25 Years of Heart: Mickey Tremblay’s Guiding Journey
"Proudly serving our Community"
Dan Pettigrew Owner & friendly neighbour T: 613.774.1958
Dan.Pettigrew@sobeys.com foodland.ca
12015 Main Street Winchester, ON
by
Talia Hreljac
25 years ago, Micheline “Mickey” Tremblay offered to volunteer as a Girl Guide leader when her daughter joined Girl Guides. Back then, everything was done by hand, including the sales and tracking of all the cookies, as well as
all the fundraisers. They even had to make the Girl Guide badges themselves for all the kids. It was a lot of work, but Mickey always enjoyed it. Even when her daughter decided that Girl Guides wasn’t for her, Mickey stuck with it, helping these young girls grow
into adventure-loving young women. Today, after more than two decades, Guider Mickey, also known to the kids as “Jewelly Owl”, comes to each session with a smile on her face and a genuine enthusiasm to help the kids in the community. And
that’s after spending her entire day with children as a beloved and kind bus driver, the kind who remembers every child’s birthday and gives them a gift to show they are special. One year, continuing her tradition of thoughtful gifts, she made all the Sparks and Embers warm neck warmers to keep them cozy for Winter Camp.
Mickey gives so much to this community. She is a selfless, thoughtful volunteer who is always thinking of others. In recognition of her dedication, Guider Charlotte presented Mickey with the Volunteer Services Award on behalf the Province of Ontario and Girl Guides Canada. This award recognizes volunteers for providing committed and dedicated service to an organization. A well-deserved honour for an extraordinary woman.
Mickey Tremblay presented with a certificate to mark 25 years with the Guides.
Winner of Lions February Trip of the Month
Congratulations to Winner Cathy Gilpin and her husband Dan. They won a suggested trip for a four night stay for two to Montego Bay Jamaica, valued at $3,658.00.
If the destination is
not available at the time of booking, the winner may choose another and apply the full value of the suggested destination.
This lottery provides $17,690.00 in support to ten charities. The community is the real winner and we thank every ticket holder for your support.
If you are someone that enjoys serving the community and is looking for an opportunity to do that here in North Grenville, please consider the Kemptville Lions Club. For more information email: kemptvillelionsclub@gmail.com, or call Lion Alan at (613) 4069976.
KDH Auxiliary hosting Hey Day in June
Hey Day is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year - the first Hey Day was held in June of 1961! The Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Auxiliary invites you to its major fundraising garage sale, which brings in tens of thousands of dollars for the hospital each year. Hey Day is set for Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6 at the North Grenville Municipal Centre arena.
“Hey Day started as a small community event to raise funds for our hospital, and now here we are, over six decades later, keeping the tradition going,” said Sandi
Kelly, Hey Day Convenor. “We’re looking forward to welcoming back our wonderful volunteers and community shoppers! As always, every dollar raised is going to the hospital, so please mark your calendars for June 5 and 6.”
Last year’s Hey Day raised over $50,000 for KDH, and over $55,000 was raised the year prior, in 2024. It’s one of the largest indoor garage sales in eastern Ontario and features all kinds of treasures, from books to home décor, to clothing and toys, electronics and sporting goods, plants and baked goods, jewel-
lery and more! Hey Day is run entirely by volunteers and supported through community donations. All proceeds go towards the purchase of equipment and services in support of patient care.
Anyone interested in volunteering for this year’s Hey Day can contact the Auxiliary by emailing: Sandra.kelly. kdh@gmail.com
Mark your calendar, follow the ‘Kemptville Hospital Auxiliary KDHA’ Facebook page, and stay tuned for more updates about Hey Day 2026!
HELP WANTED
The Rideau Glen Golf Club is looking for club house staff & outside workers for the 2026 season. Smart Serve required for club house staff and experience with equipment preferred for outside workers . Students considered with right qualifications Send resume to therideauglen@gmail.com
Left to right: Lions Paul Thivierge, Rob Stevenson, Gerald Christie, Secretary Mike Amirault, winner Cathy and Dan Gilpin, and Lion Rob Sentner
Underfunding and staffing crisis deepens at Catholic District School Board
The Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) and CUPE 4154, representing over 800 education workers throughout the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO), are urging the Ford government and Education Minister Paul Calandra to begin collective bargaining with unions as soon as possible, as severe underfunding and chronic staffing shortages continue to harm students and education workers across Eastern Ontario.
“There can be no ‘business as usual’ while education workers and students bear the brunt of chronic underfunding,” said Joe Tigani, President of the OSBCU. “Early bargaining is critical to stabilizing our schools and addressing the staffing crisis before it becomes even more severe.”
CUPE-OSBCU is urging the government to come to the bargaining table prepared to increase staffing at all schools in the province to improve supports for students and provide neces-
sary improvements to publicly funded and publicly delivered education in Ontario.
School boards are already warning CUPE locals that thousands of education workers could be laid off for September 2026 following the expiry of the current collective agreement in August. These potential cuts come at a time when schools are already struggling to meet students’ needs due to years of inadequate funding and understaffing.
“It is critical that we move to the bargaining table as soon as possible,” said Trudy Scott, President of CUPE 4154. “The reality in CDSBEO schools has become increasingly unmanageable, and the current funding formula is simply not working. There is not enough funding to ensure a custodian is present in every school when students are on site, to guarantee early childhood educators in every kindergarten classroom, or to provide the staffing supports students need to learn safely. This includes classroom support, properly maintained
schools, effective school office operations, and adequate supervision and safety monitoring at all grade levels.”
The OSBCU and CUPE 4154 are ready to go to the bargaining table at any time. Early bargaining is essential to provide certainty for students, parents, and education workers — and to prevent yet another school year marked by a crisis of underfunding and understaffing of public education. Minister Calandra can issue a regulation to allow bargaining to start up to 180 days before the expiry of the current agreement at the end of August — as early as the beginning of March.
“Education workers want to be in schools supporting students, and students want to be in classrooms learning,” said Scott. “However, without adequate funding, school boards are forced to do more with less, placing enormous strain on students, parents, and staff. Bargaining early is essential. This will be a challenging round of negotiations, and meaningful, sustainable so-
lutions must begin at the bargaining table.”
The Ford government has underfunded public education by $6.3 billion, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. According to the OSBCU, the Ford government has cut per-pupil funding by $1.4 billion in the 20252026 school year. CUPE education workers in Ontario are currently working the equivalent of 1,355.5 FullTime Equivalent (FTE) jobs worth of unpaid work. 96% of CUPE Educational Assistants and Child and Youth Workers in Ontario experience violent or disruptive incidents in their workplace; 55 percent say it happens ev-
ery day.
Despite government claims about “historic funding” for schools, student to staff ratios have not improved since the Ford Conservative government took office in 2018. In fact, for some job classifications, student to staff ratios are worse now than in 2018.
Agreements that limit school
boards’ ability to cut education jobs expire on August 30, 2026, meaning there could be mass layoffs (as several boards have indicated will happen) for the start of the next school year in September – unless those agreements can be renewed through collective bargaining.
Silversea: Immersive Journeys Through the Mediterranean
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International Women’s Day 2026 Statement
by
Mayor Nancy Peckford International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a call to action. Here in North Grenville, we are proud to be building a community where inclusion is not an afterthought.
We are an increasingly diverse community, and I’m proud to say we are rising to meet the occasion. Over the past year, our municipal team has undertaken Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion training to ensure that our policies, our processes, and our everyday interactions reflect fairness, respect, and belonging for all. That work matters. It strengthens our workplace, improves decision-making, and ultimately delivers better outcomes for residents; our differences truly are our strength.
But we know the broader context in which
we mark this day.
Across Canada, and around the world, we have witnessed recent and troubling reminders that power, especially when concentrated, unchecked, and shielded from accountability, can, and often is, misused and abused. We have seen how systems that exclude women, silence voices, or target vulnerable populations undermine not only individuals and their families, but institutions themselves. Progress is not guaranteed. It requires vigilance, courage, and solidarity. Strides backwards clearly can and do happen and it can be incredibly distressing to witness, even from from a distance.
But now is not the time to retreat.
Now is the time to not just lead, but to lead with integrity. To mentor the next generation.
Letters to the editor
Dear Editor,
Here is some reality for W. Scott Paterson. If the "have not" Provinces had not got money from the Federal Government to operate, they would not have been able to fund their Fire Departments, Fire Departments that sent individuals and equipment to Alberta to help fight the wildfires that nearly wiped out Fort Mcmurray and Jasper. You could say the transfer payments that Alberta has been sending to the Federal Government came back to them in another form. Help does not always have to be money.
You should read the book "Into The Fire: The Fight To Save Fort Mcmurray", by Jerron Hawley, Graham Hurley and Steve Sackett (Fire Fighters). It portrays the horror of fighting these wildfires and how important it was that the other Provinces in Canada helped to save what they could of people's properties and livelihoods. Canada is a much stronger place when we think of the whole instead of the "me". Teresa Van Raay, Director of OFA says it in her article of the February 26th issue of the NG Times, "Together we are far stronger than we are
To demand a new style of governance built on a bedrock of equity and fairness. To insist that leadership is rooted in service, not self-interest.
In North Grenville, we are fortunate to be surrounded by women who are leading in business, in education, in public service, in the arts, in volunteer organizations, in our municipal Senior Leadership Team, and at the Council table. When women lead, they often do so by being collaborative, balanced, and future-focused.
On this International Women’s Day, let us demonstrate, in big ways and small, that inclusive leadership is stronger leadership for everyone, including the daughters and sons, men and boys in our lives.
When we rise together, communities thrive.
Happy International Women’s Day.
on our own". Lynn Paibomesai
Dear Editor,
Referring to an article in today’s Ottawa Citizen, entitled: “Trump gets US$7bn in pledges for Gaza rebuild”. Board of Peace? In my opinion there is no honour whatsoever in this Board of Peace. The U.S. allowed the destruction of Gaza by supplying arms to the Israeli government for many years in the past. It simply allowed the destruction of Gaza, the homeland
of the Palestinians. It was genocide, pure and simple.
He just wants to turn it into a Casino-type Riviera for entertainment and money-making business for Trump and Company, with no concern for the Palestinians whatsoever.
I will never like anything this person does. He only intends harm to anyone who is not in his worshipping circle of beings.
Kath Piché
P.S. If anyone thinks he will do anything good for Canada, I think they should do a very careful rethink
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
Need additional information? Visit us: www.northgrenville.ca
The title of this piece originated in a speech given by American women's suffrage activist Helen Todd; a line in that speech inspired the title of the poem
Bread and Roses by James Oppenheim in 1911. In 1974 the poem was set a second time to music by Mimi Fariña, sister of Joan Baez, and recorded by Judy Collins and Ani DiFranco, among others. It is right and proper that women and men came together to produce such a powerful piece.
Bread and Roses
Bread and Roses
As we go marching, marching
In the beauty of the day
A million darkened kitchens
A thousand mill lofts grey
Are touched with all the radiance
That a sudden sun discloses
For the people hear us singing
Bread and roses, bread and roses
As we go marching, marching
We battle too for men
For they are women's children
And we mother them again
Our lives shall not be sweated
From birth until life closes
Hearts starve as well as bodies
Give us bread, but give us roses
As we go marching, marching
Unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing
Their ancient call for bread
Small art and love, and beauty
Their drudging spirits knew
Yes, it is bread we fight for
But we fight for roses, too
As we go marching, marching
We bring the greater days
The rising of the women
Means the rising of the race
No more the drudge and idler
Ten that toil where one reposes
But the sharing of life's glories
Bread and roses, bread and roses
Our lives shall not be sweated
From birth until life closes
Hearts starve as well as bodies
Bread and roses, bread and roses!
Help Shape the Future of North Grenville – Official Plan Open Houses
North Grenville is planning ahead – and your input is vital! The Municipality of North Grenville is updating its Official Plan, the guiding document that shapes how our community develops for the foreseeable future.
The Official Plan is a provincially mandated master planning document for our Municipality. It influences important decisions about where housing and businesses are located, how parks and recreation opportunities are integrated into our community, the priority placed on sidewalks, trails, pathways, as well as how our hamlets evolve.
Ultimately, it sets a strong vision for North Grenville through to 2051, with periodic updates.
Before the plan is finalized, the Municipality is encouraging residents to share their input. This input will build on feedback received during pre-consultation undertaken in the fall of 2025, and subsequent engagement with the various Municipal Advisory Committees.
“The Official Plan provides clear direction for how the Municipality manages growth, infrastructure investment, and service delivery over the long term,” said Karen Dunlop, Chief Administrative Officer for the Municipality of North Grenville. “It guides staff in making consistent,
evidence-based recommendations and ensures that Council’s vision is translated into responsible implementation. Public input at this stage is essential to ensuring the final plan is both practical and reflective of community priorities.”
A report containing highlights from the pre-consultation and be found at: https://pubnorthgrenville.escribemeetings.com/filestream. ashx?DocumentId=35610
Community members are encouraged to attend one of two upcoming hybrid Public Open Houses to learn more about the proposed updates, ask questions, and provide feedback.
WHEN: March 4 and/or March 10, 2026
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: North Grenville Municipal Centre (285 County Road 44, Kemptville)
VIRTUAL: Register with op@northgrenville. on.ca to receive the link
What to Expect:
• A short presentation outlining the proposed updates
• Draft maps and policy changes available for review
• Opportunities to speak directly with Municipal Planning staff and Dillon Consulting
• Time to provide feedback before the updated
Official Plan is brought forward later this year
“Our Official Plan is one of the most critical and influential documents guiding North Grenville’s future,” said Nancy Peckford, Mayor of North Grenville. “It shapes where we build homes, how we support local businesses, how we protect our beloved green spaces, and how we invest in needed infrastructure.
As we look ahead to 2051, Council is committed to planning thoughtfully and responsibly; and that starts with the vital step of hearing directly from our residents. I encourage everyone to attend an Open House and help shape the future of our growing community.”
Residents are asked to RSVP to op@northgrenville.on.ca and indicate which date they plan to attend, and whether they will be joining virtually (a Zoom link will be provided).
Whether you are curious, have questions, or hold strong opinions about the future of North Grenville, your voice matters. We look forward to seeing both familiar and new faces on March 4 or March 10.
More information can be found at www.northgrenville.ca/officialplan.
Southeast Public Health investigating confirmed measles case
Southeast Public Health (SEPH) is advising residents of potential measles exposure at locations in Kingston related to a new single positive case of measles. If you attended the following locations at these dates and times, you may have been exposed to measles: Goodlife Fitness, 64 Barrack Street, Kingston, February 9, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Queen’s University Kingston Hall, 103 Stuart Street, Kingston, February 10, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Metro, 310 Barrie Street, Kingston, February 13, 4:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.
If you were at any of the above locations during the exposure times: Check vaccination records to ensure protection from measles. Immunity requires two doses of a measles vaccine or proof of immunity through a laboratory test.
If you are unsure of your vaccination status:
Check your record online (please note that public health may not have records for anyone born in 1985 or earlier): Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties: https://lgl.icon.ehealthontario.ca/#!/welcome
Call your health-care provider.
Call Southeast Public Health’s Kingston office at 613-549-1232.
Most individuals born before 1970 are generally presumed to have acquired immunity due to infection in their childhood, as high levels of measles were circulating before 1970.
If you are not vaccinated, or have had only one dose of measles vaccine, you should monitor for symptoms, isolate at home for 21 days following your exposure, and call Southeast Public Health for further direction.
Monitor for symptoms until 21 DAYS following your exposure date (even if you are vaccinated). Symptoms of measles start seven to 21 days after exposure and may include: high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes (pink eye or conjunctivitis), red blotchy rash.
If you develop symptoms, stay home and do not go to work, school, daycare or any other public settings. Call before visiting a health-care provider or health-care facility to let them know you may have measles and need special precautions. You may also call Southeast Public Health’s Kingston office at 613 549-1232, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air and can survive on surfaces for up to two hours. Infants, pregnant individuals and those who have a weakened immune system are at higher risk of severe complications, including brain inflammation and even death. Visit our website for more information on measles.
Us Secret Service helps OPP recover funds from Oxford Mills Tech Fraud
The Grenville County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating a Tech Service fraud that was reported on February 19, 2026, where an Oxford Mills resident received a telephone call from someone impersonating a Bell Canada representative to inquire about upgrading the router due to recent installation of fiberoptic lines. The victim was instructed to download remote entry software to her device, at which point the bad actor informed the victim that a virus had been found, requiring the matter to be escalated. The victim was guided to login to their online banking were the bad actor manipulated the victims accounts, causing the victim to believe that there was an overpayment made. The bad actor directed the victim to attend their financial institution on multiple occasions where wire transfers of the "overpayment" were made to a US financial institution.
The OPP contacted the United States Secret Service (USSS) representative regarding the wire transfers. The USSS quickly contacted the US financial institution, which received the transfers. As a result, the victim's financial institution will be working on recovering portions of the funds.
What is a Tech Support fraud?
· Bad actors will call victims, appear in pop-ups which seem to freeze your computer, send you an email with a fake invoice or will appear in your online search results for 'reputable service providers' providing a phone number for victims to call.
· Once in contact with victims, bad actors will request remote access to their computer. If remote access is gained, victims put themselves at risk for identity fraud. Bad actors may also ask for a payment for their "services".
Warning Signs - How to Protect Yourself:
· Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls or pop-ups stating your computer/device is infected with a virus or a threat had been detected.
· Do not open or click on any link as malware could be installed.
· Always have your computer/device serviced by a reputable local business.
· Never allow an unknown person to gain remote access to your computer/device.
· If you received a call from your service provider, advise them that you will call them back and end the call.
· Look up the legitimate phone number for the company and communicate with them directly by aways making the outgoing call.
If you or someone you have been defrauded contact your local police service and report online to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or visit www.antifraudcentre.ca.
For what it's worth
Greetings North Gremlins. For What It's Worth, here are some thoughts on recent current events as the World teeters on the brink of World War III. Once again, a President of the U.S. has launched an illegal attack on a middle-eastern country (both Bushes come to mind). In those cases, the world stood by uttering a harsh, 'Tsk...Tsk'. Something is niggling at the back of my mind: 'If Trump and Netanyahu say it is good, then – what is wrong with this picture?' We know Netanyahu has ulterior motives...and Donald Trump? The Donald is as disingenuous /disastrous/ dishonest as any person in the history of forever.
Quite apart from the fact that the regime in Iran is not fit to rule, the manner in which this act of war was carried out was wrong. Constitutionally, a president has to get Congress' approval to engage in an Act of War against another nation. Enabled by House Speaker, Mike Johnson, the U.S. Congress has been shut down almost forever (kind of like Ontario's legislature). Trump has been given free rein to ignore
the constitution as well as all the amendments. He has attacked U.S. Citizens, now he is attacking the nation of Iran. He is enabling Israel, as they momentarily turn their focus from the genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza, to the obliteration of the leadership of Iran. But Iran has known that this was coming, they will have made plans.
The Ayatollah may be dead, but there is a potential plethora of people in place to take over their medieval form of governance (wow, now that's a great example of alliteration!). And what lesson has the rest of the world taught this pair of quasi-democratic/ dictatorial 'leaders'? They will see the rest of the world standing by, going 'Tsk-Tsk'-that's about it folks...move along...nothing to see here.
And so now we can add another item to this advent calendar of atrocities: Venezuela, next Cuba? How about Greenland? Canada? Nothing seems to be too atrocious. Venezuela and Iran have huge oil reserves; so too do we... oh oh! More importantly, why not Ukraine? If ever there was country that deserves this kind of military assistance, it is the brave nation of Ukraine. And, if Putin should end up like the Ayotollah, would the world weep? Me thinkest not. Yet, there's something rotten in this state -not Denmark... the U.S. of A. Makes a person wonder: 'Why not, Donald? What do they have on you?
And, 'For What It's Worth', that's my take for this moment in history.
Peter Johnson, Upper Oxford Mills
Putting farmer mental health first
by Marnie Wood, Director, OFA
In March 2019, my husband Brian and I began milking cows in our new dairy barn near Cannington in Durham Region. By October, I was facing a breast cancer diagnosis, and by March of the following year, the COVID-19 pandemic had turned the world upside down.
We were brand-new dairy farmers, dealing with many of the same challenges that any new business owner faces, and suddenly we were also navigating illness, uncertainty and isolation on top of the everyday pressures of farming.
We’re raising two kids
while building a farm and paying down debt. Like so many farm families, we carry financial pressure, weather risk, market volatility and the weight of responsibility every single day. Add a health crisis to that and you quickly understand how thin the margin can feel.
That’s why farmer mental health is not theoretical to me, it’s personal.
After some years in the workforce, I had gone back to school to become a psychotherapist and then chose to work almost exclusively with farmers. I saw firsthand how unique and relentless the stressors are: succession planning in
multi-generational families, isolation, unpredictable income, trade disruptions, extreme weather and the reality that the cows still need to be milked and livestock still need to be fed, no matter what is happening in your personal life.
Today, in addition to farming, I serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing and have been deeply involved with farmer mental health work in Ontario including suicide prevention programming tailored specifically for farm communities. There are some fantastic services in the province, especially at Agricultural Wellness
Ontario, which provide a suite of programs including the Farmer Wellness Initiative, where farmers, their families and their employees can access free, unlimited mental health counselling with professionals who understand agriculture.
When a tragedy happens on a farm, the work doesn’t stop. The animals still need care, crops still need attention and the bills still arrive. And although we have made great strides in recent years in terms of the support and resources now available, we know we need more. That need is real and that is why this work matters so deeply to me.
Last fall, the opportunity came up in my area to run for a position on the provincial board of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and I was subsequently elected to represent farmers from Durham, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes/Haliburton as an OFA director.
I believe farmers need farmer-created, agriculturally informed mental health supports, programs built by people who understand what it means to watch the weather radar at midnight
or worry about passing the farm on to the next generation. Mental health cannot be an add-on; it has to be embedded into how we think about risk management, succession, crisis response and policy.
In my new role with OFA, I see an opportunity to help strengthen that connection and ensure that farmer wellbeing is part of conversations at every level, from local boards to Queen’s Park. Sustainable agriculture depends on sustainable farmers.
We also need stronger post-crisis supports. What happens to a farm family after a suicide? Who supports the children, the spouse, the neighbours? What happens after a catastrophic accident? These are gaps we
still need to address.
Farming is a privilege. Even after the hardest seasons, it is still the life I choose, and I know that’s the same for many of my fellow farmers. But we cannot ignore the toll it can take.
If you’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed, remember that it’s ok to feel that way – and it’s also ok to ask for help.
The Farmer Wellness Initiative’s confidential telehealth line provides mental wellness support to all Ontario farmers, their families and their employees 24/7, 365 days a year at 1-866-267-6255. You’ll also find resources at ofa. on.ca/resources/makingwellness-matter.
Interactive EQAO Challenge to Grade 4 UCDSB Classrooms
The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) is continuing to build momentum around its interactive EQAO Challenge Quest series with the launch of a new Grade 4 experience, Night at the Museum.
Following the success of December’s Grade 3 Dino Dig Disaster and Grade 6 AI Gone Rogue, the board is expanding the
initiative to include Grades 1, 2, 4 and 5. The newest addition invites Grade 4 students to become junior detectives tasked with restoring a museum after artifacts are misplaced, and a mysterious ancient key appears.
Inspired by the concept of escape rooms, the Challenge Quests combine interactive video elements with curriculum-aligned math
and literacy questions. In Night at the Museum, students travel through themed exhibits, including Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Inuit, West African and Inca displays, solving nine EQAOstyle questions that require mathematical reasoning, reading comprehension, inference and writing skills.
“After receiving lots of positive feedback about our Grade 3 and 6 Challenge
Quests that were sent out in December, we wanted to build on that momentum as we created new Challenge Quests for Grades 1, 2, 4 and 5,” said Rob Scott, Principal of EQAO and Student Success. “We try to link the topics to Social Studies where possible, while following the same format of including mostly math challenges with a handful of literacy challenges.”
Designed to be classroom-ready and easy for teachers to implement, the quests encourage collaboration, problem-solving, and discussion of multiple strategies. Teachers pause the video between questions, allowing students to work individually or in teams before advancing to the next exhibit.
Nicole Mitchell, a Grade 4/5 teacher at Meadowview Public School, completed the Museum Challenge with her class and said students were highly engaged.
“The kids thought it was fun and they really enjoyed it. They’re excited to try the next one. Activities like this expose students to the types of questions they’ll
see on EQAO, but in a way that makes math enjoyable. When students are having fun, they’re more willing to participate and take risks in their learning.”
The UCDSB plans to release another round of Challenge Quests for Grades 1 through 6 later this Spring, with a Grade
7 version also in development.
UCDSB’s continued investment in innovative, interactive learning tools reflects its commitment to strengthening math and literacy achievement while fostering student engagement and confidence in the classroom.
Photo caption: Meadowview Public School's Grade 4/5 class after completing Night at the Museum Challenge Quest.
Pioneer Days in North Grenville
by David Shanahan
The first settlers in North Grenville had no easy time of it. Eastern Ontario was no land of open fields and rolling hills. North Grenville could only be crossed by means of rivers and streams, thick forest covered the territory, and was the first great obstacle pioneers had to face. When John Byce arrived at the rapids on the South Branch in 1813, he made a small clearing in the bush beside the river and built himself a small log cabin, just twelve feet square. The river was wide and fast in those days, a perfect place for a mill site, but very difficult indeed to dam. It took Lyman Clothier and his sons to tame the flood and their saw mill, one of the first north of the St. Lawrence, became a vital resource for other settlers and caused a gradual increase in population in the area.
Each new settler faced the forest and the tremendous task of clearing land for housing and farming. This made the settlers dependant on each other for shared labour and support as they faced the first years before they could grow sufficient crops to become self-sufficient. This was a wild land for many years.
Groups of Indigenous people, traveling through the area along the Rideau
system, often came to the rescue of the newcomers. The best known example of this concerns the Burritts of Burritt’s Rapids. Stephen Burritt and his wife fell ill with what was called “the ague”. This was a very common disease experienced by early settlers, and was a form of malaria. The Burritts were completely incapacitated by the illness and lay in their cabin for three days and nights without food or drink. A band of Algonquins passing along the Rideau found them and set to work to nurse them back to health again. It is said that, after that experience, Indigenous people travelling through were always guaranteed a welcome and a place to spend he night in Burritt’s Rapids. They were regular visitors in those days, usually Algonquins, whose traditional territory encompasses all of North Grenville, though the Mississauga also used the river system which led to their lands along the St. Lawrence. Relations were generally good with the First Nations, though differing attitudes to land ownership could lead to conflicts. One settler went to his sugar bush one day only to find an Indigenous man tapping his trees. When he complained, the “trespasser” levelled his rifle at the farmer, explaining that “God had made the
trees as much for the Indian as for the white man”. No doubt this logic convinced the newcomer.
The forest and disease were not the only problems facing the pioneers. North Grenville was a place of swamps, trees and water, and was therefore home to a large population of bears. These intimidating animals were attracted by the growing number of animals being introduced on to the farms of the area. In springtime, particularly, hungry bears woke up looking for a quick meal, and often looked to the farms to supply the food. Quite often, it seems, it was the women who faced the challenge, as very often the men were away from home working on the canal or in the bush to supplement the family income. One woman told of seeing a bear enter the pig-pen, whereupon she lit a torch and headed for the scene where the bear was just leaving with a pig in its grasp. This pioneer woman attacked the bear, hitting it with the lighted torch and forcing it to drop the pig and flee from her wrath. This was not mindless bravado on her part: these families depended on their livestock for their very survival.
A farmer, returning to his home from Clothier’s grist mill on his wagon, was attacked by a number of
Historical Society Public Meeting
The next meeting of the North Grenville Historical Society takes place on Wednesday, March 11.
Dr. Forrest Pass, of Library and Archives Canada, will give a talk on John Condell. This local cabinetmaker also had a side gig inventing and making artificial limbs: he took out two Canadian patents in the 1850s and 1860s, won prizes at provincial exhibitions, and even engaged an agent in Montreal to market his prostheses there and in the United States. Eventually the side gig became his main occupation and he relocated to New York City, where he manufactured artificial arms and legs for maimed veterans of the American Civil War. His company passed to his son, Kemptville-born Archelaus, who kept it going into the 1920s. A neat convergence of craft and disability history, with some unusual asides.
The meeting will start at 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm). Refreshments. All welcome.
bears, who pulled him and the bags of grist from the wagon. The team of oxen ran off in panic, reaching the farm which was, fortunately, close by. The woman of the house grabbed the everuseful torch and ran to the scene where her husband was on the point of being killed by the bears. She ran at the animals and pulled her husband clear. They ran back to their cabin, holding back the pursuing bears by waving the torch in their faces. Only the flames and their courage kept the bears at bay, and the man survived with only tooth marks as souvenirs.
This was the life of the pioneers of North Grenville, who built a new life and a new community out of the bush in the face of circumstances at which we can only marvel. Some of these families failed to find a new life here: the land they found was just swamp, or rock, and they moved on. But, in a remarkably short period of history, these early families, often putting into practice skills learned in other parts of North America, laid the foundations for a society to which newcomers from Ireland and Britain could come and build.
Adrian Clifton Brooks
December 27, 1944 – February 11, 2026
With heavy hearts the family of Adrian: wife Beth Bresee, daughter Christianna Brooks (Julien Wu) and son Ryan (Donna Sheehan), sister Barbara (Patrick Jeffrey d), and brother Martin (Gail), are saddened to announce Adrian’s passing on February 11, 2026. Adrian’s younger sister, Pamela, predeceased him. Adrian was born in Pewsey, Wiltshire, England, on December 27, 1944, and grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. John’s United Church Hall in Kemptville, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 11:00am – 3:00pm.
A complete obituary is available on the Pilon Family Funeral Home website at www.pilonfamily.ca
Olsen, Asbjorn (AJ, Azzy)
July 2, 1975 - February 25, 2025.
Local business owner of Olsen Aluminum. Asbjorn passed away in Ottawa Civic Hospital after a tragic work related accident. Asbjorn is the beloved son of Knud Erik and Aase Olsen. Loving brother to Connie (Shawn), Berith, Solveig (Alistair), and Jane (Dave). He was predeceased by his brother Bjarke (BJ).
Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday March 7, 2026 at 2pm at Trinity Bible Church, 4101 Stagecoach Road Osgoode, ON K0A 2W0.
Full obituary on Hulse, Playfair & McGary website.
International Women's Day 2026 theme is
When we give, we gain.
Together, let's help forge gender equality through abundant giving.
The IWD 2026 Give To Gain Campaign encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration.
Give To Gain emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people,
organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it's intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise. Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, train-
Talia’s Take: The power of women Supporting women
by @Talia.Hreljac25
International Women’s Day is coming up, and I’m reflecting on all of the amazing women in this community. Women who show up every day to make it a better place. Women who are always willing to lend a helping hand. Women who encourage others to find their voices and use them for good. Women who remind each other that they matter, and that we can all rise together.
Now more than ever, this feels important. Although women have been moving forward for generations, it feels like we are at a crucial crossroads. A moment where we need to stand together and show the world that women have a voice and know how to use it. That we can make a difference. That we deserve a seat at every table. And if we are told we do not belong, then we build our own tables. Tables that are supportive. Encouraging. Tables where we can
all thrive.
It starts with looking at ourselves and asking how we want to show up. Asking who we want to be in this world. When I moved here, I was in survival mode. I was trying to figure out who I was, let alone helping other women do the same. Thankfully, there were women in this community who were further along in their journey. They guided me. They cheered me on. Now I am honored to find myself in that place. I can see women who are struggling, and I get to be the one cheering them on.
That is the key to our success. Helping one another when we’re able. It does not have to be a competition. We can all win.
At a recent conference, we were asked to write a letter to our future selves.
In mine, I wrote, “I hope you are still turning things to gold.” That line has become a motto for me. I want to live by it until it feels etched into my soul. I am
ing, mentoring, or time, contributing to women's advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world.
What will you Give to Gain gender equality?
We can all give our support to gain advancement for women and girls. As individuals, giving support
'Give To Gain'
means calling out stereotypes, challenging discrimination, questioning bias, celebrating women's success, and more.
Sharing our knowledge and encouragement with others is also key.
Strike the Give To Gain pose to show solidarity. With cupped hands out front, universally we signify the act of giving and receiving. Throughout history, the open palm has been associated with truth, honesty, and openness. Or strike the IWD giving pose in a heartfelt way with one hand on your heart, the other hand stretched out in the
giving gesture.
Whether an individual, organization or community group, here are some great ideas for supporting the IWD 2026 Give To Gain campaign all year long.
At work, at home, and in the community, there are many ways to overtly advance women.
Give respect
Give donations
Give visibility
Give knowledge
Give funding
Give justice
Give resources
Give a voice
Give protection
Give truth
A Strong Woman
by Hilary Thomson
trying my best to practise it in everyday life. Sometimes that looks like checking in on new members of our community. Sometimes it means supporting someone’s dream. It means showing up for people, and I encourage you to find ways to do the same.
International Women’s Day is more than a celebration. It is a commitment to keep pushing forward. A commitment to raising a generation that understands the strength, leadership, and worth of women. That starts with what we teach our children, boys and girls alike.
We have the power to change the narrative we are seeing, but we must do it together.
To all the women in this community who have supported me, inspired me, cried with me, laughed with me, taught me, and danced with me, thank you.
When I was a little girl my dream was to become a body builder. As a child of the 1990s, I remember seeing a woman body builder on the cover of one of my mother’s magazines. The woman with bulging muscles and ripped physique represented what I thought was the epitome of a strong woman: A woman who could stand next to any man and be on a level playing field in the eyes of the world.
As I got older, I was drawn to stories about women proving themselves by disguising themselves as men. Think Disney's Mulan, or Arya Stark from Game of Thrones. Those were, and continue to be, the characters I am drawn to.
Unfortunately, as women, I think this goal of standing next to or outshining men in any capacity is one that is almost impossible to reach. Not because we are not capable, but because we live in a society that conditions us to make ourselves small.
This bleeds into every aspect of womanhood, from our physical body, to our personality. We are conditioned to bend over backwards to make everyone else in our lives happy (especially men). At the cost of our own health and happiness.
For many years, I thought being small was a superpower; and I went to great lengths to make sure I stayed that way. Being thin became an obsession which I thought was allowing me to be a good student, journalist, and
Give equal pay
Give celebration
Give sponsorship
Give mentoring
Give credit
Give budget
Give introductions
Give workshops
Give opportunities
Give safety
Give training
Give stretch assignments
Give momentum
Give role models
Give growth
Give access
Give time
overall human being. I was caught in the lie that so many women get caught up in, that, if we make our appearance perfect, then everything else will fall into place.
I thought that by making myself small and appealing to the world, that somehow that would help me become one of the strong women I looked up to. But, in actual fact, it did the opposite.
In our modern society women are told that we can have it all. The career, the family, the perfect hair and hourglass figure. It sounds like liberation, but it is actually a cage, with a bar so high it is impossible to reach. It’s exhausting.
With the rise of weight loss drugs, and with it shrinking celebrities and online influencers, skinny has never been more sought after by women. Weight stigma in our healthcare system just compounds the idea that smaller is better and that our main focus as women should be controlling our weight in the name of “health”.
I have a daughter now, and that has forced me to look at a different definition of what a strong woman is, and it has nothing to do with body size, fitness level, career or family life.
A strong woman is a
woman who is unafraid to be unapologetically herself. She has her own interests, passions and ambitions, and is not afraid to go after creating a life for herself that she loves. And she does not base any of those on the standards that the patriarchy has set. I am striving everyday to be that definition of strong. I want to set a good example for both my daughter and son. As with many women, I have a lot of unlearning to do. I have a lot of self worth tied up in my appearance and other problematic markers that supposedly make up a successful woman. After all, the girl who looked at the 90s magazine and idolized a woman’s biceps and washboard abs had something right: We should all strive to be strong women - to set a good example for the next generation of women, but also for ourselves. Because, to me, a strong woman is also unequivocally happy.
73’s on holding pattern in standings
by G.J. the sportsguy Hawkesbury Hawks swooped into Kemptville 73’s barn for Friday evening excursion anticipating a better outcome than in the previous four meetings. Unfortunately, their game plan wouldn’t come to fruition as the opposition showed no mercy with a 5 to 1 spanking.
Kemptville came out hot with a quick, smooth transition from Konrad Karon
with Travis Ouellette in flight to Lucas Achim in the slot to launch a howitzer six hole trapper side past Dylan Michelow to set the tone in the first twenty at 2:26. Case Hennessy pinched the line with Konrad Karon into Zacary Venance tape to drive one between the pegs at 5:54 for the game winner.
Morgan Henderson off the wall to Lucas Achin, chipped to Gavin McDougall in the rocking chair to
rifle it home for Kemptville insurance at 8:52 in the second stanza. Offman up the half wall to Feldman, to Arthur Lalonde poaching the middle to spoil Rylan Donovan SO at 19:05.
The last twenty miler belonged to 73’s when Brody Clookey dropped it back to Morgan Henderson on the point to Julien Davis with a spin-a-rama through opposition to snipe his target at 5:20. Eric Sweetapple fed
Zachary Venance crashing the cage to Pocket Rocket Jay Zeus Mbarushimana on the doorstep to pump in the fifth of the evening at 8:00 for 5 to 1 victory.
Kemptville hammered Hawkesbury 54 to 23 with 0/4 PP to 0/3 PP. The 73’s executed their plan with heavy hitting, controlling the trenches and overbearing, consistent fore checks. Moving forward, they need to focus on a stronger offen-
North Grenville Scouts preparing for an unforgettable wilderness
by Talia Hreljac
Adventure, leadership, and a deep love of the outdoors are what bring the North Grenville Scouts Troop (ages 11 to 14) together, and this summer they are taking that passion even further with two exciting initiatives.
For the first, in early
July, some youth from the troop are taking part in a five-day canoe trip and training program in Algonquin Park with other groups from Eastern Ontario. At the end of July, the Scout Group is heading to the Haliburton Scout Reserve for a full week of traditional summer camp.
The Haliburton Scout Reserve is a 5,000-acre wilderness camp just south of Algonquin Park and the second largest Scout camp by size in the world. Scout troops camp on wilderness sites around a large lake, with campsites that are only accessible by canoe. They work together to set
summer
up camp, cook, and clean, building independence and teamwork along the way. Days are filled with swimming in the lake and taking part in true childhood memory-making experiences, including archery, riflery, kayaking, rock wall rappelling, stand up paddleboarding, sailing, snorkeling, a site wide regatta, and many others.
It is an opportunity for kids to be kids and enjoy the great outdoors. This year, there are approximately 14 youth attending, including some third year Cubs and 7 leaders attending from the Scout Troop. Opportunities like this are shrinking, as many of these camps have closed due to the high costs of maintaining them.
This is a very large endeavour, and to make it possible and affordable for all, Scouts will be taking
sive power play to match their defensive penalty kill.
Brockville Braves will face Kemptville 73’s on home ice for a unique Wednesday matinee for the fifth confrontation and then Friday evening with Rockland Nationals in town.
Hockey with EDGE.. see you around the wall.
part in fundraising efforts, such as selling first aid kits, a local camping cookbook (I have been informed the famous walking tacos will be in the cookbook), and possibly a few other fundraising opportunities. With the challenges that many families face with expenses, the Scouts are calling on the community to help with donations, if able, so that these kids can experience real Canadian wilderness adventures. For more information, please contact kemptvillescouts@gmail. com.
With community support, these youth will not only explore the wilderness, but they will also grow into capable, confident leaders shaped by it.
Pocket rocket pulls the trigger..Eric Sweetapple cycled high with Zachary Venance to Jay Zeus Mbarushimana in Dylan Michelow face for 5th marker in Friday evening contest with Hawkesbury Hawks.
Our plan to protect Ontario is building new nuclear facilities
Feeling alone? Take comfort, you’re in excellent company
by Diana Gifford-Jones
It’s a sad irony. But the truth is, loneliness is one of the most crowded experiences in modern society. Some prefer their own company and are emotionally stable. There’s no harm in letting them be. But there is an astonishingly high number of people who can be called “situational loners”. These are people who may have recently retired, become empty nesters, have moved to a new community, or lost a spouse.
Some people, once embedded in a tight group of friends, may find themselves geographically or generationally isolated. Maybe they were part of a scene that was once vibrant, but for one reason or another, the scene changed, and they didn’t. They long for the past and may feel socially out of place in today’s society.
Others have outright rejected a world that offers constant online contact as a proxy for companionship. They see some people thriving with it, but the digital world is not for them.
As a society, we’ve never been more connected. But on a human level, we are disconnecting. Smaller families mean fewer close-in relatives. The ease of mobility uproots connections to the communities our families called home for generations. Our convenience economy means we don’t know basic source information about things that are elemental to our lives.
Call it instability, disconnection, isolation, or uneasiness. It’s a societal malaise that is evident as an upward trend in chronic high blood pressure, increased inflammatory markers, weak immune systems, hormonal imbalance, poor sleep, declining cognitive function, and worsening cardiovascular outcomes.
A recent large-scale study has added a striking insight. Investigators analyzing tens of thousands of adults found that loneliness and social isolation are associated with measurable changes in proteins circulating in the blood, many linked to inflammation, immune function, and heart disease. In other words, the body registers loneliness as a form of biological stress, not just an emotional state.
During the latter part of the winter season in particular, problems are magnified. After weeks of less daylight and reduced physical movement, the negative effects start to mount. What many people don’t realize is that the human body responds to connection the same way it responds to good nutrition or exercise. A brief conversation, a shared task, even a familiar greeting can lower stress hormones. These are small interactions, but biologically, they have a beneficial effect.
The mistake many make is waiting to feel better before reaching out. In reality, reaching out is what produces the improvement. Health rarely returns by withdrawal. It improves through participation, however modest.
Late winter is not the time for grand resolutions. It is the season for simple, repeatable habits. A daily walk at the same hour. A regular coffee with a neighbour. A volunteer shift. A phone call made every Sunday afternoon. These patterns rebuild rhythm, and rhythm is deeply reassuring to both mind and body.
It is also worth remembering that nearly everyone you meet at this time of year is carrying some degree of the same burden. The person beside you in the grocery line, the neighbour shovelling snow, the acquaintance you haven’t called in months – many are waiting for someone else to make the first move.
So if you are feeling alone, take comfort in knowing you are not uniquely afflicted. You are experiencing a very human signal that it is time to reconnect with light, movement, purpose, and people. Winter will pass. In the meantime, don’t hibernate from life. Step outside, reach out, and give your health the companionship it was designed to enjoy.
This column offers opinions on health and wellness, not personal medical advice. Visit www.docgiff.com to learn more. For comments, diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram @diana_gifford_jones
The Great Irish Sing-Along returns for its 4th Year
by Doug Hendry
Local musicians Tripoly and the Grenville Troubadours are excited to be performing the fourth annual "Great Irish Sing-Along" in local venues this March. The shows, which feature well-known and well-loved songs from Ireland's storied musical palette have proved more popular every year and are a great favourite of the group and their loyal following.
As well as encouraging attendees to join in with the musical offerings, the group always gives some history and context of the songs they are performing, which is a tradition of folk music that is as important as the music itself.
As always, the shows are fund-raisers for the venues that are hosting them and, additionally, the show in Kemptville is raising funds for the Music Instrument Lending Library. This is an arm of the North Grenville Public Library from which you can borrow a musical instrument to try. It's a wonderful opportunity to fulfill a musical dream without having to outlay a considerable sum beforehand!
There are two evening shows and two afternoon shows in this series. All tickets are just $20.
Friday, 13th March at 7pm in St John's United Church in Kemptville - tickets available at the church, the North Grenville Library and at B&H Grocers as well as online at tripoly.ticketsplease.ca
Saturday, 14th March at 2pm in Manotick United Church - tickets available at the church and from Manotick Office Pro.
Sunday, 15th March at 3pm in Winchester United Church - tickets available from the church office
Tuesday, 17th March at 7pm in Holy Trinity United Church in Merrickville. Tickets are available at the Village Bean and online at tripoly.ticketsplease.ca
Note that anyone who had a ticket for the Songs of Scotland show in January who did not come because of the weather can exchange a ticket for the Kemptville show on the 13th by coming to the St John's Church office. The office also holds a limited number of tickets for all shows.
We look forward to sharing our love of music with you and hope to see you there!
by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville
Eating vegetarian has become a great way to ensure health and also, live within a budget. We can look to the Middle East for interesting recipes and for mixing ingredients that don’t usually go together. Today’s recipe does just that, mixing rice, pasta and chick peas for a tasty lunch or dinner. We owe this recipe adaptation to Bonnie Stern in her excellent book Simply HeartSmart, published in 1994 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Rice with Pasta and Chickpeas
Ingredients:
• ½ cup of broken up spaghettini, uncooked
• 1 large onion, finely chopped (I would use a red one for colour and taste)
• 1 tablespoon of crushed garlic
• 1 cup of long-grain rice (you could also use Basmati), uncooked
• 1 ½ cup of water
• 2 cups of canned chickpeas, drained
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 good dash Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 tablespoons of crushed dry parsley as a garnish
Directions:
• Heat the oil in a sauce pan, add the pasta and brown slightly
• Add the onion and garlic and cook gently until tender
• Stir in the rice and coat it with your pasta, onion and garlic
• Add the black pepper and Worcestershire sauce
• Add the water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes
• Add the chickpeas and cook, still covered for another 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed
• Taste and adjust spices; often, a bit of white sugar or Dijon mustard stirred in makes a difference
Place in a nice serving dish and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve piping hot with some lovely brown bread from Grahame’s.
Keep those mails coming, folks to pcormier@ranaprocess.com.
Board of Health Update for February 2026
The Southeast Public Health (SEPH) Board of Health met in Kingston for their regular monthly meeting. The agenda package is available online.
Merger update:
The Board received a memo outlining the significant ongoing merger work underway, including, but not limited to:
Harmonization of medical directives across the organization. Medical directives are written orders that authorize qualified healthcare professionals to perform specific controlled acts and clinical activities for defined patient groups when predetermined conditions are met, without requiring a direct physician’s order at the time of care.
Migration of content to the SoutheastPH.ca website in preparation for the March 31 launch.
Continuation of rebranding work, including the installation of the new SEPH roadside signage in Belleville, Kingston, Smiths Falls, and Brockville.
Harmonization of the computing infrastructures and network topology (how computers, servers, printers, routers, switches, etc. are connected and communicate within a network) and file architecture.
Completion of the staff Change Readiness Survey for 2025 Q4, with results to be shared in March.
Governance Committee update:
Mayor Robin Jones was elected as Chair and Barbara Proctor was elected as Vice Chair at the committee’s February 10 meeting.
Today the Board passed a motion brought forward by the Governance Committee to send a letter to the Public Appointments Secretariat and the Ministry of Health requesting the vacancies created by the conclusion of four provincial appointments be filled. Provincial appointees to public health boards represent provincial interests and typically serve terms of one to three years.
Finance Committee update:
Councillor Anne-Marie Koiner was elected Chair and Councillor Peter McKenna was elected Vice Chair at the committee’s February 18 meeting.
The Board received an update from the Finance Committee which included information about the draft, unaudited 2025 financial results showing that Southeast Public Health is in a favourable financial position with revenues slightly above plan due to additional onetime funding, while expens-
es were below plan, largely because eligible costs (including staff time, software harmonization, and occupancy costs) were charged to the voluntary merger budget. This has resulted in a projected surplus of approximately $3.6M, which subject to audit, will go into reserve to support future financial sustainability. The Board deferred the staff presentation on the financial projections update until the next meeting on March 25, 2026.
COMMUNITY EVENTS events@ngtimes.ca
EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road. Tuesday, March 3, 17, 31. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m., play starts at 1:00 p.m. In case of a snow storm, euchre will be cancelled. WIZARD CARD GAME. Sunday, March 8. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m., play starts at 1:00 p.m. In case of a snow storm, Wizard will be cancelled. For information, send an email to debiar@ymail.com.
SPEED EUCHRE 10X10 Sunday, March 22. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m., play starts at 1:00 p.m. 10x10 means you play 10 games with as many euchre hands as you can within 10 minutes per game, for unlimited points. Stick the dealer: if everyone passes, the dealer must call a trump suit. If you like to take your time when playing euchre, this version is not recommended. In case of a snow storm, speed euchre will be cancelled. For information, send an email to debiar@ymail.com
Rotary Club of Kemptville meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday monthly at the Community Room, Grenville Mutual Insurance , 380 Colonnade Drive, 6.45 - 8 pm. Help serve the community and meet people with similar aims
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUPPER at Holy Cross Church Hall 503 Clothier Street West. Suppers are held at 5:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month, September to November and January to May. Cost $10 per person, $5 for a child under 12 and $25 for a family.
Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome LEGION EUCHRE will be held at 100 Reuben St., the 3rd Saturday of each month. Registration starts at 12:30, with Euchre starting at 1:00. Cost is $5 to play - cash prizes.
NG DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptivlle, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155
YOUNGSTERS OF YORE
Held at the Tallman Room of Kemptville Library on Water street. Starts at 2 pm every Thursday, so arrive before to get a chair. Mingle with us having a cup of tea and snack after Ashley speaks and answers your questions. March 5th, 2026 - Meredith Luce, Local Author March 12th, 2026 - David Shanahan - songs and stories March 19th, 2026 - Victor Desroches- EV Cars March 26th, 2026 - Liz Angus, Local Author, Her Book " The Other Family" We welcome All Ages!
FRIENDSHIP LUNCHES are offered to everyone every Friday. Please join us in our lower hall by 11:30 for a free meal, companionship and fellowship at St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. and begin at 11:30. There is no charge. A free will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome.
NG COMMUNITY MEALS ASSOCIATION
Every Tuesday, 4-7 PM Free or by Donation Dinner ( serving dinner until 6:30 pm) Where: Pvt. Blake Williamson Memorial Hall, (Old Fire Hall) 25 Reuben Cres. Everyone is welcome. Bring clean indoor shoes
FRIENDSHIP CAFÉ is open to the community Tuesday's from 10 to noon. All are welcome to stop by, enjoy a hot beverage, a sweet treat and some friendly conversation all at no cost. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. TUESDAY COMMUNITY HUB hosted by the House of Lazarus All are welcome to drop in. Advocacy, “make a meal, take a meal” cooking opportunities, community services assistance are just a few of the weekly programs. Stop by and visit or contact House of Lazarus directly at 613-989-3830 for more details. Upstairs at St. John's United Church at 400 Prescott St. MODERN SQUARE DANCING in Kemptville with the Grenville Gremlins Square Dance Club. Monday Evenings 7:30 - 9:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Debbie at 613-795-3032 or Google "Kemptville Square Dancing"
KLUB 67 invites all euchre players to join us every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for a fun social game of euchre. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben St. Registration starts at 12.30, play starts at 1pm. Cost is $5 to play – cash prizes given. No membership required.
NORTH GRENVILLE MEN’S SHED
The NGMS provides a safe and friendly environment for men to enjoy coffee and conversation, and do projects that benefit the community. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday morning, 8:30 to 10:30, at 2 Oxford St. West. (Contact Peter Ivay (343-598-1174) : northgrenvillemensshed@gmail.com for more information.
KEMPTVILLE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY - meetings are held monthly, except July, August & December. The are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Kemptville Pentecostal Church. NG PRIDE: 2SLGBTQAI+ Seniors and allies meet 2 - 4pm the first and third Sunday of each month at the NG Library. Join us for coffee, chat, cards and shenanigans.Looking to stay connected, informed, and inspired in retirement?
JOIN THE PROBUS CLUB OF NORTH GRENVILLE — a friendly group of retirees who meet monthly for conversation, laughter, and thought-provoking presentations. Gatherings take place the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church Hall. For details, email n.g.probus97@gmail.com
CAREGIVER COFFEE is a welcoming monthly drop-in for caregivers to pause, connect, and feel supported. Join us the last Tuesday of each month from 1–3 PM at Beth Donovan Hospice. Free, casual, and open to all caregivers.
ACROSS
1. Applies lightly
5. Neuter
9. Exploded star
13. Beige
14. Once more
16. 1 1 1 1
17. Anagram of "Rose"
18. Thigh armor
19. Stair
20. Leases
22. Sensors
24. Cloak-like sleeveless
garment
26. Radiolocation
27. Accomplish
30. Words to a song
33. Lavish parties
35. Select by voting
37. Fox baby
38. Not tight
41. Fish eggs
42. Slides
45. Warriors
48. Land surrounded by water
51. Drop sharply
52. Extraterrestrial
54. Toadfish
55. He covers walls
59. Associated with the moon
62. Let out
63. Kind of duty
65. Capital of Peru
66. Against
67. Swelling
68. Search
69. Millisecond
70. Formerly (archaic)
71. Feudal worker
DOWN
1. Bambi was one
2. Anagram of "Care"
3. Throat infection
4. Prolong
5. Gangster's gun
6. Mild expletive
7. Kind of beam
8. Proximal's opposite
9. Nose hole
10. Be aware of
11. Swerve
12. Cobras
15. Destitute
21. Didn't dillydally
23. Worry 25. Wicked
27. Inquires
28. Peppery ground beef
29. Bigheadedness
31. Social occasions
32. Tally
34. Mayday
36. Exam
39. Soak (up)
40. L L L L
43. Artificial
44. Sodium chloride
46. Twofold
47. Driving force
49. Daughter of a sibling
50. Mock
53. Not at any time
55. Baby buggy
56. Focusing glass
57. Initial wager
58. Edges
60. Ends a prayer
61. Garden tool 64. Feline
100 Women Who Care report
In the picture from L to R Anne Anne Kotlarchuk, Rowena Pearl, Dan McKinnon, Connect Youth Presenter, Tracy McDonald, Debbie Allingham.
Our First Quarter meeting for 2026 on Thursday, February 19, was filled with fun and laughter. Everyone was thoroughly engaged and had so many great questions for our charities.
We heard from Connect Youth who shared the many needs for youth in our community, from emergency
housing to cell phones to assistance with attending appointments.
House of Lazarus spoke of their excellent work with Operation Backpack with the sole purpose to supply nutritious meals and snacks for approximately 235 children to have over the weekends free of charge.
Lions donate to KDH Foundation
We also heard from Rural FASD and how they are dedicated to connecting individuals and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to appropriate local supports and resources.
We also had a visit from Dawn Rodgers of Seniors Community Services, who were the recipient of the majority funds from last quarter. Dawn was happy to share how the money was well spent on our seniors and how greatly it was appreciated.
Always a hard choice, the ladies voted at the end of the evening, and Connect Youth was the recipient of the most votes. We look forward to hearing from them next quarter about the difference your contributions
by Willy Heidebrecht
As we recognize the enormous needs in all sectors of our local municipality, the Kemptville Lions Club continues its long tradition of service by identifying gaps, raising funds, and providing meaningful assistance where it is needed most. Through their monthly lottery, we are proud to provide $17,690.00 in support to ten deserving charities. In the end, the true winner is our community, and we extend our sincere thanks to every ticket holder for making this support possible.
If you are someone that enjoys serving the community and is looking for an opportunity to do that here in Kemptville, please consider the Kemptville Lions Club. For more information email: kemptvillelionsclub@gmail.com or call Lion Alan at (613) 406-9976.
In the photo Lion Alan Forbes, KDH Foundation staffers receiving the cheque, Lions treasurer Wayne Vachon and Kathy McCoy.
Spring around the corner!
by Nick Brooks
made.
As always, a huge thanks to Nathalie at Catered Affairs for the space and yummy nourishment and to Samantha Rivet-Stevenson and Jennifer Barrer for covering our admin fees. If you have not yet had a chance, please make your donation through our website: www.100womenwhocareng.com.
We are looking forward to seeing you at our Q2 meeting at Catered Affairs on Thursday, May 21, 2026, which we will share with the 100 Men Who Care. Watch for details on our website. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you have questions, send us an email info@100womenwhocareng.com.
Bunny Hop 2026
Once again this year, the North Grenville Historical Society will be participating in the Downtown BIA Bunny Hop on March 28. This year the craft will be assembling and decorating a traditional pinwheel. There will also be candy for the kids, of course. The event lasts from 10:00 am to noon. See you then.
Spring Calling
by Fred Schueler –fragile Inheritance
Natural History
On the first of March in 2017, we reported on an active Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) in Bishops Mills... Schueler, Fred, & Aleta Karstad. 2017. Record-breaking Treefrog on St-Lawrence Street in Bishops Mills. North Grenville Times 10
(5):14. 8 March 2017. - https://ngtimes.ca/record-breaking-treefrogon-st-lawrence-street-inbishops-mills/
….This year there is 47 cm of snow (containing 10.5 cm of water) on the ground at this date, as I begin the programme of listening for calling frogs and birds that we’ve been carrying out since 1992, and the air, as I
listen, is -16.5° C, a low temperature matched in the listening records only in 2012, 2014, and 2025, when the displaced polar vortex had begun to disrupt the steady progress of global warming. This winter has been the most extreme of these disruptions, with arctic localities experiencing record high temperatures while we’ve had steady nega-
tive teens and twenties.
The first three species we expect to hear in a normal year are Woodcock (Scolopax minor), Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), and Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris triseriata/maculata).
Woodcock, which probe for earthworms with their long bills, will be coming north from their southern wintering grounds to begin the males’ song and dance routine: nasal calls of “peent” from the ground followed by a twittering flight song produced by narrow wing feathers. Peepers and Chorus Frogs thaw from their overwinter freeze-tolerance, and move to fishfree temporary “vernal” ponds to give their distinctive calls: peeps for Peepers and a rough trill for Chorus Frogs.
The earliest date we’ve heard Woodcock fight-singing is 8 March 2000, and the latest 9 June 2003 – they’ve been less abundant in recent years as their preferred open habitat is squeezed out by brushy second-growth woods.
Before European earthworms were introduced to glaciated areas, Woodcock weren’t found north of New Jersey, but now that the European worms have followed settler agriculture and bait fishing across Canada, they’re found north to James Bay. Peepers are the most ubiquitous of these species, and our earliest date is 19 March 2012, trailing off into summer calling from trees to 23 July 2003. Since the early 1990s our “Great Lakes-St Lawrence” Chorus Frogs, with a mixed genetic heritage from the northwest and southwest, have declined all across their range in Ontario and Quebec, so that we only hear them from Bishops Mills in some years now: the earliest date is 31 March 1981, before the decline, and since then 2 April 2010 and 5 May 2014.
Our Chorus Frogs are designated as “Threatened,” and there are efforts to restore them: conservation authorities are digging vernal pools, Vance Trudeau’s lab at the University of
Ottawa is working towards breeding them in captivity for release in sites where they have disappeared, and Stephen Lougheed’s lab at Queens University is working on the hybrid genetics of our populations. If you want to hear the calls of this distinctive species, there are several populations in the swamps and ponds along Bolton road north of Bishops Mills, and they call during the day as well as at night.
Great Lakes-St Lawrence Chorus Frog, Pseudacris triseriata/maculata, painting by Aleta Karstad.