Community Futures Grenville celebrates 35 Years of supporting local business
in funding from other sources, supporting 5400 jobs.
CF Grenville is one of 36 organizations in southern Ontario, delivering the Community Futures Program. This a community-driven economic development initiative designed to assist communities in Canada's rural areas to develop and implement strategies for dealing with a changing economic environment. This program is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Thirty-five years ago, in 1990, Community Futures Grenville (CF Grenville) first opened its doors to begin offering business and community economic development programs in Grenville County. In celebration of many years of success, four deserving businesses received one-time CF Grenville Business Lifetime Achievement Awards. The recipients were:
· B&H Your Community Grocer
· Beach Equipment & Hardware
· Measurements International Limited
· More than Just Babysitting Child Care Centre Inc.
Ever forward-looking, the organization also launched several new initiatives this year to respond to emerging community needs:
· Leeds Grenville's Greatest Entrepreneur, a "Dragon's
Den" style business competition where local entrepreneurs will compete at a high-energy gala for $10,000 cash and $10,000 in prizes to launch their dream business initiative (in partnership with 1000 Islands CDC). Applicants are invited to apply by October 17, 2025 at 12 noon. www. lggreatestentrepreneur.ca
· EcoFutures Loan, offering preferential rates and flexible terms for business projects that support Canada's climate target goals, launched at the inaugural Sustainable Business Summit co-hosted with the North Grenville Mayor's Taskforce for Clean Technology on June 26, 2025.
· Medical Practitioner Recruitment Loan, also offered by 1000 Islands CDC and Valley Heartland CFDC, available to medical doctors or nurse practitioners seeking to establish a practice locally.
· Futures Grant: investing in five (5) deserving projects that will create a legacy in our community:
o Nature Education at Kemptville Campus
o Community Garden, Township of Augusta
o Mino-jichaag-mtigwaaki (Good Spirit Forest) Garden Expansion, Municipality of North Grenville
o Elevator Installation, Spencerville Mill Foundation
o Community Mural, Old Town Kemptville Business Improvement Area
Over the last 35 years of delivering the flagship Community Futures Program and many other initiatives, CF Grenville has disbursed loans totaling over $44 million to 862 businesses and invested $8.4 million in non-repayable partnership funding. Together, these investments have attracted an additional $208million
"Congratulations to this year's Business Lifetime Achievement Award recipients and congratulations to Community Futures Grenville on 35 years of supporting local businesses in the region," said the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). "Through the Community Futures Program, our government is proud to support businesses like yours that remind us why investing in rural entrepreneurship matters."
Heather Lawless, who led the organization as its Executive Director for from 19952021, gave a keynote address, highlighting the many ways CF Grenville has provided leadership and support to local businesses and communities over the years and grown into a cherished community asset.
Jim and Judy Beveridge of the B&H Your Community Grocer, honoured for the Grenville Business Lifetime Achievement Award.
2025 Inductees join the Kemptville & District Sports Hall of Fame
by Deb Wilson
On Friday, September 26, 2025, the Kemptville & District Sports Hall of Fame will proudly welcome its newest inductees at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. This year’s class of athletes, builders, and teams reflect the best of sport: perseverance, teamwork, and community spirit.
2025 Inductees
Builders – Bruce and Liz Robinson
For over five decades, Bruce and Liz Robinson have championed snowmobiling in North Grenville and across Ontario. From their early days with the Kemptville Snowmobile Klub to leadership roles with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and even the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations, they have been tireless advocates for trails, safety, and volunteerism. Together they earned provincial and national recognition, including Canadian Snowmobiler of the Year. Their commitment to Snowarama has helped raise nearly $1 million for Easter Seals. Bruce
and Liz’s legacy is written on every trail, every club meeting, and every rider they’ve inspired.
Team of the Year – NGDHS Senior Boys Cross Country Running Team Lukas Leroux, Jake Watkins, Hunter Stevenson, Ashton Lalonde, and Evan MacKenzie turned heartbreak into inspiration following the sudden and tragic loss of their teammate, Rowan Dean. Running “for Rowan,” the team captured the LGSSAA championship—defeating Thousand Islands Secondary School for the first time in over 40 years—earned silver at EOSSAA and proudly represented North Grenville at the OFSAA provincial championships. Their resilience, determination, and bond make them true champions on and off the course.
Team of the Year –U18 Kemptville Royals Rep Hockey
With a remarkable 21-4-3 record, the Royals capped their season as UCMHL regular season and playoff champions. They swept six straight games to win the
International Silver Stick Pembroke Regional Championship and battled fiercely at the prestigious Silver Stick Forest Finals. Beyond their victories, the Royals embodied discipline, sportsmanship, and unity - overcoming adversity, injuries, and grueling competition to stand as role models for young athletes across the region.
Athletes of the Year –
Top Senior Athletes from NGDHS and St. Michael Catholic High School
• Payton Cory – Multisport standout in Volleyball, Softball, Tennis, and Badminton
• Amy Collins – Hockey, Tennis, Cross Country, Track (headed to Houghton University)
• Carter Seeley – Baseball, Hockey, Basketball (aspiring NCAA Division 1 baseball player)
• Jake Watkins – Cross Country, Track, Hockey, Badminton
The Kemptville & District Sports Hall of Fame has a bursary program which awards $500.00 to young athletes to help pursue excellence in their sport. Each received a $500 award from the Hall of Fame, recognizing their exceptional accomplishments and dedication. The 2024 recipient was Mabel Roberts; she competed at the Worlds Maui Thai boxing event in Thailand last September and is currently competing in Abu Daubi. Mabel trains locally at Boss
Thai Boxing.
About the Kemptville & District Sports Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame was established to celebrate individuals, teams, and builders whose contributions uplift the spirit of sport in North Grenville. Inductees are honored through displays on the Hall’s website and digital exhibits at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, preserving the community’s rich sports heritage for generations to come.
For more information on the Hall of Fame, past inductees, or how to get involved, visit kemptvillesportshalloffame.ca.
Team of the Year – NGDHS Senior Boys Cross Country Running Team
Fibre by the Locks
by Deb Alexander
The PEWS in Merrickville is opening its doors to a new fibre and textile show: "Fibre by the Locks." The idea started as a friendly "wouldn't it be nice if..." conversation amongst several fibre enthusiasts at an event at the PEWS in February. Now, six months later, a dedicated group is working hard to make this first-time event a reality.
As a fundraiser for the PEWS, "Fibre by the Locks" welcomes artists, makers, suppliers and craftspeople of all ages. Equally important is the opportunity to celebrate our local fibre and textile history; the community groups that are keeping these tradi-
tional arts alive (and thriving!); the people who joyfully gather in guilds and clubs to create, share and enjoy the love of their craft; and the hardworking farmers who provide us with the raw materials to convert into so many beautiful things.
"Fibre by the Locks" is honoured to welcome Ann Martin from the Merrickville and District Historical Society, The Kemptville Quilters Guild, Victoria's Quilts, Rideau Valley Rug Hooking, The Merrickville Knitting and Crochet Club, Doug Savage and Carol Williams (sheep farmers) and Janet Stark of "Janet's Artisan Coats."
In lieu of admission, a
"By Donation " table will be set up with gifted fibre and textile treasures for visitors to browse through and take home. All donations go to The PEWS to support many more community events.
Thanks to Mrs. McGarrigles Fine Foods, Violets on Main Bakery, Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly, and Healthily Ever After Health food Store for their kind and generous sponsorship.
The PEWS and "Fibre by the Locks" cordially invite you to come and help us celebrate our local tapestry of all things fibre and textile on Sunday October 19th from 10 to 4 at 100 St. Lawrence Street, Merrickville.
Ontario Genealogical Society L&G news
by Kathy De Souza
Join us on Monday, October 6 at 7:00 pm on Zoom for a “Double Header” Presentation
1. Lost Cemeteries – Charleston Village, Lot22, Con. 9, Rear of Escott Twp.
Another puzzle to solve! Take a peek into what the Cemeteries Committee at Leeds & Grenville Branch of Ontario Ancestors does for fun. Using a historic note, land information and satellite images we will refine the location of a lost but not forgotten cemetery. Presented by Chuck Buckley, Cemeteries Coordinator.
2. A Road Trip Through Grenville County – Exploring the Records Come with us on another road trip. This month explore what Grenville County has to offer and what records we can find. The presentation was prepared by Branch volunteers and will be presented by Patti Mordasewicz, Chair of the Leeds & Grenville Branch of The Ontario Genealogical Society.
This “double header” presentation is free and open to everyone, but registration is required. For information and registration link, click here, or visit leedsandgrenville.ogs.
The Itinerary’s Done—Just Pack Your Bags!
Join our expertly curated tour groups, leave the planning to us, and enjoy the peace of mind of having your travel agent by your side.
Sip, Savour & Stretch in Tuscany (May 2–10, 2026)
Indulge in a 9-day, 8-night escape rooted in Tuscany’s rustic charm and culinary heritage.
Christmas Market Cruise on the Danube (Dec. 3–13, 2026) Celebrate the season in festive style aboard this 11-day holiday combined land and river cruise.
Join a deeply meaningful 9-night,
from
culverts
Quilts of Valour Canada’s Tour of Remembrance (Sept. 5-14, 2027)
10-day pilgrimage
Amsterdam to Paris, honouring Canadian service members at hallowed sites like Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach.
Bhutan Bodhi Tree Yoga Retreat (February 15–24, 2027) Embrace serenity in the Himalayas with this 10-day, 9-night yoga retreat in Bhutan—the “Land of the Thunder Dragon.”
The back to school dilemma
by Hilary Thomson
This time of year always feels like a fresh start. The air is crisp and fresh and the kids are headed back to school to take on whatever challenges they will face in the next term. This year my daughter started kindergarten, so school has been top of mind in our house and, therefore, it has been a topic of conversation among friends and family.
Overall, the parents I have talked to are ready for their kids to be back in school; ready for some routine after a more lax summer reality. One thing, however, that has been on many of their minds is:
Who the heck is going to care for their children before and after school, while they start/ finish their work day?
We live in a reality where most families need a dual income to make ends meet. With elemen-
tary school starting as late as 9:30am and ending soon after 3:30pm, parents with typical 9-5 work schedules are being left in the lurch. Before and after school care spots are hard to come by, and are often even more expensive than full time daycare.
Working parents are having to jump through hoops, trying to make sure someone is able to look after their children before and after school. Many companies and institutions are requiring their employees to work at least a few days a week in an office, which means parents also have to account for their commuting time, when figuring out when they are able to be at home with their kids.
The Trudeau government took a step in the right direction when they put into place subsidized childcare. But this is only the first step in rectifying
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,.
For the past 18 months I have been investigating the state of Ontario’s agricultural land inventory. The Municipality of North Grenville (MNG) could be a challenging case study. Based on news stories, critical questions remain to be fully explained before shovels go in the ground to build a prison on prime agricultural land anywhere, including the one proposed for MNG. These are some of those questions.
How much do taxpayers lose because there is already an unused detention facility (Rideau Correctional and Treatment Centre) in the area that can be repurposed?
Why has the Province of Ontario been mute on locating the proposed prison on its poor agricultural land northeast of Merrickville that previously was the “home” of the Rideau Correctional and Treatment Centre that was closed in 2004?
How much food security is lost by removing 250 or more acres of irreplaceable prime agricultural land from a minimal inventory of such priceless land in
a broken system.
As Canadians, we value and incentivize family units. Prime Minister Carney has said it himself: we need our country to grow. A good way to do that is for Canadian adults to have children. However, we have a long way to go when it comes to creating a society that actually supports the families we are encouraged to create.
When I was thinking about writing this editorial, I couldn't help but compare our country to Sweden. Canada is quasisocialist country. At least we do far better supporting our people than our neighbours to the south. But Sweden seems to have figured out how to have it all; a productive workforce and economy while also prioritizing families. Swedish parents are entitled to a maternity leave similar to Canada, however when
they do return to work their child is guaranteed a spot in affordable childcare. Employers are also encouraged to have flexible work hours to meet the needs of young families. I am no expert, but I have not heard of any Swedish companies going under because they have allowed parents to stay home if their child is sick or be there when they get home from school.
I recently read a Fraser Institute article that detailed why this seemingly idyllic model would not work in Canada. It all comes down to taxes. According to the article, Canadians are not willing to accept a tax hike in order to cover these, arguably essential, services.
It is true that Sweden has a much higher tax rate than Canada. But I am going to stick my little socialist neck out on a limb here and say
that Canadians’ aversion to paying taxes is really issing the forest for the trees.
Of course, there needs to be a balance, but if paying a marginally higher income tax rate means saving time, money and stress for those building our country and economy then, it seems pretty darn worth it to me.
Regardless of how it comes about, we need to adapt to the reality of how our society functions right now. If we continue to have a cost of living where most families need two incomes, then we need to figure out how to support them in that.
We live in a country that is highly regarded in the world when it comes to quality of life. Here is another opportunity to make good on that reputation.
The merry little minuet
Eastern Ontario?
How will this loss of prime agricultural land be replaced to limit further decline of Ontario’s already threatened agricultural land inventory?
What will the provincial government do to fix things if this facility puts an excessive strain on the limited infrastructure (water, sewers, solid waste disposal, roads) of a small town?
Has the provincial government guaranteed that costs of building and maintaining the prison will not be downloaded onto MNG residents and businesses?
When will Premier Ford and MPP Steve Clark name the developers, contractors, consultants, land speculators, lawyers, and others who stand to benefit from this project?
Finally, has the Auditor General assured MNG and Ontario taxpayers that all prison-related decisions by the provincial government meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability, probity, and fiduciary responsibility?
Dr. Barry Wellar, C.M., Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa
I am very lucky to be part of a community of musicians, The Kemptville Folk Club, who are not only a talented group, but are also very altruistic. Not only are they talented, they generously share their knowledge, their skills, and sometimes, their cherished equipment.
I belong to another group: writers. Apparently, we/they aren't nearly as kind to each other. In a book called, 'The Book of Classic Insults', edited by Tom Steele, one can get an insight into how they feel about each other.
'Fran Lebowitz: 'It would be an advantage to the literary world if most writers stopped writing entirely.' She was not done yet: 'Having been unpopular in High School is not just cause for book publications.'
And of course, the soul of wit, Oscar Wilde: 'One should not be too severe on English novelists. They are the only relaxation of the intellectually unemployed.' Ouch!
John Steinbeck: 'Writers are a little below clowns and a little above trained seals.'
Charles Darwin weighed in with, 'I have tried lately to read Shakespeare, and found it so intolerably dull that it nauseated me.' Not a very
measured nor tactful opinion.
And then there's George Bernard Shaw: '...there is no eminent writer, not even Sir Walter Scott, whom I despise so entirely as I despise Shakespeare...'.
You'd think they'd be a supportive group. Surely they empathize with how difficult it is to make a living being a writer...no?
William Thackeray on Jonathan Swift: '...a monster gibbering shrieks, and gnashing imprecations against mankind...filthy in word, filthy in thought, furious, raging, obscene.' Whoa...that's pretty harsh!
American critic Van Wyck Brooks: 'Longfellow is to poetry what the barrel organ is to music.'
George Eliot on Charlotte Bronte: 'I wish her characters would talk a little less--like the heroes and heroines of police reports.'
But, leave it to Mark Twain to cut sharply and deeply: 'Edgar Allen Poe's prose is unreadable - like Jane Austen's. No, there is a difference. I could read his prose on a salary, but not Jane's.'
Apparently, actors are not big fans of each other either. Let's start with Mar-
lon Brando: 'An actor's a guy who, if you ain't talking about him, ain't listening.'
W.C. Fields on Mae West: 'A plumber's idea of Cleopatra.' Carl Sandburg on Gary Cooper: 'One of the most beloved illiterates this country has ever known.'
Gypsy Rose Lee on a 1940's movie star: 'She's descended from a long line her mother listened to.'
And how do actors feel about studio moguls? Lana
Contact 613-215-0735
ISSN 2291-0301 www.ngtimes.ca
Editor David Shanahan editor@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735 Marketing/Sales marketing@ngtimes.ca 613 215-0735 Reporter Talia Hreljac Talia@ngtimes.ca
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Turner: 'I thank God that neither I nor any member of my family will ever be so hard up that we have to work for Otto Preminger.'
To sum up: 'The Merry Little Minuet' by the Kingston Trio: 'The whole world is festering with unhappy souls...'.
Peter Johnson (Upper Oxford Mill's Very Bad Awful Dirt Road)
www.northgrenville.ca
going on? See our events calendar: www.northgrenville.ca/events
Stay informed! Council Meetings: www.northgrenville.ca/meetings
Need to see us? Municipal office hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 285 County Road 44, Kemptville
Need to reach us? Contact us: Call 613-258-9569 or email: general@northgrenville.on.ca
Need additional information? Visit us: www.northgrenville.ca
Community Newspapers are not “Junk Mail”
On September 16, 2025, multiple news publishing associations sent the below letter to CUPW and Canada Post to outline our extreme disappointment with community and ethnic newspapers being treated as 'junk mail'. The North Grenville Times was forced to abandon last week’s issue because of the last minute decision by CUPW, and this week’s issue is being distributed as widely as possible, given the difficulty of delivering thousands of newspapers around the Municipality.
Dear Ms. Simpson and Mr. Ettinger,
On behalf of the members of the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association, B.C. & Yukon Community News Media Association, Hebdos Québec, Manitoba Community Newspapers Association, National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, News Media Canada, Ontario Community Newspapers Association, and Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association, we are writing to express our extreme disappointment in both Canada Post and CUPW.
Both of you are treating unaddressed community and ethnic newspapers like “junk mail”.
Mr. Ettinger, your decision to no longer exempt community newspapers with commercial inserts from Canada Post’s Consumers’ Choice program, effectively treats fact-based, fact-check Canadian journalistic content as “junk mail”. You made that decision without proper stakeholder consultation or economic/social impact analysis.
Ms. Simpson, your recent decision to neither process nor deliver unaddressed flyers (Neighbourhood Mail) — whether intended or not — is holding community newspaper publishers hostage and is depriving Canadians of fact-based, fact-checked community news.
Community and ethnic newspapers keep Canadians informed, engaged, and connected in hundreds of communities across Canada. Many are small businesses, owned by local entrepreneurs, who are struggling just to keep the lights on and make payroll in the face of the loss of advertising to American Big Tech companies.
Let us be clear: community newspapers, with or without commercial inserts, are not “junk mail”; they are a vital source of information for Canadians. Our members are good paying customers of Canada Post, and we resent this shabby treatment. As you work out your differences, we hope both sides will bargain in good faith, and we call on the two of you to ensure that the processing and delivery of unaddressed community newspapers — with or without commercial inserts — resumes immediately.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter.
Forests Canada reaches 50 million tree milestone
After supporting the planting of approximately 4 million trees across Canada in 2025 – a record for the organization – national charity Forests Canada has reached the 50 million tree milestone since it began planting trees in 2004.
“We are incredibly proud to have supported the planting of 50 million trees, but I think the thing that’s most worthy of celebration is the collective impact of all those new and restored forests both economically and environmentally,” Jess Kaknevicius, Chief Executive Officer, Forests Canada, says. “From the collection of seed and growth of seedlings right through to tree planting and the maintenance needed to ensure they thrive, forests are a key source of economic prosperity across Canada –and that’s before we even think of all the good that 50 million trees will do for water, air, soil, and wildlife throughout their lives.”
Forests Canada supported the planting of approximately 3.9 million trees this spring and has hundreds of thousands more set to be planted during the fall planting season to bring the yearly total to over 4 mil-
lion – smashing the organization’s previous record of 2.7 million trees from 2024.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside and be a part of such an incredible group of individuals and organizations to achieve the milestone of planting 50 million trees by 2025,” Rob Keen, former Chief Executive Officer of Forests Canada and current Executive Director, Canadian Tree Nursery Association, says. “Through outstanding collaboration and the passion, expertise and support of so many, we have collectively established a program that will benefit generations to come. I’m very proud to have been a part of this success.”
Getting past the four million mark in 2025 and achieving this 50 million tree milestone is proof that the quality infrastructure and unique forest recovery system built by Forests Canada over the years is not only dependable, but necessary.
“50 million trees on over 10,400 project sites in collaboration with thousands of property owners and managers is an important part of our history but our work is not done,” Jess
Kaknevicius says. “Faced with increasing wildfires, biodiversity loss and extreme weather events, it’s more important than ever to continue with the movement we started. Our forests do so much for us – we need to keep working hard for them.”
Forests Canada would not have been able to reach their 50 million tree milestone without the expertise and dedication of its 100+ partners from coast to coast to coast, including planting partners, seed collectors, nurseries, field advisors, forestry specialists, as well as conservation and community partners.
“On behalf of Conservation Authorities across Ontario, Conservation Ontario is delighted to join in Forests Canada’s celebration in meeting the 50 million tree milestone,” Angela Coleman, Chief Administrative Officer / General Manager, Conservation Ontario, says. “Planting trees is essential to ensure vibrant and healthy watersheds that support healthy communities. I have seen firsthand the vital importance of our working partnership with Forests Canada and how Conservation Authorities
NGtransit Expansion brings direct link to Ottawa LRT
The Municipality of North Grenville is proud to announce a major expansion of NGtransit, its award-winning public transit system, which launched on September 15. The expanded service will significantly improve local and regional transit access for residents, and now includes two transit vehicles, thanks to funding received through the Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF).
Key Features of the Expansion:
Regional Connectivity: NGtransit will now connect directly with OC Transpo’s Limebank LRT Station, offering access to Ottawa’s broader transit network.
Commuter Trips: two morning and two evening trips to and from Ottawa will operate on weekdays, serving daily commuters and reducing car dependency.
Increased Local On-Demand Service: During the day, NGtransit will operate with two vehicles within North Grenville.
This announcement follows national recognition from the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC), which awarded North Grenville the 2025 Small Municipalities Achievement Award for the success and innovation of NGtransit.
“We are thrilled to see NGtransit continue to grow
deliver for the environment and the economy.”
The collaboration necessary to plant 50 million trees extends beyond just trustworthy planting partners to a vast collection of supporters who make the funding of these planting projects possible.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the support of countless individuals and organizations, including donors, corporate partners, First Nations communities, municipalities, and both provincial and federal levels of government – including the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program,” Jess Kaknevicius says. “On behalf of everyone at Forests Canada, thank you to everyone who made this possible. Together, we are growing something truly beautiful.”
To be part of Forests Canada’s vision for diverse, resilient, thriving forests today and for future generations, please visit www. ForestsCanada.ca.
and gain national recognition,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford. “The addition of a second vehicle and our new commuter route to Ottawa are major milestones. They demonstrate how meaningful investments in rural transit can notably improve quality of life for residents in need”.
“As the technology partner behind NGtransit, Blaise is proud to see the connection with OC Transpo come to life less than two years after the service launched,” said Sophie LeBlanc, Head of Business Development at Blaise Transit. “As a native of Oxford Mills, I know how transformative access to public transit can be. This expansion is a testament to what’s possible when municipalities and technology work together to improve residents’ daily lives.”
“I have been a customer of NGtransit almost since its inception and can’t overstate how much this service
means to residents of North Grenville like myself. The operators are always attentive, skilled, and genuinely care about their passengers; from helping people with mobility aids to making sure everyone feels safe. Despite living in a more remote area, NGtransit has allowed me to complete errands and stay connected when it otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. I’m deeply grateful to every staff member who makes this service happen,” said a longtime NGtransit rider. Booking a trip is simple. Riders can:
Download the Blaise Transit app (available on iOS and Android)
Create a rider profile Book at least 30 minutes in advance for commuter trips
To explore the updated service map, routes, and booking details, visit: www.northgrenville.ca/ transit
Local Optometrist joins World Sight Day Challenge
Local Optometrist, Dr. Carla Eamon is taking part in the World Sight Day Challenge during October 9 to help give the gift of vision to people in underserved communities around the world. Now in its 19th year, the World Sight Day Challenge is Optometry Giving Sight's largest annual fundraising campaign to address avoidable blindness caused by uncorrected refractive error – simply the need for an eye exam and glasses. The event celebrates the collective power of the optometry community to help give the gift of sight to millions of families and individuals in need.
On World Sight Day, Dr. Eamon will make a donation to raise funds to help the more than 1.1 billion people globally who are unnecessarily blind or vision impaired simply because they don't have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses.
"I have supported Optometry Giving Sight for 19 years," says Dr. Eamon. "Working together, we can solve preventable blindness and we are proud to be a part of this fundraising campaign to help give better vision to those in need. Everyone can make a difference, and we are thrilled to be contributing to vision worldwide."
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) is a non-profit organization founded by the Brien Holden Foundation, the World Council of Optometry and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Its mission is to end preventable blindness and vision impairment by expanding the optometry profession globally through the establishment of schools and training programs that result in increased access to vision care.
As "Optometry's Charity," OGS raises
Nutrition Tips for Back to School
by Dana Douglas, MScFN, RD, South East Health Unit Nutrition and After-School Activities
With the school year starting back up so are sports, clubs, and other activities. Often foods that go along with these activities are foods that are not a part of Canada's food guide such as ice cream, chocolate bars and popsicles. While enjoying a variety of foods is encouraged, it is important to consider how often children actually have these foods. Kids might have many opportunities to have these types of foods throughout their day and having them too often may bump out foods that provide the nutrients they need to be healthy, feel good, and perform their best. If you are bringing snacks to activities and events, try fruit and vegetables, unsweetened applesauce cups, yogurt, or whole grain crackers with cheese cubes. Water is a great drink option for everyone. Ensure there is access to soap and warm water or an alco-
funds from optometrists, optometry practices, and optometry-related businesses and corporations to award grants for sustainable, impactful projects in underserved areas of the world. Over the last 20 years, OGS has helped establish 14 optometry schools in 11 countries, trained over 14,000 optometrists and allied health professionals, and impacted the lives of more than 15 million children and adults in over 50 countries.
Optometry Giving Sight's Executive Director, Donna J. Mikulecky, says that this event brings together a community of eye health professionals who are committed to making good vision a reality for everyone, everywhere.
"Professionals in the optometry community are passionate about everyone having access to eye care and enjoying good vision. They dem-
onstrate this every day, caring for their patients and working in their communities to provide the highest possible level of care. They also are deeply passionate about helping people in need around the world, in areas where there is a dire shortage of optometrists and little to no access to even basic eye care. We see this in their generosity year-round. During the World Sight Day Challenge, they become
hol based hand sanitizer to use before eating, and pack foods that children are able to open or handle themselves. Bring utensils to use when taking food from a platter. Wash fruit and vegetables under cold running water before serving, and keep foods safe by using a cooler with ice packs.
When it comes to fundraising for after school activities, consider fundraisers that do not involve food. For example, instead of chocolate bars, try selling reusable water bottles or lunch bags with your team or club's logo on them.
Cooking with Kids: A Recipe for Success
Getting kids involved in the kitchen can help them learn important food and life skills. When kids help in the kitchen, they learn useful food skills like measuring and following recipes. They also learn about life skills such as problem-solving and creativity. Kids who help plan and prepare meals are more likely to try new foods, and cooking together can be a fun
way to bond and create memories. To make cooking with kids enjoyable, start with simple tasks that match their age. Younger kids can help with mixing, washing vegetables, and cracking eggs. As they get older, they can take on more complicated tasks like chopping, using the stove, and learning about kitchen gadgets. Ask kids what types of foods they want to make and try to see how that can work. Pick recipes that are interactive and allow kids to be creative. Meals like sandwiches, tacos, and pizzas let children build their own dishes. This makes cooking more interesting and teaches them about different food combinations and preferences. For easier options, try recipes with fewer ingredients, such as scrambled eggs with veggies, fruit kebabs with yogurt dip, or yogurt and fruit parfaits.
For more information, visit the Health Unit's website at healthunit.org, connect with us on Facebook or X @LGLHealthUnit, or call 1-800-6605853.
especially impassioned to make a difference. We are so very grateful for their support of our work."
For more information about Optometry Giving Sight, or to make a donation, go to givingsight. org.
Dr. Eamon's office is located at Unit 3, 212 Van Buren Street, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0. Call 613258-7438 or visit www. drcleamon.com to schedule an appointment.
Book Reviews
by Steve Gabell
When The Moon Hits Your Eye, John Scalzi
Some science-fiction can be very serious and make your brain hurt while reading it. John Scalzi is not one of those sci-fi authors. A prolific author and winner of multiple awards, his latest book When The Moon Hits Your Eye loosely fits in the sci-fi category and is at definitely at the comedic end of the spectrum.
One day, for some unknown reason, the Moon (and all the samples from the Moon on Earth) turns to cheese. Or "organic matrix" as the scientists in the book call it. Some comedy ensues as NASA and other organisations have to explain to the President that the Moon is now made of cheese.
Scalzi uses the lunar cycle to structure the book, taking one day at a time and skipping between various characters, from the NASA astronauts that had been due to land on the Moon, to tech billionaire Jody Bannon, to the US President, and to a pair of feuding, cheese emporium owning brothers, among others. Bannon is clearly a parody of Elon Musk, wanting to be immortalized as being the first person to set foot on the cheese Moon, sneaking onto the lunar lander (named Major Tom) atop the UltraMega rocket his company had developed and playing Space Oddity to NASA mission control. Needless to say, he meets a somewhat sticky fate.
What does the Moon turning to cheese say about the existence of God is a question I never thought would be asked, but Scalzi does as he probes the impact this sudden change would have. Later in the book disaster is going to strike Earth in the form of an enormous wedge of cheese, and Scalzi looks at how we would respond to a known impending catastrophe, from an individual level up to the societal and economic level. Unsurprisingly, the bank executives in the book are only interested in extracting every last cent of profit they can from the situation.
When The Moon Hits Your Eye is a funny take on a serious question yet it is also thought provoking in places.
Local Authors launch A Capital Mystery
by Lis Angus and Mike Martin
Most people who visit the Ottawa area come away with pleasant thoughts about the Parliament Buildings or the scenic Rideau Canal. Few think about murder and mayhem and madness. But that is exactly what 21 local writers have on their
The book has a strong connection to two North Grenville residents. One of the stories is by local author Lis Angus, an early participant in the North Grenville Writing Circle (which meets weekly at the library,
hosted by Pam Welling). And Mike Martin, who dreamed up the project and is its co-editor and manager, resides in Ottawa but lived through the covid lockdown at his partner's farm on Oxford Station Road, where he still spends every weekend.
Inside the pages of A Capital Mystery you can visit Orleans, or the Market or Little Italy or Strathcona Park. You can stroll along the Rideau Canal or go west to Barrhaven or south to Greely. Have supper at a cute little diner near Parliament Hill or maybe sneak back in time for a drink at the Chaud in Hull on the other side of the river. Take a tour of the Karsh exhibit at the Chateau Laurier and see the Winston Churchill portrait which is back on display after being brazenly stolen in broad daylight. Explore the sights and sounds of the city that the authors of this anthology love to call home.
Reviewer James Terry (The Reading Room) calls the book "a love letter to Ottawa and its surrounding landscapes."
He adds, "It's the kind of collection that makes you pause mid-sentence and think, Wait… I know that corner. I've walked that street. That moment of recognition, that thrill of seeing your own city reflected in literature, is at the heart of this anthology's magic."
If you enjoy crime stories on the page or on TV, you're used to visiting far-off locations like London, New York, or Los Angeles. It's something else to read stories that range through our own familiar landscapes –maybe revealing a dark side you wouldn't have suspected.
Join us on a murder mystery tour of Ottawa. We hope you enjoy your stay.
A Capital Mystery is published by Ottawa Press and Publishing. Pre-Orders are available now at www.ottawapressandpublishing.com.
mind in the first Ottawa mystery anthology, A Capital Mystery, being released on October 15.
73’s slide slippery slope in final exhibition encounters
by the sportsguy Saturday on the road again into Ottawa to face the Junior Senators for an evening rematch that was determined with a two round shoot-out.
Unfortunately Ottawa wrapped up a 5 to 4 victory with their twelfth sniper to cap off the night. The initial twenty was just the beginning of a give and take battle with Kemptville striking first when Alex Beaulieu combined with Sydney Loreto to place it by Maxime Lavoie in the first thirty seconds at :27. Ottawa responded
at 3:54 as Lincoln Emmerson assisted by Deschatetets to put it past Keegan Carswell to knot it up.
The second stanza opened with the 73’s Cooper Grant finding Anthony D’Arienzo on his horse to drive it between the pipes for the tie breaker at 4:16. Wynston Iserhoff on a lone effort squeezed it between the pegs at 9:10 to even it at two.
Kemptville exchanged Keegan Carswell for Jacob Turpin at 9:10. Extra man for Junior Senators when PPG Adam Gauth-
ier with helpers from St. Pierre and McCormack put it behind Jacob Turpin at 10:05. Kemptville fired back with a tictac-toe from Anthony D’Arienzo with Cooper Grant to Will Mullins in the slot to put them even at 12:03. Lucas Achim partnered up with Sydney Loreto who sniped his second marker for the tie breaker at 16:30.
Last frame Ottawa pushed hard for a comeback that came relevant at 1:34 when Offman with Perrier caught Eric Kane to force OT. Kemptville found themselves
Kemptville Lions September draws
The winner of a trip to Tamarindo, Costa Rica is Mary Young, winner of the Kemptville Lions Trip of the Month draw, shown here with Lion president
Connie Beardshaw, Jennifer Fieldhouse, friend of the winner, winner Mary Young, and another friend Judy Mulhig. Back row L-R lions David Doyle and past
The winner of the FIRST draw of the new series for 2025-26 is Ryan Young. It is a trip to the Saguenay Fjord & Whale Watching. We want to thank you for your support in providing approximately $17,000 for charities in our community. Not only will
there be 12 draw winners but also hundreds of winners benefitting from the
riding the slab for one fifth of the contest with their PK being stretched to the max. The OT came and went scoreless to initiate the dreaded shootout, which took the twelfth shooter to award the Junior Senators with a 5 to 4 win. Kemptville out-shot Ottawa 30 to 29 and 0/0 PP to ? PP for Junior Senators.
Sunday matinee featured the rematch with the Nepean Raiders in front of the 73’s fans that was less than productive as the boys fell 3 to 2. Kemptville lit the lamp first with an extra attacker when Lucas Achim held the zone, reversed to Eric Sweetapple on the line to Alexis Beaulieu who blew it by Jack Gedraitis at 7:22. Nepean countered when Jack Yates with helpers from McKee and Smith slipped it past Keegan Carswell at 17:15 to knot it up. William St. James transitioned up the wall to Will Mullins gliding up the half wall to find Anthony D’Arienzo locked n’ loaded to rifle it home for the 73’s lead
president Robert Sentner. Mary and the ladies will be going to Tamarindo, Costa Rica to enjoy sun, surf and exceptional food. This was the final draw of the 202425 series. Good luck ladies. We want to thank you for your support in providing $12,000 for charities in our community. Not only were there 12 draw winners but also hundreds of winners benefiting from the funds raised.
funds raised.
Lions All: Rafa Sanchez(Front Row), David Doyle (Back Row), President Connie Beardshaw(FR), reading the script for the video, Past President Robert Sentner(BR), Gerald Christie, Alan Forbes picking the winner of the FIRST 202526 series of prizes, Secretary Mike Amirault, Paul Thivierge and Brandon Alger.
at 18:04.
Ottawa owned the final frame as Karsten Barbeau assisted from Bertrand and Konobelj for the tie at 10:34. Tie breaker from Yates with Smith to Mack McKee to give the Junior Senators a 3 to 2 win at 18:30. Kemptville overwhelmed Ottawa by 31 to 19 with 1/7 PP to 0/6 PP for their opponents.
Today is a very somber day for the 73’s volunteer crew as they have lost one of their most loyal, dedicated, kind,
motivated, community orientated, and beautiful individual. I will certainly miss our companionship and would like to express my deepest sympathy to Brenda and family.
Kemptville's regular season begins on Friday, September for a 7:30 matchup with the Cornwall Colts and then on the road to meet the Rockland Nationals for a Saturday evening event. Hockey with EDGE… see you around the boards.
Marketing / Sales CONTACT
marketing@ngtimes.ca 613.215-0735
The Voice of Our Community www.ngtimes.ca
Share your ideas for positive change in North Grenville and you could win the title of Mayor for a Day and the opportunity to shadow Mayor Nancy Peckford to gain valuable insights into the workings of local government.
Open to students in grades 7 through 12 who live in North Grenville.
Deadline: Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Pushing for the win...Anthony D'Arienzo launches a howitzer into the back of the net during Sunday matinee with Nepean Raiders.
Keeping food on shelves takes more than farms, it takes people
by Cathy Lennon, General Manager, OFA
Most people picture a farm when they hear the word agriculture, but in reality, agriculture stretches far beyond the farm gate. It includes a network of suppliers, service providers, processors, transporters, and retailers who, together, keep our food system running and our economy thriving.
This broad system has one thing in common: it depends on people. And for many parts of the agriculture and agri-food sector, there aren’t enough people to fill all the available jobs – which means relying on temporary foreign workers (TFWs). In simple terms, many agriculture and foodrelated businesses would not have enough workers without TFWs, threatening food production, disrupting supply chains, and undermining both our food system and our
economic stability.
This isn’t a new phenomenon as there has long been a chronic shortage of workers in agriculture. In fact, Canada welcomed its first seasonal workers in 1966 when 264 Jamaicans came to Ontario to help with apple harvest, laying the foundation for the long-running and well respected Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP). Through SAWP, more than 30,000 workers from Mexico, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Islands come to Canada annually to help grow, manage and harvest produce.
The contributions of international farm workers go far beyond the field, orchard, vineyard or greenhouse, though. TFWs also play an important role in livestock transport and support services. They work on barn clean-out crews that
maintain cleanliness, sanitation and animal health and care standards. They vaccinate chickens and turkeys, for example and help keep truck wash bays operating, ensuring trucks are clean when they move livestock between farms, work that protects both human and animal health.
Many companies that haul perishable goods, like from the Ontario Food Terminal to grocery distribution centres across the country, now depend on TFW drivers to keep food moving. PricewaterhouseCoopers has warned a growing trucker shortage poses significant risk to the Canadian economy and a lack of drivers results in shipment delays and empty shelves, all of which drives up prices. Canada is already short 20,000 drivers and one third of today’s drivers are nearing retirement.
Food processing is another major employer of TFWs. Some positions are full-time, year-round jobs in meat processing plants, where employers
have long struggled to hire enough local workers. Others are seasonal, such as in vegetable canning or freezing plants, where it’s nearly impossible to find Canadians willing to work for just a few weeks or months each year.
Last December, Food and Beverage Canada and Farm Credit Canada shared a report which stated that 59% of Canadian food and beverage manufacturers identified skilled labour as their primary workforce challenge and that 22% of survey respondents had already downsized their operations due to staffing difficulties.
And finally, TFWs are present in the food service sector. From quick-service restaurants to institutional kitchens, they help keep operations running. If even 10% of these businesses couldn’t stay open due to labour shortages, or couldn’t operate 24 hours a day, it could significantly reduce demand for the Canadian farm products that supply these outlets.
What’s critical to
keep in mind is if local workers were available and willing to take these jobs, they would be hired in a heartbeat. But the reality is that year after year, there simply aren’t enough applicants, and employers turn to TFWs to keep farms working, processing plants online and trucks moving.
To put it simply, in the agriculture and agrifood sector, TFWs are not replacing Canadian workers or taking job opportunities away from young people. Instead, they are filling essential jobs that otherwise stay empty and are a vital part of keeping our food system secure and competitive, from farm fields to grocery shelves.
To hire TFWs, employers must first complete a federal Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to prove they have tried and failed to recruit qualified Canadians for the jobs they need to fill. Additionally, they must pay their foreign workers what they would pay Canadians for the same work and must follow
the same high standards for worker safety and fair treatment as they do for their local workforce. At Ontario Federation of Agriculture, we support efforts to create more opportunities for Canadian youth and jobseekers. But restricting access to TFWs for the agri-food sector will not solve unemployment; instead, it would destabilize industries that depend on this program, jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of Canadians who work alongside TFWs every day, and threaten our ability to produce as much of our own food as we can. We must remember that agriculture means much more than farms. It’s an entire system, and TFWs are a vital part of keeping it moving, supporting our provincial and national economies, and giving all of us access to food and farm products from right here at home.
Open letter from Mayor Cameron to residents of Merrickville-Wolford
Dear Residents,
As an historic community, it is understandable that many aspects of our infrastructure are similarly dated. The continued aging of this infrastructure necessitates renewal, reconstruction, and expansion to meet the needs of a growing community. It is important to acknowledge that addressing these challenges incurs costs, which are expected to increase over time.
Municipalities must meet minimum provincial infrastructure standards and cannot run a deficit, so each year's capital projects must be fully funded in the annual budget.
As the process of renewing and upgrading municipal assets to address current and future requirements proceeds, it is important to recognize that investing in the core assets of the municipality serves as a foundational financial investment.
This project requires considerable financial investment, which may result in increased costs in future years. Council is currently evaluating potential strategies to address these issues.
In a recent report from Watson and Associates, the consultant outlined the challenges currently facing our municipality as well as the projected growth in the coming years. This anticipated growth will enable us to more accurately forecast and manage the funds required to renew and develop our core assets, ensuring
compliance with Provincial minimum standards to provide a safe and reliable transportation network, and secure water and wastewater system under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
With the projected growth over the next decade we anticipate approximately 485 new housing units, comprising 296 in rural areas and 189 in the village.
If we were to implement the proposed Development Charges of $27,000.00 per unit ( 485 ) as recommended by Watson and Associates, would generate approximately $13,095,000.00. Furthermore, if the189 units in the village were added to the water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure at an average annual cost of $2,400.00 per household, it would yield an estimated $453,600.00 per year in new financial support for current users. In addition to these benefits, adding the 485 unit with an estimated average ( some lower, some higher ) annual property tax of $5,200.00, would generate approximately $2,522,000.00 in new yearly revenue. This new revenue would help us avoid hefty tax hikes and keep increases more manageable. Ultimately, action must be taken. Substantial time and financial resources have been dedicated to compile comprehensive reports. These efforts directly reinforce Council's primary mandate, effective governance, addressing relevant is-
sues in a timely manner, safeguard our financial health.
Past decisions and continued deferral of projects, coupled with less-than-optimal governance of critical infrastructure, has resulted in and is expected to continue causing significant financial pressures. We cannot continue to neglect our responsibility toward core infrastructure. Ultimately, if we allow our essential assets to deteriorate while our financial obligations persist, we risk placing both the Municipality and its residents into deeper debt.
At present, existing assets such as roads with growth potential and municipal water and sewer infrastructure are not being fully leveraged, even though these resources are incorporated into annual operating budgets year after year. Achieving sustainable growth and strategically investing in key infrastructure enhancements are essential for effective municipal governance. Continued growth is vital for municipalities, as it creates new opportunities, boosts revenue, enables additional housing, and broadens the user base for municipal services, increasing support for current rate payers.
Municipalities operate within defined regulatory frameworks as outlined by established systemic practices. Our team is looking to use all the available resources to fulfill our operational requirements and ensure a healthy and sustainable Municipality.
Thanks again for your time.
Michael Cameron Mayor, MerrickvilleWolford
Truth and Reconciliation
North Grenville
Join the North Grenville Indigenous Advisory Circle, Indigenous Leaders, Council and members of the public as we come together in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Saturday, September 27th at Noon at the Mino-jichaag Mtigwaaki
241 Honour Way, Ferguson Forest In case of rain - at Anniversary Park
Event will include speakers, music, food, and companionship.
Everyone welcome! northgrenville.ca/reconciliation
You are Invited to In the Development of “Growth Management
You are Invited to Participate In the Development of a United Counties “Growth Management Strategy”
What is a Growth Management Strategy (GMS)?
What is a Growth Management Strategy (GMS)?
A GMS is a long-term document that will help guide and manage appropriate development throughout the County. It will provide an assessment of growth and the amount of land needed accommodate it. It will form the foundation settlement area changes/expansions and policy updates for the 10-year Official Plan scheduled to be started in 2026. This will help the County and coordinate land use, infrastructure and services to 2051 and beyond.
How to be involved in the process?
A GMS is a long-term document that will help guide and manage appropriate growth and development throughout the County. It will provide an assessment of growth and development and the amount of land needed accommodate it. It will form the foundation of potential settlement area changes/expansions and policy updates for the 10-year review of the County Official Plan scheduled to be started in 2026. This will help the County and local municipalities coordinate land use, infrastructure and services to 2051 and beyond.
1. Visit www.leedsgrenville.com/growth for more information and to website.
2. Complete a survey if you would like your land considered for future Complete the survey at www.leedsgrenville.com/growth before September
How to be involved in the process?
3. Submit comments to elaine.mallory@uclg.on.ca before September
1. Visit www.leedsgrenville.com/growth for more information and to subscribe to the website.
2. Complete a survey if you would like your land considered for future development. Complete the survey at www.leedsgrenville.com/growth before September 29, 2025.
4. Attend a public consultation session. This virtual consultation will October 2, 2025 at 4:00 p.m , with a presentation by our consulting Consulting, on the process and findings to date, followed by questions For virtual participation, email your interest to elaine.mallory@uclg.on.ca October 2, 2025
3. Submit comments to elaine.mallory@uclg.on.ca before September 29, 2025.
Date of Notice: September 17, 2025
United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
25 Central Ave. W., Suite 100 Brockville, ON K6V 4N6
4. Attend a public consultation session. This virtual consultation will take place on October 2, 2025 at 4:00 p.m., with a presentation by our consulting team, Hemson Consulting, on the process and findings to date, followed by questions and comments. For virtual participation, email your interest to elaine.mallory@uclg.on.ca prior to October 2, 2025.
T 613-342-3840, 800-770-2170
TTY 800-539-8685
www.leedsgrenville.com/growth
Date of Notice: September 17, 2025
United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
25 Central Ave. W., Suite 100 Brockville, ON K6V 4N6
T 613-342-3840, 800-770-2170
TTY 800-539-8685
www.leedsgrenville.com/growth
Reconciliation: more than one day a year
by David Shanahan
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, originally and still colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day, is a Canadian day of memorial to recognize the atrocities and multi-generational effects of the Canadian Indian residential school system. It occurs every year on September 30, introduced by legislation in 2021 in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to action number 80 “by creating a holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which seeks to honour First Na-
tions, Inuit and Métis Survivors and their families and communities and to ensure that public commemoration of their history and the legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process”.
Aside from the one day set aside annually for the purpose, the intention of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s [TRC] call to action was to encourage Canadians to learn and understand the history and legacy of residential schools in the history of Canada and the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. How far we’ve progressed in learning that history, much less
understanding the legacy is not encouraging. At a meeting I had with representatives of the various Anishinabek communities affected by one particular residential school, it was pointed out by families of survivors that truth can be hard; not just the terrible facts and the multigenerational impacts of what boys and girls experienced in the schools, but also facing the truth that many children actually enjoyed their school days. The structure and friendships experienced fitted well with their personalities. For many others, school was hell on earth.
What has always impressed me over many
years has been the resilience, the strength of so many survivors, as they tried to break the cycle of trauma that impacted them and their families. Boys and girls caught for as long as a decade or more in an environment that denied them love, warmth, family, went on in time to become parents with their own children. Many found it impossible to express love, provide warmth and support to their own children because they had never known such things themselves. Others found themselves passing on to the children the same negative behaviours they had learned in residential school.
Generations suffered long after the schools themselves closed. There were positive aspects too: education opened doors that would otherwise have remained closed; but at what cost? Children spent time in school, then returned home to find a barrier had been raised: some no longer understood their own language, and found it hard to communicate with their parents and siblings. They were even unable to join in prayers
and ceremonies. Others discovered that a level of education denied to their ancestors was another barrier that they found difficult to overcome.
There can be no reconciliation without truth: that is a basic fact. How can we be reconciled when we have an incomplete or inaccurate picture of what we need to be reconciled about? This is something that all of us, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, have to do: the “history and the legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process”. In other words, while the effects of Residential Schools have been generally disastrous for Indigenous communities, creating serious and deep-rooted trauma for generations of people, Canadians still don’t “get it”. The general level of knowledge and understanding about Indigenous history overall is still remarkably, and appallingly, vague and confused. So, rather than just marking National Day of Truth and Reconciliation once a year, let’s make it an incentive to learn and inform in a more complete
and deeper way. Canada’s Indigenous peoples are not simply victims of colonisation, though they are that: they are also peoples with varied and rich cultures and traditions. They have proved themselves to be resilient, unbelievably patient and strong; deserving of respect and toleration as much as any other ethnic communities in Canada, but with deeper roots in the land, perhaps a greater sense of our place in the environment. Mutual respect and understanding is the goal, and the way to get there is through knowing the truth – the real truth. It is said among Indigenous peoples that healing takes seven generations. We all need to find and enable healing, understanding that this will take much more than marking one day a year and thinking we’ve done our bit. So many false ideas dominate the conversation; so many deep-rooted racist and unconscious assumptions need to be exposed and corrected. But, as someone said, “the Truth will set you free”.
Omelets are great all year round but particularly good this time of year, because of having fresh vegetables as a key ingredient. Today's recipe is called a Harvest Omelet and it's great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It's also a real time saver and another opportunity to teach the young ‘uns some cooking skills. Please try the Harvest Omelet. Harvest Omelet
Ingredients:
· 1 green pepper, finely chopped
· 1 onion, finely chopped
· 1 teaspoon of crushed garlic
· ½ cup of zucchini, finely sliced
· 1 cup of sliced mushrooms
· 1 ripe tomato, cubed
· 5 eggs, slightly beaten with 3 tablespoons of milk (or cream)
· 3 tablespoons butter
· ¾ cup of shredded cheddar cheese
· ¼ cup of tomato sauce
Preparation:
· In a 10" nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and add the garlic, onion and pepper
· Once sweated for 5 or 6 minutes, add the mushrooms and zucchini
· Cook till all the veggies are tender then, set them aside in a separate dish
· Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a separate saucepan
· Add the tomato chunks and tomato sauce and cook for 5 or 10 minutes; keep piping hot
· In your original skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and pour in your beaten egg
· Cook over medium heat until the egg sets
· Spoon your sauteed vegetables and cheese over half the omelet
· Fold the other half of the omelet over your vegetable and cheese filling
· Cook for another five minutes, then slather with your hot tomato sauce
Bring the pan as is to the table and serve with slices cut from a loaf of your favourite crusty bread from Grahame's. Omelets are always great with a bold dark roast coffee. For dessert, try more bread with a fresh jam or conserve you have just made or purchased from the downtown Farmer's Market.
All the best to you as we enter the blessedly cool fall season. Please continue to stay keep in touch at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.
Marketing / Sales CONTACT
marketing@ngtimes.ca 613.215-0735
The Voice of Our Community www.ngtimes.ca
: Red Kite
UK Birds
My garden birds seem to be taking a low profile, at the moment, especially my poor Hummingbirds, who have ceased competing with the marauding wasps altogether. I am wondering if the cooler evenings have also got something to do with their absence. They would usually be thinking of leaving us around this time of the year to head south once again. Our other non-migratory birds are still around, but not too evident, especially with the still very dry conditions continuing, which must be affecting their normal food supplies. Hopefully, things will change fairly soon and some sort of normality will return for them and ourselves. As a result of the lack of activity, I haven't been able to get many pictures of them, so have decided to share with you some of the pictures that I was able to get very recently on my holiday travels.
Gloucestershire (pronounced Glostersheer), in the UK, provided me with a few opportunities to see some birds, but being very unusually hot and dry too, the garden birds weren't in evidence either, so other random sources had to suffice! Frequent trips out to visit various outdoor gardens and other places, such as National Trust Heritage houses, provided a few unusual exciting sightings. A visit to a Stroud mills beautiful gardens, complete with ponds, gave me a chance to get a rare glimpse of a Red Necked Grebe and its partner, as they dodged about in the water reeds. They were pretty elusive, but did come out in the open long enough for me to get a look at them. Great!
Whilst out on another venture, a Red Kite flew by, which I was able to get a picture of with my telephoto lens. Red Kites were introduced back into the UK not long ago and can be seen around the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and other mid UK Midland counties. Other birds of a similar type are the Common Buzzards, who are quite common and can be seen when driving in the countryside. They do much the same job as our Turkey Vultures do in keeping dead animals out of sight.
Whilst taking a break from driving around, and also getting an open-air pub meal, I was fascinated by the antics of a Seagull, who landed on one of the nearby tables to consume some left-over chips( French fries). He was having a great time! It wasn't until I looked at my picture of him that I realized what the inverted Heinz bottle said on the label"Deliciously Good". Well, I guess the Seagull wasn't going to deny that, was it!!?
Stay safe and well,
Cheers,
John Baldwin
RECURRING EVENTS
Knights of Columbus Monthly Supper at Holy Cross Church Hall 503 Clothier Street West. Suppers are held at 5:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month, September to November and January to May. Cost $10 per person, $5 for a child under 12 and $25 for a family.
PROBUS: Fellowship, Fun and inFormed presenters are part of the PROBUS gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall at 9:30AM. For more information contact at n.g.probus97@gmail.com
Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome
BINGO at the Kemptville Legion every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from Sept-June. Doors open at noon, Bingo starts at 1pm..
LEGION EUCHRE will be held at 100 Reuben St., the 3rd Saturday of each month. Registration starts at 12:30, with Euchre starting at 1:00. Cost is $5 to play - cash prizes. NG Duplicate Bridge Club Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptivlle, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613795-7155
Friendship Lunches are offered to everyone every Friday. Please join us in our lower hall by 11:30 for a free meal, companionship and fellowship at St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. and begin at 11:30. There is no charge. A free will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome. Friendship Café is open to the community Tuesday's from 10 to noon. All are welcome to stop by, enjoy a hot beverage, a sweet treat and some friendly conversation all at no cost. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. Tuesday Community Hub hosted by the House of Lazarus All are welcome to drop in. Advocacy, “make a meal, take a meal” cooking opportunities, community services assistance are just a few of the weekly programs. Stop by and visit or contact House of Lazarus directly at 613-989-3830 for more details. “Building Community, Sharing Hope”. Upstairs at St. John's United Church at 400 Prescott St. Modern Square Dancing in Kemptville with the Grenville Gremlins Square Dance Club. Monday Evenings 7:309:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Debbie at 613-795-3032 or Google "Kemptville Square Dancing" Saturday Art Social every Saturday morning at the NG Public Library! 10 am - 11:30 am at the NG Public Library. Free with basic materials provided
BID EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, September 23. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., play starts at 7:00 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com
EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, September 16 and 30. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., play starts at 7:00 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com
KLUB 67 invites all euchre players to join us every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for a fun social game of euchre. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben St. Registration starts at 12.30, play starts at 1pm. Cost is $5 to play – cash prizes given. No membership required.
North Grenville Men’s Shed
A men’s shed provides a safe and friendly environment for men to socialize and/or do projects.
Contact: Peter Ivay 343 598-1174 or website ngmensshed. com for scheduled meetings on the calendar and additional information.
Malala Women’s Choir
Invites you to explore uplifting music for treble voices. Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pm, March 5– May 28, 2025. At St. Andrew’s Knox Presbyterian Church, 23 Bennett St., Spencerville. To register: contact Sheila at 613-658-5290 or sheilafawcett92@gmail.com No previous choral experience required.
Membership fee: $35
Kemptville Horticultural Society - meetings are held monthly, except July, August & December. The are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Kemptville Pentecostal Church.
NG Pride: 2SLGBTQAI+ Seniors and allies meet 2 - 4pm the first and third Sunday of each month at the NG Library. Join us for coffee, chat, cards and shenanigans.
Refreshed signage points to the heart of North Grenville
Matt Gilmer, Manager of Economic Development; Sierra Jones-Martel, Manager of Service Delivery at North Grenville Public Library and Treasurer of Downtown Kemptville BIA; John Barclay, Deputy Mayor; Shelley Mitchell, Owner of To Be Continued and Chair of Downtown Kemptville BIA; and Deb Wilson, Councillor.
The Downtown Kemptville BIA is excited to announce the renovation of the two directional signs on Highway 43, that point residents and visitors to the vibrant Downtown Core of Kemptville. The BIA is thankful for the collaboration and support from To Be Continued Consignment, in partnership with Region 9 Regional Tourism Organization (RTO 9) and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, to bring this initiative to life.
These signs were part of the BIA's ongoing efforts to promote and support the heart of our community and the many local businesses that call it home. The BIA hopes this refreshed signage will make it easier for travelers and residents alike to discover all that Downtown Kemptville has to offer.
Back in 2016 the BIA funded, with the help of grants from the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and from Grenville Community Futures two large wayfinding signs on Highway 43. The installation was ably helped by NG's Manager of Economic Development, Matt Gilmer. Thanks to Tom Graham's design and the installation by Kevin White and Rick Kotlarchuk, the signs looked like many of the Municipality's directional signs. In fact, they were created by downtown businesses collectively working together to benefit the greater community.
The BIA decided that these signs needed a make-over after 9 years. This initiative was made possible through funding support from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and RTO 9, in partnership with local business, To Be Continued Consignment, which generously covered 50% of the project costs through the Partnership Fund Program. RTO 9 works closely with tourism partners to enhance tourism across the South Eastern Ontario region. Once again, the BIA was assisted by NG's Matt Gilmer, Manager of Economic Development (pictured below).
Again, special thank you goes to Classic Graphics for their excellent work in refreshing the signs.
This signage project is more than just wayfinding, it's a bold statement that Downtown Kemptville is open, thriving, and ready to welcome you. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, there's never been a better time to rediscover the heart of our community.
Come see what's waiting for you in Downtown Kemptville.
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Charges
6. Turn upside down 10. Quick short straight punches
14. Blatant
15. Citrus fruit
16. Assist illegally 17. Craze 18. Pinnacle
19. Soft drink
20. Completely 22. Murder 23. Go inside
24. Untrue 25. Male cow 29. Tautness
31. Not consumed 33. Completely covered
37. Topic 38. Limber
39. Prolong
41. Illness
42. Got away
44. Stair
45. Cache
48. Humped animal
50. Friendly
51. Mockingly
56. Prefix meaning "Within"
57. Misfortunes
58. Leg bone
59. Anagram of "Sage"
60. Blackthorn
61. Black
62. Legal wrong
63. Not his 64. Leases DOWN
1. Deep sleep
2. Egg-shaped
3. Dispatched
Solutions to last week’s Sudoku
4. Threesome
5. Phase
6. Render pancakeshaped
7. Fungus
8. Dunk
9. Jury member
10. Whippersnapper
11. Agitated
12. Chimes
13. Not fresh
21. Intestinal
24. Concentrate
25. Backsides
26. Sloth
27. Allows
28. Most recent
30. Interiors
32. Josh
34. Expectorated
35. Otherwise
36. Profound
40. Plane engine enclosure
41. Passes down by bequest
43. Sitting room
45. Perspiration
46. Ballroom dance
47. Command
49. Metric unit of capacity
51. Plate
52. Feeling
53. Black, in poetry
54. Fluff
55. Cheers
Who knows where the Times goes?
Rochon is walking the Camino for the fourth time but the first time through Portugal. On September 9th he arrived in
Victor and Linda Desroches from Bishop’s Mills were in Cape Breton last week and had the privilege of staying at
& Cathy McManaman's beautiful inn for three days. Jim was Deputy Mayor of North
before
Breton. They took this photograph in the old general store. Jim and Cathy send their regards to all in
Our invitation to readers to share photos of the Times on their holidays was accepted by far more individuals and families than we ever expected. It has been really wonderful to receive pictures from all over the world, from Iceland to Australia, and from Poland to Alaska. Canada was well-represented too, from Newfoundland Labrador to British Columbia. The contest is now closed, but we still have so many photographs to share that we’ll extend coverage through next week’s issue. We’ve had to choose just one picture from each family/individual, so many were submitted. In more than one case, we got six or more photographs from one source! We are so grateful to all those who brought the Times with them on their vacations and took the trouble to take and send in their holiday snaps.
The draw will be announced in next weeks issue.
N.G. Men’s Shed-Update
Members of the Arnprior/McNab Men’s Shed, drove the distance to present a Wood Carving Seminar to the Kemptville Shedders in early September.
The Arnprior group, showed off their exquisite artifacts, many of which took up to eight months to create: a three-foot-high carving of a heron, a colourful life-size bass, a colourful three-foot muskie with a thousand intricate scales were just some of the patiently created presenta-
tions.
Arnprior McNab Men’s Shed was established eleven years ago for retired men and now meets twice weekly in a renovated schoolhouse in Braeside, Ontario. The Carving Group is a fraction of the fifty members who gather. The shop is busily engaged with community projects: dozens of accessible picnic tables, lending library boxes, benches and repairs of all kinds. There is a unique community spirit of generos-
ity at the core of the Arnprior McNab shed.
At the end of their presentation, the Arnprior group presented us gifts of three carving sets, sharpening tools, books and small Dremel machinery. More gifts of tools and machinery have been offered to the North Grenville Men’s Shed as we look forward to having a permanent shop. Currently we work out of “Satellite Sheds” in the garages of our members.
North Grenville
Men’s Shed recently provided volunteer staffing for the Red Shoes provincial Triathlon, built bike racks and roadside markers for the competition.
As a local group, our “veggie trugs”, bat houses, and benches have sold in Prince Edward Island, Kingston, and Merrickville, Ontario.
If you are recently retired, interested in engaging with other men and working with tools, why not visit North Grenville Men’s Shed? We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 am to 10:30 am in the Salvation Army lower level at 2 Oxford West across from the Kemptville Youth Centre. You will be welcomed with friendly faces and refreshments!
Jean Shanahan (Nee Hamilton) Drimnagh, Dublin
The death has occurred of Jean Shanahan on Sunday September 7. Peacefully in her 101st year surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and in the loving care of the wonderful staff of Powerscourt ward in Sugarloaf Care Centre. Predeceased by her husband Paddy. Lovingly missed by her daughter Marie, sons David & Pat, son in law Dave, daughters in law Maggie & Maria, brother Graham and sisters in law. Nana Jean will be forever missed and loved by her Grand Children, Great Grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and everyone who she touched.
In her long life, she an Irish champion seaangler, a hardworking business owner, Secretary of the Leinster Branch of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers for almost a decade, and Honorary Vice President of I.F.S.A.Her real legacy is her extended family on two continents, all of whom will fondly remember their Mam and their Nana Jean, and the many stories they share about her ways and words.
Paul
Porto to start his trek with the North Grenville Times in his backpack
Jim
Grenville
retiring to Cape
NG.
Deputy Mayor John Barclay enjoys the Times on his Summer Sailing adventure.
Women Who Care support KYC
The 100 Women Who Care North Grenville hosted its third quarterly meeting for 2025, on Sept 11. As always, we would like to thank Natalie Castellas and the staff of Catered Affairs at the Kemptville Campus, for the donation of their venue to host our meeting. Additionally, we would like to thank our door prize sponsors for our fabulous prizes. If you would like to donate a door prize for our next meeting, please reach out to us. We had so many nominations this quarter!
Three charities were chosen at random to tell us about their causes and their need in our community for funds.
We presented a cheque
to the Kemptville Youth Centre, the last quarter's winner, for just shy of $3000. It will be put toward their youth programming. The presentations were both informative and inspiring to learn about what many volunteers in our community do to help others. We heard from Colleen Morris-Wilson with the Spencerville TNR, Anthony Conte with the Habitat for Humanity 1000 Islands and Renee Moores representing the Naomi House.
Each cause is doing so much for our community, it was a very hard decision to choose only one. The votes were tallied and we announced Habitat for Hu-
manity to receive the funds raised this quarter. The other charities will not walk away empty handed. They will receive $250 each.
100 Women Who Care North Grenville don’t just stop at 100 women: in fact, the more the merrier! We are looking to make the biggest local and immediate charitable impact we can. 100% of the donations go towards the chosen charities.
Please join your North Grenville Chapter of this amazing association and help bring positive change to our community.
Our next meeting will be held on November 20 at Catered Affairs from 6pm-
8pm. Stay tuned for meal options. Supper begins at 6pm, social at 6:30 and meeting start time is 7pm, for 1 hour only. All are welcome.
Join us for a fun filled evening of community giving. Members please make your nominations anytime up to November 6.
For more information on 100 Women Who Care North Grenville, or to sign up for our next meeting, visit: 100 Women Who Care North Grenville on Facebook, or our website 100womenwhocareng.com.
The Spencerville Fair: A Celebration 170 Years in the Making
by Talia Hreljac
As you approached the gates of the Spencerville Fair, you could feel the excitement in the air for its 170th anniversary. The sweet scent of cotton candy and candy apples drifted through the breeze, the lights from the rides sparkled in the evening sky, and the sound of giggles, both young and old alike, filled the air.
To be honest, I had never experienced a small county fair and
didn't know quite what to expect. But, as I wandered through the grounds, I quickly realized it was so much more than just midway rides. It was a chance to catch up with neighbours, enjoy a wide range of entertainers, compete in friendly competitions, savour delicious food, and take in the unmistakable pride of community. It's a place where you can play carnival games and win stuffed animals the size of your body. A
place of magic, where people come filled with wonder and hope for all the possibilities. It's where you can leave your worries at the gate and just focus on having fun. I've also been quite vocal in the past about the lack of things for teens to do in the area, and events like this offer them the perfect opportunity to just be kids and have a great time, which I think is absolutely wonderful.
A huge shoutout to the volunteers and or-
ganizers who poured countless hours into bringing this fair to life. Every detail was considered. From the kids' area and the chicken exhibit, to the vendor fair and the thoughtful layout of food trucks and rides, it was clear the Spencerville Fair runs like a welloiled machine. Their efforts didn't go unnoticed, and people came from all over to be a part of it, grateful for the experience. Sparkles and cowboy boots felt like the unofficial theme of this year's fair, and I fell a little more in love with country living because of it; even if I'm probably the least country girl you'll ever meet.
If you've never been to the Spencerville Fair, I highly recommend making the time next year. Grab a weekend pass and turn it into a staycation. Throw yourself into the spirit, soak up the local magic, and have yourself a grand old time.
Why is information so hidden in healthcare?
by Diana Gifford-Jones
Several weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of factual debates. This week let's talk about transparency. It's one of those words that gets thrown around in health discussions. Politicians promise it. Hospital administrators profess it. Insurance companies advertise it. But when ordinary people go looking for reliable information about their own health, we hit a wall, there's silence, or confusion prevails.
Take something as basic and important as our own medical records. In Canada, we've been talking about universal digital access for years. Yet in many provinces, it is still astonishingly hard to get a picture of your health history. In Ontario, there are perplexing tools, portals and disjointed systems, and even after years of public outrage, we still don't have good access to our records. Most people still end up calling around, waiting for responses, or even paying fees to see their own information. And it's not that sharing personal or sensitive information isn't possible. We can check our bank balance in an instant, but not the results of a blood test taken last week.
There are brighter spots. In British Columbia, the Health Gateway app lets residents pull up lab results, imaging reports, immunizations, and medications going back decades. Updates appear within days. This is proof that transparency is possible when the will exists. It also highlights the inequity of a patchwork system where some Canadians enjoy open access to their records and others remain in the dark.
In the U.S., the issue shows up in different ways. In 2021, for example, a U.S. law came into effect requiring hospitals to post the prices of common procedures online so patients could shop around. It sounds like common sense, especially in a system where patients are paying costs out of pocket. Yet when investigators first looked, they found most hospitals ignored the rule or buried the information in ways that were incomprehensible to patients. Some reports put compliance as low as 14 percent. Even today, after penalties were increased, many hospitals remain noncompliant. Progress is being made, but patients are still left asking: if restaurants can post menus online, why can't hospitals share something as fundamental as their prices?
What unites these examples is that transparency is never just a technical problem. The systems exist. The technology exists. What's missing is the decision to put users of healthcare ahead of providers. What's worse is deliberate obfuscation. A lack of openness doesn't happen by accident. It reflects vested interests – whether governments that want to downplay wait times, hospitals reluctant to expose their performance, or corporations that profit from complexity.
It doesn't have to be this way. When patients have access to their records, they become partners in their care rather than passive recipients. When people can compare prices or outcomes, they can hold institutions accountable. Transparency builds trust, reduces misinformation, and forces systems to improve. Opacity, on the contrary, breeds frustration, suspicion, and inequity.
I also want to be transparent with you. My father, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, was a physician. I am not. I know some readers have assumed otherwise, and I don't want there to be any confusion. What I can offer is continuity of his work, which was never about hype or fads. For fifty years, his column translated medical research into plain language and encouraged readers to weigh evidence for themselves. That remains my goal: to report honestly, to point readers to credible sources, and to highlight where the system is letting people down.
It is time for health care in Canada, the United States, and everywhere else, to be a lot more transparent.
This column offers health and wellness, not medical advice. Visit www.docgiff.com to learn more. For comments, diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram @diana_gifford_jones
Times of Darkness
By Fernando Belzunce
We live in times characterized by misinformation, yet many people are still unaware of what this entails. The context is one of confusion and mistrust, where, in addition, the transformations we are seeing are so rapid and so far-reaching that it is almost impossible to assimilate them or gauge their consequences. This widespread bewilderment is being generated in a social climate of extreme polarization, where powerful political forces, skilled at manipulating emotions, are capable of causing enormous instability through social media.
The proliferation of false information and the infodemic, that overwhelming and disorienting information overload, contribute significantly to this sense of fragility. For all these reasons, and because of the events we are witnessing, one has the uneasy feeling that perhaps we are not experiencing an era of change but rather a change of era.
Contributing to this global climate of vulnerability is the successful expansion of illiberal political currents across dozens of countries, which make use of democracy itself to promote anti-democratic agendas. The politicians involved are clearly following a shared playbook, inspired by the world's most powerful man, who has globalized this strategy of misinformation. A leader democratically elected just four years after his supporters staged an uprising against an election result. An insurrection that had seemed inconceivable in the United States and which, a year later, as proof of the universal nature of this movement, was replicated in Brazil.
Populist and autocratic tendencies are influencing the new radical politicians and even those belonging to parties previously known for their moderation. This is happening in Hungary, Poland, Israel, the Philippines, Turkey, El Salvador, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, France and Italy. Hence the emergence of influencer-style leaders of this new doctrine cultivated on social media, the breed-
ing ground for ruthless attacks against those who think differently, as well as the constant questioning of institutions, elected to represent the popular will and yet surprisingly accused of being enemies of the people. Attacks on the justice system, for example, are frenzied. Likewise, the brutal smear campaign against the media and the attacks on many of its professionals, which are carried out with startling impunity. All of this is happening simultaneously in many liberal societies. Is it really just a coincidence?
We are immersed in these dark times that in the future will be the subject of study.
The impact of major technological trends on journalism and democracies is huge, and it seems clear that this new turbulent environment encourages misinformation and weakens media firms, with no solution in sight. Most of the world's media outlets fell into crisis years ago, while multinational technology companies have achieved total market values exceeding the GDP of countries such as France, Spain or Italy. Millions of people spend hours every day on social media platforms based on a business model that rewards lies and sensationalism driven by algorithms. They are an open field for the dissemination of fake news and spin, as well as for the consolidation of polarization and hatred.
Democracy is so ingrained in liberal societies that it appears to be safe from harm, which leads to a dangerous complacency as it lowers its guard. But widespread geopolitical disorientation, together with unpredictable leadership and disregard for various international organizations, is shaking the very foundations of a universal system of values that has been accepted and respected for decades. We take it for granted that, despite the criticism and the attacks, democracy will always endure, even though, as history shows, this is not necessarily the case. This is demonstrated by recent events that previously would have seemed
unthinkable, such as one sovereign country invading another in Europe, or a civilian population being subjected to a humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East. It is not security that is at stake in this predicament. Nor is it the economy. Nor immigration. Nor identity. It is democracy. Because this is about democracy. And it is also about journalism, which is the profession that serves democracy and all citizens, and that is why it is the target of this global offensive.
Today, as we celebrate World News Day, seems the perfect time to remember the value and significance of journalism. A flawed profession, its practitioners being people, it is the best system we know for providing societies access to professional, fact-based, accurate information that allows them to make decisions freely. As simple as it is significant. It is an activity that also keeps a watchful eye on governments, companies and institutions, promoting plurality by offering different points of view and serving as a mouthpiece for people and causes that would otherwise be forgotten. A tough, beautiful and necessary job.
Perhaps now more than ever. Because now that we know AI is going to transform our perception of reality forever and will undoubtedly contribute to the spread of misinformation, we want there to be people who are professionally dedicated to a craft based on verifying information, checking data, documenting facts, and travelling to the places where events are taking place to witness what is really happening there. Because without journalism there is no democracy. And without democracy, darkness descends.
Fernando Belzunce serves as Executive Editorial Director of the Spanish media group Vocento and is the author of the book: ‘Journalists in Times of Darkness'.
The Ontario SPCA hosts special adoption event
To help more animals find loving homes, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is reducing adoption fees by 20%, courtesy of HomeEquity Bank, and waiving adoption fees entirely for senior pets, from September 26-28 at its animal centres across the province.
iAdopt: Furever Homes, presented by HomeEquity Bank, is intended to connect people and pets so both can thrive. The goal of the three-day adoption event is to place as many animals as possible into loving homes, with a special emphasis on creating perfect matches between our senior animals in care and adopters 55+.
Despite having so much to offer, senior animals are often overlooked in shelters and wait longer to find a loving home. They are typically calm, well-mannered, and al-
ready house-trained, making them an ideal match for older adopters seeking a steady, reliable friend. Adopting a pet can provide life-enriching benefits for older Canadians – from improved mental and physical well-being to a stronger sense of community and purpose.
"Pets offer so much more than just companionship. Research consistently reveals pets provide a sense of purpose, routine, physical activity and a reduced sense of loneliness some older adults may experience," says Niary Toodakian, Vice President, Customer Insights and Brand, HomeEquity Bank. "Older Canadians are living vibrant, active, connected lives. They show us that age brings the wisdom, compassion, and commitment that makes them the perfect pet owners."
If you’re not able to adopt, you can make a difference for
an animal by becoming a foster volunteer. For empty nesters facing lonely houses this time of year as their kids head off to school, fostering can be a happy distraction.
“If you could use some companionship or purpose in your life, fostering might be the perfect way to give back to animals in need,” says Shawn Aaron, Manager, Ontario SPCA Leeds & Grenville Animal Centre. “It makes a world of difference for animals who need a bit more TLC than an animal centre can provide to help prepare them for adoption.”
To see animals available for adoption, or to learn more about becoming a foster volunteer, visit ontariospca.ca.
