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Elmira, Ontario, Canada | observerxtra.com | Volume 27 | Issue 33

Business | 9

270

Council comments come under fire Coun. Murray Martin receiving criticism following rainbow crosswalk remarks at Woolwich council meeting this week Steve Kannon Observer Staff

Woolwich Coun. Murray Martin is being criticized for comments deemed homophobic.

File Photo

A REQUEST TO BE INCLUSIVE quickly got divisive at a Woolwich council meeting Monday night, provoking some heated comments and generating an ongoing controversy.

The discussion was prompted by a letter from the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington about the creation of a “progress rainbow crosswalk” for the town of Elmira in support of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Comments from Coun. Murray Martin taking issue with the use of the rainbow symbol on religious grounds immediately shifted the tenor of

the meeting.

“I’m not in favour of it.

It’s not in keeping with the values of this community.

They can send this letter right back where it came from,” Martin said of the CMHA’s request.

“The issue I have , it’s not about the lifestyle, it’s using the rainbow itself.

Where did the first rainbow come from? Everybody should know. It came after the big flood – Noah and the ark. And God made a covenant with his people that he would not destroy the world again with a flood, and he gave them the rainbow.

“So now we use that and we trash it to promote a lifestyle that is not correct.”

Martin was briefly inter-

rupted by Mayor Sandy Shantz, but was allowed to continue.

“I’m just telling you that I do not think that it is proper. I did not say anything about the lifestyle,” he said.

“They can use anything else to promote what they want, but not something that was a gift to us from God.” Coun. Scott McMillan immediately took issue with Martin’s comments.

“We can’t allow statements to stand where we’re calling people improper for who they are. It’s not a lifestyle, it’s who they are.

It’s their identity,” said McMillan, adding that the matter should be referred to staff to find a suitable → CONTROVERSY 4

Candidates now in place for October’s municipal election Steve Kannon Observer Staff

THE NOMINATIONS PERIOD HAVING CLOSED August 19, the slate of candidates is set in Woolwich and Wellesley, though not every ward will be contested in the October

24 municipal election.

In Woolwich, there’s a race for mayor, with incumbent Sandy Shantz and current Ward 1 Coun.

Patrick Merlihan on the ballot. In Ward 1, there are four candidates – Cheryle Baker, Evan Burgess, Nathan Cadeau and Dan

Holt – vying for the two seats available. In Ward 2, the contest is between incumbent Fred Redekop and Eric Schwindt, while Ward 3 has four people – Paul Bolger, Bonnie Bryant, Kayla Grant and incumbent Murray Martin – hoping to claim the two

seats up for grabs.

In Wellesley, incumbent Joe Nowak was the only one to file for the job, with acclamations lined up for incumbent Ward 1 Coun.

Shelley Wagner and Ward 2 newcomer Lori Sebben.

There are races in Ward 3 – Derek Brick and Mary

Lichty – and Ward 4, where newcomers Robert Caskanette and Claude Hergott join the fray.

A number of incumbents chose not to run this time around. In Woolwich, Ward 1 Coun. Scott McMillan and Ward 3 Coun. Larry Shantz are stepping down when

this terms ends. In Wellesley, it’s Ward 2 Coun. Herb Neher, Ward 3 Coun. Peter van der Maas and Ward 4 Coun. Carl Smit.

At the regional level, incumbent Chair Karen Redman is running against Brendon John Da Costa and Narine Dat Sookram.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 3

Page Three

If it matters to you.

It matters to us.

News tips are always welcome.   

New fees for Breslau road

From the archives

Buyers can expect to pay thousands more for a new home in Woolwich to pay for a much-criticized new roadway, including a bridge, in Breslau. After previously axing the idea, township council this week approved the road plan and its $30-million budget, closing the environmental assessment process. Development charges will increase yet more to help fund it.

A six-acre slice of the Elmira Raceway property will be home to new recreational facilities in Woolwich, as council this week agreed to a $137,500-deal with the property’s new owners. The parcel includes land immediately adjacent to the Elmira Arena and parking lot, and includes the existing grandstand building.

From the Aug. 23, 2003 edition of The Observer

Wellesley Fair ambassador earns kudos at CNE competition Bill Atwood Observer Staff

Liam Moyer, Coleton Benham and Andrew Gear are this year’s recipients of the Dan Snyder Memorial Scholarship. This fall Moyer will be heading to the University of Waterloo to study environment and business, Benham is going to the University of Guelph to study management, and Gear will be going to Wilfred Laurier to study kinesiology. Leah Gerber

This year’s recipients of Dan Snyder scholarships Leah Gerber Observer Staff

THREE YOUNG LOCAL ATHLETES GOT a $1,900 boost for their educational pursuits last week, becoming the latest recipients of NHLPA Dan Snyder Memorial Scholarships.

Andrew Gear of Elmira, Coleton Benham of Winterbourne and Elmira’s Liam Moyer were welcomed to the Waterloo home of Graham and Lu Ann Snyder on August 17.

It was the 18th year the Snyders have made such presentations.

The Dan Snyder Memorial Scholarship has been awarded since 2004 in honour of Dan Snyder, an Elmira native who played for the National Hockey League’s Atlanta Thrashers. In 2003 he died of injuries he sustained in a car accident.

This fall, Gear is attending Wilfrid Laurier University to study kinesiology, Benham is attending the

University of Guelph to study management, and Moyer will be studying environmental and business studies at the University of Waterloo.

“I would like to thank the Snyder family for the honour of this award and their ongoing commitment to the Woolwich community,” said Gear.

After his kinesiology degree, Gear plans to attend teachers’ college.

He says he is also trying out for Junior C hockey,

BACK TO SCHOOL

and hopes to play for many more years.

“It means a lot to me to be nominated for this award since Dan has created such a legacy in our town,” said Moyer.

“Even though I did not know Dan personally, I am both honoured and humbled to receive this award in his memory considering how much determination, sportsmanship, and dedication he had.” → SCHOLARSHIPS 4

AFTER REPRESENTING WELLESLEY AS THE fair ambassador over the last year, Avery Flynn placed seventh in the Ambassador of the Fair competition at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto last week.

The competition saw 31 ambassadors (normally around 70 in non-covid years) from across Ontario compete to represent the CNE over the next year.

The weekend full of seminars and workshops appeared daunting beforehand, but ended up being a great experience, Flynn explained.

The semi-finals of the competition saw the ambassadors give a one-minute speech on suggested topics and answer impromptu questions. While that was nerve-wracking, Flynn also received support along the way.

“The CNE was there to help us. They weren’t there to try to put us on the spot. All the ambassadors, the chaperones, the speakers, they were all there to help us and we were all there to help each other,” she said Flynn chose to speak on what it means to be Canadian.

“Canada is so different that sometimes it’s hard to find similarities between everyone. We have our huge cities and then we

Wellesley Fair ambassador Avery Flynn competed at the CNE. Submitted

have our small agricultural societies. And I thought trying to tie them together to what it truly means to be Canadian for every single person who lived here was really important,” she said.

Finishing seventh was quite an experience, Flynn explained.

“Once I heard my name, my heart just started pounding and it was definitely a surreal feeling.

And also seeing the friends that I’ve made there get called up was also fulfilling too.”

Kathy McNaughton, Ambassador of the Fair program coordinator, said “It was a pleasure to meet Avery. She stood out as a fine young woman with a great deal of potential and her community is lucky to have her. I’m sure part → CNE 5

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022

4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

SCHOLARSHIPS: Helping youth athletes with postsecondary studies The seed fund for the scholarship was raised from NHL player donations as well as through an online auction of jerseys operated by the National Hockey League Players’ Association.

The scholarship has so far provided some $80,000 to more than 60 local student athletes.

The scholarship recipients are selected by a panel of judges that includes the Snyder family. Criteria for selection includes sportsmanship, dedication, determination and scholastics.

→ FROM 3

Moyer was previously a defenseman in the Woolwich Wildcats hockey system. Moyer was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2019. He was in hospital for chemo, radiation and a bone marrow transplant in November 2020, which was successful. The donor was his younger brother.

Benham played baseball and football in high school.

He currently plays for the Waterloo Minor Baseball Association, and plans to try out for the University of Guelph’s team.

Dennis Kwasnycia, who builds and repairs guitars, came from Chatham to attend the Elmira Vintage Guitar Show last Sunday at the Woolwich Memorial Centre. It was the first show since the Leah Gerber pandemic put it on hold.

Retired EDSS teacher has concerns about data breach Leah Gerber Observer Staff

IN JULY THE WATERLOO REGION District Schoolboard was the victim of illegal cyber crime when attackers gained unauthorized access to the board’s information technology system.

The attackers gained access to the personal information of current and past employees, as well as students.

The information they gained about employees included names, birthdates, banking information and social insurance numbers of current and past employees back to 1970. Payment history to 2012 was also accessed.

One retired teacher from Elmira District Secondary School, Richard Clausi, is demanding the school board take stronger actions to protect retirees whose data was stolen. Clausi is the Chapter 24 president of the Active Retired Members of Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation.

“Our members are really, really concerned.

ARM chapter 24 represents retirees, and I had one person say,

Rich Clausi

File Photo

‘when I retired, I returned my key, my security card and all that stuff. And I assumed that the board would reciprocate with our personal data, or at least encrypt it, archive it, safeguard it offline,’” he said.

“I genuinely sympathize with where (the school board) is at. But that doesn’t correct the fact that we have a problem.”

In a blog post, school board staff announced the data breach and said, “we have recovered the data, and we have received

assurance that any data taken as part of the cyber intrusion has been deleted.”

But Clausi is not so sure. “Data is funny,” he said. “It’s tangible. But the strange thing is that a copy is every bit as good as the original. It is the original for all intents and purposes, better than a photocopy. It is the original. And so there’s an awful lot of stress out there.”

What Clausi really wants to know is why that 52 years of data was available to be hacked in the first place.

“I retired over 10 years ago. It boggles me that they would hang on to that. Things like social insurance number, date of birth... financial informationthat is part of your digital identity. And, you know, if you wanted to steal somebody’s identity, right there in one little basket they’ve got everything they would need.”

“This whole business of identity theft is really scary,” he said.

Clausi approached the school board with three main asks: that a data lifecycle policy be developed so that sensitive data is no longer stored

indefinitely; that retirees be notified of the data breach directly, as many had to find out about it “through the grapevine,” he said; that retirees be granted indefinite credit monitoring, courtesy of the school board. Current and former employees are eligible to sign up for one year of complementary credit monitoring, though Clausi said he believes this is not enough.

The school board has not yet responded for comment.

July’s cyber attack also disrupted the school board’s payment of employees and those waiting for records of employment.

In a release, school board staff stated, “Going forward we are taking a number of additional measures to strengthen our systems. Working in collaboration with our internal IT team and external IT experts, we are continuing to invest in leading technologies to protect our systems and data from ever-growing cybersecurity threats.”

The post also included the link to make a complaint to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

CONTROVERSY: Some councillors push back against Martin’s remarks → FROM 1

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location for such a crosswalk.

“I think it would be a wonderful sign of support that this is precisely the values of our community, and we are a loving place, a welcoming place.”

That call was backed

by Coun. Fred Redekop, a Mennonite pastor.

“I think we are a very diverse community, and we want to be open to all aspects of people within the township.”

Coun. Patrick Merlihan also voiced disapproval of Martin’s comments.

“I’m not shocked that those statements were made, but that was really offensive to me,” he said.

“Our community, our values are inclusive. They should be – maybe not for everybody – but that’s what the goal should be.”

Mayor Sandy Shantz noted that Martin had

Screen capture of Monday night’s online meeting of Woolwich council.

prefaced his comments by saying he doesn’t judge the lifestyle of those in the 2SLGBTQI+ community.

“For that reason, I let him carry on with his own understanding from his own perspective. We all are different and are all coming at it from different points of view,” she said.

“While I disagree with the way it sounded, I also respect his right to share his opinions.”

Carrying on from there, Martin said he prefaced his comments to be clear about his intentions.

“It wasn’t about people.

It wasn’t about a lifestyle,”

he said, stressing the use of the rainbow symbol was his concern.

“I don’t need anyone to apologize on my behalf or to apologize to anyone else. I have the right to my opinion. It wasn’t offensive what I said, and there’s very little to argue.”

By the following afternoon, however, Shantz was apologizing for letting Martin go on.

“Upon reflection I apologize and regret not stopping the comments from Councillor Martin pertaining to the rainbow crosswalk. Woolwich prides itself on being a

forward-thinking inclusive township who invites and welcomes residents including those from the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” she said in a released statement.

“I have listened to the comments received from the community and I have taken time to speak and apologize to those who have been harmed by these comments. Again, I apologize and regret my actions from last night and want to reassure our community that we are a safe, diverse, inclusive, accepting and welcoming community.”

Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

COMMUNITY NEWS | 5

Elmira family hoping for the return of speed-alert sign Bill Atwood Observer Staff

A LOCAL FAMILY IS SENDING out a plea for the return of their speed-alert sign they affectionately named “Green JD.” The family alleges the sign was taken from the property sometime during the early hours of Aug. 12.

Resident Judy Hiller bought the Step2 Kid Alert Visual Warning for her son’s family when she grew concerned about the speed of cars driving past their home in Elmira.

“That road is just so wild with traffic and speed.

We’ve been asking the township to lower the speed there, but we all know where that goes. We just decided, well, somehow maybe we can draw attention to slowing it down – you could actually see him for quite a distance even coming down the hill,” said Hiller of Green JD. Hiller’s grandchildren really took to the sign, she added.

“Our four-year-old grandson loves John Deere and the green reminded him of that, so Green JD became part of the family,” Hiller said.

While there is little information known as to the

circumstances surrounding Green JD’s disappearance, Hiller believes it was stolen.

“Since his legs don’t move and he is loaded down with sand, we know he hasn’t wandered off or at least not far,” she said.

[My son] is pretty sure he knows when it happened because he heard a lot of voices and stuff in the middle of the night one night when the windows were open. Some people were out on the road at that time, then he noticed the next day it was gone,” she explained.

The sign’s disappearance is troubling, Hiller said.

“We were really disappointed with that. I don’t want to put everybody in the same box. I still believe we live in an honest area, but it was disappointing.

“We like to believe we live in an honest area.

I’ve lived there all my life and people put things at the end of their road and expect honesty and in how much money they give for a basket of beets [for example]. It’s the honor system.

You just expect people to be honest.

If Green JD does not return, Hiller hopes he is still getting used for his intended purpose.

“My husband actually drove down the road

ↆ P OL ICE

Police investigating fraud connected to online lumber purchases Waterloo Regional Police are continuing to investigate reports of fraud involving lumber purchases using online buy and sell websites.

Between October and December 2021, the suspects obtained lumber and building materials using fraudulently obtained credit accounts. In one case, the suspect impersonated a lumber store manager and sold the

An Elmira family is looking for the return of a sign dubbed Submitted Green JD.

looking in the ditches to see if they just picked it up and threw it in the ditch but we couldn’t find it on the road either. So maybe somebody else has it that needs it more than we did,” she added.

Hiller has yet to file a report, instead choosing to wait for a chance at Green JD’s return. If that does happen there will be no hard feelings or questions asked, she said.

“They can just return it in the middle of the night. If it disappeared in the middle of the night, they could return it in the middle of the night and I wouldn’t know who brought it.”

REP ORT

AUGUST 16 1:19 PM | Perth County

OPP responded to a collision on Wellington Road 86 in the Township of Perth East. No injuries were reported, but a 42-year-old resident of Rockwood was charged with ‘fail to yield from driveway.’ The accused was issued a provincial notice for the offence.

AUGUST 18 9:19 AM | Waterloo Regional Police and Woolwich firefighters were called to the Region of Waterloo International Airport after the pilot of a plane radioed to the tower that it was having

lumber for cash using Kijiji.

The suspects are unknown at this time.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who may have similarly purchased lumber and building materials during this time is encouraged to contact the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s General Investigations Unit Commercial Fraud at

519-570-9777 extension 6365 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.

Waterloo Regional Police are reminding the public to be suspicious of cash deals with steep discounts and only to purchase building materials from legitimate sellers, including retail stores.

issues with its landing gear. Police responded to block roads until the plane was landed safety.

There were no physical injuries reported.

with ‘fail to yield traffic on through highway.’

11:57 AM | P o l i c e

responded to a collision involving two vehicles in the area of Gingerich Road and Sandhills Road in Wilmot Township. A vehicle was travelling south on Sandhills Road when the driver failed to yield the right of way to a vehicle travelling west on Gingerich Road. The vehicles then collided.

There were no reported physical injuries. As a result of the investigation, a 25-year-old London man was charged

AUGUST 19 5:50 PM | W a t e r -

loo Regional Police responded to reports of a single-vehicle collision in the area of William Hastings line and Chalmers Forrest Road in Wellesley Township. Through investigation, police determined that the driver lost control and veered off the roadway, striking a tree and rolling the vehicle. The driver suffered minor physical injuries. As a result of the investigation, the driver was charged with careless driving.

CNE: Time as ambassor has provided valuable experiences, says Flynn → FROM 3

of the reason why she’s the wonderful person she is, is because the community does support her,” McNaughton said.

“She did an incredible job all weekend long representing the community.”

There are multiple things Flynn says she’s going to take away from the experience.

“I now have more experience in public speaking and I have these skills to take with me, but I also have made so many amazing friendships with all these ambassadors. I think that is the main thing that I’m taking away from this is that experience with all of them that we all shared, and we’re never going to forget.”

Avery Flynn at the CNE.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 6

Opinion

When local news matters ... ... it matters where you get your local news.

Verbatim

The Monitor

“Our expenses for food, equipment and transportation are increasing at a faster rate than our revenues and breakfast programs are becoming more expensive to maintain.”

Ottawa is imposing new measures on 62 close associates of the Russian regime and a defence sector entity that is complicit in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It’s also funding two Ukraine projects through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program to the tune of $3.85 million.

Tommy Kulczyk, Breakfast Club of Canada’s CEO, says food inflation is hurting the group’s ability to feed some 580,000 children each morning in 3,500 school nutrition programs.

Connect: observerxtra.com/staff

PMO

OBSERVER EDITORIAL

Councillor’s comments underscore ongoing issues

W

oolwich Coun. Murray Martin is about to learn firsthand what it feels like to be Les Armstrong, the Wilmot mayor who got into trouble galore two years ago after passing along a “White Lives Matter” social media message.

Martin brought the heat upon himself – and council itself – when he made inflammatory remarks in response to a request for a rainbow crosswalk in the township to support the 2SLGBTQI+ community.

Prefacing comments about a “lifestyle” that’s “not correct” with assertions that he’s not judgmental didn’t provide cover during the meeting, when some of the other councillors disavowed his remarks, and it’s certainly not holding up to public scrutiny. His comments were almost immediately social-media fodder.

Along with protests about homophobia, the comments also touched on Martin’s bridging what’s supposed to be a separation of church and state, especially among elected officials.

One may be entitled to personal views, whether about religion or homosexuality, but they’re not supposed to be part of a public policy discussion. That’s true over something that should be relatively benign – a crosswalk – in today’s climate.

The township has already gone ahead with flying a rainbow flag during Pride month in June. The timing of this objection is somewhat confusing in that light.

It’s not Martin’s first brush with controversy. Last year, the Ward 3 councillor was the subject of an investigation by the township’s integrity commissioner, who recommended council censure Martin for violating the township’s code of conduct in relation to a gravel pit proposed for the Maryhill area.

An investigation was launched when two complaints were filed following a July 13, 2021 committee meeting chaired by Martin at which the Capital Paving application was discussed.

The recommendations were put aside by most councillors.

Martin’s comments this week have a few people contemplating another round of complaints. Under the province’s Municipal Act, however, no new complaints can be brought to the integrity commissioner in the run-up to the municipal elections on October 24. That may not preclude other avenues for filing complaints.

Furthermore, Martin is seeking re-election, where the comments may become an issue.

Certainly the public is more acutely aware of efforts to eradicate homophobia, part of a larger awareness of the long fight by 2SLGBTQI+ community for what are fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit, or non-binary continue to experience significant disparities – including negative mental health impacts, unemployment, homelessness, harassment, and bullying – and they are often victims of violence simply for being themselves.

That was the rationale for the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington’s request for the creation of a “progress rainbow crosswalk” in Elmira.

The organization notes 2SLGBTQI+ people face higher risks for some mental health issues due to the effects of discrimination and the social determinants of health.

“Additional factors that may impact mental health and well-being for 2SLGBTQI+ people include the process of “coming out” (sharing one’s 2SLGBTQI+ identity with others), gender transition, internalized oppression, isolation and alienation and loss of family or social supports. Alongside homophobia or transphobia, 2SLGBTQI+ people may also experience other forms of marginalization – such as racism, sexism, poverty or other factors – that negatively impact on mental health,” the CMHA said in its request to council.

A rainbow sidewalk would be a “visual representation to members of vulnerable populations that let them know they are in a safe, welcoming space.” Monday night’s council meeting contained words that weren’t welcoming, underscoring the very issue.

ANALYSIS OF CURRENT WORLD EVENTS

Delving into the motive for killing Russia’s Darya Dugina

“

I am a political observer of the International Eurasianist Movement and an expert in international relations.... In this capacity, I appear on Russian, Pakistani, Turkish, Chinese and Indian television channels....

The situation in Ukraine is really an example of a clash of civilisations; it can be seen as a clash between globalist and Eurasian civilisation.”

That’s how Darya Dugina, who was killed on Saturday evening outside Moscow by a car bomb, described herself last May in an interview with an obscure far-right Breton website, Breizh-info.com. (“Globalist” in far-right Russian circles means the United States, NATO or ‘the West’; “Eurasian” is just a more expansive way of saying ‘Russian.’)

The car-bomb that killed the 29-year-old philosopher and journalist was probably intended for her father Alexander Dugin, also a philosopher and sometimes called “Putin’s Brain” by the foreign media because of his alleged influence on the Russian president. They had driven together to an event supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine where Dugin spoke.

He took another car home and so escaped the bomb, but they

GWYNNE DYER

Global Outlook on World Affairs

were very close.

“I have the honour of being in the same boat as my father (on the same existential ship), being the daughter of a great scholar and author of the 24-volume work Noomachia (‘wars of the mind’ ). The fact that we are under sanctions by the US, Canada, Australia and the UK is a symbol that we Dugins are on the path of truth in the fight against globalism.”

The ‘path of truth’ they were both on was Neo-Platonism, a style of early Christian mysticism so abstruse and absurd that I will not try to explain it here beyond saying it was big on ideal forms and not so keen on matter. It remained fashionable in parts of the Orthodox church, and has recently found favour with Russian ultra-nationalists.

But Darya Neoplatonova (Dugina’s pseudonym as a writer) was not murdered for saying “The main line of thought in late Neo-Platonist political philosophy is the development of the idea of a homology of the soul and the state and the existence of a simi-

lar threefold order in both.” Her father was not targeted for his dangerous ideas either.

I never met Darya Dugina, but I did once interview her father about a dozen years ago, when he was still believed to be close to Vladimir Putin. (He certainly isn’t now, and has even lost his job at Moscow State University.)

My Russian was pretty rusty by then, so I took an interpreter along to the interview in his modest flat.

Alexander Dugin proceeded to expand in great detail on the wrongs inflicted on the Russian soul by wicked foreigners and the need for an “existential politics” to counter them, but there were few concrete policy ideas amongst the shower of abstract nouns.

I also noticed that the translator was leaving out quite a lot of what he was saying. I thought he was just going too fast for her, but when I asked her afterwards she said she had been too embarrassed by some of what he said. He wasn’t ranting, exactly, but the nationalist paranoia was unrelenting and overwhelming.

The point is that neither father nor daughter was an important target in terms of their influence on Russian →DYER 8

Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

OPINION | 7

Frittering at the edges while missing the mark on what’s important FEW WOULD TAKE ISSUE WITH the creation of a new trailway – take the regional government’s ‘market trail’ that was officially opened last week, for instance. They might balk, however, at the almost $3 million price tag – and growing – associated with the 1.5-kilometre link between the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market and the Northfield Drive area of Waterloo.

In a related move, the Region of Waterloo also approved the latest iteration of its official plan – ostensibly the overarching growth strategy, but subject to frequent changes and legal challenges – that focuses on reducing sprawl and promoting what it calls active transportation (walking, cycling) and public transit.

Not coincidentally, it touts projects such as the market trail as promoting active transportation.

That’s true ... in theory. For the most part, trails and bike lanes are recreation, not transportation. And the numbers are fairly inconsequential.

We go for a walk. Or go for a bike ride. It’s not about getting around under our own steam rather than getting behind the wheel. Getting from A to B is what the car is for.

Walking and cycling are much more ideal ways of getting around from an environmental standpoint.

They also have the bonus of providing us with more exercise. In Woolwich Township, the many trails encourage people to hike recreationally. Pathways and connections to larger trail networks are increasingly common in subdivisions. It is indeed easy to get out and go for a walk in a comfortable and safe setting.

That kind of infrastructure does make the area

STEVE KANNON

Editor's Point of View

more walkable, and providing it is relatively easy.

Where things get trickier is when it comes to seeing walking or cycling as an alternative to driving. We are hooked on the automobile. Getting us to give them up is going to take a lot more work than simply improving the trail system.

Advocates for on-road bike lanes argue that adding to the inventory would get more people out using them, pointing to surveys that show safety concerns are why people don’t cycle more often. Of course, the real reasons why we don’t cycle more often are similar to why we don’t walk more often, exercise regularly, eat healthier foods and spend less time in front of a video screen of some sort: we

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had a model of suburban sprawl – low-density living that relies on roads to connect our homes to shops and workplaces. In the region, it’s pretty difficult to get around without a car. The transit system is not particularly well used – an epic understatement – especially outside of the main transit corridors, which means pretty much the bulk of the area. The townships are beyond the pale.

As for transit, it’s fast and convenient – and sometimes even inexpensive – in other parts of the world. Why not here?

Never mind the geographical distances, car culture and premium placed on our time ... we’ll plow ahead in a small, makeshift way, spending much in return for little.

Still, the region is pressing forward with its ill-considered transit and active transportation schemes.

More highrise buildings are being erected.

Tens of millions are being poured into downtown redevelopment.

This is all driven by an optimism that these moves will bring change. Positive change, as opposed to what’s happened generally.

Hopefully, that is the case. Happening, walkable, livable cities would be ideal.

All of this is predicated on ever-more growth, despite the fact constant growth – the Ponzi scheme that is our economy – is not sustainable. It also depends on separating taxpayers from even more of their money, despite spending that outstrips economic growth (there’s that word again) and people’s incomes. Most troubling, it depends on people changing their behaviours in large enough numbers to make any of it work.

The rainbow, it seems, has been put to more than one use, not all of them cause for political concern.

Founded in 1996.

JOE MERLIHAN

don’t want to. But few of us will come out and say that, making endless excuses to ourselves. We’re certainly going to answer questions in a way that puts our sedentary lifestyles in the best light.

So, where cycling is concerned, it’s safety and lack of bike lanes/ trails that keep us out of the saddle, rather than copping to things we don’t even want to admit to ourselves.

Responsible governance would preclude making policy decisions based on wishful thinking, but ...

Still, more walking would be a good idea. It’s an easy, no-cost form of exercise. Better still if we could or would incorporate it into the transportation portion of our days, but that’s still not possible for most of us … at least when we’re not in weekend mode or on vacation.

For decades now, we’ve

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The ideal of so-called compact communities puts me in mind of Europe, where densities are higher and people live within an easy walk or bike ride of most of the amenities of daily living. Because most communities developed before the advent of the automobile, they’re very much people-centric as opposed to the car-centered towns and cities of North America.

People actually do walk and cycle as a means of transportation, not just recreation. Public transit is convenient and well used.

In short, the antithesis of how we do things here.

Living there, you can quite easily do without a car.

Of course, vehicles are more expensive, gas prices astronomical and parking spaces limited, putting a real damper on the kind of automobile enthusiasm seen in North America.

Still, when I picture the kind of community, I see the old towns of Dublin or Paris or Munich: striking architecture, walled courtyards, terrace gardens, narrow winding streets, local shops offering freshbaked bread, quaint cafés and small walk-up office buildings with brass plates announcing the names of doctors, lawyers and architects.

Trouble is, that ideal isn’t likely to translate here, the land of vinyl siding, asphalt and big-box retail.

In all the talk of more human-scale communities, there’s no mention of aesthetics. For me, that’s the make-it-or-break-it part of the equation: our ugly built environments foster neither pride of place nor a desire to be out on foot, interacting with the place where we live something to enjoy in its own right. It’s going to take a monumental effort →KANNON 8

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022

8 | OPINION

A camper’s guide to hammocks

I The first labour day in Canada began on April 15, 1872, five years after confederation.

Wearing white after Labour Day is still considered disrespectful toward the labour movement.

Canada’s Labour Day was the first paving the way for other countries to follow suit years later. ↆ LAST WEEK Truth: According to Statista.com another 28% wait until the week before to get their back-to-school shopping done.

Truth: Statscan supports the notion that private school students score 8-9% higher on standardized tests. 35% of private students graduate university by age 23 whereas 21% for public school students.

Lie: Forbes wrote about the one-room schoolhouse as a vision for the future, but there are no plans for Ontario to bring this relic back from the past anytime soon.

You can play online by reading any online post at www.observerxtra. com. Vote for the lie and be notified if you are correct immediately.

f you have been paying attention to backpacking, hiking, and camping trends lately, you are probably aware of the camping hammock. They are now very popular, primarily because camping enthusiasts do not remember the hammocks of my youth.

Nor do many people my age actually, possibly due to the concussions we got from falling out of them.

When I was a kid, a hammock was used by adults as a refuge when a little peace and quiet was needed.

But it was the kids of my generation who pioneered the many possible entertainment benefits of a well-situated hammock.

For the most part, we used them primarily as giant slingshots. Many people are surprised to learn that with the right hammock (the one your parents were not watching at the time) you could launch a watermelon or an unsuspecting rube several yards.

→ FROM 7

at creating something better to get us out of the suburban model: Shifting from our box of a house to our box of a car to the box where we shop and the box where we work. The insides may be nice and comfortable, as we shut out the world and the others

who happen to live in the same town, but the shared spaces are not conducive to creating the kind of community envisioned by proponents of a livable city.

None of that is addressed in anything the region or lower-tier municipalities is doing, badly or otherwise.

Not-So-Great Outdoorsman

We also used hammocks for experiments on terminal velocity and centrifugal force, though we did not know it at the time. Both of these types of experiments were well suited to hammocking, since the hammocks of our day were like bucking broncos, but only if the horses took it down a notch.

In fact, any kid that could last three seconds on a hammock was deemed ready for a promising career in rodeo.

So much for my credentials regarding hammocks.

Modern camping hammocks are very different. Most have sewn-in tops with bug nets. So the trick is no longer staying in a hammock, it is getting in the hammock and then, one day, God-willing, getting out.

Getting in a modern-

policy, which pretty much rules out any Russian motive for killing either of them. Darya Dugina was an enthusiastic supporter of the attack on Ukraine – she even visited the conquered city of Mariupol – but she was just another cheerleader.

So who planted the bomb? Almost certainly somebody Ukrainian who was part of that country’s extensive intelligence

network in Russia, or some Russian underworld figure paid by the Ukrainians. (There are about two million Ukrainians living in Russia.)

Was either Alexander or Darya a legitimate target? Neither of them was an entirely innocent bystander in the conflict, but they were certainly unarmed civilians so most people would say that the bombing was a crime.

Was it terrorism? Yes, in

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day camping hammock is like trying to crawl into a garbage bag in a hurricane.

It starts off civilly enough. You walk up to the hammock, whispering soothing words of comfort to keep it calm. Then, you search for a few minutes until you find the zipper.

After unjamming said zipper, you unzip it to create an opening that you could have fit into about 25 years ago. Sticking in your head and shoulders, you realize that the next part requires gymnastic skills you never possessed. First, you must turn your back to the hammock. And that is always inadvisable.

Then you must lower your posterior into a precarious cradle, which will remain below you right up until you finally feel it is safe to trust again.

Milli-seconds later you will be on the ground with a relocated tailbone, after having done an unintentional backflip or two.

Luckily this only happens five or six times, before the

hammock gets bored.

Eventually, you will have sat in the hammock and then wriggled your way into the sort of position that was popularized

by Egyptian mummies – which should be your first clue that you might be there a while. At this point, you will consider zipping the mosquito netting up.

Don’t do it. It’s a trap.

But, of course, the buzzing convinces you otherwise. Unfortunately, it is only after you zipped up the hammock that you realize that all the buzzing was coming from the inside of the mesh.

The next five or so minutes is filled with needless bloodshed. But it will end after the mosquitoes cannot consume any more.

So, eventually, you will unzip your hammock, take a deep breath and begin your quest for the peace and quiet that eluded your parents. Which is when the kids will come along carrying a watermelon…

DYER: Some hypocrisy in throwing around the word “terrorism” → FROM 6

KANNON: Plenty of wrong turns on the road to a so-called livable city

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the very specific sense that its motive must have been to show that Ukraine could strike anywhere in Russia with impunity, and thereby terrorise Russians into abandoning their invasion of Ukraine. (It probably won’t have that effect, but that’s the only plausible motive.)

Will it harm the Ukrainian cause in terms of public opinion elsewhere?

A little bit, maybe, because blowing young women up

is never a good look, but probably only for a short time. It’s a war, and on the same day Russian shelling wounded 12 civilians, including four children, in the Ukrainian town of Vosnesensk.

What’s the difference, apart from the fact that the Russian gunners didn’t know the names of their victims, and the Ukrainian who planted the bomb that killed Darya Dugina didn’t wear a uniform?

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 9

Business

Leading the way.

Shining a light on local enterprise, stoking the economic engines.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com New Business: observerxtra.com/enterprise

Housing starts up

Charged up at school

Country-wide housing starts were 264,426 units in July, up from 257,862 units in June, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The total number of urban starts decreased by 0.8% to 254,371 units in July. Multi-unit urban starts declined by 0.3% to 195,987 units, while single-detached urban starts decreased by 2.3% to 58,384 units.

The Waterloo Region District School Board has added electric vehicle charging stations at seven locations, including Riverside PS. Other locations are Cedar Creek PS, Groh PS, Janet Metcalf PS, Vista Hills PS, Westmount PS and the board’s education centre.

It was all hands on deck Aug. 19 for the grand opening of the new Rexall store in Elmira. Nicolas Caprio, Rexall president; Paul Chidley, senior vice-president (SVP) store operations; Debbi Lai, SVP marketing, loyalty and strategy; Michael Helbrecht, vice-president; Mona Sabharwal, SVP of pharmacy services; Rasha Sawlres, district leader; Deanna Kang, manager of pharmacy; Sara Libiec, assistant store manager; Elbert Foo, store manager. Leah Gerber

New Rexall pharmacy makes it official in Elmira Store that includes a virtual walk-in medical clinic held a grand opening celebration last week Leah Gerber Observer Staff

DEANNA KANG SAYS HER FAMILY has been involved with traditional Chinese medicine for generations. Now she carries on that tradition as a modern day pharmacist, and she’s officially started her new position as pharmacy manager at the Rexall in Elmira, which celebrated its grand opening last week.

“There have been many teams involved in bringing this store up,” Kang said.

“Personally, I’ve helped out with setting up the store in preparation for our college inspection to make sure that the pharmacy is good and operational, and up and running for the community, so that we met all of the standards.”

Kang comes from

a Rexall location in Cambridge.

The new Elmira Rexall location has a medical walk-in clinic attached to it, a virtual clinic with the company MD Connected.

That means the physicians and health care workers are employees of MD Connected and available for consultation over video. Patients can also make appointments to be taken at home over video as well.

“In Elmira, there aren’t very many medical clinics available within the city. And so we felt that bringing a medical clinic to the city would provide the community with more services. And so it would just help make the community healthier, and it would help allow the community more flexibility and more healthcare workers available to them

when they need them.”

A staff person is available to triage patients and set them up for their virtual appointments.

The clinic has two consultation rooms, both equipped with screens for video consultations. Kang says people can also set up appointments at home if that is easier.

Caterin Munoz is the assistant who interacts directly with patients at the clinic. She takes their information and assesses their needs.

“I see if there is pain, swelling or if they have a rash or need a refill. (I determine) the causes of the appointment that the patient needs,” said Munoz.

Then she sets up the virtual appointment with the doctor.

So far the clinic is going well, she says. “It’s start-

ing, we don’t have a lot of patients, but the patients we do have, everything is good.”

If the patients get a prescription, the doctor can send it directly to the pharmacy next to the clinic, she said.

Kang says that the field of pharmacy is expanding and that as a pharmacist, she can do more than just administer medication.

The list of services she can do at Rexall include more than people may think, she added.

“There is a medical clinic here. I know it’s very difficult to get physicians on site, but if we have a virtual connection, it allows flexibility where people can have access to a physician at all times of the day. That is one reason why we have a telemedicine clinic here, just for that flexibility, and so we

Eric Liu at the store’s blood pressure monitor. Leah Gerber

can provide more services for patients here.”

As a pharmacist, Kang can administer medication, but she emphasizes that pharmacists are available for more than just filling prescriptions.

The services available at Rexall also include testing A1C levels in diabetes

Join us every Sunday from 7pm - 9pm this summer for live country and bluegrass music in Elmira’s parks.

patients, administering vaccinations, safely discarding old medications, providing Naloxone kits and training to use them, filling Paxlovid prescriptions, help with medication management.

The company also has a program to quit smoking and even help with migraine assessment.

“I basically want the community to know that we are here for them, we’re here to take care of anybody who needs help.

I’m a pharmacist, a health care worker. And so what I want to provide for the community is basically a place where people can feel safe and where people can feel like they have someone to go to for help.”

For Michael Helbrecht, the vice-president of operations at Rexall, the grand opening was a homecom→REXALL 10

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Pass the hat freewill offering to support musicians

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022

10 | B U S I N E S S

Food giants shouldn’t dictate farming for the future

N

utritionists and dietitians are big potato fans. Enjoy potatoes with minimal processing that are prepared with human health in mind, they say.

Even French fries are nutritionally sound… provided they’re not fried.

At home, put them in the oven on a cookie sheet, and be miserly with oil. It’s surprising how good they are, and good for you.

But once potatoes (or anything else, for that matter) get immersed in the deep fryer, their virtuosity is compromised.

They become saturated with fat.

That’s how many of us consume potatoes.

Even though Canadian potatoes are among the planet’s best when they’re harvested, the way they’re treated in many fast-food kitchens is a nutritional problem.

So, it’s with mixed emotions that I’m pondering a new program focused on soil health that’s being put forward by the heaviest hitters in the processed- and fast-food business.

Earlier this month, McDonald’s Canada and McCain Foods Limited announced they were creating something called the Future of Potato Farming Fund. They say this effort is catalyzed by climate change, and they’re putting up $1 million to show potato farmers how to adopt regenerative practices and technology.

That’s a positive move.

Regenerative agriculture has become very hip. It’s less divisive than some of the other offshoots of mainstream farming that have emerged over the years. It has broad appeal.

“Climate change continues to impact the crop and our potato growing communities,” says Jeremy Carter, Western Canada director of agriculture for McCain Foods. “We are focused on supporting our growers in accelerating the transition to the key principles of regenerative agriculture like maintaining living cover, reducing tillage intensity, diversifying rotations, reducing the intensity of chemical applications, and enhancing biodiversity.”

Excellent.

OWEN ROBERTS

Food For Thought

He goes on to say that education, demonstrations, and directly funding growers to adopt regenerative techniques “may lead to achieving healthier Canadian soils while creating delicious, planet-friendly food.”

There’s no question that regenerative techniques can improve soil quality. Farmers know that. They’ve used many of them long before the term regenerative was put forward. The difference is that regenerative farming is more of a complete system, employing techniques which might have been used in isolation in the past.

Potatoes need a lot of attention in the field to grow. Pests devour them if they’re not sprayed. Going on two decades ago, when the anti-technology movement in agriculture was peaking, a GMO potato line was developed that resisted pests. It meant much less pesticide would be used on potatoes, but activists convinced consumers it was a health concern, and companies were bullied into dropping it pronto.

Companies respond to consumers. That’s one reason the McDonald’s-McCains program has been put forward.

Everyone seems to care about sustainability, and regenerative agriculture is all about soil sustainability.

So, that’s good. But let’s not forget there are no government (i.e., public) interests in the Future of Potato Farming Fund.

It’s totally commercially driven. Potato farmers grow for McCains, McCains sells to McDonalds, McDonalds sells tonnes of fries, and the money flows into corporations.

Obesity from poor diet choices is a huge issue. Making good farm commodities like potatoes even better through programs such as this potato fund are nonsensical if these commodities are subject to unhealthy processing and preparation in commercial kitchens.

Where the Nith River’s secrets are revealed Jamie Kent, owner and operator of Grand Experiences. He started the company in 1997 and has come to know and care for the Grand and Nith Rivers. Leah Gerber

Unassuming in many stages, the waterway is nonetheless home to white water adventures if you know where to look Leah Gerber Observer Staff

ON AN UNCHARACTERISTICALLY HOT DAY in May, the sun is as ferocious as it is in August. I’m worried because I didn’t bring a hat, and I’ll be out in the sun with no cover for the next four hours.

I’m about to go white water kayaking on the Nith river. Yes, the Nith.

My guide is Jamie Kent, the owner and operator of Grand Experiences, an outdoor adventure company based in Paris.

He and his team lead people on hiking, biking and canoe tours and even

white water trips in southern Ontario.

Kent has assembled a crew of guides to accompany us down the Nith: Jason Wall, an all around certified outdoorsman, Naomi Henry, a student in training to become a primary teacher, and Sharon Boyd, a recently retired teacher who spends her summers guiding for Kent.

After meeting at Kent’s downtown Paris shop, we pile in the cargo van and make our way to Canning where Kent has another staff member waiting with the kayaks. From here we will paddle 17 kilometres

to where the Nith enters Paris at Lion’s Park. And that’s where things will get challenging.

The Nith is a secretive river. The headwaters begin near Millbank and Crosshill, and then it winds its way back and forth, back and forth, through Nithburg, near Wellesley, Philipsburg, Luxemburg, New Hamburg, Haysville, Plattsville, Ayr, Canning and then to Paris where she empties into the Grand River. She winds through the background of rural life, going largely unnoticed, says Kent.

“People just have no idea

it's there. And the area, it's not a river that's easily accessible. There’s not a lot of trails on it, not a lot of road access to it, there’s very little of that. So most of it's kind of hidden away in the back areas, right? In rural areas. And not very much access, people don't see it much,” he said.

Kent says for most of its course, the land the Nith is on is fairly flat so the river has a gentle slope of four feet per mile. Just before it hits Paris, the elevation steepens sharply to drop 20 feet per mile.

The sharp change generates rapids. → PADDLING ALONG 19

REXALL: Rolling out a virtual clinic to help with the region’s doctor shortage → FROM 9

ing. Helbrecht says he was born in Elmira, and went to grade school in town.

“We’re just excited to be in this community, in Elmira today, opening up our beautiful store in Elmira. We’ve been looking to come into this community for a long time now,” he said.

“We look for places that need more access to health care. And Elmira was one of those places, and we’re excited to make an

impact in the community and provide great health options.”

The store is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Currently the clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Kang says the hours will expand to evenings and weekends when their staff member is available to work.

The Region of Waterloo is considered an area of

high physician need. That designation is determined by the province through a calculation involving population numbers and density, travel time to a centre offering doctor care, travel time to a centre with advanced specialty care, the ratio of family physicians to population, and input from Local Health Integration Networks.

According to the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, a seasoned

family doctor can take on 1,500 to 2,500 patients.

That said, many doctors across Ontario are at retirement age, and incoming doctors take on fewer patients.

MD Connected is a company that provides telemedicine services. It was launched in 2017 and focused on rural communities in Ontario. It has since expanded to provide services in Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia.

Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

B U S I N E S S | 11

Your Pharmacy. Your Way.™ • • • • • • •

Medication Management Tools Medication Reviews Renew Prescriptions Diabetes Care Free Prescription Delivery Vaccinations including COVID-19 Connect with your Rexall Pharmacy through the Be Well™ app to easily transfer, refill and view your prescriptions

Speak with your Rexall Pharmacist today

ELMIRA REXALL 315 Arthur St S, Unit 108 Elmira, ON N3B 3L5 519-669-2696 Mon - Sat Sunday

8 am - 9 pm 9 am - 6 pm

www.rexall.ca

Deanna Kang

Your Elmira Pharmacist

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 12

Rural Connections

A harvest of local farming innovation.

Connect to the land.      

OFA bursaries

A corny time of year

Along with offering three bursaries in the amount of $2,000 each to students in an undergraduate program, the OFA is now offering a $2,000 bursary to a person completing an apprenticeship, as well as a $2,000 bursary for a person completing a post-graduate or leadership development program. The application deadline is Aug. 31.

As Ontario moves into corn season, these are busy days for the more than 100 corn farmers in the province, and 10,000-plus acres of farmland is dedicated sweet corn grown and harvested for canning and freezing in southwestern Ontario.

Ottawa providing funding to improve animal welfare

T

he humane care and handling of farm animals, and the ability to track their movements, are an important part of the confidence consumers have in their food in Canada, says the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Ottawa earlier this month announced some $3 million in funding for three national organizations to enhance animal welfare and tracking in the country.

With funding under the AgriAssurance Program, the organizations will draw on new research to update industry standards for the care and handling of animals, and will evaluate technology to more efficiently trace farm animals in the production system in the event of a disease outbreak. The work will support the highest standards in farm animal care, says minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.

“The dedication of Canadian producers to the welfare of their farm animals is what makes our livestock system world famous. By improving our standards and practices for care and tracking, consumers can be assured that our food system is meeting the highest standards,” she said in a release.

The recipients of the funding are Animal Health Canada, the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency and the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council.

Animal Health Canada, located in Elora, will receive up to $2.9 million to update national codes of practice for the livestock sector, including the code for the safe and humane transportation of livestock. It has also developed and introduced a code of practice for the aquaculture sector covering farmed salmon, trout and arctic char.

"We're pleased to continue working collaboratively with industry, government, veterinary, and animal welfare professionals to continue in developing the codes of practice through the National Farm Animal Care Council, a division of Animal Health Canada.

Evidence-based co-development is a cornerstone of how the Codes are created and updated and we are excited to lead this project into its final year of funding,” said Dr. Melanie Barham, the organization’s executive director.

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, located in Calgary, will receive up to $52,140 to evaluate the use of ultra high frequency (UHF) scanners to read cattle identification tags as part of Canada's commitment to the international community to quickly trace the movement of animals in the event of a disease outbreak. Tag readings are recorded in a database that makes it possible for government and industry to rapidly → ANIMAL WELFARE 13

Fruit and vegetable growers face shifting markets due to climate concerns and transportation issues.

Our agri-food world is about to get a whole lot smaller Exporting food products may no longer be the best option. The focus now is on finding the most economically sustainable method to supply a market

I

t’s tomato season, and Canadians love their tomatoes. It is by far the most popular vegetable at the grocery store.

According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the average Canadian consumes at least six to seven kilos of tomatoes per year. More than 12 kilos per capita of fresh and processed tomatoes are made available to Canadians every year. We do waste a lot, but have plenty to go around.

Tomatoes are the fifth largest vegetable crop in Canada, after corn, beans, peas, and carrots. For

greenhouse-grown vegetables, though, tomatoes are the top crop in Canada.

After peppers, tomatoes are the leading vegetable exported by our own growers here in Canada.

But we also import a lot of tomatoes, mainly from Mexico and the United States. Surprisingly, import and export rates are very similar across Canada. Many provinces have made efforts to increase the number of controlled-environment agriculture projects to grow more food domestically.

California provides a lot

Quality Drainage Systems A family tradition since 1921 Tel. 519-664-2291 Fax 519-664-3491

80 Northside Drive, St. Jacobs, Ontario N0B 2N0

www.freyshatchery.com

Arthur, ON • 519-848-3113 • 877-669-1440 www.martindrainage.com

of processed tomatoes to Canada, as it is the largest producer in the world.

Sauces, salsa, soups, you name it – many products with tomatoes end up on our Canadian grocery shelves. But California is in trouble with its water supply. It’s running out of water, and we are now constantly hearing more about farmers having difficulty growing anything in these drought conditions.

Recent reports suggest California is experiencing the worst drought in 1,200 years, impacting many crops, including tomatoes.

Some are even speculating

that we could run out of spaghetti sauce. Prices may rise, but it is highly unlikely that Canada will run out of spaghetti sauce.

For one, we have many great local products often overlooked by consumers only looking for certain brands. Also, we produce a lot of tomatoes here in Canada, and sauces are easy to make. We should be concerned about many things, but not about running out of spaghetti sauce.

That said, the troubles in California will lead to massive changes in how we → AGRI-FOOD 13

 Custom Machining & Repairs  Spline Cutting  Large Turning  Keying (Internal & External) CNC Turning & Milling

MACHINE & REPAIR INC.

RYAN WEBER 519.669.2198 126 Bonnie Crs., Elmira www.rytechmachine.ca

Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

R U R A L C O N N E C T I O N S | 13

ANIMAL WELFARE: Boosting consumer confidence → FROM 12

contain the scope of a potential outbreak, protecting animal and human health.

"One of our mandates at Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is to keep in step with new technologies that have the potential to move livestock traceability forward, such as ultra high frequency (UHF) technology. We began with a review of its current application in livestock and are now

enhancing our database to accommodate producers who are already use the technology. CCIA is grateful to have received funding to support both initiatives,” said CCIA general manager Anne Brunet-Burgess.

The Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council, located in Ottawa, will receive up to $35,750 to update its animal welfare program for hatcheries to meet the requirements of the National Farm Animal Care Council's Code of

Practice for the care and handling of hatching eggs, breeders, chickens and turkeys.

Consumer confidence in Canadian livestock and meat products is built on Canada's strong food safety system, the ministry says, noting it will be providing producers with the tools and resources they need to implement agricultural best practices to enhance the welfare of animals and provide Canada and the world with safe, quality food.

AGRI-FOOD: Export markets ain’t what they used to be → FROM 12

grow, import, and export commodities – the way farmers’ fields connect with what we consume every day. And the change is happening very quickly.

For growers and producers, coupled with mother nature’s wrath is carbon energy, once invisible and now significantly affecting costs. Spending energy to produce, process, and transport food is about to get more expensive.

Putting a price on carbon will get companies to strategize differently. Producers and processors are now compelled to think differently about how they service markets, including Canada. In other words, our agri-food world is about to get much smaller.

Case in point: this summer, we learned that California giant Driscoll’s signed a partnership with farmers to grow berries right here in Canada.

Driscoll’s is one of the largest fruit growers in the world and has had to face water scarcity issues. In the deal, while Canadian farmers in British Columbia and Quebec are taking on the task of growing for Driscoll’s, they’ve also received Driscoll’s knowhow, including genetics and growing expertise.

This is worth a lot of money and time. Driscoll’s smart move will actually allow both Canadian growers and consumers to gain.

Essentially, the business fundamentals are changing for companies like Driscoll’s. It not only needs to get closer to markets it wants to service, but it also needs precious resources that were once abundant in California. Climate change is undoubtedly changing tomato-growing economics. Such a partnership between our farmers and the California giant is a perfect example

of onshoring business, and you can expect to hear about more such moves in years to come.

Global agricultural trading in the future won’t necessarily just be about trading bananas, beef, wheat, and apples; it will be about intellectual property, genetics, and branding. Since trade is ultimately about sharing, what we share will change.

While it will get less tangible, the focus will be more on finding the most economically sustainable method to supply a market. Exporting actual food products may no longer be the best option moving forward.

This is the one type of globalization we will continue to see in years to come. ↆ Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.

FALL SOIL SAMPLING A VALUABLE TOOL FOR MEASURING AND MANAGING NUTRIENT LEVELS ON YOUR FARM.

@cleanfieldsvc

519-638-3457

7668 8th Line Drayton

WHERE TIRES ARE

A SPECIALTY

NOT A SIDELINE! We Stock Farm, Industrial, Truck, Passenger, and Even ATV and Lawn & Garden Tires.

Call Us for Tires!

FARM • TRUCK • INDUSTRIAL • ON THE FARM SERVICE 371 Arthur St. S. Elmira, ON Monday - Friday Saturdays

8am - 5pm 8am - 12 noon

519-669-3232 www.oktireelmira.com

Stop by Our Retail Store & Browse Through Our Selection of: New & used equipment: feeders, drinkers, cages, nests 6880 Line 86, RR#4 Elmira, ON N3B 2Z3

Hours: Mon. – Fri. 8-5, Sat.8-3, Closed Sun. & Statutory Holidays

Egg supplies: cartons, flats, crates, candler, scale

519-669-2225

Let’s talk Secan.com

NEW SU Ruzena Winter Barley Genes that fit your farm® SU Ruzena

2-Row Winter Barley

CRIBIT SEEDS

519-664-3701

 Early Harvest  High Yield  Strong Straw

Research pays off and we aren’t done yet! Cribit Seeds works hard in partnership with SeCan to find the best varieties to fit your farm

For more informa�on visit: cribit.com/grain-contracts

Genes that fit your farm® is a registered trademark of SeCan. VUA= Variety Use Agreement; Required.

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 14

Classifieds

Seven days.

One paper.

A bestseller every week.

Email: ads@woolwichobserver.com Job Listings: jobs.observerxtra.com

Help Wanted

Crossing Guard

Crossing Guards make a difference in our community by assisting in the safe movement of school children, and the general public, in crossing roadways at designated intersections and ensuring traffic remains stopped until all pedestrians have safely crossed the intersection.

Corporate Services is seeking part time and casual Crossing Guards for the 2022-2023 School Year at our Breslau, Conestogo, Elmira, Maryhill, and St. Jacobs locations.

Hours of work are 8:00 am - 8:30 am and 2:50 pm - 3:20 pm. Ideal candidates are at least 18 years old, community-minded, and have reliable transportation or the ability to walk to the school crossing for each shift.

On-the-job training and equipment provided.

Please review the full job posing at www.woolwich.ca/careers.

Interested applicants are invited to submit their resume prior to 4:00pm on August 26, 2022 to hr@woolwich.ca.

Please quote job posting 2022-35.

Please call or email for display advertising quotes for Help Wanted, Auctions, Real Estate, Public Notices, Service Pro Directory and Obituaries.

All classified advertising is prepaid. Ads will be accepted in person, email, or phone during regular office hours. Deadline is Wednesdays by 10am. Order and pay online at: observerxtra.com/classifieds.

Help Wanted

921 Katherine Street North West Montrose ON N0B 2V0

Part Time and Casual Opportunities

Placing a classified ad

Family Album Notices: Order and pay for family announcement notices online at: observerxtra.com/order-family-album.

Phone: 519-669-5790 ext 104

Help Wanted

Advertising

JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM AS A TRUCK AND TRAILER TECHNICIAN We will evaluate anyone with a 310 T certification or nearly certified.

Primary responsibility is to conduct routine and preventative maintenance to an over the road fleet of Hi way trucks and trailers. Our specialized fleet provides a variety of work to keep you motivated as well as plenty of opportunities for further training if you are interested.

We provide a clean, safe, and friendly work environment with a competitive wage package.

You provide an energetic interest to use and keep developing your 310 T experience.

Please contact recruiting@grandridge.ca

Help wanted and word ads begin on page15

Help Wanted

100% LOCAL

PART TIME DRIVER needed for deliveries 2 or 3 days a week. Needs to be reliable, friendly and have knowledge of Elmira, Kitchener/Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph areas.

Requires a G License. Experience driving a larger truck, clean driving record Apply in person at Stemmler Meats in Heidelberg or email terry@stemmlermeats.ca

Help Wanted

Earildale is a meat processing facility that produces a wide variety of quality fresh and smoked meat products for onsite retail and distribution to the private retail sector across Southern Ontario.

We are currently seeking a lead hand for our sausage room and general meat plant work. Duties include a combination of physical work and managing/over seeing production.

A good understanding of meat processing and proteins an asset, but will consider all qualified applicants.

This position is full time with a very competitive industry wage to the successful applicant.

APPLY IN PERSON AT: 2065 Floradale Rd. RR1 Elmira.

OR CALL: 519-669-2300

WE ARE HIRING Cabinet Sales & Design Cabinet Finisher Cabinet Install Cabinet Installer

NOW HIRING FULL TIME ROOF TRUSS ASSEMBLERS Must be team oriented, ambitious & responsible No experience required offers competitive wages, production Mar-Span bonuses and employee benefits.

Please apply with resume in person or email resume to marv@marspan.com

(Bracebridge Location)

If you are interested in joining a vibrant and growing company, please send your resume to laverne@woodlandhorizon.com or call 519.638.5961 ext 104 Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

$9 per 20 words (20¢ per extra word)

Commercial:

$15 per 20 words (30¢ per extra word)

Help Wanted

Full time permanent Line Operator positions available at our apple processing plant in Elmira for all shifts Starting at $18/hour Shift premium + benefits

Please send resume to: hr@martinsapples.com

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Cabinet Engineering

Residential:

We would like to thank all applicants, however only those selected for interview will be contacted.

7221 Side Rd. 16 Drayton, ON

AMAZING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AT BIO-AG!

www.bio-ag.com/blog/job-posting-20220819.htm

Help Wanted

39 Arthur St N Elmira, ON

JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM AS A US CROSS BORDER OWNER OPERATOR OR COMPANY DRIVER Requirements • Valid AZ License • Clean Driver Abstracts • Currently able to cross the US Border • A desire to grow and develop within a positive team culture We provide a safe and reputable work environment with a competitive wage package.

Please contact recruiting@grandridge.ca

Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ R E A L

C L A S S I F I E D S | 15

E SAT E

SELLING? CALL US FOR A FREE MARKET EVALUATION. Sue From

Alli Bauman

226-750-9332

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

519-669-5426

suefrom17@gmail.com

Emily Minielly SALES REPRESENTATIVE

519-504-6247

3 Arthur St. S., Elmira | 519-669-5426

emilyminiellyrealestate@gmail.com

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, August 27 th 10am-12pm 6998 Freeborn Street, Millbank

$1,299,000

$699,900 MILLBANK - Looking to escape the big city for small town living? This charming recently updated, 3-bedroom 2-bathroom bungalow is exactly that and more. Located in the quaint town of Millbank, only 30 minutes from all the big city amenities that Waterloo or Stratford have to offer. You are welcomed through the front door into a bright living room that flows into the dining and kitchen area. From the dining area, slip out through the large sliding doors to your back deck, (complete with propane hook-up), relax and enjoy your large .3 acre corner lot with mature trees, ideal for family gatherings and summer BBQ’s. Or head out to the covered front porch, perfect for enjoying morning coffee or an evening beverage. Upstairs you will find three updated bedrooms and a newly refinished bathroom. The basement with a double door walkout and large windows provides an abundance of natural light, giving a main floor feel. The basement offers just as much as the main floor, rec room, workshop, 2 piece bathroom, laundry room, large cold room, bonus (play) room, loads of space for your family and guests to enjoy. You could easily convert this space into an in-law suite.

Updates include, new LVT flooring , drywall, potlights, bathrooms, most windows, all trim and interior doors all done in 2022 as well as Furnace & A/C (2021), this house is move in ready! With an insulated garage, (new door on order), oversized shed, and ample parking, you will have tons of space to store your “toys” or entertain.

Office: 519-669-2772 Brad Direct: 519-741-6231 Jenna Direct: 519-760-2265 45 Arthur St. S., Elmira www.thurrealestate.com

MOOREFIELD - This private 50 acre property is located on a quiet street near Teviotdale. Follow along the winding laneway through a picturesque cedar rail fence surrounded by greenery to acres of open space including a spring fed pond. You will be greeted by a bungalow and a small barn to house any animals you have or may wish to have.

This property so much more to offer a with green house/shed and a detached 30 x 40 heated and insulated shop (built in 2009) surrounded by fruit trees. The 1459 square foot bungalow has a retreat like master bedroom (added in 2008) with vaulted ceilings, in suite laundry, a propane fireplace and walk-out to the deck and hot tub! The kitchen is open to the dining room and living room, with a fireplace and loads of natural light with sliding glass doors to the front and back deck. The walk out basement has a 3 piece bathroom, rec room and office space which could be easily transformed into an in-law suite.

The deck wraps around the house to the master bedroom and connects the outdoor bar with bar fridge, hot tub (2017) and on ground pool (2019). Be prepared for all of your friends and family longing to hang out here! Hop on your off road vehicle and explore the back 40 acres of your own private bush where you will find wildlife and a mix of trees. This serine setting could be just what you have been dreaming of!

$739,900 ELMIRA - This recently built (2015) semi-detached home is located right across from the Riverside Public School and has so much appeal for both a first time home buyer to a larger family. With 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, this tastefully finished home offers a bright open concept main floor with updated powder room, large closets for storage and large sliding glass doors out to your deck. Enjoy a view of the open field behind while sipping coffee on your large deck. The upstairs offers two bedrooms and an oversized primary suite complete with walk in closet and ensuite bathroom. Head down to the finished basement (2018) and enjoy many of the custom finishes!

You will find luxury vinyl plank floors, powder room with laundry, additional pantry/storage and a little nook under the stairs. No detail was missed in this home! With convenient access to Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph come make this beautiful property your home

R.W. THUR REAL ESTATE LTD.

BRAD MARTIN Broker of Record, MVA Residential

JENNA MARTIN Sales Representative

35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE YOU CAN RELY ON! CALL FOR YOUR FREE MARKET EVALUATION $799,900.00 MLS

ELMIRA - Check out this 5 Bedroom Bungalow in Birdland! This unique opportunity gives you the option of multi-generational living or a single-family dwelling...you choose! The main floor has 3 bedrooms, a fair-sized kitchen, a dining room, a living room with big bright windows overlooking the covered front porch, 4 piece bathroom, and a main floor laundry room. Walk out from the dining room to a shaded deck and relax in the yard with the view of mature trees. The open concept basement has 2 bedrooms, its own kitchen and laundry room, 4-piece bathroom, dinette area, 2 living room spaces, and lots of storage. You will be impressed with the overall open feel of this home. The doublewide, concrete driveway provides parking for 2 and the oversized single garage is perfect for the car enthusiast and is equipped with a hoist. Come and see this nicely finished and well-kept home that is sure to impress!

®

BROKERAGE

17 Maple St., Drayton

$849,000

12 Park Ave. W., Elmira

$879,900.00 MLS

REALTY LTD., BROKERAGE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

519.500.1865 (Direct) 519.747.0231 (Office)

410 Conestogo Road, Unit 210, Waterloo, ON N2L 4E2

Dale R. Keller Sales Representative

www.KellerSellsRealEstate.com | dale@kellersellsrealestate.com

OPEN HOUSE SUN AUG. 28 1-3 pm 8590 Conc Rd 3 RR Listowel

$1,249,000 | Listowel

OPEN HOUSE

3+1 bedroom on 2.25 acres Custom features ICF construction is super efficient.

MLS 40260036. Call Dale Direct.

AUGUST 27 1 – 3 PM

$1,600,000 | DYERS BAY area 200 acres, 3 bedroom farm house , small barn, and other outbuildings. Approx 70 acres workable. Mixed bush remainder. New Septic system. MLS 40262805.

Call Dale Direct.

95 Arthur St. S., Elmira

$549,000.00 MLS

Help Wanted

22 Meadowlark Rd., Elmira

Continued from page14 For Sale

Is Hiring

Tire Technician, Automotive Technician & Apprentice We are a busy family oriented automotive service shop looking to add to our technical team.

In search of an out going individual to fill automotive service technician or apprentice positions.

We offer full training, benefits and pension after a probation period. Wages will reflect experience.

To Apply Apply with resume in person to:

661 Colby Dr. Waterloo or email:

northfieldauto@bellnet.ca 519-884-6160

ELMIRA STOVE FIREPLACE INSERT, GOOD condition, $50. Ron 519-669-2253.

HAMMOND ORGAN $100 O.B.O. 3RD Addition Music Books Plus many more.

Includes headset, excellent shape.

519-503-1906.

LAWN FERTILIZER AND LAWN SEED Call George Haffner Tr u c k i n g , 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

For Sale TREES & SHRUBS FORSALE. SHADE trees; apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, apricot, nectarines; blueberries, aroniaberry, grapes, rhubarb, raspberries, etc; blue spruce, white spruce, Norway spruce & lots of nice cedars to make green fence hedges & windbreaks. Range 1-6 feet tall. Now is a good time to plant! Excellent quality plants. Stop in Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Martin's Nursery, c/o Emanuel E.M. Martin, 42661 Orangehill Rd., Wroxeter Ont. N0G 2X0. (1 km north of Wroxeter on Belmore Line).

$874,900.00 MLS

Farm Services BAGGED PINE SHAVINGS AGRICULTURAL Spray Lime, 22.5kg. bag; feed grade lime, 25kg. Delivered. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

KILN DRIED CORN & CORN SCREENING Delivered by Einwechter. Minimum 15 ton lots.

Call George Haffner Trucking 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

OAT & PEAS FOR F O R AG E C OV E R CROPS - Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

For a free, no obligation, consultation on Buying or Selling, call Dale direct at 519-500-1865.

Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., Brokerage | Independently Owned and Operated

$1,250,000.00

Lot 66 Middlebrook Road, West Monrose 10 beau�ful acres backing onto the Grand River!!!!

10 beau�ful acres, with gentle rolling hills backing onto the Grand River, (approximately 1214 � of shoreline) prefect place to build your dream home. Wishing to escape the city, and own your own piece of paradise? 2 acres clear with 2 acres of bush and 6 workable. Ideal spot for a hobby farm! Book your appointment today! MLS# 40301824

ADDRESS: 3 Arthur St. S., ELMIRA | DIRECT: 519-503-2753 EMAIL: leonmartin@remax.net

Word ads continue on page16

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022

16 | C L A S S I F I E D S

“PROUDLY REMEMBERING OUR PAS T; CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING OUR FUTURE.”

Community Information Page

P.O. Box 158

24 Church St. W. Elmira, Ontario N3B 2Z6

TOWNSHIP OF WOOLWICH MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Structure 400172 - Greenhouse Road

NOTICE OF STUDY COMPLETION 519-575-4400 www.woolwich.ca

Phone: 519-669-1647 or 877-969-0094 Fax: 519-669-1820 After Hours Emergency:

The Township of Woolwich has completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Structure 400172 on Greenhouse Road. The recommended alternative solution is replacement.

A key component of this study was consultation with interested stakeholders, agencies and members of the public. A Notice of Study Commencement inviting input was published January 1, 2020 and an Online Public Consultation Centre was held from February 28 to March 25, 2022. The recommended design solution was officially approved by Council on August 8, 2022.

The Final Project File Report, documenting the study process and rationale for the Preferred Solution, is available for public review, starting August 19, 2022, at the Township Administration Office at 24 Church Street West, P.O. Box 158, Elmira ON N3B 2Z6 and at the Township of Woolwich website: https://www.woolwich.ca/en/township-services/engineering-public-notices.aspx This Notice initiates a 30 calendar day Public Review Period. We encourage members of the public to review the Project File and share their comments or concerns by September 21, 2022. Please contact one of the following members of the project team if you have any questions or comments: Matt Scott, P. Eng. Darryl Schwartzentruber, C. Tech.

Consultant Project Manager Township Project Manager GM BluePlan Engineering Limited Township of Woolwich 650 Woodlawn Road West, Block C, 24 Church Street West, P.O. Box 158, Unit 2 Guelph, ON N1K 1B8 Elmira, ON N3B 2Z6 Tel: 519-824-8150 Tel: 519-669-1647 ext. 6047 Email: matt.scott@gmblueplan.ca E-mail: dschwartzentruber@woolwich.ca In addition, a Section 16 Order request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e. requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g. require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester contact information and full name for the ministry.

Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for additional conditions or a request for an individual/comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate or remedy those potential adverse impacts, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request.

The request should be sent in writing or by email to: Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor Toronto, ON M7A 2J3 E-mail: Minister.MECP@ontario.ca and Director, Environmental Assessment Branch Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 135 St. Clair Avenue West, 1st Floor Toronto, ON M4V 1P5 Email: EABDirector@ontario.ca Requests should also be sent to the Township of Woolwich by mail or by e-mail. Additional information on requests for orders under Section 16 of the Environmental Assessment Act is available on the Ministry’s website.

This Notice first issued August 22, 2022. https://www.woolwich.ca/en/township-services/engineering-public-notices.aspx Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, please note all comments will become part of the public record.

Continued from page 15

ↆ P U Z Z L E

S O L U T I O N S

Solutions for this week's puzzles.

P

O

P

S

I

C

L

E

EASY

Pets PUREBRED GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES for sale. $700. Shots and dewormed. Call 519-589-0750 .

RED LAB CROSS PUPS. FRIENDLY, born January 21. $200 o.b.o. Call 519-669-1752.

Coming Events KARATE! IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL CLASSES AVA I L A B L E .

SCHWEITZER'S MARTIAL ARTS. Self-defense, Self-discipline, Self-confidence GROUP CLASSES FOR AGES 4 TO ADULT Taught

by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt and 12X World Karate Champion Location St. Peters Lutheran Church 2925 Lobsinger Line, H e i d e l b e rg FA L L EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ONLY $105+HST FOR 10 WEEKS Special ends Aug. 29. Regular price $125+HST Register at St. Peters Lutheran Church Aug. 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Call 519-580-1418 or e-mail becky_schweitzer@ hotmail.com

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Personals SECOND STRONGEST ADDICTION? Gambling! *Causes 30% of suicides. * loses houses, loses spouses.

Gamblers Anonymous meeting, Rockway Centre, 1405 King St. E., Kitchener. Mondays 7 p.m. except holidays.

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ↆ L I N WO O D

Sell it in the Observer

All classified advertising is prepaid. Ads will be accepted in person, email, or phone during regular office hours. Deadline is Wednesdays by 10am. Order online at: observerxtra.com/classifieds.

Residential:

$9 per 20 words (20¢ per extra word)

Commercial:

$15 per 20 words (30¢ per extra word)

B LO O D

D O N O R

Your donation matters.

It matters to every patient across Canada. Because it’s something we can do today to help others wake up healthier tomorrow.

Proud to support the community effort to donate blood.

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The Next Linwood Clinic: at Linwood Community Centre Friday, September 2, 2022 4 – 8 pm

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Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

C L A S S I F I E D S | 17

“PROUDLY REMEMBERING OUR PAST; CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING OUR FUTURE.”

Community Information Page COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT NOTICE OF HEARING TUESDAY, September 20, 2022 at 4:30 P.M.

Pursuant to the Planning Act and Ontario Regulations 197/96 and 200/96 take notice that the Committee of Adjustment for the Township of Woolwich will meet for the purpose of hearing all persons interested in support of or opposition to any of the following applications as described below.

Please note this will be a virtual meeting only and public attendance at the Township offices will not be permitted. Below is information on how you can submit comments, view or participate in the meeting. You may also contact the Committee Secretary by sending an email to planning@woolwich.ca or by phone at 519-669-6040 if you have any questions.

COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT APPLICATIONS Minor Variance Application A 25/2022 – Victor and Arlinda Anselmo, 65 Arthur Street North, Elmira Zone / Use: Agricultural (A) / single detached dwelling Proposal: The applicant is requesting relief from Section 7.2.6 Maximum Lot Coverage of the Agricultural zone to permit an approximate 31% lot coverage for all buildings whereas the by-law limits the maximum lot coverage to 20% of the lot area. The property is approximately 581 square metres in area. The applicant is proposing to demolish the rear portion of the dwelling and an attached single car garage and replace it with a new dwelling addition and a two car garage. The proposed addition will result in a dwelling with a footprint of approximately 179 square metres.

Consent Application B 21/2022 – 2205299 Ontario Limited, unaddressed parcel located at the northeast corner of Arthur Street North and Earl Martin Drive, Plan 58M191 Part Lot 3, Plan 58R20988 Parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 Zone / Use: Service Commercial (C-7) and Service Industrial (M-5) with site specific provisions 26.1.249 / vacant land Proposal: The applicant is requesting permission to grant an access easement measuring approximately 16 metres wide by 80 metres depth and identified as all of Parts 3 and 4 on Plan 58R20988 on the subject lands in favour of the adjacent lands to the west owned by Grant Castle Corp. and described as Part 2 Plan 58R20988.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE As in-person meetings are not an option at this time, you can view or participate in the meeting as follows: • view the Committee of Adjustment livestream on the Woolwich Township YouTube channel at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOnLlF3Srk2gLEBjkq8pIMQ OR • participate by registering with the Committee Secretary on or before 12 noon on Wednesday September 14th. To register please email planning@woolwich.ca or phone 519-669-6040. When registering you must provide your name, phone number, email and the application number you would like to comment on. Once you are registered the Committee Secretary will forward information on how to connect to the Zoom meeting (i.e. zoom Wi-Fi login or conference call number).

If you are unsure whether or not you would like to speak at the meeting but want to listen and have the option to comment on a particular application,

P.O. Box 158

24 Church St. W. Elmira, Ontario N3B 2Z6

Phone:

519-669-1647 or 877-969-0094 Fax: 519-669-1820

After Hours Emergency:

519-575-4400 www.woolwich.ca

please register with the Committee Secretary (see above information). You will not be required to speak if you do not want to.

WHY REGISTER By registering staff can ensure that you are permitted access to the virtual meeting, we know which application you are commenting on and, can call on you at the appropriate time to comment if you wish to do so. As it is virtual, registering will provide a level of security that is necessary to prevent unwanted guests from disrupting the meeting. Applicants and their consultants will be automatically registered and contacted accordingly by the Committee Secretary ahead of the meeting.

SUBMITTING COMMENTS If you would like to comment on a particular application, staff always recommend that you do so by: • submitting a letter by mail or delivering it to the Township office at 24 Church Street West, Elmira and placing it in the drop box on the Maple Street side of the building; or • submit an email to planning@woolwich.ca You can also contact the Township Planner at 519-669-6033 to discuss any comments / concerns however, this is not considered a formal comment.

The Committee will consider submissions for or against the applications. All submissions must be made no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday September 7th (Note that this date is before the meeting). Any submissions received will be included in a comment package and presented at the meeting. This information is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public at the Committee of Adjustment hearing. Please note that while the Committee may redact some personal information such as email addresses and phone numbers, your submissions will otherwise be made public in their entirety.

This notice has been sent to commenting agencies, and to owners of property located within 60 metres (200 feet) of the subject properties. If you wish to be notified of any last minute changes to the agenda (i.e. withdrawal of an application) you must contact the Committee Secretary at 519-669-6040 or 1-877-969-0094 (Ext. 6040) or by email to planning@woolwich.ca.

Notice of Decision: Within 10 days of the meeting, a copy of each decision will be sent to owners, agents, those who submit written comments, and people who register for the meeting. If you wish to be notified of the decision of the Committee of Adjustment in respect to this application, you must submit a written request to the Committee Secretary or register ahead of the meeting.

This will also entitle you to be advised of a possible Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Appeal of Minor Variance and Consent Applications: Anyone in opposition to a decision may appeal the decision to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. The Tribunal may dismiss an appeal without holding a hearing if the appellant did not make oral or written submissions to the Committee of Adjustment before a decision was given or does not provide a reasonable explanation for having failed to make a submission to the Committee.

QUESTIONS / FURTHER INFORMATION Please feel free to reach out to Township Staff by phone or email to assist you should you have any questions. Contact the Committee Secretary at 519-669-6040 or 1-877-969-0094 (Ext. 6040) or by email to planning@woolwich.ca

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022

18 | C L A S S I F I E D S

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Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ FA M I LY

C L A S S I F I E D S | 19

A L B U M

Thank you

Celebration of Life

In Memoriam

Please join us for a CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE for

Thank You

Bill Buchanan

Dan and Connie Arndt would like to Thank everyone for the cards, gifts and good wishes on the occasion of our 50th Wedding Anniversary.

A Special Thanks to Rob and Donna and Tammy and Mike and the grandkids for all their work to make this a special day.

ↆ LO CA L ↆ

Celebration of Life

In Memory of

Barbara Ann McKenna 1962 – 2014 No one knows how much I miss you No one knows the bitter pain We have suffered since we lost you Life has never been the same.

In our hearts your memory lingers Sweetly tender, fond and true There is not a day day, dear Barbie That we do not think of you.

Saturday, September 3, 2022 @ 2pm at Bethel Bible Church, 126 Main St. South, Seaforth, ON.

With loving memories, your mother Barbara Firek and loving son Shane McKenna

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Passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at Grand River Hospital in his 77th year, surrounded by family and loved ones. A celebration of life for family and friends will be held from 4 - 7p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at the Waterloo Rod and Gun Club, 1075 Bo-De Lane, St. Jacobs.

Tributes of Jim will begin at 5:30 p.m. As per Jim’s wishes, an evening reception full of music will follow.

In Jim’s memory, donations can be directed to KidsAbility or the Salvation Army and may be made through the Dreisinger Funeral Home. ❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

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GRIFFITHS, WILLIAM "BILL" JAMES passed away peacefully on Friday, August 19, 2022, at Andy's House Hospice in Port Carling.

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STEVER, MARK CLAYTON - Unexpectedly, Mark passed away at 59 years of age at his farm in Breslau.

PADDLING ALONG: The Nith River holds more than a few surprises, says long-time guide on the water system → FROM 10

The best time to paddle these rapids is from March to early May, and then again in October and November when the water level is high from rainfall and snowmelt, said Kent.

The Nith is unpredictable because it is largely undammed. This means the water level can change quickly based on weather and precipitation.

“It’s much more of a personality that depends on the weather and the rainfall,” said Kent. “So the downside of not being dammed, it doesn't have reservoirs to supplement the flow when you get a dry period. But when it gets wet, it gets a lot more flow. And so for doing whitewater, that works out great.

“You have to learn how it works. And from years of experience of watching it, you learn to know what kind of rainfall will make what kind of flows and you can forecast like at least a week in advance.”

Since the bottom of the

Nith is mainly sand and gravel, with fewer boulders than more well-frequented white water rivers in Canada, it’s a great place for people to learn how to white water paddle, said Kent. “It’s more forgiving.”

Today because of the recent heat wave, the Nith is running quite low, at about 6.5 metres per second. Kent says he’s paddled the river when it was running as high as 300 metres per second.

When it runs any higher than 40 metres per second, paddlers can’t use a canoe because it’ll be swamped in the rapids.

It’s easy to underestimate the Nith, said Kent.

“I’ve seen people who’ve capsized pretty dramatically and had some scary stories.”

Jason Wall, one of Kent’s guides says he likes how close the Nith is. He usually drives up north to experience nature. “(The Nith) has everything,” he said. “White water to play and it’s literally in your backyard,” he said.

“I like the fact that it’s quiet,” said Boyd, another guide. “There’s not a lot of people until you get close to Paris, so there’s a greater chance of seeing wildlife because it’s quiet,” she said.

I’m impressed with how intimately Kent knows the Nith. He knows every bend, every hazard, every spot with irregular currents, every shallow spot, and the best way to navigate around them.

He wasn’t always a river guide. Kent said he started off in research and development for Proctor and Gamble, and he also worked as the manager of the Burford Home Hardware, but realized he wanted something else.

At the encouragement of his wife, and after a year of planning, he started Grand Experiences in 1997. He began by guiding trips on the Grand River, and eventually by 2001 branched out to the Nith. Over the years, he’s spent a lot of time on these rivers; he can literally paddle the Grand

blind, he says, noting he cares deeply for them.

The Nith River makes its way through Carolinian forest. Only one per cent of Canada is classified as Carolinian zone, yet it includes some of the most biodiversity in the country, and most of the rare species as well.

“What I worry about is development. You know, too much development along the Nith, because it's such a cool spot.”

He worries specifically about a new development in a forested area on the edge of Paris where deer used to live. Now the deer are crowding together in another patch of forest upriver.

As we made our way down the river, I had to practice my paddling skills when the river current picked up and pushed me toward various obstacles.

At one point the river pushed me toward a fallen tree covering the water in a tangle of sharp branches— called a strainer in the kayaking world.

At another point, the river pushed me toward Devil’s cave – a phenomenon caused by hundreds of years of water swirling in a gathered intense spot, effectively drilling an estimated 20-foot deep hole into the limestone.

At one point this hole was located in a cave, but it collapsed. Now a chunk of stone lurks in the hole unseen beneath the surface. Over generations, the unseen chunk of stone has killed or nearly killed multiple kids diving in headfirst to show off their bravado, said Kent.

Just before the point where the river’s elevation starts to drop, we stopped at a pebbly and sandy shore to stretch our legs and put on our kayak skirts. The skirts attach to the kayak body and cover the opening where you sit so that water sloshing across the kayak from the rapids will not swamp the boat.

I have to admit, as we closed in on the rapids, my senses were heightened

and I was feeling nervous.

I’ve grown up paddling every summer, but never through rapids.

They were exhilarating.

As I made my way through the three sets of rapids, I became an observer of myself as my instincts took over and my muscles kicked in to paddle hard and do what was needed to avoid smashing into rocks.

Even with the water levels low as they were, the rapids still presented a challenge for a newbie like me, with waves rushing entirely over the lip of my kayak. At one point, I almost flipped into the water, but Kent watched it all about to happen, and shot forward to catch me at the last moment.

Who would have thought the placid Nith River which quietly weaves its way through the back fields and woodlots of Wellesley Township, could have such a fun secret just before she empties into the Grand?

I will definitely be back.

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 20

Living Here

It's about all of us.

Leading the way reporting about the people and places of home.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Report it: observerxtra.com/tips

A focus on vaccines

Cycling north for GRRCC

With a new school year on the horizon, Waterloo Region’s Public Health department is encouraging families to make sure their children are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines before returning to the classroom.

Meanwhile, children from 6 months to 5 years of age became eligible to receive the first of two doses of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 on July 28.

Waterloo Region’s Pedro Gonzalez Hernandez and Dr. Maren Oelbermann have embarked on a 770 km cycling journey in the Yukon to fundraise for cancer care at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre. Their eight-day journey along the Dempster Highway began in Dawson City, Yukon on Aug. 24 and will wrap up Sept. 1 in Inuvik, NWT. Their goal is to raise $5,000.

What are skin tags?

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have several unsightly skin tags on different areas of my body. As I age, I notice more of these skin tags appearing out of nowhere.

What are skin tags, and are they harmful? Can I do something to get rid of them myself, or do I need to see a dermatologist?

ANSWER: Skin tags are common, and, as in your situation, they can become even more common as people age. It is not known what causes skin tags, but the good news is they are not cancerous and do not pose other health concerns.

The technique for removing skin tags is simple and usually effective. To avoid unnecessary health risks, however, skin tag removal should be performed under the guidance of a physician.

Occasionally, an ophthalmologist may have to remove skin tags close to an eyelid. It is not recommended that people attempt home remedies.

Skin tags, also called acrochordons, soft fibromas or fibroepithelial polyps, are small noncancerous, or benign, skin growths. Usually, they are flesh-colored bumps of tissue connected to the skin's surface by a narrow stalk. The color, texture, size and width of the base can vary.

It may be valuable to talk to a dermatologist about the growths to diagnose whether you have skin tags or another skin disorder that can mimic the appearance of a skin tag. These include benign conditions such as moles, warts and seborrheic keratoses, as well as malignant

▢ Mayo Clinic

Professional Clinical Health Advice

skin cancers, including melanomas.

Also, in rare cases, development of multiple skin tags may be a sign of an underlying hormonal or endocrine syndrome, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or acromegaly.

So medical evaluation is always recommended before treatment.

Friction can play a role in the development of skin tags. Commonly, they are located where skin rubs against skin or clothing.

Frequently, they develop on the neck, underarms and eyelids, as well as within body folds, such as under the breasts or in the groin area. In some cases, skin tags seem to be associated with obesity, and genetic factors also appear to play a role.

Unfortunately, there's no way to minimize the risk of developing skin tags.

Most skin tags don't cause symptoms, unless they are repeatedly irritated by rubbing against jewelry, clothing or other items. The tags are harmless, but they won't go away without treatment.

Reasons for treatment include irritation of a skin tag or if you don't like the way the skin tag looks.

In some cases, after removal, a specimen may be submitted to a pathology laboratory to rule out the possibility of skin cancer.

If the diagnosis is a benign skin tag, treatments include removal with sterile surgical scissors; freezing with liquid → MAYO CLINIC 23

Wendy Richardson, Chris Martin and Ali Khan are this year’s recipients of Wellesley citizens’ awards.

Steve Kannon/submitted

Trio recognized for their contributions to the Wellesley community Chris Martin is the citizen of the year, Ali Khan the junior citizen, while lifetime achievement nod goes to Wendy Richardson Steve Kannon Observer Staff

THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE community effort to build a new recreation centre in Wellesley, Chris Martin is the township’s citizen of the year. Joining him at next month’s presentation at the Wellesley Fall Fair will be Ali Khan, the junior citizen of the year, and Wendy Richardson, who’ll receive the lifetime achievement award.

All three are being recognized for their volunteer contributions to the community.

Martin has been very

visible of late as the chair of the advisory board behind the new Wellesley Township Recreation Centre, for which he also leads fundraising efforts.

His volunteer efforts reach back years before that, from refereeing hockey and serving as president of the Twin Centre Hericanes hockey club to sitting on the board of the Wellesley Township Community Health Centre.

“It was a very pleasant surprise, that’s for sure,” Martin said of being named Wellesley’s citizen of the year.

“Every year, I read

about the people who have been awarded that honour, and I think ‘what I’ve been doing with my time? – look at what they’ve accomplished and what they’ve done and what they’ve been involved in.’ I have tremendous respect for them, and then to be put in that class is ... I don’t know. Nobody volunteers for the recognition, so it’s not something you think about. And then when you get recognized it is actually it’s a little uncomfortable, to be honest,” he said with a laugh.

All of his volunteer activities, including

with the Big Brothers organization, are about either paying it forward or paying it back, he says, pointing to his involvement with hockey as pay back for his time playing as a youth and for the opportunities his own kids had.

“Some people asked me about the hours and hours that have gone into it, but it’s not work if you enjoy it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Wellesley’s junior citizen of the year is much newer to volunteering in the township, but has been doing so non-stop → CITIZENS 24

We believe that properly maintaining your vehicle can greatly increase its lifespan and save you money by not needing to replace your vehicle as often.

Most of the large maintenance items only need to be done once in the lifetime of the vehicle.

Having maintenance items like a transmission service and engine tuneup completed can extend the vehicle life by 150,000 kms plus. However, if your plan is to replace your vehicle within the next year we would want to have a conversation about what would make the most AD SPOT - NON PRINTING sense for you.

We always want to give you all the information you need and we’re happy to explain the process that takes place when having these services done on your vehicle. Our desire is that you make a decision that makes the most sense for you.

If you have any questions about your vehicle and what we would recommend, we are more than happy to chat!

20 Oriole Parkway E., Elmira.

Tel: (519) 669-1082

www.leroysautocare.net

Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

Bring the ice cream truck to your kitchen

T

he best ice cream sandwiches aren't made with just ANY cookie. Ice cream sandwich cookies can turn rock-hard in the freezer -- or lose all their flavour! That's why we add water to our cookie dough: It helps the cookies stay soft in the freezer.

Plus, we add brown sugar, vanilla, and salt to give them extra flavour even when they're cold (which makes it harder to taste things!). Lastly, the mini

chocolate chips guarantee that every bite has a burst of chocolaty flavour.

These ice cream sandwiches are great served plain, but you can also take them to the next level by decorating the edges: place 1 cup mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or sprinkles in a shallow dish.

▢ 2 tablespoons water

▢ 2⁄3 cup (3 1⁄3 ounces)

▢ 1 large egg yolk

▢ 1⁄8 teaspoon baking soda

▢ 1⁄2 cup packed (3 1⁄2 ounces) brown sugar

▢ 3 tablespoons

unsalted butter, melted

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spray lightly with vegetable oil spray.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking soda. In a large bowl, whisk brown sugar, melted butter, water, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth, about 30 seconds.

3. Add flour mixture to brown sugar mixture and use rubber spatula to stir until combined and no dry flour is visible. Stir in chocolate chips. (Dough will be very soft.)

4. Use a 1-tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop 12 mounds of dough onto the greased parchment-lined baking sheet (about 1 level tablespoon of dough per mound).

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Truck & Trailer Maintenance

▢ 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cardlock Fuel Management

▢ 1⁄4 cup (1 1⁄2 ounces)

mini semisweet chocolate chips

▢ 1 quart ice cream

(homemade or storebought), softened

5. Place baking sheet in oven and bake until cookies are puffed and golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes.

6. Remove baking sheet from oven and place on cooling rack. Let cookies cool completely on baking sheet, about 30 minutes. (This is a good time to soften your ice cream in the refrigerator, 15 to 20 minutes.)

7. Fill cookies with ice cream by placing 1 scoop of ice cream in the center of 6 upside down cookies (scoop of ice cream should be about 2 inches tall and 2 inches wide). Working quickly, place 6 cookies, right side up, on top of ice cream to make sandwiches. Gently press cookies and twist to push ice cream to edges of cookies. Place ice cream sandwiches on a large plate and place in the freezer.

8. 8. Freeze sandwiches until firm, at least 8 hours. Serve.

⚠ Ice cream sandwiches can be individually wrapped in plastic wrap, transferred to a zipper-lock bag, and frozen for up to two months. ↆ For 25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America's Test Kitchen for rigourously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks.

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ↆ FA I T H

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▢ Vegetable oil spray

▢ 1⁄4 teaspoon salt

ↆ C O M M U N I T Y

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

all-purpose flour

L I V I N G H E R E | 21

D I R E C TO RY

10 am Ecumenical Service Elmira at Gibson Park Mennonite by the Elmira Ministerial Association.

Church Hosted Bring a lawn chair. “By Donation” BBQ will follow the service.

www.elmiramennonite.ca 58 Church St. W., Elmira • 519-669-5123

COMMERCIAL 24 CARDLOCK FUEL DEPOT HOUR M&G MILLWRIGHTS LTD. • Design • Installation • Custom Fabrication

MATERIAL HANDLING & PROCESSING SYSTEMS

519.669.5105 1540 FLORADALE ROAD P.O. BOX 247, ELMIRA

www.mgmill.com

NANCY KOEBEL

Bus: 519.744.5433

Freedom 55 Financial is a division of The Canada Life Assurance Company

Email: nancy.koebel@f55f.com Individual life insurance, mortgage insurance, business insurance, employee benefits programs, critical illness insurance, disability coverage,

RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, LIFs and Annuities.

652 Waterbury Lane, Waterloo 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

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RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

YOUR OIL, PROPANE, NATURAL GAS AND AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS VERMONT Castings

11 HENRY ST. - UNIT 9, ST. JACOBS

519.664.2008

Woolwich

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28 ▢ Harmony in Faith Worship Service, 10 a.m. at

Gibson Park Elmira. The Elmira & District Ministerial Association is pleased to announce our plan to re-gather together as a community for Sunday morning worship in the park to praise God in song, scripture readings, a children's story and sermon preached by Pastor Derek Osborne, Elmira Pentecostal Assembly.

Free will offerings to be given to Woolwich Community Services either in food or monetary donations. A barbecue will follow the service (a donation basket will be available for people to contribute whatever they can afford towards their meal).

▢ Season Finale for Concert in the Park. Join us for the last of the Elmira Sunday Concert Series from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Gibson Park, Elmira. Dianne and The Cavaliers will be performing. Bring your lawn chairs.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 ▢ Waterloo Region Newcomers and Friends Club

Meeting, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free to attend at Lincoln Road Chapel, 145 Lincoln Rd., Waterloo.

Women of all ages, who are new to the area, or have experienced a lifestyle change are invited. Monthly meetings include speakers and social activities. For further info: waterloonewcomersandfriends@gmail. com

▢ Senior's Community Dining. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch, fellowship and entertainment at Calvary United Church St. Jacobs. Cost: $12. Must pre-register by noon on Sept.

1 by calling 519-664-1900.

Vacuum Sales, Repairs Se Service All Makes & Models

9 Church St. E., Elmira

519-669-8362 Email: elmiravacuum@gmail.com

Quality & Service you can trust.

21 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.2884 | martinselmira.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Education and Treatment

▢ New Member Night for the Schneider Male Choir.

Join us from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Waterloo North Mennonite Church, Waterloo. Do you like to sing? The Schneider Male Chorus always has a place for you. If you are a male interested in singing a wide variety of music, and want to be a part of a historically centred, iconic organization come out to a practice or contact us at 519-949-4541.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 ▢ Wellesley Township Fall Fair will be presenting a modified version for 169th Annual Fall Fair. A parade will kick-off the event at 5:30pm from the school to the community centre grounds. Food Trucks will be available and the evening program starts at 7 pm inside the community centre. Check out exhibits in the community centre and stay for the evening program with the ambassador competition, presentation of the citizens of the year, quilt raffle draw. check out www.wellesleynehfallfair.ca for details. Contact Mary LichtyNeeb at mlichty@execulink.com or 519-504-6761.

Your First Step to Better Hearing

519-669-9919 charlene@bauerhearing.com 25 Industrial Drive, Elmira

SANYO CANADIAN

MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 ▢ Woolwich Gardeners Speaker Monday Sept. 19, 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m., St. James Lutheran Church, 60 Arthur St. S., Elmira (Wyatt St. door). Janet Cox "Keeping the Peace With Weeds (Practical Advice, Biological Strategies and Some Big Ideas)". Free-will donation for non-members. Open to the public! "Lug a Mug" for refreshments and treats.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 ▢ Senior's Community Dining. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch, fellowship and entertainment at Linwood Community Centre.

Cost: $12. Must pre-register by noon on Sept. 23 by calling 519-664-1900.

ↆ The Community Events Calendar is reserved for non-profit local events that are offered free to the public. Placement is not guaranteed. Registrations, corporate events, open houses and similar events do not qualify for free advertising. See complete policy online. All submissions are to be made online at observerxtra.com/event-listing/.

Healthy Communities

The place to get involved.

• Volunteer Opportunities • Projects & News • Sub-Committee updates

33 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.1591

SPACE FOR RENT Advertise here for great weekly exposure in Woolwich & Wellesley townships.

CALL Donna to book this space today!

519-669-5790 ext. 104

healthywoolwich.org

Playtime Word of the Week

Find-A-Word

ABROGATE "to fail to do what is required by something, such as a responsibility

Mini-Word

ACROSS 1. Beneficial 7. "Romeo and

Juliet" setting 8. Absorbed 9. Social breakdown 10. Adam's apple site

Sudoku

DOWN 1. Eye liner, in a way 2. Medicinal plant 3. Overthrow, e.g.

4. Frothy 5. Detach a medal 6. Glove material

EASY

Sudoku

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 22

If your company would like to sponsor this page, please contact The Observer at 519-669-5790 ext.104 Or email donna@woolwichobserver.com

HARD

3 ; + ( $ ' * 5 '

0 + 2 ) 1 ) ( $ $

, / < ( ; & 5 ' 7

' $ : / ( ) 8 , ,

19

8 Letters 1 Word

THEME: LINGUISTICS

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ANIMATE

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UNVOICED

DATIVE

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SOLUTION:

Figure out the mystery letters to complete this eight-letter word reading clockwise or counterclockwise.

Crossword ACROSS 1. Draw forcibly 6. Iron 11. Accounts 13. Old-fashioned 15. Loss of voice 16. Change the

dimensions of 17. Furnace tenders 18. Of service 19. Makes lace 20. Ad headline 22. Argued 23. "Farewell, mon ami" 25. Cry out loud 26. Mysterious: Var. 27. Lilac, e.g.

29. Refrigerated trailers, in trucker lingo 31. Separate 33. Transforms into 36. Clump of trees 40. Hang loose 41. Carbon compound 43. Effecting the dura mater 45. Advocate 46. Bantu language 47. "La Scala di ___" (Rossini opera) 48. "The Mikado" prop

50. Ellowish

56. Gets back 57. Tender spots 58. Fills

cotton cloth 53. Relating to the uterus 54. Fearful 55. Breaks away

teams, e.g.

2. Deep zone of

an ocean 3. Gander

4. Coastal raptor 5. Ado 6. Pick beforehand 7. Con 8. Coop flier 9. Better balanced 10. "The Pink

DOWN 1. Water polo

Make a positive local statement everytime you put one on.

The store for newspaper readers.

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Panther" star 11. Rastafarianism 12. Smart-mouthed 13. Bakery treat 14. Active 21. Deodorant type 24. Annul 28. Atlantic and Pacific, e.g.

30. Clash of clans 32. Smallest veins 33. Acid salts 34. "View of Toledo" artist 35. Easier to comprehend 37. Aquatic mammal 38. Baby born early 39. Fabrics 40. Southern constellation 42. Like some eclipses 44. Domain 49. Fries, maybe 51. Brews 52. City in Cebu

newsmart.ca

Thursday, August 25, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

L I V I N G H E R E | 23

MAYO CLINIC: Methods for getting a handle on skin tags → FROM 20

nitrogen; and electrical burning, or cautery. These treatments often can be completed with minimal discomfort. Small tags usually are removed easily without anesthesia, while larger growths may require some local anesthesia prior to removal. For multiple tags, applying an anesthetic cream before the procedure may help. If the skin tag is large or has a broad base, a physician may decide that removal by surgical excision is necessary.

Removal of skin tags is not completely without risk. A skin tag can be removed immediately in the office with surgical scissors or excision, but minor bleeding or a local infection could occur.

With freezing or burning, the skin tag may require a short time to fall off, and these procedures have a risk of skin discoloration – darkening or lightening – following the procedure. Sometimes, repeat treatments are necessary if the tag doesn’t fall off or it grows back, or if new tags

grow in other areas.

If you’re interested in having skin tags removed, talk to your primary health care provider about the best option for you.

Perhaps the condition can be treated during an office visit. Or you may be referred to a dermatologist for evaluation. Simple, effective treatments are available. ↆ Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www. mayoclinic.org.

WELCOME NEW

KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS CHILDREN BORN IN 2018 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR YEAR 1 KINDERGARTEN AND CHILDREN BORN IN 2017 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR YEAR 2 KINDERGARTEN

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Your Neighbourhood Catholic Elementary School or the Waterloo Catholic District School Board Ask about our French Immersion Programs in Cambridge Kitchener Waterloo

WCDSB.CA

519-578-3660

HOT H OT

Summer SALE Continues until Sat Sept 3rd

Up to

50% OFF

MEN'S CASUAL AND DRESS DESIGNER CLOTHING

Sale Hours: Tue - Wed 9 - 6 | Thurs - Fri 9 - 7 | Sat 9 - 3

W.C. Brown & Sons Sale Event Hours: Tues-Wed 9-6 | Thur 9-9 | Fri 9-9 | Sat 9-5

18-24 Arthur St. S., Elmira 519.669.1152 | brownsmenswear.com

Summer Hours: Tue-Wed 9-6 | Thurs-Fri 9-6 | Sat 9-3

*some exclusions apply

100 YEARS

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Community Care Concepts of Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot

Helping Seniors and Adults with Disabilities to Live Independently in Their Own Home Meals on Wheels • Transportation Day Programs • Homemakers • Maintenance Friendly Visitors • Community Meals • Social Programs Transportation from Hospital to Home FREE Community Exercise and Falls Prevention Classes FREE Short Term Home Support For information, services or support contact Community Care Concepts

519-664-1900

|

1-855-664-1900

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, August 25, 2022

24 | T H E B A C K PA G E

CITIZENS: In-person presentations set for fair day → FROM 20

since his family moved to the village six years ago.

Ali Khan, who’s heading into Grade 12 at Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School, first got involved with the Wellesley Youth Advisory Council, along with his brother Ahmad, who was last year’s junior citizen award winner.

From there, he quickly took on a variety of volunteer tasks.

He has volunteered helping at youth dances in the village, the Apple Butter and Cheese Festival, at PD day camps for younger school children and at the Rainbow Day Camp. He helped the Lions Club with candy distribution at Halloween, along with a long list of other activities.

When he’s back in school next month, Khan says he hopes to be involved there now that activities are set to resume to something like a pre-pandemic level.

“I hope to involve myself in a bunch of extracurriculars at school this year, perhaps DECA because I’m interested in business,” he said.

That’s on top of his

usual volunteer activities, including the ABC Fest.

“I really like helping out in the community.

In the awarding of this year’s lifetime achievement award, Wendy Richardson had to take off her organizer’s hat. Given her decades of volunteering in the township, the recognition was inevitable if somewhat awkward.

“That’s kind of what my committee said. I’ve been saying no over the last couple years and this year, well, they have a process ...,” she said.

Richardson in fact got the citizen of the year awards rolling, one of her many volunteer contributions. She’s very active with the Wellesley-North Easthope Agricultural Society and its fall fair, which includes her duties with the ambassador competition, the scarecrow contest and the citizen awards.

“When I was 20, I started working with the Cubs in New Hamburg.

Then I had children of my own, and when my children were 4-H age... I started leading 4-H so at least that way I would also be involved with my own

children,” she laughed, adding her work with the 4-H Club led to exhibits at the Wellesley Fall Fair, where she eventually took over the ambassador program.

“I found that I really enjoy working with young people. From there, we thought Wellesley Idol would make a nice match for our talent part of the of the fair program,” said Richardson of another of the hats she wears.

More recently, she was involved in the Wellesley Township Poppy Project, which saw the creation of hundreds of crocheted and knitted poppies assembled to make a unique Remembrance Day display.

Each of the experiences has been wonderful, she says, noting volunteer work provides great benefits.

“The best thing is I got to meet some really, really neat people, especially being involved in the fair board.”

The awards will be handed out during an in-person event on fair day, September 12, at the Wellesley Community Centre.

IN STOCK!

IN STOCK!

12” X 24”

P O RC E L A I N TILE

$ FROM

1

39

CLICK L U X U RY VINYL PLANKS

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PER SQ FT

REG 3.99

IN STOCK!

STA RT I N G F RO M

$

1

99 PER SQ FT

IN STOCK!

STA RT I N G F RO M

$ FROM

99 PER SQ FT

$ FROM

Mon Aug 22 – Sun Aug 28

$35 per night Includes hydro and water

7:00pm 8:00pm

Social Hour

Entertainment – Martine & Sam Haywood

Open Mic

Admission by donation (keep small)

Saturday, August 27th 5:00pm O N T O P E ONE Y E V ER

8:00pm

Old Fashioned Roast Beef Dinner

(until 6:30pm) $18/meal Advanced Tickets only (by Fri. Aug. 26) Call 519-574-3325 or email: draytonagsociety@gmail.com

Open Mic

Sunday, August 28th 10:00am Gospel Sing A Long 12:00pm Potluck Lunch

Corn and Sausage Provided by Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society

E V ERYONE W E LCOME

49 Elm St. Drayton, On www.draytonagsociety.com

ST E P & R I S E R I N C L U D E D

FROM

REG 18.99

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AREA RUGS

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Friday, August 26th

PER SQ FT

LEDGE STONE

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3

99

IN STOCK!

BAC K S P L A S H F RO M

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REG 3.99

HARD WOOD

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$

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IN STOCK!

LAMINATE FROM

1

89

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99 $ EACH

BASEBOARDS

STA RT I N G F RO M

199

N O T E X A C T LY AS SHOWN

FULLY STOCKED!

0 99 BIGGEST ON THE BLOCK! $ 99 1

$ FROM

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1 3 6 2 V I C TO R I A S T N . K I TC H E N E R

M ON - S AT 9 A M - 6 P M S U N DAY 1 0 A M - 5 P M

W W W. S O U R C E F L O O R I N G . C O M