> Complete consumer survey to help local businesses help customers /Pg 12-13 > GAMRU’s ship to come in soon Pg 4 > Grimsby CAO explains details of EDO hire Pg 10 > West Lincoln food drive this Saturday Pg 16 Thursday, April 30, 2020 Vol. 8 Issue 52
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GBF/Firefighter food drive Saturday
A special Grimsby Benevolent Fund food drive has been set up for this Saturday - with support from Town of Grimsby and Grimsby Firefighters Association (GFA). On hand for the announcement were (L to R) GFA’s Steve Allingham; Acting Fire Chief Bill Thomson; GBF executive director Stacy Elia; Grimsby Mayor Jeff Jordan; and GFA’s Mike Ostaszewicz. The event supports the Feed Hope campaign. For more, turn to Page 17. Marks - Photo
Caring worker comforts dying COVID victim Maintenance man steps into role of caregiver for woman’s final moments By Tristan Marks NewsNow The pandemic has been a dark time for many. As dark as it was for Grimsby resident Margaret Roper, who lost her mother Iris Roper to COVID-19 last week, she said she was blessed by “a bright star” through it all. On her mother’s last day, Margaret was almost unable to say her good-byes. Ballycliffe Lodge Long-term Residence in Ajax, where Iris lived, was on lockdown due to the spread of the virus. No one other than staff was allowed in.
One kind viding a line of worker brought communica“It was like God’s Iris to a window, tion with his doing. He just came in,” cell phone. holding her hand for comfort as - Grimsby resident When they Margaret spoke later Margaret Roper of the returned through his cell that weekmaintenance man phone to her end, Margaret mother from just find who comforted her couldn’t outside. MargaPaul at first. dying mother ret only got his “I said to my first name. sister that I “He told me that his name was wish that man would come over Paul,” said Margaret. with his cellphone again, and then He had helped Margaret the day there he was,” said Margaret. “It before, when she came to visit her was like God’s doing. He just mother with her sister, June, pro- came in.”
At first Margaret thought he must have been a nurse or a personal support worker. “When I asked him, he said, “I’m just the maintenance guy”,” she said. “To me, he’s a saint.” Travelling to see her mother was not easy. Margaret, who moved to Grimsby in 2010, does not drive and relied on public transportation and family in the area to get to Ballycliffe Lodge in Ajax. “I would take Coach Canada all the way up to Union Station and then transfer to Ajax. My daughter and my sister who live out See MOTHER, Page 3