ND Times Issue 7 2024 April 4

“The Curious Savage” to play at Old Town Hall

Rehearsals are in full swing for Dundas County Players' next production, The Curious Savage, a heartwarming comedy written by John Patrick and directed by Lynn Jolicoeur. The show will take the stage at the Old Town Hall in Winchester on April 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.

Who exactly is the curious savage? It's the main character, Ethel Savage, who has been unceremoniously dumped at The Cloisters, a mental institution of sorts, by her three step-children – a senator, judge and socialite. It's all part of a plan to steal Ethel's $10

million dollar inheritance left to her by her late husband. What really irks the greedy stepchildren is the fact that their stepmother intends to set up a memorial fund to help people pursue their dreams instead of sharing the large fortune with them.

At The Cloisters, Ethel meets an assortment of endearing and colourful residents who appreciate her for who she is, not for her millions. Everyone there is dealing with deep-seated wounds; some come to light as the play unfolds, others are left to the imagination. Regardless, the audience will root for them all to

find peace and comfort.

“This play has spoken to me for a long time and I'm thrilled to be sharing its poignant story with local audiences,” explains Jolicoeur. “I particularly love the sweet and kind residents of The Cloisters. They will undoubtedly capture your heart with their humour and eccentricities.”

“I also want to give a big shout out to the cast as a whole. They are working hard to bring to light the complexity, playfulness and dignity of this play,” added Jolicoeur.

In the end, the greed and selfishness of the “upstanding” Savage children

is shown in stark contrast to the emotional intelligence and generosity of the inmates. Mrs. Savage manages to pull a fast one on her family, proving that even behind locked doors and barred windows, she still holds all the aces.

Dundas County Players are pleased to announce that all money raised from the April 20 show will go to the fundraising efforts for the New Dundas Manor.

Performances will take place on April 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28. Friday and Saturday shows (April 19, 20, 26 and 27) start at 7:30 pm. There will be matinees at 2 pm on Sundays, April 21 and 28. The running time is approximately 2.5 hours, including a 20 minute intermission.

Tickets are $20 for adults ($10 for under 18) and are available through Eventbrite at dcplayers. ca, or by contacting the DCP Ticket Line at 613297-0097.

The Dundas County Players Theatre Society is a community volunteer organisation that promotes theatre arts in Dundas County. For the past 28 years, Dundas County Players has been providing quality entertainment including plays, children’s summer workshops, and cabarets.

613.774.2733

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SD&G Conservatives to celebrate Guy Lauzon’s 80th birthday

With former Member of Parliament Guy Lauzon reaching his 80th birthday milestone next month, local Conservatives are hosting a special birthday party to celebrate!

“We're having a reunion of sorts to celebrate Guy's special milestone birthday with family, friends, and supporters,” said current MP Eric Duncan. “I am still asked all the time how he is doing, and what he has been up to lately. It’s a testament to how well-regarded and respected he is by our community, and I know many people will want to catch up with Guy and celebrate this special milestone with him.”

The festivities, which include a soup and sandwich lunch, will take place Sunday, April 7th from 12 noon to 2:00 pm at the South Stormont Community Hall in Long Sault. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.sdgconservatives.ca/guy-lauzon-birthday or by calling Amanda Brisson at 613 330-5079.

Guy has asked for no gifts, but to simply have the chance to catch up with many friends, neighbours, and supporters.

Heartfelt thanks!

Sharon Monteith has a big heart and decided to raise funds for the WDMH Foundation during Heart Month in February. Happily, many others opened their hearts too!

Sharon owns Up the Creek Glass Studio and sold hand-crafted glass heart suncatchers throughout the month. All proceeds were donated to the WDMH Foundation, resulting in $4,030 for the General Equipment Fund.

Sharon works at WDMH and says that she was heartened (pun intended!) by the positive response to her art. “Thank you to everyone who purchased a heart and to retired colleagues Reta Lalonde and Joan Merkley for helping with the sales.”

“This was a fun event and we loved having a basket of hearts in our office for donors to choose from when they stopped by to purchase one,” says Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail and Events. “To help ensure that WDMH has the right tools to provide excellent health care for our patients, we work with donors to raise the needed funds. People like Sharon – and everyone who purchased a heart - are truly making an impact. Thank you!”

To chat about fundraising events for WDMH, please contact Justine Plummer at 613-774-2422 ext. 6172 or jplummer@wdmh.on.ca. To chat about fundraising events for Dundas Manor, please contact Cindy Ault Peters at 343-572-6345 or cpeters@ wdmh.on.ca.

Morewood Recreation Association joins the dream!

Everyone

The small but mighty team of volunteers with the Morewood Recreation Association (RA) have been busy working on their goal to raise $10,000 for the Expanding the Circle of Compassionate Care Campaign for the new Dundas Manor.

And they are well on their way! At the Morewood RA/Morewood Station 1 North Dundas Fire Services’ Winter Carnival in February, a 50/50 draw was held, raising $645. The winning ticket was held by Darren Chambers. Darren promptly donated his winnings (and more) to the new Dundas Manor. Thanks Darren!

“The Morewood RA is committed to giving back,” explains President Brent Richard. “Helping to raise funds to support the new Dundas Manor is just one of the ways we can make an impact in our community. We hope everyone will join us!”

“We are grateful to the Morewood RA and everyone who bought a 50/50 ticket,” notes Erin Kapcala, Manager of Major and Planned Giving at the WDMH Foundation. “This energetic team has many more events planned to help them meet their goal. In fact, their next event is an Easter Egg Hunt and Touch a Truck on March 30th. Watch for donation boxes for the Campaign. And don’t forget to follow the Morewood RA on Facebook to stay in the loop!”

The new Dundas Manor will have four resident home areas, called Homesteads. Each one will have a wonderful gathering space as well as beautiful outdoor gardens nearby. Hallway dining will be a thing of the past as there will be four large, bright dining rooms with enough space for everyone. Rooms in the new home will have only one or two residents – and everyone will have a window. The new two-storey building will be more than double the size of the current home.

For more details about the Dundas Manor Campaign, please visit www.dundasmanordream.ca or contact the WDMH Foundation team at 613-7742422 ext. 6162 or 6169. If you would like to host a community event to benefit the new Dundas Manor, please reach out to Cindy Ault Peters at 343-572-6345 or cpeters@wdmh.on.ca. Thank you for your support!

Sharon Monteith presents a cheque for $4,030 outside the WDMH Foundation office.

had fun at the winter carnival!

by Brandon Mayer

When I was in high school, I remember wondering if the reason that the Province requires 40 hours of community involvement to be completed before graduation was because otherwise, no volunteer positions would ever get filled. I thought: “Why would I ever work for free, when I could work to be paid?” I believed that volunteers were naive, lonely, and perhaps even eccentric. Around the same time, I remember watching a TV commercial for a college course in “Non Profit Leadership”, and I smugly thought that it was hilarious that anyone would be stupid enough to pay money to be educated in the art of NOT making a profit.

It’s true what older folks say to high school

None the wiser Letters to the Editor

March 23 and I am having a coffee with my wife and reading a book (an actual book). There had been a smattering of snow overnight, not really enough to register on any scale except maybe the metric system, when behold the snowplow comes roaring by. The blades don’t seem to be hitting the snow but the speed of the vehicle is sufficient to create an impressive cloud, with the result that I can now see the surface of the road. Though one pass would seem sufficient, what goes out must come back, and here it comes again.

Now my letter smacks of sarcasm but I am confronted with the optics of an action that probably has some significance in budget considerations at the Council level. The actual cost of sending the plows out to cover the large number of roads in our township must be considerable and heaven forbid if you are slow in responding, as the complaints will arrive fast and furious. But really, we have not had a lot of snow this year and one would think that it would be an opportunity to save in one area, and apply it to another of the many

kids – “you have a lot to learn”. It’s a pity that most young people aren’t able to grasp the limitations of their knowledge until they cease to be young. I know that I was wrong at that age, of course. Volunteering is the lifeblood of any healthy community. It’s strange how so many people are willing to donate money to good causes, but they won’t donate their time. Last I checked, that money was earned in exchange for time (and effort).

April is widely regarded as National Volunteer Month, with National Volunteer Week officially celebrated from April 14 to 20. It’s a time when we celebrate volunteers, and acknowledge how truly critical they are in any strong community. One of the ways I earned my 40 community involvement hours was by collecting do-

projects that confront Council on a yearly basis.

Anyway, my observations are not meant as criticism, because the work is being done. It is the optics. So now when I hear a forecast of possible snow I think of Rex Harrison: “Send in the plows, there have to be plows, don’t bother they’re here.”

Richard Christie Mountain

Dear Editor,

The problem today, that houses cannot be built fast enough to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population, is a problem the world over. Part of the building problem is a shortage of skilled and unskilled workers.

A solution is housing like ours. Modular homes built in factories and transported to the site where the foundation and all utilities are ready for immediate connection. Modular construction could also apply to schools and hospitals, fire halls, you name it.

Don’t bring in portable classrooms, bring in modular classrooms that connect to the existing school and the school utilities. Can you visualize hospital wards being

nations door to door for the Canadian Cancer Society. I would estimate that about 75% of people would make a donation, with an average of $20 but sometimes much more. I like people, so I enjoyed the task of walking around town and chatting with others in the community. I used to like telling my friends that between my canvassing for the Cancer Society, and weekly collections from my newspaper deliveries, I had been inside a majority of the houses in my hometown.

Nonetheless, when I would be walking door to door, I had it in the back of mind that I wasn’t doing the task totally of my own accord. I was doing it because I had to if I wanted to graduate from high school. “I’ll never do this again after my 40 hours are up,” I thought. Well my first time realizing I was wrong

built in a factory and assembled as and when needed? No longer would there be 2 to 3 years of planning. Each classroom, each hospital ward and each firehall bay can be brought in on flat beds and assembled on site. Last year, in Nanaimo, a four-storey apartment was assembled on site and had its first occupants within 6 weeks of the foundation being poured. The apartment is now fully occupied and is called "Women’s Haven", a home for destitute women. Just my practical thoughts. Ian Waymark

Dear Editor, Today I listened to a very interesting program, “Ontario Today”, about the prison system. The question to the listening audience was: “are you set up to fail when released from prison?” Her guest was a man who had been incarcerated. He said that many go from incarceration to homelessness, as they have no resources. It is a cycle. They often go to the ‘Shelter System’, but it is very difficult and overrun. Dangerous drugs are involved.

came sooner than it does for most teenagers, because I continued canvassing for several years after graduating. It would have felt wrong to have the Cancer Society go without donations, and I realized that the hundreds of dollars of donations I would submit yearly after my canvassing might not have reached the Society without me collecting them. For once, I saw the monetary conversion of my time donation.

“Older and wiser” as they say. There are many aspects of life in which I feel enlightened by the compounding of lessons and experiences over time. I have had staff in my work in the education system come through with no qualifications or experience, and boldly attempt to “run the show”, questioning the value of my education and nearly eight years of

lived experiences. And yet I know that when I was a psychology student, freshly starting a master’s degree largely with a focus on child counselling, I acted the same way when I entered the education field. To me, my ideas were often the only ones that were valid. I still remember many of the things that my very first supervisor in the education field and I disagreed with, and how right I came to realize she truly was, but only after spending years dealing with similarly arrogant young staff.

Older doesn’t automatically mean wiser. I know a lot of unintelligent older people. And of course, we all know exceptionally bright young people. But knowledge is not wisdom. Book smarts do not translate into wisdom. Street smarts are not the same as wisdom. Wisdom has its

own meaning. And oddly, I never knew what wisdom was until I started getting older. Wisdom must be felt, not explained. I turn 30 this year, so I accept that I still have much wisdom to gain.

I feel sorry for those who go through life being happily “none the wiser”, so to speak, especially when it comes to such issues as the importance of volunteering. Such people can work hard all week, laughing at those “stupid” enough to “work for free”, only to then take their kids to a public outdoor skating rink on the weekend, or enjoy a talk given at the local library. It’s interesting how those who often think volunteers are “suckers” –as I once did – still have no problem reaping the benefits of others generously donating their time.

Detention centres (Correctional) are very locked down, and this is before being convicted. People are released with nothing. There is a rise of deaths in custody due to overdoses and lack of resources. It is dangerous and inhumane.

When released, they are left on the side of the road,

with no help and no support. Six people can be in a room in these correctional centres. They said it’s a cesspool for gangs looking to recruit, i.e., strength in numbers.

They have no hope and no encouragement and are very far from their hometowns most often. They are released without OHIP cards

and no money to get home. There is an over-representation of Indigenous people.

Housing is most important for people coming out of jail, such as transitional housing. Also, they said the solution is not to build more jails. They need communitybased supports. It costs a great deal to build jails and house people.

This was an excellent show, as “Ontario Today” always is, in my opinion. Many callers. The host is awesome.

Kath Piché

Former Lions Thrift Store to be turned into apartments

Jam packed Council meeting on March 21

by Brandon Mayer

The most recent meeting of North Dundas Council on March 21 opened with a public meeting regarding a request to allow the former Lions Thrift Store building to be converted to residential dwelling units. The property is located at 541 St. Lawrence St. in Winchester.

Council heard a presentation on what is proposed for the site, including a plan to move an existing ramp in order to allow access to new backyard parking spaces. The building would

continue to have a commercial space in the front, with two residential units being added in the rear of the main level. The basement would be converted to a dwelling unit as well, for a total of three units. Council heard a recommendation from Township staff to approve the plan, along with an explanation that the developer has been faced with a unique task in converting what was originally built as a church into a partially residential property.

Councillor Matthew Uhrig expressed some skepticism about the ability to fit a laneway in the proposed

location, even with the ramp being moved. Councillor Gary Annable commented that it’s nice to see the building owner taking the initiative on revamping a building as old as the one in question.

The required zoning amendment was passed later in the meeting.

Nearly two hours of other Council business

Following the public meeting, Council heard a general information presentation of Rebecca Luck, the Director of Library Services for the SD&G County Library system which operates branches in Chesterville, South Mountain, and Winchester. Next, Council approved the creation of an employment contract for an Engineering Technician position, to be executed by the CAO.

The next motion before Council was a proposal to designate April 15 as an “office cleanup day” at the Township office in Winchester, with the office

CDSBEO Board meeting report

by Amber LaBerge,

Communications Lead, CDSBEO Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Superintendent of School Effectiveness Norma McDonald, along with CDSBEO Faith Animator John Whyte, presented information on how CDSBEO embeds equity, diversity and inclusion practices within our school communities.

The Board spiritual theme, I Belong Here – Together We Are God’s Good News, provides the foundation for appropriate supports and resources.

Through the Board of Trustees Faith and Equity Advisory and Parent Involvement committees, community partnerships have been expanded to support this work.

The Department of Religious and Family Life Education continues to collaborate with the Curriculum Department to plan activities for schools around various themes including CDSBEO Week, Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month, and Catholic Education Week, to name a few. Additionally, the CDSBEO Service Trip

to the Dominican Republic, the grade 10 Just Us Youth Day, and a new grade 12 Social Justice course all provide robust opportunities for student learning. These programs promote a variety of ways to promote a shared understanding and support the ongoing process of acceptance and belonging.

“Thank you for highlighting the many ways that we as a board implement Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. It was a very powerful presentation and the many examples you have provided make it even more meaningful for all of us,” concluded Chair Wilson.

Online Learning at CDSBEO: Superintendent of School Effectiveness Tracy O’Brien, along with St. James Catholic Education Centre Principal Jennifer Lentz and Online Learning Coordinator Karen Tobin presented information about online learning opportunities at CDSBEO. Following the 2021-2022 school year, the educational landscape shifted to accommodate the new requirement of two online learning courses for secondary students to attain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

closed to the public on that day. The day was proposed to be set aside not to make major changes to the office layout, but rather as a “freshen up” exercise for the office. The proposal raised concerns from some North Dundas residents who questioned the need to take an entire taxpayer funded workday solely for cleanup. Councillor Matthew Uhrig spoke up in the meeting to express that while he supports the clean up day this year, in the future he would prefer to see the office kept clean and organized on a proactive, ongoing basis, rather than letting it get to the point that it needs a full day cleaning. The “office cleanup day” was approved.

Council quickly passed several routine items, including the official legislation to approve the 2024 municipal budget. The budget had been effectively passed on February 29 after being modified from its original version. The motion on March 21

officially ratified it.

Council agreed to make a popular Winchester event – the “Garden Party Market” – a committee of Council.

All finances of this year’s 7-part series will therefore have to be cleared through Council, with a member of Council sitting on the Committee. The Township will foot the bill for the required event insurance, and each event is expected to attract up to 500 guests.

As a grant offer through the Township’s Community Improvement Plan, Council agreed to award some money to the owners of the former Lions Thrift Store building, and its neighbour –the former Winchester Press building – for improvements to the buildings’ facades. A new business is expected to open in the latter of the two buildings in the near future. Such funding was also granted to Precision Diesel.

Other business took place in the second half of the meeting, including the

designation of several of this year’s events – Dairyfest, Bike Nights, Art on the Waterfront – as “events of municipal significance”. This allows for certain privileges that are critical in planning these events. Deputy Mayor Theresa Bergeron and Councillor Uhrig also brought motions forward, both involving advocacy (one regarding the blue box program, the other regarding requirements for adding housing) to the Province, giving official Township positions on issues within the purview of higher levels of government.

Council considered the first draft of the 2024 water and sewer budget on March 21, more details of which are provided elsewhere in this issue.

The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will take place on April 11.

UCDSB Trustees Report

To address this shift, and the increased demand for online learning courses, CDSBEO became part of two consortia: Catholic Virtual Ontario and Ontario eLearning Consortium. Together, these two consortia helped to support more than 600 students enrolled in online courses last year. All courses were then centralized under St. James Catholic Education Centre in spring 2023, to help further support staff and students with online learning.

The adjustments have led to a noticeable rise in online student achievement, and 98 per cent of students achieved a successful credit outcome in semester one of this year. CDSBEO online courses have been integrated into the selection process on myBlueprint, and courses are now added based on student feedback during the course selection phase. While CDSBEO will no longer be offering the VLES due to a significant decline in enrolment, a preference to return to in person learning and the growth in online course offerings will continue to support students in their future learning journeys.

CDSBEO has offered online learning to students since 2006.

Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Key items discussed in the public session are as follows.

Preliminary Budget Outlook:

Executive Superintendent of Business Services Jeremy Hobbs presented a budget overview for the 2023-24 school year and a preliminary budget outlook for 2024-25. He reassured trustees that based on current spending and projections, the Board remains in a healthy financial position thanks in part to consistent government funding and informed decision making by trustees.

In the preliminary budget outlook for 202425, Superintendent Hobbs noted that the Grant for Student Needs (GSN) Funding information had not been released by the Ministry of Education, and that the Department’s goal for the update was

to provide an appraisal of the conditions under which the 2024-25 budget will be developed. He detailed various external factors that may contribute to tighter financial realities for school boards in coming years but noted that the Board can expect to see continued government investments in education and expects a continued balanced budget through 2024-25.

GSN Funding and related documents are expected to be released by the Ministry of Education in April, and Finance staff will prepare a draft budget for Trustee consideration early June 2024.

UCDSB Parent Involvement Committee PRO Grant Initiatives:

In February 2024, the UCDSB Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) reviewed proposed initiatives and approved funding for Parents

Reaching Out (PRO) Grants for the 2023-24 school year.

PRO Grants are provided by the Ministry of Education to support projects that focus on improving access and opportunities for parents to participate and engage fully in their children’s learning. A total of $51,000 in funding was allocated to the UCDSB for use for this purpose in the 2023-24 school year.

Bill Loshaw, UCDSB Superintendent of Schools, noted that approved proposals align with Ministry requirements, and that many also support the priorities of the UCDSB Director’s Workplan.

Approved projects include family literacy and EQAO math nights, discussions on social media/online safety, as well as Indigenous family drum circles and earth day festivities.

Brown water: it’s Winchester’s turn again

by

An issue that is unique to the two largest villages in North Dundas – Chesterville and Winchester – has been causing anger since time immemorial, and shows no signs of being resolved anytime soon. Coloured water or so-called “brown water” from the municipal water systems in the two towns causes problems both in terms of aesthetic quality, as well as practical usability. The brown water can stain laundry and dishes, and generally gives residents serious reservations about other-

wise mundane tasks, such as giving their kids a bath.

Last year, it was primarily Chesterville residents who were making complaints about the severity and frequency of brown water incidents. This helped get a potential solution in motion, which was discussed during the water and sewer draft budget presentation at the Council meeting on March 21. The solution is an already approved $5.3 million upgrade to the Chesterville water reservoir to help remove excessive manganese from the system.

Now, it’s Winchester’s turn (as some would argue – “again”) to be on the re-

ceiving end of aesthetically repulsive water. The problem does not affect all of the water users on the municipal system. This is most likely due to the impact of differing flow rates in different areas of the system. Many Winchester residents were raising concerns last month about the quality of their water, with some saying that it has become worse than ever before.

The draft budget presented to Council on March 21 included a 13% increase in the local water and sewer rates in 2024. Besides grants, the water and sewer system is funded solely through user fees. General tax dol-

Life with Connor the Weatherman

featuring Connor Mockett

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another week of Life with Connor the Weatherman! This week I’d like to talk about a couple different things. One involves just me, the other involves something you’ll only see once in your entire life coming up on Monday, April 8th.

I thought I’d talk about a little adventure I embarked on for Easter Weekend. I drove back home to Ontario to see my family for a couple of days for Easter, but this time the drive was a little bit different. Usually I drive from Moncton to Ontario on the Trans Canada Highway through New Brunswick and Quebec. However, a snow storm in the northern part of New Brunswick and Eastern Quebec forced me to go a different direction. I

went through Maine!

I ended up crossing the border near Saint John, New Brunswick, and heading into Maine to avoid most of the snow up north, mostly because I didn’t want to drive on snow covered roads for 2 or 3 hours. I’ve done a lot of driving in bad weather conditions as a chaser, but I just didn’t feel like driving in it for that long of a time period, where that stretch takes 2 to 3 hours on a day with normal roads and traffic. Add snow into the equation, and it’d take probably 4 or 5. Not fun when I’m trying to get somewhere at a specific time.

I’ve never been to Maine, so this was a new experience for me. As a long haul drive lover, I was excited to go a direction that I’ve never gone. I like to explore new roads, new areas, and new

lars are not used to fund or upgrade the system, to ensure fairness to those who are not connected to water and sewer. Councillor Matthew Uhrig and Mayor Tony Fraser both pointed out the increasing costs associated with providing municipal water. Some residents are concerned that as costs go up, the quality of the water seems to be going down.

While Chesterville has been consistently well known for its coloured water issues, Winchester’s problem has been more on the quantity side. A new source well is being added for the Winchester system, though with incidents of brown water on the rise, it appears that Winchester may soon need filtration upgrades similar to those proposed for Chesterville. Unpleasant, brown water is not considered to be of “adverse quality” for the purposes of drinking water safety. The Annual Drinking Water Report for North Dundas shows only 3 adverse quality incidents for the entire year. Two of them were false alarms of bacteria that were resolved with re-testing, and one was a precautionary boil water advisory from a loss

States. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up taking Maine to go home from now on instead of staying in Canada the whole time!

The drive in Maine was very beautiful actually! The mountains, scenic roads that Google Maps took me down, the roads going beside a bunch of ponds and lakes with views of more mountains in the background. It was a really good drive, with the music blasting of course. Can’t go on a long drive without the country music blasting! I ended up crossing back over the border near Sherbrooke, Quebec, and then eventually hopped onto the A-10, which took me back northwest towards the A-30, which turns into HWY 401 in Ontario. I ended up stopping at Philos restaurant in Cornwall for supper with both mine and Zoe’s family,

our young family to drink.”

Erin Chefero is one of the Winchester residents who has been outspoken about Winchester’s water quality. “We absolutely do not get our money’s worth for our water,” she said. “At least twice a month, our water is unusable. We have had to switch to using a water cooler and bottled water at a cost of $50 per month. Even when the water is clean, we do not trust that it is safe for

Erin pointed out that she and her husband have even had to take their children to her parents’ house for baths, meaning that they are paying for water they sometimes can’t use. “A resolution is long overdue,” she added.

Water quality reports and the draft water and sewer budget can be found on the Township of North Dundas website.

which is definitely one of my favourite restaurants in Eastern Ontario. One of a kind!

So, that was my little Maine adventure. Let’s talk about April 8th now…

As you all already know (I hope), there’s a total solar eclipse coming up during the day on Monday, April 8th. If in the path of totality, this will literally turn day into night. Most areas will see the impacts, because even if you’re in Winchester, as an example, the eclipse percentage will be about 90-95%, which will be very noticeable obviously. If you want to get into the path of totality in Eastern Ontario to witness this, you’ll have to go down to the Seaway somewhere, which will be a very, very busy area.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Eastern Canada. There will not be

anything like this for a very, very long time. There will be another total solar eclipse in August of 2044, but that will only be visible in the United States southwestern part of their country down there. So, what I can recommend to you all reading this, take the opportunity. There will be tons of businesses closed that afternoon, many schools, etc. will be closed as well. However, if you do go outside to look at it while it’s happening, PLEASE wear the proper eye protection so that you do not burn your eyes. It’s quite dangerous to look at it without your eclipse glasses!

A bathtub filled with coloured water from the municipal system at a residence on Victoria Street in Winchester.

Brandon Mayer

Illustration by Miranda Em of pressure due to a water main break.

A full moon peaks between two trees in Inkerman on March 24. Photo by Brandon Meyer

Ontario farmers’ markets are always in season

As we approach the warm spring season, thoughts on Ontario farms are turning towards planting the new season’s crops. Even through the cold months of winter and the cool, wet spring days that are common in Ontario, there are plenty of delicious local food options to be found at farmers’ markets across the Province. And for some of Ontario’s farmers, harvest isn’t too far off with asparagus leading the way followed by strawberries, rhubarb and peas as some of our earli-

est spring crops.

“While farmers’ markets are a great place to get your local fresh fruits and vegetables when they are in season, you can also enjoy the wide spectrum of what is grown and raised on Ontario farms all year long,” says Drew Spoelstra, farmer and President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).

Through its Home Grown campaign, the OFA raises awareness of the importance of preserving Ontario farmland to produce food, fuel,

flowers and fibre.

“Our farmland is a precious, essential resource and the best way for Ontarians to help protect it is to buy the food, fuel, fibre and flowers that we produce there — farmers’ markets are a spot to do that yearround,” adds Drew.

An innovative new partnership between OFA and Farmers’ Markets Ontario will be supporting marketing projects to promote Ontario farmers at farmers’ markets across the Province, making it easier than ever for Ontario consumers to shop local all year long.

Greenhouse fruits and vegetables are always in season and can often be found at farmers’ markets, but other Ontario products that you can find at farmers’ markets yearround include:

Honey: Ontario beekeepers, and the bees they tend, produce some of the best honey in the world. Look for the 100% Ontario Honey logo or Foodland Ontario designation to ensure that you are getting local honey. Find local honey near you at ontariobee.com.

Apples: Harvested from late summer through fall, Ontario apples keep very well in cold storage to be enjoyed throughout the year. Ciders and juices are also farmers’ market staples. Learn more at onapples.com.

Potatoes and root vegetables: Ontario potatoes are plentiful and locally grown root veg-

etables like carrots, onions, squash and parsnip are widely available.

Meats: Whether processed or fresh, many farmers’ markets have Ontario meats and poultry available year-round. More information is at meatpoultryon.ca.

Eggs: With more than 500 egg farmers across Ontario, farm fresh eggs can be found at most farmers’ markets. Learn more at getcracking.ca.

Maple syrup: The sap is running in Ontario, so head to a local market to enjoy the season’s first maple syrup products. Discover this natural, healthy sweetener at ontariomaple.com.

Preserves: Pickles, jarred fruits, jams, jellies and spreads made from Ontario fruits and vegetables are not only available year round, but they are also quite simply delicious.

Flowers: There are an estimated 200 greenhouses in Ontario growing cut flowers and potted plants that bring colour and joy to homes and workplaces. Visit Pick Ontario for more information on what is available in Ontario:

www.po.

flowerscanadagrowers.com.

The importance of well water testing

In Ontario, we are fortunate to have an abundance of drinking water, and it is important to conserve what we have. Not all drinking water sources in Ontario are safe, so it is important to test and install treatment if necessary. Our municipalities take good care of our municipal drinking water systems. If your drinking water comes from a private well, it’s up to you to test and possibly provide a treatment system for the water.

Spring is a great time to have your well water tested for bacteria. Runoff from heavy rain may affect the safety of your drinking water. Bacteria in your well water may not affect the taste or smell. Testing your well water is the only way to know for sure if your drinking water is safe. It is recommended that you test your well water at least three times a year for bacteria.

Sample bottles can be picked up at Eastern Ontario Health Unit locations, including the Winchester office located inside the Community Care Building at 530 Fred Street, Suite A. Note that sample bottles can only be dropped off in Winchester from Monday to Wednesday, between the hours of 8:30-12:00, and 1:00-1:30.

If the testing shows that the well water is contaminated with bacteria, some actions may be required to protect your health. The EOHU website contains instructions on how to disinfect your well, and information on different types of treatment units that can be installed.

In addition to bacteria, some chemical elements that can affect health may also be found in your well water. The most common chemical elements that can affect your health and may be found in Canadian well water are: nitrate and nitrite, sodium, naturally occurring manganese, arsenic, uranium and lead.

If you are concerned with chemical contamination of your well water, contact a private laboratory for testing. For more information, you can visit the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines page on Canada.ca or the EOHU website at eohu.ca.

Good news for family history fans

by David Shanahan

I am always amazed at how popular family history is in Canada. Library and Archives Canada reports that fully 90% of visitors to their facility are researching family history. Genealogy is a major interest for Canadians because we all come from somewhere else, originally (including Indigenous peoples). A very large percentage of immigrants to

Canada, especially Ontario eastwards, came from Ireland in the Nineteenth Century, and Irish genealogical records are a major source of information for those tracing their roots there.

Unfortunately, until recently those sources have been scarce, largely because of the destruction of the Public Records Office in Dublin in 1921, in which records from as far back as the

Around Town with Nanda

UPCOMING EVENTS

Eleventh Century were lost. But two new projects have come as a tremendous aid to tracing your Irish ancestors.

A century after those precious records were lost, a project to restore them from many outside sources was launched. Supported by a €2.5 million grant from the Irish government and employing 14 full-time archivists, Beyond 2022: Ireland’s Virtual Record Treasury, a searchable database, a selection of curated stories, as well as a 3D virtual-reality recreation of the archive building itself as it would have looked in the days before the fire, has been put online for researchers to use. The material is composed of copies located in more than 70 archives around the world, and damaged documents restored using AI technology, and consists of more than 150,000 records and more than 6,000 maps dating from 1174 to 1922. Included in the collection is a religious census dating from 1766, an invaluable resource.

Beyond 2022: Ireland’s Virtual Record Treasury is available online for genealo-

Have an event or special occasion that you would like photographed for the paper? Let me know. nanda@ndtimes.ca

gists and historians.

Another new source is located at the University of Galway, and also available online free of charge. It consists of a collection of more than 7,000 letters sent to and from Irish immigrants to North America over 400 years. They were gathered over sixty years by Kirby Miller, a prominent IrishAmerican historian, who donated them to the University of Galway on condition they be digitised and transcribed, to be made freely available to the public.

A brief browse through the collection revealed the transcript of a letter written by a settler in Oxford-onRideau Township in 1832 to his family in Crossmolina in County Mayo. Sent from the Kemptville Post Office, it gives details on the life of the immigrant, the cost of land and the standard of life compared to back home.

These sources for genealogy are a really important, and unexpected, new asset to those looking to trace their Irish ancestors, and something to be grateful for on this season of St. Patrick.

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. Apr 8, May 13, Jun 10, Jul 8, Aug 12, Oct 21, Nov 11. The Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario

Fundraising Gala & Comedy Night- Saturday April 27. Matilda Hall, Dixons Corners - proceeds go to Timothy Christian School, Williamsburg. Meal by Leatherworks Catering, entertainment by the Fidgets. For tickets and more information, https://tcswilliamsburg.com/gala or email fundraising@tcswilliamsburg.ca

VOLUNTEERING IS THE H eartbeat OF OUR COMMUNITY

Volunteers needed for family event this summer

Paul Porteous of the Ormond Harmony Cloverdale Recreation Association is pleased to announce that the organization would love to host a family-oriented event this summer. For the event to happen, more volunteers will be needed, and there is perhaps no better time

to sign up than right now, with National Volunteer Week on the horizon!

The Ormond Harmony Cloverdale RA has existed since 1971. Its members have not hosted an event in over 4 years, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also due to the loss of volunteers.

Kind gesture at Mary’s Restaurant

“We used to have a Christmas and Easter Potluck Supper, a Strawberry Social a few days before Canada Day, and a winter Bowling Night at the Chesterville Bowling Lanes,” Paul explained. “There may be new people in our communities that do not know we exist.”

“Life can be unpredictable… be humble and kind.” This is the message that Robin Portieous – a server at Mary’s Restaurant – is sharing after a positive experience last week. One of Robin’s tables flagged her to come over, and a customer at the table said that she would be paying everyone’s bill, not just her own!

The generous customer did not want anyone to know who was paying the bills, nor did she tell Robin the reason for her gesture. The customers who benefitted from the act of kindness appreciated it very much. “They went crazy… so surprised,” said Robin. “It definitely shows that we have a great community.”

The community is so great, in fact, that last week’s gesture wasn’t much of a surprise to Robin. “We get someone paying for tables’ meals often,” she said.

Kindness is free. Kudos to all those in North Dundas who are eager to share it!

Thank you to all our volunteers who give their time to help make our community a more caring place. You are the heart of the hospice!

4353 County Rd. 31, Williamsburg 613.535.2215 info@dundascountyhospice.ca

www.dundascountyhospice.ca

Paul has some ideas about what kind of family event might be fun for this summer, but he doesn’t want to share his thoughts yet, out of respect for the different ideas that new volunteers may bring to the table.

“If you live in this area of North Dundas and would be interested in helping, please email Paul Porteous at rayshirx1@juno.com for more information.”

www.communityfoodshare.ca

Gratitude to our outstanding volunteers at the CFS food banks, food drives, and event teams. Your dedication and effort are truly appreciated, showing that together, we can achieve remarkable results.

ank you to all the amazing volunteers who provide their time & expertise in our long-term care home. You are so appreciated for all you do for our residents!

Soccer score! Rockets final series goes to game 5

The North Dundas United Soccer Club ended their season with year-end celebrations for the players. They also celebrated health care close to home with a $1,082.75 donation to the WDMH Foundation’s Family Care Fund.

President Julian Whittam explains the importance of this amazing group: “The club runs youth and adult soccer programs in North Dundas. We are a volunteer-run notfor-profit organization that wants to contribute to making North Dundas a great place to live by offering an affordable sports program that kids and adults can enjoy. At the end of the 2023 season, we held year-end fundays for most of our age groups. Food and drink sales helped cover the costs of running the events and we wanted to donate any remaining funds back to the community.”

“Thank you to the North Dundas United Soccer Club!” notes Justine Plummer, Manager, Direct Mail & Events. “We appreciate you combining fun and fundraising to Winchester District Memorial Hospital.”

“The Winchester Hospital is such an important part of our community and almost every single one of our program participants has used its services at one time or another,” sums up Julian. “The majority of our participants are children and having strong family care services at the hospital helps benefit our community.”

The money will be directed toward the Foundation’s Family Care Fund. This fund does just that – ‘supports families just like mine’. Donations to the Family Care Fund are used where each gift is needed most: to buy new medical equipment, upgrade existing equipment or meet other urgent needs at WDMH.

To chat about fundraising events for WDMH, please contact Justine Plummer at 613-774-2422 ext. 6172 or jplummer@wdmh.on.ca. To chat about fundraising events for Dundas Manor, please contact Cindy Ault Peters at 343-572-6345 or cpeters@wdmh.on.ca.

Moving Seniors Safely

It’s well known that Canada is facing a “silver tsunami.” According to the Canadian Institute for Health Research, over the next 20 years, Canada’s senior population is expected to grow by 68%. This means that there will be an unprecedented number of seniors moving, whether downsizing to smaller homes, moving into retired living communities, or relocating to be closer to family.

The Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) are pleased to announce their partnership in the upcoming program, Moving Seniors Safely. This annual event aims to raise awareness and set seniors up for success with moving. Seniors have special concerns when it

by Murray Link

On Thursday, April 4th, the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League will crown one team league champion. Fans will either see the North Dundas senior Rockets claim their third straight EOSHL title or the Gananoque Islanders take home their first championship in the league’s 4 year span. In a best of 5 series that has seen both teams win 2 games a piece at home, it will all come down to this last game. With a home record of 44-2 (including playoffs) in their 3 years in the league, Rockets fans will be hoping that home ice advantage plays a part in game 5.

Game 1 of the series took place on Saturday March 23rd in a matinee game in Chesterville. Despite being outshot 50-37, the Rockets pulled out a win on the strength of their goaltending by #25 Matt Jenkins. First star of the game was Rockets forward #63 Fabian Walsh 3pts (2G,1A).

In game 2, the Rockets were on the road in Gananoque on Sunday March 24. The Rockets looked as if they were in control early, scoring the first 3 goals of the game and leading 3-1 after the first period. As the second period played out, the visiting team found themselves in major penalty trouble. As a result of being short handed, Gananoque scored 5 power play goals and went on to win at home 7-3.

With the series tied 1-1, game 3 took place on Thursday March 28 at 8:00 pm in front of a sellout crowd in Chesterville. The faithful fans of North Dundas were not disappointed as they were treated to a spectacular back and forth game that went into overtime. As the overtime period commenced, the crowd became electric and at the 10:31 mark of overtime, Rockets forward #10 Marc-Andre Labelle blasted the puck past the Islanders goaltender for the win. “I thought the roof was going to blow off the arena……I had an amazing time” exclaimed Lori Link, who attended her first Rockets game ever.

Game 4 took place in Gananoque on March 30, where a win would capture the EOSHL title for the Rockets. In a closely matched game which saw both teams record 34 shots a piece, Gananoque scored a late goal in the third period to win 4-3. “What a close game” bellowed Rockets fan Kyler Mcdonald, who made the trip to Ganonoque….”I wish they had won, but it will be nice to win it at home”.

Game 5 will take place in Chesterville on April 4th at 8:00 pm where fans will see one team be crowned EOSHL Champion. The final game will also be streamed live by EOSHL TV….just look them up on Youtube and hit subscribe. The question is North Dundas Rockets fans: ARE YOU GOING TO THE GAME?

Autism\Neurodivergent in the workplace

by Cath Cross

I'm writing this heartbroken and on the verge of crying. My son, 29, is on his second job in one year. Last spring, he quit his dishwasher job, as he was too stressed out having been working there for six months or more watching other dishwashers come and go in quick succession, while he stuck it out. He left for what he had hoped would be a great job at a marina. They liked him and he liked them, a perfect fit. Except, because of his “exceptionality”, he lost the job after one week. He was too slow and was continually making mistakes. This is a man who was in an honours program at university and worked rush hours at a restaurant. He needed a job coach.

Looking for one was one hell of a learning curve. At first, no one knew what a job coach was. We called everywhere. No one had any clue what it was. We had to school them on what the job would consist of.

The area job centre where we live (Kemptville area) found another job for him. It came highly recommended. It started out amazing, but soon turned into a job from hell. His supervisor, who was so supportive at the start, began to bully him and spread rumours and lies about him. He needed a job coach fast but even that wouldn't be enough. But he would keep the job he desperately needed. After chasing down socalled advocates, he was told he was 'too high functioning' to get one. I raised hell, and he finally got one, but he had to pay for her out of his own pocket. So, to keep the job, he needed the job coach. To keep the job coach, he had to work.

Even with the job coach, he lost the job in mid-January, a few months after his supervisor harassed his job coach with all sorts of drama. He went on Employment Insurance after chasing down the powers that be in the job he just lost so that he could go on EI.

My son is far from lazy; during this time, he was working with a committee to arrange an event about neurodivergent adults’ struggles. He wanted to finish his degree in Mass Media, and he wanted to be a writer, which he was very good at. Plus, he was helping us (father and I) with our acreage and horses.

So he spent the last two months chasing job leads, going nowhere. His contact in the job centre moved on. They had had a terrific relationship. She helped keep up his spirits. He had another person help him look for jobs too. Kemptville had a job fair, my son and his male advocate attended. The advocate wanted to try to get the job at the marina back, but the company didn't have a booth at the fair. There were other jobs, but not many that he could do – manual labour. My son applied for all that he could, but only one got back to him.

comes to moving, including being targeted in scams.

The program aims to equip seniors to be proactive and safe throughout the moving trajectory: from researching future living options, communicating with loved ones about preferences, decluttering and organizing, packing up, and finally ensuring that a reliable moving company is secured and potential scams avoided.

“It can be hard to talk about the future when there are so many unknowns,”

Bill VanGorder, CARP’s Chief Advocacy and Education Officer says. “But it’s important to ask yourself, ‘How can I be best prepared given my particular situation? What would downsizing look like? Would living arrangements change if my

partner were to pass away, or someone had a bad fall?’

These aren’t easy considerations or conversations, but they are very important, especially in a time in which home and community care, long-term care, and senior housing are in crisis. Being proactive with moving allows you to take charge of the elements within your control.”

Moving Seniors Safely provides many practical tips and insights through online resources including a Q&A webinar led by CAM and CARP on March 27. Some of the information focuses on moving scams that trick seniors into giving money upfront, to seemingly reputable moving companies which ultimately hold shipments hostage for outrageous sums of money.

“The Moving Seniors Safely program has been very successful in raising awareness about scams; we know seniors are doing their research and moving scams targeting seniors are on the decline,” says Nancy Irvine, President of CAM. “That said, when it comes to choosing moving companies, seniors must continue to be aware of red flags such as low-ball pricing, expectation of a large cash down payment, being unable to determine the company’s street address, or the company’s refusal to confirm exact shipment information, thus allowing them to bump up the price. Bottom line, it’s always best to check with CAM to find a trusted and reliable mover.” www. mover.net/find-a-mover.

He went to the interview and followed through with the police check and TB testing (the job is cleaning at a seniors care home). He did the training. Through the two weeks, he tried to reach his previous job coach to no avail. On Thursday, March 20, he began the job. He called me at 9:40, already shaken up. There was too much to remember and, to top it off, the woman who was his job coach from the workplace from hell wasn't doing job coaching anymore, there was someone else doing it, but the new person wasn't in today. Once again, my son was out of luck. I told my son to explain everything re the job coach situation to his new bosses. Meanwhile, I chased down his advocate to see if he (the advocate) is a job coach. Luckily, the advocate is, but he is two weeks behind in my son's job prospects, due to the fact my son was chasing a job coach he no longer had and didn't know that. The male advocate and my son are back in communication. Whether or not my son can keep getting hours at the care home while the new job coach catches up on things remains to be seen.

I'm neodivergent, and I didn't have to jump through all these hoops to get these so-called 'supports'. Maybe that's why I was employed for the last 30+ years. As well, how can I encourage my other child to seek employment when they start out? Is there any reason to? Does any of this mean that my 60 year old husband will always be the only wage earner in this household? These are the questions that go around in my head.

Society is already aware of Autism, but acceptance is not even close. How many generations have to endure this before we can live a productive and happy life?

Presenting the cheque from the North Dundas United Soccer Club are (l-r): Adam McDonald, Club Secretary and Julian Whittam, President.

By Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

School is still in and it’s still time to make hearty meals for the kids and grandkids. Hearty also means healthy and stir fries definitely qualify. Today’s Pork and Vegetable Stir Fry is a great way to feed the family. Our grandson Ayden is an artist with stir fries; as a family, we believe that the more you involve young people, the more they will appreciate good food prepared well as they grow to mature adulthood.

Pork and Vegetable Stir Fry

Ingredients

• 1 pound of pork tenderloin, trimmed and cubed

• 2 cloves of garlic or 1 tablespoon of crushed garlic

• 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger, finely chopped

• 1 sweet onion, finely chopped

• 2 cups each of broccoli and cauliflower florets

• 1 cup of carrots, thinly sliced

• 1 cup red and/or green peppers, seeded and thinly sliced

• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

• ½ cup of beef stock (or water with a squirt of Knorr’s beef extract

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• 2 tablespoons sesame oil (if you have it)

• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (if you have it) (or: 1 tablespoon of brown sugar in a bit of water)

• ¼ cup soy sauce

• ¼ cup of red wine

Preparation

• Marinate your pork cubes in the soy sauce and red wine for 15 minutes

• Heat a large pan or wok, heat the olive and sesame oil and add the garlic

• Stir and after a minute or so, add your onion, ginger and hoisin (or sugared water)

• Drain the marinade from your pork, retain and add the marinated meat to your pan

• Stir fry till the meat is just cooked through

• Add the remaining vegetables, beef stock and marinade

• Stir well to coat the vegetables, cover and lower your heat to simmer

• Cook till the vegetables are tender but don’t overcook

You will want to serve your stir fry over piping hot Basmati rice and with triangles of Naan bread, warmed briefly in the microwave. As always, this stir fry easily becomes vegetarian by replacing the pork with bean curd. If you wish, you can accompany with a full-bodied red wine, such as a Baco Noir.

All the best for spring weather from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

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STEM Workshop empowers NDDHS students during National Engineering Month

Last week, in celebration of March being National Engineering Month, North Dundas District High School (NDDHS) witnessed a flurry of innovative activities as the Grade 9 Design and Tech class took the lead in organizing a dynamic STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workshop in partnership with the National Engineering Association of Canada.

The event, held throughout the day on March 21, saw students participate in a series of activities designed to foster their interest and skills in STEM. Half of the event took place in the new Tech Design Lab, Studio 138, officially launched in January. This studio has been equipped with leadingedge technology thanks to UCDSB Real-World Learning partnerships and industry donations, including Wacom tablets and Stratasys 3D printers. This state-ofthe-art classroom has been a long-awaited addition to the School, providing students with a dedicated space to explore technology skills

and design engineering.

“The goal today was to get students familiar and comfortable with the technology in the studio”, says Design teacher Scott Currie. "Events like these not only spark curiosity but also instill a sense of confidence and passion for exploration. By immersing them in realworld applications of STEM concepts, we empower them to become future innovators, creative problem solvers and truly skilled entrepreneurs."

Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with these resources, gaining hands-on experience with digital drawing and 3D modeling using the Wacom tablets. Additionally, they applied their skills by using 3D print technology, bringing their digital designs to life layer by layer, and were introduced to the possibilities of laser burning, another innovative technique housed within Studio 138.

Grade 9 Design and Tech student Wyatt Thomas led the workshop on 3D modeling. “We're using a program

Tid bit musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters, RSSW

When there is a seasonal change, employment change, weather change, aging change or any change in fact, the tendency is to reflect on the happenings and its effect on our lives. With Easter celebrations and remembrance of the crucifixion, the question becomes, what did you commemorate, or tell your children? Was it all about chocolate and eggs? If you don't believe in God, why do you blame him for the misery in the world? Why do you call out "Help me God" when in distress? Bear in mind, even Satan believes in God. What reflections permeate your actions?

While some negate the presence of Jesus, one simply has to ask "what year is it?" Why the AD after

called Fusion and can design things like screws and bolts, but it's used to design anything you want,” he explains. Thomas said that 3D modeling is his favourite part of the course.

Classmate Alyssa Buchanan was on the other side of the lab focusing on the digital drawing aspect. “I think the technology in this class is pretty amazing. Considering how small and compact the Wacom tablets are, they’re capable of a lot,” she says.

The Workshop received widespread community support including North Dundas Mayor Tony Fraser in attendance, along with other Township employees and community members to have an inside look at the exciting learning happening inside the walls of NDDHS. Industry partners from Lactalis, Ross Video, and FSI were extremely impressed with the skills that the students can develop at the Secondary level, and they are already planning a variety of ways to partner with their innovative school vision.

The success of the STEM Workshop underscores NDDHS and the Upper Canada District School Board’s commitment to developing the next generation of innovators and leaders in STEM fields, ensuring that students are well-equipped with the skills to thrive in an increasingly technologydriven world.

2024? The letters denote Anno Domini, which is Latin for in the year of the Lord. Historically, the death of Jesus was significantly noted enough to formulate the designated AD and BC (Before Christ.) With the solar eclipse being so prevalent in our lives this year, there is the fact that at the time of the crucifixion, there were three hours of darkness not linked to a solar eclipse. Perhaps it lends poetic justice to the suffering that Jesus endured on our behalf. God gives us the choice to believe or negate His love. Sharing the biblical event is crucial to reflection on the true meaning of Easter, including rebirth and our perspective of the meaning of life and death.

Realizing the resurgence of new growth/new life is not limited to offspring and landscape but also the

ways in which our lives are changed due to new experiences or new understanding. Reflecting on the persona we present is crucial to self growth and self awareness. Today is the day to reflect on your mortality. As one individual said, "I'd sooner live believing there is a God, and find out there is none, than believe there isn't and find out there is!" Being a Christian doesn’t mean that you are perfect - but rather that you are forgiven." Find a quiet place, free from the hustle and bustle of life to reflect on your understanding, your prejudices and your purpose in life. Develop your spirituality based on your definition of cosmic, community, and individual criteria. Be the best person you can be for today.

Around Town with Nanda

Have an event or special occasion that you would like photographed for the paper? Let me know. nanda@ndtimes.ca

Photo caption: Grade 9 Design and Tech students Alyssa Buchanan (left) and Wyatt Thomas (right).

Some advice never ages

After 10 books, over 2,500 columns, and nearly 50 years of writing it, some things bear repeating. This week revisits a column from three decades ago about how to prepare for surgery. Has anything changed?

From that old column, “What would God do if He were a surgeon? If it is true God helps those who help

themselves, He would refuse to operate on many, telling us, ‘Respect your own Godgiven body and then I’ll do what I can.’”

Next came a case. “A 45-year-old woman underwent an operation for extensive vaginal repair. For this type of surgery, her surgeon warned her repeatedly about the hazards of smoking and

Baldwin's Birds

Some of our high-flyers!

Well, our birds all seem to be on the move, or in the process of doing so, as they either return to our part of the world, or are just using it as a transit stop, utilizing whatever Mother Nature cares to provide for them. Such an example is just along the road from us, where a significant dip in a field fills up with water to form quite a deep pond at this time of the year, and the Canada geese take full advantage of it. Being still quite grassy, they have lots of space to just squat, stand - many on just one leg - and preen, and those that prefer the water can just indulge themselves too.

There gets to be quite a

her persistent smoker’s hack. Ten days later she was rushed to hospital because of sudden post-operative hemorrhage. Incredibly, she was still smoking and coughing convulsively as she lay in a pool of blood in the emergency room. Speedy surgery stopped the bleeding.”

Then another case. “A 45- year-old diabetic weighing 275 pounds was admitted to the hospital due to an acute gallbladder attack. A skilled surgeon removed the organ, but a lifetime of bad habits began slowly to take its toll. The patient’s diabetes was hard to control and the incision in the pendulous abdomen became infected. Shortly after, the patient developed pneumonia, phlebitis, and blood clots in the lungs. Family members watched the complications multiply and the situation deteriorate. When the patient succumbed to overwhelming odds, the family demanded

of the surgeon, ‘Why did this happen? Why couldn’t you have done something?’”

It needs no repeating what that column reported next. Suffice to say, the surgeon answered truthfully that the patient’s weight, smoking, and lack of exercise caused the death.

Let’s read on. “No doctor turns away a patient who has an acute surgical problem. But patients can’t expect doctors to work miracles with surgery when they haven’t given a tinker’s damn about their bodies for years. I think God would agree it’s time to issue an ultimatum to everyone. God and surgeons shouldn’t attempt the impossible. And patients should be expected to help themselves by shaping up.”

The article then gave advice on how pre-operative patients can prepare for an operation, physically and mentally. “Surgery, like

my camera with me, had to pass them by and fetch my camera from home. On my return, I was able to watch all their activity for a while. I also got to watch a Turkey Vulture as it glided past the ridge of trees, just beyond where the geese were turning and coming in to land. A Turkey Vulture, of course, isn't a threat to the geese as it only seeks dead "carion" for its sustenance, not "live" food.

gathering of them, with opportunities to watch them approach in their small flights, and then position themselves for landings into wind for maximum lift, as they letdown onto the water or the grass. Watching that final flair of their wings, as they actually touch-down, is quite fascinating and a real joy to see, especially the water landings when their feet are extended in a forward position and contact the water first, giving them maximum braking and creating quite a "bow-wave" as they finally settle on the water.

The other morning, when returning from a weekly breakfast meeting, I had to pass by this particular resting spot, but, not having

Talking of which, on returning home, and just having finished stocking my feeders, a hawk, probably a Coopers Hawk, made a low slow pass over our front yard. No doubt he was looking for some of my "live" bird visitors, such as Rock Pigeons or Mourning Doves and the like! I noticed that, as it flew across the road, the Crows were making quite a noisy racket, warning everyone of thir presence! What else are they useful for!? Unfortunately, these selfsame birds will raid the nests of other birds at this time of the year, so are not entirely innocent in their own activities when in the neighborhood.

On a brighter note, my wife and I had a Bluebird pay a very brief visit to our backyard on the 22nd of March, which was a real surprise. We haven't seen any others yet. Maybe you too are seeing different birds show up unexpectedly. Keep your eyes peeled and you might be surprised at what you see. Stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin

tennis or football, demands psychological preparation. A good start is to get rid of needless worries. Tell the doctor if you are overcome by a fear of not surviving the surgery, or if you’re concerned about post-operative pain, or confused about which organs will be removed. And if you’re apprehensive about the length of the incision, remember Abe Lincoln’s remark. He was once asked, ‘How long should a man’s leg be?’ He replied, ‘Just long enough to reach the ground.’ Incisions, like legs, are just long enough to do the job safely.

“The main thrust of preparation should be directed at good physical conditioning. Some of these tragedies could be prevented if patients tossed away cigarettes before an operation or made a genuine attempt to control and lose weight.

“My advice is to be prepared for possible surgery

all of the time. This means having a lifelong respect for mind and body. It would give surgeons fewer gray hairs. Fewer families would be asking why post-operative complications occurred. And I’m sure God would be more willing to help those who help themselves.”

There you have it. While surgical techniques may have improved greatly over 30 years, have patients heeded the age-old call to prepare for surgery? Doing so would give surgeons a much-needed break in tough cases. And starting early enough may even prevent the need for going under the knife in the first place.

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New Board Executive at SNC

South Nation Conservation (SNC) held its Annual General Meeting at its office in Finch on March 21st, 2024. The meeting highlighted key moments of SNC’s 76th year within the 2023 Annual Report, held the election of the SNC Board Executive for 2024-25 and confirmed the membership and Chair of the new Watershed Advisory Committee.

The Board Executive was unanimously elected to serve for the 2024-25 term: Steve Densham, Deputy Mayor of North Stormont, was elected as Chair, Adrian Wynands, Deputy Mayor of Augusta Township, was elected as Vice-Chair and Pierre Leroux, Mayor of Russell Township was confirmed as Past-Chair.

Composed of 12 members appointed by member municipalities, SNC’s Board of Directors oversees the Authority’s budget, programs, and services, and works alongside staff to guide and implement local conservation initiatives. Of SNC’s $9.2 million 2024 Budget, approximately 48% comes from a municipal levy

collected from 16 member municipalities.

“It is an honour to be entrusted with the position of Chair during SNC’s 77th year of conservation, and I look forward to building on the successful municipal-conservation authority partnerships in 2024,” said elected Chair Densham. “The expertise and agility of staff make the Authority an important municipal ally, playing a critical role in the management of natural resources in our watershed.”

During SNC’s annual meeting, the Board approved its 2023 Annual Report, which showcases program highlights from the preceding year, including community projects, development review, tree planting statistics, Conservation Area upgrades and visitation, and forestry and environmental stewardship initiatives.

“The Annual meeting provides a great opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments, “said Carl Bickerdike, SNC’s Chief Administrative Officer. “We’re very proud of the work completed

in 2023, including natural hazard mapping, combating the spread of invasive species, accepting donations of conservation land, and completing park improvements like the Findlay Creek boardwalk extension.”

During the annual meeting, the Board of Directors confirmed the members of the newly established Watershed Advisory Committee and appointed former Chairman Bill Smirle, who brings nearly 15 years of experience with the Authority, as the new Committee Chair. The Committee, which replaces SNC’s former 4 Standing Committees (Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, Communications, and Clean Water) will meet quarterly to review SNC programs and support the development of new watershed strategies.

“The Board Executive and the new Watershed Advisory Committee will play a vital role supporting the development of our environmental programs and delivering value to our watershed communities in 2024,” added Bickerdike.

A digital copy of the Annual Report can be found here:

www.nation.on.ca/resources/publications/annualreports.

More information on SNC’s Board of Directors including meeting minutes can be found here:

www.nation. on.ca/about/board-directorsand-committees.

Turkey Vulture in flight

Canada Geese concentrating