 programs from Lindsay’s Frost Campus, alone, citing the cap on international students as the main cause. While the college claims that current students won’t be affected and will be able to complete their programs, the reality is far more complex.
What about the impact on students who were planning to enroll in these now-suspended programs? Many of them had carefully chosen their paths, hoping to gain valuable skills and qualifications. What about those students who were planning to take related courses, to augment their professional learning, as our feature story in this issue outlines?
As well, the loss of these programs affects not only students but also the broader community. Fleming plays a crucial role in supplying skilled professionals to local businesses and industries. Employers rely on graduates from these programs to fill essential roles. With the suspension of programs like Fish and Wildlife Technology and Urban Forestry, the pipeline of skilled workers has been severely disrupted. This ripple effect harms the local economy and hinders growth.
The blame game is easy on this one – and there’s lots to go around. The college’s claim that the federal cap on international students and the elimination of educational private partnerships are solely responsible for the budgetary pressures is oversimplified. And yet the Ontario government – especially compared to its provincial peers – has been underfunding colleges for years. Although this media outlet is decidedly pro-immigration, the federal government should have known better than to allow so many international students in with a housing market on the brink of crisis. It’s a disservice to those students and it has played a major role in this post-secondary turmoil.
Fleming College’s program cuts have indeed affected students’ lives, contrary to the college’s assurances. Our students deserve better, and our community depends on it. It’s time for colleges and both levels of government to figure out a funding solution.
Brad Bird, of Birdhouse Realty, John Fox, owner of Boston Pizza, Lindsay, Kyle Hussey, of Waste Logix Inc (award accepted by his mother), Linden Mackey, owner of Mackey Funeral Home Inc. and Mackey Celebrations, Marlene Morrison Nicholls of Stewart Morrison Insurance, and Anthony and Carlo Polito, from Polito Ford Lincoln and Kawartha Lakes Honda, were all recently inducted into the Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario hall of fame. Photo: Sienna Frost.
If I had a few more lifetimes, and climate change weren’t wreaking havoc all around, I might visit captivating faraway destinations. But in this lifetime, I’m too enchanted with Canada, and too aware of how much more of our astonishing country I have yet to see. (Yes, I realize that travel within Canada involves emitting carbon whether I’m flying, driving or taking a ferry or train.)
So many Canadians head south year after year, but never bother to experience other provinces. A surprising number of local people have never visited Montreal or even Ottawa. Travel in Canada means supporting Canadian communities and businesses. I like spending my travel dollars in places that don’t trample the rights of women and LGBTQ+ folks, or where autocratic regimes skim profits from a population in poverty.
Mostly, though, I’m just head-over-heels about the incredible country we share. I have seen such beauty, enjoyed so many friendly conversations and learned so much. Canada would benefit enormously from more of us travelling here at home, gleaning greater understanding of our similarities and respect for our differences as we do.
I never cease to be amazed that we get to live in a country where I can stand in a Saskatchewan grassland and not hear a single human-made sound, watch waves crash into Newfoundland cliffs, walk Quebec City’s stone ramparts, and sit transfixed at a Kwakwaka’wakw dance on a B.C. island, all without once pulling out my passport. I’ve visited every province, most more than once, and every time, I come away aware of how much there is still to explore — not to mention the three territories that I haven’t even started on.
Travelling in Canada strengthens our country, sure, but I daresay it’s made me a better person. The joy it’s brought me? That’s purely selfish.
— Nancy Payne is a regular contributor to the Advocate.
I would like to think I’m a patriotic Canadian but to be honest I haven’t taken the opportunity to travel outside of Ontario or Quebec. With limited vacation time and resources, most of my holidays thus far have been to tropical destinations where my days are filled with snorkelling, beach walks and exotic culinary delights.
Travelling south in the winter offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and, let’s be real, a week off from shovelling snow. The sound of crashing waves, warm sand beneath my toes, and the gentle ocean breeze creates a calming recharge that is next to none. It’s my happy place.
In contrast, Canadian travel might involve more active planning, which can be invigorating but much less relaxing, in my book. Opting for an all-inclusive package to a tropical climate featuring luxurious amenities, gourmet dining and the promise of a seamless getaway is too hard to pass up.
There is also something magical about climbing the Mayan ruins in Mexico, exploring the lush rainforests in Costa Rica or sailing on a catamaran off the coast of Cuba, that make you feel more connected to the wider world. I have always been intrigued with the vibrant traditions and customs of countries to our south. Some of my favourite memories of trips past are wandering through villages and experiencing such warm hospitality. Embracing the unfamiliar and engaging in conversations with the locals is highly recommended. You will meet some of the friendliest and kindest people and most likely head home with a beautiful piece of their handcrafted jewelry or unique trinket.
And while my passport hasn’t opened since pre-COVID, I’ll be dreaming about my next venture south, full of vitamin D, new experiences, and maybe even a cerveza or two.
— Rebekah McCracken is the editor of the Advocate.
‘I am stuck in this position of taking programs I didn’t want to do at all.’
By Geoff Coleman
On April 24, Fleming College announced the suspension of a staggering 15 programs at Lindsay’s Frost Campus for admission in fall of 2024, leaving only 13 courses on offer.
It was a trickledown decision after the federal government created a new cap for international students with a 35 per cent reduction. This, after data increasingly showed the impact growing numbers of international students were having on an already tight housing market, along with high interest rates.
According to college President Maureen Adamson, the cancelled courses were dropped because “some have low projected domestic enrollment, others have zero projected domestic enrollment, and other programs are no longer financially sustainable with enrollment levels that do not cover the cost of delivery.”
She went on to say that “no current students are affected by these decisions.”
However, that statement would be contested by students who have stepped forward to the Advocate to tell their story. It is not unusual for a student to change their courses after finding the first year wasn’t exactly what they were hoping for. So, if a student decided to switch from one course to another prior to April 24, they now might not have classes
to attend in the fall.
Several programs marketed at a Fleming College open house just prior to the announcements, such as the Fish and Wildlife Technologist postgraduate program, Urban Forestry program, and Environmental Technician program, were among those cancelled.
Additionally, Fleming usually offers post graduate courses that give students a further designation – an upgrade from technician to technologist, for example. Some students had finished a two-year course, and were already accepted into the separate, one-year program when they learned the extra course was cancelled.
That was the case for Emily Wakeham who made an impassioned deposition last month in front of a Kawartha Lakes Committee of the Whole meeting, looking for support from the City to somehow stay the execution of Frost Campus courses.
Wakeham learned she was accepted to her chosen program on March 1, and on April 26 was told the course was cancelled. “My plan was to continue here for another year to take the Environmental Technology program, the continuation of the technician diploma. However, the program was suspended after my acceptance. I never would have come
to Fleming if I had known I wouldn’t be able to take a third year.”
Along with the notice of course suspension she was offered admittance to Advanced Water Systems Operations and Management. However, “that program has no relevance to the one I was accepted to, nor does it offer any certifications that I did not already attain from my completed Environmental Technician program.”
Owen McIsaac is a part-time student who had planned on moving on to Ecosystem Management Technology after finishing the technician course. “There really isn’t any other program like it and it would have provided the means necessary to excel in my field. When it was cancelled, my backup was to go into Urban Forestry but that was also suspended.”
He says his “only option at the college” is Forestry Techniques which is much
more expensive and not oriented specifically toward what he wanted to do. “I don’t see switching colleges as feasible for personal reasons, so I am stuck in this position of taking programs I didn’t want to do at all.”
Even students who chose to attend other schools in the province that run these suspended classes, face the stress of last-minute applications and sudden additional expenses. And they need to find a place to live, which creates a whole new set of problems.
Allen Kwan was enrolled in the Conservation Enforcement Law course when it was canned. He was offered admission to the Border Security program instead. “I planned on renting the same room in Lindsay and continuing to work as the head bartender at Frost. When I got the notice of cancellation I applied to Natural Resources Law at Sault College.”
While Fleming lost Kwan as a student, he is now working at the fire management headquarters in Sioux Lookout for the summer. “I have to drive 12 hours to Sault Ste. Marie just to look at rooms.”
Already having a place to live doesn’t mean you are free of problems Fleming student Suzanne Mooser explains. “I was planning on returning to the Environmental Technology program, so I actually signed a year-long lease and moved into that house already. I know everyone I’m living with, as well as many other people in the (now-suspended) technology programs are in the same boat.”
Another student who didn’t want to be identified says, “the housing crisis affects everyone. Every student knows you must act fast and secure housing early in the year for the following school year. I waited as long as
I could to re-sign my lease. Especially since we were all led to believe that everything would run as normal for the following school year. That is $7,000 gone in rent if I cannot find another female student to take over my lease. I am not sure who has that kind of money to throw away.” Not to mention the hassle of physically moving.
Colleges are certainly facing their own monetary challenges. Partly in response to Laurentian University’s financial collapse, the Ontario government in 2023 assembled a panel of experts to provide the minister of Colleges and Universities with advice and recommendations to ensure the longterm financial sustainability of Ontario’s publicly assisted post-secondary schools.
In terms of funding, they found that college nominal operating grants have risen from $6,615 per student in 2008 to $7,365 in 2021. That’s about an 11 per cent increase in 13 years, so government funding versus the pace of inflation
is certainly an issue. In fact, that $7,365 figure amounts to only 44 per cent of what provincial grants provide on average in the rest of Canada.
A new set of financial challenges appeared in 2019 when Ontario first reduced domestic student tuition by 10 per cent, and then imposed a cost freeze that continues today. Unable to raise the price of admission, colleges looked to other sources of revenue. The panel leaned into an auditor general’s value-for-money audit of Ontario’s public colleges that noted, “as a consequence of the low level of provincial funding, colleges are increasingly reliant on international students’ tuition fees to remain financially sustainable.” Nowhere was that more severe than in Ontario, where underfunding to colleges has been a longstanding issue. These temporary measures will be in place for two years, and the number of new study permit applications for 2025 will be reassessed at the end of this year.
There is also a misalignment between international graduates and the needs of the Canadian economy. From 20182023, 27 per cent of international students enrolled in business or marketing related courses. Only 5 per cent took Health Sciences, and a meagre 1.25 per cent chose Trades/ Vocational courses.
For their part, faculty and support staff are disappointed in the college’s unwillingness to find alternative solutions to program cuts.
In a joint response, Liz Mathewson (president of the faculty OPSEU Local 352) and Marcia Steeves (president of the support staff Local 351) said, “With such high turnover being experienced in administrative roles in the past few years, the knowledge and expertise of our programs rests with the faculty and staff which leadership is not acknowledging, nor utilizing to seek solutions. You only need to look back to 2020 when the college responded to COVID and
Tuition costs per semester for fall 2024
Conservation Biology
Domestic Tuition
$3,696.37 per semester
International Tuition
$9,644.35 per semester
Aquaculture
Domestic Tuition
$4,467.15 per semester
International Tuition
$11,024.3 per semester
Resource Drilling Technician
Domestic Tuition
$2,235.75 per semester
International Tuition
$8,731.71 per semester
successfully transformed the college experience as a result of a transparent and collaborative approach led by the expertise of both faculty and support staff.”
They also pointed out that because of previous cuts, 42 course suspensions have now been issued in the last 12 months. Despite language in both collective agreements that address lay-offs and involuntary transfers, they expect employment instability.
But the ones with the most to lose remain the young people facing an uncertain future. Emily Wakeham summed up the student situation succinctly saying, “This has completely interrupted our educational careers. And, these sudden changes have affected students in other ways as well. We have signed year-long leases, turned down job prospects, and haven’t applied to other programs as our assumption was that our acceptances would be honoured by the college.” LA
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In July 2022 Kim Hutchinson Lewis’ daughter, Myrella, was diagnosed with Burkitts, a very aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The young child had a good prognosis but the treatment she was going to endure was very intense.
The Lewis family lives in Kawartha Lakes and due to the nature of Myrella’s treatment, they needed to be close to Sick Kids Hospital. Luckily, they were able to stay at a Ronald McDonald House (RMH) located just a few blocks away for the six months they needed to be in Toronto.
That’s the reason McHappy Day exists – to raise funds for families across Canada in similar situations. Every year on that day, a portion of the proceeds from each meal served at McDonalds is donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities. RMHC has set up houses worldwide for children and families who need them.
This year marks the 30th McHappy Day held in Canada and the 50th anniversary of Ronald McDonald House Charities. In 2023 McDonalds locations in Lindsay and Beaverton raised $10,700 on McHappy Day. This year, more than $17,000 was raised, according to Tanvi Bhatt, co-owner along with her husband Neal, of the two restaurants.
That support means a lot to people like the Lewis’. They are just one of the many families that have been helped by McHappy Day and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“When you are going through something so shocking and devastating, Ronald McDonald House is a magical place. There are people who understand what you’re going through. There is fun for the kids, events, resources, and meals generously made by volunteers,” says Hutchinson Lewis.
The staff at RMH work hard to make the families feel welcome in any way possible and try to make life a little easier during their stay. The little things were what really made Myrella and her family’s stay special.
“Now that she is doing well, my daughter often asks to go back, and although we never want to have to use it again, we miss it. I think that is a testament to how wonderful the house truly is.”
“My daughter could only eat Zoodles at one time, and they would make sure the pantry was well stocked with cans in the pop top style so we could also take it to the hospital. They put meals away for us when we weren’t going to be there at dinner time, they always had a smile and never forgot a name,” says Hutchinson Lewis.
Myrella’s treatment was successful and she is doing much better now. Her and her family were able to go back to their home though they sometimes miss RMH.
“Now that she is doing well, my daughter often asks to go back, and although we never want to have to use it again, we miss it. I think that is a testament to how wonderful the house truly is,” says Hutchinson Lewis.
“McHappy Day is a long-standing Canadian tradition and is the heart of who we are and what we do at McDonald’s Canada. For us, we are extremely proud to have partnered with RMHC to help support children and families in our community. Doing good is very important to us as citizens of our community and as a business owner,” Tanvi Bhatt told the Advocate. In an average year with the support from Canadians on McHappy Day, RMCH is able to keep 26,000 families with sick children from over 3,400 Canadian communities in a house near a children’s hospital.
“McHappy Day has always been an admirable cause, but it has certainly taken on more meaning for our family since we had to use the Ronald McDonald House. It is truly a magical place,” says Hutchinson Lewis.
University of Toronto School of Medicine students at The Pie Eyed Monk in Lindsay. Photo: Sienna Frost.
“I grew up on a farm in Huron County and I know the importance of rural medicine,” says Sam Murray, a second-year University of Toronto School of Medicine student, and one of the senior student executive organizers of ‘Rural Medicine Experience Day,’ held at Ross Memorial Hospital recently.
Murray was one of 42 first and second year University of Toronto (U. of T.) Faculty of Medicine students who came to Lindsay to be exposed to and learn about the opportunities within rural medicine. The event was the result of an organized partnership between the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative (KLHCI), the Ross Memorial Hospital (RMH) and the Rural Medicine Interest Group at the Faculty of Medicine at U. of T.
“Exposing medical students to a rural lifestyle and practice early in their medical school training encourages them to explore rural training opportunities throughout medical school and residency,” explains Cindy Snider, recruitment and retention coordinator at KLHCI.
Events like these are just one part of KLCHI’s effort to recruit and retain doctors in Kawartha Lakes. The non-profit, charitable organization’s mission is to create a healthier community by recruiting, supporting and retaining family doctors in the area.
Since its establishment in 2004, the organization has recruited 41 doctors to the community.
Most local residents, either through personal or community experience, are aware of local doctor shortages, at least anecdotally. But according to Ontario’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Sylvia Jones, the retention and recruitment of doctors in the province is “not a major concern.” Her comments were made recently at the ongoing arbitration case with the province and the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) which represents over 43,000 physicians and medical students in the province.
The data from every source would seem to contradict the minister’s assertion. The Ontario College of Family Physicians estimates that by 2026 more than four million people, or one out of every four Ontarians, will be without a family physician. More than 2,500 physicians are needed right now in Ontario (according to HealthForceOntario) and population growth, retirement rates among doctors and other systemic funding issues will only increase the strain on the healthcare system.
And for those living in a rural area like Kawartha Lakes, the news may be even more dire. While 22 per cent of Canadians live in a rural area, fewer than 10 per cent of physicians and
two per cent of specialists work in these areas, according to the Canadian Health Workforce Network. Furthermore, only 11 per cent of medical students come from rural or remote areas, making future doctors like Murray in the minority. This all results in what experts in the field refer to as maldistribution of physicians, with rural areas having substantially less access to medical care than urban areas.
Now, KLHCI is actively recruiting for an additional 15-18 positions and forecasts a future need, because of retirement and population growth, of an additional 15 positions. Ross Memorial Hospital is currently recruiting for five specialist positions and has constant openings for emergency room and specialist positions. Therefore KLHCI, RMH and its partners must find a way, in a very competitive recruitment environment, to recruit almost as many doctors as the KLCHI has recruited in the last 20 years. This reality makes events like the ‘Rural Medicine Experience Day’ all the more crucial from a future recruitment perspective.
The RMH clearly supports these efforts as evidenced by the participation of several staff members at the recent event. The students got well-received hands-on instruction in suturing, dermatology and wound care by Doctors Dawn Reid and Naomi Nicholson and 40-year RMH veteran and infection prevention and control consultant Leanne Harding, RN, respectively.
Second year med student Mahnoor Malik commended the workshops, noting that, “It was great to get hands-on practice for these skills as they are very prevalent in all specialties. It was also really helpful when the workshop leads would provide anecdotes on how the skills are used differently in rural/urban settings.”
The difference between rural and urban medicine, both in terms of the skills doctors must employ and the difference in quality of life as a rural doctor were some of the key highlights of both the hands-on sessions and a lunchtime panel discussion with the students by Doctors Stuart Bothwell, Sara-Lynn Francis and Bruno Helt.
All of the doctors on the panel spoke to the possibilities of a better work-life balance and the collegial sense of community that comes with living and working in a smaller community.
These discussions clearly resonated with students like Malik who commented that, “These are things I am definitely considering. Medicine is a challenging field that has a lot of uncertainty, and it is important to me that I pursue a specialty where physicians help to support each other and manage the challenges that come with the profession. It is also important for me to have a good work-life balance as that ensures my own well-being is maintained as well as that of my patients.”
Co-senior student executive organizer of the event Jeremy
Penn agreed that work-life balance is an important consideration when mapping out a career. “I had not considered it or weighed (rural medicine) as seriously as working in an urban setting. I’ve spent time in rural communities so (the idea of rural medicine) was never a stretch for me, but I did grow up in downtown Toronto,” he says.
“Medicine is infinitely stressful. Balancing that with a more relaxed way of living is definitely something to consider,” he adds.
Beyond the quality of life discussions throughout the day, several participating doctors spoke to the inherent differences between practicing rural and urban medicine.
Dr. Dawn Reid, for example, spoke to how a certain type of serious injury might require an amputation in a rural setting, where access to specialists is more time-delayed than in an urban setting.
Those challenges, however, are ones to be embraced according to Doctors Francis and Helt and provide exciting on-thejob learning opportunities that one might not get in an urban
setting with immediate access to specialists. Francis spoke to the unique learning opportunities from practicing in remote Labrador.
Helt summed up these opportunities by telling the students “you use your brains more in a rural hospital.”
Some of the panel discussion veered into the more systemic challenges of the current doctor shortage. Telemedicine was discussed both as a useful team tool in certain medical situations and as an inferior option to in-person primary care.
Available modes of practice (the arrangement of how a doctor is employed and gets paid, from solo fee-for service, family health teams, hospitalists, etc.) in the area were raised by the students.
While not specifically discussed at the event, the lack of coverage by the province for administration and operating expenses in fee-for-service models is one of the key reasons many family doctors are leaving their practice, according to the OMA. A recent fee increase by the province to private practitioners will result, after taxes and administration costs, to an additional $12 a day for doctors, according to a recent press release by the OMA.
So, while some challenges of doctor recruitment and retention lie with higher levels of government and funding and policy, it’s clear that events like the ‘Rural Medicine Experience Day’ are crucial to future doctor recruitment and retention strategies.
Doctors aren’t the only need when it comes to healthcare. The Ontario government estimates that this province will require more than 33,000 additional nurses and nearly 51,000 extra personal support workers by 2032 — numbers that it attempted to conceal but were acquired by The Canadian Press.
As Murray commented, “I think through our initial conversations with students following the event it definitely helped give students a new perspective on what the world of rural medicine looks like and how their future careers (can) integrate rural practice. A few students commented to me that they were certainly more interested in rural medicine after the event. I think if nothing else we got the wheels turning in student’s heads about the opportunities available to practice rural medicine.” LA
What messages do today’s teens have the potential to share? Given the chance, infinite ideas. That’s according to Artemis Chartier, retired high school teacher and co-founder of a free songwriting program which ran in Durham from 2003-2020. For 18 years, after caring mentors offered nocost songwriting workshops and safe creative spaces for young writers, Chartier and program co-founder, Dale Russell, also organized free, annual song contests.
This tradition continues with the launch of a new free songwriting program for local students: The Kawartha Lakes Alliance of Singer-Songwriters (KLASS). Chartier has been visiting area schools this spring, encouraging teens in their
melodic and lyrical self-expression. Although she believes that the main prize for any contestant will always be the new friendships and connections that youth can form, awards for this first KLASS contest will also include: $500 from the Kawartha Art Gallery (KAG), a new acoustic guitar from Bob Connors, a studio recording or music video from Artemis Music, and a chance to open for stellar singer-songwriters at KAG’s new Music Series this fall.
To enter, Kawartha Lakes residents aged 10-18 can send lyrics, a cell phone recording of their original song, and an entry form to klassongwriters@gmail.com by midnight on August 15, 2024. Young people retain full ownership of their entries and copyright (creative rights) will be safeguarded throughout the process. Another positive outcome of entering up to two songs in this contest will be private, written feedback offered to each entrant on what professional musicians most appreciated about their song(s). For more information and entry forms, write to Chartier at klassongwriters@gmail.com.
From plays to performances, there’s no shortage of entertainment in 2024
By Keely Ross
The Academy Theatre has been busy with shows already this year. Since January they’ve presented The Trews, Big Sugar, Choir! Choir! Choir! and more. For the rest of 2024, they have 17 acts booked that you can look forward to. They typically host three different kinds of performances – tribute bands, community shows, and in-house productions called Academy Theatre Presents (ATPs).
“Over the next year you can expect everything from Pink Martini to 54-40 to Tom Cochrane. Check our website and social channels for the upcoming announcement of our season featuring over 20 artists,” says Craig Metcalf, general manager of the theatre.
Kawartha Lakes theatres are packed full of exciting performances for their audiences this summer. The Advocate connected with the Flato Academy Theatre in Lindsay, the oldest theatre in the city, Globus Theatre near Bobcaygeon – which has produced more than 150 professional productions - and the newest stage of the group, The Grove Theatre in Fenelon Falls, to see what’s happening.
Here’s just a snapshot of what to expect.
Over at Globus, they’ve got quite the lineup of entertainment planned.
Some shows you can look forward to in June are: The Dating Game, and a live version of the popular sports podcast, This Day in Sports.
During the summer you can head over to see one of the many shows they’re producing like Where You Are, Bond, James Bond: The Songs of 007, Who Killed the King, and The Ladies Foursome.
“I am excited to see The Dating Game since it has a wonderful cast starring resident funny couple Sarah Quick and James Barrett, alongside two-time Dora award winner Lisa Horner and the hilarious Matthew Oliver. I’m also excited to see what is in store for This Day in Sports since it’s the first time it will be taking the stage,” says Rebecca Bloom, general manager at Globus Theatre.
flatoacademytheatre.com
2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay (705) 324-9111
globustheatre.com
2300 Pigeon Lake Rd, Bobcaygeon (705) 738-2037
This open-air theatre has lots booked for this season.
The Grove will be producing the famous Broadway musical Into the Woods. They will also feature four musical tribute shows – A Tribute to Carole King, A Tribute to Elton John, A Tribute to Dolly Parton, and A Tribute to ABBA.
“I am most excited to see Into the Woods come to life in our gorgeous outdoor amphitheatre. We have brought together an incredibly talented group of professional musical theatre artists from across Canada. I know that this will be a magical, exciting evening of theatre. I can’t wait to see it,” says Christy Yael, artistic director at Grove Theatre.
They will also be launching a summer drama camp Program for kids and teens ages 5 - 15. They will be running four weeks of camp. At the end of each week there will be a performance on the Grove Theatre stage for families to attend.
“We are so thrilled to be launching this program this year, and we know that this is only the beginning of the many programs the Grove will create to support youth in Kawartha Lakes,” says Yael.
Over the next few months renovations are taking over the stage of this Lindsay based theatre. Productions will resume in the fall. Make sure to head over there upon their reopening to see some of the amazing performances they have planned.
grovetheatre.ca
27 Veterans Way, Fenelon Falls (705) 887-7937
lindsaylittletheatre.com
55 George St. W., Lindsay (705) 880-2445
According to data provided to council by Aaron Sloan, manager of licensing and municipal law enforcement, more than 800 identified short-term rental (STR) accommodations were still unlicensed as of press time.
Sloan told council in a recent committee of the whole meeting that there are 814 identified STRs in the city, with more being added on a weekly basis. So far, the bylaw department has managed to approve and license only 100 of them for the upcoming cottage season. An additional 300 properties are in the process of being approved. Four hundred more STRs, almost 50 per cent of those identified by bylaw and their third-party vendor, Granicus, have made no move to even begin the paperwork necessary to get their properties licensed.
Many councillors found these numbers very concerning and Sloan had to answer a number of pointed questions about why the registration numbers are so low and why the process set up by bylaw is taking so long.
Deputy Mayor Charlie McDonald, whose portfolio this year includes monitoring the implementation of the STR bylaw, wondered what the status is of the 300 who have processed their applications but are awaiting some kind of final inspection or approval to move forward. He also wondered if they could rent their space out while awaiting that paperwork.
“In the messaging that we have put out they would technically be in violation of the program,” Sloan said. “We want to be… flexible and… they should not be renting during the application review process. We know (renting) is happening. It is more important to us to get through the application process and get the properties registered.”
McDonald said the increased numbers of new staff the city was prepared to hire for long weekend monitoring should be for every long weekend, not just some.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Kawartha Lakes Police Service (KLPS) have also been contacted for assistance during the busy season.
Councillor Pat Warren wanted to know why “it was taking forever for some STR owners to get approval” and that without approval and a legal ability to operate, many STR owners are turning away rentals they would rather take.
Sloan told Warren that what was once an eight-week approval process is now down to four weeks, and some with all the appropriate inspections already done are being approved in seven days.
“What are we going to do about the bad actors who haven’t registered and probably are not going to register?” Warren asked.
Sloan said those individuals would face enforcement, demerit points and eventually legal action and court.
“We will escalate the legal process,” Sloan said.
Councillor Dan Joyce picked up on Warren’s point about non-compliance in the registration process.
“We expected a five to ten per cent non-compliance rate,” Joyce said. “How can you give demerit points to someone who doesn’t have a license in the first place?”
“We knew this (non-compliance) was going to happen,” Sloan said. “These will eventually end up in court. We are already visiting places that have outright refused to reply. We are quite prepared to draw these individuals into the legal system.”
Councillor Mike Perry asked Sloan specifically about enforcement, particularly over the evening hours and on weekends when the majority of calls for bylaw services have come in the past.
Sloan said his staff only work until 6:30 in the evening, and that this year they are contemplating officers being available until 1 a.m. on long weekends. Sloan cited contract commitments between the city and his staff as a limiting factor in officers being available to report to more calls after dark.
Perry expressed his disappointment with the scenario Sloan laid out, and said that as it stands the situation for those plagued by problem STRs may not see a significant improvement over last summer.
A written deputation, entered into record at the same meeting from concerned citizen Randy Burke, laid out why so many Kawartha Lakes STR owners seem to be boycotting the program for the time being.
Burke told council that the bylaw was unnecessary considering the number of complaints received by the city last summer, and that the bylaw infringed on the rights of local property owners to do with their properties what they wished.
“Addressing concerns about the bad behaviours of a small percentage of (people) who use short-term rentals does not justify reaching into private homes of responsible tax-paying people,” Burke said.
“Those of us who rent out space in our private property depend on the revenue from that to live our lives,” Burke continued. “You have reached into our personal lives and messed with a revenue stream that is very important to us. We deeply and profoundly resent that.”
Burke said the overwhelming majority of municipalities in Ontario do not have rules governing STR rentals, and he is very concerned that this new bylaw will not be good for economic activity in Kawartha Lakes.
“We, and the vast majority of private property owners, do not need the municipality reaching into our private homes to dictate to us what we can and cannot do with them,” Burke said.
LA
In a partnership with Trent University’s Community Research Centre, The Lindsay Advocate has been working with the International Development Studies Department. This partnership has allowed two students to research Lindsay and the basic income pilot by talking to community members and leaders to continue the conversation in a two-part series. This opinion piece is part one of two in the series.
In 2017, Lindsay became the site of a groundbreaking experiment — the Ontario Basic Income Pilot Program. Designed to assess the impact of providing unconditional cash transfers to residents, regardless of employment status, the program aimed to address poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment. Despite the early cancellation by the newly elected provincial government, the pilot’s effects were positive across the board.
“ODSP
all goes in one day. After bills and groceries you’re broke and scrambling,
there’s nothing to spare. If there’s an emergency, you have to borrow.”
At the core of the basic income pilot program was the goal of providing financial stability to participants. By offering a guaranteed income, it aimed to alleviate the stress of financial insecurity and empower individuals to pursue their goals. It also served as a potential alternative or support to the traditional social assistance programs such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works. Unlike those social programs, the pilot puts money directly into participants’ hands which enabled them to cover expenses and plan for the future. The pilot program gave recipients a new sense of independence. Many recipients echoed the feeling that social services can often feel infantilizing, as these programs pay recipients necessities, such as housing and they are left with the remainder, which is not much.
Dana Bowman, a past recipient of the basic income pilot program, shares her experience with both ODSP and basic income.
“ODSP all goes in one day. After bills and groceries you’re broke and scrambling, there’s nothing to spare. If there’s an emergency, you have to borrow. That cushion from basic income that was given without a clawback means if your tires
blow on your car or the transmission goes, you are able to get it looked at to get your repairs done. The program gave me the financial independence to make my own decisions. It gave me dignity. It gave me independence. I could manage my own money and that was taken away from me.”
The theme of agency is something that came up with all the participants interviewed, especially in relation to food choices. Kawartha Lakes is considered to be one of the most food insecure areas in Ontario. Household food insecurity was reported to be approximately 13 per cent in 2019. The Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition’s Food Security Working Group has been actively working to address the underlying causes of poverty and food insecurity by advocating for income-based solutions, including a basic income guarantee. Food security, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization, is achieved when all people have consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for an active and healthy life.
The Basic Income Pilot provided recipients with some relief regarding their food related stresses. Heather Kirby, the executive director of Kawartha Lakes Food Source, said there was a significant dip in food bank visits during the basic income pilot. Overall, the number of clients decreased during the pilot as participants were able to buy their own food and did not need to rely on the food bank. However, when the pilot was cancelled, there was an increase in use because clients had made financial commitments (rent, car repairs, other) to improve their situation.
Not only did recipient nutrition improve but so did their overall financial situation. Critics of basic income policy often raise concerns about its potential impact on workforce participation. However, proponents argue that it can enhance employment opportunities by providing individuals with the financial security to pursue
meaningful work.
Councillor Mike Perry says the “dol lars were injected into the commu nity.” He cited a local business that sells gently used furniture, which “certainly saw an increase. It pro moted a sense of solidarity among recipients and non-recipients.”
Many also took this opportunity to retrain and retool to leave for a more suitable career path for their needs. Tracey Mechefske, a past recipient of the program, started her own skin care business. Alongside selling her products, Mechefske also spent some time going to homeless shelters and recovery centres to teach individuals how to make soaps and other hygiene products on a budget for themselves. Since the cancellation she shares it has gotten much harder to do such things for the community.
After conducting interviews with past recipients, it is evident it was a grave mistake to cancel the program so early on. The negative effects of this early cancellation are clear and present for individuals and the community of Lindsay. Many having planned for three years in the future, the program’s expected length, feel as though they have been betrayed by the Conservative government, given the party promised to keep the program for its full three years, as stated during the election campaign.
The Ontario Basic Income Pilot Program in Lindsay provided a glimpse into a future where financial security, food access, and employment opportunities are more equitable and accessible to all. With the benefit of hindsight, Mechefske wants everyone to know that basic income is about a lot more than just money. “It’s about self-esteem, and dignity, and being able to be part of a community, and part of society, and feeling good about yourself and not worrying about having to stay home because you have no money.”
Sports has remained a constant as the world of technology that surrounds it has evolved beyond the average persons wildest dreams in just a few short years. Now, cable companies try to hold onto revenue and prevent cord cutters through live sport contracts, players on the side lines review instant replays on iPads, and real time availability of analytics have brought stats and betting to new levels. As a photojournalist for 47 years, Claus Andersen has had a front row seat to it all.
Even though almost every spectator fancies themselves an amateur photographer, official press credentials are assigned by associations. Once a staple in newsrooms, the number of sport photographers has sharply declined. Andersen recalls colleagues numbering in the 20s at the Toronto Star, but now down to 5 and only one remains at the Globe and Mail. With print media shrinking, and younger generations seeking online sources as their primary news source, there are limited traditional avenues to produce the sports images that defined so many moments and athletes. “Everyone thinks they have a photo; it’s not about the quality of imagery anymore.” He attributes the decreasing value of photographs with the transition to digital. Online circulation has also made it much easier to repurpose photos without proper attribution. Andersen tries to police his own images, but finds it to be almost impossible, “It’s so easy to grab and steal images now. People can easily remove a watermark. You have to rely on honesty and unfortunate we know not everyone is.” Despite these challenges, Andersen remains dedicated to his craft, finding solace in the tangible joy of seeing his work in print and adorning his basement walls with cherished memories. Standouts for him include some of the biggest names in sports, from track stars Usain Bolt and Donovan Bailey to the four-legged kind in Somebeachsomewhere. When asked if he ever has the photographs signed, Andersen jokes that he’s “not an autograph guy, unless its on a cheque.”
Born in Denmark, Andersen came with his parents and siblings to Kawartha Lakes in 1957, settling in Omemee. He got the inclination to photograph from his mother, who “always had a camera.” And it runs in the family as his brother, Ken, is also in sport photography as Peterborough Pete’s photographer for 35 years. Andersen stayed in the Kawar thas until 1975 when he left to pursue photog raphy at Fanshawe College in London. Upon graduation he kicked off his career shooting the track and field team at Western University and was officially hooked progressing to other sports and increasing levels of competition - from professional leagues like the NHL and PGA to the Olympics. But everyone has their favourites, and for Andersen though he notes you can get great imagery from any sport, it’s track and field at the Olympics that he holds dear. “You only have one chance to get it (a shot) due to the pace and style of competi tion. Versus hockey or baseball where there are so many games and plays, it increases the opportunity to get a good shot.”
Andersen has limited his jobs now, able to pick and choose events that he enjoys the most. Currently a part of Getty images, who distribute images across the world. During the Leaf’s
short-lived playoff run, Andersen’s images were used in both Toronto and Boston media. The physical nature of the job, carting 150 pounds of gear across the globe, rigging up cameras to capture any possible moment, the long days and late nights to setup, review and take down (Leaf’s games have him home at 4 a.m.), even though his experience has made him efficient at it all - it’s added up and he’s happy to wind down a bit.
When asked how much he engages in sport himself, to be on the other side of the lens, Andersen is self deprecating. He enjoys playing golf but brings it back to the professionals he sees so often, “people don’t realize how hard it is to be an athlete in any sport.”
Andersen acknowledges that although he is a rarity in the field now, he’s lucky that he’s been able to do something that he loves for a career. In recognition of his contributions to the sports field, Andersen was inducted into the Lindsay Sports Hall of Fame last year and will be inducted into the Ontario Athletic Hall of Fame this coming September. Now in an era defined by rapid technological advancement, Claus Andersen stands as a testament to the enduring power of photography — a timeless art form that continues to capture the essence of sports in all its glory.
Congratulations to Lindsay based Spotlight Dance Productions who won top studio at the Shine Dance Competition in Peterborough recently. They received 30 overall awards, special shoutouts and choreography awards throughout the competition.
Madison Persaud represented Lindsay Gymnastics Centre and Team Ontario in St. John’s, Newfoundland in early May. The 15-year-old was awarded the title of eastern Canadian balance beam champion and placed 4th overall, having competed well in all events. With Persaud’s help, Team Ontario won the silver medal in the team competition.
Want to be featured on our community sports page? Contact Rebekah at rebekah@lindsayadvocate.ca
Pulling off an event the size of an International Plowing Match (IPM) couldn’t happen without municipal support.
Ever since IPM Chair Bob Armstrong and his executive met with Kawartha Lakes council last spring to ask for such assistance to host the massive event, Armstrong has been overwhelmed by the amount of city support he and his volunteer group have received.
“We were very well received by council,” Armstrong told the Advocate in a telephone interview. “This is such a huge event. Without city support it wouldn’t happen. We are expecting 70,000 visitors to the site over a five-day period and we are going to need a lot of help to showcase Kawartha Lakes to all those people.”
Rebecca Mustard, manager of economic development for Kawartha Lakes, said the city is looking forward to being involved.
“This show brings people from across Ontario and beyond. Council has supported the event since it was first proposed in 2020. The IPM will have a big impact on our economy and foster local pride. It will do a great job of showcasing agriculture as one of Kawartha Lakes’ main economic sectors.”
Since that initial council presentation, Armstrong and his people have met with senior city staff every three weeks to hash out the myriad of issues that will need to be solved before Kawartha Lakes hosts farmers and their families from North America and Europe.
Armstrong has particular praise for Deputy Mayor Charlie McDonald, Councillor Ron Ashmore and Kawartha Lakes Chief Administrative Officer Ron Taylor.
“Charlie and Ron have taken on two very important jobs with the IPM,” Armstrong said. “They are working directors with big portfolios. McDonald is responsible for volunteer experiences and Ashmore is helming the special events committee. Both are playing a major role in the show.”
As for Taylor, Armstrong said the city CAO has been “nothing but helpful.”
“Ron always wants to know what the city can do to help,” Armstrong said. “He asks good questions. Taylor really cares
and wants the IPM and Rural Expo to be a success like we do.”
So far, the city has provided the organizing committee with a $35,000 interest-free loan and $65,000 worth of city services in-kind.
When asked specifically what the in-kind service might look like, Mustard offered some specifics.
“The municipality is working with the organizers to identify what the support will be,” Mustard said. “An event of this size requires considerable organization with the municipality to be safe and successful. This includes traffic management, emergency services, event logistics, building permits and waste management just to name a few.”
In the meantime, the city, the IPM local organizing committee, the Lindsay BIA and the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce are working to make sure that thousands of out-of-town guests enjoy their visitor experience in Kawartha Lakes, have a place to lay their heads and the opportunity to sample the culinary delights that Kawartha Lakes has to offer.
Armstrong said that 40 per cent of the visitors will be coming from more than 100 kilometres away and will be looking for various kinds of accommodation right across the city.
“We expect as many as 500-600 recreational vehicles will make use of the RV park we will be establishing for the show,” Armstrong said.
Mustard also expects there will be “considerable demand for local accommodations of all kinds.”
“Beyond the traditional hotel and motel stays,” Mustard said, “those short-term rentals that have obtained their licenses can be a part of the action. We are also encouraging seasonal accommodations that typically close prior to October, to consider remaining open for the event.”
Amstrong was pleased to report that so far, the IPM and Rural
Expo have recruited over 340 local volunteers who will be key to the show’s success, and are looking for another 260 individuals to step forward to assist with the plethora of jobs that need to be done at an event of this magnitude.
Kawartha Lakes will host the IPM and Rural Expo Oct. 1-5. Anyone looking for more information is encouraged to contact Bob Armstrong at localchair2024ipm@gmail.com.
The camera follows an oil and gas worker walking by a forest. He joins colleagues as calming music plays and a narrator admits oilsands contribute significantly to our carbon emissions.
But relax, dear viewers. They’re working on it.
Advertising like this is designed to lull us into thinking they’ve got this under control. Some of the messaging: Canada has cleaner oil. The industry is reducing emissions. They plan to capture the carbon. They’re part of the solution to get us to net zero. It’s called greenwashing.
Reality check #1: From 2005 to 2019 the Canadian oil and gas industry increased emissions by almost 20 per cent, according to the Canadian Climate Institute. And with plans afoot to export more liquified natural gas, that will only get worse. The industry is already Canada’s largest source of climate pollution. Also, oilsands companies have vastly underestimated their emissions from production. That finding came from a study by Canadian and Yale University researchers published this year in the journal Science.
Reality check #2: More than 80 per cent of the industry’s emissions don’t come from producing their product, they come from burning it.
Reality check #3: A study of half the existing carbon capture projects in the world showed the technology is seriously underperforming. It’s not a solution.
Coal, oil and gas – fossil fuels – are by far the biggest contributors to global heating. And 2023 was the hottest year on record. The average global temperature increase, above pre-industrial levels, was perilously close to the 1.5 C limit set by the Paris climate accord.
We saw what chaos that brought. On my daughter’s 28th
birthday in August, we watched in horror as images flashed across our screens of unprecedented wild fires raging across Canada, in Maui, Greece and elsewhere. “Mom, I’m terrified,” she said. “The whole world is burning!”
How did it get this bad? In large part, we can thank the public relations efforts of the fossil fuel industry. They have spent millions a year to convince us, at first, that global warming wasn’t happening. Then, that it’s all a natural phenomenon. Today, they’re attacking the solutions that work, and promoting themselves as climate champions.
On its website, the Pathways Alliance (an oilsands company organization) proclaims: “Our path to net zero emissions will help our country achieve a sustainable future.” The problem is the oil and gas sector is increasing production while walking back pledges to shift to renewables. They’re also lobbying hard against a proposed national emissions cap. So much for being part of the solution.
Last year, the Competition Bureau launched an investigation into alleged deceptive advertising by the Alliance’s Clear the Air campaign. In addition to TV and social media videos, their ads appear on buses, bike share stands, and arena billboards.
There are increasing calls to ban fossil fuel advertising, as France has done. The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment points out, “Just like cigarettes, fossil fuels are a threat to public health.” Not to mention, planetary health. The product is the problem.
Obviously, we won’t eliminate fossil fuels tomorrow. Too much of our economy has relied on them for too long. But we need to plan for a rapid, orderly, equitable phase out while replacing them with cleaner alternatives. And stop the greenwashing that’s getting in the way.
Prom season will be well underway at local high schools by the time Advocate readers peruse this issue – and not far behind will be graduation. Both occasions will call for hair to be neatly clipped, combed, and otherwise done up by barbers and hairstylists; skilled professionals who carry on a trade that has a long history in our community.
Once known as the “tonsorial arts,” barbering has evolved considerably over time – and yet there remains something
timeless about a traditional barbershop. These places not only offered haircuts and shaving services, they had a social and even political function, too. Like storekeepers and ministers, local barbers had their finger on the pulse of the community through countless interactions with customers of every description. (Stephen Leacock captured the spirit of small-town barbershops in his account of Jefferson Thorpe, the barber in Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town: “The conversation, of course, was the real charm of the place,” said Leacock’s narrator of the shop. “You see, Jefferson’s forte, or specialty, was information. He could tell you more things within the compass of a half-hour’s shave than you get in days of labourious research in an encyclopedia.”)
Though Leacock’s portrayal is idyllic, a visit to a 19th century barbershop could well be a painful experience. Possessing a set of razors, barbers were frequently tasked with bloodletting – the withdrawal of blood from someone to cure disease. This archaic practice gradually fell out of fashion, but its legacy would live on in the form of the ubiquitous barber pole; the red stripes signifying blood, and the white stripes signifying the bandages.
The barber pole would have been a familiar sight to local citizens within 10 years of Lindsay’s incorporation as a community; at least two barbers were plying their art in town by 1867. One was Benjamin Holmes, an African American who had been born into slavery in Richmond, Virginia. Holmes arrived in Lindsay around 1862 and would operate a “hair cutting, shaving & shampooing saloon” at various locations downtown through 1869. (The full story of Holmes can be found in the recently-published book, Reflections on Old Victoria County.) Arthur Fields, another black barber, cut hair and sold groceries to Lindsay residents through the early 1870s.
Other barbers followed, with one Louis Archambault being among the better-known “tonsorial artists” of the period. Born in Quebec around 1849, Archambault was by the 1890s operating one of the best-patronized barbershops in downtown Lindsay. Those looking for a haircut or shave at Archambault’s in 1898 would, according to the Canadian Post, find a shop “fitted up with modern comfortable chairs, handsome cup racks, large mirrors, screen doors, etc., all of which tend to the comfort and convenience of his customers.” When Archambault died in 1911, his obituary noted that he had “gained the good will and esteem of a large circle of friends” over a 30year period.
Many of Archambault’s former customers would have transferred their business to other barbers, for whom there was certainly no shortage of work. A couple of years after Archambault passed away, the high cost of living saw local haircutting prices rise from 15 cents to 25 cents – and those looking to get a trim under the old
prices were quick to take advantage of them while they could. “Every tonsorial artist in town was kept busy from morn till night and the pompadours were slaughtered right and left, and strewn on the barber shop floors,” recounted the Watchman Warder on Aug. 7, 1913.
Perhaps the most famous barbershop customer in this area during the 20th century was Leslie Frost, MPP and former premier of Ontario. It has been noted by Frost’s biographers that he tried to view public policy from the perspective of the barber chair in Lindsay – and this was no mere apocryphal tale either, says longtime Eldon Township resident Ian Burney. “It was at Jim Nicholls’ barbershop in Woodville that I first heard the story,” Burney recalls. “Jim told me and all the men who were in the shop that Leslie’s test for every new policy being considered by the Progressive Conservatives was what the men at the barbershop on the main street of Lindsay would think of it. If they were favourable, he went ahead with it. If the fellows in the barber-
shop turned it down (or, more likely, if he thought they would turn it down), Leslie would quietly drop the idea.”
Frost died in 1973 – some six months after a young man named Wally Nugent began apprenticing under John Eakins, Frost’s successor twice removed, who worked as a hairstylist prior to running for office. When Nugent began on Hallowe’en of 1972, the principal barbers in town were Ward Clarke, Kelly Doyle, Lionel Gervais, Herb Hardy, Spencer Norris, Tom Quibell, and Frank Speers, among others. “William Street North was a hive of barbers; there were five shops in the one block,” Nugent says.
Nugent has witnessed many changes in his industry over the last half century – from the appearance of long hairstyles in the 1970s and 1980s, to barbers being allowed to set their own rates, to more women entering the profession. Yet one of Nugent’s observations seems to have remained consistent over the years: “barbers in general have very colourful personalities.”
a special gift Get a special gift for Dad this Father’s Day… for Dad this Father’s Day… register for the Kawartha Lakes Classic register for the Kawartha Lakes Classic
21st Annual Kawartha Lakes 21st Annual Kawartha Lakes Classic Cycling Tour Classic Cycling Tour
Lindsay | Aug 24th, 2024
Lindsay | Aug 24th, 2024
Early Bird Rates in effect until June 30
kawarthaclassic@apch.ca kawarthaclassic.com kawarthaclassic.com
No longer at sea
TV guide uncertainties
Dec. 24 vis-à-vis Dec. 25 15 Many a seafaring Newfoundlander, once
A pop
Zamboni starter? 18 Car model inspired by an olive part? 20 Stop for gas 22 Guitar string material 23 "The Island of the Blue Dolphins" author Scott
24 Language suffix, often 27 Bartók and Lugosi
28 Ugly Atlantic fish?
31 Something covered in a vision test
32 Russian river or range 33 Belonging to that girl
34 Still snoozing
36 Forgo sunscreen, perhaps 40 To be, in Trois-Rivières
41 Early web newsgroup service 43 Reaction to the worst comedian?
47 "... rock and ___ place"
48 Summer hrs. in Ottawa
49 Bear, to Caesar 50 Harness ring through which the reins pass
52 Star of David country
54 BMW designed for the Arctic?
57 Apply paint with a sponge 59 "Auth. unknown"
60 Throughout, in music
61 Prefix with -cep or -ceratops
62 Receiving a pension, maybe: Abbr.
63 Got in on the game
64 Hamburger's "east"
1 Tasseled topper
2 Cooked too long
3 Coupon user, say
4 To a great extent 5 It touches your sole 6 Globetrotters' home
7 Long in the tooth, so to speak
8 Ad agent, e.g.
9 Peterson of "Corner Gas" 10 Wobble on the edge
11 Ring for the wrist
12 Bona fide
13 Injections, informally
19 Girl asked to "get your elbows off the table," in a rhyme
21 Makes a run for it
23 "Pick me, pick me!"
25 Pan-fried 26 Pantyhose shade
29 Busybody at a bar mitzvah
30 Seriously on the fritz
by Barbara Olson35 "Either you ___" ("one of us") 36 ___ resemblance (look alike) 37 Not familiar with 38 They may have their own bar stools 39 Extreme degrees 40 Indigenous figure of respect 42 Talked drunk talk?
43 Mr. or Ms. Right 44 Woman of ill repute 45 Gofer's task
46 Ren's cartoon pal
47 "Canadian dollar ___" (U.S. business lure)
51 Recipe meas.
53 Drought-ravaged
55 " ... as charming as an ___, Mr. Grinch"
56 Dylan's "I ___ Lonesome Hobo"
58 Bridle mouth attachment
John Deere
Mower Conditioner 630 Moco $38,000.
John Deere Silage Special Baler 459 (bales 1647) $55,000.
John Deere 2955 Tractor 2 wheel drive (6708 hours) $35,000.
Please contact Ken at 705-277-2950
20’ Ocean Containers
New one-trip available in Lindsay. Beige, grey or green. Extra vents and lock-boxes for added security.
$3200.00 + Delivery
Jeff 647-722-0044
Balanceequipment@gmail.com
Droptine Maples
Ontario maple syrup. Available for bulk sale or by the bottle/case. 1L, 500ml, 250ml. Call 705-879-1144
Treasures on 35 Antiques. Collectibles. Decorative. Over 30 local vendors. 3921 Hwy 35, Cameron. 705-300-1544
Camryn’s Painting Free Quotes. References available. Call 705-887-8868
Burns' Snow Removal & Lawn Care Ltd.
Grass cutting, fertilizing, trimming, organic topsoil & spring clean-up. Commercial & Residential Fully insured. Call David E. Bur ns 705-324-8154
McKenzie’s offers all aspects of outdoor maintenance. -interlock -lift and re level -fencing -gutter cleaning -lawncare -snow removal Call 705-934-4333 Free estimates.
The Lindsay Rotary Club welcomes inquiries from local residents interested in getting involved with an active, rewarding service club. Call 705-328-0469 for more infor mation.
O'Reilly Plumbing 15 years experience. Residential, commercial & agricultural plumbing. 24 hr. service. Call Tim at 705-934-1755.
Ron’s Scrap Car Removal Cash paid!! Free pick-up Call/text 705-328-4543 rrl62cars@yahoo.ca
Barr Construction Ltd. Conventional & ICF basements. Residential, commercial, agricultural
Call for a free quote. 705-879-1144
Strawberry, Ham & Salad Supper Valentia Church & Community Centre Wed, June 26th. Sittings at 4:45pm & 6:00pm. Adults $20. Children 12 years & under $10. Preschool up to 5 years are free.
Please call/text Barb 705-340-1099
Large selection of old books from the 1800s, including 14 works of Shakespeare and famous novels. For example, H.G. Wells, Thomas Hardy, James Hilton, Hoffman, George Sully, and Oppenheimer. Sealed container with the works of Charlie Chaplin, Vol 1-10 by Madacy Music Group Inc. in Quebec,1993. Old clocks, cameras, watches, plus old VHS movies. Gold record by RUSH. Large glass framed uncut sports cards, 1992 collector series. One Nor man Rockwell print. Call 705-324-9514.
Ken’s Computer Help
Losing Heat through your Windows? Cracked or steaming up? Remote, In-home or in-business service
Senior discount May only need your glass replaced. Call Harold 705-887-6608
705-340-2226
CLASSIC & VINTAGE Cars & Trucks
Please call Mark 613-360-2699
We Buy Vintage... Vinyl Records, Comics, Costume Jewelry, Glass, China, Pottery, Toys, Sports & All Types of Collectibles. We Make House Calls Cash Paid. Robert & Penny 705-324-2699 www.howlingdog.rocks
For Rent 1 and 2 bed units from $1,600 & up. Heat, hydro & water included.
Adult Building in Lindsay. Call 705-324-9381
In Memory of Rene Deschamps
June 12, 2020
An adored mom, gramma, gg, and so much more. Forever we will miss your Light and Warmth around us Miss you pretty lady Love, your family
(but we still love doing storytime) D I S C O V E R E X P L O R E B E E N T E R T A I N E D
Discover endless possibilities at the Kawartha Lakes Public Library! This month, dive into the fantastic programs at the Lindsay branch.
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday • 10:30am
Fun and engaging stories, rhymes, songs and early literacy activities designed for preschoolers and their caregivers. Drop in anytime!
Chatty Café
Tuesday, June 11 + June 25 • 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Looking to meet someone new or want stop and chat with an old friend? Drop in anytime during the Café open hours to chatter and natter together.
Hot drinks available by donation.
Social Stitching Groups
Sunshine Stitchers on Mondays, 1pm – 2:30pm
Fibre Art After Dark on Wednesdays, 6pm – 7:30pm
Calling all crafters! Bring your knitting, sewing, crochet, quilting, embroidery or any other fiber craft and create together in a welcoming group environment for fiber artists and hobby craft creators just like you.
Tuesday, June 25th, 3pm – 4pm
Create a new craft every month using pre-cut designs made with our Cricut machine.
Cricut Crafting also happens at other library branches such as Bobcaygeon, Dunsford, Oakwood and more. Check the online Events Calendar for more locations, dates and times.
There are so many exciting programs happening at all 14 of our library branches. Visit kawarthalakeslibrary.ca for a complete list of offerings.
fatigue nothing new, and neither is voting angryBy Trevor Hutchinson Contributing Editor
I am a lifelong political junkie, thanks in large part to my dad (who has always been involved and interested in politics) and my Grade 8 teacher in Fenelon Falls, Bruce Butterworth, who nurtured in me a lifelong passion for both politics and history.
One day in early 1980, I was in my public school yard shouting how Pierre Trudeau was amazing and how the Liberals were going to win the election (they did). By the time I made it to lunch at the staff table at the Fenelon LCBO (where my dad worked), he asked, “What’s this I hear about you liking Trudeau?”
Communication was local. There was no internet, but word got around, fast. Politics, though partisan, had a measure of civility. Chinese and Russian social media bots, designed to divide us, were not yet a thing. The rich weren’t yet uber rich so their influence, while important, was not as amplified as today.
Jump ahead four years and I am in the Canadian Armed Forces and about to vote in my first federal election at the tender age of 17. As a regular member of the forces I was entitled to vote, despite a few weeks away from the legal voting age. My idiot commanding officer marched my platoon to the polling station. While keeping us at formation attention, he explained how the Conservatives “support the military” before we were sent to the polling station.
A year previous, I had been a vice president of the local Young Progressive Conservative Club. It was local MP Bill Scott’s second last election. He knew my family. As a young kid enthralled with politics, he was my local rock star.
The result would be a tap-in anyway: Bill, as everyone called him, had been MP since 1968. It was also the year of Mulroney’s first sweep that saw the gov erning Liberals lose 95 seats and the PCs (may they rest in peace) gain 111 seats.
Angry at my CO and the democratic abuse I had witnessed, I voted NDP. I let my emotions overrule my (nascent) understanding of policy. I voted angry and have regretted it ever since.
While keeping us at formation attention, he explained how the Conservatives “support the military” before we were sent to the polling station.
Flash forward to now and voting angry is a worldwide phenomenon. There are only a handful of world leaders who have a positive approval rating. Inflation, income inquiry and post-COVID issues are seen globally as the biggest factors. Add paid-actors at the state and corporate level, thanks to sophisticated social media algorithms, and leader-fatigue is just so much uglier now.
Eight years after my first vote, Mulroney’s party would get only two seats. Leader fatigue has always been a thing.
So sorry all you ‘F Trudeau’ folks: While a bunch of Canadians are dissatisfied or just bored, your performative anger is probably just a political version of the “Macarena.” It’s popular now. But this too shall pass.
INTRODUCING A MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITY COMING TO LINDSAY
