Issue 4 2024 February 01 NG Times by The North Grenville & North Dundas Times

The Voice of North Grenville

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February 1, 2024

Vol. 12 No. 4

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The Municipality of North Grenville has published a draft of their proposed Waterfront Access Strategy (WAS), and has posted a survey on their website asking residents for comments and suggestions for the final policy document. Prepared by Dillon Consulting Limited, in partnership with Urbanmetrics, the aim of the strategy is “to develop an overall long-term vision and implementation

framework, in collaboration with the North Grenville community and its key stakeholders, to improve community and tourist experience in accessing the shoreline and two waterways while balancing environmental conservation”. It is recognised that there is a general agreement within the community that improvements are needed to how we utilise our waterways, both as recreational assets for residents, and as tourist attractions to take advantage of the UNESCO World Heritage status of the

Rideau Canal, which forms the northern boundary of the municipality. The draft report provides the overall vision for the Strategy: “The vision for the North Grenville Waterfront Access Strategy is as follows: North Grenville’s waterfront is a thriving place all year round, with clean, biodiverse, safe, and navigable waterways that are recognized as the heartbeat and lifeline of our community. Waterfront access must be balanced with the protection, restoration, and enhancements to the rich natural and

cultural heritage”. Although the report refers repeatedly to issues of heritage, particularly Indigenous and cultural heritage, it fails to define what those terms actually involve. There is clearly a need for such deﬁnitions if there is to be a realistic and practical application in the ﬁnal Strategy document. For example, the report believes in “celebrating waterfront heritage and incorporating Indigenous culture into uses along the waterfront”, continued on page 2

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The North Grenville Times Cont'd from page 1 without explaining what that of tourist attractiveness. The heritage actually is. report wishes to “promote One other possible issue Kemptville Creek as the is the use of the term “Kemp- pride of the community and tville Creek” throughout the a key tributary of the Rideau strategy report. Although River”. This might be more it has come to be accepted easily achieved if the correct as the oﬃcial name for the historical name, ‘the South river running through North Branch of the Rideau River” Grenville, it is neither his- was used. torically accurate, nor parOther aims of the stratticularly attractive in terms egy are obviously important:

The Voice of North Grenville “to celebrate and protect North Grenville’s natural beauty through sustainable and climate resilient actions and tourism goals, and to promote year-round use of our waterfronts with site improvements, placemaking, wayﬁnding, and additional programming”. The Draft Report on WAS is available on the

municipal website, as is the Survey in which to comment on WAS at: www.northgrenville.ca/council-government/projects/mng-projects/ waterfront-access-strategy The survey will remain open for three weeks. It closes on Friday, February 16, 2024.

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Petra McElrea, seen here surrounded by her hand-knitted dolls and books. Early last December, As a result, she donated ers such as dinner dances. Petra McElrea invited some the proceeds of $750 to the “Such fun!” she recalled people over to her house KDH Foundation CT Scan- happily. To honour Harry’s to see her latest charming, ner Crossroads Campaign. memory, Petra and Bill also hand-knitted dolls and ilPetra described herself wrote a delightful book, aplustrated companion book, and her husband Bill as propriately titled, “Harry the titled, “Very Special Christ- “old pros in helping the Christmas Elf”. mas Guests at the Magic community”. They worked “We like to give back. Dollhouse”. The soft dolls, with their late, dear friend, Kemptville is our home. We loaded with personality, Harry Pratt (past Chair of moved here 43 years ago and measure 30-35 cm tall and the KDH Foundation Board) have made great friends. We include knitted shoes, hats on many hospital fundrais- love it here.” and accessories. Photographs of the dolls comprise the story book illustrations which look like water colours. Petra exclaimed, “they sold like hotcakes!”

When asked why she thinks the CT Scanner is important to Kemptville, Petra said, “having it here will mean when you need a scan, there will be no big trip to Ottawa. That means a lot to us, especially now when my husband is in his eighties. We really need the CT Scanner! It will be amazing to have it here in Kemptville.” She concluded: “You can always count on Kemptville!” Joanne Mavis, Foundation Executive Director, said, “it is just wonderful to see the community’s enthusiasm to support the CT Scanner Campaign! We sincerely appreciate Petra’s creativity and her donation to bring the CT Scanner to Kemptville. It warms the heart!” For more information, stories and events about the Crossroads CT Scanner $2.2 Million Campaign, including how you can donate, see: The Crossroads Campaign (kdhfoundation.ca).

SNG to show ﬁlm on Plastic Pollution

by Sustainable North Grenville Local community group Sustainable North Grenville (SNG) is excited to announce the screening of “THE STORY OF PLASTIC” on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7pm, at the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville. The film is being shown free of charge. “THE STORY OF PLASTIC” takes a far-reaching look at the human-made crisis of plastic pollution and the world-wide effect it has on the health of our planet and the people who inhabit it. The film – created by The Story of Stuff, the people who brought us the film of the same name – illustrates how we can’t recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis. It provides a glimpse of the ongoing catastrophe: mountains of trash, rivers and seas clogged with waste, and skies choked with the poisonous emissions from plastic production and processing. With engaging original animation, archival industry footage beginning in the 1930s, and first-person accounts of the unfolding emergency, the film distills a complex problem that is increasingly affecting everyone’s well-being. To that end, The Story of Stuff’s new film “THE STORY OF PLASTIC” serves as a tool to foster connection, spark dialogue, and create action. We hope to have information on hand outlining what’s being done in our own community of North Grenville to help solve the problem. A brief discussion will follow the 95-minute film. Come and join us for a look at how we can put a stop to plastic pollution. A good-will donation jar will be available for those wishing to help offset the cost of renting the Municipal Hall. Sustainable North Grenville is a group of citizens interested in helping to make North Grenville a more sustainable community. This is the first film shown by SNG since COVID. See the film trailer here: tinyurl.com/2r2u5mmn Stay up to date with SNG: www.facebook.com/sustainablenorthgrenville Contact: info.sustainablenorthgrenville@gmail.com Save the date: SNG 15th Annual Sustainability Fair, Sunday, May 5, 2024.

culverts

February 1, 2024

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The North Grenville Times

The Tale of Van Turken

KEMPTVILLE WINTER CARNIVAL Celebrate the Winter Season by bundling up and heading over to Riverside Park in Kemptville for the 2024 Winter Carnival. Get ready for skating and demonstrations on the new outdoor rink – only open for its ﬁrst season this year! Head on over to the Curling Club to learn how to play. Enjoy wintry performers, warm treats, hot chocolate, fun activities in the kids’ zone, horse-drawn carriage rides through Old Town Kemptville, and much more! Keep an eye on our website and social media accounts for the full schedule: www. kemptvillewintercarnival.ca. Find us on Facebook by searching Kemptville Winter Carnival 2024. The admission for this event is FREE, and it promises fun for the whole family. There is also FREE on site parking. Local businesses are joining the excitement by sponsoring new activities, entertainment and prizes. The Winter Carnival is sponsored by EQ Homes, and takes place on Friday, February 9, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday, February 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Riverside Park in Kemptville.

by Valerie Kirkwood That intrepid turkey, Van Turken, On rooftops and cars was seen lurkin'. He evaded a Cop, And made traﬃc stop, And tried to keep people from workin'. Van Turken, our media star, Brought laughter to those near and far. He shopped locally, Sometimes slept in a tree, But wasn't allowed in a Bar. Van Turken likes fries, don't you know, And he isn't afraid of the snow. A Tim Bit or two, At snack time will do, Then he runs oﬀ, stealing the show. Van Turken's fate was decided, With cars he'd almost collided. One Cop brought a net, Van T said: "Not yet!" And away o'er the snow he glided.

February 1, 2024

Van Turken guessed no a thing Of the size of the net they'd next bring. And then, flap flap, flap, He was caught in their trap. In Kemptville he'd had his last fling. Van Turken is gone from these parts. His file could be labeled "Fresh Starts". He lives a free life, Maybe got him a wife And he'll always remain in our hearts. Run, Van Turken, run!

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Close to the edge by David Shanahan The organisation, REAL Women of Canada (acronym for Realistic, Equal, Active, for Life), has released a statement calling for an audit on Federal Indigenous Funding, claiming that the Trudeau government “is pouring billions and billions of dollars into a bottomless sack held out by Indigenous activists with no accountability”. The statement is typical of the general understanding among Canadians of the position of Indigenous peoples, and reﬂects the false idea that “Indians get everything for nothing”. The REAL perception of the state of Indigenous societies in Canada contains true, half-true, and totally false statements which only serve to add confusion and increased prejudice on the subject. If there is one issue in Canada that desperately needs clariﬁcation and dependable information, it’s the whole issue of CanadianIndigenous relations, the oldest relationship we have in this country. The REAL Women statement compares federal funding on Indigenous peoples with that spent in the federal budget: “Canada's federal budgeted expenditures for 2023-2024 are estimated at $10 thousand per Canadian but Indigenous Department expenditures are expected to be $27 thousand per Indigenous person”. This almost implies that each and every Indigenous person in Canada is getting $27,000 from the Canadian Government. But a great deal of the funds involved is going to

pay for the bureaucracy that has grown up to administer Indigenous affairs, including two full government departments and various social and cultural organisations and initiatives. The statement states that: “These grants were not made on the basis of evidence or proof of actual harm, a standard required by the courts, but were based on the proposition that all government policies relating to the Indigenous were made with genocidal intent”. This is very misleading, even completely false. There are Treaties, signed in good faith by various Nations, and usually not implemented fully by the Crown, which require funding for Indigenous peoples in return for the vast lands, minerals, fish, timber and other natural resources ceded to the Crown across Canada. They are not grants, they are treaty obligations. Another area misrepresented by the REAL Women statement concerns the topic of unmarked graves connected to Residential School across Canada. On the one hand, the statement correctly points out something not understood by most Canadians, largely thanks to the very dramatic and misleading stories published in the media. There have been no missing graves discovered, no hidden mass graves, not a single body discovered that was not already recorded in official death certificates, reports, and school records. The statement points out that: “These death certificates indicated that the children who had died while

ing to Chief Commissioner, Marion Buller, there was a ‘deliberate race, identity and gender-based genocide’. In December 2023, Statistics Canada reported that nearly all of the murdered women (86%) were killed by Indigenous men”. Was it “genocide”, or internal community violence? If the women are missing, how can anyone know who killed them? The conclusion of the REAL Women statement lays the blame for everything at the feet of Indigenous people, ignoring the very real impact of history, colonisation, the Indian Act, and decade after decade of racial and ethnic discrimination: “It is simplistic to blame Aboriginal crime and violence on suﬀering due to ill treatment by society. However, there seems to be something seriously disturbing about Indigenous culture that may be the cause of so many social calamities – a noticeable absence of stable family life”. The only simplistic thing here is the conclusions of this statement. Reality tells a very diﬀerent story, and Canadians need to know the truth, not the half-truths, or outright falsehoods. The real truth will paint no picture of saintly victims and evil bureaucrats: the truth is never that simple. But until Canadians know the facts, the history, the reality of Indigenous history in this country, there will be no Truth or Reconciliation. We all deserve better.

students at the residential schools had all died because of disease or accidents and were buried either on their home reserves or on hospital property”. However, the statement goes on to talk about the amount of money being provided by the Canadian government to help communities locate and record where their children, who died whilst registered at a Residential School, are buried. The statement claims that “Only one Indigenous band, the Pine Creek band in Manitoba, actually carried out a search for the graves. It found no evidence of buried bodies or that any crimes had been committed. No other band has undertaken a search for the ‘missing graves’”. This is completely false. For example, three communities in Ontario have hired consultants to research the location of their children’s graves. I, myself, am working on two school cemeteries, on Manitoulin Island and the North Shore of Lake Huron (though not using government funding to do so). The real problem here is that a number of non-Indigenous companies are making a great deal of money by claiming to be able to “bring the children home”, even where no children are lost in the records. Finally, the statement deals with the National Inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Two sentences follow each other in the REAL Women statement, to show doubt about the Inquiry’s Report: “Accord-

February 1, 2024

Transportation infrastructure. Speciﬁcally, sidewalks and multi-use paths that will allow residents to walk and cycle safely between communities. In the near future, County Road 43 will be expanded and will have a multi-use path on both sides, but this is only between Colonnade Mall and County Road 44. This means that all the development west of CR 44 will be disconnected from the other urban area, with very limited safe way for pedestrians and cyclists to make their way to shops, churches, schools, and other services. This development included not only Oxford village with over 300 homes, but also the proposed Kemp-

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www.northgrenville.ca 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

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, Re Council Update Jan 25 2024 by Brandon Mayer I believe that my Council Colleagues will agree that we all appreciate the ongoing and regular information sharing by Brandon Mayer and the North Grenville Times. Keeping the community informed on the working of your council is important. In your most recent Council Update, you mentioned my comments regarding keeping up with transportation infrastructure when development is considered. I’d like to clarify that my concern and comments at the council meeting, held on January 17, were related to Active

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tville Lifestyles at Pinehill Road, and the Urbandale development at Sommerville Rd. The expansion of CR 43 west to Sommerville will likely be a decade away. I believe that we must address the need for connectivity as the development happens and not have to catch up. It’s not safe to walk or cycle down the side of CR 43. Two key pillars of the NG Strategic Plan are a Strong, Connected and Vibrant Community, and a Caring Community. I am a strong champion for health and safety. To achieve this, we need the infrastructure for Active Transportation. Doreen O’Sullivan - Councillor

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ROMA calls for more local health services Kemptville Campus moving ahead Rural communities are disproportionately impacted by Ontario’s healthcare crisis, according to a new report published by the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA). The paper, titled Fill the Gaps Closer to Home, was presented at the 2024 ROMA Conference held in Toronto January 21 to 23. It calls for different approaches and solutions to help bring improved primary health and mental health care services to people in rural communities, and provides 22 recommendations to do so. “While the health care crisis impacts both urban and rural communities, rural Ontario is different,” said ROMA Chair Robin Jones. “Our findings reflect the desperation shared by many residents and local leaders. This is a priority for rural municipalities because it impacts our residents’ quality of life, and we are the ones who must manage the costly social and economic consequences of the health care crisis.” ROMA undertook research on access to healthcare services as part of its priorities coming out of its 2021 report, Opportunities for Rural Ontario in a Post-COVID World, which detailed five key priorities for ROMA’s focus. ROMA’s research for Fill the Gaps Closer to Home included surveys of rural municipal leaders and paramedic chiefs, interviews with municipal leaders and front-line service providers and organizations, as well as in-depth analysis of public data and reports. According to the data, rural Ontario municipalities contribute more than $480 million to health and

social service programs, despite not having equitable access. Rural communities face a number of challenges, including lack of primary care providers and mental health resources, frequent emergency department closures, and acute shortages in health care workers and recruitment. Additionally, travel time for rural Ontarians to access these services is significant. Among the 22 recommendations in the report, specific asks to the province include: - Fixing primary care by creating new and integrated models to deploy healthcare providers more effectively in rural areas, and to help shift demand from emergency rooms. - Uploading a significant portion of healthcare costs from rural communities back to the provincial government. - Building on current efforts to expand scope of practice for community healthcare providers like nurses, nurse practitioners and paramedics. - Requiring Ontario Health Teams to include municipalities at the table. ROMA’s data indicates that too few rural communities have been engaged. The report indicates that these changes can start today. In some rural communities, collaborative efforts that align with ROMA’s work have already begun. Rural Ontarians are losing primary care providers at a rate of 12% per year – four times faster than people in urban centres. With current patient loads, it takes three new primary care physicians to replace one retiring family doctor. An estimated 525,000 rural residents are lacking a primary care provider. In both 2022 and 2023, there were more than 600 temporary Emergency Department closures in rural Ontario.

dum of Understanding with the Municipality that outlines the reporting structure and how we access the remaining reserve fund for the remaining capital work that needs to be done. But, in the long term, the plan is for us to be ﬁnancially self-suﬃcient and use the rental income that we generate from our tenants to maintain the facilities, offer programming, and essentially, run a community centre for North Grenville.” In effect, the Campus is a tenant of the Municipality, with a number of bodies renting space on the campus lands as subtenants. The nine-member Board is Chaired by Brian McKee, and contains within it a broad and deep wealth of experience. The plan of the Board is to have a new Strategic Plan for the Campus ready to go this year. The original plan drawn up

by David Shanahan When the announcement came in 2014 that Kemptville College was closing, the future seemed quite bleak. Ten years later, the prospects for the new Kemptville Campus look bright indeed. It took time to get the new facility up and running. It took four years for the Municipality of North Grenville to reach an agreement with the Ontario government, by which the province required the land to be purchased at market value, which they placed at $11 million. To compensate for “infrastructure deficits and deferred maintenance on the property”, $3.3 million was taken off the asking price. The sale of two buildings and a 7-acre parcel of the campus by the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) – the French Language Public School Board – for $3.7 million provided a reserve fund to be spent exclusively on infrastructure renewal and the development and continued sustainability of the new Kemptville Campus. In 2020, the Municipality engaged StrategyCorp to conduct a strategic review regarding the objectives of the Campus as a municipal asset – and to recommend a robust governance model, so that Kemptville Campus can deliver on its mandate. As a result, Kemptville Campus was established as non-profit corporation with a Board of Directors overseeing the work of Liz Sutherland, the Executive Director, and a small staff. Liz outlined the basic structure of the Campus in an interview with the Times: “We have a Memoran-

back in 2021 had, as Brian McKee says, “some very grand ideas. Our experience has been that they were grand ideas that cannot really be accomplished. But we've engaged in a new strategic planning process to come up with some more realistic targets and ideas. But certainly I think one of the core things still coming out is a notion that we are a community hub”. And as that hub, the Campus has attracted quite a number of tenants, including one of the French school boards, the Upper Canada District School Board, the NG Historical Society, NG Pride, and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, among many others. The OMAFRA and ServiceOntario oﬃces, which were already on the Campus, continue to be tenants. The Campus has also hosted many community and other events, notably Kemptville Live and performances by the North Grenville Community Theatre. Elementary and high school students at Riviere

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Rideau and Notre Dame continue to enjoy the campus space including the gym, the trails, and the outdoor classroom. The Campus partners with the schools to offer apprenticeship training and other educational opportunities. The campus covers almost 630 acres of land, including forests, wetlands, farmland, and a “village” of buildings, soccer ﬁelds, and other recreational facilities. There’s a sugar bush, beehives, research and growing in the greenhouse, a community garden, and a catering business, and there is ongoing work on a range of initiatives to re-establish a local food system on site, building on the long agricultural and food heritage laid down by the former College. In fact, there is so much going on at the Kemptville Campus grounds that it will take a series of articles to cover everything. And so, you can expect to read much more in the future about the very exciting prospects and activities of this revitalised part of North Grenville’s history.

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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE 1. ONLINE: Visit ngtimes.ca to pay with PayPal 2. CHEQUE: Send a cheque to The North Grenville Times Box 1854 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Include your name and address 3. BY PHONE OR IN PERSON Pay with a credit card by phone, or at our ofﬁce where you can also use cash, or cheque. Our ofﬁce is located at 215 Sanders St, Suite 106, Kemptville, ON .Hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 9AM to 3PM. If you leave us a phone message or send us an email, we will call you back to process your order. 613-215-0735 or subscription@ngtimes.ca

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Farm organizations beneﬁt from diverse perspectives

by Clint Cameron, Director, OFA I’ve been involved in the agriculture community in various ways throughout my entire life, and this past fall, I stepped into a new role as a director on the provincial board of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). It’s an exciting challenge and I’m keen to put my skills and experiences to work for Ontario’s farming sector. My background is a little diﬀerent than that of most of my fellow board members, but that’s precisely where I believe I can help make a diﬀerence and bring some new perspectives to the

OFA’s advocacy eﬀorts and collaborative partnership building. Let me tell you how I got there. I was raised on a farm near Cardinal, a small Eastern Ontario community on the shores of the St Lawrence between Brockville and Cornwall. I grew up haying and working as a relief milker on the many dairy farms in our area, as well as riding, showing and judging Quarter Horses on the U.S and Eastern Canadian show circuit until I was in my 20s. After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a degree in criminology and administration, I worked at Newell, maker

of popular brands like Rubbermaid and Coleman, for a few years before joining Ottawa-based Nortel as part of their global program management team, where I had responsibilities for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Paciﬁc Rim. It was during this time I also completed a postgraduate program in ﬁnance at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. My next career move brought me back to my roots with a senior position at Casco – now Ingredion – a corn, starch, sugar and animal feed processor in my hometown of Cardinal, where I was responsible for

procurement, operations and inbound logistics. In 2016, I left the corporate world and returned full-time to my family’s farming roots, which includes growing corn, soybeans and hay on about 500 acres, and supporting my mom, Bonnie Cameron, with her spotted and dappled Boer goat breeding business. I also bought a local custom agricultural services business, where we specialize in custom farm work and land clearing activities. Around that same time, I became a local director on the board of the Grenville Federation of Agriculture. I’ve been a supporter of OFA and its work my whole life – you could say that Farms and Food Forever is engrained in my family – so it seemed like a natural thing to do to become more involved in the industry. Last year, I was approached by my predecessor about letting my name stand for a spot on the provincial OFA board representing farmers in the counties of Dundas, Frontenac, Grenville and Leeds.

It was an opportunity for me to step out of the tractor cab and be involved in the agri-food sector in a new way. The strength of an organization lies in the diversity of perspectives among its leadership. Our board members raise livestock, grow crops, run on-farm stores for consumers or agricultural supply businesses, are involved with municipal politics and local fall fairs, or have specialized expertise in ﬁelds like agronomy, for example. We each also bring our personal networks to the board table, whether that’s relationships with politicians, or involvement in other organizations. Last year, for example, I also became a member of the management committee at the Port of Johnstown, one of Eastern Ontario’s premier ports for truck, sea and rail shipping and receiving of grains, salt, aggregate and cargo. As we were all quickly reminded of last fall during the St. Lawrence Seaway strike, our agri-food sector and indeed our entire pro-

vincial economy depends heavily on well-resourced and well-functioning infrastructure, which includes our ports and marine transport. Farmers make up on a small percentage of our population, yet the work that we do is essential in keeping our society functioning smoothly, from producing food and fuel to creating jobs and maintaining the economic and social fabric of communities away from Ontario’s major urban centres. To me, that means we also have a responsibility to preserve – and grow – agriculture to the best of our abilities. That’s the goal of the OFA, and as one of 18 voices around our board table, I am proud to represent the farmers in my area and support our collective advocacy, collaboration and partnership eﬀorts.

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Giant Tiger adds cereal donation to South Branch food drive

Rick Kingsley of Giant Tiger with a couple of tigerish South Branch School Council members, Blaze and Tiggs. by Katie O’Connor Get ready to crunch, because the South Branch School Council is about to kick oﬀ their ﬁrst-ever "I Cereal-ously Love You" food drive! From February 2 to 14, the school will be collecting cereal boxes to support local food banks and spread some breakfast joy. The South Branch School Council is a group of dedicated parents, teachers, and com-

munity members who work together to support the students and families of South Branch School. They organize various initiatives and events throughout the year to foster a sense of community and provide assistance to those in need. In an exciting twist, the school council is thrilled to announce that Giant Tiger local grocery store has donated a whopping 39 boxes of cereal to

jumpstart the food drive. Talk about a tiger-sized contribution! We're grateful for their support and can't wait to see the impact it will make. "We're cereal-ously grateful to Giant Tiger for their generous donation," exclaimed Lisa, a member of the South Branch School Council. "Their commitment to the community is truly grr-eat, and we hope it inspires others to join us in this breakfast adventure! We're overwhelmed by the support we've already received from our community," said Lisa, with a spoonful of gratitude. "It's amazing to see everyone come together, and we can make sure no one starts their day on an empty stomach!" So, how can you join the breakfast brigade? It's simple! Just grab a box of cereal (or two, or three) and drop it oﬀ at the school's main oﬃce during the designated collection period. Every box counts, whether it's a classic favourite, or a funky flavour that will make taste buds dance. "We're looking for-

ward to a cereal-ously fun and successful food drive," added Katie, another member of South Branch School Council, "Let's show everyone that our community knows how to bring the crunch!" So mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to pour some love into those cereal boxes. Together, we can make a difference, one bowl of cereal at a time. Stay tuned for more up-

dates and surprises as we embark on this breakfast adventure! For more information about the "I Cereal-ously Love You" food drive, or to find out how you can get involved, follow the South Branch School Council page on Facebook, or contact Katie O’Connor at southbranchcouncil@gmail. com. Let's make this food drive a breakfast bonanza that will have everyone

saying, "Cereal-ously, that's amazing!" Giant Tiger is not just a grocery store; it's a roaring symbol of community support and delicious deals. With their commitment to quality products and exceptional customer service, they have become a beloved part of our South Branch community. Thank you, Giant Tiger, for your cereal-ous generosity!

We welcome all of our customers to come by for a coffee, some treats and to take advantage of exclusive deals! Saturday February 3rd 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Deals Deals Deals! • Fireplaces are up to $800 off • Up to 10% off any full system installation when signed up on our WeCare maintenance program* • Up to 20% off in stock AC units •Regency Wood stove floor models up to $2287 off • Don't pay until July with no interest on equipment installations. • Plus- Enter your name into our draws for free ductcleaning, ecobee thermostat, whole house humidifier and more.

Agriculture Area Review The Land Evaluation and Area Review (LEAR) is a study that is completed to examine the location of prime agricultural areas. Prior to the formal public meeting, the following North Grenville consultation is being held to review the recommended agricultural area system (mapping) proposed for the Counties Official Plan. This meeting is primarily for those persons whose properties have been impacted and who have not already discussed their property with staff and the consulting team.

When: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Where: North Grenville Municipal Centre, Suite B 285 County Road 44, Kemptville

Can't come in on the 3rd? We welcome you to pop in February 1-2nd between 9:00-5:00pm to take advantage of these offers

Pre-registration would be appreciated To pre-register or to inquire about your property, please contact Elaine Mallory, Planner II, at 613-342-3840/800-770-2170, Ext. 2422 or by email at elaine.mallory@uclg.on.ca.

*for sales appointments booked at this open house only.

(613) 519-5182

845 Prescott St., Kemptville www.rbheating.com

To learn more, contact Planning staff or visit www.leedsgrenville.com/agriculture February 1, 2024

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The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Sucker Holders BINGO at the Legion L'il are making a big impact to succeed and continually trying to improve the process," he says. Today, with millions of units sold, he is happy to say every item is Made in Canada with all production in North Grenville since 2004. "I love what I do because I get to be creative on a daily basis, while continually evolving and learning along the way," Mike says. "I'm Mike Adjeleian tips the table on his non-spill drink holders now looking to expand sold around the globe. operations and my facility.” He has extended neoprene for an unre- his product line over the from Leeds Grenville lated flashlight product years, holds close to 15 Economic Development for police and security patents and continues to eNews come up with new ideas, Industrial designer personnel. "The prototype sucked including the "superhero Mike Adjeleian made a big discovery when he to the glass like a magnet. of drink holders - Maginvented L'il Sucker – I literally had a chill go Neato," a powerful magdown my spine," Mike netic sleeve that holds and later MagNeato. The "Never Spill recalls of the moment in everything from drinks to A Sip" neoprene drink Ottawa back in 1999. He spray cans in place. Everything produced holder launched what is immediately grabbed a now Mike's highly-suc- pop can to see if it would at the Kemptville facilcessful design and manu- adhere in the same way. ity can be fully customfacturing company based Soon he and a graphic ized with your name and in North Grenville. The designer friend came logo, or a picture of your L'il Sucker and other up with the name - L'il favourite pet. The new unique hold-in-place Sucker, and Mike dove mini size for nail polish products are sold around into the non-spill drink bottles will be available this spring. This year will the world and can be holder market. The product took off also see the introduction found stuck on everything from kayaks to immediately. It sold out of JustMikeIt.com where yachts and all things in during its first appearance all of his brands will find on an American-based a home. between. "Stay tuned for the "And it all happened shopping channel in by accident," says Mike, 2001. Suddenly, Mike launch and watch this who has spent his career was searching for a larger L'il Kemptville company finding ways of creating manufacturing outlet to grow," Mike says. quality, functional prod- keep up with demand. He ucts. The drink holder would eventually set up was discovered when his own manufacturing the Rhode Island School operation on the outskirts of Design graduate was of Kemptville. "There was a drive prototyping with some

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SALE OF LAND FOR TAX ARREARS BY PUBLIC TENDER Form 6 MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001 Ontario Regulation 181/03 Municipal Tax Sales Rules

CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF NORTH GRENVILLE TAKE NOTICE that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land(s) described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time, Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the Municipal Oﬃce, Box 130, 285 County Road 44, Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0 The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day at 3:30 p.m. Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.035.09901.0000 Known Municipally as: 842 County Road 44, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Minimum Tender Amount $398,946.34 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.040.20001.0000 Known Municipally as: 210 River View Lane, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Minimum Tender Amount $16,833.39 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.035.19303.0000 Known Municipally as: 1055 MacKenzie Road, Oxford Station, ON K0G 1T0 Minimum Tender Amount $84,481.40 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.020.12100.0000 Known Municipally as: 8 Water Street, Oxford Mills, ON K0G 1S0 Minimum Tender Amount $77,310.02 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.719.010.25200.0000 Known Municipally as: 239 Asa Street, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Minimum Tender Amount $89,292.00 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.719.015.20000.000 Known Municipally as: 205 Maley Street, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Minimum Tender Amount $20,816.74 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.719.015.30400.0000 Known Municipally as: 409 James Street, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Minimum Tender Amount $24,796.99 Description of Lands: Roll No. 07.19.716.035.16701.0000 Known Municipally as: 2111 Totem Ranch Road East, Oxford Station, ON K0G 1T0 Minimum Tender Amount $162,806.07

THE FRIDAY LIFE DRAWING CIRCLE We are excited for round two of The Friday Drawing Circle, a series of weekly in-person drawing & painting sessions hosted by Jennifer Gow This open studio is for artists of all levels of interested in working with a live costumed model. For more information contact Jennifer gowjb@msn.com When Fridays 4-7pm, January19th - March 22nd Where 400 Prescott Street, St. John’s Church basement, Kemptville Cost: drop in $15

This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. Further information regarding this sale is available online on the Municipality of North Grenville web site www.northgrenville.ca or you may contact: Karen Macpherson, Tax Collector, Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville 285 County Road 44, P.O. Box 130 Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0 613-258-9569 x 104 February 1, 2024

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Student startup at NGHS: Lessons in real world business

Jake Smith edits in his ComTech class. A student startup at North Grenville District High School has not only garnered invaluable real-world learning (RWL) experiences this semester, but has significantly boosted the online presence of a local business. NG Knights Media Marketing was created in September by Grade 12 students enrolled in the Communications Technology class. The dedicated three-student team of Liam Steadman, Jacob Smith and Trinity Morrice wrapped up their initial project with a promo video for a local Habitat for Humanity build. Next, they reached out to local businesses in the Kemptville area, including Ben’s BS Small Batch Barbeque Sauce, who jumped at the offer to amplify its online presence. The team met with owner Ben MacPherson, discussed a marketing plan, and helped create a commercial written by Liam Steadman, which made its debut on the Ben’s BS Facebook page January 19. “We were able to take our own creative input, discuss something that was going to be enjoyable for Ben, and worked through a plan,” Liam explained. The students took constructive criticism through the process and included other NGDHS students in the making of the commercial, including drama students as actors. “It’s a lot more brainstorming than I thought it would be,” said Jacob Smith. “Collaborating with people, emailing, and waiting for responses. You must be open for anything because what you think might work, might not.” “I’m not the kind of person who enjoys sitting around in a classroom,” said Trinity Morrice. “It’s been nice to go out and do a project like this, in the community, with clients.” “It was a great opportunity to have other people help me with my business,” said Ben MacPherson. “I also got to help them learn, grow and develop skills that they are going to use in the world, so it’s a great give and take.” Teacher Brad Vaughan said the RWL aspect was easy to integrate into the curriculum. “Using RWL in your classroom links really well. The kids were interested, and they got a lot out of it, being in the community, shooting video, and bringing media back to the classroom and working on it here.” The students were graded on running their business throughout the semester and created a final video, available on their YouTube Channel, about their experience. “Real-World Learning lets you get a feel for what you will be doing, and lets you understand if you will enjoy it and take it up in the future,” said Liam. “It’s a lot of work,” added Jacob. “I enjoyed doing this and could see myself doing it in the future.”

The North Grenville Times

UCDSB Board of Trustees Meeting

Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Key items discussed in the public session are as follows. Importance of Sleep and Bell Time Consultation – Status Update The UCDSB is exploring an adjustment to elementary and secondary school bell times based on scientific research showing that good sleep hygiene can increase academic achievement, school attendance, and both the physical and mental health of students. Details of the consultation process and key findings were presented by Principal of Carleton Place High School Casey Nelson to trustees at the Jan. 17 meeting. Nelson reported that two in-person sessions were held with parents/guardians in November 2023 featuring an expert panel of professionals in child and youth health. These guests presented research demonstrating that 1 in 3 teenagers do not get enough sleep, which reduces academic achievement, school attendance, physical activity and mental health. The information sessions were streamed live, a recording was made available in the days following and a feedback form was distributed widely to parents and guardians. Principal Nelson noted that of the 1,856 responses, 59% came from parents/guardians of Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 students, 15.5% from Grade 7-8, and 25.5% from Grade 9-12. Participants reported concerns surrounding family work arrangements (20%), extra-curricular/sports (17.2%), before and after school care (16.7%), student employment (14.2%), transportation (13.3%), and daycare (10.2%). Director of Education Ron Ferguson stated that further conversations have begun with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario and with Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario. UCDSB Exploring Expanding Child Care Options at UCDSB Elementary Schools Based on a motion from Ward 2 Trustee Carole Dufort and passed by trustees, UCDSB staff will explore the possibility of expanding before and after school programming in elementary schools, at the lowest cost possible to families. 2023-2024 UCDSB Financial Forecast 2 The second Financial Forecast of the school year was presented by Executive Superintendent of Business Services Jeremy Hobbs. The most recent Financial Forecast projects revenues of $424.0M and expenses of $423.8M for compliance purposes, resulting in no change to the projected in-year surplus of $0.2M for compliance purposes. Detailing the minimal changes to the current forecast, Superintendent Hobbs said that projections may evolve as we approach year end. Staff absences, actual enrollment numbers versus projections, transportation expenses, heating costs, etc., may impact the forecast moving forward. A third and final Financial Forecast is scheduled for April 2024. PA Day Date Change Bill Loshaw, UCDSB Superintendent of Schools, informed the Board of Trustees of an adjustment to the 2023-24 School Year Calendar. With a solar eclipse set to occur on April 8, 2024, the scheduled April 26 Professional Activity (PA) Day will be moved to April 8 to ensure the safety and well-being of UCDSB students. Since the projected path would place UCDSB schools under the eclipse during dismissal and bus departure times, the move will help ensure students are not outside or enroute in diminished light conditions and will help reduce the risk of eye exposure to the sun. This change aligns with adjustments made by other boards within our region, including the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.

The Voice of North Grenville

THOMAS M. BYRNE Barrister and Solicitor

General Practice Corporate / Commercial Family Law Estates Real Estate Wills & Powers of Attorney tom@tmblaw.ca 613.258.1277 222 Prescott St., Kemptville

New Economic Development Oﬃcer at Counties

Cyndy Bolton, Economic Development Oﬃcer Cyndy Bolton takes on the new role of Economic Development Oﬃcer with the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville. After three years of providing her digital expertise to many businesses throughout the region, Cyndy will be supporting the implementation of the Economic Development strategic areas of focus under its marketing and communication activities. This will include the bi-weekly business e-newsletter, website and social media content development, maintenance and scheduling, along with promotional projects

for investment attraction, tourism and business. Cyndy will still be providing digital business programming support. In her previous role under the Counties Digital Main Street program, Cyndy provided expertise helping many businesses with their digital footprint and accessing grants to support their adoption of e-commerce technologies. Cyndy’s formal training is in Graphic Design and Photography from St. Lawrence College with certiﬁcations in Interactive Multimedia, Social Media Strategies and Grant Proposal Writing from Algonquin College. “Her experience, background, creativity and exemplary teamwork are a great fit to the Counties Economic Development Oﬃce team,” says Ann Weir, Economic Development Manager. “Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Cyndy in her new role.” Cyndy can be reached via email – cyndy.bolton@ uclg.on.ca or phone: 613-342-3840 ext. 5368.

Ben MacPherson (Middle), owner of Ben’s BS Small Batch Barbeque Sauce, speaks with members of the NGDHS Media Marketing Team. February 1, 2024

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The Voice of North Grenville

Notes from above ground

Second-hand News by David Shanahan

Professor John Lennox, who was Professor of Mathematics and now lectures on the History and Philosophy of Science at Oxford University, is fond of saying that the only area in which absolute proof is possible is in his own field of mathematics. In every other discipline of science and learning, the only proof possible is what he calls “forensic proof”, that is, proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Just as in a court of law, we judge by the available evidence, and we make a decision based largely on faith in the direction the evidence is pointing. As he is fond of saying: he cannot prove scientifically that his wife of almost fifty years loves him, but he believes it. After all, he has almost fifty years worth of evidence! Forensic proof. Of course, to make an informed decision, you have to be informed, and to base a decision on evidence, you have to be acquainted with the evidence:

this is obvious, you might think. But, in reality, most of us are quite content to take a further step of faith by trusting those who assure us that the evidence is strong and the conclusion logical and rational. But, when it comes to the really important issues of life, such as God, death and whatever comes next, it is surely irresponsible to allow others to make decisions for us. I ﬁrmly believe that no issue is more fundamental (pun intended) for all of us than the question of whether there is a spiritual reality, and a God, or not. Christianity not only says that your life can be eternally changed by knowing God, but also that this present life is but a short moment in that eternal reality that lies beyond space and time. Is this true? Have you ever really thought about it, or examined the evidence? Or do you just take somebody else’s word for it? This is just as important a question for those who call themselves Christians as it is for non-believers. Peter, the Apostle, gives

this advice: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”. [1 Peter 3.15] John recounts how a Samaritan woman, convinced by Jesus of the truth of who he was, told her neighbours about him. They came to listen to him, and then reported to the woman: “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.” [John 4.42] Do you believe because of someone else’s word, or because you, individually, have come to know. That word, “know”, is really central to the New Testament. It constantly applies it to each believer, and emphasises the need for each to come to know for themselves. What is there to know? The letter to the Hebrews quotes Jeremiah to indicate what God’s plan was, and is, for each of us: “This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put

my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” [Jeremiah 31.31-34; Hebrews 8.1012] Just read what Paul and John say to you, as a Christian: “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” [2 Tim. 1.12] “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life... We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.” [1 John 1-4] Too many Christians do not have that certainty, that personal assurance of

what they claim to believe. And so they cannot give an answer to others, because they have not found it for themselves. Theirs is second-hand news, not Good News. It is not enough to depend on anyone else for this knowledge, this assurance. No-one need come between you and the Father. Look again at Jeremiah’s prophesy, the promise of the Father: “because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest”. This is God’s will for his people, that they come to know him, personally, individually, and to enjoy his love, forgiveness and life eternally.

Don’t waste your time on second-hand news: go straight to the Source and ask to know him. This is his will for you. Remember what James said: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” [James 1.5] And Jesus himself commanded us: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will ﬁnd; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks ﬁnds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” [Luke 11.9-10]

A new municipal-wide, on-demand transit launched on January 15th in North Grenville. This will provide residents with an affordable public transit option. This service will be provided anywhere within North Grenville’s boundaries.

The Blaise app

February 1, 2024

The web at ride.blaisetransit.com

Or by calling 613-368-5620

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The Voice of North Grenville

The North Grenville Times

73’s playing 500 hockey, but need to get dialed in second twenty at 12:45. Shaw infiltrated a clearing with Cornwall on PP, up the wall to Tyler Melvin SHG with after burners churning and a dirty dangle under the outstretched legs of the goalie for his second at 15:20. After dismal results for Nepean they changed their stopper to start the final go around. A strong high cycle penetration with tic-tac-toe from Kozyra to Montoni onto the tape of Owen Redmond in the lane to rifle it through the sixth hole by John Gedraitis to make it 5 to 0 game. O’Doherty from behind the goal line as Esposito tipped it to Emile Trottier to turn and pull the trigger at 10:06 for a extremely special marker on his special day. Kemptville outgunned Nepean by 26 to 19 with 0/1 PP to 0/5 PP for 6 to 0 victory. The 73’s PK was on point and the D sacrificed their bodies to shutdown the lanes and secure a fourth SO for their stopper. Sunday matinee road trip for back to back contests with the Raiders of Nepean was a lackadaisical affair without substance from either squad for OT and SO

They say it’s your birthday...Matthew O’Doherty cycling low unto the tape of Nicholas Esposito to ﬁnd Emile Trottier in the slot to launch it home for a 6 to zip win over the Nepean Raiders on Friday evening. Excellent way to celebrate your special day Emile, Happy Birthday. by G.J. the sportsguy CCHL held their annual Young Stars and All Stars games hosted by the Nationals of Rockland in January, in which eight 73’s were invited to participate. Parker Holmes, Sydney Loreto, Ben Kozyra and Tanner Fennell were picked to be part of Team Robinson for Tuesday, January 16 Young Stars game that they slammed Team Yzerman 7 to 2. Jacob Biron, Patrick Haughian, Tyler Melvin and Grady Logue of Kemptville were picked to represent Team Robinson for the All Stars game on Tuesday, January 23 that Team Yzerman received redemption with a 5 to 1 blowout over their opponents. Eastbound and down the wheels of the bus go round n’ round as the 73’s crew venture out on the road into the Colts Corral in Cornwall on Thursday evening for

justification of their previous double numbers loss in November. Unfortunately they ran into a hot stopper for Cornwall, Xander Miceli, who they couldn’t find a way to put it behind to suffer a 3 to 0 stinker. Kemptville came out with jump, but Cornwall drew first blood as Ethan Montroy with helpers from Garnier with Bowen fought the sweet spot to put it by Dax Easter at 7:03 for the game winner. The second stanza remained scoreless with the 73’s spending the majority of the twenty in oppositions end but just couldn’t put it through the blue paint. Last frame a insurance squeaker from Tyler Samadral gave Cornwall a two goal lead at 17:15. Kemptville pulled their net minder for the extra attacker and Cornwall took advantage when Ethan Montroy ENG for his second

Kemptville Royals win Bell Capital Cup

Head Coach, Christopher Maclean (bottom right), Assistant Coaches Mike Campbell, Ben Thompson and Mike Tackman (back row from left to right), and all of the players. Not pictured are Trainer Geoﬀ Hughes and Manager Lucus Drew. by David Shanahan A great win by a team with a famous name. The Kemptville Royals U13B2 team took part in the U13B division of the Bell Capital Cup over the holidays, facing another 26 teams in their division. Lucus Drew, Manager of the team, provided this report to the Times: “We played three round February 1, 2024

robin games, going undefeated over those games by winning 5-0 over the Nepean Fury, winning 9-1 over the Osgoode Rideau Sens, and winning 13-0 over the Pontiac Lions. Over our three round robin games we scored 27 goals and only allowed one against. This left us seeded in 2nd place overall. We played the Leitrim

assisted from Tallman with Perron at 19:30. That would cap off the evening with Kemptville having 34 shots to Cornwall 31 and 0/3 PP to 0/2 PP. Back at home on Friday evening to battle the Nepean Raiders that was a one sided affair as they walked away with a 6 to 0 blowout to post a fourth SO for Jacob Biron. Kemptville hit the ice smoking as Bennett saucered it back to Haughian to hammer it at Brady McEwan and Tyler Melvin game winner in the pocket buried the rebound for his first to open the flood gates at 6:58. At 16:29 a beauty when Trotier flipped it from the flank to Nicholas Esposito on the doorstep to place the biscuit in the bun for two goal lead. Melvin reversed to Moroz on the line to slam the rubber at the pillows and Ryan Rutley in the slot returned it for a strike in the

#22

Matthew Montoni Nickname: Monty Born: Mamaroneck, NY, USA 01/27/2005 Position: Centre/Right Wing Previous Team: South Kent School Hockey Hero: John Tavares Most Inspiring Person : Parents Favourite Movie : Miracle Favourite Musician: Zach Bryan Favourite Food : Tacos Favourite Sport (beside hockey): Golf Life as Jr. A player : New Experience, Fun & Exciting

One Word that Describes Me: Relaxed

setup to decide the outcome. Not much to write abound as the only excitement of the day was the shoot-out that Curtis Sturgess capped oﬀ in sudden death rounds. Nepean with 29 shots to 26 and 0/3 PP to 0/2 PP. Kemptville on the road next week for back to back

to face Hawkesbury on Friday evening and Ottawa on Saturday evening. Hockey with EDGE…. see you around the boards.

Portes ouvertes Venez découvrir l'école francophone près de chez vous!

Hawks in the quarter finals, winning 9-0. “Then, in the semi-finals, our toughest test of the tournament, against Osgoode Rideau U13B3. With the game tied at 1 after 3 periods, the Royals scored an overtime, short-handed winning goal to earn the right to play in the Finals, at the Canadian Tire Centre. In the finals, the Royals defeated the Smith Falls Bears to take home gold. The team played fantastic all tournament long, and brought home gold to Kemptville!” Congratulations to the Kemptville Royals U13B2 team on an amazing achievement, winning the tournament with a goal-scoring triumph of 36 for and only one against before the final games.

Le 22 février, 15h

kemptville.ecolecatholique.ca 11

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The North Grenville Times

Hawkins, Burton

Passed away peacefully at Miramichi Lodge, Pembroke, with loving family by his side, on Sunday, January 21, 2024 in his 94th year. Burton “Burt” Leslie Hawkins was born March 7, 1930, in Micksburg, Ontario, to parents Leslie (Lillian) and Hazel Hawkins (nee Childerhose). Beloved husband of 71 years to Lorraine Hawkins (nee Wilcox). Cherished father of Lynn Rogers, Almonte; Neil Hawkins, Manotick; and Doug Hawkins, Pembroke. Grandpa of Tyler Hawkins (Margaret), Ottawa. Great-grandpa of Sophie, Callie, Whitney & Mila. Brother of the late Cecil Hawkins (late Betty). Fondly remembered by brothers & sisters-inlaw, nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by special aunt the late Marjorie Hawkins, Kemptville. Burt and Lorraine raised their 3 children in Pembroke. Upon retiring from CFB Petawawa after 36 years of dedicated work as a Federal Civil Servant, the pair retired in their newly built home on their cottage property in Burritt’s Rapids. As life sometimes requires us to do, Burt & Lorraine downsized and returned home to Pembroke to live out the latter part of their lives enjoying time spent with their children, grandson and great-granddaughters. Burt loved to travel, as he and Lorraine did extensively. He loved the outdoors, dancing, laughing and making people happy. He also loved his sports, especially hockey with family and friends. He will be greatly missed by many. A special thank you to the staﬀ of Miramichi Lodge for their care and compassion for Burt and his family while he resided there on 1B. Respecting Burt’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Graveside Service will be held at Wesley United Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer Funeral Home, Pembroke. As an expression of sympathy, donations to Miramichi Lodge Foundation would be appreciated.

Lackie, Lawrence (Larry/Buck)

February 1, 2024

Peckford participated in several more Ministerial meetings in her capacity as Warden to discuss access to childcare, family health teams, paramedic services and aﬀordable housing. “As a Council, and in my capacity as Counties Warden, we seized the opportunity to highlight the pressing needs for hospice beds in our community, increased funding to support North Grenville’s newly launched municipal-wide transit system, and investments in the modernization of the Ferguson Forest Tree Nursery,” said Mayor Peck-

The Food Corner by Paul Cormier of Salamanders in Kemptville A reader who enjoyed the Maple Johnny Cake sent me a mail asking if I knew anything about a Nova Scotia Corn Bread. Well, turns out I do and it’s called a Spider Corn Bread. A “spider” is a black cast iron frying pan and refers to the pattern in the cover of the pan. The one we have on our Elmira Oval cookstove at our farm is a McClary #9 Drip Top Spider. I hope you have one in your kitchen because they are indispensable for things like a quick fry rib steak or, of course, this recipe. They are quite inexpensive to buy.

Spider Corn Bread

On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, in his 85th year, Lawrence peacefully passed away with his family by his side at the Kemptville District Hospital. Beloved husband for 59 years to Sandra, and loving Dad to Barb, Debbie and Steve. Cherished Grandpa to Carley, Megan (Tristan), Ryan (Bethany) Hess, and Chad Lackie. Fondly remembered by his brother- in- laws, John and Elmer, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Predeceased by his parents, Lillian and James Lackie, his sister, Janet (Elmer) Crawford, his brother, Edmund, his in-laws, Delbert & Rose St. Pierre, his brother-in-law, Jack, and sister-in-law, Myra (John) Dodd. Buck will be remembered for his off the cuff sense of humor and teasing banter. He enjoyed his retirement years with his devoted dog Shadow spending time in the bush, which was his happy place, whether he was cutting wood or building his latest project. The family will welcome friends and family to visit at the Kemptville Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 805 Prescott St., Kemptville on Sunday, January 28, 2024, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at St. John’s United Church, 400 Prescott St., Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 on Monday, January 29, 2024, at 11 am. Donations may be made in memory of Lawrence to St. John’s United Church or the Kemptville District Hospital’s Crossroads Campaign for CT Scanner or the charity of your choice. Condolences/Tributes/Donations Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-258-2435

Highlights from the 2024 ROMA Conference Mayor Peckford and Council colleagues joined more than 1,600 participants from across 300 municipalities at the 2024 Rural Ontario Municipal Association’s (ROMA) Annual Conference, January 21 – 23, 2024 in Toronto. Council met with the Honourable Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, Parliamentary Assistant Robin Martin to the Minister of Health, and Parliamentary Assistant Trevor Jones to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Aﬀairs. Additionally, Mayor

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ford. “Our partnership with key Ministries enables the Municipality to support key investments in important municipal assets, and the overall quality of life for our residents and businesses.” The annual conference is an opportunity for municipal officials to attend key workshops, engage with key stakeholders and foster relationships across the sectors while advocating for policies and funding to support the unique needs of rural communities. “At the ROMA conference; the seminars, the speeches, the hallway chats

and especially the delegations with Provincial Ministers and staﬀ are deﬁnitely time well spent. As a Council, we leave with fresh perspectives and ideas that will help shape our approach to local governance. I want to extend my thanks to the organizers, fellow municipalities and guest speakers who made this year’s conference a success,” added Deputy Mayor John Barclay. For more information on the ROMA conference, please visit: www.roma. on.ca.

Ingredients · 1 and 2/3 cups of cornmeal · 1/3 cup of flour · 2 eggs · ¼ cup of white granulated sugar · 1 cup of buttermilk · 2 cups of milk · 1 teaspoon of baking soda · 2 tablespoons of butter Preparation 1. Preheat your oven to 350F and beat the eggs and the sugar together 2. Dissolve the baking soda in the buttermilk and add to the egg mixture 3. Ass one cup of milk, the cornmeal and the flour 4. Place your spider frying pan on the stove and melt the butter in it 5. Run the butter up the sides of your pan to coat it inside 6. Pour in the cornbread batter and add the other cup of milk without stirring it in 7. Pop in the oven for a half hour or so, with the lid on the pan (if you have a lid) When your Corn Bread is done, there should be a streak of custard through it. You can cut it into wedges to serve with plain butter, or with Maple Syrup, or some Maple Sugar (the maple season is coming up soon). This is another recipe that goes well with dark coffee or an English Breakfast tea; however, a hot chocolate is also nice (don’t forget the marshmallows). Thanks for the contact at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Friends of Ferguson Forest Centre

Notice of 2023 Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Ferguson Forest Centre (FFFC) for the year 2023 will take place at 7:00pm on Thursday, February 29, 2024, in the Community Room, Grenville Mutual Insurance, 380 Colonnade Drive, Kemptville. We look forward to welcoming all FFFC Members and the general public. NB: Only FFFC Members in good standing are entitled to vote. If you would like to participate, please register by 10:00pm, Tuesday, February 27, with Trish Adams, Secretary, (tadams500@gmail.com – Tel: 613 558 9007) who will provide you with the relevant documents. AGENDA: 1) Call to order 2) Welcome and introductions 3) Approval of Agenda 4) Approval of Minutes of previous AGM 5) Presentation of Annual Report of activities undertaken since last AGM 6) Presentation of Financial report 7) Looking forward – elements of action plan for coming year 8) Election of new Board members 9) Any Other Business 10) Motion to Adjourn NB: Website address: https://www.friendsofthefergusonforest. com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfFergusonForestCentre Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fergusonforestfriends/ The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time to plant a tree is now. www.ngtimes.ca

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COMMUNITY EVENTS RECURRING EVENTS

Monthly Suppers prepared by Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Church Hall at 503 Clothier St W. Suppers will be held on the last Thursday of the month commencing September 28. Cost $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12 and $25 for families. 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, Kemptville Legion, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, doors open at noon NG Duplicate Bridge Club, Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptville, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155 KLUB 67 EUCHRE Join us for fun, social euchre games taking place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday monthly at 1pm, September to May. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben Cres, Kemptville. Everyone welcome, $5. To play, cash prizes. Friendship Lunch every Friday at St. Johns United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. starting Oct. 6 th . The meal begins at 11:30 and is free of charge. A good will oﬀering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome. People of Action - Rotary Club of Kemptville meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7AM at the Long Reach Restaurant. Meet for breakfast and informal discussion. EUCHRE on Tuesday, February 6 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. and play starts at 1:30 p.m. $5 per player. For information, contact debbie. amirault@hotmail.com. BID EUCHRE on Tuesday, February 13 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. and play starts at 1:30 p.m. $5 per player. For information, contact debbie. amirault@hotmail.com. Drawing from Life - Portrait and ﬁgure drawing clothed models. Fridays, 4pm to 7pm, St. John's United Church 400 Prescott Street. Artists at all levels are welcome. Drop in fee $15. For information contact gowjb5@gmail.com Spencerville Agricultural Society planning general meetings. If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details. Feb 12, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13, Jun 10, Jul 8, Aug 12, Oct 21, Nov 11. The Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kemptville Winter Carnival Friday February 9th - 4:00PM to 9:00PM Saturday February 10th - 10:00AM to 9:00PM at Riverside Park . https://kemptvillewintercarnival.ca/ Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Ferguson Forest Centre (FFFC) for the year 2023 will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday, February 29, 2024, in the Community Room, Grenville Mutual Insurance, 380 Colonnade Drive, Kemptville. Please register by 10.00pm, Tuesday, February 27 (tadams500@gmail.com – Tel: 613 558 9007) MEN'S SHED, First Public Meeting. Tuesday, February 6th, 1:30 pm at the Amphitheatre of the Kemptville Campus Parish Building, 40 Campus Drive. For more info. call 613-258-9664.

ACROSS 1. Diﬃcult position 5. Jewish month 9. Distinctive ﬂair 13. Vermin 14. Might 16. Egyptian river 17. Behold, in old Rome 18. Fill with joy 19. Eat sparingly 20. Intimidate 22. Series in three volumes 24. Scarce 26. Highly emotional episode 27. Tolerances 30. Not subject to taxation 33. Shepherd dog 35. Approaches 37. Evening (poetic) 38. Dress or polo 41. Gratuity

42. Chocolate source 45. Ancestor 48. Pertaining to teeth 51. Keenly 52. Rubber wheels 54. Complain 55. King killers 59. Trap 62. Excited 63. Acquiesce 65. Hard punch 66. Alley 67. Not at any time 68. Balm ingredient 69. Biblical garden 70. Arid 71. Workout rooms DOWN 1. Sleigh 2. Typewriter type 3. Incident 4. Adolescent

5. Type of primate 6. Buﬀoon 7. Honor 8. Stop working 9. Chess closing 10. Fifty-three in Roman numerals 11. Away from the wind 12. Trawling equipment 15. Become calm 21. Voyage 23. Portent 25. Stops 27. Millisecond 28. Coming up 29. Between FAH and LAH 31. In a fatherly manner 32. Courtroom event 34. Image format 36. Agile 39. Fish eggs 40. Streetcar 43. Immune response trigger 44. Ear-related 46. Freudian topics 47. Squishy seat 49. Anagram of "Naira" 50. Rocky perches 53. Wait on 55. Rattling breath 56. Mild expletive 57. Disappeared 58. Fortune teller 60. Chamber 61. Flock members 64. Before, in poetry

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The John Brooks Where’s the catastrophe? 2024 ice sculpture

by Brandon Mayer I haven’t lived long enough to know whether people in the “good old days” era (whenever that is) complained about the world going to shame. However, I am perfectly aware that it’s something we as a society do now. We complain that housing, gas, and food are too expensive. We complain that kids have no respect anymore and are always glued to their screens. We complain that moral values are slipping and the world is becoming an increasingly horrible place. What is with all the drama? In psychology, we talk about “catastrophizing”, which is a tendency to focus on the worst possible outcomes or the most negative answers. Catastrophizing is a symptom of mental illness. It’s common in people with certain anxiety disorders, but several times this week, I have heard friends and colleagues apologize for an overreaction, saying “I was just catastrophizing!” My question is… where’s the catastrophe? No seriously… is it just me or are we becoming increasingly dramatic as a society? I hear people talk about the world being full of corruption and scandals and misery with no examples to back it up. This August will mark 5 years since Jeffrey Epstein died. When his horrible crimes became public knowledge, the biggest talk of the day was that many celebrities were allegedly involved as well. Now all these years later, I still can’t go a week without seeing a fake list of names on the internet purporting to show well known actors and musicians who visited Epstein’s island. Time and time again these lists are proven to be fake! More recently, the nonsense regarding the school system and sex education has taken a similar path. I have worked in education for a long enough time to know how utterly idiotic parents sound when they scream wildly on the internet that schools are “grooming” children with inappropriate sex education. Nothing of the sort takes place! Some parents may not agree with the curriculum, but in most schools parents are asked for consent before the annual sex ed lessons in certain elementary school grades. To take such a small issue and toxify it with the word “grooming” is catastrophizing in the worst way! It’s offensive to those of us who know firsthand what a safe environment schools really are. Speaking of children… they’re great! I have said many times in this newspaper and I will continue to say it forever: There is absolutely nothing wrong with kids today! The internet (notice a theme here?) tells us that kids are awful and disrespectful and glued to their phones and video games. Meanwhile, I’m writing this in my basement family room while watching my oldest son – who is polite, respectful, helpful, kind, and a great listener – kick a ball around trying to score on mini nets. He loves soccer, and practices his aim and his agility every day. He has video games, but chooses to have daily active time. How many stories have been printed in this newspaper about youth who have come up with charitable initiatives or made amazing accomplishments in sports? I have worked professionally with hundreds of kids and can confidently say that our youth in this area are amazing. They have so much kindness, respect for authority, cleverness, and joy. Today’s parents are doing a great job. How dare some people sit behind a computer typing out nasty things on social media accusing the world of going to shame. There is an obvious irony when those keyboard warriors complain about kids getting too much screen time while they don’t have the imagination to do anything else themselves. It's time to love life again, and as much as I know social media is here to stay, I think that to let go of all this catastrophizing in the world and start seeing the world as an amazing place again, we need to view social media differently. It’s a safe haven for all the world’s most angry and nasty people who have nothing better to do than spread lies, negativity, and downright hate. If we must use it, then we should at least arm ourselves with the knowledge of the harm it can do. I love my community, and I love the world we live in. There is no catastrophe – breathe. We should all be grateful for where we live, and for the amazing people who surround us. May everyone reading this find peace, joy and love in the simple things, every day.

February 1, 2024

The Voice of North Grenville

Happy Birthday Paul McGahey

On Feb 6th Paul McGahey: Husband, Father, Popa, Farmer, Insurance Man Turns 50 plus 30 Happy Birthday! You are loved!

Local resident, John Brooks, has been working on his traditional winter ice sculpture outside his home at 104 VanBuren Street in Kemptville. There were some challenges to face before he managed to complete the work: “I hurried to finish this year's sculpture when I saw freezing rain in the forecast. The snow was difficult to work with, especially for piling it up after a lot of snow had hardened on my lawn; but I was finally able to get it 8' high! This is the first time in about 30 years that I have tried lighting like this.” Some traditions can make even winter’s worst worthwhile. (Try saying that fast!).

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Breathe easy: Doctors share tips to protect your health at home

by News Media Canada Taking steps to protect your family’s health at home is a natural instinct. If there’s mold, you clean it. If you have a pest infestation, you remove the pests. But there’s a major pollutant commonly used in homes across Canada that increases risks to health that not enough people are aware of: gas. Across North America, many cities are moving to ban gas in new housing – Montreal, Nanaimo and New York state, to name a few. Beyond the climate implications, decades of global scientific research has pointed to links between gas use and increased health risks. Yet, polling by Abacus Data shows that 47% of people in Canada are unaware of these risks. To help equip families in Canada with the knowledge they need to reduce their risk levels at home, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment – an organization of Canadian doctors who advocate for better health by improving the environment – launched a new educational campaign focused on the health risks of gas called “Heat – Cook 14

– Breathe”. What does using gas at home mean for your health? Gas, which is primarily methane, releases a mix of harmful chemicals including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and benzene, which have been linked to serious health issues including asthma and other respiratory diseases, cancer, reproductive issues and more. Even short-term exposure can lead to coughing, wheezing, and eye, nose and throat irritation. Children, seniors and people with pre-existing conditions face the greatest risk. In fact, kids in homes with gas stoves are 42% more likely to develop asthma. According to CAPE, there’s several things that can be done to help mitigate the potential health risks. While gas stoves are marketed as the gold standard of cooking, today’s technology has introduced other high-performing options like induction cooktops. They work by heating the pan, not the stovetop, providing quick and precise heat. Not to mention, a safer option for kids helping in the kitchen. A portable induction

cooktop is also an affordable alternative when only one burner is needed. Electric heat pumps actually do the job of two appliances: the furnace and the AC. More efficient than gas furnaces, heat pumps extract thermal energy from the air to heat homes in the winter and cool them in the summer. They’re effective up to -30C. Plus, research shows that heat pumps most often result in lower energy bills. Adding to the savings, the federal government as well as several provinces and municipalities. offer financial incentives – potentially thousands of dollars to those who qualify – to help households make the switch. Visit heatcookbreathe.ca for more information on these programs. While the best option is to not use gas at all, the continued rising costs of living can put new appliances out of reach for many people. There are, however, several things that can lower, while not completely eliminate, potential exposure. First and foremost, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) detectors are necessary. Known as the silent killer because it is colourless, odorless and tasteless, CO is the cause of death for around 300 people per year, with hundreds

more requiring medical attention. For older and less wellmaintained gas appliances, the risk is higher still. Schedule regular inspections with a licensed technician who is trained to detect hazardous defects and leaks, and perform preventative maintenance. According to a Harvard Health Publishing study, well-ventilated gas appliances still pose health risks, while a Stanford University study found that even when oﬀ, gas stoves can leak. To mitigate these risks, ensure the range hood vents to the outdoors, and always turn it on and open windows when cooking on a gas stove. It’s a good practice to leave the window open for a while after cooking to help clear out lingering fumes as studies show they can remain long after the gas is shut oﬀ. Keep in mind, a range hood doesn’t eliminate the fumes. It transfers them outside, contributing to outdoor air pollution, so be extra cautious of kids playing near exterior vents when gas is being used. Patio furniture and leisure areas should also be placed well away from exterior vents. To learn more visit heatcookbreathe.ca.

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The North Grenville Times

High security in Kemptville

The scene of the event: the Bright Spot in Kemptville, now a parking lot. by David Shanahan The tension had been mounting all week, but the increased police presence that Tuesday had added to the sense of anticipation and dread in downtown Kemptville. About thirty police oﬃcers were brought in to provide the necessary security. In addition to the three members of the Kemptville police force, an extra force of OPP oﬃcers had been drafted in from as far away as Brockville and Perth, and an unknown number of plainclothes RCMP staff were also on hand. It was called “the heaviest police security ever seen in town”. People were expecting trouble, without doubt. What could have caused such commotion in sleepy Kemptville? Was

it a radical fringe group coming to lynch the town Council? Was it a threatened terrorist attack, aimed at disrupting a secret meeting of national leaders? No, the focus of this extraordinary security exercise was...the Kemptville Rotary Club’s monthly meeting! To add to the absurdity, the security forces were gathered around, not the Town Hall, but the Bright Spot Restaurant on Clothier Street. This was February, 1986, and the Kemptville Rotary had generated all this excitement by inviting as a guest speaker to their meeting, Glenn Babb, Ambassador to Canada from South Africa. Babb had been on a public relations tour of Canada for the South African Government, still imposing Apartheid on its people, and still five years from

Baldwin's Birds

House Finch

Starling showing its tongue A Frozen Voice - Not by choice! Wow! Quite the change in temperatures, and how to keep warm and comfortable coping with them. Not too bad for us, but how do the birds manage to do it and still survive? Not being an expert on these facts, I am not going to dwell on them, but just give my basic knowledge an airing, so to speak. Their feathers are the main feature for heat preservation, as they can ﬂuﬀ them up to provide a bigger insulating air gap around their bodies,

February 1, 2024

hence their bigger body shape, in some cases, when you look at them. My two pictures demonstrate some of the features that I mention here. The other way that they try to cope is by feeding more to build up their inner warmth and stamina, a very hard thing to do if their food is concealed under the snow and ice. This is where we can help in a very small way by stocking our feeders regularly, so that they have a source to go to. I am referring, of course, to only dry food and seed, not necessarily to providing water for them.

releasing Nelson Mandela from prison. The Ambassador had been due to speak at Carleton University, but such was the level of opposition there among both students and faculty, that he was forced to ﬁnd a new venue. “No Free Speech for Racists” was the slogan there, as I well remember. Kemptville Rotary provided the invitation, and that was why news crews, protestors and security were meeting outside the Bright Spot that Tuesday night. The Ottawa Rough Riders were represented by a few team members; students from various institutions, including North Grenville District High School, arrived to protest the presence of this representative of a racist regime. One high school student was asked if he thought the protest would achieve anything, and he revealed his understanding of the art of protesting by replying: “I hope so, if not we’ll just get a cold”. Kemptville Mayor, Ralph Raina, had received advice from security and political sources on preparing for and dealing with the kind of protest that was expected in town. But these fears were not to be realised, as acting Police Chief Bob Piché was relieved to report: “ I’m sure pleased with the way the protestors are conducting

themselves, even the press”. This was a premature judgement on Constable Piché’s part. In fact, the press caused more trouble than anyone else that night by sneaking into the Bright Spot, which had been closed to the press, through the kitchens. As a journalist was being forced to leave, another stood up and started taking pictures. He too was ejected by the owners of the restaurant who were heartily sick of the whole business even before it started. They had faced numerous complaints during the week because they were hosting the Rotary meeting, and later they reported that some customers that night had taken advantage of the protest, the media and the general confusion to leave the restaurant without paying their bills. Outside in the cold, about ﬁfty or sixty protestors continued to picket and march, with one or two counter-protestors calling for free speech for Babb. The organiser of the protest was Margaret Collins who explained to the media that she was not trying to have Babb banned from speaking, but simply wanted a silent protest against his Government’s racist regime. She was upset by the Rotary’s invitation to the Ambassador, as she felt it “would be

seen to be legitimizing his country’s racist policies and to be showing him too much respect”. Meanwhile, inside the meeting, Ambassador Babb was charmingly explaining to the meeting that his country was simply misunderstood by the world, and was not nearly as racist as people thought. He pointed out to the assembly that, not only was the majority in South Africa not oppressed, but that, in fact, there was no majority there at all. The main aim of his talk, it seems, was to encourage economic investment in South Africa. He emphasised the importance of South Africa as a bulwark against Communist expansion, and referred to the African National Congress which “believes firmly in socialism, communism and revolution for South Africa”. It may be an issue of

hindsight, but the fact that the Ambassador received a standing ovation from the crowd is something that seems disturbing today. The only record of Babb’s speech comes from a secret recording made by an undercover journalist at the meeting. It had been hoped that the Ambassador would speak to the assembled media afterwards, but, as one journalist put it, tongue ﬁrmly in teeth: “..but it seems he was upset by all the attention. Instead he was hurried into a waiting car and sped away down Prescott Street”. So ended one of Kemptville’s more colourful and exciting nights in living memory. A cartoon in the newspaper the following week was particularly good. It showed Ralph Raina in front of the Bright Spot. In one corner was a protest sign that said: “Guess who’s coming to dinner!”.

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They seem to cope very well with what nature has to provide them, i.e. the fresh snow. On the subject of water and the freezing temperatures, this also gives rise to other questions, which were brought to mind following my receipt of a picture of a Bluejay from some friends of mine. They were worried that it had collided with one of their windows, but they hadn't heard anything. They took a picture of it and noticed something strange about its beak. It appeared as if it had quite a thick coating of ice frozen on it, causing it to appear disﬁgured. The picture wasn't overly clear when “blown up”, so it is awkward to really ascertain that this is so. However, on doing some more research, I found a website which has a picture of a Canada Goose with a similar looking frozen beak. There are other examples you might find interesting to see, if you wish, by just Googling "Bird with a frozen beak". You will ﬁnd, unsurprisingly, that most of the pictures are of geese, ducks, or other waterfowl, but it obviously can happen to other types too, which might come into contact with water and then are caught by the freezing cold. Stay safe, well and warm. Cheers, John Baldwin

www.ucdsb.on.ca/register 15

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The North Grenville Times

In the Lab with Natural Immune Formulas

This week, let’s look behind the scenes, in the labs where doctors and scientists are designing health supplements that address specific goals. What’s motivating them? What are they trying to do? And how successful are they? There are thousands of natural health supplements on the market – from vitamins and minerals to botanicals and proteins, plus all kinds of things falling into categories like enzymes and fatty acids. Then on top of this, there are all the natural therapies offered by physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and so on. Collectively, it’s a mega-billion dollar set of industries. Complicating the scene are corporations, like Proctor & Gamble, Bayer, and Abbott. Going toe to toe in the marketplace with these giants are small businesses, whom we can say from working with them for so many years, are the experts most worth listening to. Let’s talk then about that profit motive of either the drug companies or the natural health industry. What’s important is not that they are making money. If we all were as industrious, the economy might be better. No, we have no issue with making money from products that genuinely help people. The worst to come of it might be a small dent in the wallet – nothing in comparison to gambling, junk food, tobacco, and countless other industries that destroy lives and deserve our wrath. Specific to healthcare products, it’s the pharmaceutical ones, with their side effects, that should trouble us. We need to scrutinize them carefully, because they come with risks and sometimes when they work well, they give society a “get out of jail” pass. What’s the incentive to work at health if a pill will do it? It’s no good when drugs are just treatments, not solutions to the root problems. Next, let’s look at the people in the labs working on natural products – like a powdered form of a root. You can take your chances with the lady growing the root in her backyard, or you can find umpteen versions of the same thing produced by those who test and validate the potency, cleanliness, and ethical sources of the root. Either way, unless we are talking about mushrooms, you are likely not going to get sick – and you might find help for your problem. For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been writing about postbiotics. Unlike prebiotics and probiotics, postbiotics are already fermented before it gets to the gut. Here’s an example of scientists in a lab creating a product that’s clean, stable, and loaded with the nutrients beneficial to the gut and fueling the body’s natural immune system. A Gifford-Jones mantra is “all things in moderation”, and that goes for feeding your gut too – with food or supplements. Always be sure to keep your doctor informed of what supplements you are taking. For people with low or high blood pressure, this is especially important. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also take extra care in what they eat and what supplements they take. Never forget, keep your pills, supplements, and any other dangerous substances well out of the reach of children. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.

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February 1, 2024

The Voice of North Grenville

Rescue 7 Joins Pickleball Snowarama for Easter Canada to further health Seals Kids returns for and safety 2024

from COMMUNITYWIRE Rescue 7 Inc., a leading national health and safety training company which specializes in first aid, CPR and AED training and distributing automated external defibrillators (AEDs), announced today that it has signed a multiyear partnership with Pickleball Canada. As part of the agreement, Rescue 7 is committed to helping pickleball players across the country enhance safety and provide related training. The partnership is set to kick off this week on January 26 at Rescue 7’s 8th annual Winter Carnival at the Heights of Horseshoe Ski & Country Club located in Barrie, Ontario. All proceeds for this annual event go towards the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund and the Rescue 7 Forward Hearts Program – both programs donate defibrillators to charities and non-profit organizations across Canada. Pickleball Canada is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in Canada. The Canadian Pickleball Association was established in 2009 and then incorporated as Pickleball Canada in 2011. "The game of pickleball has taken Canada by a storm, and it is incredible to see the sport gaining popularity in cities and towns across the country. Sport and safety go hand in hand, and Rescue 7 is committed to keeping Canadians safe as they hit the court," said John Collie, CEO at Rescue 7. "We are thrilled to partner with Pickleball Canada and we are excited to see what we can accomplish together." According to Rescue 7’s research, cardiac arrest occurs roughly once every seven minutes heightening the importance around preparation, education, and training for a sport surging on and off the court. Even among youth, Pickleball Canada’s latest data reflects an approximately 50% increase in participation among high school graduates in pickleball, and nearly a 70% increase among those with less than a high school education. Given these statistics, safety, CPR training, and knowledge around AEDs is paramount for all age groups. To date, Rescue 7 and their partner Coromed in the US have deployed 200,000+ units across North America and are featured in multiple key retailers and facilities across the country. “Pickleball Canada is very pleased to welcome Rescue 7 as our latest partner in the health and safety training category,” said Val Vollmin, President of Pickleball Canada. “As a leading health and safety training organization, this company should be a great addition for our affiliated clubs to be equipped with the necessary tools and resources to save lives! Pickleball Canada is looking to bring RESCUE 7’s health & safety tips to the pickleball community in Canada.” In the coming days, Rescue 7 will begin rolling out a preferred pricing program for the AEDs for Pickleball Canada member clubs along with CPR, AED, and first aid training to collectively start today, in saving a life tomorrow. Rescue 7 CEO John Collie, a long-time firefighter in the Toronto area, knew through responding to emergencies that many tragedies can be prevented, and out of this grew the Rescue 7 mission. For more than 25 years, Rescue 7 has delivered end-to-end CPR, AED, first aid training, and health and safety programs to more than 8,000 corporations across Canada. To learn more, visit www.rescue7.net, or call 1-888-294-4208. With a growing number of players and clubs across the country, pickleball is Canada’s fastest growing sport and Pickleball Canada is at the forefront of this exciting movement. For more information, please contact info@ pickleballcanada.org or visit pickleballcanada.org. 16

from Easter Seals Ontario Snowmobilers will hit the trails on Sunday February 4, 2024 for the Kemptville Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids. The annual event takes place on Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) groomed trails and encourages winter enthusiasts to raise funds for children and youth with physical disabilities. "The unwavering support from the North Grenville community has been truly heartwarming,” says Linda Clouthier, Community Engagement Officer for Easter Seals Ontario in Kingston. It's incredible to see so many community members come together year after year, not just for the excitement of the day but to make a real impact on the lives of children with physical disabilities. The funds we raise go a long way in ensuring that these kids have access to essential programs and services they need to live their lives to the fullest." Now in its 49th year, Snowarama offers attendees the chance to get outside alongside their community and hit the trails in support of children with physical disabilities. This year, snowmobilers from 10 communities across Ontario will take part in this family-friendly event, including North/South Dundas, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay. Everyone, snowmobiler or not, is welcome to come out and enjoy this year’s Kemptville Snowarama: - Registration and Breakfast 8:00am -10:30am - Antique and Classic Snowmobile Show at The Fire Station from 9:00am – 11:00am - Breakfast is open to the public, hosted by The Oxford Mills Girl Guides - Rally begins at the Fire Hall, 259 County Rd 44, Kemptville ends at the Snowmobile Club House, 1505 O’Neil Rd., Oxford Mills - Short parade to follow from 11am- 12 noon. All riders must have a trail permit. “For 49 years, the OFSC has enjoyed a successful partnership with Easter Seals Ontario,” said Paul Murray, President, OFSC. “Each year participants look forward to a safe snowmobiling experience at Snowarama events across Ontario. Participants are warmed to know that funds raised help kids with physical disabilities receive essential programs and services within their communities.” “For nearly five decades, Easter Seals Ontario has shared a deep and loyal partnership with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs,” says Kevin Collins, President & CEO, Easter Seals Ontario. “We are consistently grateful for the participation of local sponsors and riders who contribute to the success of Snowarama events across the province year after year.” Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids is locally sponsored and endorsed by the OFSC. To participate or donate call Bruce Robinson at 613-258-3648, email at berobinson@ ripnet.com, or visit Snowarama.org. Easter Seals Ontario has been a leading provider of programs and services for children and youth with physical disabilities since 1922. The organization is a registered charity committed to empowering individuals with physical disabilities to reach their full potential and make their own positive impact on the world. Easter Seals offers a wide range of programs and services, including mobility and accessibility equipment funding, fully accessible summer camps, post-secondary scholarships, youth ambassadors, and advocacy and public awareness. Easter Seals is only able to provide these programs thanks to the generous support of its donors and sponsors. To learn more about our work or to make a donation, visit EasterSeals.org or connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.