ND Times Issue 33 2021 December 08

Last Publication of the Dundas Times for the year 2021 will be December 22!

Reaching by direct mail to over 5,500 homes and businesses in Winchester and area

The Voice of North Dundas

Vol 2, No 33

Decemeber 8, 2021

New book explores the history of Chesterville

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Book editors Bruce and Kim Henbest and CDHS Book Committee Chair Gail Parker hold up a proof copy of Chesterville's newest history book, Bridging the Centuries as at the Heritage Centre, until Local Journalism Initiative Reporter the end of the month.

The book is being marThe history of a local com- keted as a unique Christmas munity is featured in a new gift idea, with the warning book which was launched on that those interested in purSunday, December 5. “Bridg- chasing it should act fast, ing the Centuries: The History since it is a limited-edition of Chesterville, 1988-2020” item. The Times spoke with was authored by the Chester- Caroline Roberts, President ville and District Historical of the Chesterville and DisSociety, and was officially trict Historical Society, and launched at an event held at Gail Parker, Chair of the the Chesterville Legion, with book project’s committee, for many high profile guests, some background informaincluding SD&G Member of tion about the book.

Caroline Roberts noted Parliament and former North Dundas Mayor, Eric Duncan, that, “This beautiful book in attendance. Copies of the features 200 contributions book were sold at the event from local authors and resifor $50 each, and they contin- dents, updating Chesterville’s ue to be sold at Chesterville’s history over the last 30 years, Scotiabank location, as well as well as covering some

by Brandon Mayer

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earlier stories not included in Chesterville’s former history book, “The Time that Was,” that was first printed in 1977.

Many colour pictures, including aerial photographs and maps illustrating significant locations, grace the pages of this new publication.”

Gail revealed that the book doubles as a celebration of Chesterville’s 130th anniversary in 2020. The first history book about Chesterville was written in 1938, with two other books completed by the Women’s Institute in 1977 and 1987. The Historical Society took over the responsibility of exploring the town’s history in 1988. The new book focuses more on the importance of family farming

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in the community, and also tells many impactful stories about those who immigrated into the area from overseas.

One issue Caroline and Gail faced when trying to gather first person historical accounts, was that many of the local long term residents they spoke with couldn’t remember much about the changes to the community over time.

“When you go in and talk to Mr and Mrs so-and-so, they say, ‘well what do you want me to say?’” Gail told the Times. “We would say, ‘well, what’s life been like in the last 33 years?’” When she wouldn’t get much of an answer, Gail would help refresh their memories by mentioning significant events, such as the Ice Storm of 1998, technological changes in the hospital, and the current COVID-19 pandemic.

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The North Dundas Times

Township launches ‘Light Up North Dundas’ contest COLLISION CENTER Phil Carkner, Owner

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Pictured, one of last year’s ‘Light Up North Dundas’ participants.

[Supplied by the Township of North Dundas] decorate your house or business for Christmas. Gift cards are up for grabs for the top three houses and businesses, ranging in value from $150 to $50. There is also a Community Choice Award, which

by Jennifer Westendorp It’s time to shine.

Registration is now open for the second annual ‘Light Up North Dundas’ Holiday Tour. All you have to do to participate is sign-up and

comes with a $100 prize.

Full contest rules and registration forms can be found by visiting www.northdundas. com/community-recreation/ light-north-dundas.

“This contest is a great

way to get people in the holiday spirit,” says Mayor Tony Fraser. “Christmas is just around the corner, and I can’t wait to see all the beautifully decorated businesses and homes. Last year’s successful event was received with so much enthusiasm, and we hope to build on that momentum.”

The Township aims to celebrate the holiday season in North Dundas by encouraging people to create a display of lights. Participation in the contest is free. People must take their own photo and send it with their registration form to lightup@northdundas.com.

Registration closes on Thursday, December 9, at 9am. Judging runs from Saturday, December 11, to Sunday, December 19. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 21.

MPP Jim McDonell Announces Retirement

Local Member of Pro- team at Queen’s Park. vincial Parliament Jim However, the time has McDonell has announced come to pass the torch and he will be retiring on June to enjoy the next chapter of 1, 2022. my life closer to home,” “I have truly enjoyed said MPP McDonell. serving as our commuJim McDonell has nity’s MPP for the past served as the Member of decade, and I have been Provincial Parliament for blessed by a wonderful Stormont-Dundas-South family, especially my wife Glengarry since October 6, Margie and a group of 2011, and has been elected colleagues who have sup- by his constituents in three ported me in my work,” consecutive provincial said MPP McDonell.

“I frozen elections (2011, 2014, and Homemade meals am proud of what wePizza have & 2018). subs LCBO/Beer Store convenience outleta majority been able to accomplish Jim received locally and across Ontario of votes in each of his elec613-989-1323 under the leadership of tions. He has served in varHours: Mon-Fri 6am-7pm Sat&Sun 7am-7pm Doug Ford with a great ious capacities, including 1738 County Rd 1, Mountain Ontario

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Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Before being elected to the Ontario legislature, McDonell was elected to municipal council in 1994 and served as Mayor of South Glengarry (20032011) and as Warden of the United Counties of Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry (2006).

“I am grateful to the residents of StormontDundas-South Glengarry who have shown their confidence in me for over a decade. It has been a challenging job, but certainly a rewarding one too,” said Jim. “Rest assured though, I will still be very active to continue to improve our quality of life here at home in Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.

Hayley Bedford Marketing Consultant

Phone: 343-777-2702

Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

Last Publication of the Dundas Times for the year 2021 will be December 22! www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

A Canadian-made Christmas with music

You are invited to a Chamber Chat!

Services

For the 3rd year, A Bunch of People Arts and Events is raising funds for local families or individuals this Christmas.

“In 2019, we raised $600 through our yearly events and we donated it to House of Lazarus (HOL). HOL works with us to identify local individuals or families that are in need.

Again this year, we have asked HOL to help us get funds to a few local families this Christmas,” Amanda, of A Bunch of People (ABOP), said. "For 2019, we later heard the family had used the funds to pay their electricity bill. That just warms our hearts. Pun intended!”, she added as she roared with laughter.

It is clear Amanda gets a kick out of her humour, which she uses well to help organize the many events put on by ABOP. This year’s show is a staged reading of one of the Canadian classic Christmas stories heard on CBC radio each year.

“At the centre of the story is a neighborhood party, egg nog, Lalique Crystal, and the sound of a car engine. Not to give too much away,” Amanda said. The story will be interspersed with Christmas music performed by local musicians, one of whom, Rick Ventrella, has just released a CD. “We were unable to mount a Christmas Show last year, and it has not been easy to do our events this year. But, with our amazing Board of Directors (Suzanne Millaire, Marie-Thérèse Robinson, Harmony Koiter and Patrick Burger), we had our Writing in 150 Competition, a Car Rally / Scavenger Hunt, our recent True Stories performance, and now this heart warming Christmas show,” Amanda said.

“We love organizing these events, but the Christmas Show is especially important to us, as it is what tops up the funds we will donate,” Patrick said.

This show will be a “pay what you can”. ABOP works all year to raise money for charity, and yet the cost to attend any event can be beyond some people’s means – although ABOP does work to keep ticket costs low. This Christmas, they decided that access to Performance Art should not be limited. The suggested donation is $10 a person, but each person is asked to pay what they can afford.

“This is ABOP’s gift to the community - an affordable Christmas Show, as a thank-you to all those who attend our events and who actually fund the money going to our local families”, Marie Thérèse added. “Merry Christmas Everyone!”

Pre-purchase of tickets is necessary. There is limited seating and tickets are going fast. For tickets email: aboppay@gmail. com, or call 613 346-5064 Double Vaccination proof with ID is mandatory. Masks must be worn.

A Canadian-made Christmas with music. OLD TOWN HALL - Winchester, Ontario - Saturday, December 18, 2021 (2:00 pm and 7:00 pm).

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EOHU Holding WalkIn Vaccination Clinics for Children

The Eastern Ontario Heath Unit (EOHU) is pleased to announce that it will be holding walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children aged 5 to 11 and their household members, including children aged 12 to 17 who have not yet been vaccinated, or need a second dose. The clinics will take place on weekends from December 4 to the 18 in six schools across the region. The schedule and clinic locations are available at EOHU.ca/vaccines5to11.

To receive a vaccine at one of these walk-in clinics, children must either live or attend school in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, the City of Cornwall or Akwesasne.

“Now that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for use in children aged 5 to 11, we’re working hard to make it as easy as possible for parents to get their children and other household members vaccinated,” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU. “I’m sure many families will find these weekend walk-in clinics convenient.”

These weekend Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics have been created specifically for the 5 to 11 age group along with their household members and are in addition to the Community-Based Clinics, which do not currently offer pediatric walk-in options.

Parents can also book a vaccination appointment for their children at a community-based clinic through Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination portal at covid19.ontariohealth.ca, or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1 833 9433900. COVID-19 vaccines for children will also be available at participating pharmacies and healthcare providers’ offices. For children who have barriers preventing them from physically going to a vaccination clinic, parents/guardians can call the EOHU at 1 800 267-7120 to discuss alternate arrangements.

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, please visit the EOHU’s website at EOHU.ca/vaccines5to11.

continued ofrom front page Caroline feels that the COVID-19 pandemic helped the book in some ways.

“Something positive that came out of the whole COVID disaster was that people had time sitting at home, and once you’ve got them looking at their photos, it would inspire them to go back through their photos and their history.”

Gail relayed an astounding story told to her by one Chesterville local, who described her ancestors’ experience coming to Canada from Ireland. They came to Canada by boat and landed in Montreal, and then immediately had to find work. They Decemeber 8, 2021

found it in Lachute, Quebec, where there was a brick factory. After several years, they bought some cattle with the intention of transitioning to farming. They left Lachute and followed the river until they found a tributary, which turned out to be the Nation River, and they followed it all the way to Chesterville with the cattle.

Even the title of the book, “Bridging the Centuries”, has a double significance. It covers the historical period between the 20th and 21st centuries, which is the literal reason for the name, but it also subtly refers to the bridge in Chesterville which crosses

the South Nation River. This bridge was extremely important for Chesterville’s development.

Gail and Caroline certainly did not act alone in creating the book. In addition to the contributions from countless area locals, the pair also gave enthusiastic thanks to their graphic designer, Susan Marriner, as well as Bruce and Kim Henbest, who were the book’s editors.

“When [the book] went into Gilmore Printing… there was one period that needed to be corrected!” Gail said.

Caroline added, “We’re forever thankful to them for making this such a profes-

sional book.”

Those interested in buying a copy of “Bridging the Centuries: The History of Chesterville” are encouraged to do so at the Chesterville Scotiabank location, since Scotiabank will match the proceeds of the sales up to a maximum of $3,000.

For Caroline and Gail, the journey of producing the book was a lot of work, but they don’t regret it. “It’s just been wonderful dealing with this area.” Gail said. “We certainly made a lot of friends!”

The North Dundas Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Chamber Chat at Country Kitchen on December 16 at 9 am.

Join us in meeting other local business owners as we discuss ideas for events, promotions and growth of the Chamber in the coming year.

Please RSVP to info@northdundaschamber.com.

Squirrel deterrent is working!?

by John Baldwin I thought that I was being smart, believe me, - how could I have been so ignorant and errant, When I reused a microwave cooking lid, to be a squirrel deterrent!?

There, I thought, that will stop its bird seed eating helterskelter, But all it did, when the rain came down, as you can see, was provide it with a perfectly dry shelter!

So, now it just comes along the branch and down over the lid it slides with ease, And, in its own little undisturbed spot, can sit and eat whilst swinging, teasingly, in the breeze!

Meanwhile, I’ll have to go back to the “think tank”, without getting too excited and vexed, Whilst that gang of bird seed eating squirrels watch, to see what I decide to do next!

I expect, you, like me, have to this problem, given many a thought, But to those clever black, grey and red squirrels it’s just fun and their everyday sport!

But please don’t let them get you frustrated, at whatever method you employ, Just remember, along with the birds, they are another of nature’s creatures, so keep smiling, stay safe and enjoy.

Hayley Bedford

Marketing Consultant

Phone: 343-777-2702 Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca www.ndtimes.ca

The Voice of Our Community

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Editorial

The North Dundas Times

Get Back

by David Shanahan “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” These wise words were written by L.P. Hartley in his novel, The Go-Between, in 1953. That idea has been on my mind quite a bit recently, as I watched the Beatles documentary that Peter Jackson produced. There were so many great moments in the six hours or so, documenting the three weeks the Beatles spent writing and performing the songs from Let It be and a lot of Abbey Road, not to mention some of George Harrison’s songs that appeared later on his solo masterpiece, All Things Must Pass.

Yes, I am a Beatles fan, and that added so much to the enjoyment of watching those four men, still in their 20's, coming into a studio with nothing, and writing entire albums of classics in a few weeks. And then, the finale, the rooftop concert on Saville Row, had me up and dancing all alone in the living room. I couldn’t help it: there was such exuberance and joy, and such

brilliant delaying tactics as Mal Evans prevented the two young police constables from putting a premature end to the gig.

But it was the sense of watching a different time, a very different culture, seeing the people in the street as they responded in various ways to the sounds coming from above them. It was the sight of everyone in the studio smoking and drinking as they worked. Even the police, especially the Sergeant who arrived on the scene to support his constables, seemed like a different kind of man, not shouting or pushy, but actually polite and respectful.

I grew up in the 60's, and I can vividly recall the impact of the Beatles: on music, on hair length for men, on the climate of the society in which we lived.

North America saw them first in early 1964 on the Ed Sullivan Show, but we in Europe knew them before that. For the first time, really, young people with regional accents, not the posh educated tones we were used to seeing on TV and radio, were being praised and appreciated by almost all levels

of society. And by “levels”, I mean classes. Class was still a huge thing in those far-off days. Yes, they did things differently then.

As a working class boy, there were places I knew I couldn’t go, things I would not be, let’s say, encouraged to be involved in. As soon as we opened our mouths, or gave our home address, we’d be labelled, tagged as not quite the right sort. And if it was like that in Ireland, imagine how much more in Britain. These were the days when boarding houses in London and elsewhere in England would have signs in the windows: “NO Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish”. We even came after the dogs!

In the documentary, they interviewed people on the street listening to the concert on the roof. Almost everyone could recognise it was the Beatles playing, even though none of the songs had been heard before.

People of all ages spoke well of “the boys”, expressing their liking for the music.

But then, there were those upper class, bowler-hatted, umbrella-carrying toffs, who were dismissive of the whole thing. The noise was inter-

fering with the business day, blocking traffic and the like.

And it looked like it was one of those types who was seen complaining to the two constables and getting them to put a stop to the fun. But they couldn’t really put a stop to it: it was out of their control, for the first time ever. Young people grew their hair, wore colourful clothes, played their transistors in public. I well remember being told to turn off the music one lovely sunny day in St. Stephens Green in Dublin, while all around me people were sunning themselves on the grass, right beside the “Keep Off the Grass” signs. It was a revolution all right, a breaking down of the system that told us we had to keep in our place. We did not keep off the grass, any kind of grass, as it happens.

This may seem like an endorsement of anarchy or something; but it was the start of a change in the way people thought, dressed, acted, spoke. It opened things up to everyone in a way that wasn’t available before. People have often said that, before the Beatles, the world seemed grey, black

has been fully vaccinated.

Data from the Office for National Statistics in the UK shows that between January and September, 2021, the age-adjusted risk of deaths involving covid-19 was 32 times greater in unvaccinated people than in fully vaccinated people.

Covid-19 vaccines are not perfect. They do not prevent you from catching Covid-19, and they do not eliminate the risk of dying from Covid-19, but they do significantly reduce the risk of catching or dying from Covid-19, especially when combined with wearing a mask. Just like many other vaccines on the market, Covid-19 vaccines require multiple doses.

Covid-19 vaccines are

The Eastern Ontario Public School Board (CEPEO) would like to inform you of a recent cyberattack on our network that has resulted in the personal information of our employees and others being compromised.

On the morning of October 18, we learned that unknown actors had gained unauthorized access to our computer network. The network was re-secured later and we launched an investigation with the help of cybersecurity experts. We later confirmed that the threat actors took a set of files stored on a server at the main council office. Protecting members of our community was our priority. So we made a payment to the actors and received statements that the data was deleted. However, we provide this notice.

If you were employed by CEPEO at any time after 2000, your personal information may have been stored on the server. We will use the contact details available to write to you personally within a week if your Social Insurance Number, bank account number, unexpired credit card number, or date of birth has been compromised. Where applicable, we will also provide you with a free credit monitoring service for a period of 24 months.

A smaller number of current and former students and parents have been affected. We carefully analyze the data and will inform those affected as soon as possible.

We ask all members of our community to be vigilant. As always, you should watch out for phishing emails and other suspicious communications and monitor your financial accounts for any signs of fraudulent use. For more tips on how to protect yourself against scams and fraud, please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center website at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude. ca .

If you have any specific questions or concerns about this incident, please contact us at cyberincident@cepeo.on.ca.

We extend our sincere apologies to you. We have already taken steps to improve the security of our network as a result of this incident and will implement further improvements as we investigate the incident. We have reported this matter to law enforcement authorities and to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. Finally, we remind you that we will communicate directly with those most affected.

now approved for children aged 5 and older, and there has been speculation that the Ontario government is going to announce that people aged 50 and older will be able to get booster shots starting in the middle of December. I’d encourage everyone to get themselves and their children fully vaccinated as soon as they can, to protect themselves and others around them. My 18-month-old daughter will be first in line to get her vaccine as soon as approval is given for her age group.

Stay safe and healthy, Steve Gabell, Pharmacist

ISSN 2291-0301 www.ngtimes.ca

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Decemeber 8, 2021

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ters in Saville Row. But they helped to change an entire world in ways no-one really understood at the time. Watching them end their concert on the roof, it is hard now to realise that this would be the last time they played together, live, with an audience, ever. John Lennon would be murdered a decade later. Mal Evans, the right-hand man who kept the police at bay in Saville Row, would be shot dead by other police officers in Los Angeles in 1976, aged 40. The same age as John Lennon when he was shot.

So many great moments in the documentary, and so many strange moments too. As they turned away from the rooftop concert, John returned to the mic for the last time and made this fantastic and typically Lennon remark: "I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we've passed the audition."

To put it in the words of another Sixties revolutionary: “But I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now.”

CEPEO statement regarding a cybersecurity incident

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, For those people doubting the efficacy of vaccines for Covid-19, I’d like to share some data from the UK. The UK has had much higher case numbers throughout than we’ve had here in Canada, and the effect of vaccines is easy to see. At the start of the third wave in January, 2021, the UK had 0.6% of the population fully vaccinated. New cases peaked at 68,000 on January 8 (7-day average 59,000 per day), and a few weeks later, on January 27, there were 1725 covid-19 deaths (7day average 1,228 deaths per day). Move forward to November 30 and there were 39,000 new cases (7-day average 42,000 per day), 159 deaths (7-day average 119 deaths per day), and 69% of the population

and white at best. Then, like Dorothy opening the door to Oz, everything suddenly turned technicolour.

After more than fifty years (50 years!), we may forget about how they did things differently there in the past; but we need to be reminded every now and then. There is much to be depressed about these days, as there always has been, and always will be. But we are not the people we were back then.

People don’t have to dress differently when they reach a certain age. They don’t have to cut their hair, or even colour it blue (unless they want to). Women, minorities, and so many others who could not raise their heads, much less their voices, before, now have a strong voice, a recognised place in the community.

Perhaps that was always the case in Canada: I wasn’t here then. But I do know that, these days, no-one speaking French in a store is going to be rebuked and told, “Speak White!”. Or, if they are, their harasser is the one who will be judged.

No, the world is not the same as it was when the Beatles were creating mas-

Accounting Pat Jessop cfo@ngtimes.ca 613-258-4671

Marketing/Sales

Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca 343 777 2702

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Mailing Address P.O. Box 1854 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Staff Reporter Brandon Mayer brandon@ndtimes.ca

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The North Dundas Times

South Mountain resident wants King’s Pizza cleaned up

The remains of Kings Pizza answers after he was told the remains of the buildLocal Journalism Initiative Reporter ing – which was destroyed A South Mountain lo- by a major fire in August cal is speaking out after – would be cleaned up months of looking at the before any snow fell. But, burned remains of the old after a week of snow flurKing’s Pizza Restaurant ries, he was left scratching across from his home. his head.

Frank Fata contacted the Frank was told that the Times hoping for some Township was going to

by Brandon Mayer

hire a contractor to come and clean up the property, since nothing was done by the time the original deadline that was provided had passed. Approximately two weeks ago, Frank was surprised to see a contracting company come and remove the temporary fence around the prop-

erty, without completing any other work. He called the Township to let them know that the potentially dangerous site was now accessible, including to the many school children who pass by the site each morning and afternoon. He was once again assured that they would look after it,

but still nothing had been done as of December 3.

Another of Frank’s concerns is that, every time it rains, the burned material fills the air with a heavy smell that bothers him and his wife.

“I don’t see the Township doing a lot, because the fellow told my wife that it should be cleaned up before the snow flies, and the snow is already here,” Frank told the Times.

His wife wanted to attend the latest North Dundas Council meeting, but missed the deadline to register. She was told she could be registered for a meeting in January, but that doesn’t cut it for Frank. “They’ll use the excuse that it’s frozen then!”

Frank does not blame the owner of the property for what is going on. “I feel sorry for the lady, too. It’s a shame, she did all of those renovations before the fire started, and she had it up for sale.”

The Times reached out to Calvin Pol, Director of Planning, Building, and Enforcement for the Town-

ship of North Dundas, for an explanation. Director Pol noted that a resolution was passed on November 23 to allow him to engage the by-law division to take on the responsibility for the cleanup work. He confirmed for the Times that, “Township staff are in the process of preparing a contract with the successful bid to proceed with the clean up work.”

It is unclear when the clean up process will start, or when it will be completed.

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

Pet of Month

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Funding to protect the mental of masks and more rigorous elimination of in-person health of Ontario farmers PPE which have also served meetings by incorporating

A Game Plan for Emergencies

Published in Farm Safety Gazette At the beginning of the pandemic not many of us could project we’d be approaching our third year of dealing with it. But here we are. To the credit of the farm community in Canada, emergency plans were modified to protect workers and we’re still standing.

Here are two questions that reoccur in the minds of safety conscious farmers: How do we continue to deal with COVID-19 effectively and what practices will we maintain to prepare for unforeseen pandemics that could come our way in the future?

The policies and processes that farmers have put in place relating to hygiene and sanitation early in the pandemic became more and more critical. These include hand washing stations, use

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to reduce colds and flus. As well, more stringent regular cleaning processes have decreased the contamination of products.

New best practices have also been incorporated to deal with instances where we might have to administer first aid or treatments and protect us from situations where we had to touch people who might be infectious.

Even our first aid kits have been transformed to include masks, gloves and bandages in greater quantity. Items like blankets that used to be recycled are now being disposed of.

Another area that has been transformed in ways that will be advantageous down the road relates to emergency management.

Most operations now know exactly who is on site at all times – both workers and visitors. With the importance of contact tracing being recognized in the fight against the spread of COVID 19, future pandemics will be better combatted right from the get-go.

It is crucial that operations who invite customers to their properties maintain standards. Even though outdoor environments are way more prevalent on farms, there needs to be compliance to practices such as physical distancing where applicable.

Technology has become and will continue to be a valuable asset in the context of battling pandemics. The

vehicles like Zoom may decrease as COVID-19 no longer becomes a part of our lives. But we will continue to utilize these vehicles and be prepared to incorporate it at a higher level as a way to limit personal contact as soon as anything resembling a pandemic is on the horizon.

An area of health and safety that is being incorporated into plans that has really come to the forefront during the pandemic relates to mental health.

With many people isolated from areas of support that have traditionally been a cornerstone of farming communities like service clubs, places of worship and other crucial points of interaction, mental health challenges have been on the rise.

This area is no longer being swept under the rug as it has in the past. There has been unprecedented focus on mental health and its destigmatization and it will get that much more attention should we be confronted by another pandemic in the future.

Our “How Does Safety Rate on Your Farm Checklist” is a helpful tool in constructing your emergency plan. Available as free download https://wsps. news/FarmChecklist

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $7 million dollars through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to launch two new multi-year mental health initiatives that are specialized to support those in the agriculture sector.

The Guardians Network, and a new program modelled after the successful Farmer Wellness Program pioneered by mental health specialist Deborah Vanberkel, will provide farm families across the province with free counselling services, as well as help connect at-risk farmers with tailored support and resources.

These initiatives are expected to launch early next year, and will be developed in consultation with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and other mental health sector experts.

“The farming community has demonstrated great strength and resilience throughout the pandemic, but mental health challenges often go unseen. If you are struggling, the first step is to reach out, because you are not alone in facing these challenges,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “These new agricultural mental health programs expand resource availability to help Ontario farmers and employees

[Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS).

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if they’re struggling with their mental health.”

“I very much understand and appreciate how stressful running a farm can be, working 365 days a year and dealing with unpredictable weather, commodity prices, and increasing costs of production,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

“Add in the pandemic, and these pressures are having a real effect on the mental health of farmers and their families.”

The two new initiatives will improve the agriculture sector’s access to supports that better meet their needs.

“We’re very pleased to further our partnership with OMAFRA through delivery of additional, much-needed mental health supports for farmers and their families,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO of CMHA Ontario.

“Building on the delivery of our farm mental health literacy program In the Know, the expansion of this important wellness program and introduction of a suicide prevention network will protect and enhance the mental wellbeing of farmers and the farm community.”

“The mental wellness of Ontario farmers is one of our biggest priorities, so we are excited to partner with CMHA Ontario and our provincial and federal governments to raise awareness about these

two programs,” said Peggy Brekveld, President of Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “The targeted initiatives will be invaluable to farmers and throughout the agriculture sector.”

The design seeks to further enhance numerous other government-led mental health enhancement actions, such as an expansion of the In the Know program.

The Partnership is a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes a $2 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

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Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca

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UCDSB Educator wins National Indigenous Education Award

Bill Montgomery, who recently received the Indspire Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Education Award in Leadership.

[Submitted Photo] With long-standing involvement connecting students and staff with Indigenous culture, traditions and teachings, Upper Canada District School Board Indigenous Education System Support Teacher, Bill Montgomery, has received national recognition.

Bill was recently honoured with the Indspire Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Education Award in Leadership. The national award recognizes educators who have made valuable contributions to community-based education and honour the principles of Indigenous knowledge.

A member of the First Nation of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Bill Montgomery has worked in this role with the school board for the past

decade. His leadership qualities are felt by over 300 First Nations, Métis and Inuit students involved in the UCDSB iLead (Indigenous Leadership Program), which encourages a reclamation of their Indigenous cultures. Educators also benefit from Bill’s leadership as he supports the integration of Indigenous themes into the curriculum.

“It was very humbling to hear that I had been selected for this award,” he said. “It certainly would not have been a consideration without the incredible people I have the fortune to work with daily.

As we often stress, it’s all about relationships and community.”

Bill was presented with the award on November 25 at a virtual ceremony where UCDSB colleague, Nancy Clow, spoke of his impact within our schools.

“He has a special gift in making Indigenous education learning come alive, relevant and meaningful. Bill’s ability to present difficult concepts using simple-language and impactful images or activities is extremely impressive. He is passionate and patient in the way he teaches and shares his personal experiences and gift of story,” Nancy said. “His quiet wisdom and guidance assist all who are on the path of reconciliation.”

When it comes to sharing his knowledge with students,

Dundas Manor is hiring PSWs - with a $5,000 signing bonus!

Bill Montgomery turns to his own experiences and says he knows what it’s like to grow up confused with how to feel about his heritage.

“My family is such an incredibly strong people and admired throughout the world for our Art,” he explains, adding he’s enjoyed continually learning about himself and so many Indigenous peoples in his current role. “It is a privilege to participate in our Indigenous students’ journey of self-discovery. We are more than art; our beliefs and traditions have value. It is so heartwarming to see this sentiment growing so rapidly within our board.”

He is grateful for the open and positive stance the Upper Canada District School Board has always taken in Indigenous Education and hopes that, one day, his job will become redundant.

“This growth is bringing us closer to a personal goal that I would love to see realized: that people in my role be considered redundant or outdated,” he said. “We are developing such an incredible group of accomplices within our area, and it would be wonderful to see it become self-sustaining, and become as commonplace as any other subject matter we deliver to our students.”

Dundas Manor Long Term Care Home in Winchester has been exceeding expectation in seniors’ care for over forty years. If you would like to work in this trusted home of choice in our region we would like to hear from you.

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Happy Hour with a Hedgehog?

These days, too many things are all wrong. But, now and again, everything that’s right in the world comes together. We found such a place in a local neighbourhood restaurant recently, where good food, good music, and good company combined to make everybody happy. But was it healthy?

Almost, but not quite.

What would be the perfect conditions for a neighbourhood restaurant to score top marks in offering good times, good food, and good health?

Start by thinking about the eating and socializing places within walking distance of your home. Not everyone is so lucky to have such options. But most do. And if you do, how often do you walk there? When it comes to dining out, it’s well said: “health is a journey, not a destination.”

That’s because most restaurants do not serve healthy food. Regular consumption of unhealthy pub grub at the neighbourhood grill is not doing anyone a favour. What will it take to make a change?

Remember, “the customer is king”. If enough people demand healthy alternatives on the menu, the owners and chefs will hear the call. So, be proactive. Ask for meals that focus on “whole foods”, meaning the ingredients have not been processed or refined. There’s an organization called Menus of Change (menusofchange.org) that provides guidance for the food service industry, drawing on expertise in nutritional and environmental science. Print out this article and share the link with your local restaurant owners.

Portions should be reasonable. If a restaurant serves you too much, set aside half and take it home. If you consume food slowly, you will discover you will be satisfied with less.

Venues with live music are a beautiful thing. There should be more of them. Enjoying music with friends is so good, you don’t even need to talk. But restaurants that play background music so loud that table conversations become difficult are missing the point.

Is there anything that could be done to assist seniors who struggle to get out, or who are reluctant to go out alone? A neighbourhood service to walk such people safely to and from the local watering hole would be a great innovation – a neighbourhood-based Uber-like service to accompany people door-to-door.

Restaurants should make sure there are no hazards, like steps that are unmarked, or absent railings. Wait staff should be trained in how to assist elderly patrons – by listening carefully to special needs, assisting with coats, canes, and the gizmos of today’s cashless society. “Friendship tables” could invite singles to sit together, or welcome first-time single patrons to join a group of regulars.

What could governments do to support local eateries? How about reducing taxes on food and alcohol for anyone having a home address within walking distance? Policy wonks should figure this stuff out.

Here’s a thought: what about a place for your dog to wait for you while you socialize with friends? Don’t have a dog? Then another idea: could companion animals, which bring such joy to people who have them, be a featured service? You could order a meal that comes with a well-trained service dog to sit at your feet.

That might be a stretch. But other places have done weirder things. There is a shop in Tokyo where you can enjoy sitting with a hedgehog while enjoying your food and drink.

Who’s game for happy hour with a hedgehog?

There’s a time for more creativity in how we achieve healthier neighbourhood places for getting together, and this is one of those times.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contactus@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

The Hollow arrives in North Dundas

L-R: Nanda Wubs-Huizenga, Councillor John Thompson, Katie & Family, Mayor Tony Fraser, Councillor Gary Annable.

Mayor Tony Fraser officially welcomed Katie Robertson and her new store The Hollow to North Dundas on Thursday evening. Katie’s new store is a Treasure Trove of delights, all created by her and her very talented family. Katie is responsible for all the bath products, potions, and lotions, and her brother and Mom create the beautiful art, sculptures, and pottery that are also available to buy in store.

Welcome Katie, we wish you every success!

Decemeber 8, 2021

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Council report

by Joselyn Morley The Council of the Township of North Dundas held their regular meeting on November 23. Four delegations presented to the Council.

Trish Edmond and Paul Smolkin, from Golder & Associates, updated Council on the Environmental Assessment of the Township’s Waste Management Plan.

Council is frustrated that a municipality the size of North Dundas is treated the same way as a much larger municipality, without considering the unique needs of our Township.

Todd Lihou, from SDG, presented on the Historic Tour project undertaken by the United Counties Stormont, Dundas, & Glengarry.

Plaques identifying points of historical interest will be placed throughout SDG. The goal is to encourage tourism, and provide a comprehensive and linked experience, while formalising an inventory of historical sites and plaques, and a repository of historical information.

Cathy Ashby from the House of Lazarus presented on the state of housing in Dundas County. The Dundas County Housing Initiative is gathering information on the availability and affordability of housing in the county. Cathy painted a daunting picture for Council.

Housing should cost no more than 30% of income before taxes in order to be considered affordable. The average household income in Dundas County is $78K. 30% of the average household income in Dundas allows for $1,955 per month for housing, with everything included. This includes mortgage, property tax, insurance, repairs, utilities, and maintenance. Only 11% of the homes sold in North Dundas fit this criteria in the last year. Grants such as “Ontario Renovates” only applied to three homes in Dundas County.

Ontario Works provides $825 a month. A basic one bedroom apartment costs at least $900 a month. ODSP provides maximum $1,200 a

The North Dundas Times

month, yet an apartment costs $1,100. Someone making minimum wage earns $1,960 per month. Homelessness is in our backyard. There are people in North Dundas living in camping trailers or cars, sheds, or sub-standard motels year round. The waiting list for social housing is five years. Individuals, couples, and families couch surf, living sporadically with various family or friends. A parent or guardian caring for a child is hesitant to speak out if they are in a precarious housing situation because of the risk to their children.

Finally, Mr Smirle updated Council on the state of the South Nation Conservation Authority. Only 2.4 cents of every dollar comes from North Dundas, and only 60% of the budget for the SNC is funded; the remaining 40% is obtained through staff finding and securing grants.

Departments at both levels of municipal government are planning for the 2022 Budgets. Whereas both federal and provincial lev-

els of government can, and do, routinely run deficits, municipal governments are prohibited from doing so. A very large portion of taxes goes to maintaining roads at both the Township and Counties’ level. Waste management required $70k more than expected, due to recently implemented provincial requirements and studies, such as traffic studies on roads near landfills.

The next meetings include: a special meeting at 7 pm on December 9, where Council will discuss how to fill vacant council position following the resignation of Councillor Hoy; a Special Meeting on December 14 at 6 pm concerning the Development Charges Bylaw, and one at 6:30 pm concerning a garden suite zoning amendment; and a regular meeting on December 14 at 7 pm.

Meetings are held in the Council Chambers. Registration is required to speak at the special meetings. It is your township, and your Council.

housing supply and reduce costs for homeowners.

We announced this week that the Request for Proposals (RFP) have been issued to prequalified Internet Service Providers to connect all unserved and underserved areas in the province. The first portion of the RFP involves a preauction submission to ensure qualified participants have the financial wherewithal to deliver successful auction bids. The RFPs are the next step in our program to provide high-speed internet to all parts of the province by 2025.

Ontario is bringing electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers to every ONroute location in the province, making life easier for current and future EV drivers while boosting our world-class auto sector and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This week we released news of a new agreement with Ivy Charging Network, ONroute and Canadian Tire, to install new electric vehicle (EV) chargers to all ONroute locations along highways 401 and 400. Chargers at 17 ONroute locations will be open in time for summer 2022, with another three ONroute locations opening before the end of 2022. The final three locations will see the construction of EV charging stations after planned renovations. These units will harness Ontario's clean en-

ergy advantage by utilizing our 94 percent emissions-free electricity supply. With EV fast chargers installed at all Onroute locations, drivers will be able to travel the province with confidence that they can reach their destination, allowing more families to rediscover Ontario!

As always, stay safe and get vaccinated if you have not done so.

Regards, Jim McDonell MPP for Stormont-DundasSouth Glengarry

Queen’s Park Update

by MPP Jim McDonell The government is moving quickly to fight the spread of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant detected in the province. We are working closely with the federal government, establishing border restrictions for people travelling to Canada from ten African countries. As we learn more about this new variant, further changes are expected, and you should check the latest travel requirements before booking a trip outside the country. The new variant is a reminder the pandemic continues to evolve. Please continue best practices of physical distancing indoors, wear a mask if that is not possible, wash hands frequently and get your dose if you have not done so.

I hosted a vaccine information session with Dr. Paul Roumeliotis on Monday night in a very informative virtual forum to answer questions from local parents and guardians on the vaccination of children between the ages of 5-11 years old. Dr. Paul explained the process that gives vaccines their high efficacy in building the immune system, noting that the children's dose is one-third of the adult shot. We were joined

by Dr. Marilyn Crabtree and pediatrician Dr. Leah Nchama and answered numerous questions submitted by our online Decemeber 8, 2021

audience. Dr. Nchama said vaccinating children will be a "turning point" in our efforts to minimize the virus' impact, encouraging all to take advantage of our health unit's vaccination program. In addition, third dose booster shots have been opened to those 50 years old and older, with at least six months since their second vaccination.

Please check www.EOHU. ca for new walk-in clinics for children and their parents and by calling 1-800-2677120 for all other vaccination information. Book your appointment at www.Ontario. ca/bookvaccine.

Ontario is amid a housing shortage, driving up prices and making homes unaffordable for many. Our government has worked with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and major stakeholders to remove expensive and time-consuming red tape. As a result, new legislation has significantly increased the investment in residential housing, which experienced an increase of more than 25 percent in 2020.

However, with Ontario's population increasing by approximately 100,000 people per year, more needs to be done. As a result, the province has established the Premier's provincial-municipal housing summit on December 16 to look for new ways to increase

Navy League invites applicants for the Board

The Kemptville Branch of the Navy League of Canada is a volunteer-based, educational youth charity devoted to the personal growth and development of young boys and girls of North Grenville and surrounding area. More than twenty articles have appeared in the North Grenville Times describing the scope, the quality, and the importance of the Cadet experience for young people in this exceptional Cadet Program, so many here and in the surrounding communities are aware of the Program.

The extraordinary contribution of the Branch Team, comprised of the Commanding Officers and officers of Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp Defiant and Navy League Cadet Corp Assiniboine, and the Executive and Members of the Branch Board of Directors, has produced an amazing environment for personal development for local young people. The Commanding Officers and their teams, comprised of parents and volunteers, inspire and deliver the program elements to the young people. Through their unceasing care and commitment to their cadets, they are the heart and soul of this program.

The Board of Directors, also comprised of committed parents and volunteers, exists to provide support to the two Corps. The Board support acts as the bedrock upon which the Program stands in the community. January, 2022, sees the end of terms of key Board Executive and Director positions.

Without a strong functioning Board, the Program will fail and the region will lose its only Navy Cadet Program. The Board clearly needs caring, experienced people just like you.

Expressions of interest are being sought for candidates to accede to the positions of President, Secretary, and Vice President on the Executive ,and Director Public Relations/ Communications; Director Membership and Volunteer Liaison; Director Community Service; and Director Awards and Special Events. The Branch also has a superb five-person Fundraising Team which also has a vacancy open. Terms of Reference for all positions are available for interested parties through Peter Milsom (petersmilsom@gmail.com, (613) 215-0705). Readers are referred to the companion article headed “Navy League News” in this paper for a better appreciation of the program.

It is a busy time of year for all of us, but, thinking about a quieter January and a fun, meaningful role for yourself in the community in 2022, please give this opportunity some careful thought and act now to become engaged at the Annual General Meeting elections. A date will be announced publicly in the near future.

‘Christmas in the Counties’ goes live, shop local this holiday season

We’re spreading the holiday cheer in SDG! The United Counties of Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry is imploring residents and visitors to the County to invest in locally-operated businesses this holiday season. And we’ve helped to kick start the holiday shopping season by purchasing thousands of dollars in gift cards and prizes for businesses in SDG. The County has partnered with Move 100 in Ottawa to spread the holiday cheer and draw more people into the SDG region. Starting today, listeners are encouraged to tune in for wallto-wall Christmas songs and a daily chance to win $100 VISA gift cards redeemable anywhere in SDG that accepts VISA. The grand prize worth $5,000, features $2,000 worth of VISA cards, gift certificates, season passes and tickets to two dozen businesses and attractions right here in SDG. “You do not need to leave SDG to find the perfect holiday gift this season,” said Karina Belanger, SDG Tourism Coordinator. “We have many locally-owned and operated businesses in SDG that are open while keeping COVID safety measures in mind.”

The contest runs until December 17.

“Our goal with this program is to ensure that we are focusing on the health and financial wellbeing of our small-business community, which is the foundation of the local economy,” said Tara Kirkpatrick, SDG manager of Tourism and Economic Development. “Our small business community in SDG exceeds the needs of local holiday shoppers. If you’re looking for a specific Christmas gift or holiday item, we know that you can find it in SDG.” For more information on this promotion, please visit whereontariobegan.ca/christmasinthecounties.

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CROSSWORD

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville Last festive season, I asked my family to make my 25th of December a “Cookware Christmas”. As someone who loves to putter around the kitchen (and a typical male who needs the exact tool to do anything), I always want to make sure that I have exactly the right pans for doing what I like to do. Some folks think that you have to give fancy or non-functional stuff for Christmas. Since pans don’t last forever, even good ones, replacing them periodically is a great treat for me. Here are some ideas for your “Cookware Christmas”, if you’ve a mind to try it on for size (no appliances, please!).

A Cookware Christmas At our farm’s kitchen (the biggest room in the house by the way), and in the pan drawer just below our good old Kenmore ceramic cook surface, we have the following, all in the non-stick variety: 2 X 12” round by 4” deep pans with glass lids (great for stir fries, unless you prefer a wok); 2 X 9” round by 1 ¾” deep all- purpose pans (great for chicken liver with caramelized onions and portobello mushrooms); 2 X 8” round by 1 ¾ “ deep pans (suitable for your sautés); 2 X 7” round by 1 ¾” deep pans perfect for pain perdu (French Toast) or omelets; 1 X 5” round by 1/2” deep egg pan.

All of the non-stick pans either get wiped of grease and then washed immediately after use, or go directly into the sink of warm soapy water. Anything under 9” can also go in the dishwasher, keeping in mind that this practice will reduce the useful life of the pan.

We also have a complete battery of cast iron pans, most with covers and kept in the warming chamber of our Elmira Oval kitchen wood stove. For example, in winter, Beth sears our steaks in burnt butter in an 11” McClary #9 cast iron pan with a “spider” lid.

For family breakfasts, we will often substitute a flat non-stick cooking appliance for putting a half dozen eggs or pancakes on at a time. Our grandson, Ayden, is the Stir Fry King, particularly when there is a large package of Bok Choi kicking around and some nice fresh mushrooms.

The next drawer down is the pot drawer, but that’s another story. If you are looking for ideas on what you want to have as your personal or family kitchen set-up, just drop me a line at pcormier@ranaprocess.com. I’m happy to share ideas and pix and I hope you will too.

ACROSS 1. Temporary worker 5. At one time (archaic) 9. Mentors 14. Double-reed woodwind 15. Satisfy 16. Small slender gulls 17. Child 19. Pointed arch 20. Contemptuous look 21. Audacity 23. Car exhausts 25. Public toilet 28. Your (archaic) 29. Baboon 32. Large lizard 33. G 34. Always 35. Diplomacy 36. Earthquake

Baldwin's Birds

38. 365 days 39. Go backpacking 40. Chart 41. Come forth 43. Ensign (abbrev.)

44. Pelt 45. Traversed 46. One who makes a declaration 48. Venthole 50. Believe in 54. Hackneyed 55. A priestess of Bacchus 57. Hoarfrosts 58. Reflected sound 59. Notion 60. It makes dough rise 61. Distort 62. French for "Names"

DOWN 1. Playthings 2. Black, in poetry 3. Pout 4. Pass into or through 5. S 6. A baby's toy 7. Precipitous 8. Wood-eating insects 9. A level in a building 10. Patronage 11. Fortitude 12. Covetousness 13. South southeast 18. Cereal grass 22. Something transitory 24. Considering that 25. Flexible 26. Encore 27. Inserts 29. Declares 30. Wampum 31. Made a mistake 33. Defraud 34. Asthenopia 37. External parts of ears 42. Usually 30 or 31 days 44. Least 45. Foundling hospital 46. Showers with love 47. Exclamation expressive of regret 48. French cheese 49. City in Peru 51. Annul 52. Flower stalk 53. Popular hot beverages 54. Attempt 56. Bovine

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Having mentioned a few times in my previous articles the honking of the Canada Geese passing overhead en route to the South Branch at the end of our road, I thought that it was about time to follow up on them a little more. This I did, and spent a very enjoyable two or three hours or so in the cold, on a sunny afternoon, by the side of the road near the river, until it started to fade and I felt that I was cold enough, and had enough pictures, so left them to it! But, that wasn't the end of my Canada Goose day, because I knew from listening to them, whilst at home, that they tend to take off around four-ish and fly north westerly towards the Rideau River. Where exactly, I was about to find out, as I tried to follow their flight path, and headed towards the river, and a small boat launch area. There weren't any geese evident here, but, as I took a quick look across the river, whilst looking into the setting sun west of me, I could hear the faint chatter of - you guessed it - the geese! Ah ha!

Once more back into the car and then westwards towards Burritt’s Rapids, spotting a few geese on the water through the shore-side trees. But, with no safe place to stop, I targeted the car-park at Lock 17,where I caught up with them! Super! I pulled up and parked and stepped out to quite a noisy reception, as the birds sat out on the water chattering, and some later arrivals landed. By this time, the sun was very low and the reddish pink light of the sunset was rapidly waning. I actually took some video shots with sound track, as a record of them all, and, as my camera battery showed signs of giving up for the day, I too did the same, and left the geese to their night on the water, where they are probably a lot safer from their predators than they would have been on the South Branch.

Next morning on my way to breakfast with friends, I stopped by to see if they had flown south during the night. Well, they hadn't, and another day later they have followed their routine and flown across to the river again. As I write this, at around four in the afternoon, a now familiar sound has just reached my ears and a large flock of geese has just passed overhead heading north west to, presumably, Burritt’s Rapids to spend yet another night. Of course, I am assuming that they are the same birds as yesterday, but maybe I'm wrong and the others have already left us. I can but guess at the answer, another of Nature's mysteries!

Look after yourselves and stay well, Cheers, John Baldwin Decemeber 8, 2021

10

Easy

Medium

Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

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Fun-filled weeks at North Dundas District High School

by Savannah Coleman The last couple of weeks have been filled with fun activities and events, here at North Dundas! We have had a few spirit days that showed the true ND spirit extremely well! November 19, Student

Council held their first spirit day of “Anything but a Backpack Day!” It was a huge success, and we saw many creative ideas – desk chair, cat carrier, helmets, laundry baskets, hockey bags, and much more! November 25, North Dundas had a Hawaiian Day against our rival school, Seaway District High School, to see which school had the most spirit, and with no doubt, North Dundas won!

Our school has always been full of wonderful participation and spirit, and we really proved it this past week. We are looking forward to show it all again!

Thursday, November 25,

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our senior boys' volleyball team travelled to Heritage High School to play in the semi-finals. The boys lost their first set, but came back to win their second set. They had a tough battle in the third set, and ended up losing. ND is proud of how far our seniors went and are glad that they were able to have somewhat of a normal season.

ND has supported prostate cancer this year by having a day where students and staff could create their own mask with a moustache on it! On November 30, students were given a mask to draw a moustache on to show their support to prostate cancer. Our halls were filled with moustache masks!

ND has two angel trees up this year, with LOTS of tags, that Student Council members helped set up and decorate after school. There is one upstairs for the intermediates, as well as one downstairs for the high school students.

Students and staff have the opportunity to pick a tag off of the tree and make a difference in our community by purchasing a small gift to

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and you can win!

donate to a family that is in need this holiday season. Our angel trees will be available for donations until December 13. North Dundas will make sure that the big man in red will have a gift to deliver on Christmas Eve! Our Student Council have been extremely busy and hard at work planning many festive activities for our students to participate in. A door decorating contest has been announced, where each morning class has the opportunity to decorate their classroom door for Christmas and will be judged by Student Council.

The winners will be given their prize when we come back to school on January 3. Student Council has also planned a gingerbread making contests, where teams of 5-6 can enter to have 45 minutes to build the best gingerbread house they possibly can! Everything is supplied and our principals will be the judges!

Grade 12 students have been working very hard to get ND’s Christmas concert together for the year. It will be pre filmed, but there is no doubt that it is going to be a great one! They are all excited for students and staff to watch it!

Have a wonderful start to your December!

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

Your chance to win one of six weekly $100 gift cards and a $500 grand prize gift card Three ways to enter: • Email a purchase receipt from any North Dundas business to shoplocal@northdundas.com • Email a selfie photo from inside any North Dundas business to shoplocal@northdundas.com • Post on Facebook or Instagram with the #shopnorthdundas showing your support to North Dundas businesses, including the text “Shop Local Contest Entry” in the description

Hayley Bedford Marketing Consultant

For full contest details, visit www.northdundas.com Contest runs until December 10th, 2021.

Phone: 343-777-2702

Q & A with Cyndy & Sarah – Retirement Planning

by Cyndy Batchelor, Bcom, Financial Advisor, O’Farrell Financial Services I often get questions about retirement planning. The most frequently asked question is “do I have enough money to retire?” This question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no, as everyone has different spending habits, time horizons, risk and investment goals, and estate planning ideas.

As we approach the New Year, I want to bring this topic to the forefront of your minds. Here are some questions that you should be considering.

Q: When do I want to retire?

A: Sometimes, this is based on a pension (i.e. 25 or 30 years of service), and sometimes this is based on a savings goal (I need to save $1Million). Either way, you should be sitting down with your Advisor to review your plan on an annual basis. Life does not always go as planned - there are ways to ensure that your goals can be met, even when life throws you a curveball. The earlier you plan, the more cost effective it is to add Critical Illness, Disability, and Life Insurance options to your overall plan.

Q: What Is my Retirement Spending Goal?

A: Anything you want! Don’t forget that this is individualized to you, and you need to make an honest budget. If you retire early, you may want to travel more, and this can be costly. As you get older, you may have health concerns that consume your income/savings. Expect to spend about the same amount in retirement as you do while you are working – it is just going to be allocated differently.

Q: What is my risk tolerance, and what are my investment objectives?

A: Again, you need to be comfortable with your investments, but you also need to be realistic with your expectations. A proper portfolio allocation that balances your risk aversion and return objectives is very important. It is also important that you don’t micro-manage your portfolio daily, or even monthly. It is time in the market, not timing the market.

Your retirement is likely going to last 20-25 years – stay the course, meet with your Advisor, review your plan and investment strategy, and perform the recommended rebalancing.

Q: What are my Estate Objectives?

A: There are a few things to consider when we look beyond your retirement to your Estate. You might be someone who wants your last dollar to be spent the day you die, but, more than likely, you have an objective for your Estate – protecting your loved ones, and/or donating to a charitable cause. In order to minimize your taxes in both your lifetime and at your death, while ensuring your wishes are met, Estate Planning needs to be considered in your Retirement Planning.

If you are looking for more information about retirement planning, contact your financial advisor.

We welcome your questions, so please reach out! See our ad in this week’s North Dundas Times and follow us on Facebook @OFarrellFinancialServicesInc. YOUR LOCALLY OWNED, LOCALLY EMPLOYED FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRM

Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca

No purchase is necessary to enter the contest.

A skill testing question will be asked of the winners.

Purchase receipts must be from a purchase between Nov.1 to Dec. 10.

North Dundas’ Financial Services Professionals Cynthia Batchelor Financial Advisor

Sarah Chisholm Financial Advisor

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Decemeber 8, 2021

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‘Flash A Stache’ is a luxuriant growth

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS

by Peter Milsom, President, Kemptville Branch, Navy League of Canada On the cusp of a new COVID variant, questions abound in the minds of parents and our supportive friends in Kemptville, Spencerville, Winchester, and other local communities, about the Kemptville Navy League of Canada Cadet Programs: are they still safe for their children, will they continue, what will happen to them? This article is to answer these questions.

It is true we have lost some cadets through the need to conduct the program online and from the loss of their valued inperson, uniformed relationships. We have lost key Board members as well, and, of even greater concern, we have been denied the active fundraising on which the Program depends. This is entirely attributable to COVID. On a more positive note, we in Kemptville, thankfully a community hugely supportive of its only cadet organization, are living in one of the highest inoculation centres

The Winchester Fire Department win the honours and the beers.

by Hayley Bedford The November-long Prostate Cancer Awareness fundraiser, ‘Flash A Stache’, drew to a very successful conclusion last Saturday morning in a fun and uplifting wind-up event at Winchester Foodland.

The 2021 campaign has raised over $17,000, which includes $8,500 raised on the Flash A Stache website, $3,500 from Greely Foodland, and $2,012.52 from Winchester Foodland. The event saw the Winchester Fire Department recognised as the group which raised the most money.

The sum of $3,430.00 was raised by the guys, all of whom were presented with some ‘Flash A Stache’ beer as a token of gratitude.

Funds raised will be split between the Winchester District Memorial Founda-

tion and the prostate cancer research program at the Ottawa Hospital. The portion of the funds donated to the Ottawa research program will be matched 10-fold by the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

Included in Saturday’s festivities was a ‘Tache Off’, to determine the Best Tache of the chaps at the event. Foodland own-

er, Dan Pettigrew, was crowned the winner, before all the guests tucked into some delicious cupcakes that were also supplied by Dan. Campaign organiser and founder member of the Black Walnut Group, Tom Clapp, thanked all who participated and hopes 2022 will bring another successful year of fundraising.

in Canada. Inoculations for five-to-12-year-old children have begun. Many new cadets and families are joining our Program.

Our Corps Officers have been working to restore back to in-person training for fully inoculated cadets and personnel under comprehensive and carefully monitored community, National Defence, and Navy League of Canada guidelines and directives.

The officers and volunteers of the two corps are absolutely outstanding – we could not have better!

It remains to hope the Health Region continues to show reducing COVID levels, so that our programs can continue to steadily recover. It is, however, with the Board composition that our greatest concern and greatest needs rest. Travelling around this warm and supportive community, one cannot miss the abundance of colourful regimental, squadron, corps, ship, and other service bumper stickers and insignia that announce the presence of active and retired citizens with military affiliation. It is a busy,

Hayley Bedford

Marketing Consultant

Phone: 343-777-2702 Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca www.ndtimes.ca

The Voice of Our Community

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often demanding, time of year but whether you are single, parents, grandparents, or other citizens who have a respect for the uniform and/or care about meaningful youth development activities, and have some moments to spare to give this program serious consideration, this article is for you.

The Naval Cadet Program in Canada flourishes primarily because the executive and members of the local Board believe in the importance of gifting the energy and enthusiasm to translate this care for the cadets into tangible results! For a Navy League Branch, these gifts of talents, knowledge, capabilities, and experience could well be in membership liaison, event planning, public relations, accounting, seamanship, navigation, drill, administration, logistics, fundraising, or, more generally, an interest in helping young people learn the important life attributes of good citizenship, leadership, and the value of team effort. And it is all really about caring!

Our Annual General Meeting and elections are coming up in January and, while we have a new experienced and knowledgeable Treasurer just appointed to the Executive, the Board Secretary, Vice President, and President, and some Director positions are at end of term.

We are looking for new Directors interested in any of the portfolios mentioned above. And, by the way, participating is not arduous, its FUN! Please address expressions of interest to Branch President Peter Milsom petersmilsom@gmail.com or, if further information on the Cadet Program is sought, to Lt(N) Chris Churchill, CO, RCSCC Defiant Chris.churchill@ cadets.gc.ca, or to SLt(NL) Mathew Nepssy, CO, NLCC Assiniboine, mathew_nepssy@hotmail. com. Any, or all, of us would be happy to discuss opportunities or to meet with you. This is a great Team and we would welcome your partnership in this exceptional youth endeavour.

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