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Elmira, Ontario, Canada | observerxtra.com | Volume 27 | Issue 48

Living Here | 30

20

Backlog adds to stresses on healthcare system Leah Gerber Observer Staff

Philippe Saraiva carved out a reindeer ice sculpture at Moonlight Madness in downtown Elmira on Dec. 1, an event that included a tree-lighting ceremony to kickoff the countdown to the holidays. Leah Gerber

IN A SYSTEM ALREADY STRESSED by a shortage of doctors and increased demand for services, physicians are working longer hours these days, creating a variety of problems, says the Ontario Medical Association.

“Physicians in team-based practices are providing care 235 days a year, up from 221 before the pandemic, according to new analysis of Ontario Health Insurance Plan billing data by the Ontario Medical Association,” the organization said last week in a release.

OMA members are now working on what would have been their days off, as well as weekends and evenings, the group notes.

The extra time is needed to catch up on the backload of work that has accumulated since the pandemic, and also because of the persistent doctor shortage in the province, the OMA says.

“Patients are returning to the health-care system in large numbers, catching up on health care they missed during the pandemic. Many are showing up sicker and with more undiagnosed conditions requiring more aggressive treatment,”

said a spokesperson for the Ontario Medical Association to the Observer in an email.

The issues are certainly familiar to Rosslyn Bentley, executive director of the Woolwich Community Health Centre.

Catching up on routine childhood vaccinations is one aspect of the backlog that WCHC staff are working on, she said.

“School-aged children’s vaccines are really backed up because public health would normally provide many of those in the school setting and, of course, that didn’t happen during COVID,” she said. “So we’ve been doing catch-up in the office for that work.”

Cancer screening is another example where things are running behind.

According to the Ontario Medical Association, almost 22 million fewer healthcare services happened during the pandemic than would normally have taken place.

“The pandemic backlog includes everything from routine checkups and childhood immunizations to diagnostic tests and surgeries – any healthcare service that was delayed, deferred or canceled because of COVID-19 as well as newly identified issues that now need → BACKLOG 9

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Page Three

If it matters to you.

It matters to us.

News tips are always welcome.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Online: observerxtra.com/tips

Woolwich and Bill 23

From the archives

Concerned about the impacts of Ontario’s Bill 23, including loss of planning resources and development charge revenues, Woolwich council this week passed a resolution calling on the province to mitigate the impacts. That might include increased financial supports to cover expected shortfalls.

They’re also seeking a meeting with MPP Mike Harris.

As the last of the opponents dropped their objections, plans for a power centre in St. Jacobs moved forward at Woolwich council this week. The tentative opening date for the Wal-Mart-anchored project is Jan. 1, 2004.

From the Dec. 7, 2002 edition of The Observer

Owners seeking more flexibility for Riverworks site in St. Jacobs Steve Kannon Observer Staff

CITING THE NEED FOR MORE flexibility when renting space to commercial tenants, the owners of the Riverworks in St. Jacobs are seeking to ease zoning restrictions on the property.

The zone change application discussed Monday

night by Woolwich councillors includes amendments to the site-specific provisions on the property at 1440 King St. N. If approved, the three existing commercial buildings could then be used by a hairdresser, barber or beautician; commercial or trade school; entertainment or recreation facility; private club; or a licensed

establishment.

Existing site-specific restrictions on the property date back to the 1980s when municipal-servicing concerns led to exclusions of businesses considered to require more water capacity, manager of planning Jeremy Vink explained.

The amendment requested by Riverworks

LP would bring the property more in line with typical C1 zoning in the St. Jacobs core, though the site’s floodplain location does preclude some uses, including any residential component, he added.

Kevin Muir of the Zehr Group, which owns the Riverworks property and is also headquartered there, said the request was

sparked by a hairdresser interested in the one vacant space now available there. The expanded list of uses would be helpful down the road for any prospective new tenants.

“We’re just looking essentially for some flexibility for a different range of uses,” he said at this week’s meeting.

There are no plans for

redevelopment of the property, Muir added.

In response to a question from Coun. Eric Schwindt about the number of licensed establishments in the village, Vink said the township does not control numbers only whether the business fits the zoning.

“It’s up to the market,” said Vink.

Wellesley Township to revisit sidewalk snow-clearing issue Bill Atwood Observer Staff

THE TOWNSHIP WILL REVISIT SIDEWALK snow-clearing options, Wellesley councillors decided Tuesday night following a presentation from a resident.

Nancy Kennedy is looking for the township to take on more responsibility when it comes to keeping sidewalks clear in the winter.

She told councillors that after she moved to the area 12 years ago, almost five feet of her property was appropriated by the township for a sidewalk.

Since then, there have been ongoing issues.

“Winter is not going away and it seems like we are constantly getting more snow every year. Our sidewalks on Parkview Drive meet the road and are almost impossible to keep clear of snow and ice because of cars driving over the sidewalks and, mainly, from the plows clearing the roads,” she explained.

Kennedy brought a simi-

lar request to council about five years ago. She again pointed to the challenges of keeping the sidewalk clear, included the cost and physical demands of applying salt and sand.

“Many of us pay to have our driveways cleared.

When this is done, the sidewalk portion at the bottom of the driveway is also cleared. Why should we pay to have the entire sidewalk cleared? Why should we pay to have someone clear our sidewalk if we go away for a night, or a week?” she asked council.

“It is my recommendation that the Township of Wellesley assume responsibility for snow clearing on all sidewalks,” Kennedy said.

“It’s particularly important to clear the sidewalks before the children go to their buses or school. Let’s make our sidewalks safe.”

In response Mayor Joe Nowak referenced a report that was given to council by staff on March 29 of this year. According to that report the township owns approximately 27 kilome→ WELLESLEY 14

Opponents of Bill 23 protested outside MPP Mike Harris’ Elmira office on Dec. 3. Leah Gerber

More pushback as province moves ahead with Bill 23 Bill Atwood Observer Staff

COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED IN THE cold rain outside MPP Mike Harri’s office Saturday during the Santa Claus parade to protest Bill 23 and encourage bystanders to sign a petition against the provincial legislation.

Bill 23, The More Homes

Built Faster Act, received royal assent last week, but Ontarians of all stripes are still upset about it and continue to seek to have the bill repealed.

Art Timmerman was one of the present protestors.

He decided to brave the rain because he disagrees with Bill 23.

“Particularly the part of Bill 23 to do with wetlands

and the protection for wetlands that would be lost with that bill,” he said.

Timmerman was joined by another protestor Jeff Leader. “I just think it’s the wrong direction for the province to go. It creates more of a dichotomy in society between the rich and the poor. We’re not going to see affordable housing going down this

path. And I’m worried about the ecocide. Bill 23 and Bill 39 erode our democracy,” he said.

Neil and Linda Lackey also joined the protest.

“I am deeply concerned because it’s not just Greenbelt, it’s farmland,” said Neil. “And that means food security is at risk.”

Bill 23 has an impact → BILL 23 9

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For this group, it’s all about the service Elmira council of the Knights of Columbus marks 40 years, with many charter members around to celebrate Bill Atwood Observer Staff

The Elmira council of the Knights of Columbus gathered last week to celebrate and reflect on 40 years of service in the community.

“Because it’s our 40th – you look at a lot of organizations that do volunteer stuff, what happens is they [have anniversaries] but a lot of those original people are all gone, and we wanted to do something while our members were still alive, kicking and involved,” said Grand Knight Todd Cowan.

A fraternal organization with the Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus were founded in New Haven, Conn. by Father Michael McGivney in 1881.

Locally, the Father Hugh MacKinnon council 8192 was founded by its namesake in 1982, with a total of 37 members.

“A lot of our charter members, so the members that were there from day-one are still alive and still around. We still have 22 charter members that

were with us then,” Cowan said.

The Knights of Columbus organization as a whole, along with the Elmira council “is one of the best kept charity secrets,” said member Mike Noel.

“What we mean is that we do a lot of work, charitable works where the people don’t know where it’s coming from. We work on big projects like the maple syrup festival but we also work on a small scale, too, and answer individual needs as well.…

We work on the big scale, right down to the smallest need,” Noel said.

Being low-key does present some challenges, however, when it comes to the likes of recruitment, he added.

“So the council figured as a whole, if we could get the Knights of Columbus name out there a little more, people may start talking about the Knights of Columbus, and then it may help us in recruiting new members as well.

We were the best-kept secret in the sense that we

The Elmira Knights of Columbus held a gathering Dec. 2 to mark the group’s 40th anniversary. Top, Bishop Wayne Lobsinger delivers an address. Bottom left, charter member Joe Lehmann with past State Deputy Grant Ertel. Bottom right, Lobsinger and current Grand Knight Todd Cowan. Submitted

performed the charity, but we were quiet about it.”

Since 1982 the Elmira council has supported many causes in the community, including the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, Woolwich Community Services, and helping to raise funds for Ukraine relief efforts. In total it has raised more than $200,000 to support local causes.

“If there’s a need, there’s a Knight. It’s one thing to raise money for the arena

and stuff like that, but it’s another thing to help those that need toys or need food or need help or need a hand shovelling their driveway. I think what kind of separates us is we’re more one-on-one stuff,” Cowan said Although the organization is affiliated with the Catholic Church, its service isn’t limited to church membership, Noel said.

“They have a motto

called ‘in service to one, in service to all’ If somebody approaches the Knights of Columbus with a need, if we are able, we will help them out,” he said.

While Cowan currently serves as Grand Knight, the real story of the Knights of Columbus in Elmira is the longstanding members who have kept it going, he said.

“This story is about the 40 years of what they’ve been doing [in] supporting

the community. That’s the big thing that makes this such a great community, the role that organizations like ours and other community organizations play,” Cowan added.

Looking ahead, the anniversary is also a changing of the guard, Cowan said.

“I think that over the next 40 years, we’re going to continue to grow…we do some succession planning. So it’s kind of like, ‘OK, we’re going to start working on you right now because someday you’ll be a Grand Knight, and then when you get to the Grand Knight, you’re going to be working on somebody else to kind of take over.’”

Noel agreed, stating the Elmira council should be around for a long time.

“I can see the council continuing to do the charitable events, and fundraising that have been successful in the past, while also trying to build up new members to bring in fresh new ideas for us to consider for future charitable events or future fundraising ideas.”

Notice of Intention to Pass By-Law to Amend Fees and Charges By-Law The Region of Waterloo intends to pass a By-law to amend the Fees and Charges By-law as of January 1, 2023, which reduces the children’s services, home child care parent fee rates for children under the age of six.

The by-law will be considered at the Regular Council Meeting, scheduled for: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

Held in the Council Chamber 2nd Floor, Administration Building 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener A copy of the proposed by-law will be available for review in the Council and Administrative Services Office, Region of Waterloo, 2nd Floor, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener. If you have questions concerning the amendment, please email regionalclerk@regionofwaterloo.ca If you wish to speak at the Council meeting regarding the proposed by-law, please register as a delegation with the Region's Council and Administrative Services Division, using the Delegation form at: https://forms.regionofwaterloo.ca/Counciland-Administrative-Services/CAS/Delegation-Registration or by calling 519-575- 4400 by 4:30 p.m. on December 13, 2022.

The community in St. Clements celebrated the lighting of the Paradise and District Lions Club Tree of Lights last Saturday. Erick Traplin performed and had all the kids dancing with bubbles and music.

Santa was also present. Funds raised will go toward a local monument for members who have served in Canada’s armed forces. Leah Gerber

All comments and information received from individuals, stakeholder groups and agencies regarding this by-law are being collected to assist the Region of Waterloo in making a decision. Under the “Municipal Act”, personal information such as name, address, telephone number, and property location that may be included in a submission becomes part of the public record. Questions regarding the collection of this information should be referred to Council and Administrative Services.

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

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Santa Claus visits Elmira There was plenty of merriment in downtown Elmira Saturday as Santa Claus paraded along Arthur Street in an event organized by the Kiwanis Club of Elmira. Leah Gerber

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS

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COMMUNITY NEWS | 9

BILL 23: Province has faced plenty of pushback on Greenbelt, other changes → FROM 3

on many pieces of legislation at once. It takes away planning authority from upper-tier municipalities, among other major changes such as what conservation authorities are allowed to protect, and the legal planning process for decisions about where development can go.

Through Bill 23, the government also plans to remove 7,400 acres of protected land in the Greenbelt to allow development, after stating publicly that he wouldn’t touch the protected area. The Ford government also faces scrutiny following reports companies with ties to the party recently purchased land in the Greenbelt that is slated to be opened up for residential development.

Last week, Mike Schriener, the MPP for Guelph and leader of the Green Party of Ontario, filed a complaint with the provincial Integrity Commissioner.

“The people of Ontario are rightfully suspicious of the timing of the sale of certain protected Greenbelt lands that will now be open for development, and the ties these land speculators have to the PC party,” he

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treatment. Some individuals may be waiting for more than one service,” said the OMA staff.

The organization estimates Ontario has just 2.32 doctors for every 1,000 people.

Bentley said that most of the local centre’s patients are seen in person, and that sanitizing the room between patients adds to the amount of time needed.

“We see most people in person so that takes time, especially if you’re still asking people to be masked and cleaning the room between patients, which we do, to make sure that we’re not the place where people catch COVID or flu because we’ve seen people that are sick,” she said. “It does take longer.”

That said, the Woolwich Community Health Centre does have a full complement of doctors, including two physician positions in the Wellesley office and four at the St. Jacobs location. “We also have other primary care providers that provide care as well,” she said. “We are very lucky.”

Bentley says one of the reasons the Woolwich Community Health Centre has all the doctors it needs

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said in a statement.

A recent Mainstreet Research poll found that 55 per cent of respondents strongly disapprove of Bill 23, and 12 per cent somewhat disapprove of the bill, including Progressive Conservative voters.

The Chiefs of Ontario met yesterday (Wednesday) to call for a repeal of the bill after passing a resolution in November condemning the bill, “due to its clear violation of First Nations’ constitutionally protected, inherent and Treaty rights and its inevitable adverse environmental impacts on First Nations customary

and ancestral territories.”

Kevin Eby, Kevin Thomason and Mark Reusser, the team that helped push the region of Waterloo to develop an official plan that included gentle density and walkable neighbourhoods, submitted comments to the province questioning the basis for the bill, also in November.

For its part, the province expressed on the Environmental Registry that the bill is to address the housing crisis. “Ontario needs more housing, and we need it now. That’s why the Ontario government is taking bold and transformative action

Leah Gerber

to get 1.5 million homes built over the next 10 years.

The province believes the bill addresses the missing middle of the housing market, streamlines municipal planning responsibilities, and stimulates higher density around transit among other issues.

“These changes are providing a solid foundation to address Ontario’s housing supply crisis over the long term and will be supplemented by continued action in the future.”

The comment period for the Environmental Registry of Ontario for the bill is open until December 9.

BACKLOG: Higher demands are a bigger issue due to shortage of physicians → FROM 1

Turkey & Dressing or Roast Beef includes:

could be because of the nature of the community health centre model of practice.

A community health centre is a non-profit organization governed by a community-elected board of directors. Here, doctors work a set amount of hours each week in the office, as well as some work at home, and are paid a salary with pension and benefits.

Community health centres focus on health promotion, illness prevention and health at the community level as well as primary care for patients. Often, the centres are focused on a segment of the population facing barriers in accessing healthcare. For example, WCHC focuses on the rural population, said Bentley.

According to Health Ontario, the province has 101 community health centres.

In a more typical fee-for-service model, doctors run a practice, and the amount they are paid depends on the number of patients they see. This means they may take on high patient loads.

“Physicians are indicating they much prefer to be in a team environment,

possibly salaried environment, because it takes away the pressure of, I call it the hamster wheel of medicine,” she said.

Doctors operating a practice alone must see enough patients to earn the amount they expect to earn, as well as cover overhead costs of running a practice.

Bentley said the majority of community health centres were founded about 40 years ago, and more aren’t being established. “It’s certainly something we’d love the government to address,” said Bentley.

In 1983, the St. Jacobs Village Association established a health committee.

Through this, the Woolwich Community Health Centre was founded as a non-profit organization in 1985. With a combination of funding from the province and fundraising by the community, the permanent health centre at 10 Parkside Dr. opened in December 1990.

Bentley admits the community health centre model is more expensive for the government initially. “But we would beg to differ in the longer term because we then are able to provide more comprehensive care and

that helps prevent more hospital visits, more complications.”

So how can the doctor shortage be addressed?

“Well, of course, I’d love to see more CHCs established. I think the group model is a really efficient and effective way of providing for people, but that’s not something that’s going to happen overnight,” said Bentley.

She says she would like to see more people trained locally to avoid attracting doctors from areas of the world where they really need their doctors to stay.

She also suggests using more interdisciplinary care including pharmacists, nurse practitioners and others. “There is a lot of routine care that does not require a physician,” she said.

She also suggests that people do their best to stay healthy, including staying up to date with vaccines and, “Keeping healthy over your lifetime.

That helps prevent most of the diseases that we get today. Many of the things that are related to healthy lifestyle, keeping active and sleeping well, keeping our brain active, these are all things that will help you keep you out of the doctor’s office.”

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10 | C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

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Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ P O L I C E

C O M M U N I T Y N E W S | 11

R E P O R T

Police offer up tips to help prevent package theft Online shopping makes it easier to find that perfect gift for the festive season, but it’s also made it a cinch for thieves to steal your purchases right from your doorstep, say police.

The good news is that you don’t have to be a victim if you follow a few simple steps aimed at sending the porch pirate away empty-handed.

NOVEMBER 30 10:46 PM | Water-

loo Regional Police responded to a collision on Crowsfoot Road in Woolwich Township. The driver of the vehicle was travelling south on Crowsfoot Road, lost control and struck the driver of a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. Poor road and weather conditions were a contributing factor. There were no charges laid.

DECEMBER 1 7:00 AM | Perth County

OPP responded to a single- vehicle collision on Road 119 in the Township of Perth East.

Officers speaking with the driver suspected the driver had consumed alcohol and was displaying signs of impairment. A roadside screening device was administered, the driver was subsequently arrested and transported to a local operations center for further testing.

A 20-year-old West Perth

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Request a signature on delivery.

Ship the package to a trusted neighbour or relative who will be home.

Arranged to have packages delivered to your workplace, if your employer allows it.

Track your delivery online so you know when they’re

man was charged with ‘operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)’ and ‘operate a motor vehicle without insurance.’ The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charges.

DECEMBER 2 8:00 AM | Wellington

County OPP responded to a serious collision on Fife Road at Township Road 1, Guelph/Eramosa Twp. Initial reports indicated that a black SUV and a white pickup truck had collided and the driver of the SUV had sustained serious injuries.

A 46-year-old driver from Breslau was airlifted to a trauma centre with serious injuries. The other driver, a 34-year-old from Cambridge, was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The cause of the collision is being investigated and

A 46-year-old Breslau resident was airlifted from the scene of a serious two-vehicle collision Dec. 2 at the intersection of Fire Road and Township Road 1 in Guelph/Eramosa Twp. The other driver, a 34-year-old Cambridge resident, was transported to a Submitted local hospital with serious injuries.

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slated to arrive and plan to be home when the package is delivered.

Install video cameras and post signage to indicate surveillance is in effect.

Request the package be left out of sight at a rear or side door.

Choose in-store or curbside pickup.

Wellington County OPP is asking anyone that may have witnessed this collision to please call 1-888-310-1122.

DECEMBER 3 5:25 AM | Emergency

services responded to a residence in the area of Cordell Street and Townsend Drive in Breslau for reports of a fire, which was extinguished by Woolwich firefighters. Through investigation, the cause of the fire was determined to be accidental. No one was injured.

Damage was estimated at $200,000.

DECEMBER 5 11:04 AM | Waterloo

Regional Police received a report of property damage to a battingcage fence at Lions Park in Elmira, where the fence had been cut. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-5709777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

If packages are stolen from your home, report the incident to your local police and the company that delivered your purchase.

Reporting the crime gives police valuable information about potential theft trends in your area. If investigators know there’s a problem, police can dedicate resources to problem areas.

8:36 PM | P o l i c e

Wishing you all the Magic and Joy this Holiday Season!

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responded to a reports of a collision in the area of Kressler Road and Benjamin Road in Woolwich Township. The driver of a vehicle attempted a left turn from Kressler Road onto Benjamin Road when their vehicle was struck by another vehicle that was travelling south on Benjamin Road. There were no reported physical injuries. The driver making the turn was charged with ‘turn – not in safety.’

DECEMBER 6 4:52 AM | P o l i c e received a report of a break and enter at a business in the area of Weber Street North in Woolwich Township. The unknown suspects forced entry into the rear business and stole property. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information, or anyone who observed suspicious activity in the area, is encouraged to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477.

519-669-8234 Woolwich firefighters responded Monday to a report of a Leah Gerber chimney fire on Sandyhills Road.

6 Memorial Ave. Elmira www.guysandolls.ca

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 12

Opinion

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

Connect: observerxtra.com/staff

Verbatim

The Monitor

“The contrast between the pain and squalor that haunts exploited workers in Qatar and the sumptuous display of luxury and conspicuous consumption attending the FIFA gala is sharp, and makes the argument for our solidarity.”

Total consumer debt climbed to $2.36 trillion in the third quarter, an increase of 7.3% compared to last year. Average non-mortgage debt per consumer rose to $21,183, the highest level since Q2 2020.

Equifax Canada

Vancouver writer Tom Sandborn urges support of the Amnesty International petition that calls for justice for the brutally exploited workers who suffered and died.

OBSERVER EDITORIAL

Bill 23 leaves real spending decisions in its wake

W

oolwich council this week joined in on one of the major municipal squawking points when discussing Bill 23, the so-called More Homes Built Faster Act: the loss of development charges revenue.

The new legislation exempts more projects from development charges (DC) and puts more controls over the process. The move addresses runaway increases in such fees, which are levied on the premise that the buyers of new homes should pay for future services such as roadwork, parkland, schools and the like. The dubious growth-paying-for-growth arguments have spurred exponential growth in such DC fees.

Given that government fees and taxes can add tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars to the price of new construction – GTA builders, for instance, note those charges can amount to 25 per cent of the cost of a new home, as much as $250,000 – the province is not barking up the wrong tree when it takes aim at development charges.

Premier Doug Ford’s motives for the sweeping changes in recent legislation are fair game. It’s also fair to scrutinize whether any of the moves will actually lower prices or house more people – neither is likely. At the municipal level, any talk of affordability can automatically be discounted as hypocritical when delivered by politicians and bureaucrats supporting ever-increasing fees and property taxes. The same nullification applies to environmental utterances that do not include ending growth.

It’s disingenuous to claim the ability to both suck and blow at the same time.

Even the idea that growth will pay for growth does not stand up to scrutiny given that municipalities are losing ground, and existing residents end up paying more as growth continues.

Anyone paying attention in places that have seen a spate of new subdivisions – a list that includes Woolwich – knows that developers and builders made money, some people got new homes, the municipality raked in development charges and new additions to the tax roll, but there was nothing but downside for the existing residents who lost something in the mix only to face ever-increasing taxes.

Those who support such growth will always argue the benefits outweigh the negatives. Growth is always good. The trouble is, they can’t ever prove it. What we do know is that, at the local level, each new home ends up costing more than it generates in revenue. In the short-term, however, the opposite is true. The money paid just to develop the land and construct a home – development charges and building permits, for instance – bring in thousands of dollars in each case. Then there are the property taxes. The funds far outweigh the marginal cost of providing services to one more home.

Multiplied over hundreds of houses in a subdivision, that money adds up to a big boost to municipal coffers. Problem is, little if any of that money benefits existing residents of the community. Rather, the year-over-year growth in assessment is simply rolled into the budget – typically doled out by politicians and bureaucrats not to the public but to themselves in the form of raises and more hires to bloat government still more.

No one ever says, “Hey, we have all this extra revenue, let’s cut everybody’s taxes.” That, at least, would provide some shortterm compensation to existing residents inconvenienced by the growth.

Over longer periods, growth brings increased demand for services – always overpriced in the case of governments – and, eventually, huge infrastructure costs.

The new Woolwich council meeting this week heard about shortfalls, more borrowing, shifts in the tax burden and the seeds of more staffing requests, all the result of new provincial legislation. Councillors must resist such arguments in favour of prioritizing the essential from the optional. The latter must come under economic scrutiny, while the latter may have to be foregone in the name of budgeting that benefits residents’ wallets.

ANALYSIS OF CURRENT WORLD EVENTS

Winter fighting is not an issue in Ukraine

W

hen the two most senior military and intelligence officials in Washington make the same obvious error in public three times in three weeks, you have to wonder what they are really up to. Can it just be simple ignorance, or do they have a hidden agenda?

First up was General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He caused quite a stir on November 9 by saying that the slowdown in the fighting in Ukraine as winter arrives may create “a window... of opportunity for negotiation.”

“There has to be a mutual recognition that a military victory is probably, in the true sense of the word is maybe not achievable through military means,” he added, “and therefore you need to turn to other means.”

Milley’s stumbling remarks caused a considerable uproar, as they were widely seen as an attempt to push Ukraine into abandoning its stated goal of recovering all the territory conquered by Russia. Instead, Kyiv should settle for the best deal it can get while it still has the advantage militarily.

He was back at it a week later in a joint news conference alongside Defense Secretary

GWYNNE DYER

Global Outlook on World Affairs

Lloyd Austin. Once again he pointed out that the approach of winter, when the pace of combat is expected to slow, could provide “a window” for a political solution — as pushing Russia out of Ukraine completely would be “a very difficult task.”

The Ukrainians were clearly unhappy about the pressure they felt was being applied to them, but they refrained from pointing out the large hole in Milley’s logic, presumably because they didn’t want to make matters worse. Better to ignore his remarks and hope they didn’t represent the official US position.

Then it was the turn of US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, who told the annual Reagan National Defence Forum in California on Saturday that “We’re seeing a kind of a reduced tempo already of the conflict... and we expect that’s likely to be what we see in the coming months.”

Both sides would try to “refit, resupply and reconstitute” for offensives next spring, Haines

said. She didn’t drop the other shoe and say that Ukraine should therefore start negotiating for a compromise deal now, but the same amateur mistake was driving her argument.

Repeat after me: winter is the best time for war-fighting in Ukraine (and in Russia). It isn’t the 18th century any more.

Armies do not retire into winter camps at the first snowfall, and stay there until spring.

The very worst time for fighting is the spring ‘rasputitsa’ (mud season), when rain and melting snow make unpaved roads almost impassable to heavy vehicles and off-road movement impossible for about two months.

One of the reasons the initial Russian invasion stalled was that it coincided with the start of the rasputitsa. The Russian general staff knew about it, of course, but they figured they would just roar down the freeway in tanks, fly some Spetsnaz troops into a Kyiv-area airfield, and knock off the Ukrainian government in a couple of days.

No off-road travel.

Summer is a good time for fighting, because the ground is dry, the weather is warm, and visibility is good. The autumn →DYER 14

Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

O P I N I O N | 13

As with defence of Ukraine, we must support fight against autocrats in Iran

R

eports of the death of Iran’s morality police seem premature, but growing protests against the extremist regime could eventually lead to much-needed change in that oppressive state.

While the regime change long called for

by US hawks may not be forthcoming, the West should be supporting those pushing in the right direction.

Statements by Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri taken to mean the morality police had been disbanded spread quickly, but soon the rebuttals began. It was not just the regime, but activists who took exception to the “fake news” that was perhaps more wishful thinking than deliberate.

Still, protests continue to call for change in Iran, where nationwide strikes are set to up the ante.

“Nationwide strikes, particularly in key sectors, could be used to put time on the side of protestors while creating chaos and financial issues for the state,” Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iran expert and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told CNBC, stressing the importance of maintaining pressure on the regime.

The apparent disorder in the government, he added, shows “the imperative of keeping up domestic and foreign pressure against the Islamic Republic. And nobody understands this better than the Iranian people, who have been bravely protesting for almost three months now and are looking to amplify street power with strike power.”

The protests came in

STEVE KANNON

Editor's Point of View

reaction to the detention and killing on September 23 of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish-Iranian woman who died while in custody of Iran’s morality police. The death of the 22-year-old woman – she was detained for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly – sparked widespread internal turmoil and another round of international condemnation in a pariah state not unfamiliar with international outrage.

Canada has joined in with the repercussions. Most recently, Ottawa announced that Canada has designated the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regime that has

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system. Iran continues to use state-sponsored disinformation to spread false narratives that attempt to justify its policies.

Its pursuit of nuclear technology alone has been the subject of international sanctions for the past 15 years.

From the recent crackdown and killing of protesters, to the seizure of British hostages and the murder of a Canadian journalist in 2003, Iran’s militant rulers have not endeared themselves to many.

The parade of violations of international laws and norms mean Iran’s militant rulers have won themselves few friends in the world.

That’s made it easy to international support for sanctions, especially those related to

controlling Iran’s bid for nuclear weapons, but there’s no appetite for the death and destruction that would come with a war in the vein of Iraq, though the prospect of such – or bluster thereof – has cooled significantly since the days of saber-rattling led by the former occupant of the White House.

There are more than a few shades of the 2003 invasion of Iraq in that kind of hyperbole about Iran.

Even for hawks, however, the interests of the oil industry may trump the desire to impose US will on yet another reluctant state.

Therein lies the issue that arises in any discussion about the region: oil.

We might not care for the people we get it from, but we want it nonetheless.

Saying "affordable housing" is one thing, but actually making it attainable just ain't working.

Founded in 1996.

JOE MERLIHAN

engaged in terrorism and systematic and gross human rights violations.

That means that tens of thousands of senior members of the Iranian regime, including many members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are now inadmissible to Canada.

Canada had already joined in further sanctions following Amini’s killing, with the last month’s announcement adding on.

Clearly there’s more to be done. In addition to its egregious behaviour at home, Iran’s actions abroad, including weapons proliferation and malicious cyber activity, continue to threaten international peace and security and demonstrate the country’s complete disregard for the rulesbased international

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So far, concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and very real support for Islamic militants play second fiddle to the flow of oil, particularly to China and Russia, both of which have veto power at the UN Security Council.

The US, too, has much at stake in the region, though the previous administration opted for diplomatic approaches, proceeding warily. While chastising Tehran, their hold on the moral high ground even then was precarious.

Having invaded Iraq under dubious pretexts, the US position was steadily undermined by revelations that the reasons for war were unfounded.

Iran may indeed be a major threat to the region – there are plenty of experts who make a case for that stance. But the Americans cannot now count on automatic support for action against Iran, if only increased sanctions led by the United Nations.

Ironically, the case against Iran is much stronger than it was in Iraq. Iran’s previous nuclear posturing and fundamentalist bent are far larger threats.

Still, that country is only of interest because of its natural gas and oil reserves, and for its strategic location. If Iraq is any model, those factors will play the largest role in whether a war expands to Iran.

For now, the key is to keep Iran isolated, making it pay a steep price for its authoritarianism, its radicalism, its support of extremism and suppression of the rights of its people.

There’s also the issue →KANNON 14

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

14 | O P I N I O N LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 Ford lobbing missiles with Greenbelt decision

There are no plums, in Christmas Plum Cake.

The term ‘Xmas’ is a modern and disrespectful abbreviation for ‘Christmas.”

The biggest Christmas gift ever given was the Statue of Liberty. ↆ LAST WEEK: Truth: According to a 2016 survey by Peter Pan Simply Ground Peanut Butter. An average adult eats a PB&J three times a month.

Truth: Southern US states take freshly harvested peanuts and boil in a brine until they are a soft bean-like texture.

Lie: Peanuts are actually a legume and do provide healthy fats and protein 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.

KANNON: Keep up the pressure → FROM 13

of its cyber crimes and support of other pariah regimes, including Russia and North Korea, not to mention China.

Iran is said to be supplying arms to Russia in its illegal assault on Ukraine, making sanctions even more pressing given the need to support Kyiv in its efforts to drive Russians out of the county, including Crimea.

Complicating matters is the issue of oil, which both curtails the pressure

put on Iran and Russia and leads to extensive efforts to bypass sanctions. The latter loopholes not always countered as aggressively as they might otherwise be if the trades in question didn’t involve oil and gas.

That internal pressures are mounting against repressive dictators in Tehran and Moscow is something we can support in hopes that change comes organically.

To the Editor, Russia’s strategy to hit sensitive civilian infrastructure with missiles and undermine Ukraine’s future is being copied by the provincial government of Ontario. The government’s More Homes, More Choice Act (2019) promised “We are not touching the Greenbelt. We will protect

it and all its beauty.” When Ukraine gave up its nuclear missiles, Russia promised to respect Ukraine’s integrity.

Did you vote to launch development of the Greenbelt? Did you vote for launching urban sprawl that will remove class 1 and class 2 farmland from food production? Did you vote for soaring property taxes to maintain the infrastructure required to service urban sprawl?

Did you vote to have

the Greenbelt developed so speculators could reap huge profits from the protected land they quietly bought?

Many Conservative voters are farmers who deeply care about the stewardship of fertile farmland and producing healthy food.

Would you have voted Conservative knowing that regional urban intensification plans, limiting urban sprawl and made with your tax dollars in response to a provincial mandate, would

be scrapped?

Will these missiles enable a sustainable future? Mr. Ford and the Conservative government need to pay attention to their own wise researchers who advised against building Highway 413, and against opening the Greenbelt to development.

Who benefits from the Ford government’s missiles?

Neil Lackey WELLESLEY

WELLESLEY: Snow-clearing efforts would come at a cost to taxpayers → FROM 3

approximately 27 kilometres of municipal sidewalk and 2.5 kilometres of multi-purpose trails along roadways. Some 11 kilometres of sidewalk is on right of ways owned by the region.

“The current practice of maintaining snow and ice on the municipal sidewalks in the Township of Wellesley, including those

on regional rights of way, is that the landowner must clear the sidewalk,” the report stated.

The current budget for winter maintenance in the township is $150,000. The report presented several different options for additional maintenance, including one that would see township employees do the work and one to have it be contracted out. Staff

also examined costs for clearing snow in the entire township and for Wellesley village only.

According to the report there would be initial cost of $200,000 for equipment and $150,000 budget for full township maintenance, while Wellelsey village would require the same start-up costs, the yearly price would be cheaper at $115,000.

For contractors to clear the snow there would be no initial start-up costs, but the yearly budget would be $180,000 for the entire township and $90,000 for just the village. Costs for any plan would be paid for by taxpayers.

While the March report was accepted as information at the time, the new council said they would examine it again.

DYER: Ignorance may be at the root of discussions about winter warfare → FROM 12

rasputitsa (October-November) slows thing down a lot, but it’s not as bad as the spring one.

And then comes winter.

Yes, it’s cold, but so what?

The ground will be frozen hard within another week or ten days, and the next three months will be ideal for rapid off-road movement, even across rivers.

For classic high-speed armoured thrusts, in other words, and we are likely to see some of those, at least

from the Ukrainian side.

So the question on the table right now is: are Milley and Haines just ignorant about the basic historical realities of ground war in eastern Europe (almost all the big Soviet offensives of the Second World War began in winter), or are they deliberately misrepresenting things? And if so, who are they trying to fool?

Not the Ukrainians, obviously. They know how their own climate really works.

The Western public? That’s plausible.

Twisting the Ukrainians’ arms to force them into an early compromise peace may suit official agendas in the White House and the Pentagon, where they worry about possible escalation to nuclear war.

However, some cover story about why the Ukrainians can’t win big victories in the near future anyway would be needed to sell that policy to Western voters.

But frankly, I don’t believe this particular conspiracy theory. There is no doubt that the White House, and indeed NATO as a whole, are keeping the Ukrainians on a short leash. They are genuinely worried that Kyiv will win too big, and cause a real international crisis.

However, I have no difficulty whatever in believing that sheer ignorance is driving this whole weird sub-plot about a winter pause in the fighting.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

Floradale, Ontario 519-669-3392

Mount Forest | 519-323-1880 Tavistock | 519-655-3777

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O P I N I O N | 15

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 16

Sports

News that hits home.

Local people in action.

Sports tips are always welcome.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com

Volleyball action returns

EDSS boys back on court

The EDSS senior girls’ volleyball squad are now 2-1 this season on the strength of a 3-2 win Tuesday over Preston High School. The junior Lancers are still looking for their first win of the season, however, having fallen to 0-3 with a 3-0 loss this week to their Preston counterparts.

The EDSS junior boys’ basketball team evened their record to 1-1 by defeating Preston High School 50-42 on Tuesday.

The squad opened the season Dec. 1 with a 61-33 loss to Bluevale Collegiate. The senior boys, meanwhile, fell to 0-2 with a 51-47 loss to the visitors from Preston. They, too, fell to BCI to open their season, a 62-50 decision.

Team Scores: observerxtra.com/scores

Field dressed and turning more than a few heads

U

p until recently I never knew that my partner Jenn was the jealous type. This unexpected discovery revealed itself on the weekend when I told her I was going to town to do a bit of Christmas shopping.

“You’re not wearing that, are you?” she said.

The “that” she was referring to, was my new late-season duck hunting parka – a stylish, shapeless little number elegantly decked out in Tru Timber camo DRT which is all the rage this year on the runways of Milan, Paris, New York and Tokyo, if the salesperson at the sporting goods store is to be believed.

And, let me just say, I have no reason to suspect she lied to me.

When I asked Jenn what was wrong with what I was wearing, she just shook her head and mumbled under her breath. Fortunately, we have been together long enough for me to be able to decode what she was thinking.

Roughly translated, it was: “Gadzooks man!

Don’t you know that the average woman cannot resist a man in a camouflaged duck hunting parka! Especially if that man is on top of the latest camouflage trends that are being showcased on the runways of Milan, Paris, New York and Tokyo! If you go out on the town dressed so temptingly, women will look at you like a dog looks at a pork chop.”

STEVE GALEA

Not-So-Great Outdoorsman

Sensing this, I replied, “Don’t be ridiculous! It’s not as if I am wearing neoprene waders!”

And then I walked out the door.

Call me a dreamer, but I have more faith in the modern woman than that.

After all, we live in an era where we are all trying our best to be respectful of each other.

Unfortunately, it turned out Jenn was right.

Though I as a man should be able to wear anything I want, it appeared that my new duck hunting camo parka was a little too on fleek, as the kids say.

I suppose it was the blocky shape that caused the issue. For, women are nothing if not cerebral.

And, let’s be honest here, a blocky shaped item of outerwear leaves practically everything to the imagination. I could just tell what those gawking women I passed by were thinking. Is he wearing a duck call lanyard too? Is his shirt camouflaged?

Rodeo belt buckle? These were the questions that were probably going through their minds.

I didn’t want to believe this. But the woman in the fancy store I went to (I won’t name drop, but let’s just say they actually wrap the beef jerky in that establishment) looked at me for far too → GALEA 19

Kings pick up three points in posting a win and OT loss Steve Kannon Observer Staff

THE ELMIRA SUGAR KINGS TOOK three of the four points up for grabs last weekend, winning in Brantford 4-2 December 3 and dropping a 3-2 OT decision to visiting Stratford Sunday night at the WMC. A rematch with the last-place Bandits provided the W, but it wasn’t perhaps the best way to prepare for taking on the Warriors, who now sit atop the GOJHL’s Midwestern Conference standings.

“We played Brantford for two games in a row going into the Stratford game. It took us probably 15 minutes just to remember what it felt like to play at that pace – they overwhelmed us for the first 15 minutes, just because we weren’t used to playing at that pace,” said head coach Scott McMillan of the slow start that may have seen the Kings miss out on two points Sunday.

“We were down 1-0 after the first, and we did a good job of battling back and getting back in the game. I think they were outshooting us 15-3 at one time, and the shots ended up being 35-34. We felt like we were the better team for the second half of the game. But it’s tough when you have a start like that.”

The weekend had got off to a good start in Brantford Saturday night.

It wasn’t the 8-1 hurting the Kings had put on the

Bandits six days earlier in Elmira, but the team was in control from the get-go.

The Kings opened the scoring just 90 seconds in, a Luke Della Croce marker assisted by Logan Crans and Brock Reinhart. Two more goals before the end of the period would be enough to put the game out of reach. Joey Martin scored at 8:25, with assists going to Austen Pomerleau and Jackson Heron. Just 13 seconds later it was 3-0 courtesy of Della Croce’s second of the game. Helpers went to Jacob Feijo and Ryan Forwell.

It was 4-0 Elmira just over a minute after play resumed in the second courtesy of a goal by Madden MacDougall (Adam Grein, Jayden Lammel). That would

prove to be more than enough.

The Bandits got on the board with less than six minutes remaining in the middle frame, adding another in the third to make it a 4-2 final.

Shots were 49-22 in favour of the visitors, an indication of the game’s flow. The Kings were 0-3 on the power play, while the Bandits never had the man advantage. Goaltender Daniel Botelho earned the win.

It was a bit more of a struggle the following day as the Kings returned to home ice to face Stratford. The team was caught flatfooted, with the visitors scoring early in the opening period and outshooting Elmira 15-6 to take a 1-0 into the first intermission.

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Just past four minutes into the second, the Warriors made it 2-0, but the Kings were picking up the pace. Martin made it 2-1 at 14:27 with a powerplay goal, assisted by Forwell and MacDougall.

Shots were 14-9 in favour of the home team that was battling back.

The sole scoring play in the third came off the stick of MacDougall (Austin Mumby, Martin) to make it a 2-2 game as the Kings again outshot the visitors 10-7 over the 20-minute span. The comeback fell short, however, when Stratford scored at 6:55 of overtime to take the win.

The loss wasn’t for lack of trying, said McMillan.

“We got the win on Saturday, but Sunday was definitely our better game,” he said, noting the Kings were right there in it against Stratford.

“We had a couple of breakaways. We had a couple of really good chances, a couple guys alone in front. I think everybody in the rink would say that their goalie was probably the best player in the game that night. Our goalie was good, too, but their goalie was called on a little bit more, and he answered the call on almost all the chances.”

This weekend the Kings (14-12-1) are in Listowel to take on the Cyclones (14-10-1) Friday night, returning to the WMC Sunday to host the Cambridge Redhawks (18-5-4-1). The puck drops at 7 p.m.

Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

S P O R T S | 17

May His

Blessings Joy Bring You

Best Wishes to you and your family this Holiday Season from staff & management

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this Season & in the New Year

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18 | S P O R T S

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Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

S P O R T S | 19

The EDSS senior boys’ basketball team fell 62-50 to Bluevale Collegiate Institute Tuesday in their first home game of the season.

Bill Atwood

GALEA: Operating at the height of fashion comes with a few complications → FROM 16

long before doing exactly the thing Jenn did. Yes, she also shook her head and mumbled under her breath.

And then, as if that was not enough, she also palmslapped her forehead.

Between you and me,

almost every woman in the store displayed the same reaction.

It almost caused me to blush.

Instead, I decided to maintain my dignity. So I unzipped my coat a little more, so there was less

to imagine. And then I walked out of that store with my head held high.

And I drove directly home where Jenn was waiting.

“That was quick,” she said.

“Yes,” I replied curtly, as I hung up my coat.

“Your camo parka was inappropriate, right?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Lesson learned.”

And then I put on my hunter orange deer hunting parka and set out once again.

The EDSS swim team hosted its first meet of the season at the Woolwich Memorial Centre on Dec. 1. EDSS will host again today Bill Atwood (Dec. 8) at the WMC at 1:30 p.m.

Contact Us: sales@clbuilders.ca 519-699-4388 countrylanebuilders.ca

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

20 | S P O R T S

CCHHRRIIST Y Y R ST R ER R M

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As the days until Christmas dash by,we’d like to take time out to thank all of you for stopping by our way this year.

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Merry Christmas!

Sending our Best Wishes to our good friends (large and Small) everywhere.

Check out our selection of snowblowers

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Open 8am - 9 pm 7 Days a Week!

519-669-2884 315 Arthur St. S. Elmira | 519-669-5403 Season's Greetings ☆ Season's Greetings ☆ Season's Greetings ☆ Season's Greetings Closed Christmas Day.| Boxing Day 9am-9pm

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Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ M I N O R WOOLWICH WILDCATS

■ Bantam U15BB

Dec/03/2022 vs Oakville Rangers HOME: 4 VISITOR: 2 GOALS: Cohen Clemmer, Carter Weir, Sam Kruschat, William Krubally ASSISTS: Grant Rintoul, William Krubally, Thomas McCarthy, Sam Kruschat

■ Bantam U15BB

Dec/04/2022 vs Oakville Rangers HOME: 7 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Grant Rintoul (2), Sam Kruschat, Carter Weir, Cohen Clemmer, Adam Bloch, William Krubally ASSISTS: Cohen Clemmer (3), Luke Forbes, Thomas McCarthy, Adam Bloch, Josh Wraight (2), Jackson Kellough, Alex Veitch (2), Carter Weir SHUTOUTS: Mills DeVrieze

■ Bantam U15BB

Dec/05/2022 vs Milton Winterhawks White HOME: 4 VISITOR: 2 GOALS: Adam Bloch, William Krubally, Grant Rintoul, Carter Weir ASSISTS: Josh Wraight, Sam Kruschat, Thomas McCarthy, Levi Adams, Harrison Hartwick, William Krubally, Alex Veitch

S P O R T S

S P O R T S | 21

S C O R E B OA R D

WOOLWICH WILD

■ Atom U11 LL-1

Nov/27/2022 vs Waterloo Ravens U11-1 HOME: 3 VISITOR: 5 GOALS: Delilah Woolner (2), Danika McCallum ASSISTS: Charlotte Young, Poppy Hicknell

■ Atom U11A

Nov/26/2022 vs Owen Sound Ice Hawks HOME: 1 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Emma Forwell ASSISTS: SHUTOUTS: Kenzie Gunn

■ Atom U11A

Nov/27/2022 vs South Huron Sabres HOME: 1 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Abbey Versteeg ASSISTS: SHUTOUTS: Kenzie Gunn

■ Atom U11A

Dec/01/2022 vs Kitchener Lady Rangers HOME: 2 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Abbey Versteeg, Avery Robinson ASSISTS: Haylee Zinken SHUTOUTS: Kenzie Gunn

■ PeeWee U13 LL

Nov/25/2022 vs Wilmont Wolverine HOME: 3 VISITOR: 2 GOALS: Maddy Collison, Chloe Futher, Maria Martin ASSISTS: Chloe Futher, Bree Merner

■ PeeWee U13 LL

Nov/26/2022 vs Flamborough Falcons

HOME: 8 VISITOR: 0

GOALS: Keira Walsh (3), Adeyln Wilk, Bronwyn Rozema, Cam Holland, Chloe Futher, Bree Merner ASSISTS: Josie Atkinson (3), Adelyn Wilk (2), Keira Walsh, Bronwyn Rozema, Lauren Hennessy, Neve Kelly, Haley Boese SHUTOUTS: Hailey Maxwell

■ PeeWee U13 LL

Dec/04/2022 vs CAMBRIDGE HOME: 3 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Maria Martin, Neve Kelly, Bree Merner ASSISTS: Bronwyn Rozema, Josie Atkinson SHUTOUTS: Hailey Maxwell

■ PeeWee U13LL

Dec/04/2022 vs Cambridge HOME: 3 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Maria Martin, Neve Kelly, Bree Merner ASSISTS: Bronwyn Rozema, Josie Atkinson Shutouts: Hailey Maxwell

■ PeeWee U13A

Dec/03/2022 vs Waterloo Ravens HOME: 4 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Elle Schwindt (3), Ellie Clemmer ASSISTS: Taylor Rayfield, McKenzie Rank

■ PeeWee U13A

Dec/11/2022 vs Woodstock Wildcats HOME: 1 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Ellie Clemmer ASSISTS: Megan Nixon

The EDSS girls’ hockey team welcomed KCI to the WMC on Monday, posting a 5-2 win over Leah Gerber the visitors.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

22 | S P O R T S

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 23

Business

Leading the way.

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

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

Home sales, prices down

Movember at Home

There were 453 homes sold in November through the MLS system of the Waterloo Region Association of Realtors, a decrease of 43.7% over a year earlier. The average sale price for all residential properties was $736,024, down 10.4% from this time last year. The average price of a detached home was $838,609, down 13.1% from November 2021 and 3.5% compared to October.

Home Hardware Stores Limited this week announced that employees raised more than $22,000 for Movember to support men’s health. Twenty-three team members participated in growing their moustaches and raised more than $12,000, with the company donating an additional $10,000 for a total of $22,135 in support of the cause.

Early introduction of students to skilled trades is key Industry sees targeted immigration as a good stopgap in wake of falling apprenticeship numbers reported by Stats Can Bill Atwood Observer Staff

Richard Lyall is president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario. The organization, as with others such as Skills Ontario, is Submitted looking to promote the skilled trades to help fill shortages in the labour market.

ing kids for college and university,” Lyall added.

That will have to change as part of efforts to boost the ranks of the skilled trades, he added.

“You’ve got a school system that does not have the connections generally speaking, with skilled trade sectors. You’ve got school boards and guidance counsellors, in particular, and guidance officers that really are not knowledgeable about skilled trades. There aren’t the connections there should be with local indus-

try. So you’ve got a lot of kids that graduated from high school…they haven’t had the exposure and prepared for skilled trades to the extent that arguably they should be,” he said.

Skills Ontario is a Waterloo-based organization that works to educate students and parents about career options in the skilled trades. They do this through in-school presentations, competitions, summer camp and by connecting students with employers. Skills Ontario CEO Ian Howcroft agrees

with Lyall that not enough students graduating high school know about skilled trade career options.

“We presented last year virtually to 220,000 students, which is a very impressive number. We’re really proud of that, but there are two million students in the school system. We hope our numbers go up significantly this year to get more kids, more students aware of what these opportunities are. And that’s been a long standing challenge. It was a long standing chal-

→ SKILLED TRADES 24

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The report’s findings came as no surprise to his organization.

“The bottom line is everything we live in, move on, move around, it’s all built by skilled trades.

So that’s a significant problem,” he said of the labour shortage. “We’ve had a problem in skilled trades, in certain elements of construction.

“We’ve been seeing this and talking about it for a long time, but our school system is really geared towards and designed for producing and prepar-

Wa lke

A NEW REPORT FROM STATISTICS Canada from the 2021 census shows that the percentage of working-age Canadians – those 25 to 64 – who hold apprenticeship certificates has either declined or remained stagnant in three key fields since 2016.

That includes construction trades, which went up by 0.6 per cent, mechanical repair technologies, which went down by 7.8 per cent and precision production which fell by 10 per cent overall.

In Ontario the construction field suffered a net loss of 3.8 per cent, while across the country 30.2 per cent of mechanic and repair technologies or precision production certificate holders were aged 55 or higher.

That same report shows a 4.3 per cent increase in the working age population that holds a bachelor’s degree or higher, noting that Canada leads the G7 in the percentage of population with a college credential (57.5 per cent).

The decrease in skilled trade workers is concerning, said Richard Lyall, president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario.

“There’s no question about it. It’s something that we’ve been dealing with for quite a few years.

We just don’t have the amount of people going into the skilled trades that we need, and that’s why you’ve seen those reports on shortages in skilled trades. It’s costing $13 billion a year to the economy,” Lyall said.

lenge 30 years ago, and it’d be even worse now,” Howcroft said.

However, meeting the labour shortfall will require “radical transformation of what we’re doing in our high schools and public schools,” Lyall said.

“You have to get the kids earlier in Grade 6, 7 and 8, start exposing them to skilled trades, opportunities and careers, because that’s when they pretty much decide what they’re going to do with their lives.

And then in high school, there has to be courses and curriculum related to skilled trades,” he said.

“But the problem is that with our system, we don’t have the teachers who can do that. Our teachers in our high schools and guidance counsellors were people that pretty much went from high school to university and then back to high school again,” Lyall added.

The report also shows that women and racialized groups make up a small percentage of those with apprenticeship certificates.

Women made up 2.4 per cent of working-age apprenticeship certificate holders in the three fields in 2021. Racialized persons represented just seven per cent of working-age apprenticeship certificate holders in these trades, even though they are 27.3 of the total working-age population.

Much of Skills Ontario’s programming focuses on opportunities for girls and Indigenous students.

“If we can get more girls and young women aware

3 Wyatt St. East

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24 | B U S I N E S S

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

Revving up the agri-food “moonshot” against cancer

eaching for an awesome, near-impossible, almost unimaginable height – that’s a moonshot, a term that’s crept into our vernacular, relating back to 1969 when the US stunned the world by putting an astronaut on the moon.

Moonshot has mostly replaced airy, ambitious visioning, like “let’s reach for the stars.” The stars are pretty much unattainable… but reaching for the moon is within our grasp.

Set a goal that’s akin to the US moonshot, and history has shown it might be achievable.

That’s the kind of thinking behind US President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot. He launched it back in 2016, with, as the White House says, “the mission to accelerate the rate of progress against cancer.”

Specifically, he wants to cut the death rate from cancer by at least 50 per cent over the next 25 years and improve the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer.

He stands to gain polit-

OWEN ROBERTS

Food For Thought

ically, for sure. But you won’t see him popping a cork at the finish line.

Biden just turned 80, and while he shows incredible and inspiring longevity, even he’s unlikely to see the day cancer is cut in half. Maybe the effort will be his legacy, but the odds dictate that it won’t be his personal agenda for much more than another decade, at best.

That though, is the kind of non-partisan campaign people can rally around.

Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, Liberals, Green, Orange, Black, whatever, who hasn’t lost someone to cancer?

And like the moonshot from the 1960s, this effort has at least a glimmer of hope. If cancer-related forces can be collectively and effectively mobilized, significant progress is possible. So much encouraging work is underway at universities, hospitals, institutes and government and private

laboratories everywhere, with a common goal. How wonderful if the Cancer Moonshot can have a role in bringing them more together.

Healthy diets, built on agriculture and food, are a huge part of an anti-cancer program.

Policy wise, that’s especially true in the US, where nutrition programs in schools come under the United States Department of Agriculture. As a result, the department connects to citizens much more directly than most countries, including Canada.

That means the department can have a real impact on health-related and diet-related matters. So, it made sense that when the Cancer Moonshot was dusted off Monday and reintroduced, US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was among those at the podium.

Vilsack announced a new virtual centre – the Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet, which will be popularly known

as ASCEND for Better Health. It’s designed to support the Cancer Moonshot by uniting the scientists, partner organizations and communities for a focus on science-based solutions that improve the health and well-being of all Americans, particularly in underserved communities. Of course, the ripple effect to other countries is also very real, and hopefully the new centre will make liaisons abroad.

Vilsack has street cred.

At the announcement, he talked about his own battles with weight control and family members he’s lost to cancer.

This seems like one of the most right-minded initiatives ever. The 1960s moonshot was a matter of pride, fueled by technology and determination.

In the same light, how incredibly proud would anyone feel by being part of an effort, likewise driven by technology and determination, that unraveled cancer’s intricacies.

Godspeed to the Cancer Moonshot.

SKILLED TRADES: Seeking changes to help address the labour shortage → FROM 23

of and interested in the trades, that would go a long way to helping fill the pool of potential workers.

We also want to do, and we’re doing, programming for Indigenous youth. Indigenous youth is the fastest growing population in Canada,” Howcroft said.

As governments push for more housing, RESCON recently put out a call for a larger percentage of the immigrant population to be from skilled trades to help meet the demand.

“We’re not asking to increase the number of immigrants, but more of them should have more of certain skilled trades or be from certain skilled trades, according to our requirements here and according to what we need,” Lyall explained.

Howcroft agreed that immigration could be key

in filling the gaps.

“We have huge shortages right now. And we will need immigration to help fill parts of that vacuum. Part of that shortfall will need to be found through immigration. So if someone comes with a certain skill set or certain competencies already, they can become an active player in the economy.

And so some of these jobs that are going unfilled right now and keeping the economy held back,” he said.

There is, however, some hope, Howcroft said.

“I think we’re actually at a good time right now because more and more people are talking about it. More and more people seem to recognize we need to take these actions.

We need to build this workforce for the future because we no longer have the luxury of time,” he said.

Merry Christmas!

Thank-you for your support!

fermonconstruction.com

Mobile: 519-699-4828 | Email: fermon@fermonconstruction.com

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 25

Arts

Read a local best seller every week.

Local stories that inspire.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Tips: observerxtra.com/tips

Arts grants announced

A Jakobstettel holiday

The Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) this week announced $284,000 in funding to support the arts in the region, including $214,000 in grants to 17 small and mid-sized arts organizations and collectives.

Among the recipients are the Grand Philharmonic Choir, Green Light Arts and K-W Musical Productions.

Christmas is steeped in history, something that can be seen in some local celebrations.

It was back in 1852 when the Mennonite community of Jakobstettel was granted its name and a post office. As part of the celebrations marking the 170th anniversary of St. Jacobs, holiday events include the Waterloo Central Railway’s vintage holiday train adventures.

Getting some laughs is decidedly personal Gee Gethiga headlines the Happy Merry Comedy Tour that makes its way to Elmira on Saturday Bill Atwood Observer Staff

IF YOU’RE IN THE MOOD for a laugh on Saturday, Rural Roots Brewery might have just the thing for you. That night it will be hosting the first stop in the Happy Merry Comedy Tour, which features a group of seven comedians headlined by Londoner Gee Gethiga.

While the tour has a holiday theme to it, it will resonate with everyone.

“We want the vibe to be, come celebrate the holidays, no matter what your background is. And that’s why the joke is there’s no Christmas in the name.

It’s called the Happy Merry Comedy Tour. So, no matter if you celebrate Christmas or you don’t – or just the holidays – just come, have a good time and have a good laugh,” Gethiga said.

“One of the comedians sings funny Christmas songs and then everyone else is a professional comedian, so it’s going to be a really fun night,” Gethiga said.

The group features comedians from a wide variety of backgrounds, including Gethiga, who is a Kenyan immigrant, and Kitchener native Dylan Lindsay.

“He’s a pretty wellknown comedian. He’s been on [comedy club chain] Yuk Yuk’s. He’s got an interesting perspec-

Drayton extends run of the Wizard of Oz: The Panto Steve Kannon Observer Staff

Rural Roots Brewing Co. hosts the comedy tour’s stop in Elmira on Saturday.

tive. He’s got cerebral palsy, and he’s a really funny dude. We have someone who has been on CBC Debaters and she’s a very unique different kind of comedian. We have a Ukrainian,” Gethiga explained.

Like most stand-up comedians, the performers will be sharing personal stories to help bring the laughs.

“Most comedy is personal. A lot of the stories are personal. I talk about my upbringing. I talk about growing up in London, Ontario. I think the best comedy is personal,” Gethiga said.

While stand-up

g ! n i m o c Wel Patients New

comedy has that personal element, it is also universal, he added.

“The main thing that I find with comedy is it’s kind of like music where there are different genres and some people like certain comedians, but at the same time, funny is funny. So good music is good music and no matter the type of comedy you do, the talent will always rise to the top. I think everybody can know when they see something funny or they hear something funny.”

Although he has only been doing comedy for five years, Gethiga has been inspired by several

Bill Atwood

generations of comics.

“Going back to Richard Pryor in the ’70s and then down to Dave Chappelle is one of my biggest inspirations. Canadian-wise, I just grew up on John Candy and Norm Macdonald. We have a great tradition of comedians in Canada. Jim Carrey [and] all these guys who were Canadian made me feel like it wasn’t that far away,” he said.

Being a stand-up comic also requires being vulnerable, Gethiga explained.

“What I’m learning is the more vulnerable you get, the more the customers and the crowd

appreciate it – that’s how you relate to the crowd. I used to think you need to be more general, like you need to appeal to everybody, but I think people want to know about you.

“I think human beings are very similar. We’re all going to have problems.

We all went through COVID together. We’re not all that different. I think we’re all Canadians – we have the same problems, the same fears,” he said.

The Happy Merry Comedy Tour lands in Elmira on December 10, 8-11 p.m. at Rural Roots.

Although tickets are already sold out, some walk-ins will be accepted.

HAVING ALMOST SOLD OUT OF tickets even before opening night December 1, Drayton Entertainment has extended the run of it’s panto version of the Wizard of Oz at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.

Originally set to wrap on December 31, the show will be staged eight more times from January 3 to 8.

“Wizard of Oz: The Panto is pure family fun – it’s packed with outrageous characters, extravagant costumes, and lots of music and dancing that make it wildly entertaining for everyone, from kids to parents to grandparents,” said artistic director Alex Mustakas in a release.

“We love seeing three generations of theatregoers enjoying the magic of live theatre together. And now, with the extra performances, even more families will be able to make memories at the theatre this holiday season.”

The production is a twisted take on the famed children’s story by L. Frank Baum. When Dorothy and her beloved dog Toto are whisked over the rainbow in a tornado, she must band together with →DRAYTON 27

a m e n i C s s e Princ Holiday Gift Ideas

Annual Christmas Gift Packs, Passes, AD SPOT - NON PRINTING Memberships & lots of Merch.

On Sale! Princesscinemas.com

Dr. Mira Nusaputra & Associates

TAKE THIS TEST:

10 Parkside Drive, St. Jacobs

Do you have…

• Bad Breath

• Yellow Teeth

• Bleeding Gums

Call Us: 519-664-2434

• Sensitive Teeth

• Missing Teeth

info@stjacobsdentalcare.ca www.stjacobsdentalcare.ca

• Crooked Teeth

• Fear of Dentistry

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 26

Classifieds

Seven days.

One paper.

A bestseller every week.

Phone: 519-669-5790 ext 104 Email: ads@woolwichobserver.com Job Listings: jobs.observerxtra.com

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

THE LOOSE CABOOSE IS LOOKING FOR HELP, May 1st to Aug. Perfect for University student.

Must be able to work independently. Will provide training. Email eschwindt@rogers.com for more information.

For Sale BREVILLE TABLE TOP BBQ/PANINI PRESS. Brand new never used.

Has all original labels, booklet and plug cover.

Paid over $400.00.

Asking $150.00 Great Christmas gift! Call 519-573-8588. Photos available.

Advertising

Placing a classified ad

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.

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

For Sale CHRISTMAS SALE AT HILLCREST HOME Baking. Dec. 6 to 13, 2022. Ph # 519-6691381. Tues. Dec. 13 and Wed. Dec. 14 Free coffee and Long Johns.

10% off throughout the store excluding groceries, coats, homemade shirts, pants & hats. Christmas Hours: Closed Mondays & Sundays.

Closed Dec. 25, 26 & 27. Closed Jan 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. We will close at 4:00 on Dec. 24 & 31.

Bakery will be closed Jan. 1 to 27.

Help Wanted

For Sale COLLECTION OF 13 VINTAGE OIL LAMPS all in mint condition ( no cracks/ chips). Some taller, eyelash base, shorter with handles.

Prefer to sell as "lot".

A s k i n g $ 4 0 0.0 0 519 573-8588. Photos available.

Residential:

$9 per 20 words (20¢ per extra word)

Commercial:

$15 per 20 words (30¢ per extra word)

Farm Services

Wanted

ICE SALT & ICE MELT - ICE SALT COMES IN 20kg, Ice melt comes in 20kg bags. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

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

Services Call George Haffner BAGGED PINE SHAV- Trucking 519-574-4141 INGS AGRICULTURAL or 519-669-2045.

Spray Lime, 22.5kg. bag; feed grade lime, Wanted 25kg. Delivered. Call WISHING YOU A George Haffner Truck- MERRY CHRISTMAS ing, 519-574-4141 or and a Happy New 519-669-2045.

Year. Peace, hope FERTILIZER AND SEED GRAIN - AT COMPETItive pricing. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141.

and love. Feel free to call anytime with any antique items you wish to dispose of. Call Terry 519-242-6900 or gallamore@golden.net

WANTED - FARM & RANCH, COUNTRY Woman, Country and Reminisce magazines.

Call 519-897-2932.

Garage Sales HUGE INDOOR FAMILY G A R AG E S A L E ! !

Saturday December 10 from 7am-12 noon Gale Presbyterian Church 10 Barnswallow Drive Elmira Upstairs gym FREE coffee and Timbits!!

Lots for everybody!!

See you there!! Call 519-575-2668 with any questions.

Word ads Continue on page 27

Help Wanted The Township of Woolwich is hiring

Crossing Guards for the 2022-2023 School Year.

Crossing Guards make a difference in our community by determining safe opportunities to cross, assisting children and adults across the intersection, and ensuring traffic remains stopped until all pedestrians have safely crossed the intersection.

Help Wanted

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

Crossing Guards serves the school community for two 30-minute shifts per day. 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. They must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in English using spoken commands and hand signals. They are required to hold the stop paddle (approx. 2 lb.) up with one arm to be seen clearly by motorists for up to 1 minute intermittently over each 30 minute period.

Physical requirements are good vision, hearing, and footing. Must be able to walk and stand for each 30-minute shift and work in all weather conditions including extremes of heat and cold.

Must provide a current Police Vulnerable Sector Check satisfactory to the Township if hired. On-the-job training and equipment is provided. This is a paid position.

Cabinet Installer

Interested applicants are invited to submit their resume and cover letter by email to hr@woolwich.ca.

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

All applicants are thanked for their interest in this position but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Township of Woolwich is committed to diversity and inclusion and offers an accessible workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to meeting the needs of applicants during all phases of the hiring process. This document is available in alternate formats, or with accessible communication supports, upon request.

(Bracebridge Location)

Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

MAR-SPAN

FULL TIME

CUSTOMER SERVICE hardware REP building centre IN ELMIRA

Position involves customer service in retail hardware and building materials environment.

Tasks include, but not limited to, assisting customers purchase products, advising purchases, taking orders, and quoting small projects.

Candidates must be neat and organized and be able to multi-task. Must have computer and organizational skills.

Experience in retail sales and hardware an asset, but not required. Willing to train the right individual.

EMAIL YOUR RESUME TO

arnold@marspan.com Auction

DECEMBER TOOL & EQUIPMENT TIMED ONLINE AUCTION Soft Close 2:00 pm December 20th

DECEMBER VEHICLE AUCTION - WEBCAST ONLINE Cars and Trucks Saturday, December 17th at 9:30 am Go to: mrjutzi.hibid.com/auctions

M. R. JUTZI & Co.

5100 Fountain St. N., Breslau 519.648.2111

www.mrjutzi.ca

Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

C L A S S I F I E D S | 27

The Elmira branch of the Region of Waterloo Library hosted Little Ray’s Nature Centres for a Nature Ninjas event on Saturday. Kids and adults alike had a chance to learn about a variety of animals, including Leah Gerber a ferret, bearded dragon, tortoise, caiman, chinchilla and boa constrictor.

Word ads Continued from page 26

Coming Events K A R AT E H O L I DAY SPECIAL! SCHWEITZER'S MARTIAL ARTS 8 weeks plus uniform only $139.50! Taxes extra. Beginners only.

Join now or give as a gift Special ends Jan. 7, 2023 Group classes for ages 4 to adult Classes taught by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt and 12X World Karate Champion Location at St. Peters Lut heran Church - 2925 Lobsinger L i n e , H e i d e l b e rg Call 519-5801418 or e-mail becky_schweitzer@ hotmail.com www. schweitzersmar tialarts.com

ↆ P U Z Z L E Solutions for this week's puzzles.

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DRAYTON: An indication of the tale’s enduring popularity

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Having recently made the short move to 73 Miranda Path, Elmira’s Shawn Hamelin went about recreating his annual Christmas display of lights. Submitted

some newfound friends to journey to Oz and defeat the Wicked Witch who is determined to take over the land.

Making her Drayton Entertainment debut, Lia Luz stars as headstrong heroine Dorothy. She’s joined on the yellow brick road by Stacey Kay as the Lion, JJ Gerber as Scarecrow and Noah Beemer as Tin Man. The children’s chorus includes Abygail Rosenberger of Elmira and Taya Nero of St. Jacobs.

Tickets are available by calling the box office at 519-747-7788 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866), or online at www.draytonentertainment.com.

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

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

ↆ LO CA L ↆ

P R O F E S S I O N A L

GENERAL SERVICES

CALL TO BOOK! TODAY.

Martin’s Nursery

MarCrest Backhoe Septic Installations · Tile Repairs Small Footings · Silo Footings

VAN, MINIBUS & WHEELCHAIR LIFT BUS TRANSPORTATION “Specializing in small group charters”

Maynard Martin

519-669-5557 Visit our website! countrymilebl.com Elmira, ON ↆ

S E RV I C E S

2512 Kressler Road RR1 St. Clements, ON N0B 2M0

Hydrangea Shrubs & Trees Shade & Flowering Trees Large selection of fruit trees HONEY FOR SALE (fruit bearing age) BEE Supplies Etc. Hedging & Windbreaks We sell a complete line of Bee Supplies; including Spruce, Pine, Cedars Extracting Equipment, jars, Shrubs, Grasses pails, Varroa mite treatments & much and Bees, Nucs, Queens. more!

ORHBS Select Queens (Weekly) C/O EMANUEL E.M. MARTIN

42661 Orangehill Road, RR#1, Wroxeter, ON

Tel. 519-699-0507

1 Concession North of Wroxeter on Belmore Line Mon. – Sat. 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Call

Irvin Martin

trailviewmfg@gmail.com

226-584-0923

519-669-4964 ↆ

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

TIRE

WHERE TIRES ARE A

SPECIALTY, NOT A SIDE LINE.

Farm • Auto • Truck Industrial On-The-Farm Service 35 Howard Ave., Elmira

519-669-3232

519-669-0524 www.woolwichrentals.ca 100 Union St, Elmira, Ontario

100 SOUTH FIELD DRIVE, ELMIRA

(ELMIRA)

THOMPSON’S

Auto Tech Inc. Providing the latest technology to repair your vehicle with accuracy and confidence.

519-669-4400

HOME IMPROVEMENT

John Schaefer Painting FREE ESTIMATES Interior/exterior Painting, Wallpapering & Plaster | drywall Repairs

519-503-6033 (CELL) 519-669-2251

30 ORIOLE PKWY. E., ELMIRA

36 Hampton St., Elmira

- Design and build -

AGRICULTURAL | RESIDENTIAL FRAMING • ROOFING RENOVATIONS • EAVESTROUGHS

Driveways • Sidewalks • Curbs Patios • Finished Floors • Retaining Walls • Steps • Decorative/Stamped and Coloured Concrete www.marwilconcrete.ca

Wayne Martin | 519-504-2016

519-577-0370

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HOME IMPROVEMENT COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

ST. JACOBS

GLASS SYSTEMS INC.

INC

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18 Kingfisher Dr., Elmira | 519.669.1462

AMOS R O O F I N G

1553 King St. N., St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial

ↆ

▪ Bale covers in stock ▪ Patio canopy repairs

Visit us online to see our entire rental lineup.

CLEAN • DRY • SECURE

ↆ

Custom or Replacement Tarps & Covers!

GENERAL SERVICES

Various sizes & rates

ↆ

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• Specializing in residential re-roofs • Repairs • Churches A Family owned and operated business serving KW, Elmira and surrounding area for over 35 years.

WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED

CALL JAYME FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE.

519-664-1202 / 519-778-6104 FAX: 519 664-2759 • 24 Hour Emergency Service

519.501.2405 | 519.698.2114 In Business since 1973 • Fully Insured

HOME IMPROVEMENT Since 1998

•Final grading •Lawn repair & complete seeding well equipped for large stoney areas •Spike Aerator/Overseeding •Natural & Interlocking Stone •Retaining Walls, Walks & Patios •Help for Top Water & Drainage issue

Murray & Daniel Shantz

ALMA, ONTARIO | PHONE: 519.846.5427

DESIGN CENTRE

• FLOORING • Custom KITCHENS • BATHROOM VANITIES • SICO Paint • Custom WINDOW BLINDS

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Many In-Stock or Custom Bathroom Vanities, Kitchen Cabinetry, Flooring and Tiles, Blinds, Shades, Fashion Plumbing • Our experienced personell and designer will help you work within your personal taste and budget

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Evenings By Appointment

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22 Church St. W., Elmira Tel: 519-669-5537 or 1-844-866-5537 STORE HOURS: MON-SAT 8-6, SUN 11-4 Find and follow us on FB and Instagram

Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ R E A L

C L A S S I F I E D S | 29

E SAT E

ↆ FA M I LY Death Notice

Offi ce: 519-669-2772 BROKERAGE Brad Direct: 519-741-6231 R.W. THUR REAL ESTATE LTD. 45 Arthur St. S., Elmira BRAD MARTIN Office: 519-669-2772 | Cell: 519-741-6231 Broker of Record, www.thurrealestate.com 45 Arthur St. S., Elmira | www.thurrealestate.com MVA Residential

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Obituary

In Memoriam In Memoriam

F R E Y, J O H N - J o h n G. Frey of Moorefield passed away at Listowel Memorial Hospital, with his family at his side, on Friday, December 2, 2022, at the age of 82.

HAISER, VALERIE ANNE It is with great sadness that the family of Val Haiser (née Tyreman) announce her passing on December 1, 2022 at the age of 79, surrounded by family at home after a brief battle with recurring melanoma.

HAYES, MURIEL - Peacefully passed away on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Grand River Hospital at the age of 88 years.

ROTH, DORA - Dora Roth

was born in Mornington Township 96 years ago, July 5, 1926. She died peacefully on Sunday, D e c e m b e r 4, 2 0 2 2 , at Knollcrest Lodge, Milverton.

STRENZKE, SIEGFRIED Passed away peacefully on Monday, November 28, 2022 at the age of 94, surrounded by family.

The BridgeKeepers hosted the annual carol sing Monday night at the West Montrose covered bridge, Bill Atwood a holiday tradition that dates back more than three decades.

ↆ LO CA L

A L B U M

P R O F E S S I O N A L

Floto, Eileen Peacefully passed away on Monday, December 5, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital at the age of 91 years. Dear mother of the late Kim (2020) and Karol, Peter and Theresa, David and Laura, Chris and Michelle. Proud grandma of Nicholas (Melissa), Michael (Alexandrea); Jeffrey (Erin), Michelle (Andrew), Jennifer; Hayden (Isabella); and Emily, and missed by her great grandchildren Lucas, Ethan; Thora, Remi; Nathan; and Indie. At Eileen’s request, cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation or funeral service. Donations to St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation or KW Humane Society would be appreciated, and may be made through the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira.

10 OFF REPLACEMENT PATIO DOOR SCREEN Must bring coupon in or use code “repair22”

IN-STORE SERVICES • Window & Screen Repairs • Glass & Plexi Cutting • Key Cutting • Knife & Scissor Sharpening

• Lawnmower Blade Sharpening • Paint Colour Matching • Interior Design Consultation • Bike Repair 22 Church St. W., Elmira Tel: 519-669-5537 or 1-844-866-5537 STORE HOURS: MON-SAT 8-6, SUN 11-4 Find and follow us on FB and Instagram

Dearest Isey, Nine years have gone by. Lovingly we hold you in our hearts to walk with day by day.

Loved by me, your family, and all whom you knew. One in a million, that was you.

Sadly, Sally, family, and friends.

Obituary

Obituary Gingrich, Mary (Mrs. Edgar) Passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Lanark Heights Long Term Care, Kitchener at the age of 93 years. Dear wife of the late Edgar (2019). Loving mother of Earl and Karen Gingrich, Marilyn and Ozie Martin, Darrell and Rhonda Gingrich, Arnie Gingrich and Kelly Atkinson, and Rose and Ron Martin.

Loved grandma to 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Mary was the last surviving member of her family, being predeceased by one great-grandchild in infancy, parents Urias and Lydia Martin, siblings Noah and Hannah, Levi and Elizabeth, Sarah and Cleason Brubacher, Leah, Valina, and Aaron and Adina. The family received relatives and friends on Sunday, December 4, 2022 from 1:30 – 4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Dreisinger Funeral Home, 62 Arthur St. S., Elmira. A family service took place on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 9 a.m. at the Dreisinger Funeral Home, then to Elmira Mennonite Meeting House for burial and public service. Special thanks to the staff at Lanark Heights for their compassionate care. ❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

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REPAIR

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ↆ GENERAL SERVICES

$

Israel “Isey” Weber

Pre-owned phones with warranty 25 Industrial Dr, Elmira Call or Text: (226) 444-9927 www.519techservices.ca

Reach local people at the right time every week.

Advertise your professional services to Woolwich, Wellesley and beyond.

Martin, Abner H. Passed away at Grand River Hospital on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at the age of 74 years. He is the cherished father of Elverne (Ruthanne) Martin of Listowel, Rhoda Martin of Linwood, Eric (Janelle) Martin of Listowel, Myrna (Darrel) Bauman of Drayton, and Arnie (Anita) Martin of Hesson.

Loving grandfather to Max (Beth), Laura, Jaydin, and Tyrone Martin; Damian, Mariah, and Ian Martin; Cody, Caleb, Damaris, and Deena Bauman; Anika, Owen, Alex and Brett Martin. Abner is also the loving great-grandfather of Kaiden Martin.

Also remembered by his siblings Seleda Martin, Eldon (Florence) Martin, Orlan (Sharon) Martin, and Elsie (Merle) Bowman. Predeceased by his wife Almeda (July 25, 2022), granddaughter Daina Martin, brotherin-law John Metzger, sister-in-law Mary Metzger, and his parents Aaron and Salome (Horst) Martin. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 1 – 4 and 6 – 8 p.m. at Woodlawn Mennonite Fellowship, 6449 Wellington Road 11, Dorking.

A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2022 at Woodlawn Mennonite Fellowship followed by interment in Hillside Cemetery, 3210 Boomer Line, RR 1, St. Clements. As expressions of sympathy, donations can be made to Christian Aid Ministries- Disaster Response, and may be made through the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira. A special thank you to the doctors and nurses at the three hospitals where Abner spent his final days: the emergency team at Stratford Hospital, the surgeon and nurses at University Hospital in London, and the support team at Grand River Hospital. The service can be accessed by calling 226-779-5238 or through the livestream link https://woodlawnmf.org/livestream/. ❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 30

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

Open house in Maryhill

Snowflake Auction

There’ll be an open house Dec. 15 (3-9 p.m.) at the new Ukrainian Guest House in Maryhill. The former Hillside Residence is hosting Ukrainian families with young children fleeing the war. The move is in conjunction with the Waterloo Region Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis (WRGR), a group of residents in Waterloo Region who are helping support displaced people.

The Woolwich Community Lions Club’s Snowflake Auction supporting The Woolwich Guest House for Ukrainian Families in Transition is now underway. To join in, visit www. facebook.com/groups/727289997993396.

She still digs what she’s doing for the environment Stepping down as chair of TWEEC, Susan Bryant has no plans for anything other than staying involved Leah Gerber Observer Staff

AFTER VOLUNTEERING AS THE CHAIR of the Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee (TWEEC) for the last nine years, Susan Bryant is stepping down from the position.

“Plenty long enough,” she said.

She said the committee is full of excellent people volunteering and working hard to make the township better, so she’s not worried about the organization losing energy. It’s a team effort.

“I figure my main responsibility is to make sure the meetings don’t last more than two hours,” she said. “I’m the gavel.”

“While Susan was chair of TWEEC, I was chair of Trees for Woolwich which is a subset of TWEEC,” said Inga Rinne, another volunteer with the committee.

“She was a joy to work with, always engaged, anxious to help where she could and firmly cheerful in the face of obstacles.”

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I threw out my back doing yardwork. While I was laid up for a few weeks, I'm OK now. I'm concerned I will reinjure my back shoveling snow this winter. How can I protect my back while shoveling?

ANSWER: Winters in certain parts of the country can be long and snowy.

While seemingly an innocuous task, snow shoveling can be a rigorous aerobic

Bryant is grateful for the committee.

“TWEEC is a wonderful organization that saved me way back when, in those early days of the water crisis and the hearings, everything was so adversarial. It was really stressful,” she said. Since the late 1980s, Bryant has been heavily involved in the cleanup of Elmira’s creek and aquifer that were discovered to be contaminated with toxic and cancer-causing chemicals.

“And so, when TWEEC came along, the opportunity to do some hands-on [activities], things that you know are going to help. Maybe a drop in the bucket, but still, planting trees, promoting native plants, cleaning up ditches and working with other people hands-on was just such a positive, relaxing, wonderful, meaningful way to spend time. That’s what TWEEC has been for me. And you know, it’s given me a whole tribe of wonderful friends,” she said.

After nine years as the volunteer chair of the Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Leah Gerber committee, Susan Bryant is passing the baton in February.

TWEEC was formed in February 2004. It was the brainchild of Dave Gosnay, a former director of engineering and planning at the township. He proposed the township give funds to a group of community volunteers to improve the township’s environment.

Today the committee

continues to meet regularly to plan projects, and organize groups and volunteers to carry them out.

In 2011, the group decided to create the sub-committee Trees for Woolwich. “We decided that if we didn’t take it up a

notch, we weren’t actually going to make any significant inroads into the tree canopy,” said Rinne.

Together, volunteers with TWEEC and Trees for Woolwich have planted tens of thousands of trees, conducted a tree inventory in Elmira, carried out

the pruning of every small tree in Elmira, worked with schools to produce seedlings, established a nursery, restored many acres of land and much more.

“TWEEC’s future will depend on the new committee. I think there is tremendous potential on the climate change action front as the issue becomes more front and centre,” said Rinne.

Bryant does not know who will be replacing her as chair.

“At the moment there is not an heir apparent for Susan, but will be chosen by the new committee,” said Rinne.

“In the way it goes with TWEEC, people come up with things they want to do, and if they’re willing to take the lead and do them, and gather some volunteers to help, that’s the way it works. It’s not up to the chair to direct what we do,” said Bryant.

She says she is going to stay on the committee, → BRYANT 33

Top tips to avoid back injuries this winter 

▢ Mayo Clinic

Professional Clinical Health Advice

activity and one that significantly stresses the back. You should be mindful to avoid serious injuries when shoveling.

Here are a few tips and techniques to hopefully keep your driveway and sidewalk clear while avoiding serious injury:

Assess your personal fitness and ability.If you have any preexisting conditions, such as heart disease or lower back conditions, it is critical to consult with your health care provider before the snow starts falling. Often, for those who have long-standing back issues, the best way to avoid injury may



be to avoid shoveling altogether by purchasing a snowblower or hiring someone to help.

Warm up and stretch beforehand.Treat snow shoveling like any other workout.

Warm up to get the heart rate up and blood flowing beforehand.

Stretches focusing on the lower back



and hamstrings also will help prevent overstressing the back during shoveling.

Dress warmly and hydrate ahead of time. Keeping the body warm during aerobic activity improves blood flow and oxygenation to muscles in the lower back, which reduces stress and overexertion. A good pair of



boots or shoes with good traction will help you avoid slips and falls that could cause a back injury.

Make sure to hydrate appropriately ahead of time to avoid exhaustion and lower back cramps.

Pick the right time and the right shovel. Depending on the timing of snowfall, many

→ MAYO CLINIC 35

Meet Priscilla!

She is a mom of 4 and celebrated her 13th wedding anniversary this year with her husband Tyler.

Priscilla is working the afternoon shift and started here with us AD SPOT - NON PRINTING in October. She will be the friendly face at the front desk when you walk in and will also be scheduling appointments.

We are excited to have Priscilla a part of our team and welcome you to say hi the next time you find yourself in our office!

20 Oriole Parkway E., Elmira.

Tel: (519) 669-1082

www.leroysautocare.net

Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

L I V I N G H E R E | 31

ↆ C O M M U N I T Y

“A GOOD JOB DONE EVERY TIME”

Fizzy, chocolaty drink is a New York classic

E

gg creams are a beverage steeped in history and mystery.

An iconic New York City drink, egg creams reached peak popularity in the early 1900s, particularly in Brooklyn and the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where soda fountains and candy shops dotted the streets, serving sodas, sundaes, and, of course, egg creams.

The origin of the name "egg cream" is murkier than its timeline. Some say it was inspired by the foam at the top of the drink, which looks like whipped egg whites. Others claim that a man who had recently returned from France, where he enjoyed a drink called "chocolat et creme," ordered one at a New York soda fountain.

He explained the recipe to the soda jerk working behind the counter, who misheard the name of the drink as "chocolate egg cream."

Another possibility?

Around the turn of the 20th century, many soda fountain drinks featured

▢ America's Test Kitchen Rigorously tested recipes that work.

eggs or egg whites. It's possible that the original egg cream did contain eggs, but they were removed during the Great Depression to make the drink more affordable. As egg creams were popular among the large Jewish American populations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, some believe that "egg cream" is an Americanization of "echt keem," Yiddish for "pure sweetness."

The true story is lost to time, but this historic beverage isn't. And you don't have to travel to New York to have one -- you can make it right in your own kitchen!

Chocolate egg creams are classic, but New Yorkers also enjoy a vanilla version, traditionally made with Fox's U-Bet Vanilla Syrup, or a "black and white," made with both chocolate AND vanilla syrups.

New York Chocolate Egg Cream

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1. Add chocolate syrup to glass. Pour milk on top. Use a long spoon to stir until well combined.

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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 and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at www. amercastestkitchen.com

ↆ FA I T H Elmira Mennonite Church

D I R E C TO RY 9:30am

Advent 3 –

Tell What You Hear and See

Jonathan Brubacher Preaching

www.elmiramennonite.ca

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8 ▢ Senior’s Community Dining at Breslau Community Centre. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost: $12. Must pre-register by December 2 by calling 519-664-1900.

▢ Woodside Evergreen for Seniors at Woodside Church, Elmira. Starts at 10:30 a.m. Christmas Music and Words - piano and cello concert with Anthony and Sam Domzella, Devotional: Pastor Gary Goodkey, Reading: Cairine Domzella, Carol Sing: Beryl Martin, piano and Fred Gingrich, organ. Suggested donation $8 includes hot lunch. Registration required by Sun Dec 4 at www.woodsidechurch.ca/evergreen or 519-669-1296.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 ▢ Friday Food at the Elmira Legion. Doors open at 4

p.m., serving at 5:45 p.m. Menu: Sausage on a bun, Parmesan potatoes, coleslaw, dessert $10/plate.

Join us in the lounge. All welcome.

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.

▢ Journey to Bethlehem at Floradale Mennonite Church, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. View the Bethlehem display in the basement windows and enjoy hot chocolate under the stars. Sign up for a time slot on the Church website floramc.org or email office@floramc.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13 ▢ A Concert of Christmas Favourites at the Breslau Community Centre, 7:30 p.m. The Breslau, Bloomingdale, Maryhill Concert Band invites you to A Concert of Christmas Favourites (and sing-a-long.) Santa will also be there so bring the kids.

21 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.2884 | martinselmira.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14

Education and Treatment

▢ Senior’s Community Dining at Linwood Community Centre. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost: $12. Must pre-register by December 9 by calling 519-6641900.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 ▢ Friday Food at the Elmira Legion. Doors open at 4

p.m., serving at 5:45 p.m. Menu: Cabbage rolls, veggies, salad, rolls, dessert $10/plate. Join us in the lounge. All welcome.

Your First Step to Better Hearing

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

▢ Tuesday Take-Out Lunch at Gale Presbyterian.

▢ 2⁄3 cup cold plain

whole milk

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20

▢ 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

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Drive thru pick up from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ham and scalloped potatoes, veggies, bread, cranberrry salad and apple pie. $12/meal. RSVP by Friday, December 16, noon to office@galepresbyterian.com or 519-669-2852.

▢ Friday Food at the Elmira Legion. Doors open at 4

p.m., serving at 5:45 p.m. Menu: Shepherd’s Pie, Caesar salad, roll, cherry cheesecake $10/plate. Join us in the lounge. All welcome.

▢ Woolwich Observer Free Skate and Swim at the

Woolwich Memorial Centre. Bring the family and enjoy a free swim, skate or both. 9 a.m. to ll a.m.

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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

CALL Donna to book this space today!

519-669-5790 ext. 104

healthywoolwich.org

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

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

MAYO CLINIC: Snow shovelling presents various risks → FROM 31

The good kind of apps ahead of the holidays

M

oving into holiday time, it’s great to have some new apps in your repertoire, whether to be a snack for guests (sometimes unexpected) popping in for a drink or to complement a meal.

If you serve only an hors d’oeuvre to unwanted guests, then they might leave early as they are likely still hungry.

That being said, the

CHEF DUFF

Recipes from the chef's table

term “hors d’oeuvre,” which of course is French, literally means “outside the work” which is to say it is typically a food that is served in addition to a main course (or instead of in certain contexts).

The following recipe is great because it is served cold, so it can easily be prepared ahead of time or can be brought over to a friend’s house. Don’t you love it when company brings something over, but it “just needs a few minutes in the oven first”?

Anyways, a great finish is something crispy, looks cool and gives it some crunch.

Stuffed Pepper Hors d’oeuvres ▢ 1-1/2 lb mini

minced

▢ Salt & pepper

▢ 1 Tbsp. sun-dried

▢ Pinch basil, pinch

▢ 1 shallot, fine

▢ 250g cream

▢ Garnish: “hick-

▢ 1 clove garlic,

▢ 250g goat cheese

peppers, fresh

▢ 1 Tbsp. olive oil

tomato, rough chop

chopped

1. Lightly soften garlic & shallots in oil on the stove but don’t allow to brown.

cheese

well, should be a nice pink colour.

2. Place in food processor with tomatoes, cheeses and seasoning.

4. Meanwhile cut peppers in half, scoop out seeds and place on tray cup side up.

3. Allow to mix

5. Using a pastry bag

chili flakes

ory sticks or fried noodles”

or even a zip lock bag with the corner snipped off, squeeze cheese mixture into peppers.

6. Allow to chill.

7. Garnish and serve cold.

ↆ Chef Bruce Duff is the operator of “Chef Duff at RiverSong” Banquet hall, Café and Culinary Centre just outside of St. Jacobs, which hosts private events, banquets, team building and cooking classes and also run breakfast and lunch in the café from Wed. – Sat; info@chefduff.ca.

Bab b es Year!

people tend to shovel early in the morning after waking up. This is not the most optimal for your body, as you are less likely to be warmed up and you'll be more prone to injury. Try to avoid early morning or late-night shoveling as much as possible. If a large amount of snow is predicted to fall, consider taking multiple passes, with frequent breaks, so you are not shoveling large piles of snow. Lay down salt or sand ahead of time to improve traction and prevent ice buildup. Lastly, invest in a good shovel, ideally one that is lightweight, metal and sturdy, and has good grips and a long shaft to help with leverage.

Keep your back straight, use your legs and take frequent breaks.

When shoveling, the rule is to start slow and take frequent breaks, especially early in the season as you're building up your stamina.

While you shovel, avoid bending with your back to scoop.

Instead bend at the knees and hips. Keep your arms close to your body to avoid overstressing your back. When dumping the snow from the shovel, turn with your entire body versus twisting with your back.

Avoid scooping large, heavy loads.

Ideally, break up the snow into smaller, more manageable shovel loads.

Treat lower back strain appropriately. If you strain your lower back by shoveling snow, take some time to rest to give your body

You should be mindful to avoid serious injuries when shovelling.

time to recover.

Over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, can help control pain. Topical agents, as well as heat and cold compresses, also can help.

Gentle lower back therapy, including stretching and core exercises, can help with the recovery process, as well.

Be aware of red flag symptoms and seek medical care when appropriate. If you have any severe, progressive or persistent lower back pain, seek medical care urgently. This is especially true if your back symptoms are accompanied by pain radiating down your lower

The Observer presents ...

of the

2022

extremities, weakness in your legs or feet, numbness in your genital area, or symptoms of incontinence. Other nonspinal symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness or palpations, also should warrant urgent medical evaluation.

With proper preparation and mindful attention to the actions you take while shoveling, snow clearing doesn't have to be a tedious or difficult winter task.

Should you need additional assistance for injuries, consult with your primary health provider or a spine care center.

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.

Publish: January 12, 2023 Book By: January 9, 2023 int!

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Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

L I V I N G H E R E | 33

BRYANT: A long-time environmental advocate in the community, she’ll continue to take part in activities → FROM 31

and focus on keeping track of the environmental recommendations previously given to the township in the Elmira green infrastructure report given to the township in 2018.

Through a grant from the region, TWEEC hired a consultant to produce

the report. The point was to create a 20-year plan focused on increasing Elmira’s tree canopy, as well as stormwater management and increasing habitat in the township.

“This was the follow-up to all the trees being cut down in the urban area,

and we figured we needed some professional help that was not township staff,” Bryant said.

The report included recommendations for improvements, “for the way the township deals with trees and develop-

ment, you know, soils around trees and all kinds of stuff like that. Maintenance. And there’s short term recommendations, longer term and aspirational goals.”

She says one of the aspirational goals is to achieve

The Th Gif if The Gift ift ft off Movementt Take advantage of our discounted fitness memberships at the Woolwich Memorial Centre by purchasing a loved one a gift certificate this season.

Discounted Gift of Motion Pricing: 1 Year Full Access $500 6 Month Full Access $275 1 Month Full Access $48 20 Visit Pass $100 10 Visit Pass $60

Valid December 1-31

Susan Bryant (middle) with Sandra Bray and Shannon PurvesSmith protesting Bill 23 at an event Saturday in Elmira.

30 per cent canopy tree cover in the township, “which we’re way behind on,” she said.

Rinne says the group has also just created the Susan Bryant Volunteer Award.

“The criteria for which are basically a recognition of

Grow with Woolwich Saturday December 10 Cookie & Craft Station 4 - 7pm FREE Skate 4:30 - 6pm Woolwich Memorial Centre

Friday December 16 Cookie & Craft Station 6:30 - 9:30pm FREE Swim 7 - 8:30pm Woolwich Memorial Centre

Sunday December 18 FREE Skate 9:30 - 10:30am Cookie & Craft Station 9:30 - 11:30am St. Jacobs Arena

Drop in- No registration

Leah Gerber

Try transit.

Flexible Transit now serving Breslau Book using the GRT Flex app grt.ca/Breslau

someone who puts in time and effort. Any volunteer effort that has a good story,” she said.

For her part, Bryant wants to spend more time planting trees. “I just hope to get out and dig in the dirt,” she said.

Playtime Word of the Week

Find-A-Word

SOLACE

7 8 5 . ( < ' 6 0

Someone or something that gives a feeling of comfort to a person who is experiencing grief, sadness, or anxiety.

Mini-Word

ACROSS 1. Gawks 7. Deserted 8. Bigfoot 9. Custard-base

frozen treat

10. Leaked

Sudoku

DOWN 1. Smelting residue 2. Indian helmet 3. Anoint with

sacred oil 4. New pattern layout 5. Really happy 6. Christian council

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CAROLS

FAMILY

REINDEER

SNOW

CHRISTMAS

LIGHTS

SANTA

TREE

COOKIES

MARCHINGBAND

SINGING

TURKEY

DECORATING

PARADE

SKATING

WREATH

ELVES

PRESENTS

SLEIGH RIDE

) 1 < : 5 ( $ 7 + SOLUTION:

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

Crossword ACROSS 1. Dealer type 5. Plant part 9. Ponzi 13. Overthrow 14. Corporal punishment 16. “Unforgettable” 17. Icelandic epic 18. Attributable (2wrds) 19. Departure 20. Breaks 22. Incriminate 24. Cdn apparel

27

THEME: CHRISTMAS

singer

Sudoku

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 34

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

NASDAQ 26. Direction for silence 27. Capital of Georgia 30. Refer to things 33. Christmas tree decoration 35. Brouhaha 37. Wilbur, Charlotte’s Web 38. Devour 41. Mental disorder (Accro) 42. Construction girder 45. Frozen rum drink 48. Printing error 51. Free fall 52. West Indies native 54. Man or boy 55. Twin hull sailing vessel 59. Express

68. Break 69. Can be good or bad 70. Full trust 71. Downhill toy DOWN 1. Maple genus 2. Harassed

frustrations PG 62. Firearm live in the chamber 63. Killer spider 65. Salt Lake City State 66. A chip, maybe 67. “La Grande Parade” artist Fernand

31. Part of a drum kit 32. Animal catcher 34. Bit 36. Cut, maybe 39. 50 Cent piece 40. Shoot 43. Arched entryway 44. Polite address

for woman

27. Antelope of Africa 28. Cash inducement 29. Setting for TV’s

“Newhart”

10. Hip 11. Came down 12. Allocate, with “out” 15. Joey’s home 21. Big loser’s nickname?

23. Bottom of the barrel 25. A Swiss army knife

has lots of them

rhetoric 4. Flipper 5. “Acid” 6. Decorative case 7. Slang is “ain’t” 8. Big shot 9. Doubtful person

3. Political campaign

46. Campus area 47. Deutsch marks?

49. Drag the deep 50. Breezier 53. Symbol of authority 55. Attired 56. Bang-up 57. “Soap” family name 58. “O Sanctissima,” e.g.

60. Charades, e.g.

61. Abandon 64. Crooked

West Montrose, Ont. 519-669-5219

Thursday, December 8, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

L I V I N G H E R E | 35

Christmas Greetings Christmas is here, and we hope the season delivers much happiness and good fortune to you and yours!

We appreciate the year-round support of good friends like you, and we wish you all the best at Christmastime and throughout the new year.

Celebratng 30 years of servce to our community

May the timeless message of Christmas fill your heart & home throughout the year 1145 Printery Rd., St. Jacobs 519.664.2263

Serving you for over 100 Years

www.stjacobsprintery.com

374 Arthur St. S., Elmira | 519-669-3390

May you & your family be touched by the spirit of the Christmas Season!

Wishing you a happy new year.

TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER

1070 Industrial Cres., St. Clements

519-699-9496

3533 Broadway St., Hawkesville

519-699-5252

autofleetservices.ca

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, December 8, 2022

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

Federal funding will help medical company in St. Jacobs Bill Atwood

IN STOCK!

Observer Staff

A ST. JACOBS BUSINESS LAST week received a $1-million repayable loan under FedDev Ontario’s Business Scale-up and Productivity stream.

The no-interest loan to Huron Digital Pathology will help lead the expansion of the company’s manufacturing, and allow them to add 11 more employees.

Founded in 1994, the company develops scanning instruments that are used in imaging microscope slides for pathology.

“Say you get a biopsy or a researcher has a piece of tissue that they want to do research on, they process that tissue and eventually it finds its way onto a microscope slide.

And then they look at it under a microscope to do their research or make a diagnosis. So that’s the traditional way and that’s the way that it’s done in the majority of labs today. Whereas the other disciplines have gone digital like Xrays in radiology, they no longer have the big pieces of film.

It’s all digital,” explained company president Audil Virk.

Developing this type of technology comes with a lot of barriers, which means pathology lags behind other medical areas.

“The images that we generate from scanners require a lot of memory and a lot of computing power to do so. Whereas in radiology, you could just snap an image. In pathology, a lot of technology has to be developed in order to image it at the same resolution as if you’re looking through

IN STOCK! HOT

N EW

PRODUCT!

A piece of equipment developed at Huron Digital Pathology in St. Bill Atwood Jacobs.

a microscope,” Virk explained of the challenges.

There are several advantages to this technology, Virk noted. That includes improving diagnostics by making it faster and more accurate.

“One is that the image analysis algorithms can assist the pathologist.

But because it’s an image, now it can be viewed from any pathologist anywhere in the world. You’re not just stuck with your local hospital, you can access any pathologist in the world and patients can get access to their own images and get second opinions and things of that nature.”

The technology also uses artificial intelligence to store images, which will allow pathologists and other medical professionals to compare current cases to older ones.

“Let’s say a pathologist gets a new case, the image-analysis algorithm we’re developing can compare the new image with the older cases, and then display it to the pathologist. That way, if they’re having difficulty diagnosing the case, they can compare it against all of the previous cases and the outcomes actually for the patient, based upon whatever medicine they prescribed,” Virk said.

The loan will see Huron grow significantly.

“Huron has been doing

this for a while, but now it’s really starting to take off and we can’t keep up in manufacturing the scanners. And so with the funding, we’re going to be doubling the size of our facility, and probably more than doubling the size of the manufacturing so that we can produce more systems and faster.”

Dany Mercado, a manufacturing supervisor at Huron, highlights the growth of the company he has been working with for the last 10 years.

“We’ve gone from a single slide holder... to now being capable of doing from 12 slides to 120 and now to 400,” he explained.

“I’m a cancer survivor and to be able to help with these systems and push these systems to get them to the hospitals and clinics in pathology labs to be able to make a difference with cancer research. It’s absolutely amazing that we’re able to do that,” Mercado added.

The pandemic has highlighted the need for both the production of medical equipment in Canada, and the move to make pathology digital, Virk said.

“We’re the only Canadian company doing this, and we’re going up against major international players in the medical field, so [the loan] is a way to scale our growth,” he added.

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