The Voice of North Grenville
Lions Christmas Tree sale returns
Everyone’s favourite Christmas tree store is once again open for the season!
The so-called Kemptville Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale is very popular annually. Last year, Lion Robert Sentner recalled the history of the Tree Sale: “We started our Christmas Tree Sale
project well over 10 years ago and only sold trees over the weekend the first few years,” he said. “Around 2013, we added tree sales through the week, and continue to do so. Initially, we sourced trees directly from Ferguson Forest; however, after using up all they could
offer, we are now bringing in trees from a nursery in Peterborough.”
What perhaps makes the Christmas Tree Sale special is the fact that it is a fundraiser for some of the most important local, regional, and international causes. Examples include local food
Record Response as Fill-a-Bag Campaign Kicks Off
banks, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Community Services Council, Senior’s Community Services, Kemptville Home Support, Community Living, Kemptville District Hospital and local High School student bursaries.
Running such a busy and popular fundraiser is not without its happy momemts.
“Seeing familiar faces year after year returning to get their Christmas trees, as well as helping the kids find just the right tree makes it fun,” explained Lion Robert.
This year’s price is set at $80 per tree.
The Kemptville Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale is located at the Ferguson Forest Centre Main Entrance, inside the chain link lot where all the greenhouses are located, at 275 Highway 44 in Kemptville. The hours of operation are from 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 5 pm on weekends.
At precisely 1:35 p.m. on November 30th, the first team arrived at the Fill-aBag Centre at 2005 County Road 18. Their vehicle was packed with grocery bags destined for the Salvation Army’s food bank and Christmas hampers. This delivery marked the start of two and a half hours of
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Lions volunteers, Ron and Wendy Gallinger
Contact Melissa at melissa @ngtimes.ca
intense activity as more than 180 volunteers filled the centre with over 2,400 bags, cartons, boxes, and tubs of food.
“This is truly a teamdriven event, strongly supported by our youth,” said Charly Stewart. Youth played an important role
throughout the day, assisting parents and adult leaders in receiving and moving donations. Senior Scouts and Venturers, under the direction of Scouter Dan Gilpin, managed safety in the parking lot and worked alongside teams to unload vehicles and bring groceries into the facility. They were joined by additional young volunteers who dropped in during peak hours to lend a hand. Cubs and Scouts participated in the doorto-door portion of the campaign, and Kemptville’s own RSCC Defiant Sea Cadets canvassed another section of the community. The Sea Cadets will return in the coming days to help sort the collected food. Families also play a
Travel
Wishing
key role in Fill-a-Bag. Teams go door to door delivering empty bags and later collecting filled ones to support neighbours in need. By the week before November 23rd, all 60 delivery routes had been assigned, a milestone the organizers celebrated. On the day before the 23rd, a mother reached out hoping to register her family of four. She was encouraged to come to the Centre in case a team did not show, and sure enough, they were able to take on a route. The excitement of her children as they unloaded their vehicle was heartwarming. Her young daughter proudly announced how good it felt to help, and her older brother is eager to return to assist with sorting.
Moving groceries on a cold, snowy day builds both hunger and fatigue, and the Salvation Army extends heartfelt thanks to Mr. Mozzarella for helping keep volunteers fed and
smiling.
This year, 34% of the 7,000 distributed bags were returned, reflecting a 5% increase over last year’s response. With a full month remaining before Christmas, the Salvation Army welcomes further Fill-a-Bag donations at 2 Oxford Street West, Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Imagine if we could reach a 45–50% return rate,” said organizers.
“It would make a tremendous impact.”
The receiving phase is only the beginning of the 2025 Fill-a-Bag campaign. Volunteers are now preparing to sort and package food for Christmas hampers, with remaining items going to the food bank on Oxford Street. Individuals interested in helping with sorting are invited to the Fill-a-Bag Centre weekday mornings from December 1st to 12th, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. The facility will also open for pre-booked groups of up to five people in the afternoons or evenings. Youth groups, businesses, and community teams are already scheduled to participate.
Organizations or individuals interested in supporting the campaign are encouraged to contact the Salvation Army at 613258-3583 and ask for Michelle.
Organiser Charlie Stewart with local resident April
Volunteer Marc and Barb
NG Community Forum highlights Housing, Food Security, and Youth Supports
by Diane Lapierre
North Grenville residents came together on November 19, 2025, for the latest North Grenville Community Forum (NGCF), which drew more than 30 participants from local charities and non-profit organizations.
The forum included updates on key community initiatives, such as the Shalom Small Homes Kemptville, who continue to raise funds for the future construction of another four small homes. The various programs in place to address food insecurity were also discussed. Participants benefitted from a presentation on the North Grenville Official Plan update by the Municipality’s Director of Planning and Development, Amy Martin.
The various presentations sparked meaningful dialogue that highlighted im-
portant community issues, ones that are sometimes easier to overlook, but essential to confront. We are lucky here in North Grenville as we continue to benefit from a strong network of individuals and organizations actively developing real solutions.
At the NG Community Forum, the newly formed NG Community Meals Association, a subcommittee of the NGCF, announced a new initiative to host free weekly community dinners at the Armoury starting in the new year. A pilot dinner is scheduled for December 16, 2025, with further details to follow.
The central focus of the forum was a panel discussion that explored the challenges facing youth today and the supports available within the community. The youth-focused panel fea -
tured three community leaders: Roxanne Trumble-Elliston of the Kemptville Youth Centre, Dan MacKinnon of Connect Youth, and Leah Curnock, Co-Chair of the North Grenville Rainbow Youth Club. Each shared insights into their organizations’ programs, which range from mentorship and safe spaces to inclusive activities aimed at empowering young people and providing valuable support when kids need it the most.
The discussion also brought attention to ongoing barriers faced by youth, including mental health concerns, social isolation, and limited transportation options that hinder access to community programs. The meeting concluded with NGCF’s commitment to continue this vital conversation at future gatherings.
by Darrell Nunn
We are heading into Advent, the Christmas season. We will encounter, again and again, the Christmas story, sometimes in church nativities performed by Sunday schools. Definitely in carols piped into stores. Whether you do, or do not, see yourself as 'Christian’, you have been saturated with this story.
Please do not get caught in the predictable debate about whether the 'story' is 'history’. But do not simply dismiss it. Find your own meaning in the Christmas Story. Reflect upon two important ancient words: mythos (myth) and logos (word?, fact? - there are different translations)but do not succumb to the present devaluing of the word myth, wrongly used to mean 'false,' or 'untrue.'
For thousands of years, Mythos and Logos were seen as two equally important ways of experiencing and understanding the world. Mythos is holistic, artistic, evaluative and intuitive. Logos is analytical, scientific, intellectual and practical.
Mythos seeks to reveal meaning; logos seeks to expand knowledge. But the key take away: both modes of understanding are essential in our lives.
Because the modern world is dominated by logos, we must make an effort to draw on the balancing power of mythos.
One important purpose of Scripture is the transformation of the soul, however you understand that word. But when we stopped understanding myth, we wrestled with changing understandings of how to read and learn from sacred story, from mythic story, from Scripture. The Bible is mostly written in mythos language. Mythos language is for that which is MORE than literally true. Religious fundamentalism is a modern phenomenon, trying to explain Mythos with Logos's terms and conditions.
We need mythos language to express the MORE-than-factual meaning of experiences like falling in love, grief, suffering, sacrifice, and death.
In the Bible we read, "And God's spirit hovered over the water....", "In the beginning was the word....And the word became flesh and dwelled amongst us."
Metaphors? Historical 'facts'? Mythic 'truths'?
Within your own mind/heart/soul/intuition, reflect on these phrasings, but, once again, do not get caught into a yes/no debate about the only CORRECT interpretation. Myths resonate (many overlapping sounds, ideas, meaning); ideologies amplify (one sound, voice, point of view made louder.)
So enjoy and respectfully reflect upon the Christmas story in whatever way resonates for you.
34 Drivers charged in first week of Festive Ride
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers across East Region have charged 34 motorists with impaired driving since the Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) initiative began one week ago.
Officers have conducted over 270 Festive RIDE programs since Thursday, November 20, 2025, stopping hundreds of drivers to ensure they were not impaired by alcohol or drugs.
The 34 drivers who were arrested all had their licences suspended for 90-days and their vehicles were impounded for seven-days, plus they each have a scheduled court appearance.
In addition to the impaired driving arrests, officers also issued seven three-day licence suspensions for drivers who were found to be in the warning range on an approved roadside alcohol screening device.
"Choosing to drive while impaired is putting your life, and the lives of everyone on the road at risk. If you plan to drink or consume drugs, have a plan. That could include a designated driver, transit, a ride-share or taxi, or just stay put." -Chief Superintendent Lisa Wilhelm, OPP East Region Commander.
RIDE programs can happen anywhere, anytime - day or night. If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 9-1-1. You could be saving lives.
Geminid meteor shower
by Gary Boyle, The Backyard
Astronomer
The annual Geminid Meteor shower will be at its finest on the night of December 13 into the morning of the 14th. According to the International Meteor Organization (IMO), the maximum peak of possibly seeing 120 meteors per hour is predicted to occur around 3 am eastern, (2 am central, 1 am mountain and midnight western) on the morning of the 14.
A 23% waning crescent moon will rise late into the morning hours so no big interference this year. This is a weekend event. If cloudy Saturday night it is still visible on Sunday night, but the numbers will be reduced.
These are slow moving colourful meteors generated by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon and will be memorable to witness as they burn up in the atmosphere appearing in different directions of the sky. Some very bright fireballs could also be seen. Start looking around 7 pm local time but as the night moves on and the constellation Gemini rises higher over the next few hours, more meteors will be seen. The brilliant planet Jupiter is up in the northeast around 7 pm and out all night long along with the bright winter stars of Orion – the Hunter.
Best to travel out of town to darker wide-open skies to fully enjoy the show. Do not trespass on private property.
culverts
Guest Editorial
Mary, Mary, how does your garden grow?
by Marguerite Boyer
Working for a community newspaper has its ups and downs. One of the best parts of the job is getting to meet the people who make North Grenville shine, the volunteers, builders, organizers, and everyday folks who quietly make this place better.
Of course, we also encounter the worst of it, the people who tear things down from behind their keyboards, firing off comments they’d never dare say in person. Lately, many of these comments have been aimed at the work being done on Highway 43.
How did we get here, not just with the construction, but with the nastiness?
I’ve lived here for over 30 years. I remember when Colonnade was first proposed. One of the questions I asked back then was simple, shouldn’t the roads be upgraded before all this development? The municipal planning department assured me that it would happen “later”.
Well, “later” has arrived. And now we’re dealing with the consequences of decisions made years ago, decisions driven by the desire for a Walmart, bigbox stores, and the housing that inevitably followed, all without the infrastructure to support the increased traffic. This is not a surprise. It’s the bill finally coming due.
And while many of us may grumble, most people understand that the only way out is through. (And yes, I love those roundabouts, just not the drivers who don't know how to signal). Construction is painful, but necessary. But then there are those who seem to actually enjoy spreading misery.
On Sunday, I opened my inbox to an email from a woman named Mary. She chose not to speak to me face to face, but instead sent this through what I like to call the Mighty Warrior Keyboard:
“We did not ask for your newspaper or flyers to be left on our property and never gave you permission to do so. You are
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Inspired by the recent editorials of David Shanahan, I could not help but ponder the judgments made of our Municipal Council and other levels of Government, particularly during elections. That prompted me to reflect on the American political influence today.
To understand any human mind, whether the complexity of Elon Musk’s or narcissism of President Trump, is to admit how little we know about thought, behaviour, and potential of the cognitive human mind.
When we call something evil, our anger and disgust can overwhelm thought. Yet if we pause, I believe that we can glimpse a fuller picture. Even harmful figures or actions can reveal truths we have long ignored. This does not excuse the harm; however it can reveal a clearer understanding.
littering on our property. Stop immediately. If we want to find any local news we will do so online. Perhaps it's time for NG Times to get with the times?”
I assume her intention was to hurt me, why else send something so pointedly rude? We receive many messages from readers: some asking where to pick up the paper, some letting us know their copy was soggy, others asking to pause delivery because they’ll be away. And yes, some simply don’t want a newspaper. That’s fine. Those messages are usually brief, polite, and respectful.
But then there are the Marys.The ones who need to sprinkle a bit of bitterness into the world. It makes me wonder how does their garden grow? Mary, why did you feel the need to be so cruel? There are many times when I want to lash out and hurt someone, but I have this moral code woking inside me that says it is not my place to knowingly hurt someone. If I have an issue with whatever is going
on, that bothers me, I try and approach the person or establishment with respect and honesty, not with unkind words. My mother taught me well and I hopefully have taught my two boys the same values.
There’s that old saying, you reap what you sow. I truly believe that people who send messages like Mary’s must be very unhappy, and can only sow weeds. When I picture her backyard, I imagine a tangle of thistles, overgrown, neglected, and prickly.
And yes, Mary, your email did hurt me. I suppose you thought you were being clever or cutting. Congratulations. But here’s the thing. Right after reading her email, I had to head out to a photo shoot for Filla-Bag Day. Bags were being picked up and delivered to the warehouse on County Road 18. What I saw there made Mary’s words dissolve like mist: at least 125 volunteers, working together to sort food and a long line of cars and trucks arriving with donations; and so many young people lend-
ing eager hands. It was a humbling, heart lifting sight, one that reminded me of the good this community produces in abundance. So Mary, maybe your garden struggles. But the garden grown by the residents of this municipality, full of generosity, compassion, and kindness, bears more fruit than you can imagine.
And that is what I choose to focus on.
For centuries, people were judged as normal or criminal because we lacked understanding. History is full of flawed judgments: bans on interracial marriage, restrictions on women, racist assumptions, and exclusions based on religion, sexuality, or disability. We continue to put criminals in prisons because we have no idea what else to do with them.
Public figures draw relentless judgment, yet the deeper issue is how quickly we judge them. Observing what their behaviour reveals about society does not excuse them; however could it provide a greater understanding of ourselves?
Graeme Waymark
Dear Editor, 11:30am, Monday. November 24th. I just returned from the Kemptville Post Office to check my PO Box. I was very happily surprised because those lazy excuses for people who DO NOT want flyers no longer throw them on the floor and I was happy that their brains had finally kicked in and they were taking the flyers home to put in the recycling bins. On the way out of the Post Office, I see to my horror, a note in large print, "DO NOT PLACE YOUR FLYERS IN THE POST OFFICE BOX”! So let me offer you lazy people a simple solution. You walk from your mailboxes, go through the doors to the main part of the post office, walk up to one of the postal workers and say two words, "NO FLYERS".
NOT a DAAAAAA person, Josephine Herman
Dear Editor, Feeling Unsafe at Emergency
I recently spent 10 hours in Emergency at the Kemptville Hospital, 9 of which were in the waiting room. There was one doctor on duty, and the room was not overfull, neither had there been an ambulance or other desperate emergency. It seemed as if many of us were there because it was a weekend, doctors offices were closed, and there are no walk-in clinics in our community.
Both staff and patients were all calm and polite. But the wait time was excessive and hard to tolerate. We need two doctors on duty at all times, especially at night and on weekends, when patients have no recourse except the hospital.
I just completed the KDH emergency department survey, and gave top
marks to all the questions. But this is what I wrote as a comment:
“I am immune compromised, and wore a mask in the waiting room. But my mask did not provide me with confidence when trapped for several hours in an airspace shared with sick people who were coughing, some not masked. Next time, I will insist on waiting in my car until called, unless you can take me in to an examining room as soon as I arrive.
“Also, I recommend the installation of TWO high quality air filters in the waiting room, equipped with HEPA filters and Ultraviolet, to reduce the transmissibility of airborne pathogens”
Aleta Karstad Bishops Mills
Dear Editor,
The recent article in the North Grenville Times addresses the issue of declining funding to support research in Canada. The treatment and cure for many health issues are dependent on both Provincial and Federal funding, yet support continues to decline, regardless of who is in office. It often takes decades of research to resolve issues related to health care, requiring longtime support. I had worked as a research scientist for 25 years at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa and often it took extended periods of time to resolve issues related to food and animal research. Achievements included the development of probiotics containing Bifidobacteria, lactose-reduced milk, continuous process for producing ricotta cheese and tofu, raising piglets separated from the sow to letters cont'd on page 5
Make tails wag and wishes come true
The Ontario SPCA Leeds & Grenville Animal Centre is on a mission to make dreams come true this holiday season for animals and their new
families with its Home for the Holidays adoption campaign, running until December 24.
Last year, the Leeds & Grenville Animal Centre found loving homes for 506 animals. The animal centre's goal is to find loving homes for 31 animals during the Home for the Holidays campaign. Animals adopted from the Ontario SPCA are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, and they go home with food from Royal Canin to help ensure a smooth transition into their new life.
With more people home during the holidays, now is an ideal time to welcome an animal into your family. Whether it’s an affectionate
cat who’s been patiently watching others go home or a gentle senior dog still full of love to give, each adoption helps change a life, both for the animal and the family who opens their heart.
“Every animal deserves to experience the joy of home,” says Shawn Aaron, Manager, Ontario SPCA Leeds & Grenville Animal Centre. “We have some very special animals who have been patiently waiting for a loving family to call their own and we’re hoping this holiday season will be their time to finally make their wishes come true.”
What’s 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:
break the cycle for a number of diseases, to name a few. In 1995, the Minister of Agriculture (Ralph Goodale), closed the Centre for Food and Animal Research in Ottawa and terminated many projects related to both the food and animal industry. Closing the Kemptville College has also impacted the training of people involved in agriculture. Recent cuts to the trades in Ontario will also affect the quality and safety of carpentry work, plumbing etc. Building more roads for the Toronto
area is a higher priority than funding research in Ontario. Finding a cure for diseases, such as cancer, requires long term research that has already stretched over decades. Reducing or eliminating such funding will only prolong the cure for many diseases, adding to the cost of health care. Our medical staff are overworked to say the least and action needs to be taken to add more staff to the hospitals. It would help if the Provincial Governments provided funding for those who would like to pursue
Those unable to adopt can still make a difference this holiday season. Donations help provide shelter and medical care for animals waiting for their forever homes. Supporters can also shop Paws & Give™, the Ontario SPCA’s online giving store filled with gifts that give back, from gifts for that special someone on your list, to toys for shelter animals. Every purchase helps give animals in need a second chance.
Visit ontariospca.ca/ adopt to meet animals looking for homes this holiday season or visit ontariospca.ca/leedsgrenville to donate or shop Paws & Give™. Together, we can make this a season of love, hope, and happy new beginnings for animals across Ontario.
a medical career. Training to be a medical doctor is a long and expensive process and they should be given assistance.
Wayne Modler, PhD. Research Scientist
Dear Editor, I see that John Baldwin’s bird column is no longer in the NG Times. I want to thank John ( and his wife) for the many editions of the column and acknowledge the effort in producing what was an interesting segment.
William Vanveen Kemptville
Creepy Conservation Consolidation
by Fred Schueler – Fragile Inheritance Natural History
Over the past 80 years, Conservation Authorities were established across southern Ontario as locally governed, watershed-delimited, jurisdictions, initially for flood control. They took on a broad range of conservation responsibilities as the Dept of Lands & Forests faded into the Ministry of Natural Resources (yes, Virginia, MNR mostly stopped doing their own research in 1977).
CAs are governed by boards made up of councillors from municipalities within their watershed-based jurisdictions. As their provincial funding has dwindled in recent decades, the CAs are increasingly supported by levies from the municipalities, donations, and project grant money applied for by staff.
As bioregional jurisdictions with governance from local councils, based on physical (non-political) lands and waters, CAs are the most
legitimate level of government in Ontario.
Desperate that the “conservative” in their party name not be mistaken for “conservationist,” the present government has, since 2020, been imposing arbitrary regulations and limitations on CAs, and now proposes that the 36 watershed-delimited CAs be replaced by 7 regional agencies under a new governing body that will restrict their power to prevent development that would degrade the environment.
In the 1990s Waterfront Regeneration Trust was an attempt at a regional co-ordinating authority for Lake Ontario, but was reduced to its trail by the Harris government. If we were to have Regional offices to co-ordinate activities and standards, these would need to be adequately-funded collectives of the local Authorities: not top-down provincial controllers.
At Fragile Inheritance, we have had 35 years of trying to work with CAs on conservation is-
sues, and we have classified some of the CAs as “do-not-respond-tostimuli,” so there is room for improvement, but that should come through co-ordination and cooperation, rather than elimination.
Updates and reforms through our existing system could include an online provincial permitting portal, modern digital infrastructure and information management, and funding for attention to all plants & animals and their communities (not just game & at-risk species).
Amalgamation as announced would weaken the municipal relationships and the local knowledge needed to deliver effective watershed man
agement. You can read the responses of the local CAs to their proposed extinction at - www.nation. on.ca/snc-responds-provincial-proposal-restructure-conservation-authorities, and at sjw32.mjt.lu/ nl3/7rZVDLAxepeCHyVeboAmg.
The one virtue of the Ford government has been its willingness to back off from foolish plans when there’s sufficient public outcry, so please send your comments about the amalgamation of CAs to https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257 or to <ca. office@ontario.ca>
Common Sense Health
What we got wrong about independence
by Diana Gifford-Jones
What’s happened, that we feed our children a single definition of success? Grow up and leave home, climb the ladder, buy a house, and live an “independent” life. At the same time, aging parents assert they must never become a burden on their grown children. These aspirations for selfreliance are ingrained in our concept of good living. But I wonder if we have it wrong.
Personal conviction, self-directed decisions, accomplishing goals on one’s own – these are all powerful elements of autonomy that come with the reward of feeling accomplished and satisfied. But interdependence, begin together and relying on others, is what keeps people healthy. We are a social species, and in social groups is how human beings are best suited to live.
In our modern ways of organizing ourselves in society, we have forgotten that multigenerational households were the norm for most of human history. It’s been a relatively recent development that we have measured success by dispersing the family into multiple homes, each behind its own closed door. The social experiment is not going well. Loneliness has become a public-health epidemic, increasing the risk of premature death at rates comparable to smoking and obesity!
Meanwhile, the housing data tell a striking story. While the buzz is loud about lack of housing, in fact, our communities are full of empty bedrooms. Literally millions of them, most in the homes of older adults living alone. At the same time, young people are struggling to find an affordable apartment, weighed down by debt, and postponing milestones like starting families because rent consumes too much of their income. We have a structural surplus of space and a structural deficit in seeing solutions.
What if the answer is not more construction, but more connection? Small but powerful examples are showing the benefits. Home-share programs match seniors with university students. Cohousing developments arrange single older adults in private suites around shared kitchens and gardens. Some young people, groups of friends, are going in together on the purchase of a jointly-owned first home. In these settings, researchers find better mental health, greater life satisfaction, and fewer emergency-room visits by older residents. Togetherness is good medicine.
As for the fear of being a burden, it deserves reconsideration. Studies show that adult children who help care for a parent often feel more purpose and emotional closeness, not resentment. Older adults living with family tend to stay healthier and independent longer. Ironically, the determination to avoid burdening anyone can lead to the very outcome people are trying to avoid.
And more good news, as there are environmental benefits. Multigenerational households use far less energy per person. Three generations under one roof leave a much smaller environmental footprint than three separate homes. Living together is climate friendly.
But the biggest factor is economic. A large body of research has shown that one of the most significant determinants of health is economic status. Yes, studies on the health impacts of living alone, of single parent versus traditional family structures, or of communal living, offer insights. But the research is clear that these factors are less important to health than the mighty dollar. So, if living together will improve financial wellbeing, then it’s an excellent investment in health.
Multigenerational living isn’t right for every family. But for many, it could be exactly the right antidote – to financial stress, and to today’s fractured social landscape. We would do well to create more well-designed cohabitation, with vetted roommates, seniors paired with students, and shared community spaces. As a result, we could expect stronger family ties, improved housing utilization, reduced loneliness, and better health.
This column offers opinions on health and wellness, not personal medical advice. Visit www.docgiff.com to learn more. For comments, diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram @diana_gifford_jones
73’s turn things around on the road
by G.J. the sportsguy Wednesday evening, Kemptville motored into Nepean to meet with the Raiders for a rematch after securing one win each previously. Nepean beat Rylan Donovan with a combination from Benoit to Jack Yates to draw first and only blood at 4:38 in the initial twenty. Kemptville retaliated with extra attacker with just over two minutes with a Eric Sweetapple sweet transition to Will Mullins on to the tape of Alexis Beaulieu to place it behind Otsirakatste Brant at 2:14. Lucas Achim tucked in the game winner at 11:59 for the 73’s. Zachary Venance on his bicycle traded with Lucas Achim for the insurance and his second at 16:45 to close out the second.
Will Mullins drove uptown with Alexis Beaulieu by his side to Gavin McDougall in the rocking chair to pull the trigger at 2:27 to begin the final twenty miler. Another extra man for the 73’s
when Alexis Beaulieu interacted with Gavin McDougall finding Will Mullins PPG in the weeds to slip in their fifth of the sixty. Kemptville outgunned Nepean 38 to 27 with ? PP to 0/5 PP. Friday evening venturing into the rival Bears Den of Smiths Falls to establish the dominant team after each taking two of the four meetings would require a OT 6 to 5 Kemptville win. Kemptville came out hot in the first frame when Nolan Tym combined with Julien Davis through the middle to drop back to William St. James on the line to slam it past Rafael Tremblay for first count at 6:05. Case Hennesy held the zone with Gavin McDougall on the flank to Will Mullins in the slot to make it two zip at 14:24. Tyson Parker, with helpers from Stants and Beauchesne, spoiled Rylan Donovan’s SO to put Smiths Falls on the board at 5:48 in the second salvo. At 10:59,
Nicholas Voisey volleyed with Alexis Beaulieu reversing to Eric Sweetapple for a sweet slapper shortie at 11:22. Ott with Heron assisted Andrea Blais to counter on a Bears power play at 12:25. Riopel with Paquette pushing the rubber to D.J. Ott on the fringe of the triangle at 16:04 to knot it at three. Five on four Kemptville came on strong with Lucas Achim cycling through the zone unto Zachary Venance to reverse to Case Hennesy on the point for power play plunger tie breaker at 17:18.
Smiths Falls goal from Parker and Stants to Carter Beuchesne at 3:13 for four all in the final frame. Paquette with Riopel caught Caden Heins to make it a one point lead at 4:03 for the Bears. The
73’s pushed for the equalizer with a smooth transition from Case Hennessy up the wall to Cooper Grant to Darius Nichols on the hash mark to force OT at 4:35. The OT was short and sweet as Alexis Beaulieu ignited his afterburners to focus on his target at 1:44 for 73’s game winner and needed two points. Kemptville was outshot 31 to 27 with Bears 1/5 PP to 73’s 1/2 PP.
Up the valley to Pembroke Sunday evening for a meeting with Lumber Kings. The first frame was end to end excitement as Kemptville double downed on SOG; but Pembroke turned the light on at 18:25 when Chris Neil blew it by Keegan Carswell. Gavin McDougall rallied with Alexis
Beaulieu, and Will Mullins put it behind Logan Hindeman to open the second at 1:27 for a tie and open the flood gates for Kemptville. Owen Redmond dropped back to Case Hennesy as Darius Nichols deposited the loose change at 9:34 for the game winner. Jay Zeus Mbarushimana went to the dance with Zachary Venance to find Lucas Achim in his wheel house to drive it home at 13:03 for the insurance. Keegan Carswell would flash the leather to stymie a penalty shot from Pembroke’s Chris Neil at 13:34.
Another line showed their worth with a tic-tactoe n’ go from Julien Davis to Anthony D’Arienzo cycling unto Jacob Kulas twig to make it a 4 to 1 rout at 6:24 in the
third. The Pocket Rocket Jay Zeus Mbarushimana shifted gears coordinated from Zachary Venance with Lucas Achim to plug the dyke at 12:35 for a well earned 5 to 1 win. Kemptville blitzed Pembroke 33 to 26 with 0/3 PP and 0/7 PP.
Remember that Friday, December 5, is Royal LePage Team Realty Mountain of Toys special night with Nepean Raiders rematch. Please help put a smile on a local child’s face on Christmas morning by bringing a toy to the game. Back on the bus to Navan to meet the Grads for a Sunday matinee.
Hockey with EDGE… see you around the wall.
Focus on the prize...Owen Redmond does the honours with Alexis Beaulieu and Will Mullins as they match up with Ryan Beaulieu, Kyle Bernier and Mathias Hoyle in Sunday evening battle in Pembroke to table their third road trek success by 5 to 1.
Two Pianos, No Rodeo in
Burritts Rapids
by John Sobol
Blue Moon Live, a local outfit that puts on occasional shows featuring top-flight Canadian musicians, presents an unusual concert called
Two Pianos, No Rodeo at the Burritts Rapids Community Hall next Friday night at 7:30.
The gig will feature two acclaimed piano players and songwriters, Bob Wiseman and Mike Boguski. Bob Wiseman was the original piano player for Blue Rodeo, while Mike Boguski has filled the keyboard spot for that famed band since 2009. Put the two together and what do you get?
Two Pianos, no Rodeo. Clever, right?
Bob Wiseman is nothing if not clever. He’s also outrageous, hilarious, and a terrific songwriter. After leaving Blue Rodeo with a handful of Juno Awards in his pocket, Bob went solo and has since released no less than 13 albums. He’s currently mixing his 14th, recorded with a group of Swedish musicians he met after playing a solo gig in Sweden earlier this year.
Over the years he also developed a reputation as one of Canada’s best record producers, having worked with a who’s who of Canadian indie musicians. In fact, he not only produced Ron Sexsmith’s first album, he also hounded record label
after record label trying to convince them of Sexsmith’s genius. Despite being turned down a dozen times, Bob kept at it, and, eventually, it led to a deal with Interscope records. The album became a global phenomenon and launched Sexsmith’s remarkable career.
Meanwhile, after Bob’s departure, Blue Rodeo needed a new keyboard player, and eventually they settled on Mike Boguski, a versatile piano man who can deliver down and dirty honkytonk as easily as he can muster up more ambient or jazzy grooves. Mike has released two albums as a solo artist, and, like Bob, is more than willing to push his musical boundaries in search of a great song.
Together, they offer a power-packed evening of lively music and good times. To purchase tickets for Two Pianos, No Rodeo, visit www.bluemoonlive.ca.
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Small Shops. Big Heart
Bob Wiseman in a groove
Joseph Fredrick “Fred” Turcotte
March 5, 1935 - November 21, 2025
It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Fred on Friday November 21, 2025, at Carleton Lodge. Fred Turcotte of Kemptville was born March 5, 1935, in Gananoque to William and Urieth Turcotte (Smith). Fred was predeceased by his loving wife Sylvia, in March of 2020 after 62 years of marriage. Loving Dad of Alan, Terry (Julie) John (Lana) Glen (Kelly). Cherished Grandpa of Matthew, Patrick, Jordan, Aaron, Kara, Kaitlin, Cameron, Ryan, Ashley, Joey, Sydney and Jared. Cherished Great Grandpa of Max, Charley, Nathan, William, Savannah and Alitzia. Loving brother of Wilma and Betty. Uncle to many loved nieces and nephews. Fred was predeceased by his son Jeffrey, brothers Jim and Robert, sisters Bernice and Agnes. Also predeceased by grandsons Kyle and TJ.
Growing up on the farm in Gananoque presented many situations that required many skill sets. Fred was always tinkering and interested in how things worked. In his early teens he rebuilt his first tractor engine on the family farm tractor with success. He tried his hand at many different jobs over the years but early on he loved working on all things mechanical.
Fast forward to the 60s and 70s and after moving his lovely wife and boys to Kemptville, Fred challenged the Class “A” Mechanics exam and passed with flying colours. He worked at some local businesses repairing everything from highway tractors to farm tractors to go carts and everything in between. Ken Seymour Motors, Howard Wilson Motors, Kemptville Truck Centre and Carl-Don Equipment to name a few.
In 1980 Fred got a call from Dan Kane, Program Supervisor at Kemptville College, Power and Equipment Centre, to bring his skills and expertise to the classroom and the shop at K.C.A.T. For almost 18 years Fred helped develop some of the industries finest farm machinery and automotive technicians. He also continued developing his own skills earning more licences and certificates in order expand the curriculum at KCAT. He also taught the Air brake endorsement course, the heavy truck wheel course, chain saw safety course and small engine repair etc.
After retirement from KCAT in 1997, you may find him in a courier van, a tow truck, a vehicle at Rideau Auctions or possibly at home in his shop rebuilding his last tractor engine!
Fred was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and a 4th degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and was always ready to help or volunteer. He loved the golf cart chauffeuring at Kemptville Live, Fall in love with Maple weekend at the Campus and the Knights of Columbus golf tournament in South Mountain!
An awesome Dad, brother, grandpa, great grandpa uncle and friend, you will be dearly missed!
Special thanks to staff at Carleton Lodge.
A Memorial Mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 503 Clothier Street West, Kemptville on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 11 a.m. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. By family request, donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Arrangements entrusted to the Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain (613-989-3836). Online condolences may be shared at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.ca
The Food Corner
by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville
This week, we are back to some finger foods to help make the season bright. Today’s Lemon Squares are a very toothsome sweet for this time of year. They are another tidbit that go well with that eggnog recipe we provided as you decorate the tree.
Festive Lemon Squares
Ingredients:
• 1 cup of flour
• 1 cup of uncooked oats
• ½ cup of flaked coconut
• ½ cup of walnuts, coarsely chopped
• ½ cup of light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½ cup of melted butter (salted or unsalted)
• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk (AKA Eagle Brand)
• ½ cup of lemon juice
Preparation:
• Preheat your oven to 325F
• In a medium size bowl, mix: flour, oats, coconut, walnuts, sugar and baking powder into a crumbly mixture
• In a separate bowl, mix together the condensed milk and the lemon juice
• Spread half of the crumb mixture in the bottom of a 9X9 inch baking pan (glass preferred)
• Cover with the condensed milk and lemon mixture and spread remaining crumbs on top
• Bake for about a half hour or until lightly browned
You need to let your pan cool, then refrigerate before cutting into squares. To keep fresh, cover with plastic film or store in a plastic container. Your squares will benefit from being served at a cool temperature.
You are sure to enjoy making these, particularly if the kids can get involved. Best to all for the festive season and please continue keeping in touch at pcormier@ranaprocess. com.
Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas
by Dana Douglas, Southeast Public Health
Save Time, Energy and Money with this Gift Idea
A slow cooker is a great gift idea for people of all ages and stages of their lives. Busy families, students, or those who may live alone can all reap the benefits of using a slow cooker to make some of their meals. With the colder weather, it’s always nice to prepare something in the slow cooker in the morning and have it ready for dinner. This time of year, they can often be found on sale for a good price.
Slow cookers are relatively easy to use and save time, especially for busy evenings. You can make an entire meal in the slow cooker in the morning, let it cook all day, then it’s ready to eat for dinner. Slow cookers can help save money. For example, they can cook dried peas and beans, and also make tougher, more affordable meats like chuck, rump and flank, tender. They’re great for making big batches of food that can be frozen for later or shared with family and friends. Slow cookers also save energy as they use less than an oven.
For more information on choosing to prepare food and to find slow cooker recipes, visit southeastph.ca, call 1-800660-5853 or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram for information on healthy, balanced eating.
Kemptville Health Unit closure postponed
Serious objections from Mayor Nancy Peckford of North Grenville and Mayor Tory Deschamps of Edwardsburgh-Cardinal, along with strong community concern, have resulted in a formal response at the regional level: at its November 26 meeting, the Board of Health for Southeast Public Health carried the motion:
“That the Medical Officer of Health withdraws his recommendations to close the eight satellite offices at this time. That staff provide an initial report back and discussion in December.”
Mayor Peckford stated: “As Mayors, we have jointly raised significant concerns about this closure. The loss of access to essential public health services directly contradicts the assurances given during the Health Unit merger process last year. The Kemptville Health Unit, and other satellite offices, have played an integral role in providing access to essential health services. It would represent an enormous loss for not just the Municipality of North Grenville, but the region as a whole if the Kemptville Health Unit was closed. Mobile services cannot replace what will be lost.”
Mayor Deschamps added "From the outset of the merger process, we consistently raised concerns about whether rural communities would continue to receive the services they need and whether their voices would be heard. We were assured this would happen. Yet this proposal, the pace and lack of transparency at which it has emerged, underscores why our concerns were valid. Decisions of this magnitude require meaningful consultation, genuine engagement, and a clear understanding of rural realities before any sweeping changes are considered. Consultation first, because our rural voices matter."
The Kemptville Health Unit provides a broad array of indispensable public health services, including: Disease prevention programs and local surveillance; Speech and language services for young children; Harm-reduction programming; Smoking and tobacco cessation supports; Breastfeeding support clinics; Vaccinations and immunizations; Sexual health clinics;
Health promotion and education in all local schools; Accessibility-focused supports for residents with mobility, transportation, or financial barriers;
Environmental health inspections (food premises, recreational water, personal service settings); and Bacteriological testing for thousands of privately owned rural wells.
As one of Eastern Ontario’s fastest-growing municipalities, North Grenville has long understood that reducing local public health capacity would create significant barriers for residents throughout the region who rely on accessible, timely services close to home.
While the Southeast Health Board’s decision is a welcome and necessary pause, Mayor Peckford emphasized that continued engagement and feedback is essential as the Board begins its review.
“We appreciate Mayor Robin Jones advocacy for the retention of rural offices, as she sits on the Southeast Health Unit Board as the key representative for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville,” added Mayors Peckford and Deschamps. “She understands rural Ontario and the realities of our residents.”
North Grenville remains committed to collaborating closely with SEPH and regional partners to ensure any future decisions on public health service delivery are transparent, evidence-based, and responsive to community needs.
Owner, CEO
Filch
Piece of identification
Frosts, as a cake
Affirm
Exploded star
Notions
18. Connecting point 19. Not odd 20. Misinterpreting 22. Sell
Malicious
Poker pot
Stitches 29. A movement downward
Embodiments 33. Manually manipulate 37. Regarding this point 38. Fillet 39. Germ free 41. Conspire
42. Auxiliary news story
44. "Aeneid" figure 45. Caper
48. Scandinavian 50. Knights
51. Prodigious 56. Chair
57. Coastal raptor 58. Thick
59. Behold, in old Rome 60. Diplomacy 61. Master of ceremonies
62. Fortune teller 63. Brews
64. Accomplishments DOWN 1. Leveling wedge 2. Dry riverbed 3. Angers 4. Juicy fruit 5. S S S 6. Confections
Solutions to last week’s Sudoku
7. Dodges 8. Hillbilly 9. Remnant 10. Unavoidable
11. Desire 12. Occurrence
13. Like most beaches
21. Robot 24. Show obeisance
25. Laugh
26. Nights before 27. Female horse
28. Daughter of a stepparent
30. Give one's approval to 32. Loft
34. Gloomy
35. Prefix meaning "Within"
36. D D D
40. Fundamental 41. Rugs
43. Rebound
45. Donkeys
46. Daughter of a sibling
47. Small amount
49. Terminated 51. Bristle
52. Greek district
53. One single time
54. Brought into play 55. Notices
COMMUNITY EVENTS production@ngtimes.ca
The North Grenville Concert Choir proudly presents Traditional Christmas Carols on Friday, 12 December, 7:30pm, Kemptville Pentecostal Church; Saturday, 13 December, 3:30pm Winchester United Church; Sunday, 14 December, 3:30pm St. John’s United Church, Kemptville. Tickets available at B&H in Kemptville or online at aftontickets.com/ngcc. Adults $20 / $10 for 12 & under (online only) or at the door.
Youngsters of Yore Thursday, December 11th, 2025
Held at the Tallman Room of Kemptville Library on Water street.
Speaker : Ashley from NGAT of Kemptville Starts at 2 pm so arrive before to get a chair.
Mingle with us having a cup of tea and snack after Ashley speaks and answers your questions.
We welcome All Ages!
Drawing Circle is an open life-drawing studio for artists age 14+ (clothed model).
Join us Thursdays from 4–7 p.m. at St. John’s United Church (until December 4). Drop-ins welcome and no prior experience needed. Some instruction available. Contact: Jennifer •gowjb@msn.com
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 613-795-7155
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 7:30 - 9:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Debbie at 613-795-3032 or Google "Kemptville Square Dancing"
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.
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. Looking to stay connected, informed, and inspired in retirement?
Join the Probus Club of North Grenville — a friendly group of retirees who meet monthly for conversation, laughter, and thought-provoking presentations. Gatherings take place the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church Hall. For details, email n.g.probus97@gmail.com. ACROSS
Desolation Row 1
by David Shanahan
So many of the public buildings that once adorned the municipality, schools, post offices and railway stations, are now gone and live on only in people’s memories and some fading photographs. The loss was often caused by fires, but sometimes destruction was
planned and deliberate. Most, if not all, of these fires were accidents. But there were two fires in 1936 that raised grave suspicions of foul play. Early that year, the High School on Prescott Street was destroyed by flames. Within weeks, the Public School, which stood on the site where the B&H is today, also burned down suddenly. At the time, many
suspected that the fires were caused by students. These were lovely buildings in their day and saw generations of local children pass through their doors as a first step into a wider world than would otherwise have been open to them.
The corner of Prescott and Clothier streets in Kemptville is, today, an open area, with Rotary Park on one corner and a parking lot on the other. It was not always so. In fact, this corner of Kemptville was once a thriving section of the town. As the accompanying photographs show, the junction was once bordered by large and impressive buildings, some of the finest Kemptville had to show at the beginning of the twentieth century.
In 1834, where Rotary Park is today, William Bradbury opened a small store on the corner of Clothier and Prescott, and it was taken over in the 1850's by Thomas Maley. Maley was a successful financier and entrepreneur, and over the years added to the Maley Block until it was a threestory edifice covering the entire block from the bridge to Clothier Street, with offices and stores facing on to both streets. Maley’s grandson, William Fraser, took over the business in 1907. The Block contained many enterprises over its history, including a job printing office between 1870 and 1880, tailors, lodge rooms for the Orange Order, watch makers and jewelers, and the first Public Library in Kemptville. In Kemptville Past and Present, this library is described as follows:
“Another important institution of which the town boasts is a free public library...It contains about 2000 volumes selected from the standard authors with great care. All residents of the town have access to the books when duly vouched for by a property holder. It is largely patronized and is doing a vast amount of good. It occupies large and commodious quarters in the
Fraser block, where is also provided a reading room which is supplied with the leading papers and magazines.”
In 1922, a fire broke out in a meat shop in the Block and the entire wood frame structure was quickly reduced to ashes. It was never rebuilt. The Supertest gas station stood on the site from 1927 until 1974.
The White House Hotel was built by Nathaniel Fenton in the mid-1830's on the opposite side of Prescott street, at the corner of Clothier. Fenton was also responsible for the fine building on the north-west corner of Clothier and Rideau streets, and was an important individual in the business life of Kemptville for many years. A map of 1861-62 indicates that the Hotel was then called Rideau House. Thomas Adams bought the hotel in 1865 and maintained it until 1881. Thomas Warren, whose name appears on the sign in the photograph, owned it from 1894 until 1928. One of the first buildings in town to be heated by furnace and lit by electricity, it also had large carriage and livery barns in the rear, with power generated by two windmills. This establishment took up the entire block from Clothier Street
to the river.
Another great gap in our history is the site of the mill which gave Oxford Mills its name. Built originally in the 1840's, the mill was enlarged over the years and was the catalyst around which the hamlet grew and prospered. Flour milled there was transported to Montreal by rail after 1854 and provided local farmers with a valuable income, as they traded their wheat for goods at the store owned by Rickey Waugh, who also ran the mill. His store, at least, remains today and is now operating as the Brigadoon Restaurant. There used to be another mill across the river, a saw and shingle mill, but it burned down in 1900 and was never replaced. The grist mill was finally demolished in 1961 and is now the location of a small parking lot beside the dam.
So many wonderful buildings have been lost over the years, through accident and by design, and it brings home the importance of preserving what we have left of our built heritage. Once it’s gone, there is no bringing it back again.
The old High School on Prescott Street ablaze, 1936
Clothier and Prescott, c. 1907
Santa taking a nap at the Spirit of Christmas in Oxford Mills last weekend.
Lions draw winner for November
by Willy Heidebrecht
Diane Lalonde, winner of the November, Lions Trip of the Month Club, is shown here with Lions Gerald Christie, Alan Forbes, secretary Mike Amirault and Paul Thivierge. This trip might be for Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic or Diane may choose another destination. Either way, she is excited about the prospect of enjoying a vacation away from home. Send us a photo for the NG Times so we can all enjoy it or be just a little envious.
The next draw will be at Catered Affairs on Monday, December 8 at 6:30pm. This is a cash draw for $1500.00, just in time for Christmas. Good luck to everyone and a very special Christmas.
100 Men Who Care donate to local
charities
Governing committee from left to right, Sasha Honsl, David Finnie, Andre Rancourt, Bruce Wehlau, Daren Givoque. Charity representatives, Dawn Rodger, Executive Director Seniors, Community Services; Cathy Ashby, Executive Director, House of Lazarus.
Thursday, November 27, was the holiday event and final 2025 meeting of 100 Men Who Care North Grenville. Over 70 members and guests joined together at Catered Affairs on the Kemptville Campus to celebrate the season, listen to the RoseWood band, and hear presentations from two local organizations - House of Lazarus and Seniors Community Services - both deserving charities serving the local community. The usual awards of money donated by the 100 Men were made to the charities and this was hugely enhanced by an anonymous member of 100 Men who, on the night, donated a further $5,000 to each charity!
100 Men NG is a group that gathers quarterly for social interaction, optionally donates $100 each meeting, and listens to charities which have been invited to present to the group. They then vote on where to gift the collected funds. If you are interested in joining or learning more, email 100MenNG@gmail.com.
Old Town Christmas delivers a day of Joy, Tradition, and Small-Town Magic
by Talia Hreljac
Downtown Kemptville welcomed the holiday season with warmth and cheer as Old Town Christmas brought the community together for a morning full of festive wonder. The streets were alive with laughter, twinkling sights, and the unmistakable feeling that magic was in the air.
The day began with a beloved tradition: Breakfast with Santa at the Legion, where families shared a cozy meal, lively conver-
sation, and the delight of seeing Santa up close. From there, the spirit of the season spread throughout the core.
Horse drawn carriages clip clopped along the streets, offering visitors a charming ride through the heart of downtown. Children and adults explored inflatable games, participated in the Adopt-a-Stuffie station supporting a local charity, danced at two lively parties, decorated cookies, and enjoyed Christmas carolling by Village Voyces, among other festive activities. Excitement grew as Santa, Mrs. Claus, Spiderman, and Elsa made surprise visits, creating smiles at every turn.
Old Town Christmas highlights the warmth of small-town life, where neighbors connect, families make lasting memories, and the streets are filled with the kind of seasonal cheer that stays with you long after the day ends.
We also extend deep gratitude to the many volunteers whose hard work and dedication brought the event to life. Their commitment ensures that this cherished tradition continues year after year.
Old Town Christmas once again filled our community with warmth, laughter, and holiday spirit. This unforgettable day was proudly brought to you by the Downtown Kemptville BIA.
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to the businesses who made this weekend possible, including our title sponsor Mama's Cheeky Co. Boutique, and activity sponsors Nina Tachuk, Royal LePage Team Realty, and To Be Continued Family Consignment. Your support made this festive day possible.
Santa rests in Rotary Park