November 26, 2015

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11 | 26 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 48

EDSS ATHLETE’S SCHOLARSHIP TO HOUSTON UNIV. SPORTS PAGE 11

COMMENT PAGE 6

ALL TALK, AND TAX, BUT LITTLE ELSE IN CLIMATE DEBATE

Wellesley to decide fate of backyard fire pits in new bylaw

Cowan portrayed as cavalier with credit card and his expenses as fraud trial begins

WHITNEY NEILSON A GROUP OF WELLESLEY residents submitted a petition to council on Tuesday asking they be permitted to have small campfires in their backyards, staking an opposite opinion to a letter to council from another resident.

William Slack sent a letter asking that fire pits be banned in residential areas of Wellesley, citing the effects of smoke on the environment and people’s health as concerns.

Billie Wainwright appeared on behalf of the residents in support of allowing fire pits in Wellesley.

“It’s a big issue for us.

We do it a lot throughout the summer. I think you can agree if you walk down the streets of Wellesley during July and August that it’s guaranteed you’ll see friends and family sitting out in their backyard,” Wainwright said.

She said council should consider all the people in Wellesley who support having small camp fires instead of banning them, as suggested by Slack.

“I think 90 per cent of the time people are very considerate in Wellesley. That’s why we come to the small community is to be able FIRE PITS | 2

CHRISTMAS GREENS & TREES HAVE ARRIVED!

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claims when irregularities came to light in the summer of 2014. Following a review AS THE FRAUD TRIAL of former Woolwich mayor of the expense claims and interviews with those inTodd Cowan got unvolved, Mascarin’s report derway Monday, the laid the blame squarely on prosecution painted Cowan, a picture of who adsomeone unmitted to familiar with the double expense polibilling, cies who used calling it his township a bookcredit card for keeping personal exerror. Still penses and did mayor at not keep atop of Todd Cowan the time, the paperwork. he repaid the full amount.

Cowan is charged “I originally became inwith fraud and breach volved through a telephone of trust this week in recall from the CAO of the lation to double billing some $2,700 in expenses Township of Woolwich asking for some advice and to both the township and some information that they Region of Waterloo. He had because of dealing with pleaded not guilty. the former mayor, Todd Lawyer John Mascarin Cowan,” Mascarin said. was the first witness called.

Mascarin and Cowan met His firm, Aird & Berlis LLP, on Aug. 7, 2014 at the Woolwas hired by Woolwich and Waterloo Region to inCOWAN | 23 vestigate Cowan’s expense

WHITNEY NEILSON

That time of the year again

The Christmas season is alive and well in Woolwich with craft shows nearly every weekend. Here, Stephanie Desforges shows off one of her wreaths for sale at Trinity United Church’s annual Christmas bazaar. [WHITNEY NEILSON / THE OBSERVER]

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2 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

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Local Scouts, Cubs, Girl Guides, Brownies and Sparks gathered early Saturday morning in Elmira for a ride aboard the Waterloo Central Railway with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Nearly 200 people boarded the train and sang carols and ate goodies along the way. [LIZ BEVAN / THE OBSERVER]

FIRE PITS: Council to look at policy Dec. 7 FROM | COVER

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munities and brought in the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office. “[They] strongly recommended that we adopt an open burning bylaw for the Township of Wellesley because without the bylaw if we had a non compliance we had no way to enforce it,” Lillico said.

The bylaw was created based on documentation, best practices, and recommendations from the fire marshal’s office.

If approved, most residential homes in Wellesley will be permitted to have small campfires, permitted they follow the guidelines in the bylaw. For example,

to do things like that. We don’t live in the big cities because those things are banned there. These are things we like to keep in a tight-knit community,” Wainwright said.

Wellesley fire chief Andrew Lillico looked at the applicable legislation to draft up a bylaw. The Ontario Fire Code specifically bans an open burn in a community and the only way it can be approved is if the fire chief provides an exemption, he said.

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There will be a buffer zone in the bylaw that places restrictions on how close to your neighbour’s property you can build a fire. The smoke issue, as brought forward by Slack, can’t be controlled by the fire department, as it’s actually under Ministry of the Environment jurisdiction.

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NEWS | 3

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

Woolwich Lions get ready to fete Christmas with an Affair to Remember LIZ BEVAN WITH HALLOWEEN AND THANKSGIVING in the rearview mirror, the Woolwich Community Lions Club is gearing up to celebrate Christmas with the community and the fat man in red.

On Nov. 27 and 28, Carol Jongerius and the local Lions are inviting businesses and friends to join in on their “Affair to Remember” – a night of celebration, dinner and dancing. The event has been running for 11 years and with a full turkey dinner spread catered

by Kennedy’s Dining in St. Agatha, a live band and a night with friends, who can resist?

“We will have turkey and we also have ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, a couple of different salads, a dessert table with a variety of pies and some vegetarian options,” said Jongerius, mentioning that there is something for everyone, and not just when it comes to food.

“We have a band called Black Water Draw with Fred Hale. He plays everything from blues to modern top 20 to retro ’60s and ’70s ... everything.”

There will also be a visit from the man himself, Santa Claus, who is stopping by for photos with attendees, as well as door prizes and the ever-popular specialty coffee trolley making the rounds of the Lions Hall in Elmira.

The night acts as the club’s largest annual fundraiser and depends on AFFAIR TO REMEMBER | 4

Koinonia Christian Fellowship is hosting five Christmas in Concert performances over the next two weekends. The annual event drew record attendance last year.

[SUBMITTED]

Performance has become a holiday staple Many volunteer hours go into Koinonia’s popular Christmas in Concert shows in Bloomingdale WHITNEY NEILSON KOINONIA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP KICKS off the Christmas season next weekend with their annual Christmas in Concert, a free evening of Christmas carols and contemporary tunes performed by talented singers and musicians.

Executive director Kathryn Hofer says the last outing was their best yet.

“Last year was incredible. There were over 3,000 people over our five shows.

That was pretty exciting,” Hofer said.

Now in its seventh year, they’ll do four shows in Bloomingdale and one in Woodstock the following weekend. Everyone involved is volunteering their time.

“The cast and crew invest hundreds of hours.

That’s not even a calculation. Our cast and crew, there are 103 people, and so I was not even going to try to count out how many hours, hundreds upon hundreds, probably

HOW TO REACH US

thousands of hours that get invested into the show.

So it’s great when you can have over 3,000 people come and experience it,” Hofer said.

As per usual, all the musical arrangements are new this year. They have 15 songs they’ll be performing, all but one of which includes singing. One will be an instrumental piece with piano, violin, and viola.

The church’s music director made the arrangement for the instrumental piece.

“There’s a really good mix this year of Christmas carols that people are going to know. We’ve got We Three Kings, The First Noel, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and then we’ve got the classic Christmas songs, like Deck the Rooftops, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let it Snow,” Hofer said.

They’ll also be doing one of the a capella group, Pentatonix’s, vocal arrange-

ments of a Christmas song.

The show is orchestra heavy, with either strings or brass playing in almost very single song. There’s also a choir only song.

Every year they listen to the applause for each song to try to determine which was the crowd’s favourite, but when they get back feedback cards asking people for their favourite song, they’re always surprised.

“The funny thing is we had a meeting a couple weeks ago and we were talking about one of the things we really enjoy every year is every show people have a favourite [song].

When we get our feedback cards, literally every song is listed. So that’s always fun,” Hofer said.

People come from all over Ontario to see the show. Some even drove from the United States last year to see someone they knew perform.

“In the end of October we had people calling asking when the show was.

Those are the coolest

things when it’s become part of somebody’s traditions,” Hofer said.

New this year, they’re offering reservations at the Saturday matinee for seniors’ groups of 10 or more (age 65+), so they don’t need to stand in line for tickets.

She says the main reason so many volunteers come back each year to help make the show a success is because they love Christmas.

“The second thing I would say is they love helping other people have a really amazing start to the Christmas season. We strategically do Christmas in Concert at the beginning of December to help people kick off their Christmas season right and get them in the Christmas spirit,” Hofer said.

She notes it’s important for the church to help those people who have a hard time at Christmas or are celebrating the holiday for the first time without a loved on.

“Christmas is really exciting and it’s wonderful, but it comes with a lot of pain in different areas of peoples’ lives. Our real hope and prayer through Christmas in Concert is regardless of what season people are in and what’s going in and what this Christmas looks like for them, we just want this show to bring a bit of hope and excitement for what the Christmas season can be.”

Contact info.christmasinconcert@gmail.com or 519-744-7447 for more information about reserving seniors group seats for the matinee performance.

The four performances at Koinonia Christian Fellowship in Bloomingdale are Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Woodstock performance is Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. The concert is free, but the doors open one hour before show time to allow people the time to find seats with family and friends. Seats are on a firstcome, first-served basis.

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4 | NEWS

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

Go Girls helps empower young students at Park Manor LIZ BEVAN PARK MANOR PUBLIC SCHOOL in Elmira has opened its doors to the Go Girls program, designed to empower girls and teach confidence and healthy habits.

The seven-week program is sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters and its goal is to teach young girls a positive self-image.

Caitlin Belle is a volunteer with the Park Manor Go Girls group, and says in the past seven weeks, she has seen a huge improvement in the girls who attend the sessions.

“The purpose is to get these guys together and foster communication, healthy eating, active living and just feeling good – boosting self-esteem,” she said.

“I can see more confidence in bringing up the issue (of bullying) and some skills have been gained from that for sure.”

The group activities and mentoring sessions are geared towards girls who might need an extra leg up when it comes to communication skills, self esteem issues, decision making skills and general social skills, says Belle. The program achieves this by hosting weekly activities, discussions and snack sessions.

“Most of our active living portion was outside and that was mostly games and things like that. Just to get them moving and show them that it is fun,” she said. “Then we do a snack break and we try to pick something healthy and quick they might be

able to prepare themselves.

It is about getting them to feel good. A lot of the time would be arts and crafts. We used magazines one week to cut stuff out and make bags.”

The girls in the program also see the benefit of getting together with likeminded students every week.

“I would say that it was really fun. We get snacks, learn about healthy eating and active living and not to be ashamed of your body type or what you look like,” said Grade 7 student Megan Levely.

To other girls that aren’t in the group, but may want to join the next session, Rachel Forbes, Grade 7, says she would tell them to go for it.

“I would definitely tell them it was a great idea,”

The Park Manor Public School Go Girls group has spent the last seven weeks learning about body positivity, treating others with respect, healthy eating and confidence.

[SUBMITTED] she said. “I learned a lot there and it is so much fun.”

The group participated in plenty of activities together, and Larkin Kitsemetry, Grade 7, says her favourite was hot potato.

“It was just fun because

everyone was making up different moves to pass the ball around,” she said.

Sydney Chalmers, Grade 7, says the group brought her closer to her friends and she got some good food out of it as well.

“It is really fun,” she said.

“It makes your friends closer and they are all amazing snacks.”

To learn more about the Go Girls program, visit www.bigbrothersbigsister. ca.

Wellesley to receive funding to help kids stay active to combat obesity WHITNEY NEILSON WELLESLEY TOWNSHIP WILL RECEIVE $47,300 by next year as part of the Waterloo Region Healthy Kids Community Challenge to help combat childhood obesity.

At a Wellesley committee meeting on Tuesday, public health planner Katie McDonald explained there will be three healthy living themes, one per year. The first is Run, Jump, Play Every day, to encourage incorporat-

ing physical activity in children’s daily lives, like walking to school.

“The City of Waterloo last year, we supported them with painting the sidewalks, doing hopscotch and things like that. So we’re looking at

The Kiwanis Club of Elmira Presents: The 23rd Annual

Santa Claus Parade

expanding that. There is a committee that has representation from the school boards on it and public health works with the schools to figure out what’s the best approach for encouraging children to walk or bike to school,” McDonald said.

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care allocated $1,125,000 to Waterloo Region over the next three years. In the first year, from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, $375,000 will be spent across the region for this initiative.

It’s hoped the challenge will help reduce the number of children aged 0-12 in the region who are overweight or obese.

Some 45 communities in Ontario are taking part.

Coun. Herb Neher says it comes down to parents teaching their children how to properly walk to

school, and encouraging them to get outside instead of sitting in front of the TV. According to the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card in 2012 nearly 30 per cent of children and youth in Ontario were overweight or obese.

So far a local program manager and steering committee have been appointed. All municipalities and both school boards are represented. Director of recreation, Brad Voisin and Wendy Smith are Wellesley’s representatives.

Voisin said he and chief administrative officer Rik Louwagie will be looking at the township’s master plan to determine where the money will go. At first thought, they’re considering upgrading the trails system to make it easier for children to walk to

school in Wellesley.

“I talked with a community member just the other day with regards to the children getting a ride to school, not walking to school. She said to me the biggest problem and the biggest reason for the children actually getting a ride to school was the lack of sidewalks in the community on a number of streets,” said Nowak.

Voisin said they can look into that.

Now, they’re working on compiling a community needs assessment to collect data. An action plan will be submitted to the ministry in December.

Once approved, the funds will be dispersed and the challenge will be officially launched in January.

“It’s a great news article and I think we’re all jumping for joy to see this,” said Mayor Joe Nowak.

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FROM | 3

the money raised to support community projects throughout the upcoming year. While money from this year’s event hasn’t been earmarked for a specific cause, Jongerius says in the past, funds raised at the Affair to Remember event have gone towards different groups, organizations and projects that benefit the whole community.

“We have quite a few projects throughout the year that we support,” she said.

The event was created to provide local businesses a worry-free venue for employee holiday parties without having to put effort into planning, execution and clean-up, but this year, Jongerius says that the Lions Club has opened up their doors to anyone in the community who is looking for a fun night to celebrate the Christmas season with their friends.

“When we have room, we open the doors,” she said. “Anybody that has a group of people that want to celebrate together, it is

in town, it’s a nice turkey dinner with all the fixings and a band.”

Tickets to Affair to Remember are $60 each, and include gratuity, dinner and dancing. There will be a bar, operating on a drink ticket system, and should be preordered when ordering tickets. To get more information about the Affair to Remember or to order tickets, contact Jongerius at caroljongerius@hotmail. com. Tickets can also be purchased through Pat McLean at dp.mclean@ sympatico.ca.

NEWS | 5

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

MPP launches member’s bill Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Michael Harris this week launched his campaign for support of rare-disease sufferers who often face roadblocks and cost barriers in seeking treatment.

Joined by parents and sufferers impacted by rare disease at Queen’s Park, Harris called on government to support his private member’s motion to strike a Select Committee into Rare Disease treatment in Ontario.

“The motion I’ll be debating Feb. 25 calls for an all-party committee to tour the province, hear from experts,

medical professionals, sufferers and their families, and use that first-hand experience to develop meaningful, lasting recommendations for treatment of rare disease in Ontario,” said Harris. “For far too long rare disease sufferers have faced endless hurdles – to diagnosis, to approved medication, to referral or out-of-country treatment – due to their smaller numbers and higher relative treatment costs.

“These are people of Ontario just like you or me and the higher cost shouldn’t mean rare disease sufferers are abandoned by a government that leaves them to fund their own medical expenses.”

For more information and to

share stories, go online to www. treatraredisease.ca.

Wellesley rec. board grants Two out of the four Wellesley recreation boards reported to township council at their Tuesday night committee meeting that they will be receiving grants to carry on with local recreation projects. Heidelberg was given a Lyle S. Hallman grant of $30,900. St. Clements will receive $30,000 as a Vital Signs grant for accessible playground equipment next year as applied for by the Paradise and District Lions Club, and then an additional $30,000 for a

multi-use pad in 2017.

Harris blasts wasteful program Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Michael Harris this week asked the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about $30,000 intended for affordable housing that has been diverted to a scandal plagued agency.

“With a stroke of a pen the minister could have ensured this money went to help people in need instead of being used by the Housing Services Corporation to fund trips to across the globe,” said Harris. “Something is wrong when every year the Region

of Waterloo is giving thousands of dollars to a government agency just to be allowed the privilege to purchase insurance from a lower cost provider.”

Over the last three years Waterloo Region Housing has spent close to $30,000 to opt out of purchasing insurance through the Housing Services Corporation, and instead buy the same insurance from a cheaper provider. This year alone they saved over $26,000 by choosing another provider over Housing Services Corporation.

group of Wellesley churches is hosting a Syrian refugee resettlement information session Dec. 1. Representatives of the Mennonite Central Committee will take part.

The event is set for 7:30 p.m. at Maple View Mennonite Church, 5074 Debra Glaister Line, Wellesley.

Syrian refugee info. night

The EDSS drama department has cancelled the Saturday performances of its latest production, Treasure Island.

The Thursday and Friday evening shows are to go ahead as planned.

Looking at sponsoring refugees, a

EDSS drama shows cancelled Saturday

POLICE BLOTTER

Holiday times means RIDE checks aplenty THE FESTIVE SEASON NOW underway, police will be stepping up enforcement efforts to catch those who’ve been making too merry.

Police know that the approaching holiday season brings an increase in the number of alcohol impaired drivers on Ontario roadways.

Police say an increase in impaired drivers means there is likely to be more tragedy on Ontario’s roads in the days ahead. The Ontario Provincial Police are setting up traffic stops around the province and around the clock as they kick off the 2015 festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired

Driving Everywhere) campaign. The enforcement initiative now underway runs throughout the holiday period until Jan. 2.

Through October, the numbers of alcohol-involved occurrences in 2015 are up three per cent over the same period last year.

As of Nov. 15, of the 258 persons killed during that time period, 35 fatalities were attributed to alcohol consumption. Thirteen people died when their offroad vehicle was involved in a collision; six of those persons had been impaired by alcohol.

Police seen the number of occurrences of drug-im-

paired driving rise in Ontario over the past year. During this festive RIDE campaign, the OPP now have drug recognition officers with specialized training to identify drug impaired drivers. The OPP also have a significant number of officers who conduct standardized field sobriety tests on drivers who give police a reasonable suspicion of impairment by drugs.

Last year the OPP charged 593 people with impaired-related charges during the festive RIDE initiative. There were also 485 people who had their licenses suspended following a warning.

NOVEMBER 16

6:20 PM | A 47-year-old man driving a grey Toyota was travelling on Spitzig Road in Woolwich Township when he struck a farm tractor that was parked on the same side of the road in the travelled lane, facing oncoming traffic. The tractor was unoccupied and had its headlights on. The driver of the Toyota was not injured and no charges were laid.

NOVEMBER 20

SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN Elmira have reached a deal with school boards and have voted to ratify.

Like the Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) local District 24 office has accepted their recently announced tentative agreement on Nov. 16 with a vote.

The local deal, in combination with the provincial agreement ratified in the summer, makes up a “complete collective agreement that expires in August of 2017,” said Sherry Freund, president of the local OSSTF office, representing 1,800 full-time and occasional teachers.

Bargaining for the local deal began last March, and has been ongoing since.

Freund says the process wasn’t easy.

“The process of bargaining for the first time under

the School Boards’ Collective Bargaining legislation (requiring local and provincial ratification) has been painfully slow and cumbersome, which caused delays at both levels of bargaining,” she said the next day after the vote, adding that local bargaining was all about school environment and not about money. “The local tables, where OSSTF bargained directly with the employer, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), was focused on non-compensatory items, since all compensatory items were at the central table.”

The non-compensatory items mentioned by Freund include better protections for laid-off teachers, better definition of the teacher performance appraisal process, improved staffing process language and the inclusion of health and safety language.

“We will not be sharing any further details of the agreement at this time,” she

said, adding that now the local deal has been voted on and accepted, members are pleased. “Our members are relieved that this lengthy process is finally over for our bargaining unit.”

Kathleen Woodstock, chairperson at the WRDSB, says the end of negotiations and bargaining is a sign of good things to come, benefitting both teachers and students.

“The ratification of a local agreement with OSSTF is a demonstration of the hard work and dedication of all involved. Steady and respectful discussion on both sides has created a productive working relationship for OSSTF members and the WRDSB,” she said in a press release “I look forward to working together, and supporting our shared commitment to student achievement and well-being.”

Although secondary school teachers have come to the end of their labour dispute, there are still a large num-

Black Friday

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3:50 PM | A 24-year-old man was cycling on Oriole Parkway in Elmira and had proceeded through the intersection at Arthur Street when he was struck by a white Toyota. The female driver of the Toyota had been making a left turn from Oriole Parkway onto Arthur Street. The cyclist was taken to hospital with minor injuries and the female driver was charged with ‘making a turn not in safety.’

Region’s high school students endorse terms of new contract with board LIZ BEVAN

NOVEMBER N OVEMBER VEMBER 27 & 28

ber of OSSTF staff that are without a deal. Freund says the support staff have not been forgotten about just because the teachers have reached their own deal.

“Our support staff colleagues in District 24 OSSTF remain without either a central or a local deal and are currently in a partial withdrawal of services,” she said. “The teacher members of the District 24 stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in these bargaining units and hope they receive a fairly-negotiated deal soon.”

The support staff at Ontario high schools began their strike action and withdrawal of services on Oct. 5, after well over a year of negotiations and bargaining.

District 24 OSSTF support staff include educational assistants, early childhood educators, professional student services personnel, student support personnel, office and clerical staff, custodians, maintenance, and technicians.

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6 | COMMENT

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

JOE MERLIHAN PUBLISHER STEVE KANNON EDITOR

COMMENT

DONNA RUDY SALES MANAGER

WHITNEY NEILSON REPORTER

LIZ BEVAN

PATRICK MERLIHAN PRODUCTION MANAGER

JAKE STALLARD GRAPHIC DESIGN

REPORTER PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NUMBER 1004840 | ISSN 12039578

OUR VIEW / EDITORIAL

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Nothing more than hot air in climate talks IN A WEEK THAT saw environmentalist David Suzuki draw the ire of tar sands defenders by comparing them the slave owners, the mostlikely-to-be-off-base award goes to Ontario’s Liberal government.

In the run-up to the COP21 conference in Paris next week, climate change is front and center – the all-over-the-map weather we’ve seen this month might also be a topic locally.

There’s a great deal of talk about the talk that will ensue, with the general consensus being that the negotiations will amount to nothing, just has been the case in every instance before.

In Alberta, the NDP government is pushing ahead with a carbon tax. Home to the tar sands, the province wasn’t universally impressed with the idea. Suzuki and fellow tar sands critic Neil Young weighed into the debate, pronouncing themselves impressed. That’s where the scientist offered up that defending the tar sands on economic grounds was akin to what 19th century U.S. slave owners said: abolishing the practice would kill the economy. Moral issues are at play in both cases, he suggested.

Back home in Ontario, the government unveiled vague plans to maybe do something, some day, about lowering carbon emissions – a so-called climate change strategy. Mostly meaningless, the plan does have one concrete proposal: a cap and trade system for emissions. This is essentially a tax grab by a financially irresponsible government. Like everything Wynne does, it will be tainted by her reputation for incompetence and corruption.

To be sure, taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are necessary. By itself, Ontario – and even Canada – can do little. Even if all emissions ceased today, an impossibility, the impact would be nonexistent. The country is a minor player, account for less than two per cent of global emissions.

And, at any rate, some projections show we’re at, if not already past the point of no return for climate change that will have potentially devastating consequences globally.

That doesn’t mean we should do nothing, of course.

Ironically, nothing is what we’re doing, for the most part.

The Paris conference, like many before it, will see countries reach an impasse and then eventually release a wishy-washy statement long on platitudes and short on action. It can be argued the likes of Kyoto and the subsequent follow-ups are a waste of time: more a feel-good photo op than anything concrete. That’s especially so in Canada’s case: any targets we set would be a drop in the bucket if the real culprits – the U.S., China, India and Russia – refuse to play ball.

Those opposed to fighting greenhouse gas emissions often cite economic reasons, saying we’d kill the economy by cutting back on energy production and manufacturing.

This stance ignores many realities. First off, resources such as oil and coal are finite – we’re going to run out of them eventually. In that dilemma lies an opportunity to develop alternatives, to make Canada a supplier of technology that will replace dwindling resources and help protect the environment. Technology that can be sold to the major players, where greenhouse gas reductions will make a difference.

This is, in part, what Ontario has been doing with its much-maligned green energy plan, at least in theory. In practice, it’s done little for the environment, proven tremendously expensive and created only a fraction of the jobs that were promised. We have every reason to be skeptical of Wynne’s latest plan, just as there’s little reason for optimism about COP21.

The exchange rate, fuel costs, border wait times, long lines and risk of bodily harm seem a little too much in the Internet age.

WORLD VIEW / GWYNNE DYER

Don’t panic, terrorism remains a relatively minor issue WORLD AFFAIRS

BY SHEER COINCIDENCE, A book I wrote called “Don’t Panic: Islamic State, Terrorism and Today’s Middle East” was published just before the terrorist attacks in Paris. So naturally everybody interviewing me about the book asked me if it is time to panic now.

They couldn’t resist it. And of course I replied no, it is not time to panic.

If a train derailed in the Paris Metro, killing 130 people and injuring over 300, the story would dominate the news in France for around 24 hours, 48 hours tops. In other countries it would definitely be only a one-day story: just one more transport accident, in a world where trains collide, planes crash and ships sink from time to time.

But if it’s not an accident – if human beings deliberately caused those deaths – then the media feeding frenzy starts. The story is twenty times as big, and it can dominate the news schedules for a week. Most

people in Europe, North America and the Middle East have watched at least several hours of coverage of the Paris events and their aftermath – as long as a feature film – and even in more distant parts of the world it has been the event of the week.

There is nothing puzzling about this phenomenon. It’s perfectly natural for people to be more interested in murder than in mere mechanical malfunctions. But the sheer volume of the coverage makes a terrorist attack feel like a much bigger event than it actually is. Even if you live a very long way from where the real action is.

If you live in Syria, the threat isn’t just terrorism.

Islamic State is already a major threat to the many Syrians it hates (Shias, Christians, Druze, and even Sunni Muslims who have worked for the government or fought in the army). If IS gained control of the whole country, the number of Syrian refugees would double or triple.

If you live in Iraq, you are much less at risk, for Islamic State has little hope of expanding into

the Shia-dominated parts of the country still under Baghdad’s control, or into the areas under Kurdish control.

If you live in Turkey or other Arab countries – indeed, in any other Muslim country – you may face a serious threat from homegrown extremists, but all they get from IS is encouragement and maybe a bit of training. It’s really a domestic problem.

If you live in France or the United States or China, your only worry is the occasional terrorist attack that may have been encouraged

by Islamic State – but the people who carry it out are mostly locals. You deal with that sort of thing just the way you dealt with other terrorist threats in the past: border controls, enhanced security measures at public events, and good intelligence.

If Western air forces want to bomb Islamic State too, by all means do so, but they will be all alone in that job.

The Arab states that are allegedly part of President Obama’s “coalition” have all withdrawn their air forces and are bombing Yemen instead. And the Turks are

almost exclusively bombing the Kurds (including the Kurds fighting Islamic State), except when they shoot down a Russian plane.

The Russian and “coalition” (mostly American) bombs falling on Islamic State have stopped its expansion, at least for the moment, and the recent air attacks on the tankertrucks that carry the blackmarket oil out have certainly cut into its income, but it is not about to fall.

As for “boots on the ground,” forget it. The only people fighting Islamic State on the ground are the Kurds and what’s left of the Syrian army after four years of war. The Syrian army was on the brink of collapse last summer before the Russian bombing campaign saved it, and it still lacks the strength to recapture much territory.

Islamic State is going to be around for a while.

Stopping Western air attacks on Islamic State might save some Western cities from terrorist attacks, but even that is not guaranteed. Islamic State is DYER | 8

COMMENT | 7

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

THEIR VIEW / QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Should Canada continue with its plan to bring in refugees?

» Scott Sinclair

» Lee Coulman

» Heather Bowman

» Amanda Lewis

» Helena Hoffman

“I would like to bring in as many refugees as possible.”

“I don’t want to see the plan change. It’s a great goal.”

“Yes, we need to help people with a wise plan.”

“Yes, fear and stereotypes should not dictate our actions.”

“Yes, we should go ahead because we said we would, but perhaps the plan was too quickly made.”

“Does this mean terrorist attacks inspired by Islamic State will continue for months or years no matter what the West does? Probably.” Gwynne Dyer | 6 HIS VIEW / STEVE KANNON

There are plenty of reason to be angry, but many fail to direct it at right target EDITOR'S NOTES GETTING 25,000 SYRIAN REFUGEES into the country by year’s end was always going to be a challenge, Liberal election promise notwithstanding. The recent spate of violence, including the terrorist attacks in Paris, linked to Islamic State put that goal completely out of reach.

At this point, no one is going to complain about delays. Canadians are overwhelmingly opposed to bringing in the refugees, but we’ve not seen anything like the frenzy the issue is causing south of the border. We’re concerned about screening refugees – and Muslim immigration more widely – but it’s nothing like the craziness going on in the U.S., particularly among the candidates for the Republican presidential nomination.

The anti-Muslim backlash in the States is not surprising, with 9/11 ingrained in the national psyche.

Public sentiment is not

tempered by the fact the U.S. is to blame for much of the unrest and violence in the region (it’s a thought that never crosses many minds). But public opposition is symptomatic of an increasing anger and fear of the “other” that have come to be the defining facet of Republican supporters. And as anyone paying even casual attention to the antics of Donald Trump and company already knows, outlandish anger is all the rage.

Aside from making the U.S. political system so dysfunctional, the Republican base – particularly middleaged working class white men – is the canary in the coalmine for the disintegration of a way of life to which many conservatives yearn to return.

The unworkable U.S. political system is the product of another kind of extremism, but mostly about tensions caused by shifting demographics and decaying economic situation. The most divisive sector is rightwing Christian fundamentalists – predominantly undereducated white people who see the

HOW TO REACH US

reality is applicable here, too, though we’re well behind the curve in terms of any political backlash. Unfortunately, the anger in the U.S. is often misplaced, scapegoating those who are even more powerless rather than blaming those responsible for turning the economic clock back to revive all the worst characteristics of the prewar era – it’s no coincidence the deregulation that led to the Great Recession and inequality are at levels unseen since the 1920s.

Instead, the Tea Party elements have been led to believe they can restore the country’s greatness, and their own therein, by suppressing the rights of others. Those really responsible – the now familiar 1% – are more than happy to see the delusion continue, a nice distraction from the truth that also serves to keep the masses divided.

Better still, mix the resentment and anger with antiintellectual rants, religion, guns and a war culture for the perfect recipe to mask the bitter taste of Ronald Reagan’s trickle-down economics on steroids.

The result? Plenty of people voting for absurd policies and politicians that actually harm them.

That situation was tackled by Leon Friedman, a professor of constitutional law at New York’s Hofstra University, in a recent oped. piece.

“So why does the white, lower middle class, population continue to favor the Republicans despite the fact that the economic promises of the party have been shown to be bogus?

Partly it is a cultural phenomenon. The Republican platform is against abortion and gay marriage and for gun rights, important issues for lower middle class whites. Various studies also show that Americans who attend church frequently are significantly more likely to be Republican and less likely to be Democratic. Only 25% of white Protestants who attend church once a week vote Democratic. And 61% of the religiously unaffiliated vote Democratic.

These statistics suggest that ideology trumps selfinterest,” he says in arguing the Democrats have to do

more for the lower middle class.

“Rather than accurately explain the true economic issues facing the middle class, [Republicans] invent bogus tax plans that have no basis in reality – shrinking the tax code to three pages and reducing taxes to everyone (mostly those on top) which will somehow trim down the national debt and bring untold benefits to everyone. When these benefits do not emerge, Republican leaders barrage the lower middle class with attacks on the bad people (immigrants, Muslims) who do not look or talk like them and threaten their lives and jobs. They play on the lower middle class’ impulse to believe themselves better than some other group which becomes the basis for their own self-esteem.

The Republicans insist that the presence of Latino immigrants and Muslims are the reasons for the lower class’ dissatisfaction with their life. Such arguments divert the middle class from insisting on higher KANNON | 8

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country’s decline and think that rolling back the clock will make America great again.

Men were men. Women were women. Both were God-fearing. Minorities, including gays and lesbians, were largely out of sight. A high school education was enough to get a good job that bought you a home where you could raise your kids – after all, that’s where family values start.

A contingent of such people equate the civil rights movement, women’s liberation efforts, gay rights and a more permissive, relaxed society as the reason their country is going downhill.

Immigrants are taking away jobs and destroying American culture, people of this mindset argue – Mexicans are an established target in this regard, now joined by Muslims.

Life has become harder for these people – recent study shows mortality rates are increasing for middle-aged working class white men, an exception to what’s going on in every other demographic – but that’s true more for many in the middle class. That

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8 | COMMENT

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

THE MONITOR

VERBATIM

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

More than half a billion children live in areas with extremely high flood occurrence and 160 million in high drought severity zones, leaving them highly exposed to the impacts of climate change. Of the 530 million children in the flood-prone zones, some 300 million live in countries where more than half the population lives in poverty – on less than $3.10 a day. Of those living in high drought severity areas, 50 million are in countries where more than half the population lives in poverty.

“Listen before you leap — that’s our message to Justin Trudeau.

The previous government did everything it could to sideline Canadians from the C-51 debate. It’s time to change that by giving every Canadian a say, and there’s no better place to start than by launching a full public consultation. C-51 is now the law of the land, undermining our rights each day that goes by. We don’t have a moment to lose.”

If there was any doubt that now is the time to adapt your driving behaviour, a spate of collisions reinforced that winter road conditions have arrived and are here to stay. With hundreds of minor collisions reported across Waterloo Region during the past week, regional police and emergency response personnel have been kept busy with incidents ranging from fender benders to serious collisions.

» UNICEF

» OpenMedia digital rights specialist Laura Tribe calls for more public input in

» From the Nov. 23, 2002 edition of The Observer

making changes to the to the draconian bill C-51

DYER: Terrorist attacks likely to

NATIONAL VIEW

continue, but it could be worse

FROM | 6

competing with al-Qaeda for support in the Muslim and especially the Arab world, and spectacular acts of terrorism are good recruiting tools. Islamic State also thinks it is following a divinely ordained script, which makes it relatively impervious to normal calculations of strategic advantage.

Does this mean terrorist attacks inspired by Islamic State will continue for months or years no matter

what the West does? Probably.

Within living memory Western countries have fought real wars that killed millions of their citizens, and they didn’t buckle under the strain. The scale of the threat they face now is so much smaller that it is ridiculous to call it a war at all, and yet they flap about like frightened poultry.

If terrorist attacks on the scale of Paris are the greatest threat facing the West, then these are very fortunate countries.

KANNON: Target those really

responsible for society’s woes FROM | 7

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wages and better programs that will adversely affect the rich supporters of the party.”

There’s more than a little irony in the realization that those who would turn back the clock to the 1950s – perhaps nostalgic for a Mayberry world that never existed – are those who reject that which made the postwar years so great. Strong unions were the norm in a booming manufacturing sector that paid well even as the cost of living was comparatively lower – home

ownership was much more attainable, for instance.

Corporations were heavily regulated and a progressive tax system applied to profitable corporations and the wealthy.

Over the past 30-odd years, most of what made for a great middle class economy has been systematically destroyed. Into those circumstances we have the arrival of more “others” at a cost to both government coffers and, ultimately, an economy that doesn’t provide the opportunities it once did.

Anger is not surprising. It’s just misplaced.

An example of how kind people are in Elmira To the Editor, I WOULD LIKE TO take this opportunity to share a good deed from a kindhearted soul or souls who found my sterling silver necklace at Sandelli Massage Therapy here in town and turned it in.

I didn’t realize until much later that evening that I had forgot to put it

back on after my massage.

It’s of sentimental value to me and not replaceable.

I would’ve been devastated to have had to tell my husband, from whom I got it last Christmas morning, that I had left it behind accidently and that it hadn’t been turned in. It’s wonderful that there are good people in our town and that we do look out for each other.

JOCELYN SCHAEFER | ELMIRA

SPORTS | 9

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

SPORTS SWIMMING / HIGH SCHOOL

EDSS swimmers get season off to a strong start in first meets LIZ BEVAN ELMIRA DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL swimmers made a splash at the Woolwich Memorial Centre Nov. 12 during their first swim meet of the season.

The school hosted swimmers, both boys and girls, from Glenview Park Secondary School and Waterloo Collegiate Institute.

Although it is still very early in the season, EDSS swimmer Elena McKee posted a personal best time in freestyle swim, and was named meet MVP for the senior girls category.

Pam Germann, teacher at EDSS and swim coach, says the meet went smoothly, but since the high school swimming season is limited, swimmers and coaches will continue to work hard.

“The kids who were able to compete did a really good job,” she said. “It is still early in the year, so we are working on our endurance as well as making sure we are doing proper touches and turns. We are working on dive starts and things like that. It is really about trying to get everything in because the season is so short.”

The other MVPs of the meet were WCI’s Ben Wahl in the junior boys category, Brooke Hopson from GPSS in the junior girls category and Christos Karanasosis from WCI in the senior boys category.

The team’s success continued at the second meet the following Thursday, said Germann.

“The meet last week went really, really well,” she said. “There were significant improvements on times. The kids are working towards their personal bests and being very successful in coming out with new personal bests out of that meet. It was good.”

The meets, according to Germann, are not only competitive, but also practice for future regional meets.

“The first few meets are just about getting everyone comfortable, practicing our racing, getting used to making sure they are doing their strokes, turns and touches correctly, so that when we get to WCSSAA in December, that we aren’t doing anything that is going to get us disqualified. It is so every swim that we are doing at WCSSAA is a successful swim.”

There are quite a few swimmers on the EDSS team, but one that stood out for Germann at the most recent meet at the WMC pool, was Brooklyn Bowman – a former synchronized swimmer who is getting back in the pool.

“Brooklyn Bowman, she was one of the students who improved by 10 per cent on one of her swim times,” said Germann. “She SWIM TEAM | 12

NOT SO GREAT OUTDOORSMAN / STEVE GALEA

Scoping out new marketing for ammo companies OPEN COUNTRY IF I OWNED AN ammunition manufacturing company, I would offer coupons that would give my customers discounts on new scopes.

This might seem like an unselfish act for the good of the customer. In fact, it would actually be betterment for the company.

Permit me to explain by using the example of the new scope I just purchased for my .222.

The first thing most of us do when we get a new scope is mount it on the rifle. The second thing we do is mount it so that it is facing the right way.

After this, there is a period where we can’t wait till everyone leaves the house so we can turn the TV on to the nature channel and put the crosshairs on every game animal that shows on the screen and say bang.

Sadly, this isn’t enough.

Eventually, you need to shoot actual bullets out of the rifle.

The process should be a simple one.

EDSS hosted their first two swim meets at the Woolwich Memorial Centre pool, and coach Pam Germann says swimmers are already making new personal bests.

[LIZ BEVAN / THE OBSERVER]

GALEA | 11

Kings split a pair in weekend action

After falling to Listowel in close 3-2 battle, Elmira skates away with 6-4 win in first meeting with Waterloo LIZ BEVAN

THE ELMIRA SUGAR KINGS will be working on maximizing scoring chances and special teams this week after a close loss to Listowel and a big win against Waterloo last weekend.

Saturday’s game, played at home, ended with the Listowel Cyclones edging

out the Kings by one goal, scored in the last couple minutes of the final frame to make it 3-2.

The Kings outshot the Cyclones 51-35, but couldn’t translate chances into goals. Head coach Tyler Canal says it is all about getting the boys to play a bit tighter around the net.

“The guys just have to bear down in front of

the net a bit more in that game,” he said. “We generated some scoring chances, but it just about getting those secondary chances - the rebounds, the deflections – trying to get into a little tighter of a scoring area.”

The scoring started early in the game, with team captain Rob Kohli scoring, assisted by Mackenzie

MacSorley, less than three minutes in. It took a while for Listowel to respond, with Caleb Warren, from Holdyn Lansink and Austin Huizenga, getting the puck past Kings newcomer Liam Devine at 12:58 into the first.

Heading into the second period tied 1-1, the Kings stayed on pace with the Cyclones, letting only one

goal in at 8:47. Canal says the team kept up with the twelfth-ranked Cyclones on the ice.

“I think we played pretty well, and Listowel works hard,” he said. “They have a good team over there, and they are well coached, but it was definitely one that we thought we played well.

I thought we skated with them well.”

The third started with the Kings on the powerplay and down by one goal, but Zac Coulter, unassisted, sunk a puck, tying up the game exactly one minute after the opening buzzer.

It looked like the game was going into overtime, with the scoreboard reading 2-2 until the last few minutes KINGS | 12

10 | SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

Junior girls wrap up a strong season of high school basketball LIZ BEVAN THE BASKETBALL SEASON HAS come to an end for Elmira District Secondary School’s junior girls.

The team made it far, finishing fourth with a record of 11-4, earning themselves 22 points.

Their final game against Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School ended in a loss, but coach Pam Germann says the

The junior girls’ basketball team has closed out their season, sitting in fourth place. Coaches saw steady improvement and are looking towards next year.

girls fought hard to get where they are.

“The effort was great. It was a difficult game for us, because the team they played against, Sir John A. Macdonald, has a lot of players that have a lot more experience than we do, but the girls were able to focus and keep it close in the first half,” she said.

Despite closing out the fall with a loss, Germann says the players showed significant improvement over the season, and one player in particular will be an asset to next year’s team.

“The girls learned a lot throughout the season and were able to develop into a team that was competitive in our league,” she said. “Chloe Snider was one of our students that showed a lot of improvement over the season.

I think she is going to be a really important part of our team next year. She is in Grade 9 and was able to develop quite a bit. She has done a great job. She is very focused.”

Germann says the whole team kept their heads in the game, which resulted in their high fin-

ishing spot.

“Our team has been really focused this year, and I think that helped them improve, by watching what is happening in the game,” she said. “When they get on the court, they know what is happening, so they can give it a try themselves.”

The coach also has a message for the girls.

“I would want to say that I am proud of them, their effort and all of the energy they have put into the season,” she said. “Congratulations, you guys did a great job.”

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SPORTS | 11

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

GALEA: When setting up a new scope, it’s really easy to get off target ... and off track FROM | 9

You should sit at a bench at an approved range and fire three or four rounds.

If you have been shooting properly, all your bullets should land in the same place within an inch or so of each other.

In reality, they do – three targets to the left of the one you were aiming at.

This will be an issue that cannot be corrected by mere clicks of the scope.

So you actually remove the scope and remount it so that it is more or less aligned with the barrel.

You get immediately better results for your efforts too. The next four rounds shoot only one target to the right.

The next thing you do is swear enough so the range officer sees fit to warn you this is a family-friendly facility.

Again, you readjust and shoot. This time you hit the target in question. In fact, you shoot off the leg and are on the hook for repairs.

But, a mere 12 rounds in, you are ready to fine tune.

EDSS decathlete signs scholarship contract with the University of Houston

So, you pack up the rifle, drive to the nearest sporting goods store and grudgingly buy another box of rounds.

You then drive back to the range, and step up to the firing line content in the knowledge that you are at least in the ballpark now and only need to shoot a good tight group or two.

That’s when you drop your rifle and knock the scope out of adjustment.

A few minutes after this, and the range officer’s warning that this is a family-friendly facility, you start the process all over again.

By your fourth box of ammo, however, your barrel is overheated and shooting rounds all over the place.

So you return the next day. Then you go back and finally shoot a nice group that lands dead centre on the bull’s-eye.

You’re completely happy until someone says, “I tried that brand of ammo. It works well. But such-andsuch brand will get you even more accuracy.”

After the range officer reminds you that this is indeed a family-friendly facility, you leave the range and go buy a case of it ...

Notice of Passing – Zoning By-law Update

LIZ BEVAN ELMIRA DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL student Nathaniel Mechler will soon be calling himself a Cougar, rather than a Lancer.

The local decathlete has just signed a scholarship contract with the University of Houston to start in its track and field program in 2016, where he will be working to make it to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Mechler says he has spent the last couple of months, running, jumping, throwing ... and looking for a post-secondary institution that would support his demanding athletic schedule and goals in academics.

When he visited the University of Houston campus, he found it.

“When I went to Houston, I fell in love with the school. It was amazing,” he said. “Track and field is incredible there, and the kinesiology program, which is what I want to go into, is funded by NASA. I really loved it, and the weather is great too.”

When he arrives in Houston next summer, Mechler says he is going to start training right away, all with the goal of reaching the podium at the 2020 Olympics. The coaches in the Texas university’s track and field program are the best of the best.

“The head coach of the program is Leroy Burrell, who is the past world record holder in the 100(m), and he was the world record holder for the 4x100(m) as well,” he said.

“There is Carl Lewis, who was a world record holder in the 100(m) as well, and multi-time world champion – his coach works there as well. It is a great program. It is pretty cool.

It will be big time for my development. From here [it is about] setting me up for

“I just need to move my group 16 inches to the left and 17 inches up,” you mumble.

You then click on the scope’s windage and elevation adjustments, shoot four rounds and discover you went the wrong way in both adjustments.

That leaves you with 4 rounds left from the 20 round box you brought. So you adjust 32 inches to the right and 34 inches up and shoot those rounds.

By this time, however, you are so flustered that your 2-inch group is now more like a 6-inch loose association.

Dated: November 19, 2015

Affected lands: All of the Township of Wellesley

Contacts: To file a notice of appeal to By-law 47/2015 (not later than December 9, 2015),

Please contact: Grace Kosch, Clerk 4639 Lobsinger Line St. Clements, ON N0B 2M0

EDSS student Nathaniel Mechler signs his scholarship contract with the University of Houston at a signing party in Guelph as his coach, Dermott Smith from First Attempts Jumps Academy, looks on. Mechler will be going to Houston in the fall to pursue a degree in kinesiology and to train for the 2020 Olympics.

[SUBMITTED] the 2020 Olympics. That is my ultimate goal, to get to that place.”

The decathlete hosted a signing party in Guelph earlier this month to celebrate inking the deal, with family, friends, teammates, and coaches from First Attempt Jumps Academy.

However, before he even thinks about the new life of training and academics in Houston, Mechler is focusing on the International Association of Athletics Federations World Junior Championships, set for July 2016 in the Russian city of Kazan.

“I would like to medal at the world junior championships. I am training six days a week, and then for five of those six days, I am training twice a day, so it is a lot,” he said, mentioning that his favourite part of a decathlon is looking back on his accomplishments.

“Oh man, I have a few favourite events, but I am pretty happy when it is all

over. It is a great feeling after two days and ten events – it is a really great feeling to see it complete.”

Although he hasn’t put on Cougar colours just yet, Mechler wants to thank those in Elmira who helped him get to where he is today, including supportive community members and coaching staff.

“I am from Elmira, so I got as much support they could give me there, and it is really cool to be able to represent Elmira on the bigger stage,” he said.

“They didn’t have all the coaching knowledge, but they gave me absolutely everything they could to help me achieve everything I could.”

Mechler has already seen success in his track and field career, winning a bronze medal at the PanAmerican Junior Games this past summer, and winning gold at the Canadian Combined Championships just a few weeks before.

?

For questions or to discuss the amendment, please contact Geoff VanderBaaren at

Housekeeping Update to Zoning By-law The Council of the Township of Wellesley has now approved an update to Zoning By-law 28/2006with the passing of By-law 47/2015 on the 17th day of November, 2015 under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended.

AND TAKE NOTICE that any person oragency may appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board in respect of the By-law (47/2015) by filing with the Clerk of the Township of Wellesley not later than the 9th day of December, 2015 a notice of appeal setting out the objection to the Bylaw, the reasons in support of the objection and a $125 cheque made payable to the Minister of Finance.

ONLY individuals, corporations and public bodies may appeal a Zoning By-law to the Ontario Municipal Board.

A notice of appeal may not be filed by an unincorporated association or group. However, a notice of appeal may be filed in the name of an individual who is a member of the association or the group on its behalf.

NO person or public body shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless, before the by-law was passed, the person or public body made oral submissions at a public meeting or written submissions to the council or, in the opinion of the Ontario Municipal Board, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

Explanatory Note The Zoning By-law has not been updated for several years and the housekeeping by-law update includes: •

Clarification and correction of the wording of several definitions and general provisions to guide proper interpretation and implementation.

•

Farm related occupation (on farm shops) is revised to change the minimum area restriction to 4 hectares in the A1 zone.

•

Accessory Uses section amended to restrict the building size and increase the maximum building height for accessory buildings to 6.0 metres.

•

Farm related occupations (section 4.12) amended to remove the maximum number of off farm employees, clarify the sale of related products and deleting restriction on hours of operation.

•

Additional regulations for accessible parking spaces, to bring the Zoning By-law into compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act.

•

An additional restricted Agricultural Zone (A2) is added to address farm related occupations on smaller lots (0.8 ha to 4.0 ha).

•

Two new residential zones are added to the bylaw. The Urban Residential Two (UR2) zone would allow for additional medium density residential type use (townhouses, semi-detached, triplex and fourplex dwellings). The Urban Residential Three (UR3) zone would allow for Apartment uses only.

gvanderbaaren@wellesley.ca

519-699-3952

The complete amending Zoning By-law is available for inspection at the Township office during regular business hours or on our website at www.wellesley.ca

12 | SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

KINGS: Busy game schedule with no practice time sees team trying to improve on the fly FROM | 9

Notice of Public Consultation Centre Management of Hauled Wastewater

The Regional Municipality of Waterloo (Region) is undertaking a study to evaluate alternative sites and select the preferred site for the location of a facility to manage hauled wastewater that is produced in the Region. Hauled wastewater is privately generated and collected wastewater that has been collected from septic tanks (commonly called “septage”), wastewater holding tanks or portable toilets. It is transported by privately-operated trucks to a disposal location or treatment facility.

Wastewater from septic tanks and holding tanks in the Region is currently trucked to the New Hamburg Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) where it is co-treated with municipal wastewater. This practice was implemented by the Region as a temporary measure, and is not a suitable long-term solution.

This study is examining possible locations for the establishment of a new facility to accept and treat hauled wastewater generated in the Region. The hauled wastewater receiving system at the New Hamburg WWTP is planned to be eliminated once the new system is established at another location.

The Region is also undertaking updates to the Biosolids Master Plan and the Wastewater Treatment Master Plan. These are separate studies that will have their own public consultation processes, and are not related to the examination of hauled wastewater management alternatives.

Two possible sites have been identified for the location of a new hauled wastewater receiving station – the Wastewater Residuals Management Centre (WWRMC) on Manitou Drive in Kitchener, and the Waterloo WWTP on University Avenue in Waterloo.

An existing wastewater pipe would be used to transfer hauled wastewater received at the WWRMC to the Kitchener WWTP where it would be treated. Wastewater hauled directly to the Waterloo WWTP would be treated at this plant.

A detailed evaluation of these sites has been undertaken and will be presented at Public Consultation Centres (PCCs), which have been scheduled to receive input and comments on the project from interested members of the public. The PCCs will be held as follows: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

St. Matthew Catholic School 405 Pastern Trail, Gymnasium Waterloo, Ontario

Thursday, December 10, 2015 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School 560 Pioneer Drive, Gymnasium Kitchener, Ontario

The PCCs will be a drop-in open house format, with project information presented on display boards, and Regional staff and their project consultants in attendance to provide further explanation and to receive your comments and questions. The same information will be presented at each PCC. The information presented at these PCCs will be available after December 10, 2015 on the Region’s web site at: http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/aboutTheEnvironment/MasterPlansandProjects.asp For further information, please contact either of the following: Mr. Dave Arsenault, M.Sc., P. Eng. Senior Project Engineer Water Services, Region of Waterloo 150 Frederick Street, 7th Floor Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, N2G 4J3 Phone: 519-575-4757, Ext. 3682 Fax: 519-575-4452 E-mail: darsenault@regionofwaterloo.ca

Mr. Emil Rafanan, P. Eng. Consultant Project Manager XCG Consultants Ltd. 2620 Bristol Circle, Suite 300 Oakville, Ontario L6H 6Z7 Phone: 905-829-8880, ext. 253 Fax: 905-829-8890 Email: emil.rafanan@xcg.com

Accessibility: If you require assistance to attend or participate at a PCC, please contact Mr. Dave Arsenault (as above) at least five days prior to the PCC. All comments and information received from individuals, stakeholder groups and agencies regarding this study 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 may be included if a submission becomes part of the public record. Questions regarding the collection of this information should be referred to Mr. Dave Arsenault.

This notice was first issued on November 17, 2015.

of play when Chase Herfort, helped along by Ben Shelley, got a third goal past Devine, putting Listowel ahead by one.

Canal says the game didn’t end the way the team wanted it to, but the boys were consistent, especially on the power play and the penalty kill.

“I think, overall, it was a pretty steady game for us. Special teams is a big part of the game, especially when you are in a lot of one-goal or two-goal games,” he said. “We try to keep their power play as uncomfortable as we can and on the power play, try to get movement shots and basic things. Special teams is something that we keep an eye on.”

The team also faced a new set of challenges on home ice against Listowel with Canal switching up lines and positions. He says there is a learning curve, allowing the guys to get used to their new spots on the ice.

“We moved Cribbin back to the wing and Soper has been playing the middle where he hasn’t played all year. Moggy is playing as off-wing now, and so is Biles,” said Canal, adding that the players seem to be handling the challenge well. “We have been juggling a lot of guys - they are stepping up and that, we like to see, and playing with one another.”

On Sunday, the Kings faced the Waterloo Siskins for the first time this season, and came out on top.

Canal says the game was a tough one for the boys, but seeing that 6-4 score after the final buzzer was satisfying. There were plenty of adjustments to be made.

“It was the first time we played Waterloo and when you haven’t played a team, you don’t really know what to expect. You don’t know what you are going to see,” he said. “They have some players that can move a puck, and they are structured well on their power play. We aren’t used to, and

Kings goalie Liam Devine makes a save during the team’s hard-fought loss to Listowel on Saturday night at the WMC. [LIZ BEVAN / THE OBSERVER] I don’t like using excuses, but the Olympic-sized ice makes a different game too.

That is something that we have to adjust to and make sure we are ready for next time.”

Elmira stayed ahead of the Siskins for the whole game, leading 3-2 after the first period and pulling ahead even further in the second, 5-2. Canal says it was nice to have the upper hand going into the final frame.

“I don’t think we have had (a lead going into the third) a lot this year, so it was good for them,” he said, adding that the scoreboard gave players a bit of a confidence boost. “They scored and brought it a bit closer than we wanted, but our guys were able to hold it off and I think that is something that we have to adjust and make sure we are ready for next time.”

Canal says the guys also learned a thing or two from Siskin skaters.

“I think that playing Waterloo, and seeing how they moved, it really showed us some areas that we can improve on,” he said, adding

that playing on the larger rink in Waterloo also served as a learning experience. “It opens up. You get to see a lot more lanes and you get to see a lot more time and space. It will definitely help prepare us for next time.”

The Kings have been running a busy schedule this week and last, playing four games against four different teams in six nights, leaving no time for a formal practice. Canal says the guys are benefitting from the tight schedule and have been really good about keeping things consistent, adjusting where they need to.

“We don’t have a practice in between or anything, so this is a playoff type schedule for us,” he said. “They are nice to have throughout the season so the guys can get used to that type of consistent play and make sure that we are bringing it every game.”

Having lost 6-4 to Kitchener Tuesday night, the boys will be in Cambridge on Nov. 28 before heading back to home ice on Sunday to face Brantford. Game time at the WMC is 7 p.m.

SWIM TEAM: Back in the pool Thursday FROM | 9

had done synchronized swimming in the past, but she hasn’t been training for a couple of years, so her coming back into the pool, she has had a steep training peak. She has been able to get back into it and be successful, so that is really

great.”

The team has been growing over the last few years, adding more swimmers to the roster. Last year, EDSS swimmer Jordan Shantz made it to the Ontario Federation of School Athletics Association (OFSAA) provincial competition, with a first place finish at

the central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association (CWOSSA) championships in the senior girls freestyle. She also finished second in both the 100-metre freestyle and the 50-metre butterfly.

The next EDSS swim meet is this afternoon, Nov. 26 at 2:30 p.m.

SPORTS | 13

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

THE SCORE

WOOLWICH WILDCATS

Tyke: SELECT Nov. 21 vs Dundas Home: 6 Visitor: 5 Goals: Spencer Hume, Tristan Hill, Caleb Paquet (2), Mitchell Krasovec, Lucas Benham Assists: Avery Collingwood, Lucas Benham, Mitchell Krasovec, Carter Weir, Tristan Hill, Mac Zettel

Novice: LL#3 Nov. 23 vs Beverly Home: 1 Visitor: 1 Goals: Owen McAdam Assists: Reed Snyder, Gavin Sager

Novice: MAJOR Nov. 15 vs Hillsburgh Home: 3 Visitor: 1 Goals: Josh Carson (3) Assists: Sam Radcliffe (2), Riley Dettweiller

Novice: MAJOR Nov. 17 vs Brampton Home: 5 Visitor: 5 Goals: Owen Weppler, Sam Radcliffe, Riley Dettweiller, Josh Frey, Josh Carson Assists: Josh Carson (2), Sam Radcliffe (2), Mitchell Roemer, Matthew Darrigan, Owen Weppler

Atom: LL#2 Nov. 21 vs Beverly Home: 2 Visitor: 10 Goals: Jonathon Enns, Michael McDonald Assists: Gabriel Hicknell Nov. 22 vs Hespeler Home: 4 Visitor: 1 Goals: Jonathon Enns, David Taylor, Michael McDonald, Gabriel Hicknell Assists: Ethan Adams, Jonathon Enns (2), Jack Hacock, Daniel Grant

Atom: MINOR A Nov. 14 vs New Hamburg Home: 7 Visitor: 3 Goals: Pacey Camm (3), Brady martin, Evan Passmore, Mitchell Walker, Ian Leech Assists: Ian Leech, Isaac Lopers, Eric Kane (3), Nathan Martin, Liam Wood, Michael Gear, Stuart Sinclair, Andrew Chumley Nov. 21 vs Brampton Home: 2 Visitor: 0 Goals: Ian Leech, Stuart Sinclair Assists: Andrew Chumley, Evan Passmore (2), Pacey Camm Nov. 22 vs Halton Hills Home: 5 Visitor: 1 Goals: Nathan Martin (2), Eric kane, Liam Wood, Brady Martin Assists: Mitchell Walker (2), Pacey Camm (3)

Atom: MINOR AE Nov. 21 vs Ancaster Home: 6 Visitor: 1 Goals: Josh Uhrig (3), Tyson Roth (3) Assists: Josh Gibson, Cale Waechter, Daniel Kochut (2), Keegan Martin

Atom: MAJOR A Nov. 13 vs Caledon Home: 8 Visitor: 1 Goals: Parker Alles, Joe Martin (2), Ryan Brubacher, Cade Beacom, Ethan Martin, Isaiah Reitzel, Jordan Chang

Assists: Mason Spark, Denver Martin (2), Joe Martin (3), Ethan Bickerton, Ethan Martin, Ryan Brubacher, Jordan Chang Nov. 17 vs Halton Hills Home: 7 Visitor: 7 Goals: Isaiah Reitzel (2), Joe Martin (3), Ethan Martin, Mason Spark Assists: Ethan Martin, Parker Alles (2), Jordan Chang (2), Denver Martin, Ethan Bickerton, Ryan Brubacher (3), Keenan Martin, Drew Birmingham, Isaiah Reitzel Nov. 23 vs Guelph Home: 6 Visitor: 2 Goals: Isaiah Reitzel (2), Joe Martin (3), Cade Beacom Assists: Ryan Brubacher, Jordan Chang, Cade Beacom, Parker Alles (2), Ethan Martin, Ethan Bickerton, Keenen Martin

Peewee: LL#1 Nov. 21 vs Plattsville Home: 7 Visitor: 2 Goals: Turner Duldhardt (2), Owen Battler, Liam Moyer, Cole Brubacher, Ethan Murr, Max Nitsche Assists: Ethan Murr (2), Max Nitsche (2), Liam Moyer (2), Daniel Kelly, Logan Beard, Jackson Dumart

Peewee: LL#3 Nov. 21 vs Hespeler Home: 4 Visitor: 4 Goals: Matthew Yorke (4) Assists: Coleton Benham (2), Jonathan Horst, Tanis Uhrig

Peewee: MINOR AE Nov. 18 vs Caledon Home: 3 Visitor: 1 Goals: Sam Siopiolosz, Tristan Kraemer, Lucas Radler Assists: Mitchell Hartman (2), Shelby Rempel, Sam Siopiolosz, Sam Goebel

Peewee: MAJOR AE Nov. 15 vs Hespeler Home: 1 Visitor: 1 Goals: Ben Fretz Assists: Tyler Brubacher, Mac Benham

Peewee: MINOR A Nov. 21 vs Ancaster Home: 3 Visitor: 3 Goals: Lucas Radler (2), Joshua Moore Assists: Griffin Boerner, Mitchell Hartman, Sam Goebel, Sam Siopiolosz Nov. 18 vs Oakville Home: 5 Visitor: 4 Goals: Zack Bender, Lucas Carson (2), AJ Shaw-McMahon, Andrew Gear Assists: Haylee Clemmer, Andrew Gear, Reid Burkholder, Lucas Carson Nov. 21 vs Burlington Home: 1 Visitor: 4 Goals: Lucas Carson Assists: AJ Shaw-McMahon, Brett Moser

Bantam: MINOR A Nov. 22 vs Owen Sound Home: 0 Visitor: 2 Nov. 23 vs Ancaster Home: 3 Visitor: 2 Goals: Brett Allen, Matt Fleischmann, Payton McIsaac Assists: Hunter Weigel, Brett Allen

Bantam: LL#1 Nov. 20 vs Beverly

Home: 1 Visitor: 1 Goals: Alex Devore Assists: Adam Schill

Bantam LL#1 Nov. 22 vs LL#2 Home: 2 Visitor: 1 Goals: Turner Willoughby, Nathan Taylor Assists: Tim Brunkard, Nick Lunz

Midget: LL#1 Nov. 22 vs Woolwich #2 Home: 1 Visitor: 7 Goals: Nathan Horst Assists: Aaron Crawford, Liam Catton

Midget: MINOR A Nov. 17 vs Dundas Home: 7 Visitor: 5 Goals: Nolan McLaughlin (2), Nick Ravelle, Cade Schaus, Cole Altman, Brent Mulder Assists: John Wang, Evan Gowing, Devin Williams, Daniel Carr, Isaiah Thornback, Nolan McLaughlin, Riley Runstedler

ELMIRA JUNIOR SUGAR KINGS

Midget: MAJOR A Nov. 19 vs New Hamburg Home: 3 Visitor: 4 Goals: Noah Zeller (3) Assists: Mitch Waters (2), Kelby Martin Nov. 21 vs Owen Sound Home: 3 Visitor: 0 Goals: Noah Zeller (2), Mitch Waters Assists: Noah Zeller, Mitch Waters Shutout: Connor Duench Nov. 22 vs Flamborough Home: 5 Visitor: 4 Goals: Mitch Waters (3), Cameron Brown, Mathieu Fife Assists: Noah Zeller (2), Mathieu Fife (2), Matthew Schoupe, Tyer Townsend, Jake Lewis

WOOLWICH WILD

Peewee: B Nov. 18 vs Twin Centre Home: 2 Visitor: 2 Goals: Delaney Keen, Ella Campbell Assists: Charlise Roth, Karissa Schouppe, Sydney Dettweiler

Peewee: B Nov. 21 vs North Halton Home: 4 Visitor: 0 Goals: Carly Bauman, Charlise Roth, Delaney Keen, Maddy Goss Assists: Karissa Schouppe, Carly Bauman x2, Delaney Jacklin, Ella Campbell Shutout: Bethany Hebbourn

Peewee: B Nov. 22 vs North Halton Home: 3 Visitor: 1 Goals: Ella Campbell, Maddy Goss, Delaney Jacklin Assists: Delaney Keen, Charlise Roth, Delaney Jacklin, Payton Ravelle, Maddy Goss

Midget: B Nov. 18 vs Kitchener Home: 5 Visitor: 0 Goals: Taylor Duench (3), Abigael Martin, Jaycee Kaufman Assists: Staphanie Benninger, Taylor Duench, Gracie Durrer,

Leah Bauman, Victoria Weber Shutout: Autumn Campbell Nov. 21 vs Waterloo Home: 1 Visitor: 4 Goals: Abby Hanley Assists: Leah Bauman, Jaycee Kaufman Nov. 22 vs Brantford Home: 3 Visitor: 0 Goals: Gracie Durrer (2), Taylor Duench Assists: Abigael Martin (3), Leah Bauman Shutout: Autumn Campbell

TOURNEYS WOOLWICH WILDCATS

Midget: MINOR A Nov. 6 - 8 Owen Sound Game 1 vs Barrie Home: 3 Visitor: 0 Goals: Chase Mooder, Devin Williams (2) Game 2 vs Milton Home: 1 Visitor: 1 Goals: Riley Runstedler Game 3 vs Owen Sound Home: 7 Visitor: 2 Goals: Cole Altman, Nolan McLaughlin (2), Evan Gowing, Chase Mooder, Brent Mulder, Isaiah Thornback Game 4 vs St. Thomas Home: 3 Visitor: 2 Goals: Jordan Lee, Brent Mulder

Game 3 vs Essex Home: 0 Visitor: 1 Game 4 vs Collingwood Home: 6 Visitor: 4 Goals: Joe Martin (2), Parker Alles, Mason Spark, Isaiah Reitzel, Ethan Bickerton Assists: Ryan Brubacher (2), Eric Hutton, Mason Spark

Waterloo Wolves Atom: MAJOR AA Guelph Powerplay Tournament Nov. 20-22 Guelph Game 1 vs Streetsville Home: 5 Visitor: 3 Goals: Caleb hunter, Liam Witmer, Zach Arnold, Tyler O’Hearn, Dimitri Eleftheriadis Assists: Tyler O’Hearn (2), Brandon Kong, Caleb Hunter, Aaron Jain, Zach Arnold, Jackson Heron Game 2 vs Mississauga Home: 5 Visitor: 2 Goals: Jackson Heron (2), Liam Witmer (2), Brandon Kong Assists: Caleb Hunet, Nolan Reesor, Dimitri Eleftheriadis, Carson Bernhardt, Aaron Jain, Galin Moir, Josh Dierickse Game 3 vs Ancaster Home: 1 Visitor: 0 Goals: Jackson Heron Assists: Caleb Hunter Shutout: Kyle Pereira

Novice: MAJOR Guelph Powerplay Tournament Nov. 20-22 Game 1 vs Fort Erie Home: 1 Visitor: 1 Goals: Riley Dettweiler Assists: Sam Radcliffe Game 2 vs NobleKing Home: 6 Visitor: 2 Goals: Owen Weppler (2), Mitchell Roemer, Sam Radcliffe, Danny Schaefer Assists: Josh Frey (2), Riley Dettweiler, Sam Radcliffe, Jacob Noot, Matthew Darrigan, Mitchell Roemer Game 3 vs Glanbrook Home: 7 Visitor: 0 Goals: Riley Dettweiler (2), Ethan Burkholder, Mitchell Roemer, Connor Goebel, Sam Radcliffe, Josh Carson Assists: Sam Radcliffe (2), Danny Schaefer, Josh Fret, Owen Weppler, Can Beisel, Ethan Burkholder, Josh Carson Shutout: Aiden Schapp, Evan Grant Game 4 vs Dorchester Home: 3 Visitor: 4 Goals: Danny Schaefer (2), Josh Carson Assists: Cam Beisel, Connor Goebel

Atom: MAJOR A Guelph Powerplay Tournament Game 1 vs Amherstburg Home: 6 Visitor: 2 Goals: Parker Alles (2), Joe Martin (3), Ethan Martin Assists: Ryan Brubacher, Denver Martin, Jordan Chang, Keenan Martin Game 2 vs St. Thomas Home: 6 Visitor: 4 Goals: Ryan Brubacher, Ethan Bickerton, Joe Martin (2), Parker Alles, Jordan Chang Assists: Jordan Chang, Ryan Brubacher, Mason Spark, Parker Alles, Joe Martin

Game 4 vs Duffield Home: 2 Visitor: 1 Goals: Jackson Heron, Damon Radley Assists: Tyler O’Hearn (2), Jackson Heron Game 5 vs Guelph Home: 1 Visitor: 0 Goals: Dimitri Eleftheriadis Shutout: Kyle Pereira Game 6 vs Aurora Home: 1 Visitor: 4 Goals: Tyler O’Hearn Assists: Matt Anderson, Caleb Hunter

WOOLWICH WILD

Novice: B Stratford Aces Festival Cup Challenge Nov. 20-22 Game 1 vs Waterloo Home: 6 Visitor: 0 Goals: Sara Forwell (4), Kayla Sargent, Claire Catton Assists: Kylie Rayfield, Olivia Strauss, Ella Hicks Shutout: Sam Weber Game 2 vs Kitchener Home: 3 Visitor: 2 Goals: Sara Forwell, Kara Macpherson, Clair Catton Assists: Kara Macpherson, Sara Forwell, Ella Hicks, Kayla Sargent Game 3 vs Brampton

Home: 1 Visitor: 1 Goals: Claire Catton Game 4 vs Waterloo Home: 5 Visitor: 0 Goals: Sara Forwell (2), Olivia Straus (2), Kayla Sargent Assists: Kara Macpherson, Kylie Rayfield, Charlotte McMillan, Carrie Schwindt Game 5 vs Brampton Home: 1 Visitor: 3 Goals: Sara Forwell Assists: Kayleigh Futher

Peewee: C Kitchener Lady Rangers Fallfest Tournament Nov. 20-22 Game 1 vs Kitchener Home: 0 Visitor: 0 Game 2 vs Saugeen Home: 5 Visitor: 0 Goals: Teesha Weber (3), Avery Durrer, Makenna McLaughlin Assists: Makenna McLaughlin, Avery Leech, Brooklyn Wideman, Lexi Runstedler Shutout: Sydney Chapman Game 3 vs Cold Creek Home: 8 Visitor: 0 Goals: Maggie Sabean (4), Brealyn Macpherson (2), Avery Durrer (2) Assists: Teesha Weber (5), Brooklyn Wideman (2), Lexi Runstedler, Makenna McLaughlin, Jill MacinTyre, Faith

Katsube, Maggie Sabean Game 4 vs Saugeen Home: 6 Visitor: 0 Goals: Lexi Runstedler (2), Avery Durrer (2), Maggei Sabean, Makenna McLaughlin Assists: Emma Wiseman (2), Brooklyn Wideman (2), Teesha Weber, Braelyn MacPherson, Avery Leech, Lexi Runstedler, Avery Durrere, Kate Radcliffe, Maggie Sabean, Makenna McLaughlin Shutout: Sydney Chapman Game 5 vs Kitchener Home: 1 Visitor: 0 Goals: Faith Katsube Assists: Kate Radcliffe Shutout: Sydney Chapman

Atom: BB Barrie Sharkfest Nov. 13 -15, Barrie Game 1 vs. Chatham Home: 1 Visitor: 2 Goals: Kaitlyn Hyatt Assists: Tia Zettel Game 2 vs Sudbury Home: 4 Visitor: 0 Goals: Kaitlyn Hyatt, Eadyn Meier, Kayla Shantz, Tia Zettel Assists: Taya Diefenbacher, Madi Martin, Brook Rempel, Avery Grundy, Kaitlyn Hyatt Shutout: Gwyneth Martin Game 3 vs Hespeler Home: 0 Visitor: 2

SUBMITTING SCORES TO THE OBSERVER. EASY PEASY! visit us online at observerxtra.com/score **Submitted team photos are published online

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14 | SPORTS

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

Forward Cal Jefferies keeps the puck away from Bulldog Nolan Ferris during the Applejacks’ overtime win on Sunday afternoon at the Wellesley arena.

[LIZ BEVAN / THE OBSERVER]

When grief is fresh, the celebration of any holiday is difficult.

This is a special invitation to you and your family to share with others who sorrow.

Together we put this loss into the context of the Christmas season.

A SERVICE OF HEALING Sunday, November 29, 2015 7:30 p.m. held at Woodside Bible Fellowship 200 Barnswallow Dr., Elmira

Sponsored by the Elmira District Ministerial Association and Dreisinger Funeral Home Ltd.

PUBLIC NOTICE THE TOWNSHIP OF WELLESLEY

will be hosting a

PUBLIC INPUT SESSION for the

2015-2019 DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN The Strategic Plan aligns itself to planning documents & budget processes to ensure that resources are allocated appropriately and reported upon annually to identify progress, measure success and establish future goals where needed.

Input from the community on whether or not the plan meets its needs and expectations is instrumental in measuring the success of the Plan.

Residents of the Township are invited to join Senior Staff at the

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

4805 William Hastings Line, Crosshill on

MONDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2015 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm to view the proposed changes to the

STRATEGIC PLAN

and to provide valuable input as we move forward into the future of

WELLESLEY TOWNSHIP

Draft plan can also be viewed on the Township website at www.wellesley.ca

A good weekend as Jacks take two of three games Team bounces back from a rough start in Paris to defeat Delhi on the road and then Burford back in Wellesley LIZ BEVAN THE WELLESLEY APPLEJACKS HAD a good showing this weekend, winning two of three games played on consecutive nights.

First up, on Nov. 20 the Jacks faced the Paris Mounties on home ice, losing 6-2. The boys held their own until the third period, when head coach Brad Gerber says the boys let their guard down and allowed five goals against, two of which were on the power play.

“The score wasn’t what the game was, I don’t think,” he said, mentioning that Wellesley was only one point behind heading into the third. “We played as we wanted to in the first two periods, and in the third period we just got away from what we wanted to do. That is what happens against good teams – if you make too many mistakes, they will score on you. We just let it slip in the third.”

The Jacks got two on the board in the third, with the first goal coming from Sean McEwan, assisted by Garrett Schultz and Nick Mercier. The second goal was scored by Joe Heath, helped along by Alex Uttley. They were no match for Paris’ five goals in the third, however.

Saturday’s game had a much better outcome, with the Jacks defeating the Delhi Travellers 5-4. Gerber says they won because the guys adhered to the plan.

“For 60 minutes, we stuck to our game plan and it was a good effort,”

he said, adding that it was a big improvement over Friday’s showing. “We pulled it out. Again, the boys worked hard and we got good results. Hard work always pays off.”

To round out the jampacked weekend schedule, the Jacks were back on home ice for a matinee puck-drop against Burford.

The game went into overtime, but Gerber says it shouldn’t have. Wellesley were out ahead by one goal, and with 1.3 seconds left in the third period, the Bulldogs’ Nolan Ferris got one past unsuspecting goalie Ryan Porter, forcing an overtime period.

“It just goes to show, you have to play all 60 minutes.

You can’t quit until the final buzzer,” he said. “I thought we had that game well in hand, with a 3-1 lead late in the third, we played a great game, especially for the third game in three days.”

Scoring started 11 minutes into the first with Burford’s first goal of the game.

Jensen DaSilva sunk one on the power play, while Wellesley’s Jake Wilkinson was in the box for high sticking. Wilkinson made up for his time on a penalty by scoring an unassisted goal just before the end of the first.

In the second period, McEwan doubled up with two goals 10 minutes apart, the first helped along by Uttley and Justin Lebold, and second assisted by Cal Jefferies and Uttley.

McEwan brought Wellesley ahead by two goals heading

into the third.

The Jacks held off Burford for most of the third, and it looked like they had clinched the win when the Bulldogs scored two in the last two minutes of play.

Gerber says the guys could have let the tie get them down, but they persevered, scoring just over a minute into overtime, winning the game.

“I will give the boys a lot of credit,” he said. “They showed a lot of character, pulled it together, stayed focused and obviously, we won.”

He also credits the team with pulling out a win after two weekends of three games each.

“It was a hard fought win and the third game in three days,” said Gerber. “I don’t think the boys showed they were tired and we used four lines most of the weekend, which really helps.

We stayed with our game plan and it paid off. We have done that for a couple games in a row, and gotten wins because of that. It isn’t just a one-time thing.

They have to do this every weekend.”

After two intense weekends, the Jacks will only be playing one game this coming weekend in Tavistock against the Braves at 7:30 p.m. After that game, the boys will have the rest of the weekend off.

“It is going to be a quiet weekend this weekend.

We are going to give them the rest of the weekend and let them enjoy something besides hockey,” said Gerber.

RURAL CONNECTIONS | 15

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

RURAL CONNECTIONS INNOVATIONS / PUTTING RESEARCH TO USE

New Ontario technology could keep fake pesticides out of food and farming A TEAM OF UNIVERSITY of Waterloo students has developed a type of ink that can tag and authenticate merchandise with a smartphone.

This could benefit various sectors where counterfeit products are a significant problem – including agriculture, where global trade in fake pesticides is on the rise, endangering food, farming, human health, and the environment.

“Our ink changes colour under certain light conditions and you capture that change of light on your smart phone camera,” explains Perry Everett, who hails from Carp near Ottawa and is one of the three inventors of the technology. “The image file is converted into an identifier code through an algorithm we’ve developed and it cross references with a database of our inks to authenticate products.”

The ink is a mixture of fillers and a proprietary material that nanotechnology engineers Everett, Graham Thomas from Waterloo, Ont. and Ben Rasera from Surrey, BC have invented.

They’re now in the process of forming their own company, Arylla Inc, to focus on moving their

Perry Everett, Ben Rasera and Graham Thomas in their University of Waterloo laboratory. work closer to commercialization.

“We’re able to make a variety of different inks for customers and when you scan something with our inks in it, it will say that the product is authentic, and identify the company and the product,” adds Everett.

Although they were originally thinking about pharmaceutical uses for their anti-counterfeiting technology, they’ve started focusing on agricultural applications since discovering that fake pesticides, which are untested and

don’t meet established safety and quality standards, are a growing problem in some parts of the world.

Although not yet a concern in Canada, the European Crop Protection Association estimates that up to 10 per cent of pesticides used in the European Union could be counterfeit.

The annual market of illegal and counterfeit crop protection products is estimated at €1 billion (about $1.5 billion CDN) in Europe and € 4.4 billion (approximately $6.75 bil-

lion CDN) worldwide.

Arylla Inc’s product is biocompatible, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. The next step is printing the ink – Everett and his colleagues are hoping to have a working inkjet printer prototype with an application by the end of this fall and begin work on beta testing this coming winter.

All three students are in their final year of undergraduate engineering at Waterloo and in addition to focusing on this work for their fourth year design project – similar to the way other students would

write a thesis – they’ve all also agreed to commit some full-time months to it post-graduation.

“We want to give this the best chance we can,” says Everett, adding that they’ve been lucky to receive support from the University of Waterloo by winning the Spring Velocity Fund Final competition, as well as from the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology and the Department of Engineering.

He also credits UW’s Velocity Science Program with being one of their biggest supporters.

“This could be a quick and easy counterfeit solution – its cost will be lower, and it will be faster than existing anti-counterfeiting technologies,” Everett says. “The ink is the first go-to material our technology is based on but maybe we could possibly also extrude into plastics, for example.”

Everett and his colleagues are now looking for a partner company in a sector like agriculture, finance or even electronics to help them validate their technology and process.

This article is provided by AgInnovation Ontario, a project of the Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre (ATCC). The ATCC is funded

by Growing Forward 2, a federalprovincial-territorial initiative.

New program will grow agri-based industrial bioproduct development in Ontario ONTARIO CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE (OCE) and the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) are fostering innovation in the province’s growing agri-based industrial bioproducts sector.

Through the $3-million Agri-Based Industrial Bioproducts (ABIB) R&D Challenge launched this month, OCE and AAC will partner with the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), academia and the bioproducts industry to fund approximately 10 projects. The program encourages for-profit businesses with innovative industrial bioproduct ideas to collaborate with academic research institutions to foster innovation and drive commercialization.

“We are excited to be working with all of our partners on this challenge,” says Dr. Tom Corr, president and CEO of OCE. “OCE is already working with several companies who have seen success with bioproducts and biopharmaceuticals and this PROGRAM | 16

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THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

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challenge will help even more companies succeed.”

Agri-based industrial bioproducts are any commercial product derived from agricultural sources such as plant fibres, plant and vegetable oils, plantbased protein and sugar/ starch crops. Anticipated projects will include the development of biocomposite materials to replace petrochemical-derived plastics, renewable plant-based oils to create biobased polymers, and plant-based proteins as an alternative to petroleumbased plastics.

“The ABIB R&D Challenge will further support

Ontario’s developing agribased products industry value chains from farm field to industrial bioproducts”, says Judy Dirksen, AAC chair. “The use and interest in agri-based products is growing, and it is imperative that the development of these innovative products and technologies continue to be supported.”

Ultimately, it is expected the resulting projects will provide significant economic benefits to Ontario in the form of jobs and prosperity through the development of the next generation of agribased industrial bioproducts.

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The province of Ontario has identified the development of bioproducts as having potential for significant economic, environmental and health benefits. Bioproducts typically come in three varieties: bioenergy (liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, and combustible biomass), biomaterials (plastic, foam, rubber) and biochemicals (lubricants, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics).

“This R&D challenge is a tremendous opportunity for Ontario. It brings together our leading research community and agricultural sector to develop and advance bold new innovation,” says Reza Moridi, Minster of Research and Innovation. “Bioproducts have the potential for significant economic, environmental and health benefits and I look forward to the positive results of this collaboration,” The ABIB R&D Challenge is now accepting expressions of interest with applications being reviewed and approved in 2016. Further program information can be found at the OCE website, www.oce-ontario.org.

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VENTURE | 17

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

VENTURE FOOD FOR THOUGHT/ OWEN ROBERTS

STARTING OUT / PICKING HIS SPOT

Pharmacist seizes opportunity to provide personal service Manan Shah launches new Pharmasave location adjacent to medical practice in St. Jacobs

These experts could affect local crop and livestock farming

WHITNEY NEILSON IT CAME DOWN TO location, location, location when Manan Shah decided to open his own pharmacy in St. Jacobs this month.

Shah’s Pharmasave, located on King Street, will offer all the traditional services of a pharmacy, but with the added benefit of being in the same plaza as complementary healthcare businesses.

“We noticed that this location is a pretty convenient one for everyone going up North to small towns or out West to small towns and we’re right by the family practice, which is recruiting new patients.

We’re also right by the imaging centre and once we get blood work here, we’ll be a one stop shop for everything,” Shah said.

Along with his father and cousin, who are both pharmacists, he opened the pharmacy two weeks ago. Shah is the owner and pharmacist, which means he’ll get to know his patients on a personal level.

“I think that people will get a higher level of care when it’s your own business and your own patients that you’re taking care of, you have a drive to deliver a certain level of care that isn’t really matched that often,” Shah said.

Originally from Toronto, Shah did his undergraduate degree at McMaster University and then went

FIELD NOTES

ing about getting a booth at the farmers’ market for the pharmacy to sell things like vitamins and hand sanitizer for the cold season.

“Because we own the place we’re very invested in delivering the best service possible. We’re willing to do what it takes to get our patients their medication in a manner that’s safe and effective and cost-efficient. We also do specialty medications that other pharmacies can’t necessarily do because we

THE EIGHT EXPERTS WHO comprise the province’s Agri-Food Growth Steering Committee, tasked last fall with developing recommendations to address Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s jobs-and-exports challenge, have spoken.

And what they had to say in a two-page letter full of advice to agriculture and agri-food minister Jeff Leal could have a profound effect on the agrifood sector in Ontario.

At the annual Agri-Food Summit in Toronto earlier this month, the committee members addressed their mandate by presenting the letter to the minister.

It suggests ways to support the agri-food sector as it drives toward the premier’s challenge of creating 120,000 new jobs in the next five years, and doubling exports.

The committee members believe those goals are possible … but not without clearing some obstacles.

“Ontario has significant potential in terms of growth in the agri-food sector, but many opportunities remain untapped,” the members wrote. “As a committee, we focused on identifying barriers to

PHARMASAVE | 18

ROBERTS | 18

Manan Shah opened his own Pharmasave in St. Jacobs this month because the location was ideal, being in the same plaza as other healthcare practitioners to the University of Michigan to get his doctorate in pharmacy. He did his post-doctoral fellowship at Rutgers University.

Shah runs the day-today operations of the pharmacy himself right now, but once business picks up he plans to hire an additional pharmacist and a technician.

“I think the draw to the spot was the quality of the location and the fact that we know we will be able to deliver a certain level of care here that’s up to our standards in conjunction with the clinic and the im-

aging.”

Aside from being a full prescription pharmacy, they do free delivery, specialty compounding, and pain management. If there are specific needs they can’t address there they have partner pharmacies that they work with.

“I like being accessible to patients and pharmacists in my opinion are the most accessible health practitioner that patients have and it’s nice to be able to build long-term relationships with their patients and see them frequently. I like the science

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behind pharmacy as well,” Shah said.

Getting the pharmacy up and running took eight months, he estimates.

Having a family connection in the business made the process fairly easy.

“There was a lot to learn, but I had a lot of expertise backing me with my father and my cousin who are my partners. So I was able to navigate the waters with ease,” Shah said.

Pharmasave is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Saturday hours may change as he’s think-

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18 | VENTURE

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

ROBERTS: Building exports by

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growth and ways that the government can support industry to break through these challenges.”

So, what’s needed?

Well, with an eye towards exports and jobs, the committee is suggesting the development of a government-industry plan focused on investment, innovation and automation.

Specifically, it wants Ontario and industry partners to champion the food and investment advantages of food processing (versus shipping raw commodities) at the Agriculture Ministers’ Federal/Provincial Table, and make it one of the priority areas for Growing Forward 3.

The committee also recommended that OMAFRA consider programming to recognize small and medium-size companies may need to make strategic investments to scale up, become more efficient and take advantage of new market opportunities.

This is especially important for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, it said, where more than half of the industry is clustered. Canada’s food processing industry is primarily located within Ontario.

Agri-business here does not have access to specific regional funds like other areas of the province. Yet in 2014, it accounted for more than 40 per cent of the total Canadian GDP in food processing and 37 per cent of Canada’s employment in food processing. It needs to be a priority.

And still in this vein, the committee says Ontario needs to better promote and target the competitive business environment it

offers to prospective and current agri-food businesses, and enhance activities to attract and retain agri-food investments that grow the domestic market share and drive exports.

Further, in a call heard repeatedly in many agrifood circles in this country, the committee wants the province to work with the federal government as well as other provinces, to differentiate Canadian products from those of our nation’s competitors, for greater success in export markets.

In many people’s minds, that Canada brand is a prerequisite for further market development and for building on success such as Ontario’s first agri-food trade mission to China.

The committee liked the $9 million in business deals the premier came back to Ontario with from China after the spring agri-food trade mission there. It wants to see more of that, working with the private sector to further increase exports, while making strides on import replacement.

All this bodes well for farmers. There are no jobs in agri-food or market development of products without the commodities farmers grow. And if the government is going to get this aggressive with exports, it will need to make sure farmers are equipped with the tools – and the elbow room – to compete in the modern world. This includes support for technologies and evidencebased policies, an imperative that was not stated in the committee’s letter, but is vital nonetheless.

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have partner pharmacies that have specialty equipment to develop personalized medication,” Shah explained.

The pharmacy and the physician next door are both accepting new patients. He says patients of the physician have noticed the pharmacy and people are starting to realize they can get their healthcare needs met in one location.

Shah says he’s encouraged by the positive reception from the patients they’ve had so far.

“The best part is for me you get to build patient relationships right from

the start. It’s very rewarding when your patients are helping you and you’re helping them. That’s probably my favourite thing that I’ve discovered so far since working as just a regular pharmacist versus being an owner. It makes you feel good when you see your patients and it makes you feel good when you don’t see your patients because you know they’re healthy,” Shah said.

Those people looking for a pharmacy or a family doctor can find Pharmasave and Waterloo North Health Centre at 826 King St. N., across from the farmers’ market.

VENTURE | 19

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

Building for Tomorrow by the Service of Today 617 King St. N., Waterloo (north of Northfield Dr., across from Home Depot)

519-888-7700 1-866-880-9534

Managing Director Robert Ruggle and the team at Robert Ruggle Funeral Home Ltd. are passionate about the exceptional level of care provided to the families they serve. They believe that compassion and empathy are gifts that are best served by assisting families during one of life’s most difficult times--the loss of a loved one. They are dedicated to listening and putting your needs first, working to accommodate any special request that might bring added meaning or comfort to the service. Their goal at Robert Ruggle Funeral Home is to listen to you, designing a funeral ceremony and tribute that honours the individual’s lifestyle and personal philosophy.

An increasing number of families are choosing funeral prearrangement with Robert Ruggle Funeral Home. By arranging early, more thought can be incorporated into the funeral arrangement, which can greatly personalize the funeral and have more meaning for loved ones.

Independently owned & proudly Canadian, Robert Ruggle Funeral Home Ltd. affords tastefully appointed wheelchair accessible facilities all on one level. The open concept design includes two spacious visitation rooms, chapel facilities for up to 350 people, a bright reception area for gatherings after the funeral, plus ample parking.

The Ruggle family has strong roots in rural Ontario, with Ruggle’s General Store in Floradale dating back to 1883.

For more information, please call 519-888-0056 or visit them at “www.robertrugglefuneralhome.com” which includes a virtual tour of the facility.

NOT JUST OIL, PENNZOIL.™ 615 Davenport Rd., Waterloo 519-746-4765 (at Northfield Dr.) www.pennzoilwaterloo.com

To extend the life of your vehicle and keep it running smoothly, Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Center has become renowned for offering a wide range of expert services. They can provide: lubeoil-filter service with multi-point visual inspection; radiator flush & fill; automatic transmission fluid exchange; plus professional fuel and air induction system cleaning. Ask about their Battery & Charging System Check, ideal for vehicles 3 years and older.

We suggest you have your oil and filter changed as per the vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines at Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Center. The Pennzoil Premium Oil Change Service only takes about 10 minutes and is very convenient; you simply drive in, wait in the vehicle or waiting room as the job is being performed, and drive out when service is completed.

Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Center uses premium quality filters and Pennzoil warranty approved lubricants including diesel oils, synthetic oils, specialty oils. They help protect our environment by recycling all used fluids and oil filters. Winter tire rotation is now available, as well as tire sales & service.

As an accredited Ontario Drive Clean Test facility, Pennzoil Waterloo is now the best choice for emissions testing with a fast drive-thru service and no appointment!

There are now over 100 Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Center locations from coast to coast. The location in Waterloo opened in April 1992 and is directed by owner Dave Jensen. His staff consists of trained, certified maintenance technicians using warranty -approved procedures.

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In our climate, heating is the largest energy cost in your home.

Reducing the amount you pay by replacing or upgrading the furnace can save a considerable amount of money and also result in a positive impact on the environment. With 42 years in business, Dunn Heating ClimateCare is a respected HVAC contractor that can recommend equipment that is ideally sized to your home, while offering lower sound levels, increased energy efficiency, and excellent warranties for worry free comfort. Second generation HVAC contractor Rick Dunn became the sole owner of this respected firm in 2004.

Dunn Heating ClimateCare can raise comfort levels and indoor air quality with products designed to heat, cool, humidify, clean and ventilate your air. They also install natural gas and propane fireplaces with brands such as Majestic and Continental.

In 2011, Dunn Heating & Air Conditioning became a member of the ClimateCare® group, Canada’s largest heating and cooling co-operative association that gives them the group purchasing power of over 35 residential HVAC contractors. They also offer Satisfaction and Performance Guarantees that can’t be beat.

In addition to the ClimateCare® brand of Energy Star rated heating and cooling products, they also offer brands such as Carrier, Lennox, Keeprite, and ClimateCare. Financing is Available Anytime when purchasing through this Kitchener Utilities Authorized Dealer.

To also save on home energy costs, consider a “We Care” protection plan for your climate control systems with Dunn Heating ClimateCare. They service all makes and models.

Where tires are a specialty, not a side line.”

35 Howard Ave., Elmira www.oktireelmira.com

The Forbes Tradition…done the “Zoom-Zoom” way!

115 Northfield Dr. W. (at Hwy. 85, North) Waterloo 519-746-2777 Forbes Waterloo Mazda is a dealership committed to enhancing your Zoom-Zoom experience with innovative, inspired automobiles with Skyactiv technology combining fuel efficiency, performance and lower emissions. The courteous, knowledgeable new vehicle sales team at Forbes Waterloo Mazda offers financing and leasing solutions.

Choose from the Mazda 2 hatchback, Mazda3 compact sedan or five-door hatchback, Mazda5 compact minivan, MX 5 Miata two seat roadster, CX-9 full size seven passenger crossover, and CX-5 compact crossover. The 2016 Mazda6 delivers on excellent fuel economy and has undergone a new grille plus available LED trim and rear LED lighting.

Forbes Waterloo Mazda also has the best in Certified PreOwned vehicles, carefully chosen and subject to a 160 point inspection, plus they come with: 7-Year/140,000-Kilometre Limited Powertrain Warranty; 24hr Emergency Roadside Assistance; 30-Day/3,000-Kilometre Exchange Privilege; and CarProof Vehicle History Report. View their online inventory at www.forbesauto. com/mazda.

Founded in 2007, Forbes Waterloo Mazda is guided by General Manager Jason Stainton. In 2011, the 13,000 square foot dealership underwent extensive renovations to better enhance your experience with them.

The 10 bay service department at Forbes Waterloo Mazda provides expert repairs and scheduled maintenance from qualified factory trained technicians. They install genuine Mazda parts for the right fit and performance. Make them your source for winter tires and wheels. The Forbes Body Shop can provide expert collision repairs and painting, with insurance claims a specialty. Call 519742-8309 to arrange your collision estimate.

Quality-Service-Results 2755 Lobsinger Line, Heidelberg 1024 Alfred St., Linwood 90372 Belmore Line, Wroxeter

519-699-5200 519-698-2082 519-335-3555

Jones Feed Mills is a household name throughout the area’s farming community as it has been manufacturing and supplying feed and related services to its customer base since 1929. Now a third generation family owned and managed business, Jones Feed Mills has prided itself on maintaining its focus on quality and service, while adapting to the growing and changing needs of its Customer’s through time.

Proprietors, Jeff and Julie Jones grew the business after purchasing the mill in 1984, as they quickly recognized the growing and changing needs of farms as they moved to specialized operations with a demand for efficiency and optimum performance.

With mills now in Linwood, Heidelberg, Wroxeter and Mitchell, Jones Feed Mills has the ability to manufacture a wide range of feeds for all farm species. Examples of the diverse production capability of Jones would be at the Heidelberg plant; Jones produces organic and identity-preserved (non-GMO) feeds as well as many custom and natural feed mixes along with its premier equine feed line.

The Linwood facility hosts two manufacturing plants, one for meals, pellet feed and supplements (all species) along with a new, modern pre-mix plant which focuses on manufacturing vitamin and mineral blends for farmers who mix and prepare their own feeds on the farm. The Mitchell plant produces large runs of complete feed for the Jones popular Family Farm hog enterprise (named Black Creek Livestock) which raises hogs in a natural setting and environment where the resulting meat is sold based on its quality and management practices through retail chains in Canada and the United States. The Wroxeter mill, the smallest of the family of Jones mills, provides a retail outlet for the area as well as specialized manufacturing of a variety of farm and companion animal feeds.

Of course the success of a feed source in today’s industry is highly dependent on the results one receives as a result of using the product. Jones Feed Mills through its years, has always prided itself on sourcing the best nutrition advice and information available and incorporates that into its ration formulation process. Couple that with superior ingredients, supported by a proud staff of over 120, and you have all the right ingredients for success.

In addition to feed manufacturing and delivery, Jones also operates a retail outlet store called Miller’s Stone in the front of the Heidelberg mill. Miller’s Stone offers a wide selection of natural and organic meats (including pork from their Black Creek division), pet foods, equine supplies as well as various farm and livestock products and supplies.

Jones Feed Mills welcomes your visit to any of its locations.

Jones Customer Service can be reached at 1-800-265-8735 or at www.jfm.ca

519-669-3232

Canadians know a thing or two about winter: it’s cold; it’s snowy and roads get icy--driving can be treacherous. An increasing number of motorists have purchased winter tires from OK Tire Store (Elmira) because of the superior grip and safety of their products.

Most all-season tires are made of a harder rubber that may easily break traction with the road when it is just 7 degrees C and below.

However, the rubber compound used in winter tires stays soft in the cold, and the unique tread design has a better grip on the pavement no matter what the temperature is outside. When snow or black ice covers the road, a winter tire will provide better traction, improve safety, and bring renewed confidence to your driving experience.

OK Tire Store (Elmira) offers the best in all-season, performance and winter tires from the most popular tire brands such as Bridgestone, Firestone, Kumho, Continental, General, Pirelli, Toyo Tires, and others. Custom wheels and winter rims are also available. From professional tire mounting and nitrogen tire inflation to computerized wheel balancing including large truck tire balancing on their new Hunter equipment, owner Rob Bowman and his tire specialists will do things right.

With 4 service bays including 1 tall bay, the staff can get you back on the road quickly. A road service is available for disabled vehicles, plus an on-farm service with mobile units.

Formed in 1953, O.K. Tire Stores has grown to become Canada’s largest independent chain of tire retailers with the buying power of over 285 locations. They offer value, selection and warranties that can’t be beat.

Helping People to Look Good and Feel Good

112 Oriole Pkwy., Elmira (at Flamingo Dr., in the Birdland Plaza)

519-669-8234

Guys & Dolls Salon & Spa is a one-stop 3,000 square foot facility for total beautification and rejuvenation. Founded in October 1982 as Guys & Dolls Hair Design Salon, it was in March 2001 that owner Lori Weber introduced Spa services.

Guys & Dolls Hair Design is well known for their sculptured precision cutting for men or women. Special treatments such as perms, highlighting, lowlighting, and colouring are no problem.

Straight razor shaves are now available for men. Ask about updo’s for bridal parties and proms so everyone feels beautiful on that special day.

Guys & Dolls Salon & Spa can also recommend results-oriented hair care, styling and finishing products from Matrix (Biolage, Design Pulse), Kenra, American Crew, as well as OPI nail products, and Dermalogica skin care products. As Devacurl specialists, they can help you love your curls again with DevaCurl cleansers, hydrators, definition and curl styling products. Their NeuroSpa massage lounge chair- is ideal for stress relief, and muscle relaxation, plus your energy is rejuvenated.

If you want spa and esthetics services that beautify, refresh and promote a more youthful appearance, Guys & Dolls offers facials, soothing manicures and pedicures, waxing, gel nails, lash & brow tinting, lash extensions, as well as RMT massage treatments by Tanya—all guaranteed to make the new you feel complete. Starting December 1st you can book with Elizabeth, their reflexology, reiki and meditation specialist.

Visit them online at www.guysanddolls.ca, call them for an appointment, or stop in to purchase Gift Cards & Spa Packages for the Holiday Season!

Canada’s Store 400 Weber St. N., (between Columbia and King St.) Waterloo 519-885-1050 www.canadiantire.ca Canadian Tire should be your destination for Christmas shopping.

The Weber Street store has numerous aisles of products including housewares, home care, furniture and décor items, sporting goods, recreational goods, tools, automotive products, garden items, hardware, electronics, plus Gift Cards.

With 491 Canadian-owned and operated stores from coast to coast, consumers are assured of unsurpassed variety and customer-driven service second to none.

The country’s most popular customer loyalty program, Canadian Tire “Money”, can be earned electronically when you use your Canadian Tire MasterCard.

Dealer/owner Phil McDonald operates the big modern Weber Street North Waterloo Associate Store which opened on May 14, 1997. It has 70,000 square foot of retail space, 70 aisles of product, 14 cashier stations, and plenty of parking, a perfect combination for shopping.

Those seeking paint can find CIL paints, the Origins line by Benjamin Moore paints, and Premier brand of paints made in Canada. Services include: auto repairs, propane tank exchange; paint mixing; key cutting; electrical wire, chain and rope cut to length; gas bar; and Simoniz automatic car wash facility.

Canadian Tire has become Canada’s largest hard goods retailer, with the best prices on national brands and premium quality, private label products for Christmas shoppers.

20 | THE ARTS

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

THE ARTS ON STAGE / LIVE THEATRE

Play sure to catch us in a web of fun Registry Theatre to stage a production of the classic tale of Charlotte’s Web, featuring all the barnyard favourites WHITNEY NEILSON THE UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN a pig and a spider comes to The Registry Theatre next week with E. B. White’s classic tale, Charlotte’s Web. Staged by Lightning Banjo Productions, the play will appeal to kids and adults alike who grew up with the barnyard story, says director Amy Neufeld.

She adds that it’s tradition for the group to perform a classic story before Christmas. They started with The Velveteen Rabbit a few years ago, and then last year they did The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen.

“This one, Charlotte’s Web, it was a bit more of a trickier decision because of course it doesn’t have a Christmas theme to it. But we found a really wonderful adaptation for six actors, that we really liked. And we were counting on the fact that every time we say to the parents ‘Charlotte’s Web,’ they get this kind of nostalgic look on their face and you can tell that it was a story that was important to them,” Neufeld said.

If you’re not familiar with the story, Wilbur the pig is the runt of the litter who’s saved by the farmer’s daughter, Fern.

He becomes friends with Charlotte, the spider, who makes it her goal to keep him from being slaughtered by writing messages in her webs, which draws attention from people near and far.

“It’s got that same sort of feeling at the end of it like when you’re finished watching It’s a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol, where you just feel good and you’ve been somewhere that’s not just about treats of Christmas. Because Charlotte’s Web has a few things that you go through with Wilbur, but in

the end it all ends up being great and it’s such a positive emotionally charged moment at the end of the show. So that was something that we were really excited about,” Neufeld said.

The play adaptation by Joseph Robinette requires six actors, and Neufeld says they’re excited about their dynamic cast. Kevin White will play a few parts, most notably Templeton the Rat. “He’s been in all of our shows. It’s starting to be the running joke that it’s not a show unless Kevin’s in it. He’s fantastic. He’s a local actor who is also a children’s librarian, so he’s got that wonderful expression,” Neufeld said.

They’ve also found some new faces through their auditions.

Charlotte will be played by Anna Maste, Sheep by Joy Soltys, Goose by Kez Vicario-Robinson, and Gander

by Carlotta Ipsen. Sonja Malton will play Wilbur. A professionally trained actor, singer and dancer, she also appeared in last year’s March Break show, Betty and the Beast.

“She’s sort of the cutest pig you’ll ever see. I think she rivals some actual pigs in terms of cuteness. And she’s doing a great job,” Neufeld said.

The performance will run about an hour and she says the play adaptation does a good job of hitting all the highlights in the book. The audience will see the whole story play out with Charlotte, not shying away from sad parts of the book.

“Even though it’s a book that’s full of talking animals, which is clearly not realistic, there’s a realism to it in the sense that [White] thought it was really important to not sugar coat things for kids. He re-

All the familiar barnyard pals will hit the stage at The Registry Theatre next week for an adaptation of E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web.

ally believed that children can know the truth about life and that it doesn’t have to be a harmful or bad thing that they hide them from,” Neufeld said.

She says the play is already garnering buzz from parents who are reading the book to their kids and are excited to see it play out on stage, with the actors decked out in farm animal costumes.

And there are certainly some life lessons they can take away from the show.

“Charlotte talks about, when she first meets Wilbur, eating bugs. Wilbur gets quite disgusted by that.

She says this is just the way I am, this is how I’m built, I can’t help it. Which I think is one of those messages that is so universal and why the story holds us. The sense that one, you can still be friends with somebody who’s different from you, who does things differently,” Neufeld said.

“I think it resonates for kids because as much as they like the bright coloured, moving objects aspect of some shows, and they are soothing to watch them, there’s something really reassuring about being told the truth, even though it’s not easy or not maybe

the ideal.”

At the end of the play when things aren’t going Wilbur’s way he says how it’s better to have lived a good life than a long life and it’s time to start thinking about other people instead of himself – a relevant sentiment in the holiday season.

But most importantly, Neufeld is looking forward to seeing people out enjoying theatre together as a family.

“I think that as wonderful as presents are, I think the best thing, especially when you have kids, is to give them experiences,”

Neufeld said.

They’re partnering with the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery as in previous years, and they’ll be in the lobby before the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shows doing barnyard crafts with anyone interested. She says families should plan to get there a little earlier to partake in the craft.

Charlotte’s Web plays at The Registry Theatre at 122 Frederick St. in Kitchener from Dec. 3-5 at 6:30 p.m., and Dec. 5-6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 519-578-1570 or online at www.registrytheatre.com.

CLASSIFIED | 21

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

CLASSIFIED Eldale Machine & Tool is a manufacturer of hubs and spindles, as well as a custom machine shop. Located in Elmira, Ontario, we presently have an opening in our SHIPPING/RECEIVING department.

Responsibilities for this position include the following: • Assist with the flow of goods throughout the production and warehouse areas • Staging, loading and unloading trucks • Order picking and preparation for shipping • Completion of necessary documentation • Inventory control • Unpacking/unloading and inspection of received goods • Maintaining a clean working environment • Includes various other warehouse duties Applicant must: • Have forklift license with experience • Be able to do some heavy lifting • Be computer literate • Have experience in a shipping/receiving environment

Fitter/Welder

($44,000+)

Immediate FULL TIME position to work in a Custom Job Shop. Layout, fitting and welding experience is required.

Wages are commensurate with experience. Company paid benefit package.

Contact: Clare or Scott Phone: 519-664-3711 Fax: 519-664-3624 Email: cnweber@webersfab.ca

At Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd. we believe in helping our customers succeed, and we pride ourselves on being the leader in customer service for the livestock feed industry. A member of our Customer Service Team is retiring and we are seeking his replacement. The successful candidate will have strong communication and computer skills and excellent attention to detail. This is a full time, hourly position based out of Wallenstein, the candidate must be available to work some evenings. Compensation for this position includes $44,000 or more in wages and a full benefit package (health, dental and RRSP contribution).

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, and thank all applicants in advance.

Accommodations are available during all stages of the recruitment process.

If you are interested in a rewarding work life please submit your resume via mail to P.O. Box 22, 7307 Hwy 86, Wallenstein Ont., N0B 2S0 or via email to recruiting@wfs.ca by December 4, 2015.

HORSES

FULL-TIME AZ

DRIVER

PFI Inc. requires a full-time driver to assist in delivering feed to farms within 70 miles of Elmira. This position is approx.

40-50 hrs per week on dayshift. Must be flexible to work weekends when required. Possess a valid AZ license with a clean driver abstract. Pneumatic unloading experience would be a definite asset but willing to train.

MILL OPERATOR FULL-TIME PFI Inc. requires a self-motivated individual for a full-time position making livestock feed. This position includes mixing and pelleting of feed with accurate record keeping. Some experience would be an asset but willing to train. Must be flexible for shift work, with some overtime and weekends if required. Competitive wages and benefits are provided.

Require Experience Installing rigid conduit. Must be able to read drawings and turn into finished jobs.

Require WHIMIS, Fall Arrest Training, and Skyjack / Lift training certification. Experience running small jobs desirable. Travel to Job-Sites required. Benefit plan and company sponsored RRSP after 3 months.

Please direct resumés to: Tim Ropp Operations Manager Ziegler Electric Ltd. 101 Bonnie Cres.

Elmira, ON N3B 2Z5 FAX: 519-669-1343 HOW TO REACH US

SAT. DEC 5 at 12:00 noon – Property auction of a 2 story, 5 bedroom brick home. Eat in kitchen; dining; family room with field stone fireplace; 3 bathrooms; double car garage. On a corner lot in a private area to be held at 2110 Varency Drive in Mississauga for Don Dallimore. Jantzi Auctions Ltd, 519-656-3555. www. jantziauctions.com

HAY & STRAW STRAW FOR SALE. 4X5 round bales of wheat and oat straw. Stored inside. Call Kevin at 519-616-4985 or 519-848-5916. No Sunday calls.

FARM SERVICES

dave@eldalemachine.com

Licensed 309A Electrician Required

AUCTIONS

Customer Service Representative

Please forward resume to:

HELP WANTED

WEDNESDAYS BY 10AM

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

CLASSIFIED DEADLINE:

Forward resumé to: PFI Inc. 1580 Listowel Rd., Elmira, ON N3B 2Z3 Fax: 519-669-4363 Email:

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

OAK SOLID WOOD, large sized two piece hutch. 79” x 72”w, custom made, excellent condition. $1150. Call 519-656-0098.

SOFTNER SALT - 20kg bags, minimum 25 bags, skid lots of 56. Delivered in St. Jacobs, St. Clements, Elmira & Linwood areas. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-6692045.

WATERLOO COUNTY HORSE Sale Sat Nov 28 at OLEX. To consign or for more info call 519-595-3307.

HELP WANTED NURSERY WORKERS NEEDED starting October 22, 2015. Pay rate $11.25/hour. Working hours 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., 6 days per week. Work includes field potting, weeding in field and containers, truck loading, digging etc. Must be willing to work in all weather conditions and weekends. Own transportation required. Police clearance needed. Please send resume to: West Montrose Farms Ltd., 1614 Halm Road, West Montrose, On. N0B 2V0.

HEALTH CARE BOWEN THERAPY YOUR choice for effective treatment of specific health conditions or wellness maintenance. KEVIN BARTLEY, Professional Bowenwork Practitioner, Clock Tower Wellness Centre, 69 Arthur St. S., Elmira. 519-669-0112. Every Body is Better with Bowen!

AUCTIONS FRI. NOV 27 at 5:00 PM - Toy auction of farm toys; banks; precision; tractor trailers; and much more to be held at the St. Jacob’s Community Centre in St. Jacob’s for area collectors. Jantzi Auctions Ltd. 519-656-3555 www.jantziauctions.com AUCTION SALE OF household goods, antiques and miscellaneous items, to be held at 7 Stoney Brae Dr. 2 miles northwest of St. George (Highway 24, west on Scenic Dr. then south on Stoney Brae), for the James Horn Estate, on Saturday, November 28th, at 10:00 a.m. Gerber Auctions Ltd. 519-699-4451.

WED. DEC 9 at 10:00 AM – Clearing auction sale of high end furniture; antiques; collectables; tools and miscellaneous items to be held at the St. Jacob’s Community Centre in St. Jacob’s for area estates with additions.

Jantzi Auctions Ltd. 519-6563555. www.jantziauctions. com

AUCTIONS AUCTION SALE OF Household goods, antiques and miscellaneous items, to be held at the K.W. Khaki Club, 2939 Nafziger Rd. 2 miles south of Wellesley, for Bruce & Carole Kleinknecht, Elmira, Fabian & Marlene Cortis, Kitchener & additions, on Saturday, December, 12th @ 10:00 a.m. Gerber Auctions Ltd. 519-699-4451.

SAT DEC 12 at 10:00 AM – Building lot auction of a 0.615 acre country lot to be held at part lot 17 (Part 4 Plan 58R-14838) south of Snyder’s Road in the Township of Wilmot in Waterloo Region for the estate of Enid (Harold) Schmidt. Jantzi Auctions Ltd. 519-656-3555. www.jantziauctions.com ESTATE AUCTION SALE Belwood Community Centre, Wed. Dec. 2nd at 6:00 p.m.

Belwood Ont. Glass, China, Oil Lamps, Old Beer Bottles, Magazines, Fishing, Music Instruments. Auctioneer BRIAN HILL (since 1067).

BAGGED PINE SHAVINGS Agricultural Spray Lime, 22.5kg. bag; feed grade lime, 25kg. Delivered. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-6692045.

FERTILIZER AND SEED GRAIN - at competitive pricing. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141.

ICE SALT & ICE MELT - Ice salt comes in 20 & 40kg’s, Ice melt comes in 20kg bags. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

KILN DRIED CORN & CORN SCREENING Delivered by Einwechter. Minimum 15 ton lots. Call George Haffner Trucking 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

WANTED WANTED - ZERO Turn lawn mower. Call 519-698-0604.

CONTINUED ON PG. 23

NEW CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE WEDNESDAYS BY 10AM

PHONE 519.669.5790 | TOLL FREE 1.888.966.5942 | FAX 519.669.5753 | ONLINE WWW.OBSERVERXTRA.COM

ADDRESS 20-B ARTHUR ST. N., ELMIRA, ON N3B 1Z9 PLACING A CLASSIFIED WORD AD

CLASSIFIED ADS

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In person, email, phone or fax submissions are accepted during regular business hours. Deadline for Thursday publication is Wednesday by 10 a.m. All Classified ads are prepaid by cash, debit, Visa or MasterCard. Ask about Observer policies in regard to Display, Service Directory and Family Album advertising.

22 | CLASSIFIED

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

Community Information Page NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Township of Woolwich

Remediation Advisory Committee (RAC) Thursday, December 3, 2015 Council Chambers, 2nd Floor Administration Building, 24 Church Street West, Elmira 4:00 p.m. Public Meeting

P.O. Box 158

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

TOWNSHIP OF WOOLWICH BRESLAU SCHOOL PROJECT ADHOC ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Township of Woolwich is looking for up to 9 residents from the Breslau community to get involved with the newly created Breslau School Project Adhoc Advisory Committee.

To ensure that there is appropriate community diversity on the Adhoc Advisory Committee, the Township is hoping that residents from the following parts of the community will apply: Breslau Recreation Association, Seniors, Youth, User Groups and Community Organizations.

The primary responsibilities of the Adhoc Advisory Committee are as follows:

Phone:

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

After Hours Emergency:

519-575-4400 www.woolwich.ca

COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT NOTICE OF HEARING On December 14, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. the Committee will meet to consider the following applications. All persons interested in the applications may attend and may contact Nancy Thompson regarding meeting details or visit the Township Webpage – News and Events – Current Public Notices.

The Committee will also consider submissions for or against the applications if submitted to the Township of Woolwich no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 8, 2015. Submissions can be forwarded to Jeremy Vink at the address noted at the top of this page, by email jvink@woolwich.ca or by fax 519-669-4669.

CONSENT APPLICATIONS B 5/2015 and B 6/2015 – 1357512 Ontario Inc. (National Engineered Fasteners Inc.), 1747 Greenhouse Road

WOOFWICH DOG PARK PUBLIC MEETING

1) Provide recommendations to Council regarding the prioritization of the Park Upgrades; 2) Provide community input to the Regional Library staff concerning the design of the Library component of the project; and

At the September 2015 meeting the above noted applications were deferred to no later than December 2015. The property has recently sold and the new owner is requesting to proceed with consideration of the applications at the December 2015 meeting.

The Woofwich Committee has been busy working to make our dream of an Off Leash Dog Park in Woolwich a reality.

A location has been IDENTIFIED in St. Jacobs & we need YOUR help!

3) Provide feedback to the Township/Library/Separate School Board staff regarding any interface concerns that need to be addressed between the use of School/Library and the School/Community Centre/Park Area.

The applicant is requesting permission to sever a parcel of land for the purpose of creating a new industrial lot (retained lands). To facilitate the proposal the applicant requests the following applications:

The complete Terms of Reference for the Adhoc Advisory Committee may be viewed on the Township’s website. The Committee will meet twice a month, and is required to file a report with Council by the end of May 2016.

• B 5/2015 – to sever a parcel of land being approximately 200 by 195 metres (4 ha) fronting on Greenhouse Road and containing an existing warehouse facility; and

Application forms may be obtained by contacting the Council & Information Services Department at (519) 669-1647 ext. 6115 or by visiting the Township’s website www.woolwich.ca. The final date for submitting a complete application is Friday, December 4, 2015.

• B 6/2015 – to grant a 20 metre servicing easement along the north side of the property and fronting onto Greenhouse Road in favour of the proposed retained lands, for the purpose of providing future services.

Dog Parks provide a community setting in which dog owners & lovers alike can gather and socialize and provide a place for dogs and their owners to exercise safely.

Join us in making an Off Leash Park a reality in Woolwich by attending a planning meeting Wed. Dec 2, 7pm Township Administration Building, 24 Church St. W., Elmira

The proposed retained lands are currently vacant and will be approximately 6.1 ha in area. The lands are zoned General Industrial – Dry (M-1).

OVERNIGHT PARKING BAN The Township of Woolwich has an overnight parking ban in effect from December 1st to April 1st between the hours of 2:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

No overnight parking is permitted on Township roads during this time.

Any vehicles in violation of this parking ban may be ticketed.

Please note that the Region of Waterloo has an overnight parking ban on all regional roads year round.

For further information please call 519-669-6009.

NEW – TOLL FREE NUMBER!

You can now reach the Township of Woolwich TOLL FREE at

1-877-969-0094

N OTI C E TO O U R R E A D E R S A N D A DV E R TI S E R S

YOUR OBSERVER HAS MOVED TO THURSDAY NEW DEADLINES: Display Ads • Tuesday by noon Classified Ads • Wednesday by 10am Sports Scores • Monday by 5pm

OCTOBER

CLASSIFIED | 23

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

Considering a Move? We Can Help!

CURRENTLY BEING BUILT

Donating back to the community we call home.

BEAUTIFUL CENTURY HOME

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FAMILY HOME GREAT PRICE Elmira - This 4 bedroom home is perfect for a growing family as well as a retired couple due to the convenience of the main floor master bedroom with ensuite and walk in closet. Enjoy a morning coffee in the East facing sun room, and family time in the large living room. Walking distance to downtown and Rec Centre. Much larger than it looks! MLS 30500120.

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2 BEDROOM APARTMENT in Elmira.

Quiet building, newly renovated, close to downtown. Call 519-669-5798.

MOOREFIELD - ONE bedroom apartment, furnished, laundry facilities, parking, patio, electric heat, cable TV, no pets, adult building. References. $775.00 inclusive. First and last. 519638-3013.

THREE BEDROOM HOUSE in Drayton.

Available January 1. $980/mth + utilities. Call 519-893-5313 after 6 p.m.

WANTED TO RENT: Senior looking to rent single room or studio apartment, Elmira area. Call Jim, 519-669-5981, leave message.

COMM/INDUSTRIAL FOR RENT SPACE FOR LEASE. 845 sq. ft available in Downtown Elmira. Park Street East.

Former dental office - ideal for medial related business or office space. Some parking & basement storage available. $10.00/per square foot triple net. Call Brad, R. W. Thur Real Estate Ltd at 519669-2772 for more information.

Linda Cybalski Sales Representative, Direct Phone: 519-502-8264 Email: linda@cmarealty.ca

TRADES & SERVICES LIVE KEYBOARD BACKGROUND music for any special occasion. Call Jim at 519-669-5981, please leave a message.

TRAVELLING SOUTH THIS Winter? Do you need someone reliable, insured and bondable to watch over your home for insurance purposes? Call John’s Quality Home Services 519-6694955.

$599,900

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CLASSIFIED ADS CONTINUED | AUCTIONS | PUBLIC NOTICES RENTALS

Near Hawkesville - Stunning custom built log home on a mature 2 acre lot just 10 minutes from Waterloo. Character is evident everywhere, from the exposed logs to the open banister over the front door.

With 4 +1 bedrooms, tons of room for your growing family.

This could be your forever home! MLS 30501159.

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Minutes away from Waterloo. MLS.

519.669.5790 www.observerxtra.com

COWAN: Defense lawyer for former mayor says inadvertent errors, not fraud, are to blame FROM | COVER

wich Township administrative building in a board room next to the mayor’s office.

“I had indicated to Mr. Brenneman that I had received the documentary evidence that was provided to me and I had spoken to both financial officers and the clerks and I had a number of questions I wanted to put to Mr. Cowan. I had asked Mr. Brenneman if he could assist in setting up a meeting,” Mascarin said.

Cowan said he didn’t need legal counsel but asked for Brenneman to remain in the room.

Mascarin asked Cowan questions for roughly two hours before Cowan asked him to stop.

“He said he’d like to make a statement at that time, which again surprised me.

I wasn’t expecting that. I took out a separate page, and wrote verbatim as best I could,” Mascarin said.

He quotes Cowan as saying, “You have a really thick binder in front of me.

I think I know where it’s going.”

Cowan went on to tell Mascarin he wasn’t going to dispute double reimbursements and expense claims.

Mascarin said in his conversation, Cowan said he’s “more of a big picture guy than a detail-oriented person.” He also said he had some difficulties submitting the expense claims at the township, but the regional administrative assistant, Colleen Sargeant, was very efficient.

He says Cowan said he had an administrative assistant at the township but he didn’t use her to submit

his expense claims. He said he submitted his township expenses directly to the clerk.

“He indicated he takes things very seriously. He admitted bookkeeping isn’t his forte,” Mascarin said.

He also attributes Cowan to saying, “I’m being irresponsible,” in regards to his record keeping of expenses.

Prosecutor Jennifer Caskie asked Mascarin if he had a conversation with Cowan in regards to his knowledge of expense claim policies.

Mascarin replied that Cowan said he may have read them, but wasn’t certain what they said.

Mascarin had asked Cowan if he was aware the purchases on the township credit card had to be practical and ethical and that

they were only appropriate if incurred by a member of council during township business.

“I believe he said ‘that surprises me,’” Mascarin said.

Defense lawyer Thomas Brock argued the policies regarding regional expense claims and township expense claims gave little guidance, especially when Cowan was representing both the township and the region.

“There’s such an overlap of who you’re representing,” Brock said.

He used the example of Cowan meeting with the premier, where they might discuss issues relevant both to the township and the region.

“There’s no guidance who I charge the lunch to in that scenario,” Brock said.

While it’s clear Cowan was reimbursed by both the township and the region for some expenses – which he paid back – in order to be convicted the prosecutor will have to demonstrate that Cowan intentionally filed the same expense claims with both parties.

“You will have to find that the inadvertence was culpable,” Brock said.

Mascarin said it’s his understanding that when Cowan became mayor he asked for and had been granted a corporate credit card. He asked Cowan when he first received it but he was unsure.

A corporate credit card was a first for the township and he was the only council member who received one.

It was supposed to be used for only township business, but when asked if

he made personal purchases, Mascarin noted Cowan said he had.

“There were a few instances where his regular credit card would not work and he placed the expenses on the township credit card,” Mascarin said.

Mascarin said he told Cowan the policy at the township as it related to expense claims dictates it only allows reimbursements of expenses while conducting township business. Mascarin stated Cowan said he was “barely aware” of the expense policy at the township, but said he had read the regional expense policy and knew they both applied to him.

“He indicated quite simply that he wasn’t terribly familiar with the policy.”

Set for four days, the trial could wrap up today.

24 | CLASSIFIED

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

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519-669-3192 www.YourFamilyTeam.ca

“HELPING YOU IS WHAT WE DO.”

OPEN HOUSE | SATURDAY, NOV 28TH & SUNDAY, NOV29TH • 1-3PM BRAD MARTIN

JULIE

TRACEY

LUKE

WILLIAMS Broker of Record, HECKENDORN SHANTZ Broker Sales Rep. MVA Residential Sales Rep. Res: 519.669.1068 Res: 519.669.8629 Cell: 519.505.0627 Cell: 519.584.4400

PARADIGM (ELMIRA) HOMES presents:

DRAYTON RIDGE EXECUTIVE TOWNS MODEL HOME at: 162 RIDGEVIEW DR., DRAYTON *

Priced from $322,900 . Beautiful 1424 sq ft Bungalows with 9' ceilings, open concept, hardwood & ceramic flooring. Seeing is believing. $356,900*. End unit loft offers 1977 sq ft, vaulted ceilings, generous open concept plan with lovely standard features to please.

GEDDES ST., HAWKESVILLE

Builder bonus for upgrades, call for details. Exclusive.

*

$279,900 “CHARACTER” GALORE in this quaint home backing to Mill Race in Hawkesville. 3+ bdrms. Formal LR/DR and eat-in kitchen. Main flr. family room w/walkout to a deck.

Office in lower level w/separate entry. Zoning will allow for some commercial uses. MLS.

HIGH ST., DRAYTON

NEW LISTING! NEW LISTING! $359,000 ELMIRA Desirable family neighbourhood, spacious 4 level sidesplit, great

$454,900 DRAYTON – Custom built one owner bungalow w/walkout bsmt. 98’wide lot. 3 bdrms. Main flr. laundry & family roo. Fin. bsmt w/games room, rec. rm, exercise rm & storage rms. INGROUND pool & hot tub – great place to entertain! MLS.

EYE-CATCHING 2 STOREY $539,000 ELMIRA Many upgrades throughout, great neighbourhood, professionally

country kitchen, family room offers gas fireplace, 3+ bdrms, double car garage, room for improvements. NEW MLS.

landscaped grounds, covered back porch, ample maple hardwood on both floors, finished basement, ensuite. MLS.

M-5 ZONING - ELMIRA VACANT LAND - $568,000 2.43 acre prime

RURAL BUILDING LOT - DRAYTON - $98,500 1.06 acre parcel, single

location in South end business park! MLS.

family dwelling permitted. MLS.

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE FALL MARKET ANALYSIS!

SPACE FOR LEASE 845 SQ. FT. AVAILABLE IN DOWNTOWN ELMIRA. Park Street East. Former dental office – ideal for medical related businesses or office space. Some parking & basement storage available. EXCLUSIVE. $10.00/PER SQUARE FOOT TRIPLE NET.

CALL FOR YOUR FREE MARKET EVALUATION

FOR SALE COMMERICAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

FAMILY ALBUM

ANNIVERSARY

BIRTHDAY

50th Anniversary

Happy 80 th Glenn McTavish

Come Help Us Celebrate

$979,000 | 1180 Queen’s Bush Drive, Wellesley ON

DEATH NOTICES FRIEDMANN, VERA MAGDALENA (nee Bossence) | February 26, 1936-November 23, 2015 Surrounded by her loving family.

HENHOEFFER, JEANNETTE (NEE Miller) | 1914-2015, Passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at Chateau Gardens LTC, Elmira, on Sunday, November 22, 2015, in her 102nd year.

Jim & Shirley Hehn

Two storey commercial office building and attached double car garage with upper floor storage space.

request the pleasure of your company at an Open House reception Sunday, November 29, 2015 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the St. Clements Community Centre.

Best wishes only please

Love from your family

This unique site offers exceptional opportunity for stable investment income and storage space for the owner’s use FEATURES • Land Area: 0.61 Acres • Building Area: 8,453 SF • 4,506 SF leased to Woolwich Community Health Centre • 1,812 SF main and upper floor storage is available • Office building was completely rebuilt in 2005 • Oversized garage suitable for recreational vehicles, boats, etc.

• Single storey, double car garage with horse & buggy hitching shelter was constructed in 2005 Contact:

DARREN SHAW, SIOR** VICE PRESIDENT, BROKER

+1 519 904 7017

darren.shaw@colliers.com

Colliers MaCaulay Nicolls (Ontario) Inc. ** broker

NEW DEADLINE FOR FAMILY ALBUM IS TUESDAYS BY NOON FOR THURSDAY PUBLICATION

PLACE A FAMILY ALBUM NOTICE TODAY! Call: 519-669-5790 or Visit: www.observerxtra.com

CLASSIFIED | 25

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

OBSERVER SERVICE DIRECTORY AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

THOMPSON’S

TIRE

WHERE TIRES

Complete Collision Service

Auto Tech Inc.

ARE A

SPECIALTY, NOT A SIDE LINE.

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

101 Bonnie Crescent, Elmira, ON N3B 3G2

519.669.8330

Farm • Auto • Truck Industrial On-The-Farm Service

FAX: 519.669.3210

35 Howard Ave., Elmira

AFTER HOURS

519-669-3232

GENERAL SERVICES

www.biobobs.com

AUTO CLINIC 21 Industrial Dr. Elmira

Accredited Test & Repair Facility

519-669-4400

519-669-7652

30 ORIOLE PKWY. E., ELMIRA www.thompsonsauto.ca

519.669.8917

Visit our website

www.biobob.com or call today!

519-648-3004

or

800-232-6396

GENERAL SERVICES

While you wait!

SPACE FOR RENT

State of the acAhinrte Sharpening M

Your Business Here!

FLORADALE SELF STORAGE 1551 FLORADALE ROAD ELMIRA, ON. N3B 2Z1

$4.99 per pair

Advertise your business services in our service directory. Weekly exposure with fantastic results!

Call Donna at 519.669.5790 Ext 104.

CLIMATE CONTROLLED

5th pair FREE.

22 Church St. W., Elmira

226-266-5525

STORE HOURS:

E-Mail: floradaleselfstorage@gmail.com

Tel: 519-669-5537 M-W: 8-6, T-F 8-8, SAT 8-6, SUN 12-5

www.floradaleselfstorage.com

 WOOD  GAS  PELLET

CONESTOGO

FERGUS

1871 Sawmill Road

519-664-3800 877-664-3802

180 St. Andrew St. W.

519-843-4845 888-871-4592

www.fergusfireplace.com

GENERAL SERVICES

SPACE FOR RENT

Various sizes & rates

Your Business Here!

Advertise your business services in our service directory. Weekly exposure with fantastic results!

Call Donna at 519.669.5790 Ext 104.

CLEAN • DRY • SECURE Call

519-669-4964

100 SOUTH FIELD DRIVE, ELMIRA

MUSIC-LOVER GIFT ALERT! Boat Covers | Air Conditioner Covers | Small Tarps Storage Covers | BBQ Covers | Awnings & Canopies Replacement Gazebo Tops | Golf Cart Enclosures & Covers •Ratches, Hooks, Straps, Webbing etc.

•Canvas, Vinyl, Polyester, Acrylic Fabrics

519.595.4830 6376 Perth Rd. 121 Poole, ON

GENERAL SERVICES

SPACE FOR RENT

RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING EFFORT!

TROPHIES | CUPS | PLAQUES | MEDALLIONS RIBBONS | NAME TAGS | NAME PLATES DOOR PLATES | CUSTOM ENGRAVING

QUICK LOCAL SERVICE | 245 Labrador Dr., Waterloo

www.UniTwin.com | 519.886.2102

General Repairs

COUNTR Y

’s 60’s / 70

HIGH SCHOOSL BAND

GOSPEL

ROCK

MUSIC TRANSFERS FROM LPs, 45s, 78s, CASSETTES TO CD Your favourite albums get a whole new life on CD after we clean up the clicks, pops and surface noise.

MORE INFO | 519.669.0541 EMAIL: vinylp2cd@gmail.com

HOME IMPROVEMENTS SERVICES BAUMAN PIANO

SERVICES TUNING & REPAIRS

“25 years in Business”

CONSTRUCTION INC. (519) 569-0772

JAMES BAUMAN Craftsman Member O.G.P.T. Inc NEW PHONE NUMBER

519-880-9165

• Commercial & Industrial General Contracting • Specializing in Concrete Work & Excavation • Retaining Walls

info@trappconstruction.ca www.trappconstruction.ca

• • • •

Stamped Coloured Concrete Demolition Bin Service Machine Bases

Concrete Breaking & Removal

HOME IMPROVEMENTS SERVICES

The Right Window Treatment Can

Save you

Blinds

by Elite or Mera

In home consultations Wide selection of styles & fabrics 1011 Industrial Crescent St. Clements | 519-699-5411 www.LetUsFloorYou.ca

FREE

INSTALLATION When you buy 3 or more

Hours: M-F 8:30 - 5:30 Sat 9:00 - 3:00

WINDOW FASHIONS • Residential • Commercial • Industrial

Randy Weber ECRA/ESA Licence # 7000605

519.669.1462 Fax: 519.669.9970 Tel:

Evenings By Appointment

18 Kingfisher Dr., Elmira

Free in-home Consultations.

Call someone you can trust.

Call Cindy.

A Brand You Can Trust 22 Church St. W., Elmira

Tel: 519-669-5537

STORE HOURS: M-F: 8-8, SAT 8-6, SUN 12-5

WEICKERT& MEIROWSKI Concrete Foundations Limited

YES... WE DO RESIDENTIAL WORK!

6982 Millbank Main St., Millbank 519-595-2053 • 519-664-2914

26 | CLASSIFIED

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

OBSERVER SERVICE DIRECTORY HOME IMPROVEMENTS SERVICES

IRA HOME COMFORT M L E (519) 669-4600

COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

ST. JACOBS

GLASS SYSTEMS INC.

APPLIANCES – FURNACES – FIREPLACES AIR CONDITIONERS – WATER HEATERS SPRING SPECIAL ON AIR CONDITIONING TUNE UP $99, INSTALLED FROM $1999 FURNACES INSTALLED FROM $2499 FRIDGES $499, STOVES $399, WASHERS $399, DRYERS $369, FREEZERS $199 Come visit our show room FREE QUOTES 1 Union Street, Elmira

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

• Store Fronts • Thermopanes • Mirrors • Screen Repair • Replacement Windows • Shower Enclosures • Sash Repair TEL:

ehc@hotmail.ca (519)-669-4600

RESIDENTIAL & AGRICULTURAL - Design and build -

FRAMING • ROOFING RENOVATIONS • EAVESTROUGHS

For all your Plumbing Needs.

24 HOUR SERVICE Steve Jacobi

ELMIRA

519-669-3652

FREE ESTIMATES

OUTDOOR SERVICES

AMOS R O O F I N G

Interior/exterior Painting, Wallpapering & Plaster | drywall Repairs

• Specializing in residential re-roofs • Repairs • Churches

NOW ACCEPTING VISA OR MASTERCARD

CALL JAYME FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE.

519-669-2251 36 Hampton St., Elmira

A Family owned and operated business serving KW, Elmira and surrounding area for over 35 years.

WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED

519.501.2405 | 519.698.2114 In Business since 1973 • Fully Insured

SPACE FOR RENT

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

John Schaefer Painting

OUTDOOR SERVICES

Advertise your business services in our service directory. Weekly exposure with fantastic results!

Call Donna at 519.669.5790 Ext 104.

Services

> Commercial & Residential > Fully Insured > WSIB Clearance > Senior Discount

Lawn Maint Maintenance Main tenance Programs | Spring Clean-up Flower Bed Maintenance Programs Leaf Clean-up and Removal | Soil & Mulch Delivery & Installation | Snow Clearing & Removal | Ice Control 27 Brookemead, St, Elmira

KEVIN DETWEILER

P: 519-669-1188 | F: 519-669-9369

kdetweiler@rogers.com

OWNER-OPERATOR

OBSERVER PUZZLE SOLUTIONS 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

0 $ < 6 $ : ( ' : ( / / ) ( '

2 5 $ 6 6 5 $ 3 $ + ( 0 ( 1 , 5 2 6 + 2 5 0 1 , 2 ( $ 7 + ( * 5 5 ( / , & $ ' $ ' , ' ( 1 ' 5 $ 6 3 $ $ & 7 + ( 1 / < , 1 * $ / ( / ( 6 ( / (

< 2

3 , 7 $ $ , 1 7 & 2

5 : 2 2 5 . & < 1 2 & ( 1 2 6 6 6 , 0 % 2 $ % 8 0 & 7 6

, ( ' 3 1 1 ( 5 . ( 7 2 ( 1 0 , 1 * 5 2 7 ) 5 1 , 3 , * 5 $ 7 + 2 : 7 ( 1 $ $ 1 * 6 + ( 2 : $ 5 7 ' 5 2 2 0 1

PRINTING | MAILING | SIGNAGE SERVICES

, 3 5 7 $ 2 / , $ 1 2 ( 1 ( ) ( 5 , , 6 2 7

( 5 1 $ 6 . ( 1 6 7 , + 1 8 5 $ /

/ $ 1 (

$ 1 $ % , $ 1 , 1 * , % 8 6

SUDOKU CHALLENGE

Your Business Here!

Outdoor

CROSSWORD PUZZLER

SPACE FOR RENT

519-577-0370

darwayconstruction@icloud.com | Alma, ON

FAX: 519 664-2759 â&#x20AC;¢ 24 Hour Emergency Service

INC

Plumbing and Maintenance Inc.

www.marwilconcrete.ca

Wayne Martin | 519-504-2016

519-664-1202 / 519-778-6104

HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICES

Steve Co.

Driveways â&#x20AC;¢ Sidewalks â&#x20AC;¢ Curbs â&#x20AC;¢ Patios Finished Floors â&#x20AC;¢ Retaining Walls â&#x20AC;¢ Steps Decorative/Stamped and Coloured Concrete

AGRICULTURAL | RESIDENTIAL

LIVING HERE | 27

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

LIVING HERE CHEF’S TABLE/ DONNA GINGRICH

WORLDVIEW / STARTING ON A DIFFERENT PATH

Relating an experience unlike that of most school kids Former child soldier from Sudan shares a positive message during anti-bullying event in Wellesley LIZ BEVAN IT WAS ANTI-BULLYING WEEK at Wellesley Public School and the school hosted a special guest on Nov. 20, to give students inspiration and motivation, working towards peace and respect for their fellow students and citizens.

Just after the lunch hour, students gathered in the school gym to hear Emmanuel Jal speak.

Jal is a former child soldier turned musician, actor and activist from South Sudan. He is one of the few who made it out of the child armies and now travels the world sharing his story of war and peace.

The presentation closed out the school’s anti-bullying week campaign, with principal Brian Morgan noting Jal’s message fits in perfectly with the lesson staff are trying to teach students.

“He is a former child soldier that has had a lot of experiences, met amazing people throughout the world,” he said. “We are really trying to promote Blue Friday, and the kids wearing blue for peace and safety.

His whole presentation is around how we want peace and how we make that happen.”

Jal started by telling the students and staff about his experiences carrying guns and travelling through the Sudan, ordered to kill, all while just wanting an education.

Just the right recipe for an excellent birthday cake RECIPE NOTES

get a certain type of power,” he said. “It takes it to another level. When you don’t forgive, it is like you are swallowing a poison.”

He asked the students to define peace.

“Peace, to me, is everyone being nice to everybody else,” said one student.

“Peace is when there is no war and everything is calm and nice,” said another.

Jal built on those answers and talked about how the students could put those ideas into practice.

“If you see a bully, and

IT’S IRONIC HOW BIRTHDAYS (your own and the people around you) sneak up on you each year. It should not come as a surprise since they are on the same day repeatedly! But it does, and suddenly, you need a cake. In the food business, people call and beg for a birthday cake to be made for a family member who is having a birthday tomorrow or even today! Do they think the cake will appear magically?

It is a shame to eat mediocre cakes for a birthday when there is so much more you can do. I collect cake recipes and when a birthday comes along I have just the right cake.

This Raspberry Almond Torte is one of those recipes that will come in handy sometime. The cake is light and luscious and looks so pretty. I have made this cake with a chocolate mousse filling instead of the filling with this recipe. That is a great idea for those folks who cannot live without chocolate; it can be garnished with chocolate curls and toasted almonds.

SPEAKER | 29

CHEF’S TABLE | 29

Emmanuel Jal is a former child soldier who came to Wellesley Public School to share his harrowing story of survival and peace with the students during anti-bullying week.

[LIZ BEVAN / THE OBSERVER]

Jal’s mother was killed when he was seven years old and his father joined anti-government forces – The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). He was left alone, and decided to follow other children making their way to Ethiopia to go to school. His trek was interrupted by the SPLA, who put a machine gun in his hands.

Over the next four years, Jal fought alongside other young men, and lived at a military training camp disguised as a school. He eventually tried to escape along with other children, and

spent three months on foot, often going without food and watching his peers die during the journey. It wasn’t until a British aid worker, Emma McCune, found him and smuggled him to Kenya that Jal was finally able to go to school and get an education.

He has since thrown himself into humanitarian work, raising money for schools, refugees and street children, bringing the struggle of child soldiers and African poverty into the limelight.

His motto is: every person has a story to tell.

“When we tell our stories to each other, we are able to inspire one another, but also, we are able to put a light in that dark place,” he told the children at Wellesley Public School, hoping to inspire the students to achieve something big. “I believe somebody in this room could be the next business tycoon, or the next Prime Minister of this country or the next big thing. We don’t know.”

The message he wanted to leave the students with was one of hope, forgiveness and peace.

“When you forgive, you

Something to keep in mind this winter...

It is a good idea to keep your gas tank at least a quarter to half full at all times in the winter to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing, and to help keep you safe if you ever become stranded! – Shavonne

Tel: (519) 669-1082 Fax: (519) 669-3084

20 Oriole Parkway E., Elmira, ON

info@leroysautocare.net

www.leroysautocare.net

28 | LIVING HERE

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

“A GOOD JOB DONE EVERY TIME”

Kleensweep Carpet Care

Everything Vacuum

COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR

Cardlock Fuel Management

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

E-MAIL: ads@woolwichobserver.com

NOVEMBER 28

DECEMBER 1

DECEMBER 5

RIVERSIDE SCHOOL COUNCIL’S 1ST Annual Holiday Market. Riverside School Gymnasium, $1 admission; 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Handmade gifts and crafts, direct marketing vendors, refreshments and baked goods.

All proceeds go towards the “outdoor enhancements” at our new location. For more information or to purchase a sale table contact Janet Redmond 519669-7622 or jredmond1998@gmail.com.

SYRIAN REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT INFORMATION Session, 7:30 p.m., Maple View Mennonite Church, 5074 Debra Glaister Line, Wellesley. Hosted by local churches and Mennonite Central Committee. Come find out how our community can respond through private refugee sponsorship.

CHRISTMAS DINNER & CONCERT hosted by the World Youth Day Pilgrims, held at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 19 Flamingo Dr., Elmira. Meal will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Christmas concert. Tickets can be ordered through the parish office Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. by calling 519-669-3387. Adults $16; children 6-12 years $8; 5 & under free. Take out tickets available, call for details.

THERE WILL BE A ‘Free Store’ at Gale Presbyterian Church, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be gently used clothing for all ages and some bedding. This event is for anyone in our community that could benefit from shopping for free. Everyone is welcome.

GALAXY OF GIFTS FUNDRAISER for Lutherwood Foundation. Luther Village on the Park, 141 Father David Bauer Dr., Waterloo; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission, free parking, BBQ food and refreshments, door prizes, over 30 vendors.

Website: luthervillage.org.

NOVEMER 29 CELEBRATE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON with Grand Harmony Chorus! Be entertained with holiday classics by the chorus and its quartets and special guests, award winning Supertonic Quartet! Start your shopping early at retail tables. Doors open at 1:15 p.m. Tickets $15/adults; $8/youth - 6-16; Free/children 4 & under - available at grandharmonytickets@ gmail.com Elmira Lions Hall, 40 South St., Elmira.

DIABETES CONNECTION IS A support group for individuals diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes and their support people. Have your diabetes questions answered by a healthcare professional, build confidence in managing your diabetes, get food and exercise ideas, increase your knowledge of diabetes as well as learn about ways to maintain or improve your health. Drop in on the second Tuesday of every month, 6-7 p.m. at Woolwich Community Health Centre, 10 Parkside Dr., St. Jacobs. No need to register! For more information, call Tiffany at 519-664-3794, ext. 241.

DECEMBER 3 ELMIRA LIONS BINGO - Doors open at 6 p.m., starts 7 p.m. sharp. Lions Hall Elmira. For more information call 519-500-1434.

DECEMBER 4

w w w.elmiravacuumelectrical.ca

BREAKFAST WITH ST. NICHOLAS, Trinity United Church, 21 Arthur ST. N., Elmira; 8-9:30 a.m. Enjoy pancake & sausage breakfast before the Christmas parade. Kids can meet St. Nicholas! $6; kids under 5 free. (walk-ins welcome. Tickets: Trinity office, Mon. - Fri. 9:30 - 12.

519-669-5560 or Brad Fisher 519-669-9067.

DECEMBER 9

•

Saturday, 9am-3pm

21 INDUSTRIAL DR. ELMIRA

519-669-2884

DECEMBER 10 NEW HORIZONS WELCOMES ALL zoomers, boomers and seniors. Enjoy coffee or tea and a delicious snack.

Speaker: Josie d’Avernas, vice-president of Schlegel Research Institute for Aging, topic: how research is enhancing life for older adults. Be inspired and socialize. $2 per person, 10-11:30 a.m. at the Maryhill Community Centre. For more information call Joan Haid at 519-6482742 or email at jehaid@explorenet.ca.

1540 FLORDALE ROAD

www.mgmill.com

SUBMIT AN EVENT The Events Calendar is reserved for non-profit local community events that are offered free to the pub-

519.669.5105

Tuesday - Friday, 9am-5:30pm

SENIORS COMMUNITY DINING, AT noon (doors open at 11:30 a.m.), Calvary United Church,48 Hawkesville Rd., St. Jacobs. Cost: $11. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for a hot noonday meal, fellowship and entertainment. Call 519-664-1900 for more info.

PRE-PLANNING YOUR FUNERAL AND estate: What would assist your loved ones at a challenging time?

Presented by Grace Maher, funeral director, Dreisinger Funeral Home, and Tracey Cronin, lawyer from Woods, Clemens, Fletcher & Cronin Law Office; 10:15-11:15 a.m. at Woolwich Community Health Centre, 10 Parkside Dr., St. Jacobs. No registration required. Everyone welcome!

For more information, call Joy at 519-664-3534, ext. 230.

MATERIAL HANDLING & PROCESSING SYSTEMS

519-669-8362

9 C h u r ch S t . E . , E l m i ra

T. 519.669.2033

Truck & Trailer Maintenance

All Makes & Models

www.freybc.com

West Montrose, ON

Cell: 519.581.7868

Repairs Service Se

3435 Broadway St. Hawkesville 519-699-4641

Rugs and Upholstery

•Mattress Cleaning •Residential •Commercial •Personalized Service •Free Estimates

COLLEEN

Vacuum Sales,

Skilled craftsmanship. Quality materials.

CONSTRUCTION STARTS HERE.

CORPORATE WEAR PROMOTIONAL APPAREL WORK & SAFETY WEAR | BAGS T-SHIRTS | JACKETS | HATS

245 Labrador Drive | Waterloo

519.886.2102

P.O. BOX 247, ELMIRA

www.UniTwin.com

lic. Placement is not guaranteed. Registrations, corporate events, open houses and the like do not qualify for this section.

24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

TOTAL

NANCY KOEBEL

HOME ENERGY SYSTEMS

Bus: 519.744.5433 Home: 519.747.4388

Individual life insurance, mortgage insurance, business insurance, employee benefits programs, critical illness insurance, disability coverage,

New to the Community?

Do you have a new Baby?

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

It’s time to call your Welcome Wagon Hostess.

YOUR OIL, PROPANE, NATURAL GAS AND AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS

RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, LIFs and Annuities.

Elmira & Surrounding Area

11 HENRY ST. - UNIT 9, ST. JACOBS

SHARON GINGRICH 519.291.6763

519.664.2008

SUNDAYS - 9:00 & 11:00AM WEDNESDAYS - 7:00PM

St. James Lutheran Church

MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED

psgingrich@hotmail.ca

226-266-2432 pmerlihan@woolwich.ca @PatMerlihan www.merlihan.com WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

PLACES OF FAITH | A DIRECTORY OF LOCAL HOUSES OF WORSHIP

building relationships with God, one another and the world

SANYO CANADIAN

PATRICK MERLIHAN COUNCILLOR | WARD 1 WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP

VERMONT Castings

652 Waterbury Lane, Waterloo

HOW CAN I HELP?

9:00 am: Christian Education 10:15 am: Worship Pastor: Hans J.W. Borch

Proclaiming Christ through Love and Service

60 Arthur St. S., Elmira 519-669-5591

NURSERY PROVIDED

Finding The Way Together 47 Arthur St., S. Elmira • 519-669-3153 www.thejunctionelmira.com

11:00 am Go the Next Step to Develop a “Rule of Life”

290 Arthur St. South, Elmira • 519-669-3973 www.ElmiraAssembly.com (Across from Tim Horton’s)

Sunday, November 29th

verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter

“The Most Important Lesson I Could Ever Teach”

CALVARY CHAPEL Sunday Service 6:00 pm

Elmira Worship: 9:30am Mennonite Church The Missional Church Dec. 6, 7pm – Community Advent Choir Concert

500 Northfield Dr. West, Waterloo • 226-234-8384

EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH

“Stewardship” 9:15 AM & 11:00 AM

18 Mockingbird Dr., Elmira • 519-669-1459 www.elmiracommunity.org

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

Emmanuel Sunday, November 29th

meets at All Saints Anglican Church

Speaker: Ron Seabrooke

Discovering God Together

4522 Herrgott Rd., Wallenstein www.wbconline.ca • 519-669-2319

REACH WITH LOVE. TEACH THE TRUTH. SEND IN POWER.

The Book of Revelation

HEARING ASSISTED

Sun., November 29th

10:45am Worship Service

Service at 10:30am Rev. Paul Snow

www.kcf.org/academy

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Zion Mennonite Fellowship 9:30am Sunday School

Sunday School at 9:30am

850 Sawmill Rd, Bloomingdale, ON N0B 1K0 (519) 744-7447 | kcf@kcf.org | www.kcf.org

33 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.1591

200 Barnswallow Dr., Elmira • 519-669-1296 www.woodsidechurch.ca

Worship Service

Sundays 10:30am

elmiraemmanuel.com

519.669.5030

Sunday School 9:45am Worship Service 11:00am Hopping Thursdays 7-8:30pm 22 Florapine Rd., Floradale • 519-669-2861 www.floramc.org

LIVING HERE | 29

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

SPEAKER:

Overcoming real adversity FROM | 27

you stop them and say, ‘you can’t bully,’ you have stood up for someone,” he said.

“That is activism. If you report it to a teacher, you have stood up for somebody. You guys are smart.”

The presentation ended with every student and staff member in the gym standing and dancing together, promoting positivity and peace for all.

For more information about Jal’s story, to listen to his music or to see where he will be speaking next, visit www.emmanueljal.com.

CHEF’S TABLE:

Just the thing

FROM | 27

Raspberry Almond Torte Cake: 4 eggs 3/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. almond extract 2 Tbsp. flour

2-1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 cup sliced almonds

Put eggs and sugar in blender until mixed.

Add all other ingredients and process for 2 minutes.

Line 2 round 9” cake pans with parchment paper and divide the batter between 2 pans.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350º. *Note: this makes 2 layers. I always make 4 layers so the cake is higher. When the first 2 layers are baked and cooled a bit, remove the cake from the pan by lifting the parchment paper. Then repeat this recipe and make 2 more layers.

While the cakes are baking, make the raspberry sauce.

Raspberry sauce: 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tbsp. clear jel or thermflo 2 Tbsp. raspberry jello

Heat raspberries to boiling, then strain to remove seeds. You should have about 1-1/2 cups juice. If you don’t, add water to make 1-1/2 cups.

Put raspberry juice, sugar and clear jel into a small saucepan.

Boil until slightly thickened.

Remove from heat and add jello, stirring to dissolve.

Cool.

Filling: 2 cups whipping cream 1 cup white sugar 3 tsp. instant vanilla pudding 1 250gr. cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup icing sugar

Whip whipping cream, add sugar and vanilla pudding, whip until peaks form. Set aside.

In another bowl, beat cream cheese and icing sugar, then gently stir in the whipped cream.

Refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the cake.

To assemble the cake, spread a quarter of the whipped cream filling on one cake layer.

Drizzle with a quarter of the raspberry sauce. I put this in a clean milk bag, snip a small hole in one corner, squeeze to drizzle.

Repeat this with the 4 layers of cake.

Garnish with fresh raspberries and toasted almonds.

Refrigerate until serving time.

Donna is the author of A Taste of Nostalgia Cookbook, which is available by calling 519-638-5791 or email donna.atasteofnostalgia@ gmail.com.

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30 | LIVING HERE

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

STRANGE BUT TRUE / BILL & RICH SONES PH.D.

Evolution has seen to it that our chins set us apart from most other animals WEIRD NOTES

Q. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it: Have you ever wondered why we humans are practically the only animal with a chin?

A. One theory has it that

random genetic mutation and chance played a major role, while others argue that natural selection actually favored the chin, writes Katie-Meelel Nodjimbadem in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Smithsonianâ&#x20AC;? magazine.

Enter University of Florida evolutionary anthropologist James Pampush, who studied more than 100 primate species and found that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the angles that define the chin changed rapidly during

recent human evolution but not elsewhere in the primate family tree.â&#x20AC;? Some one hundred years ago, anthropologist T.T. Waterman had argued that the chin was part of a shrinking face, as the first modern humans evolved. Pampushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conclusion: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Natural selection must have been involved in producing that very unusual chin shape.â&#x20AC;?

But why did the face shrink? Paleoanthropologist Robert Franciscus proposes it was reduced aggression and lower testosterone, â&#x20AC;&#x153;associated with more cooperation and more social tolerance.â&#x20AC;?

Concludes Nodjimbadem: â&#x20AC;&#x153;So we can all keep our chins held high. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not so much a symbol of our vulnerability (though we

sometimes lead with it) or even our virility. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sign of something more crucial â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our civility.â&#x20AC;?

Q. How does hunting by humans differ from that of other land and sea predators?

A. Typically, humans hunt

adult animals, while nonhuman carnivores hunt easier-to-catch juveniles, reports â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scienceâ&#x20AC;? magazine.

Dubbing adults â&#x20AC;&#x153;reproductive capitalâ&#x20AC;? and juveniles as â&#x20AC;&#x153;interestâ&#x20AC;? on that capital, conservation scientist Chris Darimont and his colleagues argue that targeting adults depletes this precious capital.

Analysis of hunting and fishing data reveals some curious facts. For land animals, human hunters put roughly 10 times as much

pressure on top predators (e.g. wolves) as herbivores (e.g. rabbits), perhaps due to our penchant for trophy hunting. In the sea, by contrast, roughly equal pressure is put on top predators, smaller carnivores and herbivores. Such equalopportunity killing may be related to the fact that fishing is indiscriminate, conducted on industrial scales.

But wherever it occurs, we kill at many times the rate as all non-human predators combined.

Given all of this, Darimont concludes that â&#x20AC;&#x153;humans function as an unsustainable â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;super predator,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; which, unless additionally constrained by managers, will continue to alter ecological and evolutionary processes globally.â&#x20AC;?

Q. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just for fancy folks in top hats,â&#x20AC;? writes Foster Kamer in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mental Flossâ&#x20AC;? magazine. But it costs $50-$70 for 50 grams, or about $500$700 per pound. What is it?

A. Caviar, or unfertilized salt-cured fish eggs from different species of sturgeon. This â&#x20AC;&#x153;hoity-toityâ&#x20AC;? stuff wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always quite the delicacy it is today, Foster says. Actually, caviar was an everyday snack and an American export in the early 20th century, with the Hudson and Delaware Rivers two of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest caviar-producers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As Josh Russ Tupper of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic Russ & Daughters appetizing shop explains, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Salted caviar was so prevalent, it was sitting

on bars like peanuts.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Like peanuts, the salt helped encourage drinkers to keep drinking.)â&#x20AC;? Since most caviar is harvested by killing the fish, overfishing in the U.S. severely curtailed domestic supplies and made imported caviar more expensive.

How expensive? According to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Food Republicâ&#x20AC;? website, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most expensive caviar on record is from a 100-year-old fish Almas caviar, from the eggs of 60 to 100-year-old Iranian beluga sturgeon, clocking in at roughly $35,000 per kilo ($1,000/ounce).â&#x20AC;?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Bill is a journalist, Rich holds a doctorate in physics. Together the brothers bring you â&#x20AC;&#x153;Strange But True.â&#x20AC;? Send your questions to strangetrue@compuserve.com.

OBSERVER CROSSWORD PUZZLER ACROSS 1. Marshy 8. Storied exterminator 16. Fox relative 17. ___ tube 18. Biology class abbr.

19. Dweller on the Red Sea 20. Chew out 22. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who cares?â&#x20AC;?

23. Game delayer 25. Carbon compound 26. Deficiency 31. ___ and outs 33. Prenatal test, for short 35. Deteriorate 36. Against 37. Eroded 42. Warm dry wind 43. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To ___ is human ...â&#x20AC;?

44. City on the Volga 45. A.T.M. need 46. Truffles 49. Thankful 54. Pop 55. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forget itâ&#x20AC;?

57. Period 58. Spread

61. At least 100 64. â&#x20AC;&#x153;-zoicâ&#x20AC;? things 65. Affairs 66. Bridal path 67. Varnish resin 68. Court action 73. Accordingly 75. ___ Mix 76. Indefinite article 78. Seaplane 82. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aladdinâ&#x20AC;? setting 86. Moray, e.g.

87. Vinyl collectible 88. Going on and on 89. Cancels a choice 90. Anthology DOWN 1. Giant great 2. Sweet sandwich 3. Battering device 4. Mimic 5. ___ Diego 6. Bake, as eggs 7. Hey! 8. Baby grand, e.g.

9. Bic filler 10. Ethyl or acetyl ending

11. Gear catch 12. Antler point 13. Nutty confection 14. Dash widths 15. Amasses 20. ___-tac-toe 21. Gift-tag word 24. Word before large 26. Tangle 27. Best seller 28. â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ la la!â&#x20AC;?

29. Future husband 30. Carbonium, e.g.

32. ___ power 33. Blown away 34. ___ mortals 36. Bang-up 38. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good grief!â&#x20AC;?

39. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arabian Nightsâ&#x20AC;? menace 40. Dry humor 41. Fine 42. Hale 45. Stooge 47. Bad day for Caesar 48. Jail, slangily 50. Future fish 51. â&#x20AC;&#x153;1234â&#x20AC;? singer

52. ___-Altaic languages 53. Highway division 56. ___ or about 58. Properly Nourished 59. Bank offering, for short 60. Fingers or toes 61. Firms: Abbr.

62. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nice!â&#x20AC;?

63. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flying Down to ___â&#x20AC;?

65. Be suspended 68. Kind of code 69. Mosque officials 70. After-tax amount 71. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Monopolyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; square 72. Bunch 74. Conversation starter 76. Hokkaido native 77. Badgers 79. Attorney F. ___ Bailey 80. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Monty Pythonâ&#x20AC;? airer 81. Away 83. Howard of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Happy Daysâ&#x20AC;?

84. Cuckoo bird 85. Chest protector 88. Coif

SUDOKU CHALLENGE

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. We have got you started with a few numbers already placed in the boxes.

LIVING HERE | 31

THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

Menno Singers celebrate 60 years with concert series Christmas shows a good opportunity to showcase the organization’s talents in conjunction with other choral groups WHITNEY NEILSON CHORAL SINGING SHOWS NO signs of fading away in Waterloo Region as the Menno Singers celebrated a 60-year milestone this year with three collaborative concerts.

Having already performed at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church earlier this month, the group will be joined by Menno Youth Singers and the Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir for their Celebrating Family – Three Choirs at Christmas concert.

Peter Nikiforuk, artistic director, says they do this every three years or so.

“It’s popular with audiences. It’s popular with the choirs. It gives us a chance to do something together as an organization and Christmas is the time to do that kind of thing,” Nikiforuk said.

They’ve been doing the concert every three years over the past 17 years he estimates. Some 250 to 350 people come out to hear the three choirs sing traditional and modern Christmas music.

“In the good ol’ days we used to do two shows because we had so many people. Times change and there’s just so much more competition that filling two shows is a little optimistic,” Nikiforuk said.

And while coordinating three choirs sounds like it would take a lot of work, he says it actually lightens the load. The Menno Youth Singers and the Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir each do a 10 or 15 minute set and then Menno Singers does 20 minutes. The three choirs come together for a few songs and then there are audience carols.

“They’re gonna hear popular favourites. We’re doing a version of ‘Do You Hear What I Hear’ to some more adventurous type of Christmas music and a little bit more challenging. The main thrust of the program is accessibility. It’s not a heavy program at all,” Nikiforuk said.

Started in 1955 by Abner Martin, the choir began as a way for Martin and his fellow graduates from Rockway Mennonite High School to continue choral

singing as they had done in school.

“The mandate of the choir hasn’t really changed a lot. Rockway’s always had a really good choral program. Abner wanted to give Mennonite choirs an opportunity to sing sacred music that they wouldn’t be singing in the average church,” Nikiforuk said.

He explains that Martin had ambitions of being a conductor and put together the group out of the desire to sing good music at a higher level than was available elsewhere. They didn’t start doing their annual four concerts until the early ’60s.

“Abner in the early days was very adventurous in his repertoire and I know he did the first performance of the Bach’s Mass in B minor in Waterloo region. There was a work by an American Jewish composer, Ernest Bloch, called the Sacred Service, it’s a vetting of the reformed Jewish synergy, that Abner did at least two performances with orchestra and bringing in a cantor from one of the synagogues in

Toronto. In the 1960s that was pretty adventurous to be doing that literally inter-religious activity,” Nikiforuk said.

Under Nikiforuk’s guidance since 1998, some of the group’s highlights include large performances with Mennonite Mass Choir starting in the late-1960s, which they still sponsor.

They also do Messiah every four years and next year it will be time to do it again. That’s been an ongoing project for nearly 40 years. In years where they don’t do Messiah they perform other works like Haydn’s Creation and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Mennonite Mass Choir doesn’t require auditions, so anyone who wants to come and sing is welcome.

“Some of the music we do is different and the way we do some of the music is different. There’s repertoire that they sang in the first concert that we still have in our library and still sing.”

The size of the choir is 45 now, and while members have come and gone, he says the choir has stuck to its roots.

“What’s changed is the world around us. Struggling to pay the bills and unexpected deficits from concerts and things were part of the early history of the choir and I think in some ways we’re in better financial shape than they were 40 years ago. We’re a little more careful about things. It’s not easy to get grant money these days or advertisers,” Nikiforuk said.

This will be the third year for the sing-a-long fundraiser. Funds raised will go towards funding the Menno Singers. Nikiforuk says ticket sales only cover about half of their operating costs. Everyone who’s participating in the sing-along is a volunteer, including the orchestra. Audience members are invited to bring their own copy of Messiah, but they’ll have copies for people who don’t own one, so they can come and sing their favourite Messiah choruses.

“We’ll have three soloists this year. The featured soloists will be Bethany Horst, Steve Surian is our tenor soloist. Steve is a

conductor of Menno Youth Singers and a very fine tenor. They’ll be doing most of the solo repertoire.

But one of my choristers Muriel Clemmer will be joining with Beth to do the He Shall Feed His Flock, the soprano-alto duet. Muriel’s a very fine soloist in her own right but sings as chorister,” Nikiforuk said.

Clemmer is from Elmira.

Everyone is welcome to come sing along with the choir or just listen. He expects to see many members of the Mennonite Mass Choir, which will make for some hearty singing from the audience.

“We’ve been careful not to keep doing the same old thing and then wonder why the world has left us behind. There are so many good choirs in Waterloo region. I think what we’ve managed to do is find our niche in that world,” Nikiforuk said.

The three choirs will perform Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Kitchener. The Messiah Sing-a-long Fundraiser is Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church.

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THE OBSERVER | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

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