> You know it’s Monday when...Chaos reigns at Grimsby Council...again /Pg 3 > Smithville Beer Store closure unexplained Pg 4 > Cairn students raise $20K for McNally House Pg 5 > Smithville boy/car collide on West Street Pg 11 Thursday, June 10, 2021 Vol. 10 Issue 6
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Dougie Nickerson: a life well lived By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Whether it was supporting family members at sporting events, conducting game prep chores for his beloved Grimsby Peach Kings or soaking up every second of a WWE Smackdown event on his TV, Dougie Nickerson was passionate about everything he did. Douglas Alan Nickerson, 57, - known to all who knew him as Dougie - died June 3 after a lengthy series of health-related issues. To say Dougie was an institution around the Peach King Centre would be a massive understatement. Back in the early ‘80s, Ray Houslander - who owned the Peach Kings from 1978-1986 and
stayed on as trainer used to pick up Dougie and take him to every game, recalled Dougie’s brother, Paul. “When Ray stepped back Dougie was out of it for about 10 years, but he got back into it when Chris Tew and others owned the team,” said Paul. “He really got hooked and he stuck with the team through different owners and many different volunteers. He was always there.” One of the current members of the Peach Kings’ ownership group, Simon Duong, says Dougie’s impact was felt on the organization top to bottom. “He meant more then I even thought to the team with the amount of players he touched
Dougie Nickerson - a constant for the Grimsby Peach Kings for three decades - was recognized by Kevin Bieksa on Hockey Night in Canada last week.
from years passed. Some of which I didn’t
even know but the common stories I hear
is how he’d “pump it up” for them before games and if they didn’t play well he would give it to them with “go home to momma”, said Duong. “The boys loved Dougie because it didn’t matter how bad they played they would see Dougie and he would put a smile on their face.” The impacts of COVID-19 certainly changed that. “The last full season without him was hard not seeing him with the traditional “pump it up” right after Brownie’s (coach Dave Brownridge) talk with the boys before the game. He came with us on away games, too, and not just home games.” That passion for the
game and team he loved spilled over into many different areas, noted Paul. “My brother Don and I, growing up, he used to come to every one of our games. Mayor (Jeff) Jordan remembered when he called me Dougie was at every one of our slo-pitch games,” said Paul. Monday night at town council’s regular meeting, Jordan recognized Dougie’s passing. “He was a true hometown legend. He will truly be missed by all,” said Jordan. And when Jordan says “all” he meant it because Dougie’s volunteering efforts went far beyond the junior hockey team to which he gave decades of his See DOUGIE, Page 2
Ontario moves to Step 1, patios open Friday Ontario will take its first step on the road to economic recovery tomorrow (Friday) when the Province’s Step 1 for “Roadmap to Reopen” goes into effect. The gradual reopening and the lifting of public health measures is based on the province-wide vaccination rate and improvements in key public health and health system indicators. The province will remain in each step of the three-step process for at least 21 days as any impacts on key public health indicators are evaluated. If, at the end of the 21 days, the
vaccination thresholds have been met, alongside positive trends of other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move forward. Public health and workplace safety measures would continue to apply across all steps, including maintaining physical distance, capacity limits and wearing face coverings in indoor spaces and whenever physical distancing is a challenge. Step One will permit the resumption of more outdoor activities with smaller, well-managed crowds where risk of transmission is minimized and will permit retail, all with
restrictions in place, including but not limited to : • Outdoor gatherings up to 10 people; • Outdoor dining up to 4 people per table; • Outdoor fitness classes, personal training and sports training up to 10 people; • Essential retail at 25 per cent capacity and can sell all goods (including discount and big box); • Non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity; • Retail stores in malls closed unless the stores have a street facing entrance;
• Outdoor religious services, rites and ceremonies with capacity limited to permit 2 metres’ physical distancing; • Horse racing and motor speedways without spectators; • Outdoor horse riding; • Outdoor pools and wading pools with capacity limited to permit two metres’ physical distancing; • Outdoor zoos, landmarks, historic sites, and botanical gardens with capacity limits; • Campsites, campgrounds and short-term rentals; and • Overnight camping at Ontario parks.