NewsNow E-Edition February 8 2024

WLMH name change “blindsided” public/councils: Brunet

Proposed

name change was known as far back as April 2023

By Mike Williscraft NewsNow

A loss of history and tradition, no council engagement and zero public input until the 11th hour were just a few of the concerns about a proposed change of name for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital discussed at Monday night’s Lincoln council meeting.

The news broke on Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln mayors, as well as Niagara’s regional chair, sending a letter to Hamilton Health Sciences - which operates WLMH - to propose calling the rebuilt facility West Niagara Memorial Hospital with dissemination by way of a news release issued by the Town of Lincoln on Jan. 29.

That information pub-

lished in last week’s Feb. 1 edition of NewsNow generated a deluge of calls, emails and texts to the newspaper office as well as a steady stream of calls to some elected officials largely opposing the change.

Lincoln Coun. Tony Brunet, who represented the municipality on the WLMH Advisory Committee for 10 years, said he and residents are not happy with a long series of issues related to the proposal.

Immediate concerns were heightened after an internal memo was circulated to Lincoln councillors just after the release went out.

Reading from the memo, Brunet noted there is now time pressure to decide if the name needs to be

changed at all as the HHS board has informed there is a March 1 deadline for a decision so suitable time can be afforded for ordering signage and other related items.

“I think we can all understand that,” said Brunet.

However, that deadline he noted, combined with the fact the name change was first proposed in April 2023 and HHS’s board meeting is set for Feb. 27 led Brunet to ask why there was no action until the last minute - among a series of other questions.

A major problem of note is process, which was clearly laid out by HHS can now not be followed.

“Where a lot of people are struggling, through you madam mayor to the CAO, it (the memo) states

Parking in Grimsby Study shows short-term supply adequate, future planning needed

By Mike Williscraft NewsNow

Removal of all or some of Main Street parking was a key part of a parking study approved to move to the next stage of implementation by Grimsby Council on Monday night.

The study, which reviewed current and future parking requirements in the downtown core as well as Grimsby-onthe-Lake, suggested current parking is adequate but noted process and future planning could mitigate issues which are

See PARKING, Page 9

that the Hamilton Health Sciences board is meeting on Feb. 27, 2024 to

discuss this potential new name. It goes on to say

Beachcombers

NAME

From Page 1

that the following must be demonstrated:

• That the surrounding community is aware of the potential name change and has been given an opportunity to give feedback;

• Council members have been engaged, and;

• That equity seeking communities have been included in the discussion. (This does not include the West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary, for example)

“From the calls that I have received and colleagues I have spoken to, it is my understanding there has been no discussion,” said Brunet, asking for elaboration on the process.

Lincoln CAO Mike Kirkopoulos, noting he had received a series of concerned calls as well, said an online commenting process is the only public consultation planned.

“When we talk about engagement and checking off that box, which is something that HHS looks to do, the approach that has been taken is one where information is shared and where a Speak Up Lincoln page was put online...something all three municipalities are doing,” said Kirkopoulos.

“I have shared with any residents who have reached out, should they have any input, any comments they want to make both positive and negative, that I would make sure that HHS is aware of them.”

“You are absolutely right in your comment that the whole purpose of putting this information out right now, I think, was to inform the public and to get feedback from the public.”

“You are right in that we are getting a number of residents to express some concern, express a little bit of apprehen-

sion and would like to keep the name as it currently sits and I would say, as I said to the media as recently as today, I don’t think for anybody – and this is not a decision of staff – that keeping the name as is is still on the table.”

However, that process of public and council input was only one facet of Brunet’s concern.

“The memo says that in April 2023, acknowledging the widespread support the mayors of Lincoln, Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln and the chair of Niagara Region jointly requested a change in the hospital’s name to West Niagara Memorial Hospital. So, that was back in April 2023,” said Brunet in response to a comment from Mayor Sandra Easton that the mayors were simply answering a request from West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation.

“The hospital has been around for 70 years as you have been well aware. It’s one thing to talk about the current Foundation and the board of the Foundation, but a lot of people are very concerned about the history and heritage surrounding the hospital, which we have all been fighting for for decades,” said Brunet.

“There’s many people who have made donations, donors, to the Foundation, not only for the hospital, for equipment. Then we have, of course, the Auxiliary which is really the glue, the mortar of that hospital, the volunteers. Has there been a discussion with donors and with the Auxiliary?”

Easton answered, “I can’t tell you that because that was not the question we were asked.”

Further, Easton noted she supported the name change mainly for geographic and services reasons.

“I base my comments on the fact that this is part of a system and that there are now services that are being provided in Grimsby that are going to draw people there,” said Easton.

“So I don’t think the (proposed) name is at all out of line in terms of the service that it is providing to all of Niagara.”

In a Jan. 29 email, Easton noted, “As part of a much larger health care system also serving large numbers of residents of greater Niagara, the recommended name more accurately reflects the West Niagara geography as a significant part of that system.”

For Brunet, he found it difficult to be able to explain away the 10-month delay in the name change going public from April 2023 to now.

“What it is is people struggling with the fact that HHS’s own policy and procedure seems to say that the following must be demonstrated; engagement; council engagement. Where is the council engagement? If that article had not gone in the NewsNow last week, I’m not sure that this council would have known about it had it not been for the memo that was sent out on Jan. 29 and this is going to the board on Feb. 27,” said Brunet.

“It’s no wonder, and the people that are speaking, are saying that the process and the optics appear to be flawed. We should be celebrating the opening of this hospital, not talking about a potential name that the community hasn’t known.”

“I feel like we’ve been blindsided here and I just don’t understand. We’ve known. We put a shovel in the ground two years ago and now HHS is saying we have a stop date of March 1. What’s been going on for the last two years?

Said Easton, I can’t tell you that. I only know that we were asked the question and we provided some information and, for all I knew, there were other people that were being asked as well. We were all asked, and we submitted comments and its going forward through their process.”

In terms of the name change proposal, Kirkopoulos reiterated changing the name at all is not a need, but a consideration.

As it pertains to the name change, there is “nothing that any of the municipalities are particularly married to. HHS has shared with the municipalities that the whole geographic location, as it related to hospital changes, is something that they’re seeing with their conversations with Niagara Health. When you look at the South Niagara Hospital and that naming, or reference in terms of geography, and so believed that it made a lot of sense. But again, I can tell you I don’t think - not having had conversations at least today with HHS – that anybody is married one way or the other to the name changing to Niagara West Memorial Hospital,” said Kirkopoulos.

“Should we get a lot of feedback, which I anticipate we may, I don’t believe there’s any risk/harm or concern with the name as it currently sits.”

Brunet called out as red herrings that a WLMH name change would follow recent naming of other institutions as part of a trend - something also mentioned by Easton.

“I’m not buying that. Those were actual mergers,” said Brunet, noted West Niagara High School was a merger of three local high schools in Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln, while West Niagara Agriculture Society was a merger of Lincoln and West Lincoln ag-

ricultural societies.

There was no merger here. As a matter of fact, if there was a merger, it took place in 2013 and for the last 10 years, we’ve been operating under the auspices of West Lincoln Hospital, under the umbrella of Hamilton Health Sciences. With no merger (now), it has been working for the last 10 years so people are saying, ‘Why now?’,” said Brunet.

Easton went back to how she said the process started.

“The original request came from the Foundation based on the information related to the timing of purchasing signs and they were concerned that if there was going to be any change that they would end up having to buy two sets of signs,” said Easton.

“So, it was a matter of do nothing, or make some submissions to them (HHS). The mayors sent the letter to the Foundation. It was a matter of no change, leave “Memorial” in or take it out, and the third option was the Niagara West Memorial Hospital option that reflected the greater community that funded it, although in speaking with the CAO...the geography of it is probably less important. It’s a matter of how the hospital is perceived also by the province.”

“I have no idea where this will end up.”

While Brunet did not get clear answers to all his questions, such as why there was a 10-month delay in making a name change public, he did get one thing confirmed.

“The information we are receiving, and any potential letters that we receive, any correspondence, anything that goes in the newspaper, will that information be passed on to Hamilton Health Sciences?” Brunet asked/

“The simple answer is, yes,” said Kirkopoulos.

By Tamara Botting For NewsNow

During West Lincoln’s special council meeting for the draft budget presentation on Monday night, Coun. William Reilly asked if there were any additional costs expected to be added to the municipality’s hospital levy due to the name change.

mented on the issue, referring to an editorial that had appeared in the Feb. 1 edition of NewsNow.

He also asked when the public consultation process would take place, “Because we haven’t had any talks around what that name change is going to look like.”

Mayor Cheryl Ganann confirmed that there would be no additional costs, “And the project is moving along well.”

As for the name change process, she said, “The reason that the Region and the three municipalities could enter into any kind of a name change agreement was because our total, as per the way that the project was laid out, equaled more than $20 million, and therefore you have naming rights, if you wish to do that.”

Ganann confirmed, “The public consultation is ongoing right now with the three municipalities, through the set up … that Lincoln has already.”

She said if members of council wanted a say on the matter, “You could put your own comments on, as an individual.”

Coun. Mike Rehner also com-

He said, in the article, “(Mike Williscraft) was kind of insistent that it’s heritage and we keep our heritage by not changing it, and I certainly supported his thought process. But this township, as well as other townships, has put a tremendous amount of money out of the taxpayers’ pocket in order to have this hospital done … if there’s going to be a name change, shouldn’t it come back to the townships, to the people who approved the money going there, who represent the taxpayers, to make that decision?”

Ganann said that while that could be a process, “That’s not the way it came about, because it needed to come through the (West Lincoln Memorial Hospital) Foundation asking the municipalities and asking the Region (if they would be willing) and they agreed … it makes more sense to look at West Niagara.”

She noted that Rehner had pointed out at a previous meeting that the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital isn’t in West Lincoln.

“That has caused a great deal of confusion, which is why keeping the ‘Memorial’ portion of (the name) was a nod to the history, and making it more specific to the areas that it services was what came out of that.”

Notice of Public Engagement Session No. 1

Greenlane Reconstruction Phases 2 & 3

The Study

The Town of Lincoln is undertaking a Schedule ‘C’ Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) of Greenlane Road between the west urban boundary limit (Konkle Creek Trail) and Bartlett Road. Due to the poor condition of the roadway, the opening of the new West Niagara Secondary School on King Street, the future GO Station on Ontario Street, and a predicted increase in vehicle volumes from development growth in the area, this corridor has been identified as high priority for reconstruction and crosssection improvements.

The study is being undertaken to consider cross-section improvements, including active transportation improvements, streetscaping opportunities, and widening of the roadway property boundaries (i.e., Right-of-Way) to address the above-noted concerns.

You Are Invited To Participate!

The project team is hosting the first Public Information Centre (PIC #1) to introduce the study and gather community feedback. This event will be held in person in a ‘drop-in’ format with project team members available to discuss the project and assist with any questions or comments.

FEB 22

5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Fleming Centre

5020 Serena Dr., Beamsville

Format: In-person event

The information materials related to Public Information Centre #1 will also be posted on the project webpage at SpeakUpLincoln.ca on the day of the event, and questions on the PIC #1 materials can be submitted through the webpage until March 8, 2024.

Stay Connected!

If you wish to have your name added to the project mailing list or have any comments, questions, or concerns about the study, please contact one of the following Project Team members:

Walter Neubauer, C.E.T. | Manager | Capital Projects | Town of Lincoln

4800 South Service Rd., Beamsville, ON L3J 1L3 905-563-2799 ext. 278 | wneubauer@lincoln.ca

@TownofLincolnON

This notice was issued: Feb. 8, 2024

David Hiett, P.Eng., RSP1 | Project Manager | CIMA+ 400–3027 Harvester Rd., Burlington, ON L7N 3G7 289-288-0287 ext. 6841 | david.hiett@cima.ca

World War II Memorial, The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, The Jefferson Memorial, The Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial and many more!

• Nighttime Illumination driving tour! See Washington at night.

• Photo Opportunity at the White House

• Visit to the Capitol Visitors Centre (please note high security measures are in place)

• Free time on own in Washington – Visit the Smithsonian’s or relax on one of the National lawns, it’s a beautiful place to explore in June!

• Last night free in the National Harbor – lots of restaurants and shops

• Professional Step on Guides

Choir workshop this Saturday

The Grimsby Celebration Choir will play host to a Choral Workshop this Saturday, Feb. 10.

On hand to teach technique will be international performers Lisa Cosens Brillon, Lee Siegel and Maria Veter. This eventhosted at Trinity United Church, Grimsby with a cost of $45 - is open to all ages and levels of ability.

Registration is available through Eventbrite and on our website:

grimsbycelebrationchoir.ca

The four-part choir regularly performs at a variety of retirement residences in Grimsby. Last September a popup choir event was organized.

HILLSIDE HAVEN

to-wall windows overlooking a grove of trees. Large back deck overlooking the woodland setting. The outdoor spaces on this property are truly magical! Nature at your doorstep. 5 minutes to QEW & town centre. $1,699,900

Beautifully updated Century home, in the Heart of Niagara's fruit belt. ADDITIONAL

HAT TRICK HOCKEY

Be sure to look online at: wn3.ca to see the full standings, but here are some of the leaders and lucky random draw winners:

• $10 Gift Card courtesy of Teddy’s Food, Fun & Spirits, Stan Johnston

• $10 Gift Card courtesy of Jordan Flowers, Alix Brand

• $10 Gift Card courtesy of Canadian Tire, Carter Sheridan

• $10 Gift Card courtesy of Forty Public House, Jack Moore

• Large, 3-Item Pizza, Pick-Up Only, courtesy of Gino’s Pizza, Gary Lewis

• $10 Gift Card courtesy of Tim Hortons, Peter Rhodes Winners can stop by the NewsNow office to pick up their winnings

©

1. Hall, Keith 996

2. Marrama, Angelo 980

3. Tucker, Everett 978

4. Varga, Ric ...............977

5. Bradt, Veronica .......967

6. Schilte, Frank “the tank” 967

7. Fillmore, Linda 963

8. Twomey, Patrick 963

9. Lenman, Jen 963

10. Seibel, KJ 961

Proposed name change dismays Letter

Dear Editor, I get the logic.

I don’t get the motivation or the process for having a new name for our hospital to be sprung on the community out of the blue.

For years I have followed the ongoing saga of West Lincoln Memorial. It has been a tough road.

Like you, Mr. Editor, I have not heard anyone say they thought a name change was needed.

I thought last week’s editorial was balanced noting the logic of considering a change but I, like you, think history should win the day on this one since so much gets dissolved in matters we cannot control.

The fact this suggested change seems internal, and something which could have been managed differently, seems to hurt more than if HHS swept in and said, “this is how it will go.”

It’s West Lincoln Memorial for me.

11. Boulter, Brian 960

12. Herale, Willie 959

13. Morrissette, Louie 958

14. Havens, Robert 958

15. Rankin, Paul .........958

16. Hoffmann, Dawn ...956

17. Hensen, Rob.........956

18. Griffiths, Owen 955

19. McHush, Mike Q 953

20. Berry, Jason 952

by:

David Pack Grimsby

Dear Editor, I totally agree with your editorial and your very valid reasoning.

Why not a simpler name, if anything, Grimsby General Hospital. Keep up the good work.

Diana Stephenson, Beamsville

PARKING

From Page 1

likely to arise by 2041.

In the downtown, consultant Gordon Hui said the core was assessed during the summer when the Farmers Market was on so usage could be assessed when Main Street parking was not available.

“Other parking areas were able to accommodate for this loss of parking. Additionally, on a regular day, the Balsam lot and main lots had a similar turnover rates compared to Main Street indicating that visitors were comfortable using these lots as quick parking areas similar to the role to of onstreet parking along Main Street,” said Hui.

“Therefore, this study recommends reducing or eliminating parking along Main Street for the purposes of improving the pedestrian realm and supporting the concept of complete downtowns and supporting the downtown reimagined study.”

The fly in the ointment, as noted by Coun. Nick DiFlavio, is that

the study did not account for motorists displaced from Main Street onto private parking lots as well.

DiFlavio noted on market days, visitors “fill that lot” and asked if that was taken into consideration when suggesting removal of onstreet parking.

“Is the consideration of the use of those private spots part of your study because that could change tomorrow?” he asked.

Hui said no.

“When we did our existing supply and demand analysis, we considered just the municipal spaces that were provided. When we did our future forecasting, we took that municipal supply and we forecasted out the amount of supply that would be provided by the commercial developments as well as the demand that would be provided because of those commercial developments,” said Hui.

“We mainly focused on the municipal supply side of things. When we did the analysis, in terms of seeing if that additional

street could be accommodated by other municipal spaces, we did find that the current municipal supply could accommodate future demand from removing some of the spaces along Main Street.”

Among the suggestions approved for downtown is a twohour parking limit in north and south municipal lots, with enforcement by the bylaw department. As well, staff would assess the lots to see if redesign could create more spaces.

In GOTL, town staff said the parking issues are being heightened by condo boards utilizing spaces in a manner not intended by Town policies.

“Because the condominium boards can decide how these spaces operate after site plan approval, there is now signage that does not exactly align with the Town’s original intent of the shared visitor spaces,” said Hui. A budget item has been set for 2024 to account for implementation of the study suggestions.

ART CLASSES

MARCH BREAK DAREDEVILS

March 11 - 15

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Ages 6-12

Single day or full week!

DeFilippis named interim West Lincoln CAO

West Lincoln has named its current director of finance, Donna DeFilippis, as its interim chief administrative officer.

The position became vacant with the sudden retirement of CAO Bev Hendry last month.

The move, approved at a council session Jan, 29, took immediate effect with a projected end-date of a new CAO’s appointment or until July 31, 2024.

DONNA DeFILLIPIS

township’s director of finance/treasurer for 11 years and three years as deputy treasurer prior to that. She has worked with five councils, has guided the township through the development of 14 budgets, and has been integral in leading the transformation of the township’s budgeting and financial enterprise systems.

“We are fortunate to have Donna filling this vital role while we begin recruiting for a permanent new CAO to serve our community,” said Mayor Cheryl Ganann.

“I have worked very closely with Donna over the years, particularly during budget season, and I am confident in her knowledge and skills and her ability to handle the responsibilities of the Interim CAO.”

DeFilippis has served as the

DeFilippis began her career as an Auditor at Ernst & Young, focusing on small and medium business clients, before moving into the Public Sector, where she held leadership roles in the education sector.

DeFilippis holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

The process for the recruitment of a permanent CAO is underway with a hiring committee of Mayor Cheryl Ganann, Coun. William Reilly and Coun. Shelley Bradaric set.

6th Annual Volunteer Pay Subscription Drive

“What a newspaper needs in its news, in its headlines, and on its editorial page is terseness, humour, descriptive power, satire, originality, good literary style, clever condensation, and accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!

Joseph Pulitzer

Dear Reader,

Here we are, against all odds, in our 11th year of publishing. Our little paper that started in the basement of our house has flourished into what you are reading today. We’ve had ups and downs, two printing plant closures, sale of our distribution company, a world-wide pandemic and... we are still here.

Because of you, good reader - as well as our loyal and dedicated advertising base - through ensuring great response via your intense readership as well as your generous subscriptions. We truly appreciate your support!

Based on the excellent feedback from previous years’ volunteer pay subscription drives, we have launched Year 6!

Is NewsNow’s independent, accurate voice in the community of value to you? Would you like to support NewsNow in its efforts? This is your opportunity.

If yes, we have refined the infrastructure for our Volunteer Pay System

Simply, this means, rain (or snow) or shine, you will always – each and every week – receive your copy of NewsNow. Whether you live in a single-detached home, apartment, condo or at a business, NewsNow is now everywhere –29,000-plus circulation strong. That will NOT change!!!!

Subscriptions: One Year - $50 suggested

We will back HST out of each payment to make things as simple as possible. You can pay by cheque (bring into the office or mail), credit card (call Catherine at 289-235-9500) or e-transfer (send to: subscriptions@wn3.ca - make security answer - newsnow ) For more information, please do not hesitate to call, email or drop in. All inquiries are welcome!!

Thanks very much for your time and we wish good health to you all!

1 Mountain Street, L3M 3J6, Grimsby • 289-235-9500

Mike Williscraft Publisher

Thank you for being a GREAT BIG FRIEND

Your generosity was the greatest gift

Once again, we are so encouraged and inspired to see our community come together in support of GBF Community Services’ annual Christmas Hamper Program. Thank you! Your assistance ensured that those experiencing difficult times in our community were cared for.

2023 was an extremely difficult year for many Grimsby residents. With many people facing food insecurity and at risk of losing their homes, GBF is now feeding and providing housing support to far more families than ever before.

Many of our new clients come to us in shock; they never thought this would happen to them. Many have jobs – some work multiple jobs – but no matter how hard they try, they can’t make ends meet. Despite working more, they’re less able to provide for themselves and their families. For lots of people, things are getting worse, not better.

In December, GBF provided 227 Christmas Hampers to individuals and families experiencing difficult times. Each household received a grocery gift card to purchase fresh food and non-perishable items, a turkey or ham, Christmas treats, hygiene packages, gifts for each member of the household, gift cards, and stocking stuffers.

227

376

For some, this is the only Christmas they got. They couldn’t afford a Christmas dinner or presents under the tree.

Additionally, thanks to your support, GBF provided a free Christmas turkey luncheon to seniors who were isolated. For a wonderful afternoon, we shared more than a meal: we enjoyed companionship and fellowship.

Thank you to all the service clubs, schools, churches, individuals, and businesses that continue to support our efforts. We welcome and depend on your continuing support.

Thank you also to all those who routinely donate to and make purchases from our Retail Store. In so doing, you provide wellness services and the basic necessities of life to people in our community who so desperately need them.

GBF is always committed to providing responsive, leading-edge services. Our programs can be credited to all those who donated food, toys, money and gift cards, and who sponsored families. We are especially thankful to the volunteers and staff who work so hard year-round. We love you!

Please consider becoming a volunteer as we continue to grow. Our team welcomes individuals and corporate groups to share their time and talents with us. Please visit our website for more details: gbfgrimsby.com

And to those whom we have the honour of serving: We will be here if and when you need us. Regardless of your circumstances, you will always experience the compassionate and dignified service that you so richly deserve.

Stacy Elia, GBF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Irene Podolak, GBF PRESIDENT

GBF

Please call to place your Classified Ad

289-235-9500

EVANS, Anthony Dring “Tony”

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Anthony “Tony” Evans on January 29, 2024 at the age of 85. He will be forever missed by his loving and devoted wife, Jenny, his brother Paul (Ann) in England, and fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and friends in Britain. He is predeceased by his parents Thomas and Alice Evans, and his siblings Nita and Bernard. He will be held dear in the hearts of his family, relatives and many, many friends. Tony had an infectious sense of humour, thirst for knowledge, a taste for chocolate and a never-ending sense of adventure. He was a teacher his entire life and was the proud owner and operator of Evans Driving Instruction. In keeping with Tony’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Service of Remembrance was held at STONEHOUSE-WHITCOMB FUNERAL HOME, 11 Mountain Street, GRIMSBY (905945-2755) on Monday February 5, 2024 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to The United Mennonite Home Vineland, would be sincerely appreciated by the family.

www.smithsfh.com

GEE, Valerie Anne

Our family is heartbroken to announce the unexpected passing of Valerie Anne Gee on November 9, 2023. Dear daughter of Douglas and Bonita Gee (Topp). Loving sister of Andrea and Doug Wright, Treasured Aunt of Logan and Sydney Wright. Valerie will be forever missed by all of her numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, friends, and forever best friend Christina Souter. She will be forever be remembered for her kind heart, happy go lucky personality, her sense of humour, love of animals, and her beautiful smile. A private family service will be held. We will be there with you watching the sky at night for the Brightest star, knowing that you are shining Bright.

OBITUARIES

CONLEY, Edith Winnifred (Winn) née

Moore

Winn passed away peacefully at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital on January 29, 2024, in her 102nd year. Dear wife of the late Burton Robert Conley. Beloved mother of Patricia (Peter), Brian (Sylvia), Steven (Joy), Terry (Raffaella), Mark (Nora), and Maureen; grandmother of Scott (Nicole), Kim (Boyd), Tara, Michael (Emily), Leanne (Bill), Christopher (Göksu), Brandon (Corinne), Daniella, and Kathy (Rob); and great-grandmother of Emma, Joshua, Jacob, Julianna, James, Nathan Cole, Ashley, Trinity, Owen, and Elisha. Beloved aunt and great-aunt to many. Predeceased by her mother, Margaret Miller Moore (age 100), her brother Alfred Moore (105), her sister Stella Van Dusen (104), and her brother Leonard Moore (84).

Born in Montreal in 1922, Winn was sweet, sociable, sporty, and always up for an adventure. With the coming of WWII, she did inventory war work at Defence Industries Ltd. (DIL) and, through the YWCA, helped organize dances for servicemen awaiting deployment. It wasn’t long before she married a soldier. Winn and Bob spent their first years farming near South Mountain, Ontario, before settling in Cornwall and finally Grimsby.

Winn’s life in Grimsby revolved around her family and her church, St. John’s Presbyterian, where she was a very active member for nearly 60 years. She pursued many other interests, too, including participating in the Mohawk Singers choir and contributing for years to the Grimsby Craft Guild’s charity work. Winn was tireless in her desire to help others. She loved her family, her friends, her church, and her cats, and they all loved her back. In short, she loved life. In 2022, she was among the last to receive 100th birthday wishes from Queen Elizabeth II. It was characteristic of her that her own last wish, expressed four days before she left us, was to go water skiing – something she had never tried.

We are deeply grateful to the doctors and nurses of West Lincoln Memorial for the care and kindness our mother received there in her final weeks. We particularly thank Dr. Peter Samuels and Dr. Mary O’Dea (now ret’d) for giving our mother many more years of life than she would otherwise have had.

A Celebration of Life will be held in St. John’s Presbyterian Church Hall on May 4. Memorial donations to Happy in my Home, Community Support Services of Niagara, would be greatly appreciated.

HENDRICKSE, Wesley Charles

Wesley Charles Hendrickse passed away peacefully on January 30th, 2024. He lived a rich and full life for 94 years, leaving behind cherished memories.

Wesley was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1929. His parents, William and Johanna, instilled in him values of education, family and hard work.

In 1953, Wesley married the love of his life, Eunice Magdalene Franco. Together, they embarked on a journey that took them from South Africa to England in 1960, seeking freedom from the Apartheid system, and later to Canada in 1968. Wesley’s career as an electrical engineer led him to become Vice-President of a Toronto electrical company, a testament to his dedication and expertise.

Wesley had a passion for travelling, and his job took him to places like the Middle East. He also enjoyed his adventures around the world with family and friends. An active sportsman, he found joy in playing soccer, tennis, badminton, and golf. He liked to engage others in conversations on a variety of topics, reflecting his love of learning.

Wherever Wesley and Eunice went, they built a community of family and friends. Together, they worked, played, danced, and enjoyed life.

Wesley is survived by his beautiful devoted wife Eunice, his daughter Cheryl (Mark), his son Michael (Jane), his five grandsons Michael (Leahann), Daniel (Marika), Joshua, John (Lindsay), and Luke, as well as his four great-grandchildren Alexis, Paul, Audrey, and Marcus.

Wesley’s spirit will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.

Wesley’s life will be celebrated with his immediate family.

Online condolences at www.tallmanfuneralhomes.ca

65th 65th Wedding Anniversary Wedding Anniversary Feb 14, 1959 – Feb 14, 2024

In the summer of 1956, 17 year old David Gerow from Winona met 16 year old Anna Partito from Hamilton, 2 totally different worlds. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. We were married February 14th 1959 at All Souls Church. We have been blessed with 2 children, David (Janet) and Christine (Pierre) and 3 grandchildren; Michael, Shawn and Nathalie and our extended family; Mitchell, Aly, Scott and Harper. We have lived in Grimsby since 1961.

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Apt. for reNt

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Name change a disservice

Being as cordial as possible, there are some serious issues with this proposed name change for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

The matter only got murkier around a solid conversation about a host of issues raised Monday night at Lincoln council.

New Year’s baby

New Year’s Baby of 2024 - Lily Ann Choma - made her appearance Jan. 1 at 6:15 p.m. - weighing in at 8lbs. 10oz., born at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital to proud parents Hailey and Nick Choma from Dunnville. As is tradition, West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary president Fred Lilley dropped by to present them with a congratulatory card, a pink WLMH teddy bear and a gift certificate for the hospital gift shop.

Parking study misses big mark

The parking study commissioned by the Town of Grimsby missed a significant mark - as noted by Coun. Nick DiFlavio - when it did not take private parking use into consideration when reviewing removal of all Main Street parking.

It is understood that is an option and it can make expanded pedestrian space look pretty, but it will be costly to retail merchants who will lose quick and easy parking - a key draw to downtown shops. Removing parking on Main Street is an option, just not a good option. M.W.

West Lincoln council also had the issues arise, while Grimsby council was crickets on the topic with Mayor Jeff Jordan not responding to email inquiries.

So, first, let’s deal with the matter of history, which nobody I dealt with - in excess of five dozen residents and public officials over four days - seems to know. I include myself in that group until Saturday.

As someone who moved to the area in 1995, I knew about Lincoln County, but did not know until Saturday that Sir John Graves Simcoe named the Niagara Peninsula in 1771.

Until I understood that, I just thought Lincoln County was part of the township system with Louth and Clinton Townships and such were the municipalities of the day.

So locating a hospital in the west of end what was Lincoln County made West Lincoln a no brainer.

For me, that makes the heritage of keeping the current name even more important as it is one of the very few things which ties all the way back to the founding of the area - even pre-confederation. So, that’s huge.

In today’s vernacular, West Lincoln Memorial would take on other connotations.

It is west of Lincoln, being located in Grimsby.

The name, as is, included both Lincoln and West Lincoln (with overlap), so two of three key bases are covered if you buy into the geography slant.

With the building in Grimsby, residents in town are happy (I would think) to trade off having the town’s name in the handle for having it located around the corner from where they live.

The geography view does not hunt in my view. It is a matter of convenience for those who push the one municipality, Niagara West, option - a name change that may NEVER happen.

This point was further evidenced Monday night at Lincoln council when the renaming of the new high school and agriculture societies were rolled out as a blazed trail to follow.

Again, that logic fails as both of those instances were the result of amalgamations - three high schools and two ag societies, so no one school or community would win a name tug of war, making a new regional scale name a suitable option.

I could prattle on about the history, but I think one either understands its importance or is indifferent to it at best. I’ve said my piece.

The process, ah, the process....it could not have been worse.

The issues are so stark, I will just lay out a couple. You, dear reader, can judge for yourself. I urge you to go to Lincoln’s YouTube page and watch Monday’s council meeting (Feb. 5) from the 2:04:30 mark.

Among the host of issues and nonsensical points made was the revelation that the proposed name change was known dating back to April 2023. Yet, here we are, a month out from a Hamilton Health Sciences deadlinefor which they wanted public consultation and council buy-in, among other procedural boxes to check - and the only way anyone found out about it was NewsNow running the release and my column last week.

As Lincoln Coun. Tony Brunet noted, if that had not happened, few would know until a new sign went up on the building.

A horrible look.

As well, the only public engagement planned is the commenting service the municipality’s websites house - which simply are not effective. So that is also weak at best.

Of the 60-plus contacts

I got in a very short span, about 50 were dead set against a name change, one was for, one was fully indifferent and about eight were also indifferent but leaned to no change.

MIKE WILLISCRAFT

Dear Editor, May I respond to the article as carried in “NewsNow” on Feb. 1, 2024 on “WLMH Name Change Considered”

To me a name change seems like a fabrication of a perceived necessity coming out of thin air.

The article reported “the new name follows recent precedent in naming other community infrastructures such as the West Niagara Secondary School and the West Niagara Agricultural

Centre and Fairgrounds. Names not only identify, they provide historical connections and symbolize the communities in which they belong.”

I accessed Speak Up Lincoln, on the internet to check on the exact wording of the proposed new name and to also learn who the Project Team Members are.

Sadly, there are no mem-

bers of any of the council(s) listed on the team and any questions I may have are to be submitted on a form to these Project Members!

I would think that what the school or the fairgrounds do in the management or naming of their entity is at their own prerogative.

The “One Team One Dream”, although coined a few years ago, has been around in various forms since the idea of a hospital for the area took root in 1942.

New hospital name sounds right: writer

Dear Editor,

Sorry, Mike, but I disagree with you about the possible name change of West Lincoln Hospital.

There were many people who fought to have this hospital stay open and be rebuilt.

A long, long fight that finally resulted in this new hospital.

Lincoln County ceased to be when the Niagara Region became our new reality.

Niagara Health St. Catharines

Site, which I still think of as St. Catharines General, has now been transformed to Niagara Health Marotta Family Hospital.

I was born 70 years ago at the Henderson Hospital Hamilton, now known as Juravinski Hospital.

The history of these institutions will never go away.

West Niagara Hospital makes sense to me.

Jennifer Hopkins, Vineland

The hospital has suffered the injustices of burning down, the complacency of bureaucratic red tape, and the outright denial of its need by politicians.

The history of its growth and its maturity would fill a book. The collective community in its support of WLMH, from 7th Street Louth to Winona, from Lake Ontario to Caistor Center, and all points in between cannot be denied.

Literally thousands and thousands of hours

Dear Editor, I 100 per cent agree with you on this!

I can just imagine Hamilton Health Sciences taking our three councils direction and we end up with “Hamilton Health SciencesWest Niagara Site. “

I am sure Hamilton Health Sciences will want their moniker front and centre.

Before we can blink, we will be “West Niagara” everything.

spent in selfless dedication on the part of the volunteers in achieving this goal should not be wiped out by the stroke of a pen with this proposed name change.

“What’s In A Name” conceivably everything both in the area’s history and in our collective communities that binds us together.

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital has been that glue!

Respectfully

Ray A. Konkle

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s history and legacy, and our ongoing, hard-fought 20-plusyear fight and investment of time, work, money and dedication to the cause should have been considered by our mayors.

This idea should have been put to all of our citizens for input. As far as I am concerned, it’s Hands Off our West Lincoln Memorial Hospital name.

Helen Zimmerman, Vineland

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