MARCH 2023

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 3 Painting by Vic Gibbons www.HubMedia.info

March 2023

Vic Gibbons 1933 ~ 2023

A few months back, I shared a story with you about friendship and how you never know how a relationship will turn out when you meet someone. The friend I talked about in the article recently passed away. I knew it was coming, but I still hoped somehow my friend would find his way back to his old self and the world would be right again.

I never mentioned this fella's name in that article out of respect for the family. With his passing, I want to share a glimpse of some of my times with Vic Gibbons.

My phone would ring, "You coming over for coffee? Half coffee with water and milk, and maybe grab us a treat!"

Ted Williams was his favourite ball player.

He liked the Raptor player, "You know, the one with the headband," he would say to me.

The Leafs were his team. After all, old Mr Kelly took him and Dick to Detroit to watch them play… heck, he even drove Mr Kelly's car that day!

Talbot Garden was the best arena. Dover had holes in the roof. I would always counter and say, "Simcoe ice was slow; that was the only way you could catch us Dover guys," and then we would laugh!

His paintings drew me in, but sports grew our friendship.

As an artist, Vic's creations portrayed many facets: his vibrant paintings of wildlife, the calming winter river running through the trees, the farm setting of sheep wandering in the winter snow, his classic titled Port Dover, to the stunning painting of Judge.

Let's look at that painting for a moment, for it was this fantastic piece of art that cracked open the door just a little one day and allowed me to see Vic's life within his work.

Vic Gibbons

As we sat in his studio with Judge displayed on the easel, Vic explained how their horse, Judge, was such a significant part of Vic, Lenore and Jane's life. He talked of their shared adventures as they watched her ride competitively. A smile took over his face, and his eyes grew bright as the story of a particular horse race, rose and fell and sped along. It brought him back in time, and I could sense his energy and love within spilling out as it had done on the canvas.

His words slowed as the story turned to the passing of Judge, and Vic's age crept back upon his face, his body slumped. There was a deep sadness at that moment in the room, and the weight of the emotion caught us both off guard. I saw Vic beyond the canvas and understood that sharing that moment wasn't easy for him, but he understood he could trust me with our friendship.

It was then I realized the correlation within this story. This story was about more than just Judge! At the time of my visit, a family member was experiencing a significant health concern. I asked if I could do a writeup about Judge, and Vic agreed.

I went home that day and wrote two stories, one about Judge, and the other about the emotions behind the story.

A few days later, I presented Vic with both stories. He liked the straight-up Judge story, but the second one about the emotions involved was not his cup of tea. I remember his words, "What the hell is this?"

I explained what I felt he was trying to say that day, that he was deeply concerned for his family member.

We went with the straight-up Judge story.

The funny part was, I don't know what he did with the second story!

Vic let certain pieces he created do his talking for him.

Many of you know Vic travelled all over the province displaying his work, and I heard a few stories about the big show in Buckhorn, but one I want to share was in our own backyard.

Vic occasionally joined me while I was on the road delivering the magazine. Of course, he was always well dressed and had his signature hat on because he knew we would stop for coffee and wanted to look good. This one time, we were in a coffee shop in Port Rowan, enjoying our coffee and a treat. A fella walks up to Vic and says sharply, "Are you Vic Gibbons?" Vic slowly looked up and, without missing a beat, said, "Who's askin'?"

The guy replied, "Mr Gibbons, I am a big fan of your work! And my dad played ball with your brother and you." Vic lit up like a Christmas tree as the guy explained the connection. It was great that Vic could see people appreciate his work! Finally, I was able to drag Vic out of the coffee shop. We get in the van, and Vic looks over at me and says, "I thought at first we were going to have to

fight the guy!" He laughed and smiled all the way home that day!

"Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up" ~ Pablo Picasso.

From those first Christmas cards Vic made at the age of ten to his final painting Lonely Deer, Vic stayed true to his calling. Not many of us in life can say that, but he could! He remained a true artist at heart.

Vic gave my wife a few prints of foxes and wolves to use for the young children she works with. The other day, a little toddler was in her arms, mesmerized, looking at the foxes while they named the fox family after the child's family. My wife said it was a powerful moment, watching the impact of his beautiful work striking a chord with such a young child. Vic's passion for his work will outlive all of us and inspire the next Vic Gibbons.

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"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ~ Pablo Picasso.

I don't know if Vic ever saw this quote, but I think he would agree.

His art took him on a lifelong journey that was constantly rekindled by that next great painting. The eyes in Vic's pictures always breathe life into the moment. It is as if the wolf is staring right back at you, full of heart and majesty. Vic never had to worry about the dust of everyday life!

My friend, I miss you beyond words. Thank you for your time and friendship, your wisdom and laughter, your support and guidance. Perhaps someday we will meet again…

I will bring the coffee and treats!

Dave Scott Vic Gibbons

144 Queensway EastSimcoe • 519-426-3010 • DemeyereChrysler.com

REVERBERATIONS “The comfort of having a friend may be taken away, but not that of having had one.” ~ Seneca A close friend is seriously ill. He doesn’t know if he will regain his former well-being. We live far apart. I don’t see him, but we communicate by e-mail and phone chats. Our main connection is sports. He is the older brother of my long-time running partner and the most knowledgeable person I have ever met on the subject of sports in general. We have both always loved sports, and although we are of a similar age and both grew up in the Toronto area, our paths never crossed until we were about fifty. He was a high school athlete of the year, excelling in football, basketball and track. Once we discovered our common interest and our pleasure in discussing everything from the current scene right back to the fifties, many detailed conversations and writings followed. To top it all off, neither of us can resist telling our stories of the games we played, the competitions we watched and the memorable, sometimes famous, athletes and other sports figures we encountered over a span of more than sixty years.

He is such a great storyteller. I love hearing old stories repeated, just as I love those I’ve never heard before. We both get a great kick out of it all. Of course, we also like to talk about the present and make our prognostications.

Right now, he is not strong enough to engage in our periodic conversations, although he is able to enjoy watching sports on television. It all makes me feel powerless.

Although our paths never crossed in competitive sports, we did play a number of rounds of golf together at various courses in Ontario and on one memorable trip to the Carolinas. Those were always times for laughing and more stories. It was great, even though neither of us was much of a golfer.

I never thought about such times having an endpoint. I remember my dad saying to me once, when he was in his eighties,

“Charlie, all my friends are dying.” That comment has stayed with me. What am I to make of it?

For some reason, in this case, it makes me think of sports in general and all the pure joy they can bring.

A few years ago, I was standing beside a runner named Bob Moore at the side of an auditorium stage. We were waiting to be presented with awards. He turned and said to me, “Charlie, do you think we’ve wasted our lives?” I replied, “Well, I don’t feel you have.” Moore had represented Canada in the 1970 Commonwealth Games marathon and been inducted into the Canadian Road Runners Hall of Fame.

As I progress through the renovations of my new down-sized home, I am astounded by my own lack of knowledge, even if it is not a surprise. Regardless, I am not inclined to say that I have wasted my life. I don’t know why, but I was drawn to sports at an early age and not because of my family. It has been my go-to place for as long as I can remember. I still have two ribbons from my first track and field day in grade 1. I could have used a portion of my innumerable sports hours to develop some competence in other, more practical fields. Yet, if you are able to spend your discretionary time doing what you’re happy doing, what could be better than that?

Even aspects as basic as the sounds of sport bring me immense pleasure when I think about them.

Hockey is a wonderful sport for sounds: the rasp of sharp skates cutting into the ice, the tap-tap-tap of sticks, the ping of a shot off the post, the boom of a missed shot against the boards, the thwack of a puck careening off the glass, the thump of the puck bonking off goalie pads, the whump of a player being plastered against the boards, even the different sounds of goal horns.

Baseball creates a rich array of sounds. They include the crack of the bat, the pop of the ball into a catcher’s mitt, the clatter of cleats on the dugout concrete, the whoosh on a slide, the strrriiike call by an umpire, the indistinguishable chatter of the base coaches, the ballpark organ rallying the crowd, the popping of bubble gum, a clever heckle, the seventh inning stretch song and even the sardonic quips of the ballpark vendors (my favourite from a guy at Dunedin Stadium during spring training: “Two beers for the price of two.”).

I grew up listening to the sounds of tennis at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, situated close to the sunroom of my grandmother’s apartment: the whoosh of a racquet swing, the hard pong of the ball bounce before each serve, the pop of the ball off the taut strings, the scrape of a racquet on the court

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surface, the scuffing of shoes and the grunting of players with every contact.

Simply calling up the word basketball brings the sounds of the game to the fore: the boing noise of the ball bouncing off a parquet floor, the swish as the ball goes through the netting after a basket, the clang of a missed shot off the rim, the squeaksqueak of sneakers on the hardwood floor.

Other sports of my life are full of familiar and pleasurable sounds: think of table-tennis, squash, track and field, soccer, swimming, and more. I could also include the distinctive sounds of golf, such as the swoosh of the driver meeting the pounding click of the ball, the plop of a soft shot landing on the green, or swirling into the cup. Regrettably, I was more familiar with the crack of the ball off a tree or the burst of certain words.

Much pleasure has come to my friend and me from sharing our lifetimes in sports. We don’t have to spend our time educating each other; we have learned or lived the history of what we love. He is no longer close to the action. I wonder if the sounds of sport reverberate for him, echoing his lifetime of direct involvement. That is something I hope I can discuss with him.

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Vic Gibbons

FROM THE CHAIR.

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Do you have neck pain?

Braden from Advantage Athletic Therapy talks about causes and treatment.

SCAN TO WATCH THE BOOMER MUSIC EXPERIENCE SHOW!

I really enjoyed our podcast this month!

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Randy Halmo opened my eyes to the outstanding music of the late Johnny Cash. We discussed his rise on the Country Western charts in the 50s & 60s and his crossover appeal on the rock and roll billboard charts!

PROFESSIONAL DJ SERVICES Randy also takes the time to chat about NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S AWARD the legacy of this music icon. Sit back RANDY HALMO DJ WINNING PROFESSIONAL “Entertainment as DJ Unique and and enjoy the show as we talk about Professional Individual as You Are” The Man in Black!

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Meet Lori, a therapist who provides a safe and non-judgemental space to begin the conversation.

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Vic Gibbons

Barb Anstead, RNT, Metabolic Balance Coach

This life, for you, me, and everyone else, is a finite thing.

Even as a child, I understood this. I have always had a deep respect and appreciation for this life we have been gifted.

My passion for educating and empowering others is rooted in this understanding.

The echo of just how finite that time can be is coloured by my memories of my sister.

February 28, 2023, marked the 10-year anniversary of my sister Cathie’s death. She was 43 when she lost her battle with cancer. She was diagnosed late with stage 4 colon and ovarian cancer (both primary), metastasizing to all lobes of her liver and stomach. Initially misdiagnosed, certain tests were inconclusive, and others didn’t pick it up, but this complex, seemingly unconnected series of elusive symptoms always persisted.

Cathie was a beautiful, intelligent, vibrant young woman. Active, fun, clean living. Her symptoms were an interruption, a mysterious, frustrating, often painful reminder that something wasn’t right. Sadly, it requires skilled diagnosticians to connect the puzzle pieces of our symptoms, but even more so, it takes us to advocate for ourselves personally when things are not “normal” for us.

Diagnosed at 42, Cathie fought hard, uncomplaining and endured what we currently call “treatment”. A month shy of

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her 44th birthday, my sister lost her battle. To say I miss her is such an understatement.

She will never be forgotten. Every day, I work to educate others on the importance of advocating for their own health, recognizing that symptoms are clues - Opportunities to recognize areas of our lives that may require attention and change. Please, don’t suppress, ignore or self-medicate. Push, educate yourself, and find a healthcare team that works with you.

I believe we have a responsibility to ourselves with this life that has been bestowed upon us. As humans, most of us enter into a “negotiation” with our lives. Our healthy habits, typically, are an occasional thing as opposed to the norm.

Life gets messy; I get that. We need to have a balance. Learning which healthy habits are the most impactful as everyday practice, where we might require a lifestyle change, and what goals we need to define for ourselves.

Many of us get stuck in the “comfort zone”. The comfort zone can be a pretty fun place, but nothing changes in the comfort zone. It’s kind of life, being a fan of your life but never actually in the game.

Growth doesn’t happen without change. It takes heart, desire, vision, time, energy, and commitment. It can be daunting because that comfort zone is at least familiar.

Understanding yourself, embracing lifestyle change, and a knowledgeable, dedicated healthcare team, but above all, advocating for your own health and wellness through self-understanding are critical components for healthy lives.

As a Registered Nutritional Therapist, that is my commitment to my clients; to be your coach, guide and educator; to empower you while discovering where it is best to focus your time, energies, and resources; on discovering the best version of you. I made my sister a promise before she died. I promised her to formalize my education, help others understand their bodies better, and make a difference in the quality of their lives. Every day, I work my hardest to help others advocate for themselves and discover where they can make the changes they require in sustainable, supported ways. Each year, because I love learning and to maintain my licensing, I upgrade my education with different courses.

Dover Apothecary is an absolutely wonderful resource. Mike built his three-decade-plus career and shares this passion for the health and wellness of our communities with the understanding that educating people is the best way to assist them in making the appropriate changes to their health.

This shared commitment plus respect for one another is why I enjoy working alongside Mike at the Apothecary Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Patient/client-centred protocols are a perfect blend of allopathic and holistic expertise to determine the best care options for your needs.

Consultations are available by appointment. Receipts are provided, and some private insurers cover my services. To book: 519-410-3544 or barb@healthywellandwise.ca Holistically, science is catching up with “theories” that have been “understood” for centuries. Time and time again, we see studies that were once considered “truths” that are now recognized to be only part of the story and are sometimes erroneous when examined in a different manner.

Health needs to be a 360-degree, panoramic view, not something we approach with blinders on. When we honour our bodies by understanding and supplying the appropriate “fuel” to our cells, we can maximize our health and wellness potentials.

Allow yourself to grow, learn, and be the star player in your game of life.

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Vic Gibbons

Thank You Leona & Debbie It started in 2015 with Debbie Simon saving a few thousand tin can tabs. Debbie's Mom, Leona Bennett, now 83 years young, joined her in 2017, acquiring thousands upon thousands more.

Friends and family across Norfork County, in rural Southern Ontario, had joined in. Even some Canadian Army, Navy & Air Force Unit #255, Simcoe members, including Pam Barrett and good friend George Milne, were collecting tabs for Ladies Auxiliary member Leona Bennett.

George brought the rural Northern Ontario connection in Argyle, Ontario, with Paul and Dona Dobbs on board. Soon their friends, even as far as St. Thomas and Barrie, Ontario, started saving tabs for Leona.

Then in 2019, Lion Hank Steuneberg, who began the Lions Recycle Program in May 2018, moved from the area. Volunteer Jim Hyatt and Lion Paul, with his wife Dona, took over collecting the bags of cans along his route. This was when the Argyle Lions decided Leona could have the tabs, and the proceeds from the recycled cans would go to the club as usual. Literally, thousands of cans were dropped off at George Milne's for the tabs to be removed.

An average of 30 bags x 225 crushed cans per bag equals 6,750 tabs to remove per load.

Not long after, Leona frequently travelled north to the cottage with George. Together, sitting out on a deck or by a cozy fall fire, they spent countless hours, week after week, removing thousands of tin can tabs. And when there were just too many cans to fit in the trailer for recycling, George would manually crush one after another in a small wall-mounted can crusher after the tabs were removed. From there, the tabs made the long journey back to Simcoe with Leona and George.

After filling one water cooler jug after another, all 39, each weighing 10 lbs or more, with the help of Randy Bogaert, were handed over to the Norfolk

County Shrine Club President Howard Todd for one last journey to be recycled in London, Ontario.

Our goal is for a wheelchair for a child in need.

When the child outgrows the chair, it is inspected and readied for another child's transportation needs along the road to independence. But we are not there yet. We need your help. Pocket change between the couch cushions to coins clanking in the laundry, any contribution of any size is greatly appreciated. From contributing cash to saving cans, different ways you can help if you so choose are as follows: To make a monetary donation: Norfork Shrine Club, Simcoe, Ontario WHEELCHAIRS FOR CHILDREN, P.O. Box 202, Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4L1 For large-quantity recycling drop-off questions, don't hesitate to contact Norfork Shrine Club President: Howard Todd by phone at 519-428-5731 or htodd707@gmail.com.

Please label any drop-offs: "Wheelchairs For Children". Label a sandwich bag or small container for small quantities of can tabs. Dropoff: Army, Navy & Air Force, 53 Water St. Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 1R2.

Larger Bags of Tin Cans: Label a large clear bag with a marker or put a visible sheet of paper in the bag. Drop it in any one of the Norfork Shrine Club Popcan Recycling Trailers throughout Norfolk County. One is located downtown, behind the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 79, 200 West St. Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4K8.

Now it's been seven years that have come and gone. No matter how many or how few, how far or near, Hats Off To Everyone and A Huge ThankYou! A special Thank-You to Leona Bennett, my mom, my hero.

Thank you to all the clubs, not only in this story but all across Ontario, for the services they provide and for the never-ending volunteer hours the men and women put in.

Hello, I’m Kevin. and I am here with Daniel at the Barn Yard Patio & Pubs.

How did you get started?

I started with food trucks with Forkin' Perogy in 2019, and this year we opened the restaurant on January 4.

Do you have any barnyard animals?

I don't have any barn animals as yet. The closest would be my two little dogs.

Why did you choose a sit-down restaurant this time?

I think it was because I had already done the food trucks.

It was something I always dreamed of having when I was younger. I actually have a partner who came in with me and split the restaurant with me half and half. He is on a road trip right now. He is the chef in the kitchen, and he handles all the menu side of things, and I handle the frontend stuff.

What type of food do you serve here?

We serve a full Forkin' Perogy menu that everybody loves.

We have smash burgers and we have fried chicken sandwiches, ribs, wings, and appetizers. The menu will expand once the patio opens in the spring.

Is this a seasonal restaurant or open all year?

We will be open all year long.

How many people do you have working for you?

I currently have eight people working with me, and those people are what make the business run smoothly.

What are your hours and location?

We are located at 554 Norfolk Street North, and our hours are 11-9 (Wednesdays and Sundays 11-7).

Do you enjoy what you're doing?

I love it. There is never a time that I wake up and dread what I am doing.

How many food trucks do you have with the Forkin' Perogy?

I have three Forkin' Perogy trucks and one coffee truck.

Thank you for your time.

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Vic Gibbons