Norfolk Hub Magazine, May 2016

FREE MAGAZINE

MAY 2016 Volume 4 Issue 5

CindyPichette.com

I

t was McHappy Day at McDonald’s in Simcoe recently and I stopped by and chatted with Patti Sullivan, store manager. She explained how McHappy Day was helping in

the community. The Norfolk Branch of Special Olympics Ontario was one of the recipients of the funds raised that day. Ronald McDonald House Charities Hamilton (RMHCH) was the other.

RMHCH helped thirty families from Norfolk County last year!

For those who don’t know what RMHCH is or does take a look at this from their website: “This is where families come and are provided with a home away from home for the families of seriously ill children who are staying at a nearby hospital. Our Houses offer families so much more than just a roof over their heads. They have qualified staff and dedicated volunteers who are committed to

Norfolk Hub, The Magazine 23 Market Street, Unit #9, Box 1501 Port Dover ON N0A 1N0 Phone: (519) 429-2567 Publishers: Dave & Monica Scott editor@norfolkhub.ca www.norfolkhub.ca Any reproduction of this publication without permission is prohibited.

Opinions and comments within this publication are those of the writers and not necessarily that of Sports Norfolk or the Norfolk Hub.

CANADIAN TIRE

SIMCOE DELHI ♦

Local Special Olympic athletes and coaches greeting customers at McDonald’s drive-thru in Simcoe. taking care of the day-to-day essentials of running a home, so families don’t have to worry about them. They have programs that offer everything from education to meditation. They are filled with many different families who all share a common bond – love for their sick child.” rmhchamilton.ca CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED!

~ By DAVE SCOTT

DiD you know wE CatEr?!

Kaley’s Restaurant

Kaley’s Kakes & Katering!

Check out our Exciting Menu! Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

33 Robinson Street, Simcoe • 226.440.3444 • khorton@amtelecom.net

WATCH OUR VIDEO PODCAST ONLINE AT NORFOLKHUB.CA!!

SIMCOE - 142 Queensway East 519-426-1513

DELHI - 308 James Street 519-582-2450

Mon to Fri 8am-9pm Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-5pm

Mon to Wed 8am-6pm • Thurs & Fri 8am-8pm Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-5pm

T

he Grand Erie Chapter of the MS Society held their annual walk this month and my wife and I took part. It was great to see so many folks out for such a great event! Jeff Scott, who

I previously had the privilege of making a video with on the subject of living with MS, was on hand. He of course was his usual happy-go-lucky self, a man who is a true inspiration. He refuses to let MS get him down and he emphasizes just how important it is to help others.

Dave Horton co-chair of the MS Society Grand Erie Chapter said this year's walk raised over $45,000!

Dave wanted to thank all the volunteers and participants who made this year's event such a great success!

For myself getting to know both Jeff and Dave has been a wonderful experience. Their knowledge and understanding along with their drive to help others with MS is such a terrific benefit to our community.

If you missed the walk take the time to make a donation at mssociety.ca! You can check out Jeff’s video at norfolkhub.ca

~ By DAVE SCOTT

Your Indoor Air Quality Experts since 1989 www.causyncoolingheating.com • 519.428.3241 421 Unit 1, Queensway West, Simcoe

Certified

Dealer

The CIDER KEG already has LOCAL asparagus, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and apples on hand. With the weather warming up we cannot forget the cider slushies and ice cream to cool you down when you visit the CIDER KEG.

CIDER KEG

THE

Fresh Local ASPARAGUS

OPEN WEEKENDS

FARM L OCA L

MARKET 519 428-0882

CIDERKEG.com

ciderkeg.com 519 426-0705

1231 Hwy 24 S. at Vittoria

Simcoe

SEALS

Simcoe Seals Special Olympics Swim Team donning medals they won at a swim meet in Montreal.

I

caught up with Shirley Shaw, coach of the Simcoe Seals Special Olympics Swim Team, which had just returned from a swim meet in Montreal. Shirley told me the team did awesome getting 63 medals, 30

gold, 19 silver and 14 bronze, a great medal haul for our local team! Eight swimmers have now qualified for the provincial games!

Shirley was proud of the team and the way they represented Norfolk. They took the time to thank everyone from the chefs at the hotel to the bus driver who drove to and from Montreal. It is easy to see why these athletes are Norfolk’s best!

The Seals do all their own fundraising for these trips with everyone from the athletes to the parents and coaches helping out to make them possible.

Shirley wanted to thank the coaches who help keep the athletes calm and confident for all the races and help with all the tasks at hand for the trip.

~ By DAVE SCOTT

Erie Beach Hotel

Simcoe McDonald’s Special Olympian Amanda Shaw

S alu tes

Shirley tells the story of all the athletes watching the movie Dirty Dancing on the way home on the bus and when the song came on, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” they all began to sing. It was a great way to finish off a wonderful and successful weekend in Montreal! Good luck to all the athletes going into the provincials in swimming and bowling, as usual making Norfolk proud!

FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP!

ONE FREE CHEESEBURGER*

WITH ANY DRINK PURCHASE

*NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. VALID ONLY AT 77 QUEENSWAY EAST, SIMCOE. LIMIT ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER PER VISIT. EXPIRES JUNE 10, 2016.



77 Queensway E, Simcoe 519.426.8084

New Look

NORTH SHORE

North Shore ATHLETICS

KalCommodore.com

361 Main Street at Chapman, Port Dover 519.583.3100 www.northshore.rocks

TO

NEW SCHOTT’S LEON’S SIMCOE! Visit Leon’s Simcoe to see our quality outdoor furniture, perfect for your home this summer.

HOLLYWOOD CONVERSATION SET Star-Struck. The Hollywood patio conversation set is a star of outdoor furniture that enlivens any backyard area. The U-shaped sectional boasts a resin wicker frame that stands up to the elements and offers a design that’s Southern California-inspired. Glass-topped for easy care, the side tables are a stylish spot to rest a drink or your summer reading. The round coffee table also features a glass top that completes the outdoor entertaining setup.

There is

nothing like stayingat for HOME realCOMFORT Jane Austen

519.426.0270 leons.ca

LEON’S Furniture

24 Norfolk St, Simcoe

P

lants are beloved for the beauty and variety of their flowers, fruits and foliage. To look their best, all

have requirements for optimal growth and these preferences are indicated on the plant tags. The plant’s mature height and width are noted as are it’s light requirements, usually in pictograph form. These are full sun, partial sun, part shade, and full shade.

THE ART BIT:

Understanding these terms is key in obtaining the most from your plants; a bit of Science and a bit of Art.

THE SCIENCE BIT:

TO

FROM

SUN SHADE

~ By FIONA JAMES

Full Sun refers to 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. It is found on the south, east or west side of your house that gets uninterrupted bright sun from 8 or 9am until 3 or 4pm, or later.

Full shade refers to 3 hours or less of sunlight and may be found under the dense shade of a tree, or on the North side of a house or fence where the sun may be direct only in early morning or evening.

Partial sun and partial shade are similar and cause the most confusion but refer to areas that get 3-6 hours of direct sunlight perhaps in either the morning or the afternoon and may also be found in the dappled or filtered shade of a tree, shrub, pergola or fence.

For partial sun, the focus should be to provide a bit more sun. In comparison, the emphasis for partial shade should be the shade. In most cases this will mean protection from afternoon sun.

As the season progresses from May 24 to June 21 the sunlight and day length increase but after the solstice, the change in the angle of the sun as the season progresses means that there will be margins where the sun no longer reaches. That corner of the garage that is surprisingly sunny on the first of July will be in shadow by the middle of the month.

Consider the distance from your own house. The farther away from the walls and fence, the more direct sun falls. Consider your neighbour’s houses and the shadow that they cast. Consider trees and sheds on your and your neighbour’s property. Consider how trees grow over the years. That spot that was once in full sun can become very shady when the Blue Spruce matures.

Mapping your entire yard for sun and shade is a daunting task but if there is a particular place in your garden, balcony or patio, where you are unsure of the amount of sun it receives, it might be worthwhile to check each hour whether that place is in sun or shade. Count the number of checkmarks at the end of the day.

814 Cockshutt Road, Simcoe, 1 km south of Renton 519.428.4607

IN THE

Long RUN to

The

UPHILL ROAD

RIO K

~ By CHARLIE UPSHALL

rista Duchene is a friend of mine. She lives close-by

in Brantford. She will most likely be on the starting line for the women’s marathon at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, competing for Canada, the pinnacle of an amateur athletic career. The road for Krista to this momentous occasion has been long and arduous. She has remained focussed and committed through a series of challenges that would have caused a lesser person to give up.

I first met Krista about ten years ago when we both ran out of the Paris Runner’s Den. It’s difficult for me now to even believe that I used to be able to run with her, but it’s true. She was always interesting, thoughtful, funny and, of course, a beautiful runner.

Our group was lucky to have her. She began to realize that she had the potential to accomplish something in the sport and when that took hold, there was nothing that could stop her. She had already had a successful career as a hockey player, being an all-star and the MVP of the Ontario Universities Women’s Championships while attending the University of Guelph.

Her debut marathon had been 3:28 in 2002. She participated successfully in many local races during the ensuing years and also ran Boston in 3:00. The turning point came in 2010 when Krista won the National Championship at the Ottawa Marathon with a 2:39 after giving birth to her second boy. In 2012, a year after having a daughter, she placed first at the 30k Around the Bay race and ran 2:32 at the Rotterdam Marathon in an unsuccessful attempt to make the standard for the London Olympics. The performance was an outstanding seven minute improvement for her.

In 2013, Krista was the Canadian half marathon champion, represented Canada at the World Championships in Moscow, where she did not finish, and came back to run the second fastest marathon ever run by a Canadian woman (2:28:32) at the Scotiabank Toronto Marathon.

In March 2014, she won Around The Bay for the second time and appeared to be at the top of her game. However, a short time later, in Montreal at the Canadian Half Marathon Championships, near the end of the race she fractured her femur. Hobbling to the finish line in intense pain, she won the bronze medal. The fracture required emergency surgery, resulting in the placement of a plate and three screws.

Returning to Rotterdam in the spring of 2015, Krista ran 2:29:38 to make the Olympic standard for Rio. Finally, it seemed, she would reach her longKRISTA DUCHENE time goal. She had made will most likely many sacrifices, run many be on the miles, often before dawn starting line for so she could be home to the women’s get her kids ready for their marathon at the days. In addition she, over 2016 Summer many years completed Olympics in long treadmill workouts, biked, swam, lifted Rio de Janeiro, weights, ran in the pool, competing for pushed her kids in a baby Canada, the jogger on hill workouts, pinnacle of maintained an organized an amateur preventative maintenance athletic career. schedule, paid assiduous attention to nutrition (she is a registered dietician), recovery and rest, all the while keeping her family with young children as her absolute top priority.

Despite setbacks, not only due to her fractured femur but also to other injuries, including cracked ribs resulting from a fall while skating with her kids and a fractured metatarsal bone in her foot last summer, caused by stepping on a rock, her focus remained unaltered and her outlook relentlessly positive.

There were still hurdles to be cleared. As she had met the qualifying standard for Rio in early 2015, she was required to prove competitive readiness to Athletics Canada. Her first two attempts this year, at the Chilly Half Marathon and at Around the Bay (even though she ran 1:47) did not meet the exacting standards set by the governing body. Missing at Around The Bay on April

3 meant there were only a few weeks before the deadline of May 29 to find another certified race and reach a peak again. She and her coach, Rick Mannen, chose the Montreal Half Marathon, the same race where she had fractured her leg two years earlier. It took place on April 23 and Krista ran 1:12:30, winning easily and satisfying the administrators that she was fit.

Still it is not guaranteed that she will be on the team. Her qualifying time has to remain among the three fastest among Canadian women (this seems extremely likely), she has to be uninjured, and she has to be officially selected to the team. All the time she will be training to the maximum her body will allow. From now until close to the beginning of August that will likely usually be in the range of 160 km a week, with plenty of speed intervals, tempo runs, long runs and some build-up races. Everything she has will be going into the next few months. These Olympics are a onetime only opportunity for Krista, as she is 39 years old. To be an elite marathoner at that age is extremely rare. There is just one clearly comparable competitor in Olympic history. Constantina Dita of Romania won the gold medal in 2008 at the age of 38.

As a runner, Krista has been a wonderful inspiration to me and to many others. She has done without many pleasures and endured considerable pain, in order to represent her country, Canada, in one of the toughest of all events.

I knew her two immediate predecessors, Danuta Bartoszak and May Allison, members of my former track club, who represented Canada in Atlanta in 1996. It has been a long wait for another Canadian Olympic woman marathoner, but in Krista Duchene we have such a worthy representative. She has earned the selection and I hope we will all be cheering like crazy for her on Sunday, August 14, 2016.

TAE PHOTOGRAPHY

South Coast YOUTH VOLLEYBALL

A

s soon as I walked into the gym at Waterford District High School, I heard a voice that I recognized from my high school days in Port Dover (way back when). It was a voice filled with

passion, demanding respect. The kids in Waterford were quietly sitting on the floor listening as they intently looked up at the instructor. I knew then that the volleyball program was going to continue to grow!

The voice I heard was that of Marg Stephen, a retired teacher from Port Dover Composite School. She looked fit as a fiddle and you could see that her enthusiasm for teaching volleyball (the right way) burned as bright as ever!

Marg had the kids working on drills when I finally had the opportunity to chat with her. She explained to me that this was the second year for the volleyball camp, which runs from February until May, Thursday nights in the high school gym in Waterford.

The program had forty kids the first year, forty-four this year and hopefully next year will have 60. The age range is grade 4 right up to high school. Marg of course, has the kids playing within their own age groups, learning volleyball skills and having fun!

I asked Marg why she started the program. She explained that she was refereeing the local high school games and saw an opportunity to help kids further develop their skill set and perhaps pick up a few new ideas about the game.

Marg being a volleyball “lifer” threw herself into developing the program and put her money where her mouth was. She bought the nets and poles, went out and got donations for shirts and balls, worked with the Grand Erie District School Board to secure gym time and brought in skilled coaches to help.

I asked one of the moms how her kids liked the program. She told me they enjoyed it. She was impressed with how organized Marg's staff was, the attention to detail regarding skills and how quickly the kids were learning!

The proof is in the pudding! Marg pointed out (with a big smile on her face) how the kids were making their school teams now, winning games and even a couple of championships.

Marg would love to see some of the local elementary and high school coaches come to the program as an opportunity to expand their volleyball base for their own programs at their schools.

If your child enjoys the game and works hard, there is no finer camp than South Coast Youth Volleyball. With Marg, what you see is what you get… no nonsense, passion for the game, earned respect, and skills your child can learn and use for a game that can be played for a lifetime!

Get all your volleyball information at southcoastyouthvolleyball.ca

~ By DAVE SCOTT

SENIOR SENSE

MCKiEE&Farrar GeneraL Insurance Ltd

Tri-CounTy Insurance Brokers Ltd

Community-minded.

Gair

Insurance Ltd ♦ Life Insurance ♦ Business Home ♦ Auto ♦ Farm

TRI-COUNTY

r.E.Mann

tricountyins.ca 519-443-8645 35 Main Street, Waterford, ON N0E 1Y0

Brokers Ltd

~ By PAT GRANT

Reviewing Our DRIVING HABITS

E

very senior driver who is 80 receives a letter from the Department of Transport. It tells the driver to call

and make an appointment. On calling they are given the date, time and place to attend their session on driving.

On following these instructions, they find they are a part of a group of seniors who are also here for these sessions. A pleasant person who introduces himself by name and by his role as their group leader for the day greets them. Then, they all go into a room with chairs, a film projector, screen and slides. Taking their chairs (the hardest in the county!!), the session begins with a review of driving rules and regulations. Then shapes are shown that the class is to identify as road signs and what they mean. A short film is shown and the class is to pick out all the mistakes that the driver made. By now the group is more relaxed and their “fright of a test” they came in with is almost gone!!

Thompson Waters Funeral Home Ltd. Funeral Director: Gary Sywak Business Manager: Carla Sywak • Family owned and operated • Serving Port Dover & surrounding area for over 100 years ~ We’re here to help ~

www.thompsonwatersfuneralhome.ca 102 1st Ave., Port Dover • 519-583-1530

The leader now gives each “student” a pencil and paper.

The paper has lines of shapes that are the same and there are some shapes that are different. Those that are different are to be circled. While these papers are marked the group has a break and can stretch those aching legs and other parts! Ugh!!! Next time bring a pillow!!

Back in class, each senior who "passed" is called by name, given a sealed envelop and leaves for home and a cup of coffee!!!

The class has been told to take this sealed envelop to the drivers' bureau and then they will be given their driver's license. There are some grins as one feels a bit like taking a note from teacher to mom!!

The entire "review" is really very good and gets one more conscious of their driving habits and some of the no-nos everyone practices!! It also gets seniors thinking about their aging and changes in abilities to drive safely!! For now on, this review is going to happen every two years.

NOW FOR A CANADA QUIZ. What is the river that flows through these cities?

London, Winnipeg, Cornwall, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa. How did you do?

Division of Cowan Insurance Group

ContaCt Gary Hepburn

519.583.0999

Phone: 905.528.0193 or Toll Free: 1.800.463.5386 benefits@wentworthfinancial.com

www.wentworthfinancial.com

605-105 Main Street East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 1G6

Now for the answers! Thames, Red, St. Lawrence, Don, Elbow, Ottawa

RESPIRATORY Health

Dover Apothecary “A Different Kind of Drugstore”

• Meds Check service available - call to book your Free consultation today!

• Visit our website for more information and refill your prescriptions online

MICHAEL MARINI, B.Sc. Phm. Pharmacist

Y

Michael Marini, B.Sc. Phm. Pharmacist 328 Main St., Port Dover 519-583-3784 1-888-233-8111

our respiratory system is your body’s www.doverapothecary.ca ventilation system, taking in energy in the form of oxygen and eliminating waste in the form of carbon dioxide. There is a breathtaking array of substances out there BROUGHT TO YOU BY that can compromise your breathing - allergens, bacteria, viruses, tobacco smoke, and pollution. By making healthy lifestyle choices, you can help safeguard your lungs against more serious problems.

RESPIRATORY HEALTH IN TODAY’S SOCIETY

DOVER APOTHECARY, A FAMILY HEALTH CARE PHARMACY (FHCP)

Lung disease is a disorder where lung function is impaired. Anyone can develop a lung disease for any number of reasons. You could be a smoker, inhaling a toxic mix of chemicals daily. You could be working at a job site that exposes you to the deadly fibres of asbestos. You could contract pneumonia, leaving scar tissue in your airways. Or, you could have been born with highly sensitive airways, making you susceptible to pollens and allergens.

While studies show that people tend to be more concerned about heart attacks and strokes, lung diseases are far more serious. They kill more people than any other disease worldwide. Moreover, the death rates due to lung disease are still rising, while death rates from other leading causes of death, such as heart disease and stroke, are going down.

Why the increase? First, lung function declines as we get older, putting our aging population at an increased risk of lung infections. Second, the cumulative effects of smoking are beginning to be felt in the general population. Finally, worldwide increases in the incidences of asthma and allergies have been linked to global climate change.

LUNG DISEASE There are many types of lung diseases, some of which contain a combination of two or three types. The most common types include: Obstructive airway diseases - These affect the airways that carry oxygen in and out of the lungs. The airways either become too narrow or there is a blockage that limits the flow of air, making breathing laboured and difficult. Examples include asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Infectious lung diseases - These occur when viruses or bacteria infect the membrane (or pleura) that surrounds the lungs.

Examples include pneumonia, influenza, and tuberculosis (TB).

Respiratory Failure - This can be caused by problems with the normal gas exchange and blood flow in the lungs. Examples include pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension.

Lung cancer - This often deadly disease is characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.

Lung tissue diseases - These diseases cause stiffening and scarring of the lungs making it harder to exhale carbon dioxide from the body. Examples include pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis.

Occupational diseases - These occur when occupational dusts and chemicals (vapours, irritants fibres and fumes) affect the lungs. An example is asbestosis.

Of these, asthma is now the most common respiratory disease in Canada, with about 2.7 million cases.

Remember - simple lung tests can help your doctor identify lung problems early on, when treatment is most effective.

Your FHCP pharmacist can also work with you by recommending products and lifestyle strategies to manage your condition.

Obviously you can’t control factors such as global warming, but you can start taking proactive steps to protect your lungs by gaining a better understanding of your breathing problem, along with an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Doctors diagnose breathing problems by performing a physical exam, taking your medical history, and conducting different breathing tests.

Paying attention to any changes with your breathing can keep a problem from becoming too serious. If a wheezing cough persists for too long, for example, see your doctor.

MCKiEE&Farrar GeneraL Insurance Ltd

New ArrivAl!!

All natural Chalk & Clay based Paints for your furniture and cabinetry!

Insuring families Tforrigenerations.

-CounTy

Dover Paint and Paper

415 Main

Street,

Port Dover

519.583.3411

Brokers ♦Ltd ♦ Farm ♦ Business Home ♦ AutoInsurance Life Insurance

MCKIEE & FARRAR

Gair

mckieefarrar.com 519-426-2551 28 Colborne Street North, Simcoe ON N3Y 3T9 Insurance Ltd

r.E.Mann Watch our latest video podcast

Brokers Ltd

at

norfolkhub.ca

AllCompany BC_Business Card 2015-05-28 1

Great Lakes Physiotherapy 519.426.6580 WELLNESSPHARMACY.NET 454 Norfolk Street S. Simcoe

And Sports Medicine

87 Thompson Drive Port Dover N0A 1N4

AllCompany BC_Business AllCompany BC_Business Card 2015-05-28Card 1 2015-05-28 1

“We’ll get you Moving” Great Lakes Great Lakes Physiotherapy Physiotherapy

And Sports Medicine And Sports Medicine 519-410-7775

17 Talbot St. N., Simcoe, On N3Y 3W5 P: 519-429-3678 • F: 519-429-3405

99 King St., 17 Talbot St. N., King St., Delhi, On 99 N4B 1X7 Simcoe, On N3Y 3W5 Delhi, N4B 1X7 • F:On 519-582-4294 P: 519-429-3678 • F: 519-429-3405 P: 519-582-2552

P: 519-582-2552 • F: 519-582-4294

519-410-7775

17 Talbot St. N., 17 Talbot St. N., Simcoe, On N3Y 3W5 Simcoe, On N3Y 3W5 P: 519-429-3678 P: • F:519-429-3678 519-429-3405• F: 519-429-3405 99 King St., 99 King St., Delhi, On N4B 1X7Delhi, On N4B 1X7 P: 519-582-2552 P: • F:519-582-2552 519-582-4294• F: 519-582-4294

519.426.0208 29 Talbot St. North, Simcoe, ON N3Y 3W5

RETURNING ZIPPERS PAY ONLY

519-410-7775

$

25

ANYTIME when you bring 2 or MORE full paying FRIENDS!

THE

REELDEAL

BECKY and LARRY can be reached at INFO@FRIENDSONTHEFLY.com

and

~ with BECKY KNIFTON and LARRY MELLORS

Get KIDS OUTSIDE Involved

T

he health and wellbeing of our children has become a hot topic over the years. Many government studies

have been carried out analyzing the changes in our society and what it is doing to our kids.

We are in an age of technology that evolves faster than we can blink. Our kids know how to use an iPhone before they can even walk.

Childhood obesity rates are skyrocketing, and diabetes, which only used to plague adults, has become a reality in childhood diseases.

It is our job as parents and adults to set the example and encourage our kids to stay active, eat healthy, and find activities for them to enjoy the outdoors - away from the TV and electronics. Get them outside. Explore the outdoors and the natural environment. Teach them it’s okay to get dirt under their fingernails or their boots stuck in the mud.

There are very few elementary schools that incorporate the outdoors in their curriculum anymore, making it even more important for adults to get young people outside and to involve them in practical hands-on appreciation of the environment.

We can all do our part to get children to connect with nature and to develop the knowledge, skills, and appreciation for it.

There are organizations such as Friends of the Grand River and Trout Unlimited Canada that encourage families, young and old, to get involved with their work days. Planting trees, park clean ups, and even aquatic renewal efforts. High school students are required to complete volunteer hours in order to graduate so what better way to give back than planting a tree or picking up garbage from ditches?

We are involved with both organizations and see firsthand the kids that come out to help not only have fun but they are proud of what they do to help.

So what does that have to do with fishing?

In our biased opinion, there is no better way to teach kids about the outdoors and the environment than teaching them how to fish. There is nothing better than the excitement of someone’s very first fish - young or old.

Fishing does not need to be an expensive hobby. You can find very reasonable fishing combos at any big box store or tackle shop. Or you can even find lots of gently used equipment at garage sales or online. Just make sure the rod and reel outfit you use is one they can hold properly. A short spinning rod of 4.5 to 6 feet is ideal for small children.

Of utmost importance when a child is first exposed to fishing is to keep it simple. They should be having fun. This isn’t the time to show them how to rig a three hook dropshot rig! A red and white bobber with a hook and a dew worm is plenty. Show them how to bait their own hooks, let them play with the worms, or play in the minnow bucket. Getting young children into fishing means helping them catch fish. The experience has to be about “catching” not just about “fishing”. Think about how we as adults can lose interest if we don’t catch a fish. It is especially true when a child is involved.

Take some time to plan your day. Check the weather, and plan for only a couple hours. You want this to be a fun outing small children will not last long, even with a full bait bucket. Make sure you pack plenty of snacks and drinks.

It’s not just us who think kids should be involved in fishing. There are lots of events and kids fishing derbies in the spring and summer. Recently Camp Trillium had a Breakfast and Fishing Derby. This was a fantastic event which put happy faces on hundreds of young and old. There are other fishing derbies for kids within Norfolk Township this year - Children’s serving Lake erie Boaters Fishing Derby at Backus Heritage Conservation Area on July 2; and Deer Creek Children’s Fishing Derby on August for over 60 years 13. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry encourages kids and families to get out. Every year there is the Ontario Family Fishing Event that allows all Canadian residents to fish Ontario waters without the mandatory fishing license. This year it will be from July 2 to 10.

So get your kids, their friends, the neighbourhood kids down to the ol’ fishing hole and show them how much fun it can be. Check the websites and Facebook pages of local clubs to watch for any volunteer events and fishing days in your area.

If you would like any further information about Trout Unlimited Canada or Friends of the Grand River - send us a quick email info@friendsonthefly.com.

519-426-0653

487 Q ueensway st w. s imcoe

www.proctormarine.com

gallery23 VIBRATIONS presents

Kathryn Hogg Paintings

Show runs until June 6 23 Market Street West, Port Dover 519.718.1519