River Valley Sun May 2020

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Volume 2 Issue 5

RIVER VALLEY SUN May 15 to June 15, 2020

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‘WE DID IT RIGHT, RIGHT FROM THE START’: DR. MICHAEL PERLEY HORIZON HEALTH UPPER RIVER VALLEY REGION NEW CHIEF OF STAFF IS PART OF THE TEAM EFFORT BATTLING COVID-19 BYJIM DUMVILLE

W

hen Dr. Michael Perley accepted the position as Chief of Staff for Horizon Health’s Upper Valley Region, which he began on March 1, he didn’t realize most of the time in his new role would be dealing with a pandemic sweeping the globe.

“I just thought it was a problem in China,” he said, thinking back to the time when he accepted the position with Horizon Health.

It didn’t take long for COVID-19 to consume most of his attention as

he continues to work with Horizon staff, New Brunswick health officials and the provincial government to treat patients and limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In his role as chief of staff for the region, Perley explained, his primary focus is maintaining a high quality of patient care in facilities throughout the region, which includes the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Perth-Andover and other smaller facilities.

Since early March and forward into an unclear future, Perley explained, the job includes making hospitals “COVID friendly.”

In comparison to other regions in North America, New Brunswick has become a shining example of how to handle the COVID-19 crisis. With no deaths and only two active cases, the province’s efforts, to date, have proven effective in limiting the virus’s impact on the population Continued on page 2

Dr. Michael Perley is the new Chief of Staff for Horizon Health’s Upper River Valley region. (Submitted photo)

COVID-19 FORCES AV NACKAWIC SHUTDOWN MILL FACES TEMPORARY CLOSURE AS OVERSEAS MARKETS DECLINE

By JIM DUMVILLE

AV Nackawic is temporarily closed. (File photo)

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has forced the temporary closure of Nackawic’s biggest employer.

In a May 5 internal

memo to employees acquired by River Valley Sun, AV Nackawic officials Mike O’Blenis, president and CEO of AV Group, and

Paul Jack, president and unit head, announced the temporary shutdown of the Nackawic mill.

“In order to protect the business in the face of continued market volatility and reduced viscose fibre demand caused by the pandemic and the global economic slowdown, the mill will be taking a marketrelated short-term downtime,” officials explained in the memo.

Neither AV Nackawic officials nor union representatives for Unifor local 219 returned requests for interviews about the planned closure.

The memo, however, outlined the impact of the novel coronavirus on the company worldwide, noting its plant in Wuhan, China was forced to close in late January and its fibre plants in India were forced to close on March 22 when the government imposed a nationwide shutdown as it battled the spread of the virus.

The memo explained the shutdowns left the Nackawic mill with a large inventory of pulp, noting the continuation of warehousing pulp was not ecoSee NACKAWIC on page 2

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2

DR. PERLEY

Continued from page 1

“New Brunswick has been very lucky,” said Perley.

But, the long-time family doctor, with practices in Woodstock and the Tobique First Nations, said the province’s success is a result of more than luck “It’s been a team effort,” Perley said.

As chief of staff, he said, he works closely with other Horizon officials, other regions and the province under what he describes as the “amazing” leadership of Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer.

“I think it was done right, right from the start,” he said.

Perley said the province was quick to implement strict social distancing measures which included school and business closures, home isolation and tough border restrictions.

Perley said those measures included tight restrictions at hospitals and other health facilities across the province. Patients were not allowed visitors and all elective surgery was cancelled.

As the province monitored the spread of the virus through testing and tracing, Perley said, his job, like other chiefs of staff, stayed focused on safely delivering health services.

He said one aspect of that

NACKAWIC Continued from page 1

nomically viable.

The memo explained equipment will be maintained in a ready state to restart when “VSF (viscose stable fibre) plants start to reopen.”

Nackawic Mayor Ian Kitchen said the closure of the mill for any reason is always a concern for the town, but after talking with mill management he is confident the mill will reopen as soon as the overseas market returns.

Kitchen said the mill’s maintenance staff will remain on the job and the company is utilizing the downtime for upgrades and maintenance.

The mayor said he un-

was to keep track of PPEs (personal protection equipment).

With the positive data in hand, the province is beginning to ease restrictions and roll out plans to return to work. Perley said he welcomes the effort but says it must be done carefully.

“We have to go slow,” he said. “We have to figure out how to do this and we learn by doing it slowly.”

Perley explained the cautious approach to opening the province must also be maintained at New Brunswick’s hospitals.

While the plan, for example, is to return to scheduling some elective surgeries, he said, the early focus will be on the most urgent treatment.

He said his role is to ensure the hospitals in the Upper Valley Region successfully deliver high quality of service to patients, regardless if it’s COVID related or other health issues.

“People do get sick for other reasons, too,” Perley said.

Although New Brunswick COVID-19 data puts the province is a favourable position, Perley recommends residents remain vigilant and officials maintain tight restrictions at its borders. He noted Quebec, for example, continues to struggle to contain the virus while it attempts to open its economy.

Perley, however, under-

stands the need to return to some sense of normalcy.

“You have to look at mental health,” he said.

The key, he said, is the use the data to determine the best way to ease the restrictions.

Perley, who continues to maintain his general practice offices in Woodstock and Tobique First Nations, said the coronavirus crisis forced significant changes in his mode of operation.

He said the offices remain open but only two examining rooms are utilized. In addition, he said, patients wait in their cars with only two patients allowed in at a time.

In addition, he said, he carries out many more health services by phone, text and other technological methods. He thinks such methods will become more prevalent in the future.

“COVID makes you think outside the box,” he said.

Perley believes virtual calls will be much more common in the future, noting Medicare will have to adapt its system to the changing reality. He believes the changes may make it possible to save the system money without hurting the quality of care.

While COVID-19 is taking much of his current focus as chief of staff, Perley hopes to return to a more traditional role in the near future. He said that role

includes dealing with patient quality of care issues, as well as checking doctor credentials and recruitment.

As for recruitment, he said Upper Valley Region staffing levels are in reasonably good shape, noting a new family physician will be coming to the area soon, although the arrival was delayed by the coronavirus crisis.

He said the region is still trying to recruit another general surgeon, an anesthesiologist and an internal medicine specialist.

Perley said he took over as chief of staff from Dr. Michael Pelkey, noting the similarities of their names created some confusion at first.

“I get his mail, he gets mine,” Perley said with a chuckle.

Perley, a native of Tobique First Nation, graduated from medical school in 1980 and returned home to set up his practice. His dedication to the communities of Tobique and Woodstock First Nations and the enhancement of health care throughout the region earned him national recognition.

In 2017, Perley received the Order of New Brunswick “for his contributions to the province’s medical community and for advancing the interests of First Nation communities in the province and across the country.”

derstands the company is making a large investment in the mill during the shutdown and that wouldn’t be happening unless they were confident of its longterm viability.

While a large portion of the New Brunswick economy was forced to close as the province tries to limit the spread of the virus, Kitchen said the Nackawic mill continued to operate with social-distancing measures in place.

To this point, he said, Nackawic has fared reasonably well during the crisis.

“Our job loss wasn’t large,” he said.

Although a few businesses had to close their doors and restaurants were reduced primarily to take out, many people, like

town staff, could work from home.

He said the province is slowly lifting its restrictions and he hopes to see the entire province soon open for business, but empha-

sized everyone must continue to take measures to limit the spread of the virus.

The mayor praised the efforts of New Brunswick officials in their handling of the crisis.

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The River Valley Sun is a free, editorially independent monthly newspaper serving the Upper St. John River Valley of New Brunswick. “Our mission is to share feature stories, a variety of viewpoints, and information about local community events, minor sports, and municipal news that isn’t always covered by mainstream media. We believe a community is stronger when people know and understand their neighbours.”

Editorial Policy: The River Valley Sun welcomes letters on subjects of interest to our readers and prints columns on a variety of topics. Use of any material is at the discretion of the editors, and we reserve the right to omit or edit letters to meet space requirements, for clarity, or to avoid libel or invasion of privacy. Letters and columns published do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies or beliefs of the newspaper.

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 2

IN CRISIS?

Here are the numbers to call: RCMP/Woodstock Police

911

Upper River Valley Hospital

375-5900

Hôtel Dieu – Perth-Andover

273-7100

Woodstock Mental Health

325-4419

Perth-Andover Mental Health

273-4701

After Hours Mobile Crisis 1-888-667-0444 CHIMO

1-800-667-5005

Telecare

811

Nackawic Health Centre

575-6600

Tobique Valley Comm. Health

356-6600

Brought to you by the Woodstock Suicide Prevention Committee

Help for DRUG ADDICTION

Tele-care 811 Tele-Care is a free, confidential, health advice and information line. Dial 811 to access bilingual, registered nurses, 24/7.

Chimo Helpline 1-800-667-5005 Chimo is a provincial crisis phone line, accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to all residents of New Brunswick.

Hope for Wellness Helpline 1-855-242-3310 The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer counselling and crisis intervention.

Woodstock Addictions and Mental Health 506-325-4419 / Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Perth-Andover Addictions and Mental Health 506-273-4701 / Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit 1-888-667-0444 - 7 days a week from 2 - 10 pm Inpatient Detoxification Services: access by self-referral only; all admissions are voluntary. The detoxification unit provides inpatient treatment for the withdrawal from mood altering substances such as alcohol, cocaine, opiates and other drugs.

Fredericton Detoxification Unit 506-452-5525 / Located at 65 Brunswick St., Fredericton, NB A 10-bed unit that provides medical support, education, and recovery planning for substance abuse and gambling. Phone 452-5525; accepts messages only, calls are returned to plan admissions Monday through Friday.

Miramichi Detoxification Unit 506-623-6175 / Located at 500 Water St., Miramichi. NB. Moncton Detoxification Unit 506-856-2333 / Located at 81 Albert St., Moncton, NB. Ridgewood Addiction Services 506-674-4300 / Located at 416 Bay St., South Bay, Saint John, NB provides a range of services for individuals, youth and family members affected by substance abuse and gambling.

Residential rehabilitation facilities Ridgewood Centre (Saint John) 506-647-4300 / 416 Bay St., South Bay, Saint John, NB Campbellton Regional Addiction Services 506-789-7055 / 53 Gallant Dr., Campbellton, NB Rising Sun Treatment Centre (First Nations) 506-627-4626 / 31 Riverview Rd., Eel Ground, NB Portage Atlantic 1-888-735-9800 / Cassidy Lake, NB, is a nonprofit organization established in 1995, operates a residential drug addiction rehabilitation centre for Atlantic Canada youth (14-21) in New Brunswick.

Early Recovery Group, Woodstock - each Wednesday (unless school is closed due to weather) from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at Bicentennial Boardroom (1st Floor), 200 King Street, Bicentennial Place, Woodstock, NB Early Recovery Group in Perth-Andover - each Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Mental Health and Addictions at 35F Tribe Rd., Perth-Andover, NB Harvest House Woodstock hosts MAMA Meetings (Mothers Against Meth Addiction) on Mondays at 7 pm. This is a women-only group, providing a safe place for women struggling with family members whose lives are being destroyed by drug abuse. For more information contact Natasha Smith at 323-9315. *In an emergency, call 911 or visit a local ER*

River Valley Sun Box 1000, Woodstock, NB, E7M 0E9 (506) 325-2552 MANAGING EDITOR: Jim Dumville (506) 325-8523 jim@rivervalleysun.ca PUBLISHER/DESIGN: Theresa Blackburn (506) 324-5700 theresa@rivervalleysun.ca PUBLISHER/DISTRIBUTION: Stephen Chisholm (506) 324-5711 www.rivervalleysun.ca ISSN # 2562-3893 Canada Post Mail Agreement # 43021515 The River Valley Sun follows Canadian Press Style guidelines. *Unauthorized bulk removal of the River Valley Sun from any public location, or tampering with our distribution, including unauthorized inserts, is prohibited.

2020-05-13 11:31 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA

Local farmer says the loss of foreign workers will hurt

3

Strawberry Hill Farm owner says decision will lead to lower production, higher prices

By Jim Dumville

A

s planting season arrives in New Brunswick, many farmers took a huge hit late last month when they learned the foreign workers, upon whom the agriculture industry heavily relies, will not be available this year.

Citing the province’s ongoing COVID-19 battle, Premier Blaine Higgs announced on Tuesday, April 28, new restrictions which will deny entry to the province of 600 workers hired through the federal Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program.

Some N.B. farmers, including Tim Livingstone of Strawberry Hill Farm near Woodstock, say that decision delivers a devastating blow to their agriculture operations.

Livingstone said the four Mexican workers, due to arrive earlier this month, provide the experience and skills which play a pivotal role in the production of more than 50 crops grown on his organic farm.

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 3

During his daily COVID-19 update Wednesday, April 29, Higgs said the decision to prohibit any further entry under the TFW program was needed to protect against further spread of the novel coronavirus.

Higgs explained New Brunswick already has an estimated 1,500 workers in the province under the TFW program, including many who are looking for employment. In addition, he said, the combination of unemployed New Brunswickers and students seeking summer jobs leaves close to 70,000 people seeking work in the province.

The premier acknowledged those workers don’t offer the skills and experience held by the foreign workers but he believes they can be trained to fill the vacant farm jobs.

He said it may require three local workers to replace one experienced foreign worker, but he believes farm producers can make the necessary adjustments.

Livingstone said the foreign workers he employs have worked at his farm for several years, spending six months in the province, from planting to the harvesting season. He said the foreign workers account for onequarter to one-third of his workforce and their vast experience cannot simply be replaced on short notice.

Livingstone said he was unprepared for the sudden TFW announcement.

“It took me by surprise,” he said.

He said New Brunswick Agriculture Minister Ross Wetmore gave him a “heads up” about the plans a day before it was announced.

Livingstone said the minister told him while he argued to maintain the program, it was a cabinetlevel decision.

Livingstone said part of the problem is the public doesn’t fully understand the basics of the TFW program. He said foreign workers are not paid less

(Jim Dumville photo)

than domestic workers, plus they pay income tax, even though they don’t qualify to draw on it. He said they sometimes make more than local workers based primarily on production.

The farmer said that production is the key concern surrounding the decision to prohibit foreign workers. He said it is likely his and other farms in New Brunswick will see a significant drop in food production this summer, which in turn will hurt food security and drive up prices for produce.

“If prices double people are going to be hurt,” he said.

At his Wednesday, April COVID-19 update, Higgs defended this government’s decision on the TFW program, saying the threat to public health took precedence over the need for foreign workers.

“Immediately, we kind of think of the worst-case scenario,” he said.

Higgs said farmers, like other businesses in New Brunswick, must adjust to new circumstances.

“I’m asking farmers and producers here in our province to say, ‘I know it’s not business as usual.’”

The premier said he recognizes the importance of foreign workers to farm operations, noting many have been working on the same farms for years, but the situation calls for adjustments.

“I know it’s not business as usual, but it hasn’t been for months,” Higgs said.

Livingstone said farmers are willing to make adjustments, but those adjustments will come at a cost in the form of higher prices and lower production.

He said he and other farmers put strong mea-

sures in place to protect against the spread of the virus from incoming workers, including isolation upon arrival and extra housing if required.

While Higgs noted 1,500 foreign workers already in the province are looking for employment, Livingstone said, few, if any, are trained farmworkers. He explained most are fish-plant workers or truckers or work in other fields.

On an operation like Strawberry Hill Farms, Livingstone said, his TFW workers have years of experience in growing the 50 different types of organic fruits and vegetables. He said production involves much more than planting and harvesting.

Livingstone said the workers understand the entire process from start to finish, including planting, cultivating, preparing, harvesting, washing and more. He said each step from beginning to end plays a role in the quantity and quality of food production.

With a drop in production, he said, not only will the price of produce increase but consumers will be forced to rely more heavily upon imported products from the United States. That, he said, will mean more trucks coming across the border and an increased risk of bringing the virus to our province.

In the three weeks since the announcement, Livingstone said he has been left in the dark.

“The government response has been deafeningly silent,” he said.

At his April 29 COVID-19 update, Higgs said officials will examine the TFW applications in detail and may make exceptions in certain fields where these positions can’t be

filled.

That’s not happening with New Brunswick farmers, said Livingstone.

He said neither he directly, nor provincial farming associations, have heard an update from the government.

While Green Leader David Coon and People’s Alliance leader Kris Austin publicly expressed support for farmers needing foreign-worker support, Livingstone said their comments failed to change the situation on his or other farms.

Livingstone said his farm’s employment model includes 240 hours for skilled workers and 320 hours of unskilled labour.

To date, he said, Strawberry HIll Farms has only one-third of those hours filled.

He said he filled 180 hours of unskilled positions. Skilled positions are basically unfilled, he said, although they may have 40 hours filled with a potential skilled worker.

“She’s not totally skilled, but is a fast learner,” he said.

Livingstone said Strawberry Hill Farms operates a box program with customers ordering ahead for regular delivery of boxed vegetables and fruit. He said the farm has already “closed down” orders.

As demand for box programs is increasing throughout the U.S. and Canada because customers like the idea of fewer hands touching their food supply, Livingstone said, he is being forced to cut back on his program.

Noting he and his family are “self employed,” the continuing uncertainty about the farm’s viability makes planning for his own economic welfare almost impossible.

2020-05-13 11:31 AM

4

Potato industry reeling from COVID-19 challenges

Producers welcome federal support but say more is needed

By Jim Dumville

P

otato farmers along the Upper St. John River Valley are facing a dilemma as they prepare for the planting season during the COVID-19 pandemic which gutted the potato market, worldwide.

While an announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on May 5, detailing plans for a $50-million surplus food purchase program provided a degree of help, farmers remain unclear what’s in store for this season and even the next.

“It’s planting season and we don’t know what to plant,” said Roy Culberson, president of Ralph B. Culberson and Sons, a large potato producer in Jacksonville.

“The problem is to know what to do right now.”

In making the announcement, Trudeau said the purchase program is designed to both assist farmers who have lost their markets with the closure of bars and restaurants both at home and abroad, and to ensure communities and

families in need of food get food.

Kalvin Reid, a senior consultant with Enterprise Canada, said the program is what Canadian farmers were seeking but it’s only a start to the amount of investment needed.

“While farmers believe there will have to be more money dedicated to the program,” said Reid, “farmers appreciate having the government step in and are encouraged that they have asked for help and the government has listened.”

In a press release responding to the federal government announcement, McCain Foods welcomes the creation of the Surplus Food Purchase Program but believes more must be done.

“Over the recent weeks McCain, alongside potato farmers across the country, has been asking the government to participate in finding a solution for the large surplus of potatoes caused by the closure of restaurants due to coronavirus,” the Florenceville-Bristolbased company said in its release.

Prepping seed potatoes. (Kim Culberson photo)

McCain said the timing of implementation of the program is vital.

“This support needs to be in place quickly, as potatoes in store are at risk of spoiling as the weather warms,” it said in its release. “Finally, we are encouraged by the Prime Minister’s appreciation of Canadian farmers and food producers, and the commitment to more funding if and when required.”

Reid said Canadian farmers are facing its biggest challenge in decades because of the virus.

“The economic shut down of Canada has put more than $250 million worth of potatoes in storage across Canada,

jeopardizing an important agricultural sector in New Brunswick,” Reid said.

He said the demand for potatoes is unprecedented.

“With restaurants and bars across the country shuttered, demand for French fries has cratered — food purchases from this industry have dropped 70 per cent.” he said. “The food currently in storage cannot last forever, and farmers need to plan their 2020 crop now.”

Culberson said the impact on the potato industry reaches beyond the current challenges.

“It’s not just the impact now it’s a year or two years down the road,” he said.

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Three people arrested following Woodstock stabbing

One person taken to hospital for treatment of stab wounds RIVER VALLEY SUN

P

olice arrested three persons on Wednesday, May 6, in connection with a May 2 stabbing in Woodstock which sent one person to the hospital.

In a press release issued on May 7, the Woodstock Police Force

explained officers, at 12:25 p.m. on May 2, responded to a disturbance and assault with a weapon complaint to a residence near Connell and Gold Street in Woodstock.

Police said a 37-yearold individual was taken to hospital in Waterville with an upper-body injury after being stabbed. The

individual was treated at the hospital and released.

The media release said on May 6, the Woodstock Police Force took three individuals into custody in relation to this investigation, adding they were later released on conditions and will appear in court at a later date.

Woodstock Police Force said the investigation is ongoing, adding investigators do not believe the incident was a random act.

Police ask anyone with information to call Woodstock Police Force at 1-506-325-4601 or contact CRIME STOPPERS.

(File photo)

Two men, woman face drug charges

Arrests stem from search of Woodstock residence in January RIVER VALLEY SUN

T

wo men and a woman will face drug charges in connection to a search warrant executed at a residence on Lower Main Street in Woodstock on Jan. 17.

In a press release issued May 7, the Woodstock Police Force said charges that day were laid in Woodstock provincial court against Austin Wayne Castricone-Roberts, Alexander

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 4

Anthony Travis Busch and Violet Loise Busch.

The release said the Jan. 17 warrant was issued as part of an ongoing investigation for offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Criminal Code. Police said three people were arrested at the time and released with instructions to appear in court at a later date.

The Woodstock Police Force was assisted in the

investigation by members from the Fredericton Police Force, RCMP West District, and Department of Public Safety.

Violet Louise Busch was charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of psilocybin (mushrooms), one count of possession of prohibited weapon, and one count breach of undertaking.

Alexander Anthony Travis Busch faces

charges on one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of psilocybin (mushrooms), one count of possession of a prohibited weapon, and one count breach of undertaking.

Castricone-Roberts’ charges include one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of psilocybin (mushrooms), and one count possession of a prohibited

weapon.

All three are scheduled to appear in Woodstock Provincial Court on Tuesday, June 9, at 09:30 a.m. to enter a plea.

In its release, the Woodstock Police Force said it recognizes the presence of illicit drugs in our community as a serious public safety concern.

“We are committed to raising awareness related to the effects of

these drugs and continue to work closely with our partner agencies and the community to address these concerns,” the release stated.

Police ask anyone with information on the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in the community to contact Woodstock Police Force at 1-506-325-4601 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-TIPS (8477) or visit online at www.crimenb. ca.

2020-05-13 11:31 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA

Trucking during the crisis

5

Woodstock driver shares road experiences on weekly round-trips to Ontario

By Paul J. Graham

D

uring the COVID-19 crisis many individuals, who perhaps we take for granted, such as grocery clerks and truck drivers, are being recast as both essential and heroic.

Even as Premier Higgs begins relaxing some of the limitations on our freedoms, there are still those individuals working in or near COVID-19 hotspots. In a recent article, I interviewed Woodstock resident Daniel Stairs on his chosen profession in long-haul trucking. Now with a weekly route from Woodstock to Ontario, I caught up with him to find out how things are going during this crisis.

One of the first things we talked about was the provincial borders. During any other time, fellow Canadians and tourists travel this incredible country with hardly a thought for crossing provincial boundaries.

During the COVID-19 crisis, however, it takes on a whole new significance.

Stairs’ route now takes him from New Brunswick into Ontario once a week

and that means stopping at checkpoints. Although most long-haul trucks will be waved through, they stop all other vehicles for inspection.

Stairs praised New Brunswick’s efforts to make the process as efficient as possible.

“From what I’ve seen, N.B. has the best set up for the blockade. They have signs saying have your registration ready, your insurance. The other provinces don’t seem to be doing that much. There’s nothing in Ontario.”

Stairs said the traffic changed considerably in all the Atlantic provinces, except when in heading into Ontario. And guess what he’s been delivering for the last four weeks into the greater Toronto area? You got it, tissue paper.

With Stairs’ travels taking him to provinces, like Quebec and Ontario, still dealing with COVID-19 challenges, I asked him what precautions he’s taking to stay safe.

“Whenever I get fuel, I wear my latex gloves. I have a jug of bleach and water, spray the pump

handle down and keypad.

Some guys might joke around and think it’s funny.

You’re doing it to protect yourself, you’re doing it to protect the other drivers.

I’ve been doing that everywhere I stop.”

Stairs said not all drivers take the same precautions at the pumps, noting some drivers don’t take it as seriously. The Woodstock trucker believes that’s a mistake.

“You need to be diligent and pay attention to what the government is telling you because it’s not a joke,” said Stairs.

One of the more reported challenges for truckers during the crisis has been the lack of service and support. While the public relies on drivers to keep people well supplied in during these challenging times, it seems truckers face a harder time on the road.

“Well, it’s really difficult.

The place that I’d stop in Quebec. Normally I’d stop there, take a shower, get some food and coffee and whatnot. Now you’re not even allowed to use the showers.”

Stairs said getting a cup

of coffee in some locations can be a challenge.

“To go through the Tim Hortons, you have to walk through to the drivethrough window. There have been some pretty cold days, it’s only April so you’re standing in line breathing in the exhaust from the vehicles in front of you and behind you and it’s cold out. It almost makes you feel like they don’t respect you.”

Fortunately, Stairs discovered some locations supporting truckers, such as an Irving Big Stop in Quebec.

“They’re still offering showers, inside services for truck drivers, you can get your coffee and stuff.

And it’s just a better overall experience,” he said. “You can tell who respects the drivers and who doesn’t in a time like this.”

Stairs said he appreciates the expressions of support truckers find along the way. At the same time, he wants to express his gratitude and respect for the healthcare workers and first responders who remain on the job protecting everyone.

Trucker Daniel Stairs. (Paul J. Graham photo)

“We’re all in this together,” he said.

Author’s note: We should all be proud of those who have worked diligently through the crisis. They keep our families supported and healthy.

However, we must also take time to consider how we are going to show real support for workers in the future.

Is it enough to show

symbolic support with roadside signs, a cup of coffee or complimentary words? When we have the chance to support Guaranteed Income, Living Wage policy, or simply better support for our senior homes, will we shun such options as too expensive, or remember this moment in history when individuals of good character supported us with unwavering duty?

Town partners with Families Helping Families

Council passes resolution establishing fund to collect donations for group

By Jim Dumville

T

he Town of Woodstock has joined forces with local volunteer group Families Helping Families, an organization created during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis to help local families in need of food.

At the Woodstock council meeting, held by conference call April 14, council passed a resolution that will see the town establish a fund to collect donations for Families Helping Families and issue tax receipts to donors.

Woodstock CAO Ken Anthony said the idea of the partnership with the group began with a phone call from businessman Wes Corey, who helped launch Families Helping Families from his The River restaurant at the beginning of the enforced social distancing to fight the novel coronavirus.

Anthony said Corey explained Families Helping Families started small when he and other partners, supported by small donations from area residents, began providing meals for families in need.

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 5

With the project growing through more substantial donations and more money flowing in, Anthony told the council, Corey asked if the town could establish a fund to help with the collection and accounting of the funds.

Anthony said he took the proposal to the town’s accountants and lawyers to review, and director of administrative services Ann Marie Vautour worked closely with Corey to establish the framework for the fund.

The resolution read into the council meeting by Mayor Art Slipp explained the town “wishes to establish a fund to provide financial support to the Families Helping Families group.”

According to the resolution, the town will oversee the administration of the fund and encourage the public to support it through donations. The town will issue tax receipts to donors under Section 118.1 of the Income Tax Act. In a previous interview with the River Valley Sun, Corey explained the Families Helping Families began on March 19, when

he started a lunch program from his restaurant.

Corey explained he and others knew many area families, with children, depend on the school breakfast and lunch programs.

With schools closed, those families no longer had that option.

He said area residents, businesses and groups quickly joined on to support the program with funds and volunteer time. Families Helping Families expanded the number of lunches, then added Sunday dinners delivered by volunteers from local churches to area seniors and others.

Families Helping Families’ support included the delivery of several truckloads of food to the Valley Food Bank.

Mayor Slipp said council and administration are proud to support the project which is doing so much for the community. He said Families Helping Families is just one of several initiatives launched by area residents during the current crisis.

“We had so many people step up, doing things to support the community,” said Slipp.

Through the fund, he said, the town will col-

lect the money and pay the bills. He explained the group will provide the invoices for food and other expenses and the town will pay them directly to the suppliers.

While the fund has not been fully implemented as yet, Slipp said, the plan is to enable people to donate

through the town website, using similar methods used to pay utility and other bills.

He said donors will also be able to send cheques payable to Families Helping Families to the Town of Woodstock address.

Woodstock council unanimously passed the resolution.

2020-05-13 11:31 AM

6

Woodstock Town Council Briefs

By Jim Dumville *No food trucks allowed Woodstock council has suspended approval of Transient Traders and Peddler licence requests until July 31. Council will review their decision after that date. Citing COVID-19 restrictions the decision effectively prohibits food trucks in town borders. *Meeting delayed Woodstock council continues to discuss how to hold the public meeting surrounding its 10-year Municipal Plan. Originally scheduled for May 11, council members agreed to postpone it until at least May 25, noting a public meeting cannot be held under COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. If the same restrictions remain in place, council will have to consider a further postponement or develop a plan to do it remotely online. *Police services online The Woodstock Police

Force is now doing criminal record background checks and other services online.

The services, which was forced to be cancelled because of socialdistancing restrictions, reopened online earlier this month.

It provides records checks for immigration, employment, and student checks. *No toll road on Deakin One of Woodstock’s most popular fundraising options has become the latest victim of coronavirus social-distancing protocols. At the May 11 council meeting, the council voted 5-2 against awarding Toll Road permits this year.

Each year, the town allows three selected nonprofit groups to set up a toll booth on Deakin Drive.

Citing the inability to ensure safe physical distancing could be

achieved, council opted to postpone the toll roads until 2021. *Electrical tender award The town awarded Sarchfield Electric with the contract to carry out the interior lighting upgrade in the AYR Motor Centre arena and field house.

Sarchfield’s bid of $163,700 was the lowest of six accepted tenders. The work is part of the Energy Conservation Measures Project. *New cafe operators The firm Ketchup and Bite Me was awarded the right to operate the AYR Motor Centre cafe over the next three years.

The town issued a request for proposals and the Ketchup and Bite Me owners’ proposal was the only one submitted.

After review, the recreation and community services committee recommended the proposal be accepted.

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ARREST WARRANT

Woodstock RCMP is asking for public support to locate Nicholas Carl Manzer, a 22-year-old man from Perth-Andover, N.B. Mr. Manzer is wanted on a warrant of arrest and is charged with two counts of failing to comply with an undertaking and one count of assault. The charges stem from an incident of assault that occurred on Tues. Apr. 21, 2020, at a residence in Perth-Andover.

Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate him but have not been successful. Nicholas Manzer is described as being five feet four inches (162 centimetres) tall, blonde hair and blue eyes and weighing 115 pounds (52 kilograms). If you have any information on the whereabouts of Nicholas Manzer, contact Crime Stoppers.

Check out the Crime of the Week on Facebook: Western NB Crime Stoppers To provide an anonymous tip call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

Call 324-5700 for more info!

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2020-05-13 11:32 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA

7

A year of infamy: Searching for 2020 vision I have several years which I can reflect upon for their life-changing impact, both on a personal level and my world view.

My Thoughts Exactly

W

By Jim Dumville

hen I awoke Sunday morning to find Woodstock painted white thanks to a late-spring snowstorm, I snapped a few photos and joked about a white Mother’s Day. “Isolation has me confused,” I wrote on Facebook, “but this is Mother’s Day, not New Year’s Day, right?”

After offering my thanks to all mothers out there, I added, “on the other hand, I’d welcome a do-over of 2020.”

My post was meant as some lighthearted fun about a major snowstorm in May, which was severe enough to shut down traffic along the Trans-Canada Highway between Long’s Creek and Grand Falls. After all, it was May and two days later the deep covering of snow was all but gone. However, even with jokes, there is a hint of sad reality in the attempt at humour.

The wish to start 2020 again was based on my realization that the current year may well be the worst of the 66 years I experienced. I’m sure I’m not the only one believing 2020 vision is not showing us what we hoped to see.

Certain years will forever be etched in our memory for the events or realization that shaped our perspective on the world around us. Whether it’s personal milestones or heartbreak or an international calamity, most of us look back on certain years with a sense of joy or dread. For many, 2020 will be a year their perspective on life changed dramatically.

While I can’t remember it, 1954 must top the list of great years, personally. Heck, it was the year I was born as the youngest child of six to two wonderful parents to begin my life experiencing the type of family love every human should enjoy. It was only as I grew older did I realize the family bliss I experienced was not universal.

It was 1962, as an eight-year-old, when I realized world events, far from our doorstep and beyond my comprehension, could weigh heavily on the minds of my usually positive parents.

Mom and Dad didn’t know it, but I was absorbing their genuine concern as they listened to news about something called the Cuban Missile Crisis and their fears of a third world war.

I’ll always remember 1971 as the year I graduated high school with the dreams of a bright future laying before me. However, it was also the year that I experienced the impact of great tragedy when three young men, two of whom were close friends, died in a traffic accident.

While I’m sure I experienced plenty of great moments as a 22-year-old in 1976, the year will always be remembered for the loss of my father. Taken from us far too young, but his impact on my life and so many others live on.

I’ll remember 1992 as the year I headed to Woodstock to pursue a long-held dream of being a journalist and 1994 as the year I actually became one.

Sept. 11, 2001, is the day of infamy for millions. Personally, I remember looking over the shoulder of a co-worker at a computer screen at the image of the collapsing twin towers which shook the world.

My memories of 2007 will always be the year I lost my mother. The woman, who always had my back and never wavered in her support for me, her entire family and community, was gone forever.

For everyone, the years come and go. Each brings its share of joy and heartbreak. Most are simply moments

Mother’s Day, 2020 looked more like New Year’s Day, but it’s all part of a strange year. It spurred some wishful thinking of perhaps we could get a 2020 do-over. But, alas, we’ll have to make the best of a bad year and learn from the lessons it’s teaching us. (Jim Dumville photo)

in time. I said goodbye to far too many friends and family. But, I also rejoiced in the birth of new family members, enjoyed the creation of new friendships and celebrated in the accomplishments of so many people I love.

Through it all, 2020 seems to stand out from the crowd of years which make up a lifetime. COVID-19 is not a bad day or a localized tragedy. It’s long-lasting and worldwide. It is altering the course of time. Not since the Great Depression or the World Wars has humanity shared a similar common experience.

Add to that, the brutal killing rampage in Nova Scotia and ever-widening political polarization throughout society, the scars of COVID-19 will remain with us well into the future. Our best

hope is to learn the lesson this novel coronavirus taught us. While we wait to get back to normal, we have to return to a new normal.

Humanity has to learn that in its selfish battle with nature, nature will always win. Nature doesn’t need us. We need nature.

We all remember our personal years of infamy. And our personal years of joy. It’s up to us to gather strength from those years of joy to reduce the number of years of infamy we must experience. 2020 will be a year to remember.

Just be sure to remember the lessons it tried to teach us.

Jim Dumville is a resident of Woodstock, a passionate journalist, and the managing editor of the River Valley Sun.

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0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 7

2020-05-13 11:32 AM

8

POTPOURRI

(... paying homage to late, local radio personalities Bruce Smith and Walter Tompkins)

A Roundup of Interesting Photos and Events

COVID-19 through Tammey McLean’s lens

Amanda King keeping customers and staff safe at Country Style at Kojax Petro Canada. (Tammey McLean photo)

Kaleigh Furrow passes the Interac machine to a customer at Dairy Queen. (Tammey McLean photo)

Erin McKinley Reno is hard at work loading cars at Superstore in Woodstock. (Tammey McLean photo)

Buddy Barss rings the bell at the United Church in Hartland every Sunday at noon. (Tammey McLean photo)

Busy Kitchen: Hartland ValuFoods staff and volunteers fed hundreds on Easter Sunday. (Tammey McLean photo)

Local author Jim Shaw expressing ‘caffeinated’ happiness in Woodstock. (Tammey McLean photo)

AYR Motor Express CARES about our community, which is why we are proud to support the River Valley Sun and other community strengthening initiatives in our region. www.AYRMOTOR.com

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 8

The Best is the LEAST we can do!

2020-05-13 11:32 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA

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Finding hope in difficult times

RIVERSIDE RAMBLINGS

By Carolyn Brown

R

iverside Court is proud to be one of the MacLeod group of homes – the first one in the Province of New Brunswick. There are two homes in PEI, and the other nine are in Nova Scotia. Collectively these homes employ around 1000 employees – many of them in Nova Scotia.

The words ”MacLeod Cares” have become syn-

onymous with our homes.

When we learned of the mass shooting in Nova Scotia, our heartache was immense. Riverside Court wanted to do something that demonstrated how much we cared and were thinking of our fellow employees in Nova Scotia. While respecting social distancing, we gathered at Riverside on April 24 to honour those who were taken, and the families affected. We paid special homage to the family of the fallen RCMP officer.

I invited Riverside Administrator Brad MacMillan to share his thoughts, as his family has a history with the RCMP. Brad’s father is retired Staff Sergeant Mitch MacMillan,

who served for 30 years in law enforcement with both the RCMP and the Woodstock Police Force.

Additionally, Brad has three uncles and an aunt who have nearly 100 years in combined law enforcement service.

We played the song, A Garment of White, which was written by Mitch MacMillan after the 2014 RCMP shootings in Moncton and later recorded with his group, Never Too Late. We followed the song with a moment of silence for our Nova Scotia neighbours and friends.

Later that day, we celebrated some milestones. April birthdays included Lois Goodine, Anne Marie Kelly, Mabel

Ebbett, and Lennie Budd.

With some recorded music and a birthday cake, we reminded ourselves that life can still be full of hope and promise. Although we come together to celebrate and mourn in different ways, we can always find comfort in each other. Residents miss their families and friends but remain courageous in these times. They inspire staff to accept the challenge ahead and remind us to recognize the quiet voice inside, telling us we can try again tomorrow, and we will find a way forward. That is hope.

Carolyn Brown is a Community Relations Associate at Riverside Court Retirement Residence in Woodstock.

From left, Administrator Brad MacMillan with Marilyn Morrisey (health care), resident Doris Barrie, and Catherine Dunn (front desk). (Carolyn Brown photo)

Meet three vibrant centenarians IN A ‘MANOR’ OF SPEAKING

A

By Jane Jones

t Carleton Manor, we are home to 110 seniors who are our friends, family, and loved ones.

They are our neighbours and we care very much about one another. This month, we’re highlighting three of our neighbours who are celebrating 100 years young.

Inez Burnett is a New Brunswicker, a fabulous cook, a tomato connoisseur, and the wife of Fred.

Inez was born in Upper

Brighton in 1919. She had three sisters and five brothers. One of her brothers is still living and residing in a nursing home. One of her favourite memories is going to Regina to see her nephew graduate from the RCMP. Inez loves tomatoes – sliced, cooked and served with pasta, and fresh squeezed. If there’s a tomato to be eaten, Inez is a happy gal.

One of our activity coordinators, Mae, grows tomato plants just so Inez can have a fresh tomato anytime she desires. Inez would have us believe that she’s not a fan of having her photo taken, however, on her birthday, she hap-

Inez Burnett (Photo submitted)

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 9

pily posed with every person who wished to have their photo taken with her … ambulance attendants, manor staff, volunteers, and especially her nephew who came to celebrate her big day with her.

Amy Brownlee is an Ontarian, a former army sergeant, a proud mom, a sports enthusiast, and a pianist Amy was born in Ottawa in 1919. She was in the army and worked for the federal government.

She has two children, Bill and Bob, and has three grandchildren, six greatgrandchildren and one great-great-grandchild!

Amy loves the Toronto Blue

Jays and the Vancouver Canucks and was fortunate enough to meet her favourite hockey player, Glenn Anderson.

Amy loves a good massage, ballroom dancing, and gardening. She can hardly wait until she can get back in the manor bus and go to Murray’s for breakfast where she’ll get to sit and visit with her son and daughter-in-law.

For her 100th birthday, Amy requested a family party with a band and to have her nails painted red.

We’re happy to say that Amy got her wishes.

Madeline Faulkner is originally from the U.S., a devoted wife, a fan of the

Amy Brownlee (Photo submitted)

arts, and an eternal optimist Madeline was born in Monticello, Maine in 1919.

She had 12 siblings of which there are two still living. She went to school until Grade 8 and married the love of her life at 17. Madeline and Frank had three sons and many beautiful grandchildren. In her youth, Madeline loved to wear dresses and did some ‘silly things’ like walking downtown without her mother’s permission and once she turned 16, wore coloured nail polish. Madeline has enjoyed a broad array of careers – babysitter, cook, potato field worker and nurse’s aid. After her husband passed, she

moved to California. The highlight of the move was meeting Roy Rogers! If you were to sit down with Madeline and ask her the secret to a long and beautiful life, she would tell you to not sweat the small stuff, to live life to the fullest and not to be so cautious.

While Inez, Amy and Madeline are waiting for family visiting to resume, they will be hanging out together in our courtyard, enjoying the fresh air, the flowers and well-deserved attention from the Carleton Manor Team.

Jane Jones handles public relations at Carleton Manor in Woodstock.

Madeline Faulkner (Photo submitted)

2020-05-13 11:32 AM

10

’ TAKONUTOMAKONUWAL

(Maliseet word meaning ‘their stories’)

News and Features from Woodstock First Nation

Woodstock First Nation childcare centre to remain closed Band Council and Aboriginal Head Start director set September 1 as opening date

By Theresa Blackburn

D

espite the provincial okay to open daycares across the province, Woodstock First Nation has decided to keep their childcare centre closed.

“I’m relieved. I had concerns,” explained Aboriginal Head Start OnReserve Director Lisa Sappier.

At a WFN Chief and Council meeting on May 12, it was decided to keep the centre closed until September 1.

The daycare and all health and social development programs on the Woodstock First Nation are federally funded and don’t fall under provincial jurisdiction.

The centre is registered for 24 children and employs ten full-time educators plus a few call-in staff.

“I advised the chief and council of my concerns,” said Sappier. “I’m relieved they listened. I honestly didn’t know how we could have opened safely. How can you social distance with children who don’t under-

stand? Children have no concept of social distancing.”

Sappier said she had many frantic calls from parents when the province announced daycares could reopen on May 19.

“I reminded them that we don’t have to follow them. We know how careful we have to be with this,” said Sappier, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When you look at the socioeconomic conditions of all First Nations in Canada with multiple generations living in one home, plus our history when it comes to respiratory illness, we have more to worry about.”

Sappier said that while she’s missing her kids, she knows that the safety of the community could be at risk if she opened.

“The daily exchange of germs that little ones are exposed to in a daycare poses a real risk to our Elders. We can’t prevent that exchange, so it really is in our community’s best interest and

Aboriginal Head Start students learn about traditional ceremonies. Left: Lisa Sappier shows Brycen MacKey how to smudge. Smudging is used to purify or cleanse the soul of negative thoughts of a person or place. Right: Abby Gillespie, Brycen Mackey, and Rylan Dickinson learn why smudging is so important to their culture. Normally this ceremony isn’t allowed to be recorded or photographed, but the program got permission for teaching purposes, (Lisa Sappier photos)

safety to keep the centre closed.”

Sappier hopes the risk is lower in September so the centre can open when school is expected to start.

“We really don’t know, so I suspect Chief and Council will be looking at the situation again before that date,” said Sappier.

WFN Healthy Hamper Program MAY PICK-UP INFORMATION

For those who ordered and paid their $15, you can pick up your May hamper at the Woodstock First Nation Health Centre on May 20 - there will be social distancing protocols in place. The program is part of a bulk-buying initiative coordinated by Holly Polchies. For more information, contact Holly at hollypolchies@yahoo.ca

Pohpokhawihkw

Mother Tongue

By Anatasha Lyons

W

hile attending the St. Mary’s First Nation Adult Maliseet Immersion Program, afternoons incorporated field trips visiting sites mentioned in our oral tradition and collecting medi-

cines in Wəlastəkok.

My favourite medicine to collect is pohpokhawihkw, also known as the fir pitch of abies balsamea or stahkwən.

This skicinowi-pison (Passamaquoddy-Maliseet Portal, 2020) or native medicine, has extensive uses listed on the Native American Ethnobotany Database.

It is used as a diuretic and cough suppressant (Native American Ethnobotany Database, 2020).

According to Survivaltips.com, if you are lucky enough to live in balsam fir country, then you have a readily avail-

able supply of medicines.

It can also be used as fire starting aids, fire burning materials, food, and shelter making materials.

You can consider this tree an integral part of your survival gear. All you need is the knowledge necessary to tap into this free natural resource (Fontaine, 2005).

A simple knife is all you need to remove the nature-made “blister packs” to save for later use.

My preferred method of collection with the children of the Woodstock First Nation Preschool is

Words of the Month more involved.

Armed with small vials, toothpicks, and an endless supply of wipes, the children and I enjoy bursting and collecting this versatile medicine.

For myself, I have noted 2 hours of cough relief in my own personal use of ½ teaspoon of pohpokhawihkw to one cup of boiled water. It also tastes and smells like Christmas in a cup!

Anatasha Lyons is a wife, a mother, and Woodstock First Nation’s Language Coordinator. She is involved in language revitalization efforts in Wolastokuk.

Balsam Fir Pitch Pohpokhawihkw/Puhpukhawihq Phonetically: BOO-poog-HOW-weekw Balsam Fir Stahkwən/Stahqon Phonetically: STOCK-kwən Native Medicine Skicinowi-pison/Skicinuwi-pisun Phonetically: SKI-jin-OO-wee BEE-zoon

For pronunciaton help please visit //pmportal.org and type in the English using the Newell-Hale alphabet.

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With a distribution of 5,000 available in 76 locations from Beechwood to Nackawic, the River Valley Sun reaches people other platforms can’t. We offer competitive prices, free design, and we’ve removed the barrier of readers having to pay for their paper! Call Theresa @ 325-2552 or email theresa@rivervalleysun.ca 0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 10

2020-05-13 11:32 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 11

WELLNESS

Your Guide to Healthy Living in the St. John River Valley

Lessons from social isolation

Mere Mortal

By Kathy Sherwood-Orser

S

pring ahead, selfisolation, quarantine, social distancing and full moon! Seriously all of these happened in the same few weeks, and it truly feels like this was yesterday and not eight weeks ago. March 15, 2020, was the weekend

of the spring ahead. This time change has been long debated, and long blamed for fatigue, disordered sleeping and chronic confusion, followed almost immediately or simultaneously by the weeks of self-isolation and quarantine and social distancing. Yet here we are beginning to think things are going in the right direction, and we get a foot of snow.

Many people struggle year-round with anxiety, depression, and mental illness of many kinds. Still, these past eight weeks for me have been a time of reflection, a time of personal soul searching and,

at times, feelings of enormous stress. I struggled initially with the forced lack of social interaction, and yet as time has passed, I am forced to pause and acknowledge I have felt blessed by this forced time of pause.

I have been blessed that this time has been an opportunity to completely disengage from everything and then slowly or intentionally add a few to my day. But I have not felt the burning pressure.

I have not felt the burning urge to be everywhere. I have seen lots of jokes about the fact that obviously, time is not the reason I don’t clean every

nook and cranny of my house. Time is not what has stopped me from getting my taxes done or reading all the books I buy. But time has allowed me to relax; time has allowed me to breathe and let myself stop – genuinely stop.

So now what? As we begin the new normal, what lessons can I keep from this time? I can continue to be intentional in my choices. I don’t have to apologize for how I spend my time. I have also perhaps learned a little about myself. Like I can be patient and kind, I would have always said that I was, so maybe I

WORD OUT

Kathy Sherwood-Orser is the Western Valley Wellness Network Co-Chair and Wellness Champion who lives with her family in her childhood home in Hartland.

PLEASE REACH OUT!

Let us know what’s going on so we can help you share important information.

Please send a private message through the Western Valley Wellness Network Facebook page, or call or call (506) 328-5314

PLEASE SUBMIT

BY THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH! theresa@ rivervalleysun.ca

physically from the pandemic: graduates, folks with weddings planned, or the many people who lost family members during this terrible time.

I know that many have been deeply traumatized or affected by the pandemic. And for these folks, I am truly sympathetic. Prayers, hugs and thoughts for all as we all try and find the silver lining of we can.

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have learned the point where I tip into less patient and less kind.

How about learning that I can impact this. I have also heard myself laugh a bit more, which is awesome. Perhaps it was the few days of nice weather, but I also think it has been a break for me, a physical, emotional and social break and I, for one, will admit and embrace the fact that I am feeling blessed by this forced stop.

I certainly know this is not the case for the amazing folks working in the many essential services or the people impacted financially or

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12

NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS Information and Updates from Your Towns, Villages, and Local Service Districts

Florenceville-Bristol CNHS 2020 Grads The Town of Florenceville-Bristol would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication Carleton North Graduates have put into their 20192020 school year. The school year did not end the way we all wanted, but it does not diminish your accomplishment. Best of luck with wherever your dreams take you!

Town events & programs All events and programs have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic until further notice. Once things can resume, the public can find out what is going on on the town’s Community Calendar at www.florencevillebristol. ca/community-calendar or the town’s Recreation Facebook page at www. facebook.com/florencevillebristolrecreation/ and on the town’s Tourism and

Events Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ Florenceville-Bristol-Tourism-106836729404350 Special Garbage Pickup Florenceville-Bristol’s special garbage pickup will be Thursday, May 21. Please box, bag or bundle items whenever possible. Items that cannot be picked up include refrigerators, freezers, liquid waste, toxic materials, motor vehicle parts and construction/demolition debris exceeding 180 kg. Construction/demolition debris less than 180 kg will be picked up if bundled in units do not exceed 27 kgs and not more than 4 feet in length.

Woodstock Walk goes online The 13th annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s events, including one in Woodstock, will not be held this year in typical fashion. This year it will go online to protect the

safety of clients, volunteers, staff and fundraisers. On Sunday, May 31, organizers and supporters will come together virtually for a fun and exciting online event as a sign of solidarity and hope for those living with dementia.

Funds raised will support vital programs and services for those living with dementia and their families living in our communities.

OHW cancelled The long-running Woodstock tradition, Old Home Week, will be forced to skip a year as a result of the ongoing pandemic, as the Woodstock Old Home Week Commission announced the cancellation of the 2020 event. The event is the latest of major summer festivals cancelled for the year in Woodstock, including the Dooryard Arts Festival and the Ribfest. Current restrictions prohibit public gatherings of over 10 people.

Happy 95th Birthday to Woodstock’s Peggy Martin on May 20, 2020

Honour Your Favourite Graduate in the River Valley Sun Graduation Supplement!

For $30 plus tax ($34.50) you can honour your graduate in our June 15 paper.

Email the graduate’s name, school, future plans, and congratulatory message with their photo to theresa@ rivervalleysun.ca Deadline is June 1. E-transfers will be accepted to theresa@ agelessnb.ca, or you can mail a cheque to Box 1000, Woodstock, NB E7M 0E9.

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2020-05-13 11:32 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 13

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MILITARY MODELS & RUSTIC FURNITURE Garden boxes, shelves, picnic tables, garbage boxes, night stands and more.

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2020-05-13 11:32 AM

14

Larlee Creek Hullabaloo organizers cancel 2020 events

COVID-19 ends plans for August music festival in Perth-Andover RIVER VALLEY SUN

T

he 13th annual Larlee Creek Hullabaloo scheduled for August 5 to 9 in Perth-Andover has been cancelled in consideration of the current public health concerns surrounding COVID-19.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Larlee Creek Hullabaloo,” festival organizers said in a press release issued April 14.

The release explained health and safety was the driving force for the tough decision, saying

they couldn’t proceed under such unprecedented public health concerns.

“Of utmost importance is the well-being of our community, organizers, audience, artists, volunteers, partners, and anyone participating in our festival week.”

“We have not taken

this decision lightly,” the release said. “This year promised to be an incredible one for the festival— lucky 13! We’ve worked hard over the last eight months to bring you a Hullabaloo to remember, but have no doubt ‘The Little Festival That Could’ will return even stronger

in 2021.

In addition to the cancellation of our festival stages, the release also announced the cancellation of the 2020 Rock n’ Roll Boot Camp for local youth.

Larlee Creek organizers said support from the community is the back-

bone of the event, and their hearts rest deeply with all those who are feeling the impact of COVID-19.

The release also issued a reminder to save the date of August 11-15, 2021.

“We can’t wait to gather with all of you again.”

What direction will you choose?

OFF THE GRID

By Darius Shahrokhi

I

t was the year 2000, the year before I went back to school, and the year I started my digital photography/videography business. I remember having a difficult time convincing people that this was the future.

I remember one particular day when I was bored out of my mind and complaining to someone

that while the Internet had been around for a few years, I was disappointed with it. It had been a letdown for me. I knew there were interesting groups, organizations, and people out there that shared the same interests as me, but I wasn’t able to find them.

This was because, back then, there was but a fraction of the number of the sites on the web as there are today.

Now fast forward to the 2020 worldwide web. I bet there are just many websites as there are people with cell phones. Yes, some people have more than one cell phone, but some people also have more than one website.

Some have websites and

Facebook pages and blogs.

Even with these options, it is still hard to find what you are looking for in the first place. Sometimes this is sadly due to folks doing whatever it takes to stay ‘first’ on search engines, no matter how unethical, nonsensical, insane, costly, and timeconsuming that is.

“By the way, I have decided to boycott any website that bombards me with advertising on their pages. I understand that everyone needs money, but come on now, six blocks of irrelevant advertising following you as you scroll and some with videos? No, thank you.

With so much infor-

mation and websites out there, what we read/ watch/consume is still our choice. If you look for war, bad news, doom and gloom, sensationalism, angry debates and angry people, you will find them.

Similarly, if we choose to look for inspiring people, groups, organizations, and others that are doing good, making positive changes, are mindful, happy, moving, and positive, you will find them.

You may have to look a bit harder, but they are there.

Personally, I’m hoping that we take this unprecedented gift of time as an opportunity to consider making real changes – seek-out sustainable living, embracing and en-

couraging the renewable, nourishing our minds, bodies, and spirits with a more holistic approach this time. Maybe we will all begin to respect the natural world and other inhabitants on this earth.

I believe this is an opportune time to assess toxic jobs or people that surround us. It’s time to look at what we eat, or what we do that isn’t conducive to living a healthy lifestyle.

Cell repair only takes place when we are asleep.

Similarly, in this time of forced quiet, we have a chance to reflect, recognize, and vow to repair the damage. If you can’t tear yourself away from social media or the mov-

ie streaming sites, then at least use your time to search for positive movies, self-help sites and reach out to people who might be able to help you with positive changes you are looking for, or need.

So what will you choose? What direction do you want to go? What will it be?

Darius Shahrokhi is an inventor, writer, environmentalist, foodie, technology enthusiast, gardener, and photographer. He works as a sustainable living coach and consultant and lives off-grid with his family near Knowlesville. Reach him at greenearthling@gmail.com

Finding your identity: not a ‘once and done’ matter

FINDING ME

By Rebecca Dykeman

I

dentity. It’s a central theme of many books created for young adults.

One of my favourite novels to contain this theme is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It tells the story of Charlie, an introverted 15-year-old who writes letters to an anonymous friend about

his experiences of navigating high school and teenage life. By the end of the book, he comes to terms with some personal trauma and learns to accept himself for who he is.

It’s a touching story, and there are many more out there that are similar.

But as heartfelt as these books are, I feel their portrayal of self-discovery isn’t entirely accurate.

These novels make it seem like figuring yourself out is a linear process. The main characters always seem to have an “a-ha” moment where everything clicks.

They figure out who they are, and then they can live happily ever af-

ter without ever having to think about it again.

For me, it hasn’t been that simple. While I enjoy high school, the past few years have been a whirlwind.

I’ve been exposed to spectacular new experiences, interests, ideas, and people. I’ve also been through some notso-great things, like drama within my circle of friends, stress, poor self-esteem and low confidence.

Grade 10 was the year I struggled the most with my identity. I was going through some personal issues, and I felt lost.

In some ways, I was trying to be someone I

wasn’t. I felt confused and frustrated. I wondered when my ‘’a-ha’’ moment would come.

Everything settled eventually, and life went on. Sometime after, I was going through some old pictures. One was my yearbook photo from Grade 8.

My first thought when I saw it was, “Wow. I looked so different. I was a completely different person.”

The more I thought about that, the more it began to make sense in my head. I realized that I genuinely wasn’t the same person I had been a few years ago. I wasn’t even the person I was two months before.

At that moment, I realized that people continuously change throughout their lives. Because of that, finding yourself can’t just be a once-andyou’re-done deal. Identity isn’t fixed. You have to keep re-discovering yourself as you grow. So why was I putting so much pressure on myself to figure everything out right away?

My life isn’t like The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

My journey to find myself will take place over a lifetime, not in one chapter of my story. I finally learned to be okay with that.

“A-ha” indeed.

Illustration Dykeman.

by

Rebecca

Rebecca Dykeman is a Grade 12 student at Woodstock High School.

Last fall she interned with the River Valley Sun through her school’s co-op program.

Find us at our NEW location – 101 Sherwood Drive, Woodstock

“Be in control of your body and not at its mercy.”

- Joseph Pilates ASK ABOUT OUR ONLINE CLASSES!

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 14

www.pilateswithpurpose.ca hannah@pilateswithpurpose.ca 506 . 328 . 1820

2020-05-13 11:32 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 15

SUNNY-SIDE UP RVS Crossword # 16 Community Providing Readers with a Challenge, a Chuckle, and a Smile

Facts RVS Crossword #16 Community Facts 1

May’s ‘Sunnyside Up’ was compiled by Rebecca Dykeman.

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Find the answer key to your LOCAL crossword at rivervalleysun.ca

3

4

5

6

Did you KNOW?

•There are over 60 covered bridges in New Brunswick.

•Canada is the largest exporter of peat in the world, with the majority of that peat coming from New Brunswick •Up to 15 different species of whales can be spotted in the Bay of Fundy. Sharks can also be found there, including threshers, makos, porbeagles, and the Great White Shark.

RVS TONGUE TWISTER Zippi’s zippy zipper always zips when Zippi zips over to Zealand.

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9

CARLETON COUNTY

Colloquialisms

By John Morris

DOWN: 1. The Woodstock Airport can be found here.

2. This area is the home to the URV Hospital.

3. Considered NB’s first town.

Down: 4. 9,000 British troops passed through this village 1. The Woodstock Airport can be found here. in the winter of 1865.

5.

This famous NB town knownRiver for its salmon 2. This area is the home of thewas Upper pools before the Mactaquac Dam was built.

Valley Hospital.

9. In the River Run, contestants paddle down the

3. Considered New Brunswick’s First Town.

4. 9,000 British troops passed through this village in the winter of 1865.

5. This famous NB town was also known for its salmon pools before the Mactaquac Dam was built.

St. John River from this village, before ending in elastic Florenceville-Bristol.

ACROSS: \ee-’lass-tik\ – noun 6. This community, now combined with another, A continuous band of rubber used to hold separate items Across: was originally named Shiktehawk. together, and known everywhere else as a “rubber band”; community, now combined 7.6.ThisThis community loves hosting their annualwith “Go see if Grammy’s got an elastic for your pigtail.” tractoranother, pull. was originally named Shiktehawk.

8. This community was named for George De 7. This community loves hosting their annual Hear this word pronounced at www.dooryard.ca.

Beck, who settled here in 1835.

tractor pull.

8. This community was named for George De Beck, who settled here in 1835.

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the AYR Motor Centre Florenceville-Bristol. will be CLOSED until further notice.

9. In the River Run, contestants paddle down the St. John River from this village to

This includes:

WOODSTOCK CLOSURES Other town amenities CLOSED are: Connell Park is CLOSED – including green space Play structures and picnic shelters in the following parks ARE CLOSED, but green spaces will remain open

•All rooms •Indoor pool •Tim Hortons Wellness (fitness) Centre IF YOU PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator  •Field house •Arena © 2007 - 2020 Education.com Jules Drive, Eastwood Drive, Slipp •McCain Walking track Street, Poole Street, and Grant Street •Payment Centre •Tourism Office •Community 15 passenger van not in use •Recreation Office ®

*Please note all memberships will be extended for the period of the closure.

What Town facilities are closed?

Town Hall, Public Works Garage, and the Woodstock Fire Hall and Woodstock Police Force offices are closed to the public.

McCain Community Theatre is also closed.

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 15

ALSO CLOSED:

the beach volleyball courts, the mini soccer field, the McKinley tennis courts, all ball fields and the dog park.

Walking trails remain open Visit our website for up-to-date COVID-19 closure information: www.town.woodstock.nb.ca

2020-05-13 11:32 AM

16

CONNECTION

Celebrating Inclusion, Diversity, and Community

We have a chance to get this right – let’s not blow it

BEING NEIGHBOURLY

By Dot MacElwain

T

he grass is green, and the trees are budding, promising new life after the long winter!

Social media has been abuzz with jokes, songs and advice on how to manage during this time of social distancing, even though we all know: this pandemic is not a joke.

It is only through the dedication of so many responsible New

Brunswickers that we are in the position in which we find ourselves: better off than our other provincial neighbours. Hearty congratulations to each of you who has helped to stop this disease in its tracks!

With this new situation comes a host of new scams and schemes.

One of the latest is an offer to sell you a personal test kit. Be aware: they are bogus. Also, masks, personal protection equipment (PPEs) and other items are being offered online at inflated prices.

The old saying – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is – is one to remember, by phone or online. Don’t

be fooled by scammers!

NO “FREE” item should come with any payment of ANY kind.

One tip on accepting an offer from someone who phones you is to ask yourself, “How did they get my phone number?”

If the call comes in on a cell phone, bear in mind, cell phone numbers are generally unlisted numbers. Alarm bells should ring as soon as the phone rings.

Provincial health officials are encouraging us to call 811 for COVID-19 testing if we have any symptoms. Be informed.

Stay informed. If in doubt, phone your health care provider for advice.

It is disappointing to learn that so many

scheduled activities in our beautiful province have been cancelled, including Canada Day celebrations, festivals, craft sales, agricultural fairs and other large gatherings.

While, at this writing, businesses are beginning to open up again (albeit with strict distancing restrictions in place,) our province’s economy has taken a big hit. For that reason, we need to shop local.

Adults normally at work are at home with their children who can’t go to daycare or school.

We offer a special reminder, if you or someone you know is living in fear of another person, or if you are aware of some-

one being physically or emotionally abused, please report the abuse to authorities. Seniors and children are especially vulnerable during these times.

Several agencies are available to help you, to keep you safe and to provide you with a warm place to sleep and what you need for food and clothing.

If you feel you or someone else is in immediate danger, please

phone 911 immediately.

We have one chance to get this right, let’s not blow it.

Dot MacElwain lives in Temperance Vale. Dot was recognized by the NB Crime Prevention Association for her work with Neighbourhood Watch and is a recipient of Nackawic’s Ron Berube Volunteer of the Year Award. She can be reached at dotmacelwain@gmail.com

NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE HAVE THE TIME TO READ Why not curl up with a page-turning crime-thriller set in New Brunswick and written by a Plaster Rock native?

Graham MacDermott’s

RIVER HEAT

This home is sitting at Nature’s Edge, our manufactured home park.

Kyle McKinley is a former RCMP undercover cop and internationally acclaimed artist. While spending the summer at his cabin and studio on a northern New Brunswick river, a dead girl turns up on a beaver lodge with an interesting tattoo.

Then, a missing hermit’s body is found on the shoreline. The investigation leads McKinley to a fishing lodge where the guests aren’t there for the fishing.

River Heat is Graham MacDermott’s second full-length crime novel. His first novel, Revenge River, is available in print and e-book. Find both at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. To learn more visit www.grahammacdermott.com

BUILT TO LEND A HAND Ford Service is committed to the health, wellbeing, and safety of our customers. Our showroom is now open, with social distancing measures in place. Our dealership is offering home pick-up and drop-off service for your vehicle as well as providing loaner vehicles for our customers in need. Contact us for details.

STILL OFFERING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE!

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 16

coreyford.ca (506) 328-8828 336 Connell Street, Woodstock

2020-05-13 11:32 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 17

RVS SUNSHINE KID AVONDALE KITCHENS Kitchen Design Direction for Those New Home Plans!

SUNSHINE SMILE: Meet 18-month-old Kyla Allaby of Woodstock.

She’s been patiently waiting for the snow to melt so she can cruise the streets. The daughter of Andrew and Jenn Allaby, this little one loves to be outside, enjoys learning new things, and is a huge fan of Minnie Mouse. Kyla is loved by everyone in her family, especially her ‘Great Bumpy’ Lloyd Allaby. (Jenn Allaby photo) If you’d like to share your ‘Sunshine Kid’ with readers, send a picture and short biography to theresa@rivervalleysun.ca

The River Valley Sunshine Kid is sponsored by Angie’s Little Peeps Early Learning & Childcare Centre in Woodstock.

Find them on Facebook.

“A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.”

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If you’re building, sooner or later, you’ll end up with your new home plans.

Whether you are working with a plan from your builder, architect or home planner, the next step, and one of the most important steps will be to think about cabinets.

Besides the new construction overall, the kitchen cabinets are without question the biggest and most important purchase in the new home. According to the NHBA recent survey, 25% of new home builders wished they had done their kitchen differently. On the follow-up question, 50% said they had no plan to make the fix, and the other 50% replied that they would save up and do it in 10 years. Kitchens are a huge investment, so it is essential to get it right the first time.

At the blueprint stage, the home design will likely have cabinet layouts all worked into the plan. This is an excellent time to work with a professional kitchen designer to get a fresh approach to the kitchen and bath layouts. Your designer can help with so much more than just cabinets. A good designer can also help with master closet spaces, fireplace units and adjoining bookcases and even give you options and ideas for the master bathroom tub and shower arrangements. In kitchens, they can talk to you about some of the latest ideas and trends in the appliance, flooring and cabinet finishes. If you have a talented kitchen designer, you could have complete 3D drawings in your hands within a few hours, including cabinet quotes, and a whole new fresh insight to your project.

With that accomplished, you are now over one of the big three decisions, which are blueprints, cabinet layouts and builder selections. If you already know who your builder is, it is all downhill from here. Remember, a project goes smoothly when you pick the right and competent project companies and people.

Good luck with your project and happy house building.

Residence of Katelynn and Jeremy Smith, Wakefield, NB.

AVONDALE

KITCHENS

For weekly kitchen makeovers, follow Avondale Kitchens on Facebook or see past blog posts at AvondaleKitchens.com

317 Lockhart Mill Road, Woodstock, NB (506) 328-4111

2020-05-13 11:32 AM

18

RURAL ROOTS

Stories About Country Life in Western New Brunswick

1922 Flood on the Becaguimac: Nature is not to be taken for granted

LIVING HISTORY

By Doris Kennedy The following is a fictional account of a true story.

E

very person in the store looked up, but the noise didn’t stop. Like a wave, each person moved in unison to the door. Each was trying to figure out where the noise was coming from. As people moved into the street, others followed from the other stores, the barbershops, the garages and the harness shop, the hotels and livery stables.

The Home Guard Military that was practicing in front of the armoury stopped in their tracks then started to run towards the noise. All heads were turned to the Becaguimic Stream, where Sayres Mill was located.

Over the last few days, the heavens opened, and rain came down steadily.

Since there was a break in the weather, people rushed to get their errands done before it began again. None were aware or paid attention to the swollen river on the other side of the Main Street stores.

The spring freshet had already taken place in April, and the whole of winter’s timber cut had reached the mill’s dams and was at full capacity.

Smaller dams above the village of Coldstream had let go from the pressure of the accumulating water,

and logs flowed freely from them. Word came that the Coldstream dam in the Becaguimic River was weakening under the strain.

Logs and water were going over the dam, and it was just a matter of time before it too would let go. Sayre’s dams were only a few miles down the river. These dams were also showing the visual strain.

The militia and other menfolk ran to the shore but quickly realized they needed to get to higher ground to be safe. Others assessed the situation and promptly told families in the buildings of the shore side of Main Street to move out of their homes, taking only necessities. Storeowners were hauling supplies and merchandise from their basements and their first floor to the second floor of their buildings. All of the movement was done in unity as if they had done this before.

The workers filtered out of the mill, and Aaron Campbell, manager of Sayre’s Mill, was seen giving orders. Find Roy Rigby and tell him to bring men and their rifles, move any machinery to high ground, the mill’s dams could let go, and we could lose all this as he waved to the stacks of newly sawed lumber. By 2 p.m. it had happened, the Coldstream dam let go, and its contents were heading rapidly towards the mill.

Just two miles above the mouth of the river was a deep pool called Hell’s Eddy. Legend was there was no bottom to this pool, and men that fell off logs on river drives were sucked into a whirlpool never to be seen again. On the south-

The devastating the log jam after the mill freshet in 1922. (Photo submitted)

ern end of the eddy was a sharp narrow bend that followed into a gorge with steep high banks. The high banks extended to the mill.

This bend always gave the river drives trouble. The mill was on the north side of the Becaguimic River, and below the mill were two bridges, the highway and the train bridge located before the Becaguimic River met the Saint John River.

Debris, uprooted shoreline trees, and small buildings were swallowed in the raging rush from Coldstream. When the whole force hit Hell’s Eddy, the ground shuddered under the men that had gathered on the bluff. The roaring noise was like thunder shouting without an ending. Logs, trees and debris bolted in the air, and the gorged jammed, causing water to collect. The high banks of the gorge began to diminish, but then the

water and logs climbed over the congestion. Fear of the winter’s cut being lost to the Saint John River looked believable. Now the heaviness was realized on both mill’s dams. To release the compression, holes needed to be drilled in the apron that held the lowest dam together. Roy Rigby of the Carleton Light Infantry with his crew and their rifles began firing on the apron board. Roy himself fired bullet upon bullet in a straight row across the board, and it weakened under pressure allowing the water to flow.

Seven million feet of logs in swollen water between the mill dam and the hell’s eddy gorge rushed towards the Saint John River in haste. The rumble and growling roar with loud cracking and snapping of logs could be heard for miles. Large tree length logs soared into the air as

they hit the highway bridge, detaching the bridge from its foundation then slamming it into the train bridge.

The large granite middle pier of the train bridge eradicated the force severing the logs to both sides of the pier while other logs jumped the train bridge.

The water roared into the Saint John River, and the forceful wave of logs began to wane.

The whole event unfolded at 4:30 p.m. on June 22nd in 1922. The occurrence ended within minutes, leaving behind groans from the impact and disbelief by the people.

Logs were bank high, pointing in all directions.

A crumpled steel highway bridge was suspended from the train bridge. On impact, the crash dented the train bridge and moved the tracks 3 feet out of alignment. Both north and southbound trains between

Let us know what’s going on !

PLEASE SUBMIT BY THE FIRST OF EACH MONTH! Email details to theresa@ rivervalleysun.ca OR jim@ rivervalleysun.ca REMEMBER: WE CAN’T SHARE IT IF WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT IT !

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 18

Edmunston and McAdam were at a standstill for several days. Passengers and cargo would have to be carried across the train bridge until the rails were straightened. Upper Brighton was a community on the other side of the Becaguimic River, a stone’s throw away, could no longer be reached by a vehicle; now, that was a days’ journey on rough unpaved roads.

Nature reminded the people it was still in control. The heavens cried for days, and after the destruction, the sun came out as if to smile. You are just visitors, my friends, look after my earth.

Doris Kennedy is a retired nurse, writer, and historian.

Married with four children and 11 grandchildren, she owned the Covered Bridge B & B in Somerville for years, and is the author of five books.

We are here for you!

Please contact us to arrange hearing aid repairs or battery mail orders.

(506) 328-8723 info@ritceyhearing.com or reach us on Facebook Messenger

We check messages daily and can arrange drop off or pick up services for batteries and repairs.

Check our Facebook page for the latest updates! Stay safe!

2020-05-13 11:33 AM

Standing tall and shopping local

ADVENTURES OF AN ACCIDENTAL FARMER

By Ellen Culbert-Johnston

I

hope all of the River Valley Sun readers are doing okay, and slowly adjusting to a new normal.

The last time I wrote my column, New Brunswick was in the height of selfisolating. I handled the situation, best I could, by keeping busy reading and researching farming.

However, I must admit I’m not doing so well with this new normal. I want to visit more family, friends and neighbours. I have a need to give hugs to those I miss and love.

I’m anxious and worried about summer and how we are going to accomplish things on the farm without the help of my brother Johnny and his boys.

Since my last column,

there have been two new additions to the farm. A handsome bull calf we named Max, and an adorable little heifer calf named Dolly.

When Max was born, he weighed about 90 pounds, and he was having difficulty standing on his front hooves. I did some research and the recommendation I found was to give the calf time to adjust to standing.

For the first three or four days after he was born, I watched him standing on his ankles while nursing his mother, I thought that Max was being a little lazy, by not standing on his hooves.

However, four days rolled into a week and I was getting nervous about Max, getting heavier and relying on his ankles to stand.

What if Max doesn’t stand on his hooves? Will we have to put Max down?

What about his mother Erna, she will be heartbroken and we will feel terrible. It was time to get some professional advice, so I placed a call with the veterinarian to discuss

Max’s problems. With the pandemic, I thought it best to try to diagnose and prescribe from a distance.

The veterinarian put my mind at ease when he shared that Max had what is referred to as contracted tendons, which is common in large calves. He suggested that we put splits on Max’s front legs for 12 hours and to call him back if we ran into trouble.

When we took the splits off I didn’t see any improvement with Max’s walking.

He was still relying on his front ankles instead of using his hooves.

However, the next morning when we went over to the barn Erna came out to greet us with Max in tow. This was the first time I had seen him follow his mother. I couldn’t believe it!

Max had found his hooves!

He was still a little wobbly on his newfound hooves, like a child learning to walk. He would stumble down and get back up. Erna was anxious, she was looking at the herd and seemed to be saying, let me and my baby out. He is going to be okay.

So, we took a cue from Mother Nature and turned Erna and her son Max out in the pasture. Upon returning to the herd Erna was standing proud as if she was saying look at my new baby.

Max was the center of attention and he even got some cowlicks of acceptance and affection.

As for Dolly the heifer calf, well she is pretty and full of life.

Farming isn’t only about waiting for calves to be born, it’s about getting the ground ready for crops.

So, this past month was full of planning and preparing equipment to be used for the upcoming growing season.

We have a spring tooth harrow that was in need of cultivator points. With the part number in hand, I proceeded to order the points online.

Well, the points arrived and so did Marty’s frustration as the ordered cultivator points didn’t line up with the shank on the harrow. Somehow I had ordered the wrong part! So, now with a harrow with no points, I was in a dither.

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 19

You can find Norman Gray behind the counter at Bayview Trucks and Equipment. (Ellen Johnston photo)

With the online part in hand, I headed to Bayview Trucks and Equipment in Woodstock, with hopes to straighten up my harrowpart mess.

From a distance, I was greeted by Norman Gray at the parts counter. It was great to be able to talk to a local person about my problem. I showed him the part I had ordered online and he figured out that I didn’t order the part number ending with the letter S.

Bayview had the cultivator points, nuts and bolts that I needed in stock!

If I had shopped locally, to begin with, I wouldn’t have been in a harrowed part mess. I learned a valuable lesson, shop local and keep our small businesses going.

Ellen Culbert-Johnston is a teacher who loves to read, learn, travel, and walk in the woods with her dogs in Newburg.

Abandoned camps make the best destinations

BEAUTIFUL BUMBLES

By Linda McHatten

T

hose who know me know my love for adventure and exploring.

This season will be different because of COVID 19 restrictions put in place related to the sport of quading.

What does this mean?

It means our famous potluck meals will be on hold due to social distancing directives. People won’t be allowed to gather in

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large groups. This, my friends, is the new norm for our 2020 season.

One of my exploring bumbles last season took us on a 118-mile-roundtrip to an abandoned camp on the northwest shore of Sandy Cove on Spednic Lake, which is known as the Mason Camps.

We left Woodstock and followed the #10 provincial trail as far as Scott Siding and bumbled along some beautiful trails encountering a few moose, some snakes, porcupine, lots of birds, and wildflowers.

The bumble took us between First and Second Eel Lakes, and eventually to Skiff Lake. It was a muddy and rocky trail into the camps but well

worth it. History says it was established in 1914 and maintained by the Mason family as a vacation spot.

Cabins there were rented out for hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, and whatever your heart desired up until the late 1990s when it was abandoned.

I have been told that it was abandoned in the middle of the night, with people leaving everything behind as it was – dishes on the table, clothes hanging in closets, beds still made, canoes on the shore, and a massive generator.

Over the years, the place has been ransacked. Things have gone missing, including the large generator.

On my walkabout, I could see buildings caving in with dishes on the tables, clothes lying all over the cabins, upturned mattresses, old gas cans, decaying canoes, and even an abandoned American GMC truck probably from the 1970s.

It was a sight. Windows were broken out of the cabins with shredded curtains still hanging. It gave me an eerie feeling.

After enjoying a picnic lunch, we bumbled back to the main trail where we visited Skedaddle Ridge Grave Yards and Rock Haven.

Rock Haven was very rocky with a lot of abandoned cars, many reminding me of something from the Bonnie and Clyde era – including a

A bumble to the Mason Camps on Spednic Lake was a memorable one. (Linda McHatten photo)

car with a tree growing up the middle of it. This trip was a great adventure for me.

I’m looking forward to many more this year.

Happy trails! Stay safe!

Linda McHatten is a retired LPN who now spends her time nursing her love for the outdoors. She and her husband live in Rosedale and have three grandchildren.

2020-05-13 11:33 AM

20

ARTFELT

Arts and Culture News from Western New Brunswick

The show must go on...

ARTiculate

I

By Victoria Hutt

direct the drama programs at the Florenceville Middle and Elementary Schools, along with teams of great teachers and parents who also love the stage. I’ve written about this before, I’m sure! This year, however, our drama season, like everyone else’s, was cut short, midseason.

There were lines still to be learned, songs to perfect, and sets and costumes half constructed. But our cast was so good; I was so sad they weren’t going to hit the stage.

So when the NB Drama Festival posted, “We are looking for students who were planning to attend Drama Festival 2020 to submit something that will allow us to give life to this postponed event.

(Can’t bring ourselves to say cancelled). We could do this! Monologues, scenes, (safely distanced or previously recorded) songs, zoomed group numbers, dance, or rehearsal videos, were all welcomed and would be posted the next week on Festival days.

I sent out a note to my students and their parents, with a small list of scenes and songs to record, and some howto tips. I tried to include scenes they had rehearsed the most in the first half of their season, and to keep key parts of the story. And did they

ever deliver!

I’m SO PROUD of these students all of the time, but especially in this project, to record these videos on their own in the short few days time frame given, at home, and after a month hiatus from rehearsals. They are middle school students! And they just took my request to record some scenes and ran with it and made something truly noteworthy. I was blown away by how they really put themselves into their characters mindset to bring them to life. We often talk about how the costumes and set are ‘just icing’ on top of their acting (although I am a set design girl at heart!), and I love how this ‘challenge’ really illustrated that. Adjudicators noticed as well, commenting, “What was most amazing to me is

that even from your own homes, I could see you really listening to each other and reacting to one another’s lines. That is not easy to do on camera and without a real scene partner in front of you!” and “I believed that they were all their characters.

What better compliment is there than that.”

More than 1500 young actors should have been gathering last week in Fredericton, for the annual NB Drama Festival.

Students and schools responded in a big way to the request. Videos from across the province came streaming in, along with videos from adjudicators and festival organizers, many of whom are professional actors themselves at home right now, looking at a bleak outlook for the performing arts sector right now.

Students from Florenceville Middle School perform, virtually, for this year’s socially-distanced edition of the New Brunswick Drama Festival. (Submitted photo)

Our video even got a special shout-out in coverage by CBC New Brunswick of the ‘virtual festival’ this year. If you missed it, I hope you go and take a peek! You can find our video - FMS Beauty and the Beast Jr. - Virtual Edition 2020 - on YouTube, or kicking off the festival way down at the beginning of a week of great theatre

presentations on the NB Drama Festival Facebook page, which I also hope you take in. Enjoy!

Victoria Hutt is an artist and freelance graphic designer in Florenceville-Bristol, NB. A former gallery director and curator, Victoria is a NSCAD design graduate and sits on the ArtsNB Board of Directors.

A pair of stars add some light to dark days at WHS

Broadway performers lift spirits of disappointed Mama Mia cast and crew

By Jim Dumville

A

year-long dream and months of preparation came to a sudden end when the ongoing COVID-19 crisis brought the curtain down on Woodstock High School’s production of Mamma Mia even before the dedicated cast could set foot on stage.

Stringent social-distancing measures, including the closure of schools across the province, along with the cancellation of all public performances at facilities like the McCain Community Theatre at WHS, abruptly ended the planned production just as finishing touches were being put in place.

It was a tough time for everyone, said play director Michelle Nowlan, noting the large cast and crew put their heart into the production of Mamma Mia as the drama class looked to deliver an exciting end to the school year.

“The kids were really sad,” she said.

Nowlan said auditions for roles in the high school production began last year, with rehearsals getting underway in the fall. For her son Alex Cluff and Rachel Havens, who played the leads in the musical, and

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the other seniors in the cast and crew, the cancellation was particularly devastating.

Mamma Mia was set to be the last hurrah on stage for the Grade 12 drama students as their high school years came to an end. Nowlan said it was heartbreaking for her, both as director to all the great kids involved and as a mother to Alex, who she watched perform throughout his high school years.

“He ran the race, but he didn’t get to cross the finish line,” she said.

While they didn’t get to take the stage as planned, the talents of the young cast didn’t go unnoticed.

In fact, Nowlan said, the students attracted the attention of at least a couple of Broadway stars.

With the help of a Facebook group, she explained, Alex created a performance video and challenged his castmates to do the same. In response, said Nowlan, most of the cast and crew met the challenge and created their own videos.

Using the performances, she said, they created a video called COVID Queen. The video attracted the attention

of Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Laura Benanti, who had previously reached out through Instagram to theatre kids across North America, who, like WHS students, saw their shows cancelled.

The connection provided the Mamma Mia cast and crew with widespread social media attention and a “like” from Benanti herself.

Nowlan said Allison Patterson also sent the COVID Queen video to her brother-in law Tony LePage, a Fredericton native who has starred on Broadway, including the lead in Rock of Ages and is currently starring in Come From Away.

Nowland said LePage responded with a video to the cast, offering an uplifting message.

She said the Broadway star hopes to come to see them in person.

“He’s really a generous guy,” said Nowlan. “He didn’t put it out there for the public, he just wanted to reach out to the students.”

Even with the positive feedback, Nowlan said, the loss of the production proved a devastating blow for herself and students, which included 45 cast members, 20 crew mem-

bers and a couple of other helpers.

On March 26, the scheduled opening day of Mamma Mia, Nowlan she said she woke up really sad.

“I had a complete breakdown and cried all day,” she said.

Instead of hiding away in her sadness, Nowlan said she began reaching out, mostly through Facetime, to everyone on the cast and crew.

She said the impact of measure to combat the novel coronavirus hit all high school seniors, not just the theatre group, hard.

“These kids have lost a lot,” Nowlan said.

For example, she said, Alex not only lost out on his final stage production, but the final home hockey game of the WHS Thunder was cancelled.

“That’s always a big deal for the players,” she said.

She said all graduating seniors have lost their chance at the once-ina-lifetime experience of prom and graduation ceremonies.

Nowlan hopes something can be arranged sometime in the future

Mamma Mia performers, from left, Isabelle Fletcher, Olivia Ritchie and Rachel Havens hold a painting done by Violet Silva. (Submitted photo)

so the class of 2020 can share their accomplishments with friends, family and each other.

While the COVID-19 measures delivered a massive blow to the entire province, Nowlan fully supports the tough decisions taken by the province.

She praised the great staff at Woodstock High School for making the best of a bad situation. She also congratulated the provincial government, all the political leaders and health officials for their strong actions which focused on keeping people safe.

“I was really, really impressed with (Education

Minister) Dominic Cardy,” she said, noting he was among the first in Canada to make the tough decision to close schools.

As businesses begin to reopen and restrictions begin to ease, Nowlan urges everyone to be vigilant to ensure these dark times can become part of our history. She said she knows it will take a long time to return to some form of normalcy, but she’s looking forward to that time.

Maybe, Nowlan said, if they can arrange to have everyone in town at the same time they could stage Mamma Mia, after all.

2020-05-13 11:33 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 21

Graduation like nothing we’ve seen before

My Big Fat Life

By Theresa Blackburn

I

have ‘graduated’ four times. There was a ceremony when I left junior high, one when I finished high school, another when I got my college diploma, and again when I completed the NBCC Instructor Development Program through UNB. Looking back at each of those events, graduating from Sir John A. Macdonald High School in Hubley, Nova Scotia remains the most memorable.

I had been accepted to broadcasting school, won a bursary, and was able to address the graduating class with my friend Cindy Lee Butler as we honoured our Vice Principal, Ron Naud.

I felt invincible in those moments. I was on the cusp of starting my ‘real’ life, and it felt like nothing before or after.

My parents and grandparents were there to watch. We had a gathering at our home after, with a barbecue where friends, family, and neighbours gathered to wish me well. The memories of that day make it hard to face this June.

Our youngest daughter, Kathryn, was set to walk across the Woodstock High School graduation stage this year.

She’s been accepted to college and is excited to start this fall at NBCC Woodstock in the Early Childhood Education program.

With the pandemic, we know graduation will be a far cry from how students envisioned it when they started school

last September.

My mental health hasn’t been the greatest these last weeks. I’m working hard to practice self-care, exercise, sleep enough, and eat properly. COVID-19 has robbed me of my usually upbeat thoughts, replacing them with worry and sadness for those who are feeling lost in this crisis.

I ache for people who don’t know if they’ll have a job to return to, who aren’t sure how they’ll be able to financially navigate this new world, who are immunocompromised and terrified of contracting the virus. But most of my heartache has been for my daughter and her classmates who may not get to have a graduation.

I was buoyed when I heard that the Department of Education had engaged a ‘Graduation Think Tank’ with educators and administrators across the province.

Their goal is to find a way to offer some kind of graduation to students. They are looking at all options, both in-person (socially distanced, obviously) and online.

Anglophone West Superintendant David McTimony is part of this group. In an email, he said that students and parents shouldn’t lose hope, at least not yet.

“The (group) is consulting with schools and school districts regarding potential alternatives to the traditional graduation ceremony that we see every year. Taking into account the current restrictions recommended by Public Health is a part of that. I know there will be details released once they are available,” he wrote.

Whatever is decided, our family will be there with bells on. And if our provincial situation suddenly changes, and a gathering of some sort isn’t considered safe, we’re already planning our ‘at home’ ceremony, complete with a gown and guest speakers.

Regardless of what the graduation looks like, this will be an ending students will never forget. Our job now is to make it a happy event, whatever happens.

Having an ‘at home plan’ on standby is our attempt to ensure our daughter’s

Theresa and her grandparents, Ruth and Gasper Palmer, after her high school graduation from Sir John A. Macdonald High School in 1987. (Barb Blackburn photo)

When the province announced schools wouldn’t reopen for the remainder of the year, Theresa’s family purchased a ‘Proud Parents’ yard sign from Off the Wall Graphics.

memories of this milestone are joyful ones.

Parents have a big job ahead of them – creating positive memories that overshadow the fear and grief that is haunting many seniors. I know we’re up to the challenge.

Theresa’s big, fat, busy life includes a firefighter husband, three children, a greyhound, a cat, serving on Woodstock Town Council, volunteering, and her family’s growing publishing business.

Tobique-Mactaquac MP/ Député

Richard Bragdon 157 Otis Drive Nackawic, NB E6G 1H3

158A Broadway Blvd.

Grand Falls, NB E3Z 2J9

1-800 -671-6160 richard.bragdon@parl.gc.ca

We will get through this together.

If you have any questions, our office is here to help!

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 21

2020-05-13 11:33 AM

22

SPORTS

Highlights and Features of Local Athletes and Teams

Andrew Wright: From Fenway to the Bronx Woodstock native believes his dad would have approved the move

By Andrew McCormick

A

ndrew Wright’s journey to the Dominican Republic as the New York Yankees Director of Dominican Republic Baseball Operations has taken several twists, turns and roundabouts throughout the Eastern United States.

Wright’s Dad, the late Barney Wright of Woodstock baseball fame, was a staunch Boston Red Sox fanatic and likely took a roundabout himself when his son accepted a job within the arch-rival New York Yankees organization in June 2019.

“As a kid, I can remember being at the dinner table one time and I announced I was thinking of becoming a Blue Jays fan. Dad gave me a quick look and asked me where I planned on living from now on,” said Wright, during a recent interview with the River Valley Sun. When speaking to Andrew Wright you can hear the passion for the game of baseball in his words. He’s also quick to note his Dad would have been the biggest supporter of his move to the world’s third most valuable sports organization.

“Dad would have gone out and bought every piece

of Yankees clothing he possibly could,” he said. “As a coach, I can understand now Dad wanted to give each player an opportunity to reach their potential and be the best they can be. By me accepting a job to become a New York Yankee he’d understand it was a move to allow me to fulfill my potential”.

Growing up and playing the game in Woodstock doesn’t generally lead to a position within the Yankees organization based in the Dominican.

Wright attended school and played college baseball at Concord College in Athens, West Virginia from ‘99-02. He was named the full-time head coach at his alma mater in 2010. In between, Wright spent three seasons as an assistant at West Virginia University and two summers as the head coach of the Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League in North Carolina. He also was an assistant coach at the prep school level in Maryland.

In 2015, Wright left Concord to become head coach at the University of Charleston, WV., later adding responsibilities in the athletic department to his role.

He’s quick to credit his wife, Stacy, from Fairmont,

Weat Virginia and daughters Alex age 9 and Kennedy age 6, for supporting him through the consistent relocations.

When I spoke to Wright he and his family had been practicing their Spanish speaking skills. “Stacy has been the best through all the moves and has always been tremendously supportive,” Wright said.

The Yankees originally hired Wright for the position of manager of staff development within the player development department, based out of Tampa Florida.

In January of 2020, discussions between the Yankees and Wright led to a promotion to his current position and the recent move to the Dominican Republic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously caused a pause in professional sports but allows for the time for the Wrights to acclimate to their new home.

“Each Major League Baseball team has a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic,” Wright said.

“In January the Yankees brought in about 100 players for training and instruction prior to spring camps opening. Of the 350ish minor league players we have, up to 200 will spend

time at some point developing skills here”.

While the pandemic put a stop to operations, the Yankees still have about 40 players there in isolation.

As we spoke, Wright reminded me of Dave Jauss, who coached the Senior Shiretowners for tow seasons after Dale Allen stepped down for a short period.

Coming from a fouryear baseball career at Amherst College in Massachusetts, the Shiretowner job was Jauss’s first as a head coach in a career that eventually led to work as an instructor, scout and coach for at least seven Major League organizations, including the ‘04 Red Sox championship team.

In his previous role, Wright met Jauss at the baseball winter meetings in San Diego in December, contributing to discussions for Jauss to become a pro scout for the Yankees.

“When we met we talked about baseball and old times in Woodstock. He values his two summers spent there,” said Wright.

Wright appreciates what “baseball lifers” such as Dave Jauss, Dale Allen and his dad, Barney Wright did for baseball in the Shiretown and area.

“The 70’s and 80’s

Andrew Wright. (Photo submitted)

senior team inspired Woodstock baseball growth for many years,” said Wright. “When you consider Ryan Harris being drafted by the Dodgers and Brad Lawson working with the San Francisco Giants as their strength coach, just to name a couple of many talented players, it’s amazing the success Woodstock baseball has had.”

Wright hopes to be inspired to succeed in his current role and hopefully beyond.

“I’d like to continue to move up within the organization,” he said. “The Yankees have the resources and people in place to allow me to do that. We have a great development team in place and I’m excited for this opportunity.”

And as his career progresses, it’s easy to imagine Andrew’s biggest supporter, his Red Sox-loving Dad Barney Wright, would be even more excited for his son, a New York Yankee.

Woodstock goalie Jessie O’Leary turned in a strong 2019-20 NCAA season with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers of Rochester, NY. In almost 350 minutes of action, O’Leary posted an average of 2.76 and a save pct. of .926. Impressive numbers.

As O’Leary enters her senior year at RIT, she and her teammates will be out to prove themselves to a new head coach at the helm.

Golfer Daniel Kirby of Woodstock will be attending school and playing golf at the University of Victoria this fall.

Kirby once again spent a ton of time this winter working in his game.

“I’ve been training at home in my garage with my simulator for at least an hour and a half each

day while also seeing my coach Jamie Heffernan each week for threehour sessions in Fredericton,” he said. “I visited the schools I had offers from in the U.S. but after visiting Victoria I knew I wanted to stay in Canada for my university experience”.

Promising Woodstock Pitcher Drew Lenehan hopes to build on a successful summer in 2019, as part of the Atlantic Bantam AAA Champion Western Valley Shiretowners.

“I worked with pitching coach Jared Whitehouse a few times a week this past winter until COVID, unfortunately, cancelled our sessions. I’ve still been working out twice a day to continue to get stronger for upcoming baseball events depending on the Coronavirus.

Valley Sports Roundup ByAndrew McCormick

L

et’s get caught up on some of our River Valley athletes and organizations.

Woodstock Golf and Curling Club is in the process of hiring a manager to oversee it’s combined golf and curling operations. Meanwhile, play at the 9 hole course opened on May 7 with provincial Covid-19 social guidelines strictly in place.

Covered Bridge Golf in Hartland also opened its season, one day prior to Woodstock’s opening.

Will we see a local area hockey player drafted in the 2020 QMJHL draft on June 5? Hunter Gartley and Matthew McHatten are listed as draft possibilities on the recently released QMJHL Central Scouting list.

McHatten finished play-

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 22

ing his second season for the Fredericton Midget AAA Caps and Gartley played his second season in Pittsburgh.

Ontario Hockey Academy’s Nick Brennan also hopes to hear his name called during the draft.

It was eight seasons ago the Woodstock Slammers made it all the way to the Canadian Junior A National Final, at the 2012 Royal Bank Cup held in Humboldt, Saskatchewan.

Yes, that Humboldt, SK. In the championship game, the Slammers held a 3-2 lead but were assessed three consecutive penalties in the final eight and a half minutes. The Penticton (B.C.) Vees scored with 51 seconds left during the final power play to clinch the Royal Bank Cup.

Was this the best Slammers team of alltime?

Woodstock’s Kyle Foreman was part of a Memorial Cup candidate Moncton Wildcats QMJHL lineup this past season, halted by the COVID-19 virus. Next season will be Foreman’s 19-year-old season as the ‘Cats enter a rebuilding stage. Could a trade be in the making?

Speaking of trades, Cape Breton defenceman Adam McCormick is rumoured to possibly be on the move at the Q draft as well. Stay tuned.

Like all sports, our area athletes playing University and College basketball had seasons cut short due to the virus, including: Morgan McHatten STU Lucas Tompkins Holland College

Hunter Gray UNBSJ Jillian McNally UNBSJ Autumn DeMerchant UNBSJ Tori Ketch Crandall U Hannah Hawkes Mount A. Madeline Orlando UNB Basketball is king in our River Valley region and the number of student-athletes who consistently move on to postsecondary competition is proof of this fact.

Basketball Transfers of note: Sandy Saunders of Grafton and formerly of U of Calgary is transferring to attend Acadia University in the fall. On the men’s side Woodstock’s Hunter Gray is transferring from UNBSJ to STU. If I missed the names of any River Valley athletes playing post-secondary basketball please contact us.

2020-05-13 11:33 AM

RIVERVALLEYSUN.CA 23

Woodstock star named Q’s Best Defensive Defenseman

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles’ Adam McCormick wins Kevin Lowe Award

By Jim Dumville

W

hile COVID-19 brought the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season to an abrupt end, the impact of Cape Breton Screaming Eagles’ star defenseman Adam McCormick will live on forever in the record books of the 2019-20 Q season.

Last month, while sitting at home in Woodstock, McCormick learned he is the recipient of the Kevin Lowe Award as the league’s best defensive defenseman.

Previous recipients of the award, first awarded in the 2004-05 season, include NHL stars Kris Latang and David Savard.

McCormick said he is proud to add his name to the Kevin Lowe Award.

Playing in his fourth year with the Screaming Eagles, he believes he established himself as an all-around defenseman.

“I believe in taking care of my own end,” McCormick said, “but I feel comfortable in joining the offence when I can.”

The minute-burning blueliner and fixture on the penalty kill demonstrated he’s no slouch on the attack, picking up 33 points in 50 games this season.

Along the way, he established a new Screaming

Eagles record with a plus45, the second-best plusminus figure among Q defensemen.

During the season, McCormick was named QMJHL Defenseman of the Month for January, after receiving honourable mention for the same award in October.

The veteran blueliner passed the 200-game mark during the past season. He also ranks as the second-highest defenseman in assists and points in Eagles’ history.

The Kevin Lowe Award adds to McCormick’s hardware picked up over his junior career. In 2016-17, he was named Cape Breton’s most improved player and took home the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his efforts promoting organ donation. The following year, he was named the team’s top defenseman.

This season also saw McCormick share the team’s most sportsmanlike player award with forward Félix Lafrance. In 50 games, while playing solid defence and notching three goals and 30 assists, McCormick picked up only 18 minutes in penalties. In 231 career games, McCormick has only 60 penalty minutes.

“The ability to play with intensity and do whatever it

takes to win without crossing the line and hurting your team is invaluable,” says Screaming Eagles coach Jake Grimes, describing McCormick and Lafrance as “tremendous examples for players all around the QMJHL.” With one year eligibility as an over-age roster player in Junior and an invitation to the Vegas Golden Knights development camp, McCormick’s hockey future remains unclear.

With Q teams only allowed to carry three 20-year-olds on their roster, McCormick recognizes he may be traded when the Q holds its draft sometime this summer. While he enjoyed his four years in Cape Breton, he is prepared for whatever the future holds.

“Anything can happen,” McCormick said. “If I get traded so be it.”

At this point, the young defenseman is preparing for the development camp with Vegas. While it was scheduled for June, the COVID-19 crisis as put a hold on those types of plans.

McCormick is not a stranger to development camps, having previously attended two camps with the Dallas Stars. He said all he can do is show Vegas his best and see what happens. If they should offer a

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pro contract he will have to consider all his future hockey options.

In the meantime, McCormick is doing his best during the current COVID-19 isolation to stay in shape by running and using

weight equipment set up in the basement. He also has a shooting area set up by his family home to work on his shot. Unfortunately, this summer he has no place where he can lace up the skates.

Despite the unusual development which ended the hockey season early and clouds the future, McCormick plans to be ready for whatever on-ice opportunities await the QMJHL’s best defensive defenceman.

Woodstock, NB (506) 328-0096 www.coreyhyundai.ca

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Multicultural Association of Carleton County Still serving the needs of our clients!

Our services are available to newcomers through email, phone and video chat. Here is how our services are being delivered: •Phone messages are checked regularly. Call our office number (506) 328-4690 and leave a message and someone will return your call.

•Staff are available by email and by Facebook •Online activities are available through sources like Zoom and Facebook live Be sure to check our Facebook page for important updates and notices! Please remember to practice physical distancing and wear a mask in public if possible and we hope to see you again soon!

0 River Valley Sun MAY 2020.indd 23

Adam McCormick’s hockey card. (Courtesy of Upper Deck)

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2020-05-13 11:33 AM

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2020-05-13 11:33 AM