Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 1
Caledon West
SouthFields
Village Voice
Volume 2, Issue I June 2011 – August 2011 ISSN 1923-855X
Must See Destinations Inside Terra Cotta
Community Spirit Coming together for others
Interior DĂŠcor
The latest in kitchen and baths
Classy anew
Putting the chic in consignment
The key to creativity A visit with Lucille Weber
page 2. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 3
DON’T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE! Be sure to get your free* subscription of SouthFields Vilage Voice today. Subscribe online at www.southfieldsvillagevoice.com Send an email to subscribe_villagevoice@pras.ca or call 905.846.4852 *Distributed free of charge throughout Caledon. Out of area annual subscription rate is $19.96 + HST.
Feature highlights Volume 2, Issue I | Summer 2011 Must see destination: Terra Cotta 35 The Visit 12 The Judge of Cheltenham 19 The keys to Lucille Weber 23
Thank you to our contributors: Aaron Madgett Barb Shaughnessy Bren Singh Dr. Christina Swainson David Jobe Donna Kamiel-Forster Elaine Coish Elizabeth Szekeres Freyda Tartak Jackie Thompson Jane Guy Jane McCarthy Jim Cassell Kenneth Bokor Leigh Booth Liz Shaughnessy Mary Maw Michele Skawski Sherry Taylor Stanley Watroba Teresa Colasanti Teresa Watroba Tim Forster William Liske Cover: Claw on the Grange. photo by Natalie Kay ISSN 1923-855X Published quarterly by PRAS Publishing thanks to the support of our advertisers. Be sure to mention you saw their ad here! The publication is distributed for free, throughout Caledon at the beginning of March, June, September and December. Content in articles and advertising are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine. It is the responsibility of those submitting content and photography to ensure that they have the legal right to use and distribute it. All content is the property of PRAS Publishing or the contributors and cannot be reproduced without written consent from the magazine. Contributions are welcome and encouraged. Send in your community updates, artwork, poetry, short stories, articles, and photographs by the first of the month prior to issue publication date. Advertising space is available.
Submit all inquiries to: 905.846.4852 or info@southfieldsvillagevoice.com For past issues visit: www.pras.ca follow us on Twitter @SFVillageVoice
• SouthFields Caledon Hospice Berthell House 24 Classy consignment 29 Barbie’s House 33 Compost in Peel 42 Map provided by Town of Caledon. Used with permission.
page 4. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
From the editor’s desk... My dear readers, welcome. The last time I wrote those words was a year ago, in time for the very first issue of SouthFields Village Voice. Back then it was a 12-page newsletter for my closest neighbours. I had no idea of the reception it would receive from the rest of Caledon, not just SouthFields, and not just Caledon West. My premise has always been simple, we are one town. Caledon is poised for growth and SouthFields is just the beginning. Does that mean that Caledon has to change? Yes, and no. To be realistic Caledon will change but that does not mean it has to loose the reasons for our collective decisions to live, play, and hopefully work, here. Every once in a while I come up with an epiphany and my latest is this: More population and industry does not mean that we have to loose that quaint village feel and commitment to building and maintaining strong communities. Look at Manhattan. I can think of no better example than my favorite American city. New York is a
Letters to the editor Re: Community clean-up day
The main problem to the garbage is the blue boxes. I buy the ‘blue bags’. Blue boxes are the worst idea I have seen from Peel Region. We live in a Region that has high winds 70% of the year so why use a box that does not keep the garbage together and in fact you find your neighbours garbage on your lawn in the evening or in the road or worse around the ponds to pollute the ecosystems. I think that the village should be all blue bags or whatever the colour can be used for recycling. The bags would prevent the garbage that is found all over the village from the boxes on windy days. April 28th was the worst to date. The boxes were found all over. If you want to make a difference, try and get the village to get rid of the boxes. Regards, Simon SouthFields villager Re: Spring issue
The magazine is awesome! Great job. Darlene Downey Downey’s Farm Market
community of communities and village of villages and it is about as populous as you can get. Does that mean they don’t have issues? For sure no. Will Caledon ever get as congested as even Brampton, let alone Manhattan? Not any time soon. But in Manhattan there is an all engulfing pride of block. The main point is to try, care, and not live by sense of entitlement. On July 17th, 2010 I held our first community day and three quarters of the people who lived here showed up. This year we have a committee of 12 planning July 16th. On May 7th we held our first community clean-up and everybody, except for me, was blown away at the turn-out. We held a gala to support a cause that few in Caledon had heard of and again people were surprised at its success. Not me. I know there’s solid gold in these hills. In the mean time, life went on. If not for my man I could never have accomplished any of it. As thanks, I hired the best painter in town, Duane of Freshly Painted, to paint our house so he wouldn’t have to. This summer, let Duane do the painting. You get out there! Eat, shop, play, cycle, hike, explore and be proud to live where you can do it all, locally. Regards,
Yevgenia Casale
RE: Caledon Butterfly Gala
Boy you sure pulled off a great event. I loved everything about it – the food – the music, just fabulous and the silent auction and Cory’s presentation was wonderful! A truly wondrous event all engineered by ‘Thou’. Fabulous. Lyn Westfall, Caledon artist RE: Caledon Butterfly Gala
On behalf of the Wellspring Chinguacousy Foundation, I would like to thank you so much for the amazing job you did creating and organizing the Caledon Butterfly Gala held at Banty’s Roost on Saturday, April 2, 2011. We are so appreciative of the awareness this event created in the Caledon community and for the generous donations we received as a result of your efforts. Thank you for raising $2,500 for Wellspring Chinguacousy through your hard work and perseverance. I am sorry that I was not able to attend and thank you personally. By all reports the evening was a great success. Everyone enjoyed the meal prepared by Village
Bistro, the entertainment and the silent auction and raffle. Proceeds from your event are helping Wellspring Chinguacousy provide emotional, psychological and information support to individuals and families living with cancer in the Caledon, Brampton and surrounding areas. Since opening in April 2008, the Centre has received over 20,000 visits from cancer patients and their families, volunteers and community groups. We have 148 trained volunteers helping at the centre and 930 registered members who attend the 25 programs that are currently offered free of charge. Your support is key to our success. Wellspring Chinguacousy receives no core funding from government or other sources so relies entirely on donations to operate. Thank you again for creating and hosting the first ever Caledon Butterfly Gala. Gael Miles, President Wellspring Chinguacousy Foundation
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 5
Introducing the Caledon Community Health Plan by Tim Forster Giving back to the community has always been high on my “to do” list. In 2005, I helped charter the Caledon West Rotary Club which supports community needs, focussing on youth initiatives. I was part of the development team on the Bethell House Hospice project. I am currently focussed on aggregate policy through PitSense and active with the Caledon Village Association and the Caledon Fair. Working together with SouthFields Village Voice, we have developed the Caledon Community Health Plan to serve individuals in the community who are not covered by a group benefit plan at work or are self-employed small business owners.
Plans are the fastest growing investment products currently on the market. These plans allow retirees, or those saving for retirement, to invest in the markets with the security of knowing they will receive guaranteed pension income. In my experience, the most wealthy are also those who effectively utilize insurance products as estate and tax planning tools, on the council of their legal and accounting advisors.
For the average person, the myriad of possible strategies can be overwhelming. That’s why I encourage you to take advantage of my free planning SouthFields Village Voice has teamed up with Tim Forster to make insurance review session affordable for Caledon residents and business owners. Your free subscription to to identify The Caledon opportunities this magazine entitles you to receive access to the Community Health Plan. Community Health suited to you. Plan provides more value than typical individual plans Under the IDC Financial umbrella, Tim Forster – Caledon as advertising dollars have been removed and premiums Insurance and Financial Solutions offers access to superior historically have been less volatile. Best of all, a percentage products, in-house, independent professional advice, and of the premium paid will go back into the community!!! local representation that cares about our community. There are 8 different combinations of plans to choose from, each providing varying levels of coverage. No matter whether it is prescription drug coverage, dental coverage, or a combination of both that you’re interested in, each plan includes “Core Benefits” such as vision care, registered specialists and therapists, homecare and nursing, accidental dental, and much more. Insurance people like myself have a basket of goods and services that can help you provide financial security for your family, as well as building sound retirement and estate planning for the future. My primary providers are Manulife, Canada Life, and BMO Life although I am unrestricted in the companies I may use. Most people recognize the need for insurance to provide their family with financial security through life, critical illness, and/or disability. Many also utilize insurance saving products for retirement planning. Guaranteed Withdrawal
By teaming up with SouthFields Village Voice, we are able to market the Caledon Community Health Plan directly to you, offering you extra value for your health premium dollars and an opportunity to contribute back to your community. It’s a great time to Talk to Tim.
page 6. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
SouthFields Residents Association update a word from Kenneth Bokor Dear Village of SouthFields resident, It’s my pleasure to write this note marking the first anniversary of the start of the Residents Association. Seems like only yesterday that Yevgenia and I formed the Village of SouthFields Residents Association. Our mandate was (and still is) simple – to be a voice for the “village” to all those concerned and a conduit for communications, to promote a sense of custodianship and pride, and to help shape it as safe and vibrant for all. With the tremendous growth anticipated for our area over the next 10 plus years, we find ourselves with a unique opportunity to participate in shaping our community for now and the future. When I moved in last April, I was house number five to close. Now we have over 300 homes occupied. I look back on this past year and am very satisfied at our accomplishments: • Held three well attended meetings which included residents, town councillors, and the mayor • Worked with both school boards to move busing pickup/drop-off locations to safer areas • Established our annual Official Village of SouthFields Day (the first one was held on July 17th, 2010) • Updated residents with ongoing and future construction news (zoning applications, houses closed, etc.), school news and relevant town information • Provided information and feedback for initial two parks to be built (neighbourhood and community parks) • Provisioning, initially three, garbage bins/recycle boxes at entrances to stormwater management ponds • Fielding and assisting many resident questions Meeting schedule: Thursday, June 2, 2011 Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 Thursday, Mar. 1, 2012 Thursday, Jun. 7, 2012 Location: Margaret Dunn Valleywood
Caledon Public Library (20 Snelcrest Dr., off Valleywood Dr.)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
• •
Launch of audio podcasts (two shows produced so far) Worked with town to post warning/speed signage and provide light repairs to the dreaded Kennedy Road “dip” • Held our first “Community Clean Up” day this May • Established a meeting schedule for the rest of the year We’re off to a great start and I look forward to another exciting and informative year upcoming for the Village RA. Here are some of the topics for our next meeting, in June: • 2nd Annual Village of SouthFields Day • Neighbourhood garage sale • Town updates, builders construction updates, neighbourhood & community park status • The future of the SouthFields Residents Association It is my sincere wish that you will make every opportunity to attend our next scheduled meeting for Thursday, June 2nd, starting at 7:00 p.m. As always, the meeting will be held at Margaret Dunn Valleywood branch of the public library. Please put some thought into the last discussion topic point. I am thrilled to say that, a year in, we are showing signs of an active and vibrant community where people want to play a role in shaping the direction of our community. There have been suggestions of expanding the RA (maybe an elected board and/or adding non-profit or other status, to handle funds). I welcome your ideas and suggestions and look forward to active discussion on this and our other topics on June 2nd. Regards,
Kenneth Bokor
Chairman and Co-Founder, VoSFRA
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 7
Letters to our readers Mayor Marolyn Morrison’s message This April, Council endorsed the 2011 Environmental Action Report; the final report on our achievements under the Town’s Environmental Progress Action Plan (EPAP). Originally approved in June 2005 to preserve and enhance Caledon’s environmental legacy, the EPAP was developed by Town staff with significant input from local environmental groups and stakeholders. The EPAP identified seven environmental priority areas for Caledon; (i) air quality; (ii) climate change (iii) energy; (iv) a green economy; (v) environmental awareness; (vi) sustainable planning; and (vii) community capacity. The 2011 Environmental Action Report highlights the Town’s achievements according to these environmental priority areas and charts the course toward environmental sustainability for our Town. Some of the Town’s major successes can be seen in our Public Works Department’s efforts to reduce our fleet’s air and greenhouse gas emissions through the expanded use of biodiesel fuels. In addition, we have introduced policies and taken action to reduce the amount of virgin aggregate used
in road construction resulting in significant environmental benefits. Additional environmental initiatives include our Green Development Program; a Corporate Energy Management Plan; financial support for community environmental projects through the annual Community Green Fund and new sustainability polices incorporated into the Town’s Official Plan. Caledon has seen terrific success with the launch of our Farmers’ Market, a solar wall installation at Mayfield Recreation Complex and a commitment to “Greening” Town Hall. This latter effort includes the ongoing use of Canadian made Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, promoting the use of our website rather than photocopying material and staff car-pooling programs. The Town of Caledon continues to be a leader in environmental stewardship; we are known for delivering practical, results-driven environmental programs and policies by our fellow municipalities throughout Ontario. I can assure you, we are committed to living up to our welldeserved reputation as Ontario’s Greenest Community.
Marolyn Morrison Mayor of the Town of Caledon
page 8. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Honorable mentions Dear Constituents, I’m pleased to welcome SouthFields Village Voice to Caledon. It’s an exciting addition to our community covering various topics of interest and, of course, issues of importance to all residents of Caledon. There is truly something for everyone in this publication and I commend Editor, Yevgenia Casale, and her team of contributors on delivering such a high-quality publication to residents of Caledon. On behalf of the residents of Dufferin-Caledon, I wish the magazine many years of success. In my role as Member of Parliament for DufferinCaledon, I have had the honour and privilege of representing this riding for almost seven years. Now that the recent federal General Election is behind us, I look forward to returning to Ottawa as your voice in the 41st Parliament. I thank everyone for their continued support during the campaign and I will continue to work hard to represent your interests. Our Government is eager to return to our work from the previous session, to ensure Canada’s economic recovery is secure and that job creation continues from coast to coast. We are also eager to move forward with the Budget we introduced earlier this year, so we may continue to deliver results for hard-working families here in Dufferin-Caledon and across Canada. I am always pleased to hear from all of my constituents regarding their issues and concerns pertaining to all areas of the federal government such as: Passport Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), to name a few. My constituency office in Bolton (located at 12596 Regional Road 50) may be contacted by telephone at 905-857-6080 or by e-mail at david.tilson.c1a@parl.gc.ca. Please also feel free to visit my website at www.davidtilson.ca.
Re/Max Realty Services Inc., Brokerage Independently Owned and Operated
905.456.1000 ext. 3329 www.BruceBell.ca
“I live, work, and play here.” When you Buy or Sell call Bruce Bell Your Village of SouthFields Realtor
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 9
from Allan Thompson’s desk Spring is definitely late arriving this year, and the cool, wet weather has delayed everything from fieldwork to gardening. As I write this, the swallows have just returned home, which is quite late for them, considering tomorrow is Mother’s Day. To begin, I want to congratulate our new residents here in SouthFields Village. This morning they held their first community spring clean-up day, drawing over 70 residents from their homes and into the streets to help ready their community for the welcoming of spring. It was exciting to see so many people actively engaged in their new community. The Town of Caledon is made up of many smaller, but vibrant, active communities and that is what makes Caledon a great place to live. Looking forward to our warmer months all of our communities have many wonderful events planned to help inspire and promote community engagement. To help kick off our summer line up we have the 4th Annual Caledon Day, held on Sat. June 18 at the Caledon Civic Campus (Town Hall). Our Ward 2 communities here on the west side of Caledon will be hosting: • July 9 – Annual Cheltenham Day • July 16 – Village of SouthFields Day • Aug. 1 – Le Tour de Terra Cotta The Terra Cotta community holds numerous fundraisers and community events throughout the year and in late summer look for news about the Valleywood community Annual Corn Festival. In mid-June we have Caledon Fair, the first of our three fairs in Caledon and to mark Canada Day there are many special events planned, including two Strawberry Festivals.
from Gord McClure’s desk When I first ran for office to represent you, one of my great concerns was ensuring our community is kept safe. The Council has now appointed me as representative to the advisory board of the Ontario Provincial Police in Caledon. This gives us the opportunity to have direct discussion with the Police Management. I shall do my very best to relay to the Police Department any and all concerns you may have and to push for as many safety measures as we think are necessary. Another opportunity that has been given to me by the Council is as your library board representative. Even in this age of the computer, one of the great assets a person young or old can have is good reading skills, valuable for business, entertainment and information. I shall work to help wherever possible to improve our library service and the community interest in the library. The Village of SouthFields continues to see rapid growth with more than 300 additional homes being occupied by the end of March. I will continue to monitor all growth in the area and voice everyone’s concerns including zoning applications, street parking, new schools, garbage containers, pond paths, future schools and tax assessments. Other issues include Fire and Emergency Administration, the Smart Center application and the possible new plaza west of Highway 10. Community involvement is important to the growth of your new community and I invite everyone to get involved in the discussions on planning of all phases. Regards,
Gord McClure
Area Councillor Ward 2
These events are all wonderful places to share time with your family and friends, and they would not be possible without the commitment of our wonderful volunteers here in Caledon. Community engagement is important and critical to building the type of community our residents want and I encourage and invite all of you to participate and become involved. Respectfully submitted,
Allan Thompson Regional Councillor Ward 2 Follow on Twitter @AllanForCaledon. Details on all these events are available under “Coming Events” at www.allanforcaledon.ca
Allan Thompson with Tim Horton’s Sarah Majeski and SouthFields villager Gail Boulton
page 10. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Special thanks to Allan Thomspon, Regional Councillor Ward 2 for helping out and to Sarah and Nancy from the Tim Hortons at Mayfield and Hurontario for the drinks, timbits, clean up supplies and for sticking around and pitching in! Thanks to all the SouthFields villagers who came out for our first community clean-up.
First we clean, then we play! On May 7th, SouthFields villagers enjoyed terrific weather and a fantastic turnout for their first community clean-up. Ironically, the prior Thursday was garbage day and bore witness to near hurricane strength winds. Scheduled for only an hour, many stuck around longer to enjoy each other’s company and the treats supplied by Tim Hortons. People were eager to take in a beautiful morning and the chance to socialize with neighbours. Last year, the first Annual Official Village of SouthFields day drew 75% of the residents, and raised $500 for Caledon’s Meals On Wheels. The second Annual Village of SouthFields Day will take place on Saturday, July 16th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Model Home Row, behind the sales centre at Old Kennedy and Waterville Way. Our thanks to Monarch and Coscorp for agreeing to let us use the space and to Eco-Media for providing some temporary garbage bins for the event. Over the winter and spring, Eco-Media has been working closely with the town and the SouthFields RA to install the attractive recycling and garbage collection units around the village to help encourage a clean and enjoyable community. They even incorporated the village logo, developed by SouthFields Village Voice, onto the bin canop to help blend the bins into the local landscape. These bins offer local
business owners a great place to catch the attention of their neighbours and for local community groups and the town to promote upcoming events.
2nd annual
Village of SouthFields Day Saturday, July 16th, 2011
11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Model Home Row, Village of SouthFields*
Fun, food, activities and lots more.
Come meet your village! Vendor tables & family hosted space available. Teens, if you need some volunteer hours, this is a great place to get them. Contact us for details. For more information contact:
info@southfieldsvillagevoice.com or call 905.846.4852 Proceeds donated to Peace Ranch (www.peaceranch.com) *
the builders have requested this to be a pet-free event.
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 11
A bit about bug bites by Bren Singh Ah, summer! A time for gardening, hiking in the woods, long romantic walks in the moonlight, kids playing soccer in the setting sun, and those pesky bugs… . Here are a few tips for keeping bugs at bay, care of your friendly pharmacists at Mayfield Pharmacare: • Insect repellents do not work against stinging insects such as bees and wasps. • DEET is the most effective insect repellent. Recommended DEET product use Age
Use
Under 6 mnths
Should not be used.
6 mnths – 2 yrs
Products with less than 10% DEET can be used once a day.
Older children
Use less than 10% DEET up to 3 times in a 24 hour period.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Avoid using DEET containing products. If really needed, use less than 10% DEET products.
Adults
Use no more than 30% DEET products.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women: Wear pants and long sleeves or use products containing soybean oil (Note: soybeen oil does not protect against ticks). • Infants and small children: The best method is netting over beds and strollers. Dressing them in long-sleeved, tightly woven clothing. Products containing soybean oil can be used on small children. Soybean oil products can work up to 3.5 hrs. Do not use repellents containing citronella or lavender oil on children under 2 years of age. • Products containing premethrin should only be used on clothing, tents or equipment to help keep ticks away. Do not use them on skin. • Never apply insect repellent products on open wounds or irritated skin. Use caution when applying to the face. Wash hands after applying repellent. Use spray or mist type insect repellents in a well ventilated area. • Apply sunscreen 20 min. prior to applying insect repellent. How to treat insect bites or stings • Wash the affected area with warm water and soap. • Ice / cold compress for no longer than 10 min. at a time. • For pain use acetaminophen, ibuprofen or ASA. • For itching, use anti itch lotions, creams or sprays such as Hydrocortisone 0.5%. Topical antihistamines, anesthetics, calamine lotion or zinc oxide can also be used for minor itch relief. Oral antihistamines (Benadryl) can be used to relieve itching or swelling. • Avoid scratching the bite area as this may cause an infection. • Seek medical attention immediately if allergy symptoms are evident. True allergy symptoms are: hives, red flush or itching all over the body, difficulty in breathing or swelling of lips. Serious reactions to bites or stings are uncommon.
• Contact a doctor if a rash develops around a bite or bite reaction spreads to larger area. • Those who have history of severe allergic reactions; wear a MedicAlert bracelet, carry Epipen (epinephrine injection), carry oral antihistamine (diphenhydramine; Benadryl).
This article lists medications by their common names or brand names. The above is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician, pharmacist or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have.
page 12. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Winning entry from CPL’s Writes of Spring – Adult Short Story Contest:
The Visit
by Elaine Coish
“We’re here.” Eleanor hears relief in her father’s voice as the old Pontiac creeps along the pitted lane. From the back seat, she sees her mother’s mouth relax. They pass a field of stubby corn stalks shivering among leprous patches of snow. A watery sun is no match for the March wind. The tall corn had always been a deliciously scary place to play. They never visit Auntie Esther in the wintertime, never. Amazingly, the baby has slept through the jolting twohour trip. Anne peers over the top of her book; resumes reading. Eleanor envies her sister’s carefree escape into fantasy. The morning had been particularly baffling what with Dad hurrying between house and car, carefully fitting boxes and pots into the trunk. “Why are we packing all this food?” He is all false cheer as he pats her head and ignores her question. “Move, princess, you’re in the way.” “Mom, how come you’re giving away our old sneakers ‘n Dad’s sweaters ‘n stuff?” “Because we don’t wear them anymore.” That calm logic doesn’t fool her a bit. And when Eleanor sidles too close, Mom shushes Dad. Furious barking interrupts her thoughts. Andy has spotted them. His frantic tail waving and endearing doggie smile jogs memories. Andy scared her last summer, but she was nine then and afraid of everything. “Mom, he remembers! Hey, Andy!” She rolls down her window but Mom orders it back up. Andy’s desperate attempts to climb in would leave scratches. A yelping parade of cousins erupts from the house. Brian has sprouted into a beanpole, all arms, legs, and Adam’s apple. He grins shyly. Diane clutches a struggling toddler. Peggy calls over her shoulder to Kevin, “Get Mom.” No one
Congratulations to all of the winners: 1st Place - Elaine Coish - The Visit 2nd Place - Roberta Natale - Pandora’s Box 3rd Place - Anita Wildman - Mongoose Wanted
wears a jacket. Eleanor steals a glance at her mother who shows no disapproval at all. How strange. Eleanor bounces in an agony of anticipation. Dad has to get out and pull the seat forward before she is free. “Don’t go empty-handed,” her mother says, but she pretends not to hear. Auntie Esther appears with a look that says this had better be good. She stops short and takes in grinning faces and Dad laughing and Andy dancing around in crazy circles. Mom gets out slowly. Auntie Esther’s face collapses in emotion. “Laura?” She bites her lip. Mom blinks fast. Eleanor doesn’t know what to make of this. Mom looks happy and sad at the same time. Then Auntie Esther is running in that funny way grown-ups do, wiping her hands on a stained dish towel tied around her waist. She reaches Dad first and hugs him. “Frank? What…? Why are…?” And then Mom and Auntie Esther cling to one another. There are tears. Eleanor catches muffled snatches, “How did you know…?” “Something told me…” “Things have been…” “We’re all freezing out here!” Auntie Esther gets a grip and wipes her nose. Peggy runs for the door and everyone crowds the tiny vestibule leaving no room for the stragglers. Peggy flings open the kitchen door and a wall of fear engulfs them. And what is that awful smell? Eleanor and Anne stop dead. Dad sees their alarm and jumps in to avert “bold, embarrassing questions”. In the car Mom had warned them about that in no uncertain terms. “Esther, looks like our timing is perfect! That’s some powerful yeast you got working for you. Bet they don’t put any in grocery store bread. Like eating fog.” Eleanor is itching to ask questions. In town, their local bakery is a magical place full of cinnamon sugar smells. It’s a treat when Dad brings home a loaf still warm from the oven and slathers butter and jam onto thick slabs. This bread sure smells different. The yeast suffocates her. She catches her mother’s eye and resolutely closes her mouth. “Well, Frank, you’re in luck. There’s tow ready to be cut into and two more ready for the oven. I’ll put on a pot of tea. Diane, put Ronnie in his highchair and grab that raspberry jam from the pantry. Brian, start the kettle and Peggy, you fetch cups.” Dad settles the baby on his lap. The kids scurry to do Auntie Esther’s bidding. Eleanor and Anne follow Brian into the pump room. The house doesn’t have running water and it’s great fun to watch him work the handle until, finally, a gush
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 13
spews into the waiting pot. Brian splashes the girls just enough to elicit squeals. The threat of a soaking never loses its thrall. Eleanor grins up at Brian. The ice is broken. It’s last summer again. From the kitchen Mom calls, “Be a dear, would you, Eleanor, and bring in the diaper bag from the car.” “Sure, Mom.” She is happy as she dashes into the cold and grabs the bag from the back seat. Andy leaps joyfully around her in a frenzy of goodwill. She pats his soft black head. “There’s a good ol’ dog.” The wind picks up. Looming evergreens edging the driveway whine and sway. She hates those scary trees. A crow caws. An uneasiness closes around her. She picks up her pace but something about the house makes her slow again. It had never been pretty, what with its side door stuck in the corner like an afterthought, but now it seems… sad. She takes in the sagging porch, ripped siding, dangling shutters. And was that crack in the front door glass always there? Perhaps the house shifted. The whole structure seems in danger of collapsing in on itself. Despair drapes itself like a shawl over decrepit shoulders. In summer, lilacs softened corners and wild roses made you forget the rest. The cousins busied themselves catching tadpoles in the pond and running barefoot between the scraggly apple trees. Now winter has laid bare the truth. She looks around the yard. Defeat is everywhere. The tire swing hangs from the oak but the rope is frayed, fragile. The old truck on cinder blocks has been there for eons but now one door is askew, creaking
whenever the wind jostles a hinge. They had so much fun pretending to drive that truck. And just like that, Eleanor feels something inside give way. A little silent rendering separates her from her old self. She knows things she doesn’t want to know. She feels old. “Are you all right, Eleanor?” The benign look she plastered on her face in the vestibule hasn’t worked. Her mother never misses a thing. She wants to say, Mom, I know why we’re here. I understand. “I’m fine”, she manages in a small voice. “Here, Eleanor. Have yourself some of this bread before these greedy-guts eat it all.” Auntie Esther pushes a chipped plate across the table and pours milk into a mason jar for her. That, too, is chipped. Eleanor hates the creamy milk that she knows comes straight from Bessie in the barn. “Thank you”. She turns away from her mother’s intent stare. A trapeze of spider web crosses the dirty panes, its owner long gone. A lone fly buzzes mindlessly against the glass. She always feels sorry for flies born in the wintertime. Dad says flies live only a few weeks. This, then, is all they know. “You kids are hanging around here like a dog at suppertime.” Aunt Esther is anxious to have time alone with Laura and Frank. “Show Eleanor and Anne the surprise.” A chorus of voices and a tangle of arms heard the girls through the parlor and up the stairs. To the left, the kitchen stove pipe juts through the floor and up beyond the roof, a black man-made beanstalk. Beside it (cont’d on next page)
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page 14. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011 (cont’d from previous page) stands a
strange round contraption with an eerie red glow. Eleanor hears wee sounds and edges closer. On the straw a dozen tiny chicks huddle under a heat lamp. She is utterly enchanted. “Can I hold one?” “Yeah, sure.” Brian gently scoops out a ball of yellow fluff and sets it in her cupped hands.
“Why do you keep chickens in your house?” “Because they’d freeze out in the barn.” Eleanor nods, accepting the sense of it all. She asks no questions. *****
On the drive home, Anne and the baby sleep. Eleanor fakes it. That’s when her parents talk. If she’s lucky, she might learn why Uncle Alex “works away” leaving his family to
fend for themselves on a derelict farm. Anger is a new, uncomfortable companion. It rolls around inside finding shape with each outrage. She and Anne wear matching coats and Mom has pretty plates. Another thought flashes out of nowhere. Yeah, but we don’t eat homemade bread every day or keep baby chicks at the top of the stairs. She smiles in the dark.
Art exhibits at the library by Freyda Tartak The first thing I noticed on a recent visit to the library was not the computer work station table or an enticing book jacket on one of the lending stacks. No, what struck me was the art display. Turns out the library has been actively encouraging local artists to mobilize their creative pursuits. Case in point are Meghan MacRae, a recent Mayfield Secondary grad, and her Sears co-worker, Rajan Gill. Rajan, who graduated from school in India and exhibited back home, was lamenting the lack of opportunity for artistic expression in Canada when Meghan suggested that she try to put a show together. Rajan convinced Meghan to join her. They formed Everyday Art and approached a number of organizations but found Caledon Public Library (CPL) to be most open to promoting emerging local talent. The library’s Off The Wall programme encourages exhibitions of painting, photography, sculpture and crafts by local artists and artisans, as space permits, at all seven of their branches. Exhibits are typically on display for four to six weeks at any given branch. Next time you go don’t be surprised if you are greeted by a hand painted rain barrel; sculptures made of clay, paperclips, golf tees, lollipops, or yellow waffles; a hand stitched quilt; pencil drawings of a century home; watercolors featuring brilliant landscapes; portraits; abstract art; or thought provoking photographs. The library website is used to further promote the exhibitors by providing
profiles and links to their home pages. CPL “believes that art in the library will enhance the environment for our patrons but more importantly we believe that artists deserve to be heard, and the art they create deserves to be seen,” says CPL’s Manager of Communications, Mary Maw. For more information or to find out how to book your own Off The Wall art exhibit, call CPL’s Communications and Programming Department at 905-857-1400. Currently on display are: Eric Forsythe, Christine Van Walraven, and Mayfield visual art students (Albion Bolton); Adriana Zettel, Hilda Merry, Ewa Ostrowski and Arthur Ostrowski (Inglewood); and Meghan MacRae, pictured bottom centre and Rajan Gill, pictured left, both with samples of their work (Margaret Dunn Valleywood).
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 15
Offering Caledon’s young families “home away from home” by Teresa Colasanti With the allure of its scenic countryside and quaint villages, it’s no wonder that Caledon attracts a growing number of new residents each year. This is particularly true of families with young children who see Caledon as an ideal setting to raise a family. As the population continues to swell, the need for services will certainly increase ~ services such as those provided by The Caledon Parent-Child Centre (CPCC). For over 23 years, the CPCC has been proudly serving the families and children of Caledon, providing support, resources and education that strengthen families and promote the optimal development of children. At the CPCC, families can access an array of free supports and programs that strengthen the family and assist them in their critical role of raising young children. Services include children’s learning and enrichment opportunities, parenting education, family support groups, early identification of concerns for children, onsite consultations, and referrals.
Programs and services are delivered from a main location in Bolton, a satellite site in Cheltenham, and various rural communities through the use of a Mobile Outreach Unit and rented space.
Since its early days, a vital service has been the Mobile Outreach Unit, a modified van used to transport toys, resources, program supplies and staff to the many rural communities in Caledon. Programs are delivered weekdays at five locations including Alton, Caledon East, Caledon Village, Mono Mills, and Valleywood. And beginning in May, a Saturday program will be offered bi-weekly in Inglewood, serving all of West Caledon. Additional plans include expanding services to include evening parenting workshops throughout these rural neighborhoods. “As the community’s leading provider of support services for families with young children, The Caledon Parent-Child Centre continues to monitor growth and advocate for more funding and resources to increase our presence in Caledon,” said Maureen Thornton, CPCC Executive Director. During the summer months, staff can be found taking the van on the road to the many village days hosted throughout Caledon. Village days offer a unique opportunity to expand CPCC’s reach into the community. The van is stocked with children’s toys and activities and can instantly convert green space into mini-playgrounds. For families who have already discovered this hidden gem,
the CPCC has become a “home away from”: a safe and nurturing environment with access to guidance from Early Years Professionals, and a gateway to connecting with their community. The Caledon ParentChild Centre is a member of the Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs, a designated Ontario Early Years Centre and a registered charitable corporation. For a complete listing of programs and services, including hours of operation, visit www.cp-cc.org or call 905-857-0090. Teresa Colasanti is Manager of Community Relations with CPCC.
Caledon Village Plaza 18371 Hurontario St. Caledon, ON For appointments call
519.927.3371
Open Tuesday through Saturday
Salon services include: waxing services eye brow & lash tinting manicures & pedicures electrolysis facials
Caledon Mountain Wildlife Supplies Wild Birdseed / Feeders / Nesting Boxes Pet Food & Supplies / Wildlife Feeds Crafts / Books / Nature Accessories “We’re here to help you help nature” 18371 Hurontario St., Caledon Village phone: 519.927.3212 fax: 519.927.9186
page 16. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
T
Alton welcomes new business
he historic village of Alton was established in 1855. One of the original buildings was a butcher shop and a popular destination for Alton villagers and those from nearby Orangeville. Martha Willett, the current proprietor, bought the building in 2006 and has invested considerable effort in restoring it to its former splendor. Martha decided on Alton because she believed in the community and felt the time was ripe for it to return to its roots as a popular place for locals and visitors to frequent. Her building, from historical records, was once a very vibrant and
thriving community centre, offering a place to shop, eat and meet. Today, the main level features two large rooms full of antiques and shares space with
current zoning by-laws prevented Martha from using the building in this capacity, her vision extends to encompassing a host of exciting potential. She is currently working on a quaint restaurant/bar space in the cellar. The walls already feature murals by a local artist and are sure to add just the right atmosphere to what promises to be the life of the village.
In March 2011, Dufferin Accounting Services leased space in the sunny north west corner of the top floor. The upstairs bookkeeping and accounting office team is comprised of Cynthia Flemming, Rosemarie Left to right: Martha Willet, Cynthia Flemming and Rosemarie Eger, and Helen Wood, Eger with their faithful companion. Helen Wood was away on holiday, after a busy tax season, when and services Alton and SouthFields Village Voice popped by surrounding areas. for a photo. Cynthia is a tax specialist and a long-time resident the only ice cream shop of Alton; Rosemarie is a certified in Alton. The quaint bookkeeper responsible for corporate store showcases unique and business clients; and Helen’s area artifacts, antiques, of expertise is business organization, jewellery and a host of office management, and day-to-day unusual finds. bookkeeping. Though very new within A fairly recent addition the village, their services were readily is the adjacent sausage embraced for both personal and small hut, offering lean grilled business tax returns. Many of the local delights that are so independent small business owners succulent that it, in have taken advantage of the proximity itself, is a huge draw for of the service to home base. those in the know. The In fact, convenience is the name of allure of the hut is only the game for the Dufferin Accounting eclipsed by the organic, team. If clients find it difficult to come locally produced creamy to them, they will go to the clients. goodness of the frozen They offer seniors a special discount counter just inside the rate and are looking forward to a busy main building. time over the next couple of months At one point the location with sole proprietor returns being due included a bed and June 15th. breakfast. Though
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 17
Splash into summer with Caledon Public Library by Mary Maw Looking to beat the heat and stay cool this summer? Plan on diving into Caledon Public Library’s exciting lineup of programs for all ages. Our theme this year is “Splash” and the fun begins in June and lasts all summer long. Surf the reading wave by signing up for the TD Summer Reading Club. This annual program challenges kids to read 20 books over the summer with incentives such as stickers, posters, logbooks, prizes and fun! The official kick-off for the summer program will take place at Caledon Day on June 18th, followed by a launch party at each one of our seven branches during the week of June 20th. Sign up for the club, have your
picture taken with famous characters, play games, and listen to stories. The fun does not end there. Join us for a host of wonderful adult and
youth programs – visit and explore the Credit Valley, Albion Hills or Glen Haffy Conservation Areas by checking out a pass from the library; sign out a Beach Bag full of teen books or even a fishing rod and tackle box; join the Paws to Read program; participate in baking, astronomy, cartooning and music workshops; submit an entry to one of our many contests. There’s something for everyone!
Alton branch’s After School Crew: Tyler Drensek; Brandon Contois; Sajan Khosa; Leo Scardicchio and Zachary Bryan, getting ready to make a “Splash at the library”
So surf on in to any branch of Caledon Public Library or www.caledon.library.on.ca to pick up a copy of our Books & Beyond summer newsletter. The library is the coolest place to be all summer long! Mary Maw is Manager of the Communications department at Caledon Public Library
Martha’s
Thursday to Monday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
19781 Main St., Alton www.marthasplace.ca
519.938.8726
page 18. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
ecoCaledon helping Caledon live green by Jim Cassell It is said that life is what happens to you while you are making other plans. Well, in the early 1990’s, that’s what happened to me. I was residing in rural Caledon with my new family, trying to earn a living while building a career – and then life happened. A knock at the door and a brown envelope placed in my hand jump-started my environmental awareness, and I have not looked back.
bursaries for the four high schools, provide energy and pesticide education, and maintain an online green directory of businesses, services and local environmental groups that contribute to Caledon’s green reputation. New this year and in partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, ecoCaledon is sponsoring ‘Paint a Picture for Water Conservation’ rain barrel decorating contest. Ten artists have been picked to paint a rain barrel and on July 1st home owners can bid on the one they like with proceeds going to ecoCaledon programs. We are looking for a volunteer to champion this event next year. Caledon has been voted the Greenest Town in Ontario twice, and with the help of volunteer groups like ecoCaledon, it will continue to be an environmental leader. Do your part and get involved with ecoCaledon or any other environmental group to help Caledon continue to be a green, wonderful place to live. You can learn more about ecoCaledon’s programs at ecoCaledon.org. Jim Cassell is a founding member of ecoCaledon
Caledon Public Library Children’s Programmer, Christine Van Walraven, with her rain barrel. The design was a reflection of her experience while living and working in Okayama, Japan.
After winning a two year fight to prevent new landfill from coming to Caledon, we realized that we were being reactive and ‘nimby’. A better way to manage environmental change would be to take a proactive, forward looking approach. Carol Seglins, then the Mayor of Caledon, took up the challenge and formed an environmental citizens’ group to promote and support waste diversion policies and programs within the Town of Caledon and the Region of Peel. I became a founding member of Citizens for a Clean Caledon (now known as ecoCaledon) and after 15 years, I’m still enjoying the projects, challenges and people. Unlike our sister organizations in Brampton and Mississauga, the members of ecoCaledon are volunteers who are focused on eco-action and education. ecoCaledon has many programs, including the only 100% recycled battery program in the province; it has diverted over 24,000 kgs of waste from landfill to date. They also sell rain barrels made from recycled olive barrels to fund educational
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 19
The Judge of Chelthenham recognized locally as the heart of the farming community and the Judge family is at its centre.
Glen Judge, at entrance to the tea room.
Glen Judge was born, raised, and will likely be carried out of the same Cheltenham farmhouse. His favourite place to be is standing in the middle of his field. Cheltenham, in general, is
Glen owns the historic General Store, one of only five Cheltenham businesses that customers can actually enter into. For Glen, that’s the biggest problem. According to him, what Chelt needs most is more business. “For the store to do well there needs to be a bigger draw, both to and within the village, than just one quaint store with everything from gifts and frozen beef to delicious coffee, ice cream and a post office,” says Glen.
The back of the General Store is one of Caledon’s best kept secrets. Complete with free Wi-Fi and a cozy, warm atmosphere, it is the perfect place to escape and relax with a warm cup of very affordable fair-trade organic coffee. The General Store is heart of Cheltenham. It is the place to meet and congregate. On Cheltenham Day the front of the store is where the bleachers are set up to watch Open Monday to Friday 6 a.m. (for early morning coffee) to 7 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. & Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the kids careening down the hill in • Freshly roasted organic, fair trade coffee • Sandwich deli bar, decadent baked treats their home made • Scooped ice cream, seasonal treats soap box derby • Home grown, natural, antibiotic-free cars. On Saturday frozen beef mornings the men • Gift Shop with unique, tasteful treasures gather to discuss • Post Office, ABM, Interac service • Battery Recycling local affairs. On • Wheelchair accessible Sunday afternoons Rusty likes to come www.cheltenhamstore.com down and strum his harp, often
Not too far for a good cup of coffee!
905.838.2729 14386 Creditview Rd Cheltenham, ON
putting on his own duelling cabaret for his lady and anybody else. Cheltenham is as central to Caledon West as the village of Caledon East is to Caledon, as a whole. SouthFields villager Michelle Liske says, “I love to go down to the Cheltenham General
Last year’s Cheltenham Day.
Store for a sandwich. It’s a great place to grab lunch.” If you come around just before the school bus comes back from school you might have to wait a couple of minutes because the lady behind the counter is busy preparing for a little regular, cutting the crust off his sandwich because that’s how he likes it. Over the years the store has been through many hands. At one point it was owned by Shelley Craig, who now runs the B&B just up the hill. People still talk about when the store was shut down. According to Michele Skawski, a local realtor, “it was a real wake-up call for the community. People realized how important it is to support our general store because when it was gone people felt a real void.” You can still see evidence of what a small village without a good general store is like. The folks in Terra Cotta can tell you all about it. But Glen realizes he can only do so much on his own to revitalize Cheltenham. He would love nothing more than to see other people set up shop alongside him.
page 20. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Active body, healthy mind by Aaron Madgett, CCAT I am often asked what the best exercises are. That depends a great deal on what the purpose of exercise is. Do you want to run a marathon or simply plant the garden pain free? A proper exercise program will be unique to you and your personal goals. My philosophy is to “never train muscle train movement”. Obesity levels in North America are on the rise and as a fitness professional it is important to teach people the many benefits of keeping an active lifestyle throughout the course of one’s life. Keeping an active lifestyle can increase your confidence, increase strength of muscles, increase bone density, decrease body fat percentages. Physiologically, being active has been seen to increase the hormone serotonin, known decrease both body fat and stress levels. As well, physical activity releases endorphins within the brain which cause the effect of runners euphoria which gives you a great sense of wellbeing. Not only does physical activity effect hormone release, it also affects the types cholesterols your body utilizes, causing a decrease in bad cholesterol, LDL (low density lipids) and an increase in good cholesterol, HDL (high density lipids). Increasing your activity levels has many benefits and a whole article or book can be written on it. As an educator in fitness it is very beneficial to know the effects of activity in order to adequately educate the people I train. Aaron Madgett is a CanFitPro Certified Personal Trainer with Riverdale Fitness Mill
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 21
Celebrating life at Caledon Butterfly Gala On April 2nd SouthFields Village Voice teamed up with Village Bistro and Banty’s Roost Golf & Country Club to deliver what, by all accounts was a fabulously successful evening. Chef Warren delivered his usual best for a meal that people are still talking about. Steve and Alec duelled the night away on pianos that everybody in the room wanted to book for their next event. Cory Trepanier inspired us with stories of trips to the most beautiful and remote places in Canada and we were awed by the acrobatic prowess of A2D2. Guests were thrilled, delighted, thoroughly entertained and helped raised $2,500 for Wellspring Chinguacousy Foundation. Special thanks to Stan Cameron for MC’ing the event and to all our sponsors, silent auction donors and guests for proving that Caledon really does care about those struggling to cope with cancer. To learn more about Wellspring visit www.wellspringching.ca.
Special thanks to our gala sponsors & partners: A2D2 Alec & Steve’s Dueling Pianos Alexander Gourmet Beverages Bali International Cargo Banty’s Roost Golf & Country Club Belfountain General Store Blaze In Style Caledon Hills Cycling Caledon Mountain Wildlife Supplies Charles Printing Company Mr. Cory Trepaniér Edible Arrangements (Georgetown) Forster’s Book Garden Howard the Butcher Inglewood General Store Petal Perfection Shelly’s Chocolates The Shed Mr. Stan Cameron Village Bistro Wellspring Chinguacousy Cancer Support Centre The Town of Caledon ... and to the silent auction table donors and everybody who have helped all along the way.
page 22. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Raising awareness for ALS by Jane McCarthy Hiking, biking, golfing, antiquing, dining are just a few of the many activities Caledon has to offer its lucky residents this summer. But don’t take these opportunities for granted. People diagnosed and living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) would advise you to seize the day, each and every day. ALS is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that robs the body of voluntary muscle function due to loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Muscles used to move, swallow, speak and even breathe become paralyzed.
The next time you go for a stroll, savour your favourite locally-grown meal, breathe in our clean Caledon air, or say “hi” to your neighbour, consider what a gift it is to be able to do these everyday things. If you would like to do more to help the ALS Society of Canada, consider signing up for the WALK for ALS this June (visit www.walkforals.ca), golfing in the 2011 ALS Charity Golf Classic this September (www.golfforals.ca), or holding a third party event (contact Enzo Raponi at er@als.ca). For more information about ALS, please visit www.als.ca.
SouthFields villager Jane June is ALS Awareness McCarthy, MSc, MPH is Month in Canada, a David Tilson, pictured here with his son Greg and father Joseph in 1981. the Director of Services time to raise awareness Approximately 3,000 Canadians are currently live with ALS. Two or three and Education ALS lose their battle to this devastating disease every day. about this devastating Society of Canada condition for which there is no cure or effective life extending treatment yet. Although ALS is relatively uncommon, there is a good chance you know, or will know, someone affected. DufferinCaledon MP, David Tilson, was touched by ALS after his father, Joseph Tilson, succumbed to the disease in 1992. During the last Parliament, Mr. Tilson introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons to have June officially designated as National ALS Month.
Unfortunately, this Bill wasn’t brought forward on the Order Paper before the recent election was called. However, Mr. Tilson will be reintroducing it in the upcoming 41st Parliament.
Last summer, members of the Caledon Ski Club cycled across Canada raising ALS awareness and more than $25,000 for research and patient care in honour of their friend and former ski club coach, Bob “ALS societies Mackenzie.
across Canada during the month of With ALS, the average life expectancy June will be raising is 2-5 years and it usually strikes money for research between the ages of 40-70, with through a variety of some diagnosed in their teens and ways. One of which others in their 90’s. In 90% of cases is through the sale of there is no genetic history. cornflowers. I encourage you to show your support for ALS research by buying a cornflower,” David Tilson.
Pizza Bay 3088 Mayfield Rd., Unit 1 (at Mayfield and Hwy 10)
905.970.9655
FREE DELIVERY to Village of SouthFields & Valleywood
4 $ .99* 8 $ .99*
MEDIUM PIZZA 1 Topping LARGE PIZZA Pepperoni Only 3 Pops
Also available Garlic Bread, Potato Wedges & Wings * Dipping sauce 50¢ extra. Available only for Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday pick-up orders. Taxes are not included. Limited time offer. Prices are subject to change without notice. Offer expires August 31st, 2011.
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 23
The keys to Lucille Weber’s success Inglewood based Lucille Weber’s father liked to keep things. When she and her mother were clearing out the cellar, after his death, they found his collection of keys.
Though never at a lack of ideas, her father’s assembly is especially effective at getting Lucielle’s mind going. There is no way to know what any of them were for. Chances are pretty good that they survived many of the doors whose locks they mastered. The keys’ mystery is a constant source of inspiration for Lucille. Weber is one of Caledon’s best loved artists. Her work is abstract, vivid, and vibrant. She has a loyal following of patrons, and is a strong supporter of numerous local causes and charities.
For Lucille it is all about the experience. Ever wanted to ‘Spend a day with the artist’? Call up Lucille. She`ll provide the the space, tools and supplies. You enjoy, let go, and have fun painting with her. It’s great for any age group and is especially popular as a mother/daughter activity. In her own work, nothing is too sentimental to be safe from ending up as an ingredient or tool. Even those keys are just waiting to be used. Each year Lucille welcomes visitors to enjoy an art show in her beautiful perennial garden. This year’s exhibit will also showcase the works of Sonja Mortimer and Joan Gray.
Lucille Weber works in acrylic, oil, papers and encaustic in a free spirited abstracted style. Her working studio and gallery is in Inglewood and may be visited by appointment. Commissions are gladly accepted. For details visit www.lucilleweber.com.
Be sure to catch this year’s garden show. June 25 & 26th 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 17 Lorne Street, Inglewood. Contact Lucille at 905.838.0922 or lucilleweber@rogers.com Guest artists : Sonja Mortimer & Joan Gray
page 24. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Palliative care a celebration of life at Bethell House live. The hospice is a warm and inviting alterative to a hospital bed, allowing families to spend those last special moments together. When people get there they are surrounded by an array of worldly comforts like the full spa treatment, complete with a candle-lit bath while listening to their favorite music in a specially designed tub suited their needs. Full-body cleansing is a luxury many have not enjoyed for years, due to their illness. One lady, a Leafs fan, wanted to watch the play-offs so Leafs TV was hooked up in her room. Another couple, who had been together for many years decided to make it official before she passed, so a wedding was held.
T
he phrase terminally ill is not usually seen as being synonymous with love, compassion, hope, peace, celebration or life. It speaks of pain, isolation, suffering, loneliness, despair and death. But Bethell House is as much a celebration of life as it is a place to say farewell. People go to Bethell House, located in Inglewood, to spend their last days in comfort and dignity when families can no longer support them at home. Loved ones gather, knowing that there will be no more birthdays or picnics or later afternoon walks. No more telephone calls or unexpected visits, no more chances to say I love you forever and for always, no more next years and maybe not even any more next weeks. Bethell House provides end of life care for people with up to three months to
“Twice a month, on Tuesdays, Lorna Bethell personally serves a proper English high-tea and the kitchen is a popular gathering space for conversation and good food,” says Cinzia Del Zotto, Development Officer in charge of fundraising. “Volunteers are always baking cookies and making pots of soup. Family members who wish to have a particular meal prepared for a resident are able to instruct volunteers in special recipes,” she adds. From its conception Bethell House has enjoyed strong local support. To celebrate National Hospice Palliative Care Week, the hospice held their annual ‘Hike for Hospice’, raising approximately $20,000, with all
the funds raised by the community staying in the community; on June 15th the Caledon West Rotary Club hosts their annual charity golf tournament, with proceeds going to Bethell House; this year’s 14th annual Caledon Council’s Community Golf Tournament will help fund the new Remembrance Garden Oasis; and on May 13th, Roxanne Mountain, owner of the Inglewood General Store and It’s Roxies partnered with Genie Hayward of Belfountain’s The Ascot Room to host a sold-out fashion event at the Caledon Golf & Country Club, raising $3,427 for Bethell House. Running the hospice is an expensive proposition. Services are partially funded by the government but strong community support is vital to its ability to provide the high quality of palliative care for which it is known. Volunteers are integral members of the team and vital to its success. They help in the kitchen, reception, maintenance, administration, landscaping, fundraising, and a host of resident support activities. Bethell House returns a measure of humanity when it is most needed. To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit www.hospicecaledon.ca.
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 25
It’s Roxies & The Ascot Room host fashion event of the season
Inglewood’s finest helped escort the models down the runway doing their part to help raise $2,300 for Hospice Caledon Foundation.
Handbags, sweaters, scarves Artizan jewelery designed by Robin Barré
come explore the inglewood general store British chocolate, biscuits, homemade soup, sandwiches & much more! 15596 McLaughin Rd.
905.838.4386
page 26. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
An inside look: Living the good life by blending in and out “To me, this house is an oasis,” says Dina. Okay, her name really isn’t Dina but that is what she says of her home. “We wanted a blending of the outside and inside so it wasn’t so definitive one way or the other,” she continues. The home is built into the side of a hill and really has no front door. There is the entrance through which you would come as a guest and the utility entrance, where you would come home to live. Space is not wasted on opulent foyers or open to above features.... except for the entertainer’s patio outside the guest entrance. You really can’t get much more open to above than that. “I felt it was important to give people a sense of welcome when they came over,” Dina explains. “People should feel like they arrived when they come over. That’s why the barbecue is out there.” The bedrooms are on the lower level, sort of underground and sort of not and still with floor to ceiling windows. The master bathroom is complete with a soaker tub which overlooks a private pond and is in sight of the outdoor hot tub. Admitedly, it’s rarely used but part of the reason they bought the house. The kitchen is, proudly, an IKEA kitchen. Beautiful, simple and functional. The ceilings are high and angled... everywhere. The structure of the house is circular so there are no right angles, posing the passable problem of having all your paintings looking crooked regardless of how straight they are. That’s a small price to pay for the benefit of living in a home that works as well as it does. It is an entertainer’s paradise with conversation spots everywhere. “We have a lot of couches. Couches are everywhere so you can sit and talk or read. My husband and I are both big readers,” she explains. A private screening room complete with a well-stocked bar, and year-round fully enclosed sun room whose walls can be easily taken down as needed finish off the main floor. It is as unconventional a house as any, with every possible modern convenience, including the one to do with the amazing surounding view.
The dining room chandelier is a candelabra from an old farm house, hung off a hook, surounded by pot lights.
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 27
A different perspective… the blitz by Michele Skawski Thirty years ago, Caledon had a growth spurt. New houses were abundant and young families gobbled them up as they fulfilled a dream of bringing up the kids in “the country.” Today, these same houses are hitting the resale market – many for the first time, and in varying degrees of modernization. For those with vision, these houses present an opportunity to re-create living spaces, install modern finishes and enjoy a bigger yard than may otherwise be possible. Roma and Janusz bought such a house in Inglewood last year. They fell in love with the property. They enjoyed the village atmosphere and could picture their children growing up and playing safely in the neighbourhood. The house wasn’t everything they had ever dreamed of, but they had a vision. For some people, buying such a property is a journey; they enjoy the lifestyle of the community and modernize the house as time and money allows. For others, such as Roma and Janusz, they blitz the house.
AFTER
BEFORE
Before Roma and Janusz had owned their Inglewood house for 24 hours – every window had been replaced! Within a month, the house morphed into a beautiful, modern showpiece with new kitchen and bathrooms, beautiful hardwood flooring and stucco accents to modernize the exterior.
A great blitz takes vision and planning. “The blitz” takes planning. One morning the sellers allowed Roma What stops most people from taking the risk is the and Janusz access to the house for two hours, during which knowledge that a home in need of renovations could be time every contractor stopped by to take the required either a great opportunity or a money-pit. Distinguishing a measurements. The windows and doors, kitchen and “diamond in the rough,” one that has good bones, in a good bathroom cabinetry, flooring and fixtures were all neighbourhood, pre-ordered so there would be no delays. Every from a big mistake contractor knew what was expected and agreed to takes more than a the timeframe. home inspection or a gut feeling. No amount of research in choosing a new home is as useful as insider information from somebody who knows the area, the people, the businesses, and the anecdotal history of the place. Your best line of defence is arming yourself with a Realtor® who knows the area from both a personal and professional perspective.
BEFORE
AFTER
Michele Skawski is a real estate agent based in Cheltenham, specializing in helping families find Caledon’s hidden gems.
page 28. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Abbeyfield affords seniors a few more years of independent living The saddest thing about aging is loss. Loss of friends and family to illness and death; loss of independence to diminishing mental and physical capacity; loss of dignity for people who once bathed, sheltered, fed, educated, and protected us.
individuals other than to have to leave Caledon.
manager, Gillian DePass. They must be able to live independently and staff are not able to dispense medication. For $1,800/month, including meals, residents like Ken and Esther come and go as they please but don’t live alone. They have entertainment (i.e. wings night, Caribbean night, and movie night), Gillian, each other and friends at the nearby seniors residence.
Though still vibrant he becomes increasingly dependant. If, for whatever reason, familial support is not available she is forced from her home and becomes more reliant sooner than she needs, to be because she must fit into a system built for many. Nine years ago a group of people from Caledon became concerned about the older folks in their community who had no place to go and should not be living on their own. At the time there were no options for those
house manager Gillian DePass
Esther Hadley (above) and Ken Gane (pictured below with a typical room)
It is a safe environment for the elderly, where they are able to regain a sense of living in a family. They are able to furnish the rooms with furniture from their homes to help make the transition an easier one.
They found Abbeyfield, an organization that started in England in the mid 1950s and now has 32 locations across Canada and 1,100 around the world. It is a nondenominational establishment that prolongs seniors’ enjoyment of life through health, nutrition and aversion to depression, delaying their need for a retirement home.
The residents’ families remain very involved but are able to trust that their parents are well cared for.
At Abbeyfield Houses of Caledon, located in Caledon East, residents are responsible for their own room and laundry but common areas and meal preparation is taken care of by the house
The home has been up and running for about eight months, with five of the twelve rooms occupied and two more very likely to be taken up soon. This summer, Gillian and the home’s current occupants have great plans for the garden and are looking forward to enjoying the sunshine.
Abbeyfield’s Welcome Room allows people to try it out before committing to the move. It is also available for occasional use for those who are living with family but need somebody to look out for them while the family goes away on a trip.
For more information contact Abbeyfield Caledon Vice President, Gail Grant at 905.860.0180 or visit www.abbeyfieldcaledon.org.
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 29
Classy consignment comes to Caledon Village by Yevgenia Casale Nancy Angrove Urekar loves consignment shopping. It started when she needed a business appropriate maternity wardrobe and really couldn’t afford one. So she strolled over to playnwear, on Avenue Road, in Toronto. What she discovered were the many joys of finding unique gems at an affordable price. That began her lifelong love affair with anew goods. The thrill of finding treasures in a consignment boutique is a lot like biting into chocolate while sipping fine cognac. It is a euphoria made all the sweeter with a glance at the price tags. When life changed, Nancy put all her years of treasure hunting to good use by opening up Chic à BOOM, a highend consignment store like no other.
It is clean, spacious, trendy, and full of that feeling you get when you walk into a place you can’t wait to explore. Designer clothes & shoes, furniture from posh estates, and elegant décor are carefully set up for an easy and delightful experience. No sifting through bins or maneuvering through tight, poorly lit aisles. Located in the heart of the historic Caledon Village, at the corner of Charleston Side Road and Hurontario Street, Chic à BOOM is quickly becoming a see and be seen destination point. Nancy poured her heart into this place and it shows. Stop in and say
‘hello.’ Personally, I make it a point to drop by at every opportunity. For a chance to win your own Chic à BOOM treasure see the contest on page 53.
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Why avoid a tax refund by Stanley Watroba Did you get a tax refund? It must have been a pleasant surprise; an unexpected bonus. In reality a refund means you paid too much tax throughout the year. You get the taxes you overpaid as a refund. But until you get your refund you are in essence giving an interest-free loan to the government. To keep more of your money you can request that the government reduce the taxes withheld by your employer. What you do with these additional funds depends on your financial situation. For financial security, debt reduction followed by accumulating wealth should be the priorities over spending the extra money. If you have debt, pay down the debt with
the highest interest rates first, then your mortgage. As mentioned you should first reduce your debt which means paying down your credit cards and consumer debt. High interest rates can erode your savings if you are carrying a credit card balance. Next you should pay down your mortgage, but check your mortgage contract to make sure you are not incurring prepayment penalties. Once you have reduced your debt you should increase your savings. The first option is to maximize your RRSP contributions. The earlier you contribute the longer you can take advantage of tax deferred compounding. Secondly you should top up your tax free savings account.
Contributions to a TFSA allow the investment growth to accumulate and be withdrawn tax free. Thirdly you should establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected events. Also if you have children you can contribute to a Registered Education Savings Plan which would allow you to save for your child’s postsecondary education. By putting money that already belongs to you back in your pocket you can achieve your goals sooner whether that is debt reduction or increased savings or both. Wishing you a pleasant summer. Your neighbourhood bookkeeper, SouthFields villager, Stanley Watroba provides bookkeeping services for small and medium sized business.
Defining house insurance by William Liske Aside from general repairs and maintenance, home security systems, and asking your guests to take off their shoes, protecting your home usually means getting insurance. There are three basic types of insurance for your home, all of which are often misunderstood. Chances are you now have a policy for all three. This column will describe the three types, what they cover and how you paid for them. Home insurance Banks usually require home owners to provide proof of coverage as part of the terms of their mortgage. It is typically arranged for by the homeowner. This insurance provides coverage for you in case your home is damaged by fire or flood; if the contents of your home are stolen; or if someone is hurt on your property and claims against you for personal injury related damages.To keep this coverage, homeowners continually pay annual or monthly premiums. There are many different insurers to choose from and usually you can switch between them for little or no penalty, so it pays to shop around for the best coverage and price. The two main concerns to be aware of are the deductible, the charge you pay before the insurer contributes to your costs of a claim; and claims forgiveness. Some insurers will offer you a low price, but come with a very high deductible while others wait until the second claim before increasing your premiums.
Title insurance This is usually arranged by your lawyer and is sometimes required by your bank. This insurance covers a lot of problems, is usually paid as a one-time fee when you purchase the home, and is often misunderstood. “Title” insurance is meant to deal with rights that others could have on your property, such as rights of way that neighbours, the Town, or utilities have to enter onto your property; the “zoning” or types of structures that are allowed on your property; and the your actual ownership. It also deals with encroachments, where part of your structures are built onto rights of way or neighbouring lands; and zoning by-law infringements, like if your home is built too close to the edge of your lot. Title insurance also provides coverage for you in case an error or a fraud causes the registration of your name on title to your home to change. Title fraud has been gaining momentum in recent years. In SouthFields we have two great builders, each with terrific reputations for avoiding and fixing errors. Many of the risks covered by title insurance are not likely to be a problem for you, here, but because it is an inexpensive source of peace of mind chances are that you likely did sign up for it along with your other closing costs. The cost is typically a one-time premium of (cont’d next page)
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 31
(cont’d from previous page) about $300 and usually covers you for as long as you own your home. New home warranty coverage This was most likely arranged by your builder and paid for by you as an adjustment on closing of your home. It is a onetime cost based on the price you paid for the new home. The former “new home warranty program” has been replaced by “Tarion”. It covers you for defects in the construction of your home. The coverage is like insurance because if your builder does not appropriately fix a defect that is covered under the warranty, Tarion will either order the builder to do so or engage a contractor to have the problem remedied, like an insurance company would. Unlike home and title insurance, these coverages are time limited. General defects covered for one year; plumbing, electrical and water penetration, for two years; and major structural defects being covered for seven years. In some cases homeowners who were late with their claim by only a day or two were denied coverage. It is crucial that you report a defect to Tarion before the applicable coverage expires. The important rules, time frames, coverages and conditions can be found on Tarion’s website www.tarion.ca. For specific questions call Tarion at 1-877-9-TARION. Home ownership is often your greatest investment. It is worth the effort to get to know your insurance coverage. SouthFields villager William Liske is an attorney, specializing in Real Estate law.
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Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 33
Barbie’s house by Barb Shaughnessy
The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show is the world’s largest international trade kitchen and bath event. Robert Edwards, one of my favourite cabinet makers, and owner of Terra Cotta’s TCWW joined me in Las Vegas, for this year’s KBIS. After 25 years in the business, it is hard to get me excited but we were both delighted with the finds. Visit www.southfieldsvillagevoice.com for more on this story. Here are our top eight picks:
“Image-in“ Tubs by Wet Style Less is more with these innovative and understated tubs. Made of ecofriendly natural stone composite material, they are slip resistant and have natural thermo insulation. The exterior motifs are a combination of matte and high gloss finishes. Clients are even able to create their own one-of-a-kind design, as a special order. Their contemporary line of wall hung cabinets, in either flat cut oak or walnut is truly beautiful. They exemplify the saying “less is more”. For that spa like feeling visit their website: www.wetstyle.ca “Durata” waterproofing finish by Pennsylvania’s Grothhouse Lumber In a sea of stainless steel sinks there was Grothouse with their wooden chopping block style sink. It never dawned on me that someone would design a wooden sink to illustrate the durability of their proprietary finish “Durata”. For those of you who want to consider a wooden counter in the kitchen, I think the worry of how the finish will stand up can be laid to rest. Also new on the market from Grothouse is their “live edge” counter, which is one more example of getting back to nature; bark and crevices enhanced rather than cut away. www.glumber.com
Earth Stone Ovens by Wood Stone Home The best chefs in the world are lining up to order this indoor/outdoor pizza oven that can also bake, braise or roast almost anything. The ovens can be gas fired, wood fired or both and can butt right up to your cabinetry with a contemporary stainless steel look or be made to look like an old stone oven ideal, for a deck install. www.woodstonehome.com
Creative tiles by Artistic Tile Their “Ziva” tile was a winner at Interior Design Magazine’s 2010 Best of the Year Awards. It caught my eye immediately but, I have to say you must see an application because the picture of a single tile does not do it justice. This fabulous tile was inspired by nature and carved by a master craftsman in India. The finish is so natural looking using both polished and honed surfaces with relief work that is just plain fascinating. www.artistictile.com
Metal finishes by Colorado’s Raw Urth New metal finishes made to look aged and antiqued. Blackened steel, antique bronze, industrial steel just to name a few, create a feeling of warmth that you just can’t get from stainless steel. Everything from kitchen sinks to range hoods. Their steel comes from recycled materials, using recycled office waste and manufactured with “green” energy.www.rawurth.com
Recycled glass pulls and knobs by Colorado’s Barz Decorative Hardware The way the fused glass captures and refracts light gives each piece life. The insets are then carefully laid into a choice of 22 metal finishes, at specific angles, to achieve the perfect fit in your hand. www.barzdecorativehardware.com
Petrified Sinks by Allstone Group Resurrected ancient Zebrawood and Rosewood fossilized tree logs with the look and feel of quartz stone have been carved into sink shapes. The exterior of the logs still look like bark but have the texture and feel of marble. www.allstonegroup.com Engraved granite by Italy’s Antolini Antolini’s new collection “Natura”, is nature meets technology. Simple granite or natural stone slabs are transformed through special engraving and embellishments techniques. Textures and patterns dusted with metal powders have been used to create croc and zebra inspired counters. Their Luxury Collection features Swarovski crystals embedded into the slabs. www.antolini.com
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Applying sustainable living Celebrate local food and farming with the Caledon Countryside Alliance 2011 programme offerings: Inglewood Farmers’ Market Takes place every Wednesday, June 15th to October 5th. 3:30-7 p.m., on the property of the Inglewood General Store. A charming country market with a variety of local foods, live music, food on the BBQ, cooking demos, fun activities and more! Who’s Servin’ Local? A program that recognizes the Caledon restaurants, shops, on-farm markets, cafes, and caterers who strive to include local foods on their menu boards and shelves. Stay tuned for the guide, to be launched on June 18th, 2011! Eat Local Dinner Series – Takes place at rotating Caledon restaurants on the last Thursday evening of each month. The hosting chef develops a 3-course meal featuring local ingredients for a fixed price of $30-35 per person. Cook Like A (Local) Chef Series – These classes take place on the first Monday evening of each month at the Palgrave Community Kitchen, 6:30-9:00pm. Taught by local chefs and locally-inspired, the hands-on classes are $30 per person. Eat Local Month, September 2011 – This month long celebration of local food and farming will take place again in 2011. The month’s events include workshops, wine-tastings, guest speakers, local dinner events, film screenings, and more! Canning Bees/Workshops – Interested in learning how to preserve the local harvest? Participate in one of our canning bees, and learn how you can stock your pantry cupboard with your very own homemade jams, chutneys, pickles and sauces. 2011 Farm to Table Directory – This directory lists local farmers, producers, and micro-processors that are interested in selling locally. It includes contact and product information. For more information about these programs, visit www.eatlocalcaledon.org, find them on Facebook and Twitter, or contact them directly at either (905) 584-6221 or eatlocal@eatlocalcaledon.org.
Whole Village, in partnership with the Credit Valley Conservation Authority and Toronto and Region Conservation for the Living City is offering a 13-day Permaculture Design Course, from July 17 to July 30th, 2011. Permaculture or “permanent agriculture” was originally conceived over 30 years ago by Australian ecologist Bill Mollison based on the notion that we could deliberately design agriculturally productive ecosystems that echo the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. Permaculture designs provide food, energy, and shelter for people and animal inhabitants while linking the needs and outputs of each element. The result is a dynamic yet stable system that sustains itself. It is a holistic approach to land use that works with nature’s rhythm and patterns, weaving together the elements of microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, water and soil management, and human needs into intricately connected and productive communities. Permaculture systems can be developed in any climate and on any scale. Designs have been developed for balconies, backyards and for entire villages and urban communities. The course is an intensive programme combining theory and practical activities. Through lectures, discussions, slide shows, field trips, and hands-on learning, participants will learn the basic permaculture design principles and develop skills required to design and implement sustainable systems. Topics covered will include: Ecological landscape design; ecoforestry; organic gardening; ecological building; site observation and analysis; soil fertility and composting. edible landscaping; fruit and nut production;poultry care; water harvesting and uses; appropriate technology; urban and rural permaculture; ecovillage design; and edible forest gardening. To register to request more information contact Brenda Dolling at (519) 942-4010 or bdolling@wholevillage.org.
Elements Integrated Wellness * Medical Acupuncture * Professional Coaching * Emergency Services Communications * Reiki Master * Stress Management and Prevention * Pre and Post Event Massage Dawn Rockall RMT, C.Ac, CPC * Feng Shui 14751 McLaughlin Rd., Caledon * Level C First Aid phone 905-703-6514 or book online at
www.elementsintegratedwellness.ca
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 35
Must see destinations:
T
The hamlet of Terra Cotta
erra Cotta, situated in the scenic, most southwesterly corner of Caledon, has volumes to tell about people pulling together in the name of community spirit. It is a story of adversity, human kindness, resiliency and resourcefulness. The hamlet has no school, no church, no general store, and no postal outlet but it does have a community centre and one heck of a cycle race. Terra Cotta has had its fair share of name changes. It was founded in 1855 when Henry Tucker purchased 40 acres of the east half of Lot 27, Concession 6 West for $800.00; hired a surveyor to lay out 18 hamlet lots; and constructed a grist mill. The hamlet quickly became known as Tucker’s Mill. In 1859 Simon Plewes bought the prosperous mill from Tucker, through bankruptcy, and the hamlet became known as Plewes’ Mill. In 1876, at the age of 45 Simon Plewes fell into his own mill race and drowned. In the mean time, a post office opened under the name of Salmonville in 1866, changing the name of the hamlet for a third time. “At spawning time one could fairly walk across the Credit here on the backs of spawning Atlantic Salmon. So said the pioneers in this area of Esquesing and Chingacousy townships. But as the wilderness was tamed, the salmon eventually disappeared,” wrote John Mark Benbow Rowe in a pamphlet for the Esquesing Historical Society. The hamlet name gained its current name of Terra Cotta in 1891. During heavy rains the entire place turns red because of the earth. When in 1877 the Hamilton and North Western Railway was built just to the north, the hamlet began doing a steady business in stone. In 1906 The Terra Cotta Pressed Brick Co. commenced
large scale operations to take advantage of the local shale beneath the stone of the escarpment. An electric power house was erected on the site of Plewes’ grist mill to transmit power to the brick plant near the train station, creating and driving the local job market. Soon, two more brick factories opened and prospered until the Great Depression of 1929 began, when they were closed and eventually dismantled. In 1956 fire destroying both the CNR train station and closed the chapter on industry in Terra Cotta. The newfound calm, combined with its natural beauty, ushered in a sort of renaissance age. “Toronto artist Jordanus Vander Vliet purchased land for a home and art studio where he started classes, attracting artists from across the province. John Agg succeeded him and in 1959 Rebecca Sisler renovated the former blacksmith shop into the Forge studio,” wrote Rowe. These days, Terra Cotta is home to metal outdoor sculpture artist Bev de Jong’s New Art Studio. Summer cottages sprang up, inspiring Rod Clancy to build a summer park, which in 1958 became the Terra Cotta Conservation Area, now run by the Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC). At one point it was a popular draw to the area, featuring a large outdoor public pool. According to locals, people would come by the bus loads and whatever they brought they would just leave exactly where they were. The place turned into an unmanageable dumping ground, forcing the Conservation Authority to shut down the pool, drastically reducing the influx of tourists to the area, as well as a key source of income. Three years ago the CVC approached the community to form Friends of
Terra Cotta, a groups whose mandate is to raise funds for the revitalization of the park. The Friends hold community events like the Christmas carol hayride and the haunted Halloween. Back in 1862, the nearest church was Union Presbyterian, a distance away, so the people of the community brought in the Wesleyan Methodists church in a building and on land donated by Simon Plewes. By 1925, just a Cheltenham began to see a resurgence of industry pulling folks out of Terrra Cotta, they began to struggle because of a lack of families to support having a church so it closed down. In 1947 the residents petitioned the Church for permission to let them use the building as a community centre. This was granted, provided that two members of the United Church sat on the hall’s board of trustees, with the rest of the board comprised of community members. The board’s function was to look after the community centre, make sure it was available to its members, and ensure that the Sunday school was kept operational. In its heyday the hamlet also enjoyed the benefit of two schools. Eventually, enrollment dropped because there weren’t enough kids, and the schools closed. One of the schoolhouses became a private residence. The other burned down. The Sunday school stopped running, also. In 1949, Terra Cotta Thursday Thimble Club, the local quilting club, with some members of who were also involved with the Women’s Institute, stepped in when the board of trustees was not able to raise sufficient funds for maintenance and care of the hall. Over the 40 year life of that organization they held bazaars, rummage sales, strawberry socials, and community dinners. Ted Von Zuben, a long-time resident, recalls one (cont’d next page)
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(cont’d from previous page) night when the ladies served 280 dinners over three sittings, and then the helpers ate. They could get about 70 to 75 people in per sitting. It was so crowded there were tables set up on the stage, and those were the days before there was running water in the community hall. In 1967, for their Centennial Project, the Thimble Club raised enough money to install the original seven street lights in Terra Cotta. Amongst their many other accomplishments they gave a bed to the Georgetown Hospital. Their first project was to bring electricity and a furnace to the Community Hall. In 1951, Betty and Harry Farrar purchased a riverside property that, at one point, used to be a hotel. They transformed it into the hugely successful Terra Cotta Inn. It is said that you could go anywhere in the world and meet people who heard tell of the Inn’s food and hospitality, or had experienced it for themselves. Eventually Betty and Harry moved on and were succeeded by a series of fires and questionable ownership. Over its 61 year history the Inn has seen dozens of owners. “Some came,
some failed, some succeeded but, they all have one thing in common... they all tried,” says current head chef Roberto Florindi. Ten years ago, when he first saw the place he thought it looked like “a little haunted house.” Together with restaurant manager and coordinator Colleen Cauchi they have turned the place around and given it new life. “The owner of the Inn basically gave me the keys and said see what you can do with it. You’re the guy who will make this place go.” Today, it, along with the community centre, is the heart of the community. Roberto’s generosity of spirit and support for the community is only eclipsed by his humility. “We all get together when neighbours need something,” says Roberto. “Before Terra Cotta I’d never had the privilege of seeing a group of people so involved in their community… you never hear people say can you? It’s always can I?” says Colleen. One day, Dave Rutherford was driving by just in time to witness a lady do a threepoint turn through the front window of the Inn. “Dave was unable to stop, himself, so he called another neighbour
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 37
and before either me or Roberto could take ourselves away from the accident to make the necessary arrangements to have the window boarded up, people showed up with nails, boards and hammer in hand. They covered up the window without even having to be asked.” The main thing you see when you meet somebody from Terra Cotta is how much everybody cares about it and each other. “I’m just trying to be a neighbour,” says Roberto. But it is a sentiment that could be said by anybody. “Everybody that’s been here for a while cares,” says Colleen. During his ten year tenure with the Inn Roberto has seen a lot of the local kids come through the restaurant, many of whom got their first job there. “Dishwashers have to do well at school. I make them show me their report cards. If they don’t do well they can’t work here,” he says. One neighbour does the landscaping out front and another maintains the vast grounds behind the charming establishment, where the bulk of business is comprised of weddings. “We are a community of communities,” says Von Zuben of his beloved hamlet, which reaches from Old School to Old Baseline and from Shaws Creek Road over past Winston Churchill. By all accounts Von Zuben is the be all and end all authority on all things Terra Cotta, having lived there for most of his life. 30 years ago his father started gathering information for a book and made Ted promise to finish the task, something he is still working on. When Canada Post decided to address a few issues, they redrew delivery route maps, helping redefine which municipalities own what land. In the case of Terra Cotta, part of which falls within the boundaries of the Conservation Authority and Niagara Escarpment Commission anyway, a dividing line was drawn right along Winston Churchill Boulevard, fragmenting the community and causing all sorts of problems. “When the postal codes were changed, municipally we became part of Caledon but internally the community lost its identity,” continues Von Zuben. All of a sudden sections of the hamlet became part of the Town of Erin, under Wellington County; part Town of Halton Hills, under Halton Region; and most of it in the Town of Caledon, under Region of Peel. Almost immediately. folks on the Caledon side stopped receiving flyers for the nearest shopping area, in Georgetown, in favour of Bolton flyers. For people who live in Terra Cotta, Bolton is a good forty minute drive away. There was such a public outcry that the local paper was quick to remedy the situation. On the plus side, Winston Churchill gets ploughed really, really well because it belongs to two individual municipalities and covered by four different school boards (a private and
separate school board for each region). Then again, there is a treacherous stretch of Winston Churchill that has proven to be especially difficult to get paved because there are four different town councillors responsible for this regional road. Today, the community hall defines the people who live around it. The local residents association is called “The Terra Cotta Community Centre” and the hall is maintained by volunteers, just like it was in 1862, not by the town. The big push now is to raise the funds needed to do some much needed major renovations on the building. One of the greatest sources of revenue for this is the renowned Le Tour de Terra Cotta, held each year on Monday of the August long weekend. Seven years ago, Ted Webb saw the potential of bike racing as a viable revenue stream. Now approaching the better part of his 70s, English born Webb says: “We started right after the war, in 1946. Gas was rationed so there were no cars. We had to get around and had the run of the country.” He arranged his first mass start race at age 15. In 2005, Webb brought in the Brampton Cycling Club to work with the community in order to bring about the first race. They have since opted out but the Ontario Cycling Association are very strong supporters of the event. Fellow Terra Cotta resident and marketing guru, Donna Cragg takes care of media relations and it is fair to say that the entire community has a hand in organizing and running the event in some way or another. Ted is probably the oldest participant to take part in the race. The youngest was then eight year-old Jan Jay who pretty much insisted on racing as soon as she sat on her first bike. That goes to demonstrate the variety of events scheduled for the day. There is something for all age groups and almost every skill level. Last year’s event cost $18,000 to put on so sponsorship and participation is key. One supporter that has been on board since its inception is Dimpflmeir, who get the natural spring water for their Etobicoke bread making operation from Terra Cotta. Local sponsorship is growing, as well. Caledon Hills Cycling will be returning this year to sponsor race day on-site bike maintenance. In a way, just as the fight against the Rockfort quarry has brought together a community through the annual Great Big Garage Sale, so too has the struggle to raise funds for the renovation of the community hall led to the ever popular le Tour de Terra Cotta. If you are around on August 1st, you might want to check it out.
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The Ascot Room: 15 years of philanthropy and style “This year we have our best selection of dresses in 15 years,” says The Ascot Room owner Genie Hayward. She should know. Genie’s been a buyer for as long as she can remember. Genie started as a store greeter with Dylex, one of Canada’s largest retailers. She soon became the youngest person at head office, picked from 300 other applicants to run two Fairweather departments and manage purchasing for 130 stores. Genie then spent five years with Brettons where her buying budget for eleven stores exceed that of the entire Fairweather chain. In 1996, Genie leased the 400 ft2 space, now occupied by the Belfountain General Store, to open up The Ascot Room. Four years later, she moved her boutique, which patrons call ‘the candy store,’ to its current location.
To celebrate her 15th year in business, in mid-June Hayward is hosting an exclusive, invitation only, champagne lunch showcasing clothes and accessories, at a private club, for her most loyal clientele. These ladies are well-travelled, understand quality, and appreciating details that allow for a youthful look that fits real bodies. They continue to come for that classic look with that little bit of an edge. Over the years the boutique has won many awards and held numerous charity fashion shows and events. This year’s 4th Touring for Treasures is on Wednesday, July 20th. Start at the store for a bag and fill it by visiting local shops to collect gifts. Bag proceeds go to the Orangeville SPCA. Genie also works with Family Transition Place, and has chaired the Children’s Wish Gala for the past three years.
In July, The Ascot Room will hold its annual sale. “New customers are usually surprised at the quantity and difference of selection, often expressing comment on the level of customer service. It is a level of satisfaction typically only found in exclusive stores in Toronto or New York,” says Hayward. “They like that we don’t bring things in the masses and will not find somebody else wearing the same thing at a local function,” she adds. The boutique is just one of many reasons to visit Belfountain. After shopping, stop at the General Store’s lunch counter or sit down for a meal at the Belfountain Inn, explore Credit Creek and Moorcroft’s Antiques, and enjoy the delights of The Shed. You can even stay at the B&B for the weekend, hiking or cycling the Forks of the Credit, or just plain hanging out.
Moorcroft’s Antiques Where treasures abound 673 Bush Street. Belfountain
(519) 927-9519
bmoorcroft@rogers.com Repairing: • clocks • furniture • fine china and pottery • re-upholstering
Now open Thursday to Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. or by appointment
Featuring: • primitives • furniture • glass, china, pottery • silver • collectibles
We buy full and partial estates
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 39
Celebrating our 15th year!
... It’s time to renew your wardrobe! European ladies wear to inspire daytime fun to a serious evening. This unique boutique offers the best selection of “dresses” for spring/summer anywhere. Locals love it and visitors return!!
The Ascot Room
20 min. North of Brampton | 10 min. South of Orangeville 17228 Mississauga Road, Belfountain, ON
519.927.9787
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This summer, say ‘Oh, Canada!’ by Teresa Watroba Summer is a popular time to go on vacation but that doesn’t mean you need a passport to have the vacation of your dreams. Canada truly is the land of plenty. Here are some great places worth being proud to be Canadian for: • Bear witness to the world’s highest tides at the phenomenal Bay of Fundy. Nova Scotia also offers reconstructed fortress towns and seaside vineyards. • Be charmed by Gaspé’s ancient mountains, raging rivers, vast forests and rugged coastlines. It is a mustsee destination and a great place for whale watching. • Prince Edward County is home to Sandbanks, one of the country’s best beaches.
• Jasper National Park offers spectacular hiking trails, nature walks, rail & aerial tours. Alberta’s many lakes and rivers are waiting for canoeing and rafting enthusiasts. • As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Banff National Park offers rugged beauty, unspoiled landscapes, and pristine mountain ranges. Banff ’s Lake Louise is one of the Canadian Rockies’ most beloved destinations, with turquoise waters sparkling underneath the towering Victoria Glacier. • Visiting Vancouver Island is an adventure of a lifetime. Explore Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino, Comox Valley, Pacific Rim or Butchart Gardens. Kayak with Orcas or take a Grizzly Bear viewing tour. Many
trails can accommodate hikers, bikers and horses. • VIA offers 19 train routes across Canada and the Toronto –Vancouver train, which takes 4 days to travel, lets you see the breath of the county like never before. • Polar Bear Express to Ontario’s northland is one of North America’s last remaining “flag stop” train services. Of course there is nothing wrong with traveling abroad, either. Check with your travel agent for the best place, money and weather wise, if you are more in the mood for an all-inclusive resort or cruise. Have a great and safe summer! SouthFields villager Teresa Watroba is an Independent Travel Consultant
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 41
Belfountain hosts cycling time trials by David Jobe The picturesque Hamlet of Belfountain is hosting four significant cycling events this season, including two training time trials, the Canadian National championship Time Trial event in June, and the visit of a Cyclists ‘Marathon’ on Saturday of the Canada Day weekend. The latter is an epic 180 km trek that originates in Burlington and turns around Belfountain. There is no peloton like a road race. In time trials, participants are racing against the clock; each rider working to achieve their personal best time. The training time trials occur Saturday mornings; the first cyclist leaves Belfountain at 9 a.m., on June 4 and August 6. For details on participating visit www.ontariocycling.org.
The Time Trial National Championship will take place on Thursday, June 23. It is a large, historically well-attended event. The cyclist ‘marathon’ passes through Belfountain sometime on
Saturday July 2nd. These two larger, expert-level events are more spectator friendly than the time trials. ...Come on out and see some cycling.
Things to consider before buying a bike by Leigh Booth For those that are thinking about getting into cycling there are a lot of considerations to take into account. Buying a bicycle can be expensive, so you want to make sure that you have got the right bike for you. First and foremost, you need to ask yourself one major question; what am I going to use this bike for? There are a lot of bike choices when it comes to answering that question. There are mountain bikes, road bikes, commuter bikes, comfort bikes, cross bikes (not what it sounds like), hybrid bikes, BMX bikes and many, many more. With that come other criteria that can be a
consideration depending upon the answer to your first question. Once you have decided the type of riding that you want to do and the bike that bests suits your riding criteria, you have to make sure that the bike fits you properly. This is not a science although there are specific parameters to fitting the rider to the bike and if they are not correct, the riding experience will be reduced dramatically and can cause undue pain and pressure. If that happens, you will be less likely to keep riding and the bike will end up sitting in the garage collecting dust
or waiting for the next garage sale. If you are inexperienced and just getting into cycling, no matter the style of riding you choose, see a professional about your bike purchase. They will take the time and ask the questions needed to work with you, to ensure you have the right bike, the bike is working well and they will make the necessary adjustments to fit the bike to you. And always remember, objects are harder than your head, so always wear a helmet. Leigh Booth is a cycling advocate and president of the Caledon Cycling Club
page 42. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Region of Peel Compost Facility
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by Jackie Thompson
n a recent tour of the Region of Peel Compost Facility I had the opportunity to experience what happens to the food waste currently being collected in green bins throughout Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. The purpose of the facility is to divert waste that would otherwise be destined for a landfill and turn it into something new and beneficial to the community. Opened in 2005, the facility currently has 35-40 % of households participating 100% by filling their green bins every week with household food waste and soiled paper products. Participation in the program has been key to its success and the facility already has more waste than it can process with plans to build a second plant in Caledon.
Composting may be a move in the right direction toward environmental stewardship and sustainabilty but it will be a tough sell to convince farmers that they should pay to take it off the Region`s hands.
Finished compost adds valuable components and nutrients that improve soil structure and moisture retention when mixed with soil. It can be used in spring, summer and fall for topdressing, weed suppression, tree planting, flowerbeds, vegetable gardens and lawns.
At the Peel facility the decomposition process begins with a shredder that mixes loads of organic matter with leaf and yard waste. The mixture is transferred to an aerated tunnel system that measures temperature and moisture levels in order to maintain an average 55 °C. Oxygen can be injected or removed from the tunnels in order to maintain Consider compost as a the ideal environmental great option for weed and conditions for aerobic activity. pathogen free soil.
After 7-10 days in these ideal conditions, in accordance with guidelines set by the Ministry of the Environment to kill pathogens and weed seeds, the material is placed in long rectangular rows and left to cure for between 3 months and one year. Decomposition is a natural process that breaks down the organic material until it is thick, dark, crumbly and has an earth-like smell. The finished compost can be purchased by the public from any one of the 5 Regional Community Recycling Centres throughout Peel from April to October for $35/tonne (2.5 cu yards). The fee is used to offset the facility operating costs and the region is looking for new and innovative ways to market the final product. The region does not offer delivery services and does have limited access ot the public. The finished compost can also be purchased through Salsibury Garden Supplies for $30.97/cu yard.
Banty’s Roost Golf & Country Club 12600 Bramalea Road, Caledon, Ontario (Just north of Mayfield Road)
proud host of the
2011 Caledon Butterfly Gala for Wellspring Chinguacousy Cancer Support Centre
Offering 27 holes of great golf, patio bar, outstanding wedding and banquet service, and the Caledon Junior Golf Academy. Extensive club facilities and year-round activity close to home, makes us a popular choice for members and corporate outings.
905.843.9364
White: nine holes, 3,420 yards, par 36. Red: nine holes, 3,446 yards, par 36. Blue: nine holes, 2,757 yards, par 35
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 43
Marketing to local farmers, the region hopes that they can create a reliable market for the compost. The biggest challenge is convincing farmers that they should pay to receive it, because in many of the farmers` views they are already paying for it through their taxes and effectively are helping the Region off-load the by-product of their efforts to reduce costs associated with land-fill diversion efforts. Even within the Region there appears to be some discourse on this issue though everybody seems to agree that this is a step in the right direction toward environmental stewardship and sustainability. The Region is also putting on free interactive workshops on backyard composting, teaching the difference between the backyard composter and green bin program, various uses for compost, choosing the right compost system for you, and tips and tricks for successful backyard composting. Registration is free with the next event taking place on Thursday, July 7, 2011 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the President’s Building, Albion Bolton Fairgrounds. 150 Queen St. S., Bolton. To register for a workshop, call the Region of Peel at 905-791-9499. When registering, you may also pre-order a backyard composter ($21.85 including taxes – cash only) for pick-up at the workshop.
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page 44. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Laval St. Germain sharing a moment with wife, Janet (left) and the Air Cadet Power Scholarship graduating class posing with BFC CFI, President and Officers (above).
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The height of risk aversion
n Saturday March 5th, 2011 Brampton Flight Centre hosted the Wings Banquet, their biggest event of the year. The evening was a celebration of accomplishment for the flight school’s graduating class. The guest speaker for the evening was Laval St. Germain, the first Canadian to summit Mt. Everest without the use of bottled oxygen.
Despite doing everything he could to properly organize for his crowning accomplishment, being able to give a shout-out to close pal Dave Corner’s The Shed coffee bar from the top of the world, Laval did not escape unscathed. Even the roof of his mouth became sunburnt and he lost the tips of three fingers on his right hand due to frostbite.
Laval, a seasoned pilot with over 20 years of flight experience; current Director of Flight Operations for Canadian North Airlines; approved B-737-200 and B-737-300 check pilot; and an accomplished multisport adventure athlete focused his talk on the most critical aspect of his penchant for putting himself in less than safe situations: Risk aversion.
Scaling the world’s highest peaks was a childhood dream of Laval’s but it did not mean that every fibre of his being did not want to keep him from making that final 17 hour climb. He could have used any excuse to stay in his tent but he chose to step out and claim the prize.
This is a man who literally stepped over corpses as he embarked to conquer the circus that Mt. Everest has sadly become. Too many people feel that all they need is money for the flight to get there. Their lack of proper planning and preparation is often not only the defining factor in how far they make it up the world’s highest peak, but also in their likelihood of ever making it back down.
An old adage says “without risk there is no reward.” All we can do is mitigate the degree of risk and attempt to ensure an acceptable level. We must be prepared to face possibilities intelligently and competently knowing our true physical limits and pushing based only on good judgement. It is better to accept the potential of managed failure than to be left with only regret and a bucket list not ventured due to fear.
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 45
S
Sherry’s pick: The AURA patio heater
ummer is my favourite time of the year. I love the warm weather and spending time outside with my family. Although spring and fall can have some very beautiful days, they also hold some frigid ones too. That’s why this issue’s feature product is the AURA patio heater. It is an innovative way to take full advantage of being outside and staying warm at the same time and I couldn’t wait to share it with you. This unit is fully weatherproof and the heat is instant. There is no wait time for warm up and it can keep a 10’ x 10’ area warm. Nicole Klingbyle of TES Windsor has received great feedback from her very happy customers who
by Sherry Taylor have purchased this product. “It’s great in patio eating areas and the heat is very even and comfortable. I would recommend it for these reasons plus it’s great for those who want to use it year round in a sunroom or gazebo.” Monica Ramard of TES Milton agrees. “I have one at my home. The beauty of this product is that it is not just a seasonal product it can be used all year round. They are fantastic for the winter or for anybody who likes to work in the garage or sit out on the deck on those cool spring and summer nights. I would recommend these heaters because they heat the object and not the air, unlike other heathers on the market, saving you money! You could be standing in a blizzard and the heat
will remain consistent to keep you warm.” The Aura MW Series comes complete with a mounting bracket. The sleek design is both attractive and space. It also comes corded, so you can plug it into an outlet, or can be hard-wired to a switch. Think of the possibilities! You could BBQ all year round in comfort and warmth on your deck, or if you have a hot tub that you like to enjoy in the winter months you can avoid having to freeze while getting in and out. If you’re like me and love being outdoors this is the product for you. SouthFields villager Sherry Taylor pioneered TES’s ‘Shop from the comfort of your home’ initiative to bring wholesale electronic home comfort shopping to your door. See their ad on the back cover of this magazine.
page 46. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Forster’s spring reading picks by Donna Kamiel-Forster
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni Sebastian Prendergast lives with his grandmother in a geodesic dome, in Iowa. His grandmother, Nana, conducts guided tours of the facility whenever people show up and Sebastian, who she has home-schooled, is expected to help. Sebastian’s life has been “carefully guided” by his grandmother. While taking a small family through the dome, Nan suffers a stroke. They all accompany her to the hospital. The Whitcombs realize Sebastian is now on his own and offer him a place to stay until Nana can go home again. The Whitcombs consist of a single mother, Janice; Jared a sixteen year-old chain smoking punk rock fanatic, and recent recipient of a heart transplant that is doing its best to be rejected; and his sister Meredith, a sullen, sexually over-aware teen. They are as foreign to Sebastian as he is to them. This is a bildungsroman (a comingof-age novel). Sebastian has to learn to live life unsheltered while Jared learns how to handle a true friendship. Actually, they both do. Until now, Sebastian’s only friend was Nana and Jared, due to his health has never been in school long enough to make friends. “The House of Tomorrow” pays tribute to the resiliency of adolescence, and the promise of the future. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown Written in the unique style of first person plural, Eleanor Brown’s debut novel is clever and heartfelt. When their mother is diagnosed with breast cancer the three sisters flock to her side. But we soon discover that it provided them with a convenient excuse to come home to
their small college town because all of their respective lives are falling apart and they don’t know what else to do. Actually, Rose never left home. She teaches math at the college and takes care of her parents and their home. She sees herself as indispensable and fears change, (not that she would admit it). When her fiancé is offered a teaching post at Oxford (yes, England), she has to make a choice between staying or getting married and living overseas. Bean has just been fired from her job, has no money left, owes people great sums of money and tells herself she’s back for her mother’s sake. She is in constant attention-seeking mode (especially from men). Cordelia is broke and with a baby on the way. She has been living a bohemian lifestyle ever since she dropped out of college. The book’s tag line “We love each other. We just don’t happen to like each other very much,” describes their relationship perfectly. They came home because they had nowhere else to turn, without expecting to find help from each other and find out that each sister has a strength which synergistically, helps the others. The first person plural style reflects the closeness of the three even when they don’t realize it themselves. This is a wonderful study of human nature and sibling relations. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead This fabulous book is a puzzle, both mystery and science fiction; realistic and fantastical all at the same time. It is an intelligent book
for intelligent kids. Set in 1978 New York, Miranda is a twelve year-old with a best friend, a boy named Sal. Her favourite book, Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, is with her at all times. She is a latchkey kid who lives with her single mother whom she helps in the evenings to prepare for a stint on “The $20,000 Pyramid.” Miranda and Sal have been best friends since forever. They know how to navigate their little world within the big city, how to be safe, who to trust and who to stay away from. One day, a strange boy punches Sal in the stomach for no good reason. Almost immediately, Sal refuses to have anything to do with Miranda. She begins to receive mysterious messages on small pieces of paper. The first says, “I am coming to save your friend’s life and my own. I must ask two favours. First, you must write me a letter.” The notes seem to know things about her that no one could know, some of which are actually predictive. The novel plays with the reader by hopping around in time, bringing all the disparate pieces come together in a poignant conclusion. This is a book for all ages. It works for fantasy lovers, science-fiction lovers, realistic fiction lovers and those who just like good tight kids’ writing. Even the book cover is used to show clues to the mysteries inside. It’s wonderfully unique in both its writing and plot. 55 Healey Road, Bolton. 905.951.1501 forkam@bellnet.ca www.forstersbookgarden.ca
... This time get something they really want. Great books, unique gifts, great service, & grad gifts, too!
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 47
Citrus delight pound cake by Jackie Thompson With wedding season upon us you might be tempted to try making your own cake to save a little money. Here is one simple recipe that will have everybody singing your praises. This easy and delicious cake is called a pound cake but you’ll be amazed at how light it is. The apricot nectar gives it a fruity taste that will bring a smile to your face every time!
Bake at 325 °F for 40 to 50 minutes or until skewer inserted into center comes out clean. Leave cakes in pan until cool and then invert. Apricot filling ½ cup sugar ¼ cup cornstarch ⅛ tsp salt 1½cups apricot or mango nectar ½cup orange juice 1 tbsp grated orange peel 2 tbsp butter ½ tsp flavoring (lemon, orange, rum) Combine sugar with cornstarch and salt in medium saucepan. Gradually blend in apricot nectar and orange juice. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, stirring occasionally. Stir in orange peel, margarine and extract. Cool thoroughly.
photography by Anne Howden Thompson
Jackie with her winning cake decorating entry at the Good Food Festival
Cake 2 ½ cups all purpose flour 1 ½ cups sugar 3 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt ¾ cup orange juice or apricot nectar ¾ cup oil 2 tsp lemon extract 4 eggs Heat oven to 325 °F. Use 1 tablespoon of solid shortening to grease and then lightly flour two 8˝ round cake pans or two 9˝ x 9˝ square pans. In large bowl, blend all cake ingredients at low speed until moistened. Beat for 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
To achieve a layered look with this cake you will want to trim your cooled cakes until they are completely flat. Spread approximately ⅓ cup of cooled apricot filling onto first cake layer and top with second layer. To achieve a tall cake, repeat cake recipe for a third and fourth layer. Spread filling between each layer and top with swiss buttercream icing.
Swiss buttercream icing 1 cup granulated sugar 5 egg whites 1 ¾ cups soft unsalted butter 1 tsp vanilla pinch of salt 4 tsp orange essence or oil Place egg whites and sugar in a heatproof bowl and place over a pot of simmering water. Heat whites while whisking continuously until they are hot and sugar has completely dissolved (about 140 °F). Remove whites from heat. Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment whip on medium-high until whites are completely cooled and have formed medium stiff peaks Add butter in chunks, creaming well between each addition. When butter is fully incorporated and the curdled look changes to a smooth satin look add vanilla and salt. Whip well until completely combined.
photography by Jackie Thompson
Easy and delicious!
Caledon’s Jackie Thompson recently opened up her new business, Butterfly Cakebox, and is quickly becoming a popular choice for local cake needs.
page 48. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Summer is chalk full of learning opportunities by Jane Guy The school year is over… no more teachers, no more books… as the old rhyme goes. But between Canada Day and Labour Day weekend, rests an eight week window where your children can enhance the learning they worked so hard on from September to June. Parents and children should take advantage of the warm summer weather to enjoy and explore the natural world. Not only does exposure to nature result in psychological benefits such as anxiety reduction and psychic renewal, it can benefit children’s academic performance. One of Canada’s most renowned scientists and environmentalists, Dr. David Suzuki, spent the summers of his youth exploring the natural areas near his home. From tidal pools on the west coast, to forests in central B.C., Dr. Suzuki observed the natural world in action. He collected insects, and developed a lifelong interest in biology and science in general. Fostering your child’s interest in the natural world from a young age will help nurture creativity, enhance her school experience and ultimately leading to excellent career choices. These days creativity is just as highly valued by employers as top academic skill. Intellectual development is augmented by regular physical activity. Summer is a great time for activities such as family cycling excursions, friendly soccer games, frisbee tournaments, and basketball outdoors on the driveway. Local parks offer no shortage of opportunities to learn, play and interact. When you go, bring a picnic – then stop at the library on the way home for a week’s worth of reading. Allow your children to choose from a wide variety of books. From Harry Potter to Ancient Rome, summer reading helps kids enrich their brains. Don’t forget to bring home books for you to read to your children. Even when the children are old enough to read for themselves, always continue to read to them, from more advanced materials. For working parents, many private schools run summer camp programmes which further and develop your child’s creativity, athletic abilities and leadership skills during the summer months. From sports camps to academic enrichment; and from French camp to science, art and photography, the opportunities to learn are almost unlimited. Have a great summer with your kids!
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 49
How to plan for a pet by Dr. Christina Swainson, DVM a box for each cat, plus one. If the kitten is really small, keep the box close by initially. As they grow you can gradually move it to the appropriate place. Place your kitten in the litter box several times to show them where it is located. Teach your puppy, early on, where to eliminate in the back yard. Offer tasty rewards as reinforcement.
Preparation is key to adopting a new pet
I
f you are thinking of expanding your family. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a new pet. Proper preparation will keep your puppy or kitten safe and happy.
Place small objects, electrical cords, house plants and any hazards the pet may chew out of reach. Cleaning supplies, medications, food and garbage should be stored out of sight. Hazardous rooms such as the basement or garage should be blocked off with a door or baby gate.
Think about where your pet will spend time when you are away and at night. If you do not want your pet to sleep in your bed as an adult, don’t allow them to do so when they are young. Provide them with an appropriate place from the start. Crate-training dogs can help house-train and provides them with a safe place to sleep. Place your kitten’s bed in a valuable place like a perch or near a sunny window to entice them to use it. Think about where you want your puppy or kitten to eliminate. For cats, place the litter box where it is convenient for you, accessible to the kitten, and free from disturbance. If you have more than one cat, provide
Next, prepare your family. Discuss and consider all the needs of the pet such as: feeding them 2-3 times per day, providing fresh water, exercise and a clean place to eliminate. Dogs require daily walks and cats require interaction and play time. The back yard will need daily cleaning and the litter boxes daily scooping Decide who will be responsible for each task. Older children should be part of some of these tasks. This will help to create responsibility and a bond between the child and their pet. Remember to teach young children how to interact and play appropriately with their pet. Negative interactions can create fear of children for the pet and lead to injuries for the children. Always supervise children and pets. Finally make a list of supplies you’ll need to feed, water, house, and exercise your pet. Provide safe toys for puppies and kittens to chew and play with. Kittens need appropriate scratching surfaces early on. Treats and cat nip will help encourage the kitten
to scratch in the provided spot and not on your furniture. As soon as you pick up your new pet remember to have your veterinarian examine him to make sure he is healthy and free from parasites (some of which can be passed to people). Your veterinarian will discuss and formulate a health plan, including appropriate vaccinations, parasite prevention, and when to have your pet spayed or neutered. Having a family pet is a rewarding experience for the whole family. These tips will help get you build a healthy relationship between you and your pet.
page 50. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Passion comes to life at Vanner Fair by Liz Shaughnessy Caledon’s Deerfields Stables Country Inn, just outside the Village of Palgrave, will play host to North America’s first ever ‘Vanner Fair’ with breeders, owners and trainers trekking from the far reaches of both countries to participate in demonstrations, competition, sales promotion and the good camaraderie which so naturally follows the colourful Gypsy Vanner horse. Modelled after the world famous “Appleby Fair” held annually for hundreds of years in the Lake District of Cumbria in the UK, Vanner Fair will showcase the highly adaptable, newly registered Gypsy Vanner breed in a festive atmosphere which celebrates their unique history and the folklore that surrounds this magical horse. Developed by the Romas (aka Gypsies) centuries ago, the Gypsy Vanner is a strong, relatively small, pleasingly stocky horse. Considered valuable working members of the Gypsy family, they are equally adept at pulling the Romas travelling home, fleet enough for hunting and merchant expeditions, yet gentle enough to entrust with the family children.
photography by Mark J. Barrett
The colourful Gypsy Vanner, respected across Europe for its easy, outgoing personality and ability to multi-task, will take center stage at the first ever North American “Vanner Fair” to be held this September in Palgrave.
Today’s Gypsy Vanner holds true to the breed’s traditions, but is turning heads amongst a new family clientele who not only appreciate the breed’s distinctive eye appeal, but also recognize the quiet demeanour and the willing, multi-task capabilities of these disarming equine friends. Bold and majestic in stature, Gypsy Vanners are cultivating new fans across the continent as dressage, jumping, western pleasure, in-hand and driving competition athletes for passionate amateur riders/drivers who appreciate their intelligent and willing disposition. Professional trainers are joining the league of fans as they find the breed surprisingly athletic, easy to train and, most important, amazing partners for loving owners in their new vocation.
These special horses will receive nothing less than the ‘Red Carpet’ treatment at Vanner Fair, with international judging and clinics, skilled competition and artful demonstrations held throughout the day. A festive trade fair will continue the ‘vanner passion’ with specialty vendors and artisans selling lifestyle and equine crafts and wares, while breeders and ‘newbie’ owners regale visitors with personal anecdotes about their life with a Gypsy Vanner. Don’t be surprised to receive an ‘up close and personal’ intro to their personal ‘Vanner’ friend. Move over man’s best friend… . You’ve got competition. The Vanner Fair will be held on September 24, 2011 at Deerfields Stables Country Inn. For details visit www.vannerfair.com.
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 51
Summer fair highlights
This is not an exhaustive list. For more ideas on things to do visit: (Town of Caledon) http://www.town.caledon.on.ca/residential/communityevents/ and (Hills of Headwaters Tourism Association) http://www.thehillsofheadwaters.com/event-calendar.php
151ST Caledon Fair June 10th to 12th at the Caledon Fairgrounds. A must for all things equestrian, featuring demonstrations and competitions for all breeds, sizes and styles of riding and carriage driving. A weekend packed with Pony Club Games, where riders from across western Ontario will meet for the Prince Philip Games competition to test both the kids and their ponies in team relay style competitions; the horse-dog relay, featuring the “Fast ‘N’ Furry” Agility Dogs; the Western horse clinic with renowned national trainer/judge Robyn Storey who will focus on performance training for showmanship, horsemanship patterns and trail patterns; driving and riding demonstrations, showcasing the colourful, multi-tasking Gypsy Vanner horses; and a full slate of Welsh pony and driving classes, including a full breed division, junior competitions, performance under saddle and the stately ‘performance in harness’ division. In addition to the equestrian delights, the weekend is full of agricultural competitions, midway rides, food, 1000’s of exhibits; an educational agricultural awareness display; the hilarious lawn tractor challenge; and the giant truck and tractor pull. For more information visit: www.caledonfairgrounds.ca Caledon Day On Saturday, June 18, 2011 the Town of Caledon will be hosting Caledon Day, a full day of festivities to celebrate Caledon’s unique culture, history and diversity while offering visitors an exciting line-up of live entertainment, activities for all ages and a spectacular fireworks finale. This year, it’s expected to host 10,000 visitors! Along with the traditional favourites like the classic car show and heritage sightseeing tour on an old English trolley, new events planned at the 62-acre Town Hall civic campus site include: a pancake breakfast; vendor zone with fresh local food; video dance on ice; outdoor arts market; workshops; animal shows featuring birds of prey, snakes and dogs; and a battle of the bands. There are also several returning features from last year including the rock climbing wall, mobile skateboard park, fire, police and first responder units and plenty of music and entertainment throughout the day. There are still opportunities to be a part of the event. Visit the Caledon Day website to learn about being an event vendor or sponsor, or call to find out about volunteer opportunities. For more information call 905-584-2272 x.4235 or visit www.caledon.ca and follow the link from the Town’s home page. Plan on making Caledon your day!
Canada Day Strawberry Festival July 1st, celebrating Canada’s 144th birthday,. Celebrated with the 23rd Annual Strawberry Festival at the Caledon Fairgrounds located on Hwy#10 in Caledon Village. Pancakes ladled with field fresh strawberries and cream, live music, vintage cars, craft and artisan trade fair, a Bavarian beer garden and silent auction. The Fairgrounds open at 10 a.m., free admission. Proceeds going to the Caledon Agricultural Society. For more call Sally Graham 519-927-9206 or visit: www.caledonfairgrounds.ca. Caledon Horticultural Society’s Garden Tour Visit some of Caledon’s most beautiful gardens on Sat. July 16th , 2011. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Rain or Shine. Tickets: $10/ pp in advance / $12.00 on day of tour. Tickets available at: Cheltenham General Store, Glen Echo Nurseries, Chinguacousy Wellness Centre, Inglewood General Store, Foodstuffs (Georgetown), Spirit Tree Cidery, and from Garden Club Members. For more information call: Bobbie Bennett at 905-838-3541, Jules Maule-ffinch at 905-584-2801 or Email: gscale@sympatico.ca.
page 52. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Fleeting moments and afterthoughts b y Ye v g e n i a C a s a l e
What do you see when you look at this picture? Perhaps just an old lock of little to no interest. Maybe something you would rather not touch. Do you wonder where the door goes or what is in the room along with it? Are you itching to peel away the old paint and apply a fresh coat or just a bit curious to know if it works anymore? Do you care how many people used it when it was in better shape or what sort of mood the owner was in when she made that failed attempt to scratch off some of the paint? I don’t know all that much about it and care even less. What I remember most is that we used the other door to come in and out. That just outside this lock is a street that in any other town might be busier and yet is busy enough, as it is. I remember the people I was with and the people we ran into after we left there. I remember the look on the dog’s face as we let the old girl into the car and drove away. It isn’t the lock or what it used to do that matters. It’s how much we choose to care about it. That’s what I think is important.
16431 Airport Rd. Caledon East, Ontario Canada L7C 2Y2 Tel (905) 361-2577 Fax(905) 361-2578 www.alexanderstea.com
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 53
Lateral thinking Duane Sonntag Phone: 905.846.6880 Cell: 416.688.7662
Sudoko Corner*
Painting done right for over 20 years.
Win à ME!
Go on a treasure hunt in the pages of this issue of SouthFields Village Voice! For a chance to win this lovely glass and silver jar find the tray of wine goblets, (something you might also find at Chic à BOOM, see pages 29 and 31). We’ve hidden them in these pages and want you to tell us where they are. Send in the page number, your name, phone number, email and/or address to: info@southfieldsvillagevoice.com. You can also drop your entry off at the store, or mail it to: Win à ME! c/o Chic à BOOM 18371 Hurontario St., Unit 5, Caledon, Ontario L7K 0X7. Winner will be drawn from the entries received at noon on Tuesday, August 16th and announced in our September issue. Happy hunting!
Is there a man’s face in these here beans?
* Sudoko devised by © Kevin Stone [www.brainbashers.com]
page 54. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011
Community contacts Community Information..........................................................................................211 Overnight Parking (before 1 a.m.)................................................. 905.584.2272 x4131 Region of Peel..........................................................................................905.791.7800 Waste Management.................................................................................905.791.9499 Water and Water & Wastewater Billing....................................................905.791.8711 Health Line Peel.......................................................................................905.799.7700 Ontario Works..........................................................................................905.793.9200 Town of Caledon.......................................................................................905.584.2272 Regional Councillor, Ward 2, Allan Thompson..........................................416.319.6543 Area Councillor, Ward 2, Gord McClure..................................................... 905.843-9797 Telehealth Ontario................................................................................1.866.797.0000 Call 9-1-1 for emergency services Caledon Fire (non-emergency)................................................. 905.584.2272 ext. 4303 Caledon OPP Mobile ..................................................................................................*OPP (*677) Caledon East........................................................................................905.584.2241 24-hr Non-emergency/Foot Patrol...................................................1.888.310.1122 Crime Stoppers..................................................................................1.800.222.TIPS Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services.............................................................905.951.3838 Caledon Community Services...................................................................905.951.2300 Caledon Community Living......................................................................905.857.9691 Caledon Meals on Wheels.........................................................................905.857.7651 Caledon Seniors Council...........................................................................905.584.0591 Caledon Parent-Child Centre....................................................................905.857.0090 Child Development Resource Connection Peel.........................................905.507.9360 Distress Centre Peel..................................................................................905.278.7208 Hospice Caledon.......................................................................................905.951.3534 Herb Campbell Public School...................................................................905-838-3952 Mayfield Secondary School......................................................................905.846.6060 St. Rita Elementary School.......................................................................905.840.3467 Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School..................................................905.584.1670 Town of Caledon................................................................................. www.caledon.ca Region of Peel................................................................................ www.peelregion.ca ROAD WATCH ..................................................................... www.roadwatchcaledon.ca Caledon Public Library ........................................................www.caledon.library.on.ca Volunteer Caledon ............................................................www.volunteer-caledon.org Peel Public Health.....................................................................www.immunizepeel.ca Coscorp After Sales Service ......................................................................905.821.6814 Monarch After Sales Service..................................................... 416.491.7446 ext. 3583 SouthFields Village Voice ..........................................info@southfieldsvillagevoice.com ...................................................................................................or 905.846.4852 ... don’t see it here? Let us know!
Advertiser listing
Advertiser Page Phone #10 Self Storage 31 905.838.1266 Alexander Gourmet Beverages 52 905.361.2577 Antica Osteria Ristorante 55 905.495.5555 The Ascot Room 39 519.927.9787 Banty’s Roost Golf & Country Club 42 905.843.9364 Blaze In Style 52 905.361.2577 Brampton Flight Centre 44 905.838.1400 Bruce Bell Re/MAX Realty Services 8 905.456.1000 ext.3329 Broadway Farm’s Market 45 905.843.9225 Caledon Hills Cycling 41 905.838.1698 Caledon Mountain Wildlife Supplies 15 519.927.3212 Cheltenham General Store 19 905.838.2727 Cheltenham Veterinary Centre 49 905.846.0525 Chic à BOOM 31 519.927.9300 Choice Auto 53 905.838.3450 Credit Creek Country Store 40 519.927.5033 David Tilson, Q.C., M.P. 8 509.857.6080 Dufferin Accounting Services 16 519.925.5282 Downey’s Farm Market 47 905.838.2990 E. Archdekin Plumbing & Heating Ltd. 51 905.451.2244 Elements Wellness 34 905.703.6514 Forster’s Book Garden 46 905.951.1501 Freshly Painted 53 905.846.6880 Headliners Hair Design 13 905.838.3767 Inglewood General Store 25 905.838.4386 Katerina’s Aartistic Esthetics 15 519.927.3371 Kostynyk Denture Centre 43 905.857.4464 LAVA Canada 7 416.259.3200 ext.246 Martha`s 17 519.938.8726 Mayfield Dental 12 905.840.0225 Mayfield Pharmacare 11 905.495.3306 Michele Skawski, RRSI Realty Inc. 2 905.838.5012 Moorcroft’s Antiques 38 519.927.9519 Petal Perfections 20 416.938.7447 Pizza Bay 22 905.970.9655 Riverdale 20 905.838.3236 Salisbury Garden Supplies 43 905.846.2810 Shelly’s Chocolate & Gifts shellyschocolate@rogers.com Spaws Dog Walking 6 905.840.3645 Sue Whalen, XPOLICE 11 905.451.9599 Sylvia Jones, M.P.P. Dufferin-Caledon 18 800.265.1603 Tall Pines School 48 905.458.6770 Tamerlane Interiors 32 905.838.5182 Tim Forster Caledon Insurance 5 905.838.5183 The Top of the Hill Bed & Breakfast 50 905-838-3790 Torbram Electric Supply 56 905.495.3538 Village Bistro 3 519.927.1919
We do that! Village of SouthFields Service Directory
If you live in SouthFields, list your business here for free! Contact us for details. Dream Desserts 416.456.6807 Pro Aqua Lawn Sprinklers 416.939.9526 Sadia Shah dreamdesserts@hotmail.com Derik Identifab Industries www.identifab.com 416-743-7343 RE/MAX Realty Services Inc. www.BruceBell.ca 905/416.456.1000 ext.3329 Daniel Horton Bruce Bell brucebell@trebnet.com First Friends www.firstfriendsdaycare.ca 905.457.8444 RE/MAX Kings Realty Ltd. www.remaxkings.com 647.294.1982 Noeleen Huston Savie Wander SW Bookkeeping Services Jacobi Designs 416.206.6829 905.495.7035 Rita Leslie jacobi-designs@hotmail.com Stanley Watroba SWatroba0413@rogers.com JL Tutoring Home Services 905.996.0277 SandKastle Kards 647.680.0729 Joe Lise jlise@rogers.com Sandy Watterson sandkastle33@hotmail.ca Olivetree Communications 416-318-7884 Silpada Jewelery Olivana olivana@rogers.com Alia Nasir 905.996.0601 Jay Anandraj 905.996.8796 PRAS Publishing 905.846.4852 Yevgenia Casale consult@pras.ca Sun Life Financial 905.451.7576 ext.208 Robert Watterson Robert.Watterson@sunlife.com Professional Private Piano Lessons 647.292.4202 Travelonly 905.846.3684 Lindsay Teresa Watroba teresa.hmt@rogers.com
Summer 2011 | SouthFields Village Voice. page 55
Special Functions up to 80 guests! Whether it be a christening, communion, bridal shower or just a reunion,
Antica Osteria is where special events become Extraordinary Occassions!
“... also a great place for lunch or dinner!�
Antica Osteria is the ultimate expression of what Italian food should be. From a simple Insalata del Orto to a savoury rack of lamb or succulent seafood platter, paired with an amazing selection of worldwide wines we will satisfy all of your taste buds.
Antica Osteria Italian Ristorante Join us for lunch or dinner Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. Saturday & Sunday from 5:00 p.m. 3088 Mayfield Rd. (Northwest of Hurontario St.) View all of our menus & reserve online at www.anticaosteria.ca or call (905) 495-5555
page 56. SouthFields Village Voice | Summer 2011