Issue 14 2021 April 14 NG Times

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Vol. 9 No. 14

The Voice of North Grenville

April1 14 , 2021

Anti-Lockdown event held at local business

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Following a Facebook post on Thursday last week, by the South Branch Bistro, the Kemptville community was abuzz about the announcement that the Bistro would be hosting a public event with No More Lockdowns Canada, that encouraged people to violate the government-mandated shutdown and the Stay at Home Order which was declared

by Premier Doug Ford on April 7.

Mayor Nancy Peckford intervened prior to the event and asked the local business owners to cancel this event because it violated the order made by the province and the recommendations by the Health Unit of Lanark Leeds

Grenville. There was much criticism by local people on social media, who expressed concerns that this event would put local people at risk of contracting COVID-19 because it was encouraging a large gathering.

In a public post on social media, the business owners stated, "We understand your concerns but it's time for us to take care of our family and staff." The owners stated that they felt there was no other option available to them because the lockdown put them in a position where, "We were faced with two choices - stay open to feed our family, or close for good."

During the evening of April 8, 2021, members from the Grenville County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) attended

a large gathering outside of the South Branch Bistro on Clothier Street East, in the Municipality of North Grenville.

Former Conservative, and now Independent MPP Randy Hillier of LanarkFrontenac-Kingston, was in attendance to rally the crowd of 200 unmasked people, none of whom were socially distancing. Hillier has been openly and publicly defiant of masking requirements and lockdowns.

The OPP received numerous requests to attend the area. They estimated the crowd to be about 200 people.

The OPP attended the area with a primary focus on maintaining public safety. The local public health unit, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and North Grenville

By-Law Services also attended. No charges were laid and the incident is still under investigation.

Mayor Nancy Peckford stated, "I am sorry that anyone would believe that this kind of event is a way forward. We know gatherings like this pose a significant danger to those who participated, employees at the restaurant, and our community at large."

At press time, North Grenville Times learned that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario suspended the liquor license for South Branch Bistro and was in the process of revoking the license for reasons of public interest and safety.

The interim suspension takes effect immediately.

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The Voice of North Grenville

Art in Motion

Your turn is coming soon.

by Marguerite Boyer As soon as I met Jane Rutter, I was immediately impressed both by Jane the person, and Jane the creative and artistic photographer.

I met with Jane last week when we sat down and had a wonderful conversation about her photography. Jane managed to pull me into her world of colour, imagination, and movement. As she says herself, she was raised by and around artists. Both her father and sister were artists, and from an early age she was exposed to art through visiting galleries, drawing exercises, and nature.

Jane, who grew up in Toronto and attended the North Toronto Collegiate Institute,

Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine plan is helping to stop the spread and save lives.

Thousands of people across the province are getting vaccinated every day.

moved here three years ago, and embraced her new home and its surroundings. You can see her passion in her photography and video work. It is centred and inspired by the everyday beauty of nature, day and night, fire, water, sky and earth, as she puts it. Her photography is quite varied, using many different effects to achieve the goal she desires. Sometimes purely by accident, as she uses an app on her phone to do all the creative enhancements in her pictures.

Her videos are quick glimpses of nature in action, water swirling in the South Branch, flames dancing in a campfire, wind blowing through a corn field under

a bright blue sky. Her photographs are exercises in abstract images of real life, a different way of seeing pattern and design in everyday objects, taken from a different point of view.

Jane believes in complexity and in simplicity. The complexity that she sees, is the kind of complexity that comes from looking into the design, the detail, and the magic of the natural world.

Most of her works are views of North Grenville’s great outdoors and, right now, her work is on display at Bubba’s & Bugs, downtown Kemptville.

You can also view her facebook page to see even more works.

Winner to the NGTimes Easter Egg Hunt William PeckfordDeRyk age 9, pulls the winning ticket out of the bag. The winner is Peggy MacPhail!

Congratulations!

Email production@ ngtimes.ca to find out what you won!

As vaccinations continue, we need to stay the course to protect those we love. Wear a mask.

Wash your hands. Keep your distance.

Find out when, where and how to get vaccinated at ontario.ca/covidvaccineplan or call 1-888-999-6488 for assistance in more than 300 languages.

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Innovative program provides trades experience while raising awareness for affordable housing

Photo provided by the Employment and Education Centre

by Hilary Thomson The Employment and Education Centre in Brockville is about to finish the first round of a unique program that combines employment skills with building awareness for affordable housing.

The We Are The Change program gives Leeds and Grenville, at-risk youth from 15-30, the opportunity to gain useful skills in the trades by building a tiny house. The program includes 18 weeks of in-class and hands-on construction experience, and another 12 weeks of placement with a company in the trades. Participants are paid minimum wage for the instruction portion of the program, and a wage of $17.21 during their place-

ment. Finished tiny homes are donated to partner community organizations, like Habitat for Humanity within Leeds and Grenville to provide an affordable housing option to those in need.

Program coordinator, Heather Brisebois says she is thrilled with the success of the first round of the program which began in September 2020. She was amazed at how well the group of 10 at-risk youth worked together over the 18 weeks, both in class and while building the tiny home. It was also great to see how much confidence each of the participants built up over the course of the program, fostering their ability to successfully navigate the world of employment. "I cannot articulate anywhere near as well as I wish I could about

Grand Opening

COVID-19 pandemic has not affected the effectiveness of the program, as they have been able to have proper protocols in place and modify some of their programming.

For example, instead of the planned tour, where participants would travel around the County to talk about their experience and the importance of affordable housing, they created a nineteen-minute documentary about the program which can be found on the Employment and Education Centre website.

Applications for the program are still open, and interested youth can contact Heather at heather@ecentre. com or 613-498-2111 ext.

369. They are also always looking for donations of good-quality gently-used tools, and monetary donations to the centre will also go directly towards supporting the youth in the program. "If there are employers that are interested in hiring graduates from the program, or even if they have expertise and they wanted to volunteer and offer their expertise, we could have conversations around that piece as well," Heather says.

Photo: Ten at-risk youth participated in the first round of the We Are The Change program in their workshop in Brockville

just seeing their confidence grow," she says. "It's pretty amazing to see."

Heather says that the program is unique in that participants not only gain valuable employment skills and experience, but they are also contributing to one of the solutions for the affordable housing shortage in Leeds and Grenville. "Tiny homes really are the way of offering more affordable housing. We're in a housing crisis and this could be a solution, so it's really to bring awareness to that being an option for people."

Participants are now completing their placements and 80% of them have secured employment. Heather is in the process of selecting the next 10 students who will start on April 26. She says they have had a lot of interest in the program, with 45 potential candidates for the next round. "It's really hard because, typically, everyone that you meet would be eligible. So, we actually have a matrix that we follow so that everyone has a fair shot at the program. It's also based on their vulnerability, because it is a program for vulnerable youth."

The Employment and Education Centre has received funding from the federal government for three rounds of the program. Overall, the

by Hilary Thomson Tune in on Mondays for another #LoveNG Live show, highlighting North Grenville's entrepreneurs. On the most current show, we will be showcasing three different entrepreneurs, all with their own unique stories to tell.

Natalie Castellas of Catered Affairs will be talking about her successful catering business located on the Kemptville Campus. In business since 2007, Catered Affairs has a legacy of cater-

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Meagan Cumming of the Kemptville Stress Relief Centre will be on the show to talk about mental health and establishing a successful business in the North Grenville community. She has a passion for mental health advocacy and for helping people cope with the stressors of life, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and trauma.

Malina Dockendorff is the

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owner of Rideau Roastery, a craft coffee roasting business in North Grenville. In business since 2014, Rideau Roastery provides high quality organic coffee to many office buildings and coffee shops in North Grenville and beyond. You can find her delicious blends at Brewed Awakenings in Kemptville.

Finally, Megan McDonald from one of the show's partners, the North Grenville Chamber of Commerce, will be on the show. Megan will be talking about the Chamber and how it supports busi-

nesses in North Grenville.

For more about these awesome businesses and organizations, tune into #LoveNG Live by going to www. loveng/loveng-live or on Facebook under Loveng Live.

Come in today and visualize your dreams!

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Municipality seeking input on Draft Noise By-Law The Municipality of North Grenville is encouraging residents to provide any comments on an amended draft Noise By-Law. The proposed amendments are in response to requests in the community for better regulation of this issue.

Highlights of the draft Noise By-Law include: Stronger provisions with respect to reducing the incidents of noise created by modified mufflers. Adopting an "unreasonable and persistent noise" prohibition. "Unreasonable" and "Persistent Noise" is defined as noise that would otherwise be permitted but is likely to disturb the peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of a reasonable person and is continuously or intermittently heard for a period of more than ten minutes per hour or more.

Unreasonable noise does NOT include commonplace household or workplace sounds such as the sound of furniture being moved, children playing, people engaging in conversation or the use or operation of powered and non-powered equipment for domestic or commercial maintenance purposes such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chain saws, power tools or other similar devices. Snow removal activities are exempt from the Noise By-Law, including any back-up alarms associated with such activities.

Motor vehicles would not be permitted to idle for periods in excess of 5 minutes within a residential area, except under certain circumstances such as low temperatures and car maintenance.

Streamlines the process to apply for an exemption from the by-law, for example for special events.

Members of the public can provide comments on the draft By-Law until 4:00 pm, April 19, 2021 by email at input@northgrenville.on.ca or by mail at 285 County Road 44, P.O. Box 130, Kemptville, Ontario, K0G 1J0. The draft Noise By-Law can be read in full on our website at www. northgrenville.ca.

Young Liberals call for Universal Basic Income

by Lorraine Rekmans The Liberal Party of Canada held its annual convention this past weekend, hosting it as a virtual event. The Liberal Convention featured keynote addresses by Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, and the former Governor of the Bank of England. Ben Rhodes, the former Deputy National Security Advisor for Barrack Obama, also gave a keynote address.

Some highlights of the policies that were debated include a policy motion submitted by the Young Liberals of Canada, calling for the government to implement a Universal Basic Income for all Canadians, arguing that the UBI would increase bargaining power for workers because, "a guaranteed, unconditional income gives them leverage to say no to exploitative wages and poor working conditions." The motion went on to call for consultation with stakeholders.

The Liberals of Ontario submitted a policy motion calling for a national policy to reduce the cost of prescription medication and ensure sustainable and equitable access to medication.

The Manitoba Liberals presented a motion calling for the establishment of a Northern inter-provincial electrical grid to ensure sustainable electric power to all regions of Canada.

The Voice of North Grenville

New Counties CAO appointed for Leeds and Grenville Haley.

Waterhouse Executive Search was engaged by the United Counties last December to assist in finding a new CAO. A CAO Selection Committee made up of five Counties Council members worked with Waterhouse to oversee the selection of a candidate. Final interviews were conducted by all 10 members of Council.

Mr. Callery started his municipal government career in 1989 in Pittsburgh Township. He served as Deputy Clerk and Treasurer for the Town of Napanee from 1991 to 1997. He was an integral part of an amalgamation proposal accepted by the provincial government in 1996.

Mr. Callery holds a Bachelor of Arts – Economic Degree from Trent University, holds

Raymond Callery is the new Chief Administrative Officer for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville effective July 5. Mr. Callery has an extensive history in municipal government, having served as the CAO of the Town of Greater Napanee for the past 24 years. His appointment was announced at a special meeting of Counties Council on April 6. He succeeds Andy Brown, who is retiring at the end of June.

“The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville is very happy to welcome a CAO with Raymond Callery’s local government experience and knowledge. Council and staff look forward to working with Mr. Callery and leaning on his expertise to guide the Counties through the foreseeable future”, said Warden Roger

the designations Certified Municipal Officer, Certified Municipal Manager III and Human Resources Professional and has certificates in Municipal Emergency Management. He has also served on numerous municipal-provincial committees and task forces dealing with a variety of issues.

During the amalgamation process, Lennox and Addington County’s lower-tier municipalities were reduced from 13 to four. Mr. Callery was selected to lead the organizational development for the newly formed Town of Greater Napanee. He has also served on the Town of Greater Napanee Police Services Board since 1997. Mr. Callery is a past president of the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario

(AMCTO) and was twice elected as Director at Large.

Mr. Callery helped develop and oversee the AMCTO Municipal Management Internship Program with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and is proud of how many graduates of that program are currently working in municipal government or related fields.

Andy Brown, who retires June 30, has served as CAO for the United Counties for over nine years. He held progressive top administrator positions over his 33-year career in municipal government, including chief administrative officer with the Township of Horton, the Town of Prescott, the Township of South Dundas and the Municipality of North Grenville.

Municipality of North Grenville responds to province-wide COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order nesses by virtual appointment only. Building and inspection services will continue during the shutdown.

The North Grenville COVID-19 Vaccination Centre will remain open during this time and can be accessed from the Southside of the Municipal Centre building (285 CR 44, Kemptville).

For details on vaccinations visit https://healthunit.org/ health-information/covid-19/ protection/.

Municipal Council Meetings continue be held virtually, as do all Municipal Advisory Committee meetings. Council meetings can be livestreamed, and Advisory meetings will continue using ZOOM as their platform.

Businesses are encouraged to visit North Grenville's website for support programs at: www.investnorthgrenville. ca/covid19.

"North Grenville continues to be very proactive in supporting our local businesses, which is critical for the long-term survival of our local economy," added

The Municipality of North Grenville is making adjustments to its operations in response to the province-wide COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order.

"It is important for residents of North Grenville to understand that, as a community, we are at significantly more risk now than we were a year go. There has been a notable increase in cases of COVID-19 in the past week, especially in Lanark East and United Counties of Leeds and Grenville East (this includes North Grenville)," said Mayor Nancy Peckford.

"A high proportion of these COVID-19 cases are the Variants of Concern, which spread more easily when there is close contact between people," added Mayor Peckford.

In response to the Stay-atHome Order (beginning April 8 at 12:01 a.m.), the North Grenville Municipal Centre will be closed to the public.

However, the Municipality will remain operational to provide essential services and assistance to residents and busi-

Deputy Mayor Jim McManaman. "I know everyone is tired. Our community has sacrificed a lot but we need to finish strong. With more people getting vaccinated every day, we can get there - as long as we hold steady right now and continue to be very vigilant," emphasized Mayor Peckford.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to follow the Municipality on Facebook and Twitter, and visit the dedicated COVID-19 webpage for updates at: www.northgrenville.ca/coronavirus.

Other Municipal updates: Pitch-IN bags will be available via curbside pickup. Email cfequet@northgrenville.on.ca or call 613-

258-9569 ext. 133 to register.

The April 10 Saturday date will be rescheduled at a later date for residents who wish to exchange old bag tags for new ones.

Playgrounds and sports fields remain open. Residents are required to maintain 2-metre distance from those outside their household.

For More Information Contact: Jill Sturdy, Corporate Media Relations Officer jsturdy@northgrenville. on.ca 613-258-9569 ext. 168

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RTO 9 Tourism Adaptation Fund second round open for applications

The Tourism Adaptation fund is a non-repayable grant up to a maximum of $20,000.

It is designed to assist tourism businesses that have incurred additional costs to protect the health and safety of their staff and customers due to COVID-19.

RTO 9 is a regional tourism organization that is funded by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. RTO 9 actively promotes tourism for the region and works to support and grow the tourism industry through product development initiatives.

Tourism businesses include hotels, motels, resorts, campgrounds, B&Bs, restaurants (pubs, fast food, fine dining, night clubs), recreation and entertainment facilities (zoos, museums, theatres, sports facilities golf courses, amusement parks, heritage sites, hunting, fishing or outdoor adventure outfitters, casinos), travel services, transporta-

tion companies that provide transport by air, land or water), and retail stores that are heavily dependent on tourism.

Businesses must be located within the Leeds Grenville geographic boundaries. $250,000 was received for a second round with applications opening April 1, 2021.

Applications can include eligible costs with receipts dated from June 1, 2020 to March 1, 2022.

The available grant is up to 80% of eligible costs.

Eligible items include: Implementation of health and safety protocols: additional hand washing/sanitizing stations Alterations to accommodate social distancing including expansion of patio space for restaurants (including tables, chairs, umbrellas) and/or acquisition of equipment like outdoor heaters to extend seasons The purchase of large and small scale PPE or sanitizing equipment (fog machines

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etc.)

Cleaning supplies for workers / customers The acquisition and implementation of digital tools and operating transformations like virtual queue, timed entry ticketing or contactless check-ins, contactless payment upgrades The online application will remain up until all of the money is dispersed. Businesses are encouraged to apply early! Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

There is no minimum amount to apply for. The maximum amount is $20,000 (net reimbursement amount).

A business who applied in the first round and received funds, can apply again in the second round, however, the maximum they can receive is $20,000 per business and not $20,000 per application.

For more information on RTO9 Adaptation Fund guidelines and applications visit Tourismtalk.ca

editor@ngtimes.ca

April 14, 2021

and knowledge through in-class learning and practical experiences specific to three motive power trades: Agricultural Equipment Technician, Heavy Duty Equipment Technician, and Truck and Coach Technician.

This program is available to qualified students enrolled in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) or individuals who are working toward completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and interested in completing a co-op or enrolling in OYAP. The UCDSB is leading the program's creation and delivery that will involve, and ultimately serve, four regional public school boards. The program has a 20-student maximum capacity, allowing for both

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SAFE COVID PLAN IN PLACE

Statement by Mayor Nancy Peckford

This past week has been a roller coaster ride for our community. The notable rise in COVID cases in this area, driven by new COVID strains, the Premier's announcement of another shutdown for all of April, and the extremely unfortunate event that was hosted by the group, No More Lockdowns, at a local business, have all taken their toll.

When we welcomed in the year 2020, 16 months ago, no one could have quite imagined where we would be today.

As your Mayor, my first priority, alongside Council's, is to protect the health of residents in our community, to support our local economy and ensure we get through this pandemic together.

So many residents have reached out over the past few days to share their significant concern about last week's event organized by No More Lockdowns Canada. To convene an unlawful gathering at one of our cherished local businesses, that purposely violated public health protocols during a provincial State of Emergency, is extremely disappointing, and irresponsible.

As I stated the night of the event, I do not believe that what transpired at the South Branch Bistro in any way reflects the spirit or character of the people in North Grenville.

Events organized by this group are notorious for attracting a small cohort of disgruntled individuals from a variety of communities who reject the science behind public health. They seek to take advantage of vulnerable local businesses that do not see another way forward.

Level 1 Commercial Vehicle and Equipment Apprenticeship Program to be launched After months of planning and preparing for its launch, the Upper Canada District School Board is thrilled to officially open registration for the Level 1 Commercial Vehicle and Equipment Apprenticeship Program.

Set to launch for October 2021, this high-value training program will build on the existing adult education opportunities established by the UCDSB at the Kemptville Campus, primarily through the TR Leger School of Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education, and address a growing local and provincial need for skilled trades workers.

The Level 1 Commercial Vehicle and Equipment Apprenticeship Program provides individuals the opportunity to gain skills

The Voice of North Grenville

in-class and practical experience tailored to support the student learning experience.

"We're so excited to launch registration for this program and welcome students this October," says TR Leger School Principal Sandy McInnes. "The students are going to have the opportunity to move forward in their career and we're proud to have this program come to the community, especially as we know we're also helping to train individuals and meet an industry need."

To learn more about the Level 1 Commercial Vehicle and Equipment Apprenticeship Program, or to apply, please visit the TR Leger School Website.

5

Their goal is to antagonize and divide communities like ours. I am determined to not let that happen in North Grenville.

I am sorry that there are those who think that this kind of event is a constructive response, but thankfully they are a very small minority. Overwhelmingly, our community has done an outstanding job adhering to public health guidelines during what has been a very long year.

It is imperative that we step up each and every day to support our local business community. No one would seek to operate a business under the unpredictable and chaotic circumstances of the last year. Government supports only go so far, and the constant pressures to adapt are labour and resource intensive. Many have drained their personal savings to keep going.

Throughout all of this, our local businesses are relying on customers like you and me to stick with them in these turbulent times, and to support their efforts to keep their employees and the public safe, and their operations viable.

But when public health violations occur, people must be held to account.

Many have asked why the Ontario Provincial Police or our local Public Health Unit did not immediately shut down last week's event while it was happening, given the danger it posed.

Due to the size of the gathering, and the intention of the organizers to sensationalize the event and attract more attention, our Municipal Bylaw officers, Public Health representatives and OPP office were on site to fully document what was transpiring, and to keep the peace. They did just that.

Council has been advised that the incident is actively under investigation, and that the results of the investigation will be shared the minute they are able to do so. Owing to the fact that the event violated provincial COVID orders, any actions

taken are best led by those with provincial enforcement powers, the OPP. I am very confident they will move forward with the best interests of public health and safety in mind.

I want to thank our own municipal bylaw staff, The Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit Public Health, as well as members of the OPP Grenville Detachment for their cool and calm approach, and for risking their own health given the number of unmasked participants.

Our community will not falter because of this one incident. We will not be defined by a small group of individuals who have put their own health and wellbeing in jeopardy and sought to compromise the health of others.

With the rise of COVID variants in this area, I am urging everyone to use as much caution as possible during the Stay at Home order. I recognize that it is sometimes difficult to follow public health guidelines perfectly, but please do your absolute best. This month is a critical test of our vigilance as a community, and our ability to keep others, and ourselves, safe.

Please register for a vaccine as soon as it is your turn.

We have an outstanding local Assessment and Vaccination Centre in Kemptville, and I am actively working with our MPP Steve Clark, and the Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paula Stewart, to expedite the arrival of more vaccines. This will ensure that, in the long run, we can, in fact, resume some kind of normal.

I am very optimistic that there is light at the end of this very long tunnel - as long as we work together.

Please stay kind, and do not lose hope in the coming weeks. We will get through this, and I am immensely proud of this community for their efforts.

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The Voice of North Grenville

Far from virtual: Are our current laws able to address sexual harassment in remote working spaces?

by David Westcott Workplace sexual harassment is a prominent barrier to career success and satisfaction and to a healthy work environment.

Sadly, reports of sexual harassment and violence against remote workers have skyrocketed since the pandemic began in March 2020. Whether the switch to remote working during the pandemic caused this increase or not, one thing is certain: sexual harassment knows no boundaries and can happen to any worker, any time, even in their own home. Current Canadian legislation fails to address many of the complexities of online sexual harassment.

The result is that survivors of technology-based sexual violence are often not fully protected or compensated.

Online sexual harassment can take many forms including inappropriate text messages, images, threats, appropriation of one's likeness, and blackmailing.

Experiencing sexual harassment can threaten a person's dignity, feelings, self-respect, and in extreme cases, can lead someone to suicide. Online workplaces provide means for individual communication, blur the hours where responses can be expected, and provide minimal supervision throughout the workday thereby creating many opportunities for sexual harassment and cyberbullying.

Most workplaces have no policies in place against

virtual sexual harassment or cyberbullying.

What is the state of the law?

Both Canada and Ontario have specific provisions in their respective human rights codes that make sexual harassment illegal. There are no specific laws against online sexual harassment in the workplace in Ontario or for federal workers. The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has, however, held that delivering unwelcome messages or other media at work using technology can amount to sexual harassment. In more extreme cases of repeated unwelcome communications or threatening conduct, sexual harassment can be prosecuted under section 264(2) of the Criminal Code however this provision is also silent about online sexual harassment.

Shortcomings of the Canadian and Ontarian laws The government of Nova Scotia recognized the dangers of online sexual harassment when it passed the Intimate Images and Cyber-Protection Act in 2017 (IICPA) which creates specific civil actions and remedies for survivors of unauthorized intimate image distribution and cyber-bullying. There is no comparable legislation in Ontario or on the federal level.

Survivors of online sexual harassment at work in Ontario have access to general damages before human rights tribunals and courts but would have difficulty getting a tribunal to order specific remedies related to the virtual nature

of the harassment. Legislators must recognize that in a post-pandemic world, remote working will continue and set their mind to creating legislation that provides adequate protection for its victims. This could include, for example, court orders for offenders to pay for survivor mental or health support, mandatory workplace inspections, and mandatory workplace risk re-assessments.

Have you been sexually harassed online?

You have legal options.

Call the Legal Clinic at 613264-7153, email us at langana@lao.on.ca or visit our website at www.tlcshiwproject.com . We can help you determine your options and next steps.

The Legal Clinic serves Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Northern Frontenac and Northern Lennox and Addington. The Legal Clinic remains open with reduced staff and have suspended all non urgent in-person appointments and walk ins.

Legal Clinic Main Office: 10 Sunset Blvd. Perth, ON, K7H 2Y2 Phone: 613-2647153 Toll-free: 1-888-7778916, *David Westcott is a law student at the University of Ottawa. He volunteers with the Legal Clinic's Sexual Harassment in the Workplace project, for which won a Chief Justice Richard Wagner Award. He is also the Executive Editor for Volume 53 of the Ottawa Law Review.

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613-215-1501 www.hearme.ca

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Scientific toilet-paper study by local expert

I would like to share with you a not-so-scientific study, resulting in a calculation of the average toilet paper consumption during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, that was initiated in March 2020 by myself due to a concern at the time that there might be a shortApril 14, 2021

age in supply. The public therefore might be interested to know that a roll lasts an average of 4.39759 days, per person. Thus - shoppers with 6x16-roll, 5x24-roll, or 3x36roll packages in their cart are running off with roughly a one year supply...or more.

I offer these images and this data (there is more) should you find a need to fill page space with a little bit of locally generated humour during this latest Stay-atHome lockdown.

Donna and I are happier now that the measurement phase of the program is over because we were getting a

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little self conscious as our habits were representing all Kemptvillians/Ontarians/ Canadians.

Ron Gould

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6

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Editorial

The North Grenville Times

Fear and a lack of trust

by Lorraine Rekmans In past protests and conflict situations, it was sometimes typical to see mask wearing protesters holding a line against police, but last week in Kemptville, it was nearly a reversal of that scene, when mask wearing police officers confronted a group of barefaced protesters, while masked onlookers, looked on.

I have a long history of training in peaceful protest with my former work as an Indigenous rights activist and in my anti-nuclear activism days. I have been on my share of protest lines, which were peaceful demonstrations of calls for social or ecological justice. I am a long time and ever learning student of people like Ghandi, Martin Luther-King, and John Lewis.

John Lewis was a civil rights activist in the southern United States in the 1960's.

He wrote: “Dr. King would often say that we’ve got to love people no matter what. Most of all he would say, we must love the unlovable. Love the hell out them....If there is hell in someone, if there is meanness and anger and hatred in him, we’ve got to love it out.”

These leaders taught us the value of peaceful protest to change society for the better. Part of the ethics in this work includes a challenge to us all to try to understand conflict and protest, and civil unrest, and what drives people to public action. We must understand what people are angry about. We will never agree with every opinion, but we all hold a community responsibility to at least try to understand what the issues are because, at the end of conflict,

The Voice of North Grenville

we will again be neighbours.

Last week was a mixed bag of bewildered unmasked people standing around, some curious onlookers, some folks chanting about “freedom”, some police assessing the situation, an MPP shouting about how we have to resist fear mongering and rail against authoritarian governments, and public health officials putting their own health at risk to assess the rally. I listened to understand what the protesters wanted.

Apparently, they want life to be as it was, with businesses open, and people free of the confines of masks. They want to live as if there is no pandemic. But as much as we would wish otherwise, we are in a pandemic and we have to live as though we are.

Through their chants of freedom, what I heard was fear, and lack of trust. Someone once asked me, what is the

first thing I would do if I had a magic wand and could make any political change I wanted.

My immediate answer was, that I would implement a Guaranteed Liveable Income for every single Canadian to raise each and every one of us above the poverty line.

(I’d also wave that wand to extinguish COVID).

My sense has always been that insecurity lies always at the heart of conflict. This pandemic has created the most uncertain and insecure economic climate that we have ever lived through in our lifetimes. Fear, panic, unrest, and anger are the feelings that result when we face scarcity, and when we realize the systems we live in are inequitable and unfair. If we could remove the fear of scarcity, we could alleviate some of the burden of fear that people live with.

The other issue that

seemed to be at the heart of this rally was a lack of trust in health authorities, and a lack of trust in government. We knew the mixed messaging from the last stay-at-home order created a lot of distrust and lack of confidence in government, because government officials were traveling out of country while we were all told to stay home. There is a lack of trust and an escalation of fear caused by the actions of some government officials.

Fear brings out the worst in all of us and pits neighbour against neighbour. Let's name that fear. Let's understand what it is. It is economic uncertainty, fear of not knowing what will become of us, fear of losing all that we have worked for, fear of bankruptcy, and fear of slipping way below the poverty line along with 5 million other Canadians who are already there. Let’s free ourselves

from the burden of that fear.

To me, when a former parliamentary budget officer has costed out a six-month national basic income program at $47.5 billion, money which we well know will end up right back in the economy, it seems like universal basic income is an idea whose time has come. We know this pandemic is going to cause the worst economic crisis of our time, and we have to ask about UBI, if not now, then when?

And as for our government leaders, we expect better. We expect clear messaging and we expect leadership by example. We are asked to hold the line, and stay-athome. Don’t make a mockery of our efforts to keep our families and communities safe. Do not squander the social license we have given you to lead.

Dear Editor, It is with great interest that I have read the good Mr. William Smith's letter to the editor numerous times.

It is very well thought out, touched on numerous points and facts. Thank you.

The reality of the situation is this. Big Doug announced a new facility on the old KAS grounds (Kemptville Agricultural School).

Nothing specific other than 235 beds completed in 2027, to be named the Greater Ottawa Correctional Centre.

Public outcry has ensued and true to course, in any negotiations, the Government has buckled and has now named it Ontario Correctional Complex. Both CAP and JOG can fight over that victory!

Now the next victory for these groups will be that they have beat Big Doug down to 220 beds and it will be called the South Branch Complex.

That should help with tourism. Oh, and I forgot, there will be a task force to look into the Justice System's shortfalls. At the table is a seat for CAP and JOG as their members have taken long standing issue well before the jail announcement.

Now if CAP and JOG are

not content with this saw off and persist and are adamant that a facility will not be built on the KAS grounds, there is only one option that I can see open to Big Doug. That is to seek out the owner of the old North Grenville High School, because that is the person with the golden key to unlock this dilemma! Does anyone care to know why??

I believe I should come out of retirement and be a Development Advisor for the Government.

Dr. W.J. Young (C.O.E.) Retired

the corporate agenda, and was particularly disturbed by their promotion of the Americanstyle cult of individualism, which puts personal rights ahead of community values. Usually, conservatives equate collectivism with socialism, (being a socialist, to me, means that I care about people and planet, which are inextricably linked), or even communism, and the word leaves their lips dripping with scorn and venom. In a capitalist economic system, any constraint on the freedom of individuals, or, for that matter, on individual business firms, is considered abhorrent, even if such interests are imposed in the broader public interest.

In this system, the idea that the common good should be society's primary goal is to be guilty of the worse kind of heresy.

Governments were originally established to protect and advance collective interests, so corporate, political, media and academic champions of "individual rights and freedoms" had to reverse this prime government mandate.

They had to convert government into a mechanism for promoting private and individual interests instead. So regulations that had curbed

the socially harmful activities of individual persons and companies were weakened or eliminated. Social programs that helped the poor and the unemployed, and thus interfered with the free operation of the markets, were gutted.

Governments have been transformed from guardians of the public good to boosters of private profit, from seekers of social justice to destroyers of the welfare state. It matters not at all, apparently, that the main beneficiaries of the antigovernment rampage have been the big corporations and the wealthy elite. The other 90% of us are now free to live in mansions, dine and shop at the best restaurants and boutiques, and winter in the Riviera, while they are free to shop at Giant Tiger, eat at MacDonald's, and spend their winters shovelling snow.

Many Canadians, however, even if they haven't embraced the cult of individualism willingly, have come to believe that they have no choice. They have lost trust in our social, economic, and political institutions, or, rather, have had that trust betrayed.

You just have to look had how

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, It's exciting to hear that space for additional longterm care home residents is on the way near Bayfield Manor. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring transformative culture change to the home.

A dozen or more LTC homes in Ontario, at least 4 of which have fully implemented the Butterfly Model, have taken the plunge to transition to smaller homelike units of 8-16 residents (instead of 32), and focused on emotion-based and needsbased care. These innovative models have shown better outcomes both pre and during COVID-19 than the traditional, institutional homes.

These "families" (which include staff, family members and residents), prepare meals and eat together, enjoy relationships, do activities together with the result that there are fewer falls, trips to the hospital, a reduction in anti-psychotic drugs, fewer staff sick-days - all resulting in cost savings. There is also more social interaction and in general, happier residents, families and staff.

When starting from scratch with a new build, it is uniquely possible to

plan for such innovative care models. I hope that Southbridge Care Homes will seize this opportunity to benefit residents and families in the Kemptville area.

L.Belzac Dear Editor, I think eating well, taking needed supplements, and exercising is good for our health. I'm not opposed to all alternative healthcare advice which is not harmful, however, shouldn't the syndicated article by W. Gifford-Jones, MD (AKA Ken Walker) and Diana Gifford-Jones (AKA Diana MacKay) have "advertisement" printed above their article. When the writer promotes supplements that he sells, that goes from medical advice to advertising. That his advice is questionable is shown by his anti-vaccine article which, for good reason, was not put into the NG Times or almost any reputable paper. (Ref. https:// sciencebasedmedicine.org/ antivaccine-propagandafrom-dr-w-gifford-jones-inthe-toronto-sun/ -very-high factual reporting according to MediaBias) Sharon Côté

The North Grenville Times is published weekly by North Grenville Times Inc. Marketing Gord J. Logan gord@ngtimes.ca 613-258-6402 April 14, 2021

Dear Editor; I was just reading an article called "The Decline of Collectivity", and was musing about how this has affected the way in which a number of us view this current pandemic.

This phrase was used by former Alberta Conservative premier Peter Lougheed, who had spearheaded our country's Americanization, so it was somewhat of a surprise to hear him say "We are becoming increasingly Americanized, and this imposes an un-Canadian individualism on our ethic". He was alarmed by the extent to which his party's leaders were pushing

the north grenville

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letters cont'd on page 8

Mailing Address P.O. Box 1854 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Staff Reporter Hilary Thomson hilary@ngtimes.ca

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letters cont'd many people no longer vote in elections for proof of that.

This brings me back to the current pandemic. Right wing governments have systematically reduced funding for social programs, particularly in health care. Many of their adherents refuse to follow government edicts because it infringes on what they see as their rights and freedoms, regardless of the fact that their actions may be, and have been, endangering the lives of others. It is just this sort of attitude that is contributing to why we are now entering the 3rd. phase of this pandemic. Many provincial governments, Ontario's included, have been slow to respond to calls from our health professionals that we need to do more to stay safe, and, instead, have listened to their supporters and the business community, the latter of which would probably have been better off had we done the right thing the first time, and shut everything down, rather than this constant opening and closing, which is simply making matters worse.

The spurious notion of individualism is that if each person and corporation is free to pursue individual advantage, then the "market" will somehow make sure that the overall result will benefit everyone. In fact, as we have seen, the outcome is the precise opposite. Only the strongest, the smartest, the luckiest and the fiercest prosper, and the expense of those less strong, less smart, less lucky, and less unscrupulous.

It is one of the worst flaws of humanity that the actions that we take may benefit us individually, at least in the short term, but harm us collectively.

Surely, if a committed conservative like Peter Lougheed could have had that insight, it is not beyond the comprehension of most Canadians. And yet we still keep voting in the same people who keep doing the same things to the detriment of most of those that they were elected to serve. We deserve better.

Colin Creasey, Kemptville Dear Editor, My heading would be as such (Acts of Kindness) and the letter would read, A big thank you to the kind person who on August 26 managed to move a large fallen tree from blocking the entrance to my home. It is hard to explain how emotional and happy I felt upon the discovery. I also wish to April 14, 2021

thank the parties involved in making St. Patrick’s day and Easter more special for me by kindly delivering treats to my door. A lovely surprise on both occasions.

Judith Hurman Dear Editor, I see the town of Kemptville is about to experience another black-eye to its attempt to promote itself as an attractive tourist destination.

The first punch to the town's left eye arrived via an announcement of the "benevolent bequest" from Steve Clark of a provincial prison designed to create jobs and bring economic prosperity to the area. Despite a plethora of data from a variety of other jurisdictions contradicting our MPP's claims that we would all be basking in economic abundance a few years down the road, it would take a miracle for Mr. Clark and his colleagues to reverse the decision. Steve and his cronies know that no matter how much abuse they heap on our riding, come next election the majority of his constituency will obediently go dazed and "glassy-eyed" to the ballot boxes and vote Conservative as they do every election.

As if a regional prison wasn't bad enough, now this week the town received its second punch in the eye. This time it blackened the town's right eye, as we learn that the political pariah of eastern Ontario, MPP Randy Hillier, has decided to take his embarrassing "dog and pony" show to Kemptville.

Mr. Hillier found an enthusiastic Kemptville restaurant to host a rally of the "No Lock-Down Canada". This organization is composed of a group of circus performers including anti-maskers, COVID deniers, anti-vaxxers and business enterprises who consider protective health measures during a world-wide pandemic as an affront to their right to carry on business-asthey-see fit.

How the owner of South Branch can see hosting this event and advertising the fact as a shrewd marketing move is beyond me. I for one will never be dropping any of my coin in their laps again. Fortunately, there are enough other community-friendly eating establishments in Kemptville to enjoy, so no loss there.

I must say, I have never been as happy to wear my mask as I move through Kemptville. It now serves a dual purpose. Not only does it provide some protection to myself and my fellow citizens

from becoming ill, but also serves to disguise my redfaced embarrassment as a resident of North Grenville.

Don Palmer

UPDATE For updates related to COVID-19 and the North Grenville Municipal Centre visit: www.northgrenville.ca/coronavirus

Dear Editor, I read with some incredulity the editorial in the NGT April 7/21 issue entitled "Femicide". Femicide, it is claimed, is reaching beyond a crisis point in this country. A report is quoted by a group, CFOJA, indicating that 160 women were victims of "femicide" in the past year and in 2019, 146 such cases. A similar report records 2019 at 144 cases of female homicide and 2018 at 166. These statistics have fluctuated at these levels since 2000 (149) and the highest in 2002 (207).

Homicide is never a good thing, but to characterize today's numbers as being at "crisis" levels seems irresponsible. In 2018, the number of male homicides was 492 and 486 in 2019.

The male homicide rate in 2018 was 3 times the female rate and in 2019 was 3.4 times the female homicide rate. Does that indicate that "malicide" is far beyond the crises point and parliament should immediately deal with the matter as the statistics for male homicides are even beyond the "staggering statistics" that the NGT editor claims is the case for females?

In 2019, there were 18.68 million males in Canada and 18.91 million females according to Stats Canada, thus 230 thousand more females than males. Thus the overall 2019 Canadian female homicide rate is 1 in 131,319 and the male is 1 in 38,436. According to the NGT, females are killed at a rate of 1 every 2.5 days, but no concern is raised of males killed at the rate of 1.33 per day! As an interesting statistic, WSIB in 2019 recorded 925 workplace deaths, 882 were male and 43 female. It seems that in overall death statistics, males are in far greater danger than females!

An article "Trends and Patterns in Femicide" (table 253-0003) by the same group (CFOJA) as quoted by the NGT editor, using Stats Canada data from 1975 to 2015: "In 2015, the most recent year for which official data were available, females accounted for approximately three in 10 (or 29%) of homicide victims in Canada. The ratio of female homicide victims to male homicide victims has re-

In light of the province-wide shutdown, please be advised that the Municipal Centre is currently closed to the public. The Municipality remains operational to provide essential services and assistance to residents and businesses by virtual appointment only.

UPCOMING MEETINGS COUNCIL MEETINGS

Council meetings will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Council meetings will be live streamed on YouTube commencing at 6:30 pm. To view the live stream visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/ NorthGrenville/featured For any members of the public wanting to attend the meeting virtually, pre-registration is required by e-mailing clerk@northgrenville.on.ca. To make a deputation in relation to an item on the agenda, please pre-register with the Clerk’s Office at the same e-mail address. Please provide your comments no later than two hours prior to the start of the meeting.

Council agendas (including for closed sessions) may be found here: https://www.northgrenville.ca/govern/governance/agendas-and-minutes •

Council Meeting – Tuesday, April 20, 2021

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS Committee meetings will be conducted virtually via Zoom. For any members of the public wanting to attend the meeting virtually, pre-registration is required by e-mailing Jessica Workman at jworkman@northgrenville.on.ca Accessibility Advisory Committee – Monday April 19, 2021 at 4:00 pm

POLICE SERVICES BOARD

Police Services Board meetings will be conducted virtually via Zoom. For any members of the public wanting to attend the meeting virtually, pre-registration is required by e-mailing Palak Mehta at pmehta@northgrenville.on.ca North Grenville Police Services Board Meeting – Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 1:30 pm

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Visit www.northgrenville.ca/careers for more details Planner II: Resumes must be received no later than 4:00 pm on April 16, 2021 Board Members – Kemptville Campus: Resumes must be received no later than 4:00 pm on April 16, 2021 Executive Director – Kemptville Campus: Resumes must be received no later than 4:00 pm on May 7, 2021

VACCINATION CLINIC

The vaccination clinic is located at the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville: 285 County Road 44. The entrance is on the Southside of the building. If you are eligible, you can book your COVID-19 vaccine online at www.ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488.

The Municipality of North Grenville

285 County Rd. 44, PO Box 130, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Tel: 613-258-9569 Fax: 613-258-9620 general@northgrenville.on.ca Building: 613-258-9569 x130 Fax: 613-258-1441 Fire Services Info: 613-258-9569 x201 Fax: 613-258-1031 By-Law Services: email: bylawinquiries@northgrenville.on.ca 613-258-9569 x211 Police Administration: 613-258-3441 Animal Control: 613-862-9002

www.NorthGrenville.ca mained relatively stable from 1975 to 2015, ranging from a low of 24 percent of victims in 2008 to a high of 38 percent of homicide victims in 1981".

The same report indicates "There has been a significant decline in homicide over the past several decades. Overall homicide rates involving a female victim have decreased by 52 percent from 20.4 per million population in 1975 to 9.7 per million population in 2015. There has been a steep decline in male homicide rates during this period as well, dropping 40% (from 40.1 per million in 1975 to 20.4 per million in 2015)."

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For the NGT editor to claim that Canada is now in a "crisis position" regarding "femicide" seems to be clearly in error.

Willem Van Dam

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Library requests building grant in 2021 budget

by Hilary Thomson The Merrickville Public Library has submitted a request to council to have their building grant reinstated in the 2021 budget.

According to library CEO, Mary-Kate Laphen, the municipality at one time did provide the library with a grant every year to support the upkeep of the old building. When she started working at the library in the 1990s the grant was about $3000, but when they moved to the current building in 2008 it was sitting at $5000$10,000.

Mary-Kate says they used up their building reserve on renovations and moving expenses in 2008, and although they requested that the yearly grant remain intact, the council of the day decided to suspend it since the newer building did not require as much maintenance as the Library's old 1890 home.

That being said, the

"new" 25 year-old building is now in need of some repairs, and the library board is looking to the municipality to help cover some of the costs. Mary-Kate says the municipality's Chief Building Official (CBO) has submitted a report outlining some work that needs to be done on their roof, as well as several other areas on the exterior of the building. "There's quite a bit of work that needs to be done now, and he also said that it's something that we're going to have to keep on top of going forward," she told council at last week's council meeting.

The municipality is the owner of the building and the library leases it for $1/year.

It wasn't until last year that the library board found out they were on the hook for the maintenance of the building and would have to look after the repairs to the roof and other related projects. "The library said OK, we can do this, but we would like the building grant back to pay for it because we don't really have a revenue stream for

until it is needed.

Council will be considering the library's request during the budget process over the next few weeks.

Mary-Kate says that if council doesn't agree to the $3000 and reinstating the building grant, it would be extremely detrimental for the library.

"I'm not quite sure what the board's going to do at that point, but it would definitely be a problem," she says.

She is hopeful that council will decide in their favour as maintaining the library building, which is used by the community six days a week, is in the best interests of the municipality and its residents.

"It is their building, and they want to make sure that it's being kept up," she says. "They don't want to find out down the road that there was no money so things weren't fixed and then problems developed.

It's in their interest to make sure that the building stays in good shape."

that," Mary-Kate says.

Although the library does have a reserve fund, this money is meant to be used for library improvements, like technology, new books and services, not building maintenance.

The library is asking that the municipality include $3000 in the 2021 budget for building repairs and maintenance, and that they commit to maintaining this grant yearly. "We thought a modest amount to start and then it's something that can be adjusted from year to year depending on what needs to be done and what's available," Mary-Kate told council.

The library board is hoping that with the $3000 from the municipality, some surplus from previous years and donations, they will be able to raise a total of $14,000 to be placed in their building reserve. Mary-Kate says they are not sure how much all the projects will cost or whether they will be done this year, but if the money is not spent, it will remain in the reserve

Council receives draft budget at 0% tax increase

by Hilary Thomson Merrickville-Wolford council received a preliminary draft budget last week at a 0% tax increase.

CAO Doug Robertson told council that staff have been particularly focused on being conservative this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included pulling back on their annual contribution to the infrastructure reserve, contributing around $17,000 instead of the usual $70,000-$170,000. "We're just recognizing the fiscal constraints of the current climate," he said.

Some other high-level items that CAO Robertson drew council's attention to at the meeting included a reinstatement of the equipment operator position that has been vacant for the past year. According to CAO Robertson, staff had decided to see how they could manage without the position when it became vacant with the merging of the Fire Chief and Manager of Operations posiApril 14, 2021

tions over a year ago. "We've done so but it's been difficult, so what we are proposing today is simply to reinstate that position," he said.

One of the biggest projects in the proposed budget is the maintenance of a few of the municipality's tar and chip roads, at a cost of roughly $520,000. "Those are roads that are overdue for a maintenance lift, and we are concerned that if we don't get on those, some of those roads might require a complete rebuild at a much greater expense," CAO Robertson said.

The Village ran a very successful pilot project last year merging the use of a Public Works vehicle and a vehicle for the Fire Chief.

Using one vehicle for both positions, held by Brad Cole, has improved service times and response times, and it also means that they only have to replace one very old 2002 vehicle in the Operations Department, at a cost of around $60,000.

Finally, staff have proposed a $175,000 contribution to the reserve for the replacement of their 1991

pumper truck. According to Fire Chief Cole, the new truck will be replacing both the old pumper and their rescue truck. The Village currently has $373,500 saved for the new vehicle, and they will have to make this year's contribution as well as one in 2022 to cover the full cost.

Staff are hoping to post a Request For Proposals for the vehicle replacement this year, with the full expenditure occurring in 2022.

After CAO Robertson presented his summary of the proposed draft budget to council, there was some discussion around the table.

A few councillors were concerned about the need to maintain some of the other roads in the municipality, particularly in the urban area.

Council also received a presentation from residents of Merrickville Estates requesting that H.F. McLean Road, which is the main road leading into the subdivision, be paved in 2021. According to treasurer Kirsten Rahm, there would have to be a 5% tax increase this year to fund the paving of H.F. McLean.

Council took the draft budget home for a more fulsome review, with another meeting scheduled for Wednesday April 14 at 1 pm to hammer out the details.

This meeting will likely be held virtually as staff have amended the procedural bylaw to allow for virtual meetings. CAO Robertson says information about how to view the meeting will be on the agenda package once it is published on the website.

Mayor Doug Struthers said the public will have a chance to review the budget once the draft is finalized.

They would normally have two budget presentations, at the Merrickville Community Centre and Eastons Corners Centennial Hall, but this is not possible due to the pandemic.

However, a slide presentation outlining some of the budget highlights, as well as the full line by line draft budget, will be posted on the website once approved by council.

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NDP convention debates Universal Basic Income

by Lorraine Rekmans This past weekend, the New Democratic Party of Canada hosted a virtual national convention. Interestingly, the NDP has a proposal similar to one that the Liberal Party of Canada was also debating at their convention over the weekend, namely the proposal for a guaranteed basic income system that would alleviate poverty while maintaining the existing levels of funding for other social programs.

The list of conference speakers included NDP provincial party leaders John Horgan, Rachel Notley, Ryan Meili, Wab Kinew, and Andrea Horwath. Ed Broadbent offered remarks to open the first day of the convention.

The policy proposals put forward also included a call for legislated employer paid sick days for all federally regulated workers, with an additional 14 days of paid sick leave during public health outbreaks.

Delegates also debated a policy motion to immediately forgive all student loans and have all financial records expunged, and that the government move as quickly as possible to implement free university tuition for all students. www.ngtimes.ca

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From bigger and better to smaller and smarter

Photo Credit: Kubota

by Ralph C. Martin As a wee lad, on our home farm, I was impressed when Grampa moved manure, ploughed in perfect patterns, and hauled hay with his voice activated power units.

They were even self replicating. Sometimes he would let me tug on the reins but the horses stayed on course, until Grampa called for a change.

Grampa died in time to be spared the scramble to larger equipment, larger tractors and larger farms in order to reduce hours of labour and cost of production per

unit of agricultural product.

However, I'm guessing he would have been curious about new power units on the agricultural horizon.

I recall a conversation with my colleague, Dr. Dave Hume, a few years ago when he said that one person could probably operate several autonomous tractors at one time from a farm office or field location. Why then would any one unit have to be so large?

Why indeed?

Some of the current promotions for robotic tractors are recommending swarms

of small units which may collectively do the same task, or different ones, depending on what is needed, in each field.

Self-propelled robotic cover crop seeders (www.rowbot. com ) and weeders with sensors, can work 24/7. Weeders may not so much till soil but rather poke small weeds into soil or pull slightly larger weeds out.

Over 50 years ago, at Expo 70 in Japan, I had the privilege to entertain crowds as part of the Elmira District Secondary School band. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Kubota was already showcasing a prototype of their Dream tractors of the future (https:// bit.ly/3rOHigv ). Their 1970 model was a bit off the mark for practical implementation, but the modern version can "adjust its height to tackle varying terrain and is equipped with four in-wheel motors to give it an ultrasharp turning radius."

AgXeed features an optimization option with their Agbot. "Select the field border along which you want the robot to start, choose a start and finish position, the desired overlap between paths, the number of headland passes and let it calculate the routing." (https://bit. ly/3bJpePh ).

Large, rectangular fields may no longer be necessary.

Autonomous units offer new possibilities for agroforestry with rows of high value trees on field contours, riparian zones hugging winding creek banks and wildlife corridors linking small woodlots. A small autonomous unit will efficiently find its way without mumbling about so much turning.

It seems reasonable that autonomous tractors will be more cost effective to purchase and operate, on a per acre basis, than large units with cabs and amenities for

Kemptville Building Centre rebrands under BMR

drivers. Electric units will have fewer moving parts. Furthermore, large equipment is increasingly difficult to move safely along public roads and operator time is required to make adjustments for road travel.

Compaction has been an increasing problem as tractors and equipment get larger and heavier. Certainly tracks, larger tires and low tire pressure can help spread the load but with these advances applied to smaller and lighter units, compaction will be more effectively mitigated. Furthermore, small units linked to satellite moisture data might be flexible enough to seed earlier drying land, within a field, with an earlier corn hybrid while leaving the later drying land for another day, with a slightly later hybrid, thus decreasing compaction and optimizing routing and planting times.

Similar flexibility may also

reduce compaction at harvest.

Wendell Berry, a farmer and author of many essays about food and farming, first elucidated the idea that there is value in increasing the ratio of eyes per acre. Autonomous units will be guided by numerous sensors and satellite data.

In my opinion, a practiced eye connected to a relational and considerate human is worth 1000 sensors. Regardless of opportunities with autonomous tractors and sensors, farmers should keep observing their land directly, with their own eyes, as well as keeping sharp eyes on dashboard data.

Ralph C. Martin, Ph.D., Professor (retired), University of Guelph.

Author of Food Security: From Excess to Enough at www.ralphmartin.ca

Send in your letters to the editor to editor@ngtimes.ca

KBC with their temporary BMR Group branding

by Hilary Thomson Kemptville Building Centre (KBC) has now been officially re-branded under the BMR Group umbrella.

KBC has been a part of the Kemptville business community for over 45 years. Since 1975, they have been both independent and held partnerships with Home Hardware, and most recently RONA. KBC employs between 5575 people depending on the season, more than half of whom have been dedicated to serving their customers for more than 10 years.

President, Eric Norenberg, says BMR first approached KBC a year ago, suggesting that they join their family of stores in Ontario.

Based in Quebec, BMR is currently trying to expand their influence into Eastern Ontario with the hope of establishing even more dealers between Montreal and Ottawa in the next year.

Eric says KBC has been April 14, 2021

working with BMR throughout the pandemic to gain access to stock and better pricing. With the shortage of lumber due to the pandemic, KBC was able to gain access to products through a sister company of BMR, and has been working with them ever since.

They have also been able to source drywall through them when they couldn't get stock through their usual channels.

"Going forward this year, they are guaranteeing us not only best pricing but supply, which is important because that's why the price has gone up so much, because there's high demand and low supply," he says.

Eric is excited about this new partnership with BMR as it will allow them to upgrade their look as well as provide an even better service to the community. "[It's] the combination of a new look, a new brand, exciting new products, services and better pricing," he says. The fact that BMR is also a Canadian company is also a huge benefit. "It's truly

a Canadian company where RONA is not anymore," he noted.

Vice President of Strategy and Network Development for BMR, Jonathan Gendreau, says they are pleased to welcome KBC into the BMR Group and to see their network of dealers in Ontario grow. "This will allow us to better serve the needs of local residential and business customers while increasing recognition of BMR Group's excellent customer service," he said in a statement. "We look forward to working with Eric and his dedicated team and to introduce them to the many advantages of BMR!" KBC is continuing to serve the community through the provincial lockdown and stay at home order. To place an order, call 613-258-6000 or email orders@kbchome.ca.

Delivery and curbside pickup options are available.

Health Unit warns of Carfentanil in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Public Health Units across Ontario have been alerted by the Office of the Chief Coroner to the continued escalation of the overdose crisis in this province. The number of suspected drug related deaths reported to the Office of the Chief Coroner continues to be elevated in March 2021 with over 300 deaths reported to date across Ontario, including the largest number of deaths (104) reported in week of March 1-7.

According to the Office of Chief Coroner, it is notable that carfentanil (a known analogue of Fentanyl) has been detected in post-mortem toxicology for 10 deaths during the period of February 13-March 12, 2021. These deaths occurred in Toronto (4), Hamilton (2), Mississauga (2), Oshawa and Peterborough. Carfentanil has been detected in a total of 16 deaths in 2021 (with some 10

toxicology testing results in substance related deaths pending) and the cause of death for 9 deaths in 2020.

The Office of the Chief Coroner is providing this early information as this may signal the presence of carfentanil in the substance supply in the areas where these deaths occurred but also in other regions of the province.

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is reporting 58 overdose reports in the first 3 months of 2021, 86% of the reports involve Fentanyl. In comparison, the Health Unit notes that for the same 3 months in 2020 they received 16 reports with 87% involving Fentanyl and 27 reports of which 37% involved Fentanyl in 2019. The Health Unit, along with community partners, are aware that some of the substances available in the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark area contain not only

carfentanil but many other of the Fentanyl analogues as well as benzodiazepines.

The Health Unit continues to monitor the ongoing overdose crisis while encouraging the increased distribution of naloxone (the medication used to reverse an opioid overdose) across LGL and advocating for the urgent response to this public health crisis. The Health Unit reminds the community that all overdoses are a medical emergency. Anyone who suspects or witnesses an overdose should call 9-1-1. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection against simple drug possession charges for anyone who experiences, witnesses or responds to an overdose and calls 9-1-1.

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The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

COVID-19

Information for North Grenville Residents A Provincewide Stay-at-Home Order is in Effect Working together to keep our community safe

#LoveNG Ad Program for Businesses

Please continue to do your part to protect yourself and others to help stop the spread of COVID-19: ► ► ► ► ►

The Municipality has partnered with Moose FM, The North Grenville Times, and The Kemptville Advance to offer advertising support to businesses who have been negatively impacted

by COVID-19. The #LoveNG advertising promotion is a cost-effective way for local businesses to reach their target markets during the pandemic.

Stay home as much as possible Practice social distancing Wear a mask indoors Wash your hands frequently Get tested if you do not feel well

Visit www.investnorthgrenville.ca for more information or email mgilmer@northgrenville.on.ca.

Please continue to be patient and kind with businessowners and each other.

North Grenville COVID-19 Assessment Centre Located in Bell Hall (15 Campus Drive) on the Kemptville Campus. The Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Municipal Updates: During the provincewide Stay-at-Home Order the North Grenville Municipal Centre will remain closed to the public. However, the Municipality will remain operational to provide essential services and assistance to residents and businesses. Building and inspection services will continue during the shutdown.

People who have symptoms of COVID-19 and/or have been exposed to confirmed case of COVID-19 will be tested.

Book an appointment online at www.ngcac.ca or by phone at 613-258-3192.

Residents are encouraged to make payments online, by mail or locked mailbox, and call ahead to make an appointment for services. general@northgrenville.on.ca 613-258-9569

Vaccination Clinic The Vaccination clinic is located at the North Grenville Municipal Centre at 285 County Road 44, Kemptville (entrance on south side of building).

For more information for residents regarding COVID-19 visit: www.northgrenville.ca/coronavirus

If you are eligible, you can book your COVID vaccine online at www.ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488.

Support Local Businesses #LoveNG

If you have questions or concerns related to COVID-19 contact the Health Unit at 1-800-660-5853 or healthunit.org.

Shop local and show your support for our community. Visit www.LoveNG.ca.

Thank you for helping to stop the spread of COVID-19: 2m (6’)

STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

MAINTAIN 2M DISTANCE

FOLLOW PROVINCIAL RESTRICTIONS REGARDING PUBLIC GATHERINGS

WEAR A MASK

WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN

The Municipality’s priority is protecting the health and safety of our residents.

Visit: www.northgrenville.ca/coronavirus.

April 14, 2021

11

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The North Grenville Times

Financial Cup of Tea – How do I Build my Financial Plan?

by Sarah Chisholm Financial Advisor, O'Farrell Financial Services Grab your favourite cup of tea or coffee and let us protect your Financial Plan. In addition to building assets and reducing debts, a comprehensive Financial Plan should provide risk mitigation.

Your wealth is growing – you are building your retirement equity in RRSP, TFSA, rental properties, business ventures and perhaps workplace pensions. You have an income that supports your lifestyle expenses including mortgages, car payments, vacations, and retirement savings. Have you considered what happens if you become sick or injured? How do you continue to fund your lifestyle and grow your wealth?

If you are currently 35 years old and are making $50,000 per year, you will be generating $1,500,000 of income over the next 30 years! Is your ability to earn an income protected?

The good news is that you may already have some level of protection against illness or injury. In Ontario, the Workplace Safety Insurance Board provides coverage for work-related illness and injuries, providing income replacement until you can return to work. Not all industries, however, are covered through WSIB. Employment Insurance may also be an option. If you meet the required number of hours in the 52-week time frame, you could be eligible for 15 weeks of taxable benefits after a 2-week waiting period. EI comes in as a taxable benefit and is based on a percentage of your income. You would receive 55% of your weekly paycheque, up to a maximum of $595 per week. For the self-employed, there are very specific requirements to meet to be eligible for EI. Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit is a monthly payment available to those who have a severe and prolonged disability. A doctor must sign off on a portion of the application. The candidate must also meet CPP contribution requirements based on a six-year time frame.

The maximum monthly payment in 2021 is $1,413; however, the amount received is based on past CPP contributions and the average received is only $1,031.

You may also have coverage through other plans including creditor insurance, auto-insurance, critical illness policies.

Finally, you may also have coverage through a group disability insurance policy or an individually owned disability policy. Depending on the specific policy, multiple factors could change; your start date for coverage, is your coverage taxable or non-taxable, how long does the coverage last, does the coverage exclude any conditions, and is there a refund of premium option.

The possibilities may seem overwhelming, but your Financial Advisor can help you explore all the options, identify any gaps in your plan, and provide recommendations on how to strengthen the risk mitigation portion of your Financial Plan.

Please reach out to us with any questions you may have. See our ad in this week's North Grenville Times or follow us on Facebook @OFarrellFinancialServicesInc. YOUR LOCALLY OWNED, LOCALLY EMPLOYED FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRM

North Grenville’s Financial Services Professionals Daren Givoque Financial Advisor

Sarah Chisholm Financial Advisor

877.989.1997 | OFSI.CA | FUTURE@OFSI.CA BROCKVILLE CORNWALL KEMPTVILLE RENFREW WINCHESTER

April 14, 2021

The Voice of North Grenville

Notice of Study Completion Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study for Northwest Quadrant Water Distribution System Expansion LA Development has completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study to increase the groundwater supply capacity of the existing Kemptville Water Supply System to accommodate the anticipated development by the buildout year of 2034.

The Class EA study was conducted in accordance with the requirements for Schedule ‘B’ projects under the Municipal Class EA document as set out by the Municipal Engineers Association (October 2000, amended in 2007, 2011 and 2015). The Class EA study included: •

Public and agency consultation;

•

Identification and evaluation of water supply servicing alternative solutions;

•

Assessment of the impacts of the proposed work;

•

Identification of measures to mitigate such impacts.

The preferred water supply servicing solution, recommended in the Class EA study, consists of servicing alternative, including: •

Development of a new production well in the proposed location, construction of an above grade reservoir for treated water storage, construction of a pumphouse right over the wellhead, an outdoor emergency standby diesel generator with a weatherproof enclosure, and an open green space south of the proposed facility available for public recreational uses.

A Project File Report (PFR) documenting the planning and decision-making process followed during the Class EA study has been prepared. By this notice, the PFR is being placed on the public record for a 30-day review period. The PFR is available online for public review at the link below. www.northgrenville.ca/northwest-quadrant-water-distribution-system-expansion/ If you wish to review the report in hard copy, please contact one of the Project Team Contacts listed in this notice.

Following the review, interested persons should provide written comments to the project team within a 30-calendar day review period beginning on April 7, 2021 and ending on May 18, 2021. Subject to comments received as a result of this Notice and the receipt of all necessary approvals, the LA Development intends to proceed with the detailed design and construction of the proposed works as documented in the PFR. In addition, a request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e. requiring an individual/ comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g. require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester contact information and full name for the ministry.

Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for additional conditions or a request for an individual/comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate or remedy those potential adverse impacts, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request. The request should be sent in writing or by email to: Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor Toronto ON M7A 2J3 minister.mecp@ontario.ca and Director, Environmental Assessment Branch Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks 135 St. Clair Ave. W, 1st Floor Toronto ON, M4V 1P5 EABDirector@ontario.ca Requests should also be sent directly to the Project Team members listed below by e-mail.

Anne Anderson Administrator, LA Group Kemptville, ON 613-271-9644 anne@lagroup.ca

Hugues Bisson, P.Eng. MBA Project Manager CIMA+ 613-860-2462 ext. 6660 hugues.bisson@cima.ca

Thomas Rapley, PMP Class EA Study Lead CIMA+ 905-695-1005 ext.5789 thomas.rapley@cima.ca

Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

This notice was first issued on April 7, 2021.

Burn ban in effect

tural burns, brush piles, burn barrels, incinerators and other types of outdoor burning are not permitted.

There have been multiple uncontrolled grass and brush fires within the County over the last couple of weeks which has led the Fire Chief's in Leeds and Grenville to enact this partial burn ban.

We are monitoring the situation frequently and we will communicate any changes as they arise.

All municipalities within the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville have implemented a partial openair burn ban as of Thursday April 8, 2021 until further notice.

Permitted Open Air Burning includes: Campfires, outdoor fireplaces, chimeneas, and appliances with a mechanical shutoff, i.e. propane or natural gas equipment.

Prohibited Open Air Burning includes: agricul-

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The North Grenville Times

SERVICES

Kemptville Building Centre

is looking to Hire:

HANDYMAN RETIRED CARPENTER Renovations, kitchens, SERVICES bathrooms, additions, Painting, Demolition, decks, home repair.

Drywall, Call George at Carpentry, etc 613 462 7637 Bill at 613-774-2922

Window and Door Sales Associate Customer Service Desk Sales Associate Please call: 613-258-6000 ext. 238 for more information

Classifieds

FREE- wood chips- call 613 258 7606

FOR SALE

Firewood for sale - mixed hardwood, 3 cord minimum for delivery, $110 per cord, call Jon 613-227-3650 Cedar posts and rails for sale - various sizes, call Jon for pricing 613-227-3650 Hardwood. Ideal for camp.

4 cords.$100. Nick 258-3512 MEN'S 26" BICYCLE PARTS. EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE FRAME INCLUDING THE TWO WHEELS WITH NEW TIRES/ T U B E S. C A L L D O U G 613 258-4573 JAYCO 5th wheel. Fully loaded, beautiful shape.

Call James 613-258-3561

CHROME MAG RIM & SUMMER TIRE, I have a set of 4 Chrome mag rims (5 bolt off a 2006 Malibu) and 4 Uniroyal Tiger Paws summer tires, 225/50R18 95T, low profile, mint condition, only used 2 summers. Asking $450 for all. pls call 613-215-0884

MISCELLANEOUS Looking to rent farmland for cash crops. Call or text Mitch @ 613-262-1204.

Looking to harvest cedar trees for hedges off acreages from landowners. Please call 613-799-0958

Hardwood for sale. Milled black walnut. Merrickville jgharris@sympatico.ca

Room to Rent. Low Price, Close to Kemptville. Amazing roommate. Call 613258-3537 Anytime for Details.

Cedar posts,Spruce logs & pickets.. call 613.258.3561

Income tax service in Merrickville - John Harris CMC jgharris@sympatico.ca, 613-297-7553

HIRING Multiple Positions Available Moex is a local business with 30 years service in the landscaping industry.

We are searching for skilled, dedicated individuals to join our team. We welcome applicants who are capable and enjoy working outdoors in various conditions, from hot days to cold, rain or shine.

Candidates must show initiative and a desire to learn; appreciate the value of hard, physical labour, and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Our teams work together to create and maintain outdoor living spaces on residential properties, and green spaces on commercial sites.

Positions are seasonal, running generally from late April until early December. Valid driver’s licence required for most positions.

Currently we have positions available for: Landscape Lead Hand Landscape Assistant Gardening Personnel Grounds Keeping Litter Management Personnel Visit our website for further details: www.moexinc.com Send Resumes to: resume@moexinc.com Contact Kurt at (613) 258-6805 or send by post to: Moex Property Maintenance Inc. 803 French Settlement Rd Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0

April 14, 2021

The Voice of North Grenville

Free general help for seniors in need. Call Andrew 613-277-8068

AL'S SPRING CLEAN UP

Looking for a Room to Rent. Kemptville area within approx. 25km radius.Happy to help with work around house or yard.Quiet, clean and have no drug or alcohol issues. (613) 601-5871

Property - Home - Clean - Up (Interior - Exterior) Carpentry - Fencing - Roofs - Basements

WANTED

DUMP RUNS: everything goes

Wanted hockey players! Goalies!

Summer hockey, men's oldtimers league. Ideally 60+ thursday mornings 9am to 10.20 Am. April to august." No ex nhl'ers or wannabe's! Contact: rc at : info@3point5.Ca

FULLY INSURED

Send in your letters to the editor to

Wanted! Goalie for Summer Hockey, Kemptville Area. Thursday mornings 9 am to 10.20 am. Contact: admin@3point5.ca

editor@ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times is Locally Owned and Operated HIRING FOR MULTIPLE POSITIONS

C: 613.295.0300

HELP WANTED WEED MAN / TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL Merrickville, On

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Lawn Care and Structural Technicians / Sales and Supervisory Qualifications: Clean Driving Record (Full training is provided) Please Forward a Resume

By E-Mail To:

SMITHSFALLS@WEEDMANCANADA.COM

SEND IN YOUR CLASSIFIED to classifieds@ngtimes.ca

BUY AND SELL LOCALLY FIRST TEN WORDS FREE

Tackaberry Construction is a local, family run business, serving eastern Ontario since 1957. We offer competitive wages with group benefits. We are currently looking to hire for various locations in Leeds and Grenville/Lanark area.

If you have experience in any of the following areas please apply: Construction Labourer Weigh Scale Attendant Surveyor/Grade person Construction Foreman Job Estimator Heavy Equipment Mechanics Truck Mechanics Heavy Equipment Operators Crusher/Screening Plant Operators Depending on the position the successful candidates should have at a minimum: Communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills Equivalent of a high school diploma (Not required for some positions) Computer experience (Not required for some positions) Valid driver’s license If you are a self-starter, interested in working in a fast-paced environment, please submit your resume with references to: careers@tackaberryconstruction.com

Tackaberry Construction is a local, family run business, serving eastern Ontario since 1957, offering competitive wages and group benefits. We currently have immediate openings for the following positions at our Athens Location Truck and Heavy Equipment Shops.

Available Positions: A Certified Technician able to work on light duty and heavy-duty road vehicles. 310T/310S endorsement, or a 2nd/3rd period apprentice.

A Heavy Equipment Technician, certification would be an asset.

Qualifications: A strong team player who can work in a fast-paced environment.

Automotive experience an asset.

Must have own tools.

Valid Drivers License Please submit your resume to: careers@tackaberryconstruction.com or book an appointment by phone with Bill Keeler at 613-924-2634 to submit your resume in person or Mail to G. Tackaberry & Sons Construction Company Limited P.O. Box 70, Athens, ON K0E 1B0

G. Tackaberry & Sons is an equal opportunity employer. We wish to thank all who apply for this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

G. Tackaberry & Sons is an equal opportunity employer. We wish to thank all who apply for this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

13

Mechanic Positions

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n

The North Grenville Times

AGCO suspends and moves to revoke the liquor licence of The South Branch Bistro The Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued an Order of Interim Suspension of the liquor licence of The South Branch Bistro, located at 15 Clothier Street East in Kemptville, for reasons of public interest and safety. The interim suspension takes effect immediately. At the same time, the Registrar has also issued a Notice of Proposal (NOP) to revoke the establishment's liquor licence for infractions of the Liquor Licence Act (LLA), including the requirement that the licence holder act and carry on business in accordance with the law and with honesty and integrity.

On April 7, 2021, the AGCO learned that the licence holder was advertising and hosting a "No More Lockdown" protest rally on its Facebook page. The event was open to the public and scheduled to take place on April 8, 2021, at the licensed premises, in contravention

of the Province-Wide Shutdown Order made under the Emergency Management and Public Protection Act. On April 8, 2021, the licence holder held this event on the licensed premises. Officials from the AGCO, the Ontario Provincial Police as well as local public health and by-law enforcement officers visited the premises during the published times of the event. People were observed consuming liquor inside the licensed premises, on the licensed patio, and in the surrounding parking lot. People were not socially distanced and most, including staff and children, were not wearing masks.

When the AGCO returned to the establishment on April 9, 2021, it was observed that liquor was being served to patrons on the licensed patio despite the Province-Wide Shutdown Order in effect.

Staff were again not wearing masks.

Those who hold a licence

On April 8, 2021 Public Health Inspectors from the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit attended a large gathering at a business on Clothier Street East, in the Municipality of North Grenville with the Grenville County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), North Grenville By-Law Services, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

The investigation into this gathering is ongoing, and the Health Unit cannot provide additional details at this time.

"I assure the residents of Leeds, Grenville and Lanark that the Health Unit is taking our response to this incident very seriously,"

states Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

"We appreciate that local businesses are working hard to keep their employees and the community safe during this challenging time by following the Reopening Ontario Act rules and regulations," says Teresa Clow, Manager of Community Health Protection. "Past experience is that this does reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus, which then allows a resumption of reopening of business and services."

Information for businesses on requirements for operating can be found on the Health Unit website: https://healthunit.org/health-

CROSSWORD

to sell alcohol are responsible for meeting their obligations under the LLA, and to act with honesty and integrity.

The AGCO regularly conducts compliance activities at liquor licensed establishments across the province and commends the vast majority of licensees for operating responsibly.

There are consequences for licence holders who do not meet these requirements, including the possibility of an Order of Monetary Penalty, a temporary suspension of the licence, or in the most serious cases a revocation of the licence.

An establishment served with an interim suspension or a NOP has the right to appeal the Registrar's action to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, which is an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.

Health Unit collaborating to enforce the Reopening Ontario Act

The Voice of North Grenville

ACROSS 1. Cougars 6. What we sleep on 10. Skin irritation 14. Historical period 15. Away from the wind 16. Infamous Roman emperor 17. Cowboy sport 18. What a person is called 19. Threesome 20. Illiterate 22. At one time (archaic) 23. Channel selector 24. A dice game 25. 60 minutes 29. Revolutionary 31. Debt 33. Found in cigarettes 37. "Stick" of frozen water

38. Phonograph disc 39. Deficient 41. Anticipate 42. Sidelong 44. Colors 45. Fails to win 48. Manicurist's concern 50. Bothers 51. Beautiful 56. Untruths 57. Anagram of "Tine" 58. Angered 59. Cain's brother 60. "Oh my!"

61. Signed 62. Large town 63. Gave temporarily 64. Untidy

DOWN 1. South American country 2. Atop 3. Style 4. Breezed through 5. Holler 6. Elongated yellow fruit 7. Jubilant 8. Mark for misconduct 9. Sow 10. Entwined 11. Latin name for our planet 12. Crunchy 13. Owl sounds 21. A flow of electricity 24. A heavy wooden pole 25. Salute 26. Killer whale 27. Relating to urine 28. In a foolhardy manner 30. Whorl of petals 32. Assumed name 34. Snug (British spelling) 35. Algonquian Indian 36. Poems 40. Non-Jew 41. Most honest 43. Wicker material 45. Light purple 46. Small African antelope 47. Shooting sport 49. A firm open-weave fabric 51. Rectal 52. Prong 53. Varieties 54. V V V V 55. Countercurrent

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

information/covid-19/business-re-opening/ The Health Unit issued a media release earlier this week about the increase of COVID-19 cases and the presence of variants of concern in areas close to Ottawa, including Kemptville. Gatherings like the one on April 8 can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Residents are encouraged to continue following public health precautions at home, at work and in the community and are advised to complete the online selfassessment if they have any symptoms, even mild ones.

If testing is recommended, self- isolate, and seek testing at an Assessment Centre.

Easy

Medium

Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

AL'S SPRING CLEAN UP Property - Home - Clean - Up (Interior - Exterior) Carpentry - Fencing - Roofs - Basements

DUMP RUNS: everything goes

FULLY INSURED April 14, 2021

C: 613.295.0300 14

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The Voice of North Grenville

Two local organizations join forces to promote good forest management across Ontario

by Hilary Thomson The Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA) and the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) have merged to create a stronger, more streamlined organization.

Executive Director of the Ontario Woodlot Association, John Pineau, says both organizations had similar mandates in terms of promoting good forest management. Both were formed in 1992, and their head offices were both in North Grenville on the Kemptville Campus.

In fact, they had already merged their offices to save money before the decision was made to combine the two organizations. "We already were very closely aligned and tied and had a very good relationship," John says.

According to John, the two organizations had been talking about joining forces for a few years.

The impetuous for the merger came earlier this year when two key staff members at the EOMF left the organization to focus on their own forestry businesses. President of the EOMF, Tony Bull, released a statement on their website on March 19, explaining that the loss of these two valued staff members provided the opportunity for the organiza-

tion to evaluate how they could ensure the future health of the EOMF and protect its key programs, including the forest health network, forest certification program, as well as their education events.

It was through this process that the Boards of the OWA and EOMF came together and made the unanimous decision to merge the organizations. The merger is currently underway, and the process is expected to take until the end of this year. Although the name of the merged organization with be the Ontario Woodlot Association, John, who will be the newly formed organization's Executive Director, says they are focused on maintaining the strong legacy of the EOMF. "We'll keep their name alive in terms of this is a legacy project of the model forest with the different things we're going to keep going," he says. "The model forest has had some great impact and results."

One of the big programs that the EOMF has spearheaded over the years is the Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC) program that is recognized internationally as a symbol of good forest management. Products that come from FSC certified forests are given market advantage; but John says many woodlot owners use the certification system to en-

sure they are doing a good job managing their forests.

"It's a really good system and we have quite a number of community forests and conservation authorities and private woodlot owners that fall under that certification program."

OWA will also keep EOMF's yearly conference and seminars alive, as well as some work they were doing on invasive species. All the publications and reports that EOMF have published over the years will also continue to be available on a legacy website.

John says this merger is an opportunity to make both organizations stronger and have even more of an impact across Ontario.

OWA already has 20 chapters, and several thousand members across the province, as well as a very popular quarterly magazine called The Ontario Woodlander which they will be able to use to disseminate all the EOWA's legacy programs. "It's so good in terms of getting the word out and getting the products and services that we offer to a wider audience, and combined they are pretty powerful products and services."

To learn more about the OWA or sign up to become a member, visit their website at www.ontariowoodlot.com.

Weigh Scale Clerk Are you a self-motivated individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment? We currently have an opening for a Weigh Scale Clerk at our Kemptville Location, 4054 County Road 43 Kemptville, Ontario.

Tackaberry Construction is a local, family run business, serving eastern Ontario since 1957. We offer competitive wages and group benefits.

Primary Responsibilities: • Weighing inbound and outbound trucks on scale • Enter appropriate data into computer to print customer tickets • Radio communication with truck drivers and loader operators to ensure proper material and weights are loaded on customer trucks • Answer phones and assist with walk in customers • Additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned Qualifications: • High school diploma or equivalent • Excellent customer service and communication skills, both oral and written • Highly motivated and able to work with minimal supervision • Safety oriented • Basic computer skills • Ability to multi task and prioritize work load • Superior accuracy and analytical skills • Experience with Wintik software would be an asset but is not required • Valid driver’s license Please submit your resume to: careers@tackaberryconstruction.com Or mail to: G. Tackaberry & Sons Construction Company Limited P.O. Box 70 Athens, ON K0E 1B0 G. Tackaberry & Sons is an equal opportunity employer. We wish to thank all who apply for this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Complete Your Level 1 Commercial Vehicle and Equipment Apprenticeship

Help determine the future of Kemptville District Hospital

KDH is developing our next Strategic Plan and you are invited to be part of the process

through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Here’s how you can participate:

• Attend a Virtual Strategic Planning Workshop on Friday, April 23, 2021 from 2:15 to 5:00 pm. The workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Zayna Khayat, a Future Strategist with SE Health. Register by April 20 at http://www.eventbrite.com Keyword: Kemptville District Hospital

trleger.ucdsb.on.ca

1-877-875-3437

• Complete an online survey; the link will be shared widely through local media and on social media when the survey opens up.

• Members of the public may also receive a call to participate In a telephone survey.

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Tell us what you think KDH could and should be to the people we serve.

April 14, 2021

15

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Local Covid update

by David Shanahan The latest set of restrictions introduced by the Ontario Government last week have not been welcomed by anyone; but they have been seen by most as inevitable, given the statistics. Between January 15 of last year and the end of last week, there were 378,339 confirmed cases of Covid in the province. That number jumped by 4,227 between last Thursday and Friday. Over the Easter weekend, the number of cases rose by 40,517, and 218 people died in those few days. This raised the total number of deaths in the province to 7, 512. Ontario has the highest incidence of

new cases in the country. On one day last week, Ontario accounted for almost half of all new cases in Canada. On Thursday of last week, there were 1,492 people hospitalized with Covid in Ontario, of whom 552 were in Intensive Care, with 359 people on venitlators.

Eastern Ontario is one of the hot spots in the province.

It has seen the number of new cases rise dramatically, especially compared to last Summer. The Leeds Grenville and Lanark Health Unit [LGLHU] area saw an increase of 22 cases between April 7 and 8, and another 13 the following day. Look at the stats for new cases in the region over the past week: March 18:

21; March 19: 35; March 20, 19; March 22, 19. Then, last week, the numbers were 15, 11, 21, and 22, 13.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit [EOHU] has suffered even more. Between last Thursday and Friday, there were 64 new cases in the region, and another 23 were reported by Saturday, for a total of 3,700 cases and 94 deaths since the pandemic first hit. Dundas County has actually fared better than most other parts of the EOHU area.

North Dundas has had 108 confirmed cases, 21 of which were active last Saturday.

The age profile of those infected has also changed since the early days, when it was thought the most elderly

were the most vulnerable.

This has proved to be dangerously inaccurate. In the EOHU region, 34% of confirmed cases were in the 4064 age range, and 25% were aged between 20 and 39. This is the age range of those most likely to be ignoring medical advice when it comes to mask wearing and social distancing.

The statistics for the LGLHU are measured somewhat differently, but they show that around 38% of confirmed cases were in the 40 to 69 age group. More than 25% were in the 20-39 bracket.

There are two factors to note in all of these statistics.

One is that they are only the reported and confirmed cases; the other is that they

are already out of date. The tragedy is that the numbers are changing every day, and not for the better. The Kemptville District Hospital Long Term Care unit reported an outbreak of Covid on April 2, and it has not yet been ended.

We have seen cases affecting schools in the municipality.

The incident at a local restaurant last week underscored the danger of ignoring, or even doubting, this data.

Those who refuse to accept the word of the medical profession have to believe that doctors, nurses, infectious disease experts, and other frontline medical staff are lying about the pandemic.

The professionals whose lives are dedicated to the health

and well-being of the community are not all involved in a dastardly plot to kill people in their communities.

The question has to be asked: why is their testimony, and the dreadful testimony of these statistics, not believed?

Who do these people believe instead, and why?

Every time restrictions have been eased, or after holidays like Christmas and Easter, the number of people infected and dying has risen.

How can you explain that?

No-one wants these lockdowns to go on. But the price of not abiding by the regulations is too high in human lives to ignore.

and have organized protests when the times have called on us to do so. We are most proud of how our community rallied alongside us in stopping a trans-national pipeline effort.

SNG was formed in a very different North Grenville than the one we see today. Locally, as recently as 15 years ago, there was no BIA, no Farmers' Market, no Environmental Advisory Committee and no Kemptville Live. The College was still the cornerstone of our economy and the hot button issues in the editorial columns were more about land use and lower taxes than the topics that rile us up today.

The SNG mission has always been to look forward, and to explain the things that are difficult to explain... but many of those original issues - like climate change, or even community composting and local food, are now part of everyday conversations both here and in the world at large.

Tune in next week for Part 2: Where Are We Now? - and our Community Report Card!

More info: visit http:// www.sustainablenorthgrenville.ca/

Where We Started - Part 1

Sustainable North Grenville In honour of Earth Day, and in lieu of the canceled Sustainability Fair (we miss it too!), Sustainable North Grenville is releasing a series of articles, beginning today with, 'Where we Started', a pocket history introduction.

Next week look for, 'Where we are Now?', complete with our, 'State of NG', community report card. The following week we finish with 'Where to Next?', mapping next steps to ensure a more sustainable future for North Grenville.

Sustainable North Grenville (or 'SNG') is your local citizen action group whose goals are to promote all things 'Sustainable' in the context of three values: Our Community: To strengthen the resilience of our community at large culturally and socially - by a number of measures, including better communication ('knowing our neighbours') and, of course, by having fun together!

The Environment: To raise awareness of environmental issues in our community with a mix of education and action.

Local Economy: To support and promote the principles of sustainable community economic development - living and breathing the 'buy local' philosophy.

Like so many good things, SNG started with a small group of like-minded individuals gathering to talk. The beginning before the beginning was a small group that planned the first Earth Day Event in 2008.

"We invited people to come celebrate the green in North Grenville," recalled April 14, 2021

Clare Weissflog, one of the event's organizers. "Aimed at families, we pulled together an event designed for active participation, sharing and learning. The weather cooperated and our small but mighty event was a success!"

Others saw the connection between the environment and community well-being. "I had written an article decrying that council's offering of breaks and incentives to Walmart, a company that had helped kill the downtown business community in my hometown," recalls former restaurateur and long-time member Bruce Enloe. "There in the comments the next morning was a note saying, 'Hey, a few of us have been talking about things like this, want to stop by for a tea or coffee?'"

Those initial caffeinated conversations lead to the drafting of the Vision Statement, which is: "Sustainability is bringing the lessons of the past and the needs of the future into the actions of the present. In North Grenville, we envision a positive future in which we can find most of our food, our goods, our services and our culture right here in our own community. A future where people put more emphasis on each other than on material goods; and where we can talk about the environmental and economic cost of what we buy - not just the price. A Sustainable North Grenville will not be an accident: it will be a plan, an action and a vision."

This generated a series of events and actions, most notably the annual Sustainability

Fair - an event that has grown many times over the years, with music, food, dozens of booths and vendors, workshops, seminars, and recently the largest electric and plugin hybrid car show between Toronto and Montreal.

SNG has also hosted multiple other events per year, like themed movie nights, an annual Christmas fundraising event with candlelight, a potluck dinner, hosted talks from notable experts on a range of subjects, from local food to green building, from finding frogs to planting trees.

We have advocated on policy when it was important,

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The North Grenville Times

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The Voice of North Grenville

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April 14, 2021

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www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Menu #57

613.860.2539 STORE HOURS

www.dialachef.ca May 9

Mother’s Day Dinner Special

Creamy asparagus velouté Beef tenderloin wild mushroom and truffle sauce Croquettes potatoes, vegetable medley Strawberry and chocolate parfait $40.00 plus HST and delivery Tuesday April 20

Monday to Friday 8:00am to 7:00pm Saturday 8:00am to 6:00pm Sunday 9:00am to 6:00pm

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1- Cary spices and coconut breaded chicken breast, vegetable stir fry, basmati rice.

2- Curried tofu and vegetables casserole, basmati rice.

Wednesday April 21

1- Grilled ground lamb kofta, Harissa chick peas, couscous.

2- Middle eastern vegetable kabob, Harissa chick peas, couscous.

Thursday April 22

1- Chorizo and farfale casserole. Roasted peppers salad with feta, pine nuts and basil.

2- Farfale, mushroom, spinach and sun dry tomato. Roasted peppers salad with feta, pine nuts and basil.

Friday April 23

1- Beer batter cod, tartar sauce, warm potato salad.

2- Vegetable and tofu tempura, ginger lime sauce, rice noodle salad

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville We are coming onto the season for fresh local asparagus, an annual treat for those who wait for it with impatience. Some years ago, we had the opportunity of visiting Germany and our hostess prepared Asparagus au Gratin. Now, in Germany, the Asparagus is very large and very white. Our Canadian version is much more the slim green tender spears that cook up so nicely. Asparagus au Gratin is a great accompaniment to any meat dish and if you are vegetarian, you can even have it as a main meal with some fresh buns.

Asparagus au Gratin

Ingredients A large bunch of fresh Asparagus (8 spears per person is a good quantity) ½ cup of butter, preferably unsalted 3 or 4 cloves of garlic (flattened with a knife) or 2 tablespoons of minced garlic ½ cup of Panko crumbs ¼ cup Parmesan cheese Some dried Parsley flakes Some freshly ground pepper to taste Preparation 1. Pre-heat your oven to 350F. 2. Trim the Asparagus bottoms a bit to remove any tough parts and place in boiling water briefly.

3. Place the blanched Asparagus in a gratin dish (a long narrow dish) with the heads all in the same direction.

4. Melt the butter, add the garlic and the pepper.

5. Drench the asparagus with the butter mixture.

6. Mix the Panko crumbs and Parmesan in a separate bowl.

7. Top the Asparagus with it and pop in the oven for 10 or 15 minutes.

To serve, sprinkle some Parsley flakes over the entire dish. Now, some folks like to use a Béchamel Sauce and/ or grated cheese as well, but I find that these overcome the sweet taste of the Asparagus. Don't forget that cold, white wine…

Best to all in this new period of shut-down. Let's eat! Talk to me at: pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

April 14, 2021

18

Tuesday April 19th - Friday April 23rd Order & Pay online www.cateredaffairs.ca 613-324-3136 $37.50 Complete Meal for 2 + HST $70.00 Complete Meal for 4 + HST All Family Meals include Chef's of Appropriate Side Dishes & Light Dessert

Cheesy Garlic Bread Turkey Pot Pie

Creamy Turkey with Carrots, Mushrooms, & Peas, PrimaVera Pasta Salad with Roasted Bell Pepper Vinaigrette, Local Greenhouse Salad & Vegetable Medley

Thai Meatballs Panang Curry

All Beef Meatballs in a Creamy Red Thai Curry Coconut Sauce, with Pineapple Fried Rice, Crispy Noodles, Vegetable Spring Rolls with Plum Sauce, Local Greenhouse Salad with Carrot and Ginger Vinaigrette & Vegetable Medley

Cajun Pork Roast

Cajun Roasted Marinated Pork Loin, with Creole Broccoli Slaw, Sweet Potato Wedges, Local Greenhouse Salad, Tiger Sauce (Sweet Hot Pepper Sauce), and Vegetable Medley

Smoky Beef Brisket Chimichangas

Slow Cooked, Smoky Beef with Shredded Cheese, Black Beans wrapped in a crispy Flour Tortilla, with Pico di Gallo, Sour Cream, Mexican Rice, Homemade Corn Chips, and Local Greenhouse Salad

Chicken Puttanesca

Chicken Breast cooked with Tomatoes, Capers, Black Olives, Italian Herbs and Spices Served with Spaghetti, Caesar Salad, Garlic Ciabatta, and Vegetable Medley April 23rd Table D'hote - 4 course -

Prime Rib Friday

RSVP ONLY before April 19th Take out! $65.00 per person Smoked Tomato Bisque with Aged Cheddar Crisps Wedge Salad (corn, bacon, tomatoes) with Buttermilk Vinaigrette Slow cooked AAA Prime rib with Au Jus Smashed Potatoes, Yorkshire & Chef's Vegetables N.Y. Style Cheesecake with Chocolate Sauce & Berry Compote Buns & Butter

Mother’s Day 2021

Friday May 7th(1:30- 4:30) & Saturday May 8th (11am- 2pm) Take-out Dinner 3 Course dinner for 4 $120.00 or dinner for 2 $65 Steak Diane | or Chicken Kiev | or Seafood Gratin | all with sides, salad & dessert For Vegetarian & Dietary restrictions call us to arrange a menu to your liking.

Mothers Day Brunch Kit

Available for pick up Saturday May 8th $75 for family of 4 Ready for you to prepare for Mom early morning on Mother’s Day Eggs Benedict Kit ( Very Strict instructions!)

Sweet Crépes ( Sweet crepes (2 Per Person), Fresh prepared fruit, Vanilla Sugar whipped cream, On The Bend Maple Syrup, Chocolate syrup +++ Mimosa Kit for 2 $30.00 My Local Markets--- Night Market 4 Course Table D’Hote May 13th 5-7pm- Menu & Dining Restrictions to follow! www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

Senior Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Meals on Wheels Community Champions Week

Seniors' Community Services clients had some very special deliveries during the March Meals on Wheels Community Champions Week. They came by horseback, in police cars, in fire trucks and on foot to bring nutritious meals and bright smiles right to the door.

Meals on Wheels is one of the programs offered by Kemptville's Seniors' Community Services. An essential support, especially during the challenges of the pandemic. In 2019, SCS delivered 3400 meals, but saw that increase to 8400 meals

in 2020. Volunteers deliver meals to over 125 clients in the North Grenville area, ensuring seniors and adults with physical disabilities have access to fresh, nutritious meals.

Dawn Rodger, Executive Director at SCS believes "Meals on wheels is more than just a meal, it's a defining moment. Our volunteers are the eyes and ears for North Grenville's most isolated seniors. Daily deliveries of nutritious meals provide a human-to-human connection that acts as a safety assurance.

The need for meals on wheels program during the pandemic

has grown with the inability of seniors to make the masked weekly trip to the grocery store."

During Meals on Wheels Community Champions Week, clients were treated to special deliveries by Katy Drummond and Liz MacGregor of Heritage Stables on their beautiful horses, Beamer and La Senza. They delivered laughter and smiles, and clients and neighbours shared stories of their own horse days. Children and kids-at-heart came out for a picture and a pat, and the joy was palpable. The OPP and the North Grenville Fire Department sent out their finest, and spent two mornings meeting neighbours and having some chit chat in the sunshine that graced the deliveries each day. On the last day, North Grenville Mayor, Nancy Peckford surprised some very happy clients with door to door service of their weekly meals, and time was spent with warm conversations on the porch.

"Tremendous thanks to our community champions, staff and volunteers who made this week such an incredible success. We applaud the work you do in our community,” said Dawn Rodger Meals on Heels, Meals on Wheels, and Meals on foot.

It was a week that will not be forgotten by the clients, and the volunteers. It was a welcome reprieve from what has been a very difficult year.

For more information on the Meals on Wheels Program at the Seniors' Community Services, please visit the website at www.seniorscs.ca or call 613-258-3203.

Paul A. Jansen, BA, LLB.

215 Van Buren Street, Kemptville 613.258.7462 jansenlaw.com

Real Estate - Wills & Estates - Family Law - Corporate

Throughout these challenging times, we are continuing to provide essential services:

d~ e t c e n n o ep C Let’s Ke are Stronger we r e h t e g o T

Rachel S. Jansen, B.Comm., J.D.

· Meals on Wheels (frozen), delivered to your door · Regular telephone calls from our volunteers · Essential Transportation Footcare clinic - Income Tax Clinic - Seniors’ Centre Without Walls - NEW Virtual Programming - Exercise etc.

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TIMES Gord Logan

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Municipality launches PITCH-IN 2021 The Municipality of North Grenville is launching Pitch-in 2021 – Social Distancing Edition 2.0.

“Building on the success from last year’s social distancing edition, and given the interest from residents in cleaning up and beautifying our community, Council invites people to PITCH-IN while they are out in their neighbourhoods, or on the trails,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford.

The Municipality asks that individuals who wish to participate choose a public area in or near their neighbourhood and April 14, 2021

stay with members of their household. Residents are required to register with the Municipality by calling 613-258-9569 at extension 133 or via email at cfequet@northgrenville. on.ca.

PITCH-IN Bags will be left outside the front doors of the North Grenville Municipal Centre (285 County Road 44) in an envelope with their name on it for pick up. Participants are asked to leave the filled bags out with their regular garbage pick-up. There is no bag tag required on the PITCH-IN Bags. “While this is not the time for

group gatherings, helping to clean up your neighbourhood is a wonderful way to contribute to our incredible community,” added Councillor Kristin Strackerjan.

As of 2021, Pitch-In Canada has declared a year-long event with cleanups organized throughout the year. North Grenville’s event has been registered for the month of April with a focus around Earth Day which is April 22, 2021.

Council has proclaimed April 18 – 25, 2021 PitchIn Canada Week.

PITCH-IN Week began in 1967 with a handful of

concerned citizens picking up harmful debris along the shore of Vancouver Island.

PITCH-IN CANADA is a national, community-based organization comprised of eco-action and community volunteers who believe that maintaining a quality environment and encouraging civic pride is everyone’s responsibility. PITCH-IN CANADA encourages voluntary action to keep communities clean, beautiful and to restore and maintain a healthy environment.

The Municipality of North Grenville has participated in Pitch-In Canada since 2002.

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PITCH-IN 2021 Safety Tips: Be prepared – wear proper safety equipment (gloves, reflective vest) PITCH-IN only with members of your immediate household Watch for cars and be careful near roads Do not pick up dangerous items Be prepared to sort items for garbage or recycling Wash your hands when you’re done

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

Goosechase connects Youth to Community a successful communitywide game last Canada Day and are sharing their knowledge to support the group's success. Prizes and funding to ensure the activity is accessible to the whole community have been provided by the North Grenville Community Fund, the KDCA, and the Oxford Mills Community Association.

The GooseChase Scavenger Hunt will be held on Friday, April 16 (during Spring Break). While the primary goal is to highlight opportunities for young people to connect with their communities, everyone is invited to participate. We have all either been or will be a youth, so why not learn more about what North Grenville has to offer. The game will involve friendly competition, prizes, and a lot of silly fun.

Download the "GooseChase" app on your smart-

submitted by the NG Youth Summit Committee On a mission to connect youth with the community they live in, several local teens began work on a youth summit with the support of partners like the Health Unit, Connect Youth, Kemptville Youth Centre, Wellness Access for Youth (WAY), the North Grenville Public Library and the Municipality of North Grenville.

As with other events in COVID times, the summit has been postponed, however the group still wants to strengthen youth connections in the community.

Feeling that people are generally tired of virtual options, they reflected on the idea of a scavenger hunt that encourages youth to learn about the community in a fun and creative way. The Kemptville District Community Association (KDCA) held

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Baldwin’s Birds phone, enter the game Code: 5D313J and create a Team Name (you can compete as an individual or team up with friends and family). The game is open for play anytime between 10 am and 10 pm on April 16. You will be able to view missions and complete as many as you can, earning points for each. Some missions require submitting a photo or video, others are puzzles or trivia solving, and others "checking in" when you are at the right location. The app displays a live leaderboard so teams can see who is in the lead at any time, and you can check out photo and video submissions from other teams.

With COVID in mind, we are asking that you only participate 'in person' with members of your own household. Of course, you can still be on a team with others, but would take turns completing missions so no 'close contact' is risked.

Please remember to take all recommended precautions when necessary (masks, strict physical distancing, hand hygiene, etc.) and abide by the new outdoor gathering limit of 5 people total.

For more information contact the North Grenville Youth Summit Committee at ngysummit@gmail.com.

I hope you are all fit and well, smiling and enjoying the sunshiny days. The birds certainly are, as they arrive, one by one, to, once more, spend the summer with us and build their nests and raise their young, for us all to enjoy. Last week the Bluebirds put in an appearance and today it was the turn of the Tree Swallows, with their iridescent blue wings and tail feathers, contrasting with their beautifully white chests, at the front.What a lovely sight as two of them chased each other around our nesting boxes, as well as inspecting them closely. They did this to the accompaniment of other birds singing in the adjacent trees and bushes, as they too enjoyed the sun's warmth.

Stay safe and well, Cheers, John Baldwin

How to become an organ donor

by Hilary Thomson Last Wednesday was Green Shirt Day in the municipality, a yearly event encouraging people across Canada to become organ donors.

The article in last week's paper about young advocate Ethan Bos mentioned the organ donor card. It has been brought to our attention that simply signing an organ donor card is not enough to be registered as an organ donor in Ontario. In fact, paper donor cards are no longer in use as they often weren't available when

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20

needed. In 2008, Trillium Gift of Life Network adopted an affirmative registry. The official consent by donors to donate organs and tissue is stored in a Ministry of Health LongTerm Care database.

In order to become an organ donor in Ontario, you must register formally online at www.BeADonor. ca or at any Service Ontario location. You can check to see if you are a registered organ donor on the Be A Donor website.

You can also check the back of your photo health card. If the word "Donor"

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According to the Be A Donor website, there are currently over 1500 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in Ontario.

Every three days, someone will die because they did not get their transplant in time. One donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of 75 more through the gift of tissue. Live Life, Pass it On.

Send in your letters to the editor to editor@ngtimes.ca

www.ngtimes.ca