C-K PUC holds town hall gathering at Wheatley Water Plant
By Mark Ribble
The Chatham-Kent
Public Utilities Commission held a town hall style gathering at the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant
on Thursday, May 28 to thank and recognize the numerous people and agencies involved in bringing the plant back online after a devastating fire there in 2023.
Darren Galbraith, General Manager of Chatham-Kent PUC, hosted the event which included a Powerpoint presentation, tours of the facility and a lunch catered by Taylor Fisheries.
“It’s been a huge undertaking for everybody involved,” said Galbraith about the restoration project. “The plant was out of commission for 824 days in total while we restored everything inside.”
The fire, which happened on September 13, 2023, produced so much heat that it melted much of the inside of the plant and deposited heavy soot on the rest of it.
It required a complete restoration and replacement of all electrical and mechanical components.
Meanwhile, according to Galbraith, they maintained water pressure the best they could. He said they were happy that they only had to issue two boil-water advisories over the entire 824 days, with one being on the day of the fire.
“One of the local industries did their normal 6 pm opening of their water valve, not knowing that the fire was taking out the plant,” said Galbraith.
“The Wheatley water tower drained quickly
and we lost water pressure across the system. But water never stopped flowing and we are grateful for that.”
Galbraith said it was a challenge to keep the water pressure up but thanked the Municipality
of Leamington for their help in connecting to their system.
Waterboy, a company out of Dover Centre, delivered 593 loads of water to Tilbury in the early stages of the disaster. Leamington’s
involvement mitigated that.
A temporary water treatment system was set up almost immediately, which operated until the refurbished plant came back online last December. A mobile filtration system was installed to help the process and backup generators carried the electrical load until everything inside was fixed and cleaned.
In the photo above, Stew Bechard, Operation Manager for C-K PUC, explains the process of the how the water gets back out into the system during a tour of the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant on Thursday, May 28.
In the photo right, new pipes and pumps designed to bring raw water from Lake Erie into the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant.
SUN photos by Mark Ribble
WATER PLANT — From Page 1
Galbraith says the cost is hard to estimate but he thinks about $16 million has been spent so far, but says that’s not even close to what it would cost to construct an entirely new treatment plant.
The tour inside the plant showed all brandnew paint and new components, pumps, pipelines and electrical. Photos of the plant just
after the fire were placed strategically to show the before-and-after effect. The plant should not have to be updated now for a number of years.
Galbraith said the process took a long time, but credits all those involved in getting it right. He said the heat inside reached upwards of 1700 degrees Fahrenheit and melted almost everything
in its path.
One thing that did not melt?
A tropical plant that was inside the pumping station survived the fire and was on display at the event. After a dusting off and some much needed water therapy, the plant bounced back to show just another example of Wheatley resiliency.
Municipal election nominations as of June 1
The following are up-to-date lists of those who have filed for candidacy in the upcoming October municipal election.
CHATHAM-KENT:
Mayor: Lauren Anderson, Michael Bondy, Nelson Burm, Darrin Canniff.
Ward 1 Councillor: Mark Authier, Michael Bond, Andrea Palmer, Gerhard Taves.
LEAMINGTON:
Mayor: Hilda MacDonald.
Deputy Mayor: Paul Tiessen
Councillor: Carol Bell, John Biekx, Bill Dunn, Rielly O’Shaughnessy.
KINGSVILLE:
Mayor: Roshan Nallaratnam, Thomas Neufeld.
Deputy Mayor: Kimberly DeYong. Councillor: Adam Edwards, Debby Jarvis-Chausse, Sheri Lowrie.
PELEE ISLAND:
There have been no filings from Pelee Island as of press time.
SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES:
French-Public School Board: Emmanuelle Richez.
Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board: Mary DiMenna.
Greater Essex County District School Board: David Keller.
Nominations will remain open until August 21.
Christine Lehn, Melissa Loeppgy, Martin Girash, Karen Jones, Nadia DiDomenico.
The Leamington Horticultural Society held their annual Native Plant Sale on Saturday, May 30, on Road 6 beside Peanut Centre Nursery. The sale featured 26 different native species and business was brisk all morning. In the top photo, society members John Barnett and Eileen Wonnick helped patrons with their choices and in the bottom photo, it was an opportunity for Wheatley Horticultural Society President Sophie Jefferson (left) to meet up with Leamington Horticultural Society President Jo-Anne Smith as Sophie picked up some previously ordered plants for her own back yard. SUN photo by Mark Ribble NATIVE PLANT SALE AS POPULAR AS EVER
Carrousel of Nations returns on June 12
The Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County (MCC) is launching the 51st annual Carrousel of the Nations, one of Ontario’s premier cultural festivals and a kickoff to the summer festival season in Windsor and Essex County.
Celebrated as an award-winning cultural event, Carrousel of the Nations continues to be a cornerstone of the region’s vibrant community, welcoming thousands of residents and visitors each year to experience the rich diversity that defines Windsor-Essex.
The 2026 festival will feature 42 cultural villages offering authentic food, entertainment, music, dance, art and traditions from around the world. The event provides attendees with a unique opportunity to explore cultures and customs they may not otherwise encounter while celebrating diversity and multiculturalism across the region.
Carrousel of the Nations 2026 will take place over two weekends: Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 14 and Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21.
The following villages are scheduled for Leamington:
• German Village at the Lebanese Club, 447 Hwy 77, on June 13.
• Italian Village at the Roma Club, 19 Seacliff Dr. East, on June 12-13.
• Latino Village at the Roma Club, 19 Seacliff Dr. East, on June 13-14 and June 20.
• Lebanese Village at the Lebanese Club, 447 Hwy 77, on June 12.
• Mexican Village on Mill Street on June 21.
• Portuguese Village at the Portuguese Club, 217 Talbot St. West, on June 13.
OPP patrolling Leamington waterfront
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are patrolling the roads near the water in the Municipality of Leamington.
The Leamington Detachment of OPP are doing extra patrols addressing and educating the public with ongoing traffic safety concerns at the Leamington Marina, the Ferry Docks, the Waterfront Market Plaza and the following Community Safety Zones: Erie Street South from Conover Avenue to the southern limit of Erie Street South; Robson Road from Erie Street South to Cherry Lane; and Cherry Lane from Robson Road to Bruce Avenue.
Several concerns have been raised by the community, including stunt driving, unnecessary noise and speeding. Expect extra police presence and enforcement in the area.
If you have an urgent traffic complaint or if you suspect someone is driving while their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired by drugs or alcohol, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
If you have a non-emergency traffic complaint, you can also call 1-888-3101122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
The following villages will take place in Kingsville:
• Belgium Village at the Banded Goose Brewing Co., 15 Main St. East, on June 13.
• Dutch Village at The Grove Brewing Company, 86 Wigle Ave., Unit 1, on June 13-14. Other villages will take place in Harrow, Amherstburg, LaSalle and Windsor. Visit the website at car rouselofnations.com for festival updates, schedules and village information.
First year med students get experience in rural hospital setting
By Mark Ribble
It’s Discovery Week at Erie Shores HealthCare and about 20 students from Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University have been busy learning about life in a community hospital.
Some of the students are from the Greater Toronto Area, while others come from cities and towns across the province.
Two groups of 10 firstyear medical students will each spend a week at the local hospital and also enjoy the surrounding
area and sample local cuisine while they are here.
One who did not travel as far is Will Berecz of Tecumseh, who said the week spent in Leamington is well worth it.
“I’m super excited to have the opportunity to learn in a rural centre,” he said. “It’s nice to be outside of those big shiny institutions and learn some of the finer points of medicine. I can say I’ve experienced three of the top five experiences in my life in this one year of medicine.”
Berecz says he’s ready for any challenge or assignment thrown his way and looks forward to learning all over the province. Although he’s partial to the fast-paced environments like an emergency department, he’s also got an interest in vascular surgery.
“Healthcare in a community hospital doesn’t always look the same as an experience in a larger acute care centre,” said Dr. Kenneth Ogah, Chief of Staff of Erie Shores HealthCare. “Having the opportunity to show these future physicians what it’s like to work in a smaller centre is a significant benefit for both our
hospital and the Essex County community.”
A total of 190 students from Schulich are placed in 30 hospitals across the province for Discovery Week.
The students here took turns shadowing doctors and learning about the hands-on care at the smaller hospitals and
how it’s making a difference in people’s lives.
On Tuesday, May 26, the students met in the cafeteria to practice and learn certain techniques. They were split into four groups, with hands-on learning on suturing, intubation, birthing and ultrasound-assisted biopsies.
DR. KENNETH OGAH
Medical student Moe Ko tries his hand at suturing a pig’s foot during Discovery Week at Erie Shores HealthCare. SUN photos by Mark Ribble
Medical students Will Berecz, left, and Trinity Papamandjaris speak with Dr. Matthew Timmons just before instruction on intubation techniques.
Building a Future of Compassionate Care
LMH?
Edith Wiens’ Story: A Long History with the Home
More than 60 years ago, John and Edith Wiens became involved in creating the Leamington Mennonite Home of care for seniors in their community. Recognizing the growing need for seniors care for both their parents and future generations, John and Edith along with others in the community helped support the vision from the very beginning. With John’s background in construction alongside his brother Walter, he understood the magnitude of building such a project. John served on the first Board of Directors, while Edith volunteered with the first Ladies Auxiliary.
John and Edith then became part of the growing senior community, first in the townhouses and eventually in the Retirement Residence. “To think that I was here to watch the initial building go up and then see how the Home has grown over 60 years is incredible,” Edith says.
Today, following John’s recent passing, Edith remains grateful for the care and sense of belonging LMH provides. “I’m so happy to live here, the community takes care of me” she says.
As LMH looks ahead to building a new Assisted Living Retirement Residence, Edith reflects on the same hope and vision for this new development for the community.
One Story, One Square at a time.
Introducing a Capital Campaign for a New Assisted Living Retirement Residence and Amenity Spaces for the Entire Complex
• The new development will replace the current Retirement Residence - a building that once symbolized innovation when it was originally built more than 60 years ago.
• Every day, the 273 residents of LMH share stories that remind us why this work matters and why it is so important to build a new space with modernized design and enhanced accessibility features.
• The new development will be built with purpose and to meet essential needs.
• Over $2.2 million has already been raised toward the new development project, as we invite the community to help bring us one stitch closer to a new home.
• What will your square represent?
opinion ~ expression ~ and other musings
Let’s talk about horror movies, shall we?
I’ve written about my fandom for horror films before in this column.
In the 1960s, those Saturday afternoon TV horror B flicks usually caught my attention, one way or another. Whether it be the odd Bill Kennedy showing, Rita Bell’s Prize
Movie, or (before my time) Mary Morgan and her dog Liebchien. Probably watching Sir Graves Ghastly just naturally led me to watching the movies he aired. An early memory was a film called Picture Mommy Dead, and
starred Don Ameche and Zsa Zsa Gabor. I don’t remember a lot about it but I recall drapes catching on fire in a mansion of some sort and someone’s face melting off. As a five-year-old, this was both traumatizing and exhilarating. It was a true
Everybody was talkin’ about Nilsson FLASHBACK RADIO with
A drunken night of revelry and a trip to England to work with producer Richard Perry finally lifted Nilsson to number one status in 1972 where his hit “Without You” spent four consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard charts in North America.
But going back to where it all began, Harry Edward Nilsson III was born on June 15, 1941 in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York.
By the early 1950s, his family relocated to southern California’s San Fernando Valley where Harry attended parochial school. After graduation, he took a night job supervising the computer processing department at Security First National Bank. By day he wrote songs, sang demos for music publishers and hawked his songs to recording studios, producers and record labels.
Mercury Records signed him in the early ’60s and initially released an unsuccessful single, “Donna”, under the pseudonym Johnny Niles.
He switched over to Capital Records where he recorded more solo singles and sang lead with the New Salvation Singers.
The first song Nilsson ever sold was cowritten with Scott Turner. It was called “Travelin’ Man”. It was not the same song that Ricky Nelson sang years before that. Nilsson sold it to Randy Sparks and the New Christy Minstrels for five dollars.
Harry’s big break came when Phil
Spector gave two of his songs – “Paradise” and “Here I Sit” – to the Ronettes, and “This Could Be The Night” to the Modern Folk Quartet. With a nod from a powerful producer like Spector, the floodgates opened and Harry Nilsson, the songwriter, was in demand.
Harry’s writing skills showed up on albums by the Turtles, Rick Nelson, Lulu, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Mary Hopkin.
The bank lost Harry to music forever the day he turned on the radio and heard the Monkees sing his song “Cuddly Toy”.
Nilsson signed with RCA in 1967 and recorded his first album, “Pandemonium Shadow Show”, which included cover versions of the Beatles’ “You Can’t Do That’’ and “She’s Leaving Home”.
John Lennon heard the LP and dubbed Nilsson his “favorite American singer”. In fact, Nilsson developed a close friendship with John, who produced Harry’s 1974 Pussy Cats album. Nilsson also become best buddies with Ringo Starr and together they produced a 1974 film and soundtrack called Son of Dracula.
In 1968, Otto Preminger asked Nilsson to write for the Skidoo, a film starring Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing.
Harry’s growing reputation as a songwriter took a quantum leap a year later when Three Dog Night (“Mama Told Me Not To Come) took his song “One” to number five in June.
Two months later, Nilsson had his first chart hit on his own with a song written by Fred Neil called “Everybody’s Talkin’”, recorded on Nilsson’s second album Aerial Ballet. It went to number six, thanks to its inclusion in the soundtrack of “Midnight Cowboy”.
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B horror film that made its way from the theatres to TV pretty fast.
Hitchcock’s The Birds came to the TV screens around that time after a successful theatre run and it had me hooked.
As the 1960s came to a close, I had already seen Frankenstein and Dracula numerous times on television.
But then came the big one in 1968. Night of the Living Dead.
At seven years old, I would have been too young to go see it in its first run but around 1973, my dad took me to the old Vogue Theatre to see it. We were joined by Craig Garant and his dad Ed. It was a movie Craig and I would talk about for years, and probably one of the few times my dad went to the show.
That began a run of scary movies for me that didn’t slow down until my kids came along.
Also in 1973, my mom took me to see The Exorcist, after much pleading and begging. It was rated R so she had to talk the box office lady into letting me in. It was permitted as long as I didn’t leave her side, which meant I
had to follow her up to the ladies’ balcony so she could smoke.
We had different reactions to the movie. She was terrified. I loved it.
RIB’S RAMBLINGS
Mark Ribble
Soon came Jaws, The Hills Have Eyes and disaster films like The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure.
And then in the late seventies the slasher movies caught my attention.
Friday the 13th took top box office honours along with Halloween, but it was a little movie called When A Stranger Calls in 1979 that solidified my preference for the “he’s in the house” style horror films.
Others tried. Angie Dickinson’s turn in Dressed to Kill was good but when held up to When A Stranger Calls, it didn’t measure up. The attraction there was a tease that Angie may show some skin in the prime of her Police Woman career. I don’t think she did.
A little movie called Carrie had caught my attention a couple years earlier and kept me interested in the more super-
natural type of films and anything by Stephen King.
I give them credit, but Hollywood tried sequel after sequel with Exorcist and just couldn’t get it right.
Once the slasher films became redundant in the 1980s, my interest expanded into other genres of movies and I left the horror stuff behind.
I still like a good scare occasionally and movies like The Conjuring and other ghost-based films catch my attention once in a while.
My wife is not a fan of being scared so those viewings are usually saved for trips to the theatre with my youngest son and his buddy who are both scary movie fans. Or sometimes I’ll find something streaming on TV that looks interesting, getting Deb to watch until she figures out it’s not a Hallmark movie after all and quickly exits the room.
1953 Buick Super with new owner
Ontario resident Keith Corby is all smiles in the front seat of his newly purchased 1953 Buick Super wood-trimmed station wagon. He has admired these rare vehicles for years and now has one. He is looking forward to restoring it and driving it to car shows and cruise nights.
The original owner was the Royal Bedding Company of Buffalo, New York, now out of business. Maybe photos of this woody when they
owned it will turn up.
THE
The 1953 Buick Super and Roadmaster had the new 322 cubic inch V8. The Buick Special continued one more year with its Straight Eight engine.
OLD CAR DETECTIVE
Bill Sherk
Buick celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1953, thanks to David Dunbar Buick who started the Buick Motor Company in Detroit in 1903. He
also invented a way of attaching porcelain to cast iron. Think about that the next time you have a bath! Buick joined General Motors in 1908 and 10 years later came to Oshawa, thanks to Col. Sam McLaughlin who built McLauglin-Buicks.
A 1953 Buick Super woody wagon soon to be restored.
Chuck Reynolds
FAMILIES PREPARE POTS FOR BUTTERFLIES
Families could be found this past Saturday morning, May 30, behind the Kingsville-Highline Library getting their hands dirty along with volunteers from the Kingsville Horticultural Society. Using primarily donated plants, families each received a pot full of soil, some seeds and a few flowers to arrange as a way to attract monarchs to their backyards. Pictured is Ozzy Boose with his mom Dana, right. Volunteer Joan Washburn, on the left, assisted the Boose family with their planting of butterfly weed, some nasturtium seeds, and an annual for colour. SUN photo by Paul Forman
YOUNG AUTHORS REWARDED
The annual Southpoint Sun - Gore Hill Public School Young Authors contest produced 21 entries this year and on Thursday, May 28, prizes were given to four of those aspiring writers. From left are Mason Youssef, Tenley Dutot, Abigail Kroslak and Jasper Dyck. Tenley’s story, ‘Olivia Has a Buddy’, took the top prize and 10 of her books were printed and bound, with one being sent to the Leamington Library and another copy to the school library for all the students to read. SUN
Kingsville hosts an ADU information session
By Paul Forman
With a growing interest in alternative housing options and a steady increase in the number of single-person households, the Town of Kingsville invited residents, builders and realtors to the Grovedale Arts and Culture Centre on May 28 for a seven-person panel presentation titled, All About ADUs — Laying the Groundwork for your Backyard Build.
ADU is an acronym for additional dwelling unit and is a self-contained living unit on the same lot as an existing house and has its own kitchen,
bathroom, living room and entrance. Kingsville currently has 43 ADUs and is one of the first local municipalities to grant permits for such in their rural area.
As part of the province’s goal of building more homes at a faster pace, ADUs do not need council approval, no zoning amendments are required, development charges are waived and up to two ADUs covering up to 45 percent of a property are permitted.
From a municipality perspective, ADUs are allowed where dwellings are permitted, regula-
June 14, 1941 - June 7, 2016 10 years we have been missing you. Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear. Love you forever.
Pat, Jeff and Danielle, Scott and Michelle, Noah, Meaghan, James and Ali.
tions pertaining to height limits and setbacks apply, only one set of services is allowed per property, there must be a connection to municipal water service, severances are not allowed and ADUs are not permitted as a seasonal dwelling unit, nor in commercial or industrial settings.
The evening session was led by Richard Wyma, Kingsville’s Director of Planning and Development Services, who was asked about the town’s motivation for having the event.
“We’ve started seeing more and more ADUs coming forward and there’s been a lot of questions around them because of changes in legislation, which happens
frequently, and changes in our own rules that have sometimes frustrated people,” Wyma said. “We just thought it would be appropriate to talk a little bit more about this and provide some hints as to what might be an opportunity to address our housing issues.”
Following opening remarks from Wyma, Kingsville’s Manager of Planning Allen Burgess described in details the different types of ADUs and the local policies associated with such a build, Chief Building Official Rob Frias went over how the Ontario Building Code applies to new ADUs, and Kingsville Fire Chief Scott Moore discussed how the Fire Code applies to the
new structures.
Debbie Gemmel and Laurie Mensch spoke after the town’s officials, describing their experiences, both good and bad, as current owners of ADUs. Arthur Barbut of Petite Homes was on hand to talk about some of the pre-fab builds that they have been doing locally and the benefits of an ADU such as providing an affordable space for a family member or as a source of rental income for the owner of the primary residence.
Richard Wyma ended the formal presentation with the many ways that the Town of Kingsville is currently tweaking their policies to accommodate the potential increase in new ADU builds and
are carefully considering potential impacts on infrastructure moving forward.
A question and answer session followed the formal presentations, allowing the audience to bring up any issues and topics. Septic systems, tax impacts, building costs, permitted locations on properties and HST rebates all came up and were addressed by the panel.
With concluding remarks, Kingsville’s Mayor Dennis Rogers summed up what the evening was all about saying, “We don’t think that this is the solution to our housing issue, but it does provide another option.”
photo by Mark Ribble
Speakers at the ADU information session, from the left, Arthur Barbut of Petite Homes, Laurie Mensch, Debbie Gemmel, Kingsville’s Director of Planning and Development Services Richard Wyma, Kingsville Fire Chief Scott Moore, Kingsville’s Chief Building Official Rob Frias and Kingsville’s Manager of Planning Allen Burgess. SUN photo by Paul Forman
Walkers raise funds at Lakeside Park for Alzheimer Society
By Paul Forman
Joining walkers in more than 150 communities across Canada, 95 participants comprising 14 teams took part in the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s in Kingsville on a gorgeous
May 30 morning. Providing vital programs, services, and education, the nationwide walk has raised over $60-million to date with the Kingsville walk looking to add over $20,000 to the total this year.
A local recipient of the funds raised from the annual walk is The Memory Café in Kingsville. The Memory Café is housed at the Lions Hall and provides a supportive, social space for
individuals living with memory loss and their care partners on the first and third Thursday of each month.
Top individual fundraisers included LeighAnne Siebert, Fe Wyma and Carol Lawrence,
Southpoint Trivia
1. “Cover me with kisses, baby, cover me with love.”
2. “When you’re weary, feeling small.”
3. “Let me hear your body talk, your body talk.”
4. “Young and beautiful, but someday your looks will be gone.”
5. “If you want to find all the cops, they’re hanging out in the donut shop.”
6. “I’m comin’ home, I’ve done my time.”
7. “Stay away from my window. Stay away from my back door too.”
8. “Animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat, the heat between me and you.”
9. “Love doesn’t come in a minute. Sometimes it doesn’t come at all.”
10. “You got me looking at that heaven in your eyes.”
11. “Her hair was Harlow gold. Her lips sweet surprise.”
12. “I’m never gonna dance again, guilty feet have got no rhythm.”
13. “If I were the king of the world, tell you what I’d do.”
14. “Every game you play, every night you stay, I’ll be watching you.”
15. “Memories, light the corners of my mind.”
while top teams included AgeCare Royal Oak, Papa and Pepe’s Gang and The Hearing & Dizziness Clinic.
Barb Pye, the organizer for the Kingsville walk, was thrilled with this year’s turnout and wanted to show her appreciation of the help provided by Kingsville Community Centre over the years for the café by giving the proceeds from the day’s raffle table to the KCC.
Gaye and Gerry Demers were participants in this year’s walk and have taken part in the activities at The Memory Café in Kingsville for the last year and a half. Gaye said, “There’s always something interesting to do at the café and it’s important to be active and to keep going.”
The Kingsville Community Centre has always been a big supporter of The Memory Café. Pictured at the walk’s raffle table are KCC volunteers Jan Fisher on the left and Karen Shipp on the right.
Local walkers in Canada’s largest annual dementia fundraiser found their way around the paths of Kingsville’s Lakeside Park this past Saturday morning. SUN photos by Paul Forman
KNIGHTS HELP ERIE SHORES HEALTH FOUNDATION
LDSS brings Shrek Jr. The Musical to life
By Leah Sharon
Laughter, music and plenty of fairy tale fun filled the Leamington District Secondary School stage last week as students proudly presented Shrek Jr. The Musical. After months of preparation, rehearsals and dedication, the cast and crew delivered an entertaining production that showed the incredible talent and hard work of the school community.
Throughout the week, the production welcomed elementary students from schools across the area, sharing the magic of live theatre with young audiences. Public performances followed from May 28-30, drawing in many members of the community for three evenings of memorable entertainment.
Leading the cast was Landon Beaudry in the role of Shrek, who brought energy, humour and heart to the iconic character. Delilah Heide captivated audiences with
her incredible voice and performance abilities as Princess Fiona, while Jaira Penano delivered a standout performance as the witty and sarcastic Donkey. They, along with the rest of the talented cast, helped create a production that will be remembered long after the curtain closed.
Behind the scenes, countless students and staff members worked tirelessly to ensure every detail of the show came together. The show was directed by LDSS drama teacher Melissa McLeod and French teacher Sophie Campbell. From costumes and set design to lighting, sound and choreography, the production was the result of a true team effort.
The success of Shrek Jr. The Musical is a testament to the creativity and passion of everyone involved. The cast and crew should be extremely proud of what they accomplished.
Pharmacies expand what they can administer
The provincial government is allowing pharmacists to administer additional publicly funded vaccines that protect against six diseases, as well as assess and prescribe for a further nine common ailments. This will improve access to care and reduce pressure on the health-care system by empowering health professionals to provide care to the full extent of their training.
Beginning July 2026, pharmacists across the province will be able to administer six additional publicly funded vaccines for eligible Ontarians, including: tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, pneumococcal, RSV and shingles.
Under the current model, these publicly funded vaccines are only available to patients through a visit to a doctor’s office, walk-in clinic or other clinical settings.
The province is also allowing pharmacists to assess and prescribe for nine additional common ailments, with plans to add up to five more in early 2027, bringing the total expanded number up to 33. Starting July
2026, pharmacists and qualified health-care practitioners will be able to treat the following ailments: calluses and corns, dandruff, dry eye, head lice, jock itch, mild headache, nasal congestion, ringworm and warts.
In addition to these changes, the government has officially directed
Ontario’s regulatory colleges for optometrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, dental hygienists, denturists, and audiologists and speech-language pathologists to begin developing the regulatory framework that would further expand scopes of practice in their fields.
Dorothy Jean Whitehead
Just shy of her 92nd birthday, Dorothy Jean Whitehead passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Dorothy is reunited with her dear husband, Anthony Whitehead. She was a beloved mother of three daughters and two sons. She was loved by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
As per Dorothy’s wishes, cremation has taken place.
Arrangements entrusted to Cremation First (Leamington), 519-398-9188.
Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared with the family at www.cremationfirst.ca
The Kingsville Knights of Columbus Council #8233 recently made a $10,000 donation to Erie Shores Health Foundation to help with the highest priority needs within Erie Shores HealthCare. From left are Knight Richard Laporte, Knight Tom Dunlevie, Knight Kim Lewis, Chrissy Kelton (ESHF), Penny Bellhouse (ESHF), Grand Knight Ken Bosse, Knight Tony Thoman. Photo submitted
Delilah Heide, Landon Beaudry and Jaira Penano as Fiona, Shrek and Donkey.
Photo submitted
The Kingsville Lions Club made a $1,500 donation to the Harrow Community Pantry on Thursday, May 28. From left to right are Bev Chortos, Gayle Palmer, Teri Gorick, Sue Dube, Joan Cope and Katherine Groenewegen. KLC members volunteer at Chances Leamington to raise funds for donation. Photo by Jeff Gorick
KINGSVILLE LIONS HELP FOOD PANTRY
IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT...
Leamington Bridge Club
The following are the top-scoring teams in recent Bridge games at the Leamington Half Century Centre. Bridge lessons are available. If interested, call 519-7384939.
June 1: 1st Ross
Mackintosh and Dale Smith, 2nd Shirley Morel and Henry Hildebrandt, 3rd Pauline Mikolash and Roger Cote.
Kingsville got a little version of their own of the popular YouTube series Hot Ones with Sean Evans as the Grove Brewery Company held their Inferno Wing Challenge on May 27. Joe and Alexandra Rowles of Metal Roar Hot Sauce Co. brought down their hot sauces from Windsor as 21 contestants made their way through 10 wings each coated in hot sauces of ascending heat, with the hottest topping out at a scorching 2.5 million Scoville units. Surprisingly, the field could claim bragging rights as virtually all of the contestants were able to finish their final wings. Pictured at the challenge are friends Bella Higgison, left, and Katia Adamo, right, making their way through their ninth wing coated in Metal Roar Brutality from Metal Roar’s Joe, who can be seen in the background.
photo by Paul Forman
SUN
Kent & Essex Mutual makes donation to ESHF for new beds
Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance recently made a $50,000 donation to Erie Shores Health Foundation (ESHF) in support of new patient beds at Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC).
The donation will support the replacement and enhancement of patient beds throughout the hospital, helping ensure patients continue to receive the comfortable, high-quality care they can count on at ESHC.
“We are incredibly grateful to Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance for this investment in our hospital,” shared Neelu Sehgal,
Chief Nursing Executive of Erie Shores HealthCare.
“Support for vital equipment such as patient beds is essential for the continued efficiency of our hospital and comfort of our patients.”
Modern patient beds play a critical role in both patient comfort and clinical care, supporting mobility, safety, recovery and overall patient experience. This investment will directly benefit patients and healthcare teams alike by helping ESHC continue delivering exceptional care in a growing community.
“We sincerely thank
Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance for this meaningful investment in local healthcare,” said Penny Bellhouse, Executive Director of Erie Shores Health Foundation.
“Support like this helps ensure our hospital has the equipment needed to provide the highest quality care for patients and families right here in our community.”
For Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance, supporting local healthcare is a natural extension of its longstanding commitment to community wellbeing.
“As a mutual insurer,
supporting the communities we serve is at the heart of what we do,” said Kevin Konecny, President & CEO at Kent & Essex
Mutual Insurance. “Erie Shores HealthCare plays such an important role for families across our region, and we’re proud to sup-
port enhancements that help patients feel safe, comfortable, and cared for close to home.”
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Erie Shores Health Foundation was the recipient of a $50,000 donation from Kent & Essex Mutual. From left are Anne Devereux (Chief HR Officer KE), Sarita Vandernaalt (Director KE), Bree Antunes (Manager Risk and Resilience KE), Tim McIntosh (Director KE), Megan Siddall (Marketing Branding Specialist KE), Penny Bellhouse (ESHF CEO), Neelu Sehgal (Chief Nursing Executive ESHC), Krissy Kelton (ESHF Major Gifts Officer).
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Council approves bid for new Bayview Park on Bevel Line
By Mark Ribble
The construction of a new park on Bevel Line Road will go forward with Leamington council’s blessing.
Bayview Park, to be constructed on the parcel of land already owned by the municipality, was budgeted at $2.2 million for this year, but rising fuel, shipping and material costs have pushed the cost to over $3 million.
Bayview is described as a regional park, much like Mersea Park, Seacliff Park and Rick Atkin Park, where not only neighbourhood children will play, but other residents and visitors will drive to the location and enjoy the amenities.
The plans include upgrades to the existing off-leash dog-park, which is at the most southerly end of the property, a 1.4 km accessible asphalt walking path, a new playground, washroom facilities, pavilion and parking lots.
Local contractors Barrineti Construction came in with the lowest of eight bids at $3,093,494, which is almost $1 million over the budgeted amount.
Costs for the project will not be paid through taxation, according to Public Works Manager of Operations Ken Brown, who said that development charges are expected to cover the cost of the park.
Councillor Tim Wilkinson spoke out against the project as he did in 2024 when it was brought to council.
“We have an abundance of great parks in the south end,” he said. “I had a difficult time when this was $2 million, but now we’re going up to $3 million. This happened to us at Mersea Park too.”
Wilkinson asked council to reconsider the process in which RFQs and RFPs are put out, so that the bids would come in closer to what was budgeted.
Councillor Paul Tiessen disagreed, saying that
you can’t put a price on quality of life.
“I think this is a great idea,” he said. “These parks with 240 Carolinian trees and walking trails. If you don’t do it now, you’ll never finish it.”
Councillor Anthony Abraham added that he felt this (Bayview Park) is exactly what is needed in that area to attract young families.
Councillor Heather Latam was also in favour of moving forward on the project.
“It behooves us to do this now,” she said. “It will be packed all the time. I’m ready to support this. Absolutely.”
Mayor Hilda MacDonald added that the municipality already owns the land.
“We need to service that region, if you will,” she said. “I will certainly support this.”
When the vote came, only Wilkinson voted against the park and the recommendation to accept the Barrineti bid was accepted.
Mental health walk raises funds for important work
By Mark Ribble
The sunny skies and mild temperatures of Friday, May 29, made for the perfect setting for a community 5k walk for PTSD, which originated at Kingsville Legion Branch 188 and returned there after a 5km hike along the Greenway.
The walk was led by Chad Kennedy of Sea to Sea for PTSD, who made a stop in Kingsville last year to
speak on the importance of mental health. Kennedy used the Kingsville walk to begin his 2026 Walk Across Canada Campaign. He spoke after the walk back at Kingsville Legion to raise awareness for PTSD and other mental health issues.
Funds raised at the event went to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Sea To Sea for PTSD and Helping Our Heroes.
Chad Kennedy, left, makes his way along the Greenway with Scott Treanor of Helping Our Heroes, while members of Canadian Veteran Freedom Riders — Tinker and Tinman — follow closely behind.
Making their way down the Greenway in support of mental health are, from left, Mary Maureen Atkin, Kim Treanor and Jay Atkin. SUN photos by Mark Ribble
For 64 years, Leamington District Secondary School stood along Talbot Street West, and in it many amazing memories were created for students from the past decades. Providing a final sendoff on the morning of May 28 while holding their pieces of nostalgia are, from the left, Nick Lutsch (class of ’72), Tony Omar (class of ’85, former teacher and principal at LDSS), Joel Westlake (class of ’62, longtime geography teacher at LDSS), Dennis Staudt (class of ’72) and Ron Omstead (class of ’72). SUN photo by Paul Forman
Kingsville Friendly Club
On May 12 there were 36 members of the Kingsville Friendly Club who enjoyed their games of cards.
Bridge: Kim Hamm 4060, Linda Trott 3920, Mac Stanley 3100. Euchre: Dave Malley 96, Liz Taillaeu 94, Real Couture 89. Most lone hands: Dave Malley and Shirley Reynolds 3. Cribbage: Nancy Cassels 914, Marie Geeves 831, Stuart Wheelton 755. Pepper: Kathy Hedge 274, Lorrain McAdam 272, Dave Hedge 259. Most peppers: Carolyn Brown, Ken Bachmeier and Rita Sleiman 5.
There were 58 members taking part in cards on May 15.
Bridge: Corrine Ingal 3380, Mac Stanley 2820, Bert Patrick 2650. Euchre: Dave Patterson 96, Ken Martinuik and Eileen Heasley 88, Michael Nantais 86. Most lone hands: John Gerhardt 6. Pepper: Bill Fielding 299, John Bigley 288, Rhoda Earl 257. Most peppers: Bill Fielding 9.
On May 18, 36 members played cards.
Bridge: Carolyn Brown 3480, Gillian Pinkney 3100, Alta VanVliet 3080. Euchre: Sharyne Seagave 82, Brenda Hamments and Réal Couture 80, Liz Taillieu 79. Most lone hands: Dave Patterson 4. Cribbage: Stuart Wheelton 818, Marie Geeves 757, Nancy Cassels 744. Pepper: Winnie Moore 367, Nancy Taylor 278, Carrie Schultz 275. Most peppers: Winnie Moore 8.
On May 21, 54 members joined to play cards.
Bridge: Bert Patrick 2570, Ken Bachmeier 2290 (Ken hadn’t played bridge for 20 years, but did so to fill up the tables evenly), Kim Hamm 2240. Euchre: Fred Sleiman 97, Eileen Heasley 95, Liz Taillieu 92. Most lone hands: Eileen Heasley 5. Pepper: John Bigley 354, Ted Gaffan 291, Maggee Hansen 283. Most peppers: John Bigley and Winnie Moore 5.
The Kingsville Friendly Club meets every Tuesday and Friday at the Lions Hall, 21 Mill Street West. Doors open at noon and play starts at 12:45 sharp, followed by social time at 3:15.
Wheatley Legion News
The Ladies Auxiliary had its election of officers at their May meeting and the results are as follows: President Laura Simpson, First Vice Joyce Epplett, Secretary Jami-Lee Howe, Treasurer Ashley Resendes, SeargentAt-Arms Erika Simpson, and the six executive members are Sandy Simpson, Donna Corlett, Darlene Dundas, Carol Lotsberg, Pam Wright and Luanne Richmond.
L.A. members Laura Simpson, Ashley Resendes, Jami-Lee Howe, Erika Simpson and Anne Marie Chase attended the Ladies Auxiliary Zone Convention at beginning of May. Anne Marie remains the Zone Commander and Laura Simpson remains Deputy Zone Commander.
There was a small group out for Fun Darts on May 29.
Posting six wins were Larry Evoy and Julie Reid. Five wins: Colleen Coil, Jean Teylouni and Tennis Coil. Two wins: Bonnie Evoy, Ben Baltzer and Sherry Chambers. One win: Doug Stevenson, Velma Hope and Gord Crook. Sherry, Jean and Colleen were the lady doublers.
Next Fun Darts Night is Friday, June 5 at Kingsville Legion. Sign-up is at 7 p.m. and play begins at 7:15.
The May 27 Meat Draw winners were Mike Imeson (2), Gerry Soulliere, Merri-Lynn Dundas, Mark Howe (2), Julie Reid, Jacqueline Sacasa, Lesley Heinz, Heather Church and John Turner. The winner of the L.A. 50/50 draw was Tom Coulter.
The Legion’s Meat Draws continue every Saturday at Joe’s Bar. Tickets go on sale at 3 p.m. and the draws begin at 3:30. Everyone welcome.
CATHOLIC
19th Lois Fairley Award winner
The 19th annual Lois Fairley Nurse of the
Year Community Service Award has been awarded to Spenser Dionne, who is a nurse at Windsor Regional Hospital - Ouellette Campus.
The nomination that brought Spenser such accolades was written by the son of a recent patient in her care.
“Beyond her bedside care, Spenser stands out
as a fierce advocate for the future of the nursing profession,” said nominator Ryan Peebles. “Much like Lois Fairley, who was a renowned mentor to students at the University of Windsor and St. Clair College, Spenser is a pillar of support for those just entering the field.”
75 YEARS
Peebles went on to say that Dionne is a credit to WRH and a shining example of the best traditions of nursing. The award is presented by the Windsor-Essex Chapter of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), based on nominations submitted by the public. The award was given out at a ceremony on May 11.
A FINAL GOODBYE
The St. Michael’s Catholic Women’s League (CWL) recently held their 75th anniversary celebration with a gala and dinner at the Roma Club. They were also able to celebrate Sr Elaine Cole’s 70th jubilee of her vocation with the sisters of Joseph. Above, some of the CWL ladies pose with Father Tom Ferrera. From left are Peggy Barrette, Flora Bergs, Barbara Gaspard, CWL President: Maria Araujo, Dina Sardinha, Jacqui Iles, Fr Tom Ferrera, Romana Sobotka. Photo submitted
WOMEN’S LEAGUE CELEBRATES
SPENSER DIONNE
Looking back ...
The Leamington Post June 2, 1976
Three members of the Leamington Flyers and a Juvenile player were honoured Friday night at the Flyers annual awards night. And three of the Flyers awards – the Highest Scorer, Most Valuable Player in the Regular Season and in the Playoffs – went to centreman John Emerson. He broke the previous Flyer goal scoring record of Kris Manery set in 1973. Pat Hillman was voted the Unsung Hero award, and Dennis Koestler the Most Gentlemanly Player trophy. Jim Quick received the Most Valuable Player award for the Leamington Juvenile team.
Town Council Monday night passed a bylaw establishing standards for the maintenance and occupancy of residential property in Leamington. Council hopes the bylaw will enable it to clean up a number of rundown and unsightly residential properties here.
Town police are investigating a break-in which occurred in the business district. Thieves forced open a window to gain entry into Jackson’s Furniture on Talbot West on the weekend. They ransacked the office and took some cash. On the way out, they took a decorative sword off a plaque and punched holes in a $500 sofa.
Leamington District Memorial Hospital’s laboratory has been chosen by the U.S. Centre For Disease Control as a reference laboratory. The centre in Atlanta, Georgia, chose the Leamington lab along with 99 others in the U.S. and Canada to conduct prescribed tests. The Leamington facilities will be working on the Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT) tests, which are designed to determine the normal level of heart and liver enzymes in the diagnosis of heart attacks.
The Kingsville Reporter June 2, 1976
Robert L. Wilson of Kingsville, who drives for Eastern Canadian Greyhound Lines Ltd., was presented with a gold wristwatch by District Manager A.E. Cooke at Windsor in recognition of driving 10 years without an accident. This achievement represents 660,000 accident-free miles which is equivalent to 26 safe trips around the world.
Louise Arner, 17-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Arner of Kingsville, will participate in the 1976 annual United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth sponsored by the Oddfellows and Rebekahs of America. Louise, a grade 11 student at Kingsville District High School, was the winner of a recent competition among secondary school students in Essex and Kent counties.
Each student was chosen on the basis of scholarship, personal qualities and a written essay on the United Nations. Louise will depart by bus on July 7 for the educational tour to Ottawa, Montreal, New York City, Washington DC and Niagara Falls. This will be her first opportunity to travel such a distance from home.
Police Chief Jake Boldt reports there have been several thefts in the past month. Richard Stewart, while constructing a home in Stonehedge Estates, reported a theft of plywood on May 27. Also, Horst Foss, a construction worker in Bayview Crescent, reported the theft of topsoil, and Mrs. Pat O’Heron had her lawnmower stolen from the garage the same day. An automatic tape player and two speakers were stolen from Joe Bechard’s automobile while parked in front of his residence on Queen Street May 30.
The Wheatley Journal Spring of 1976
Ken Snider was elected as one of seven Regional Directors of the Great Lakes Region Jaycees for the 1976-1977 year at the 5th annual convention in St. Catharines. Ken was elected on the first ballot and Wheatley Jaycees are pleased to have a member on the Great Lakes Region Board of Directors. He will also be responsible for the Sarnia, Windsor, Chatham, Wallaceburg and Kingsville Jaycee units. Receiving awards at the convention were Ken Whitesell, Chairman of the Baseball Diamond Lighting Project; Dave Sheldon Incoming President, who accepted the Sparkplug Award and others on behalf of the club; and Bob Smith, Chairman of the Album Project.
It would be appreciated if those persons who tore the newly planted geraniums out of the flowerbed at the Wheatley Arena would confine their efforts to weeds and picking up trash.
A brief stop last week at Wheatley Harbour en route to Toronto drew many local people to the harbour for a closer look at a real Chinese junk. The craft is built of teak wood and mahogany, with dragon carvings and detailed woodworking accenting the style of the craft. For several months, Anthony-Keats Marine of Wheatley has worked on the power plant of the junk while it was at LaSalle.
The influx of campers at Wheatley Park brought a wave of rowdyism over the long weekend. It was expected. Numerous charges were laid for liquor, traffic and Parks Act violations. Although 95 percent of the campers were there for a good time, there was some vandalism to signs and washrooms.
kingsvillearchives@gmail.com
Look at Leamington’s Past courtesy of C. Scott Holland
boats could be taken through the placid canal or out into the rougher waters of Lake Erie. This photograph of an unidentified family, standing outside the Cedar Beach Drug Store, was taken in the late 1940s or early 1950s.
Clippings from the Wheatley Journal
Photo courtesy of the Kingsville Archives
Leamington’s Past courtesy of the C. Scott Holland Collection
Kingsville and Essex Associated Band, exact date unknown. This photo came from a fundraising calendar produced by the band in 2007, celebrating their 70th anniversary.
1994 - In early action in the Essex County Senior Baseball loop the Leamington Barons faced the Wheatley Franklins but lost a tough battle as they fell behind 2-0 before taking a 4-2 lead then faltering in the late innings. Here Barons’ batter Jamie Farias takes a cut at a Franklins pitch.
June 1986 - The runners were running for the Canadian Blind Sports Association but the Journal camera man was forced to run for his life when he photographed the start of the “Run For Light” on Friday evening. The five km run and the two km walk started on Erie Street North in front of Ivan Coulter Park shortly after 9:00 p.m. The photo shows the 147 runners breaking out of the starting gate.
Latam and the Stride kick off Two Creeks concert series
The Two Creeks summer concert series begins on Sunday, June 7 at 6 pm on the stage at Two Creeks Conservation Area, 1 km north of Wheatley. Justin Latam leads The Stride in music featuring rock and roll and the blues. No admission fee, but they do pass the hat. Food and drink will be available by the Scouts. Visit twocre eks.ca for more information.
return in this cycle until 2053.
Bright planets and a Blue Moon
By Gary Boyle
The Backyard Astronomer
For thousands of years, the night sky has been a mystical place of wonder and entertainment. Those who followed the sky regularly realized the paths of brighter objects as they traversed the starry background over weeks, months and even years. The early Greeks called them planete, meaning the “wanderers”.
Of the eight main planets of the solar system, we can see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn with the unaided eye, while Uranus and Neptune are only seen in binoculars and a telescope. Even the Sun and Moon were also referred to as the wanderers, and these seven are named as the days of the week.
with the giant planet Jupiter to the upper left. Over the next few weeks, you will see Jupiter appearing a bit lower each night while Venus is moving up due to its orbit around the sun.
On the night of June 6 and 7, these two will appear side by side. I term these “spooky eyes” as they take on a ghostly appearance in the sky. They are by sight only and do not physically approach each other. These jewels will be 719 million kilometres or 447 million miles apart.
light-seconds from us. As we follow the lunar phases over the months from a thin waxing crescent low in the west to first quarter (looks like a capital D), waxing gibbous (egg-shaped) and then full phase when the sun illuminates it 100%. Then we have a waning gibbous, third quarter (backwards capital D) and waning crescent. Although spectacular in the sky, it is the worst night for stargazing as moonlight washes out the sky for all but the brightest of stars.
May 31. The moon does not physically turn blue, but by name only. It should be another great year to plan stargazing sessions in the countryside, at the cottage or campgrounds, preferably during a New Moon. Here you can marvel at a couple of thousand stars and the lovely Milky Way, our home galaxy. The night sky is a wonderful classroom.
Looking towards the western sky will reward you with seeing the two brightest planets. Brilliant Venus is lower in the sky
The speed of light circles the Earth seven and a half times in one second. Reflected sunlight from Venus takes over 10 light-minutes to reach our eyes, with a 50 light-minute travel from Jupiter. By comparison, Saturn is now visible in the early morning sky and is 85 light-minutes away.
A much closer object – the moon – is only 1.3
Each full moon has been given a name to address seasonal change, such as the “Cold Moon” in December and the “Strawberry Moon” in June. With an average of 29.5 days lapsing between full phases, some months will have two full moons, the second of which is termed the “Blue Moon”. Since the full “Flower Moon” occurred on May 1, the next full moon was on
Known as “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and previous monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, as well as past president of the Ottawa Centre of the RASC. The International Astronomical Union honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Facebook and his website: wondersofastronomy.com
The second full moon of May produced what is called a Blue Moon and local resident Donald Mills captured this photo overlooking his neighbour’s cottage near Seacliff Park on May 31. According to Don, this moon is the farthest away in its elliptical orbit from the earth and won’t
Photo courtesy of Donald Mills
SERVICES
HANDYMAN SERVICES
- bathrooms, kitchens, drywall repairs, painting, finish carpentry. No job is too small. Over 40 years experience. Preferred text or call Steve 519-329-1494.
PINNACLE ACRES
REQUIRES Full time greenhouse general labourers. $17.60/hr 50+ hours, 7 days/wk. Must be available Saturday & Sunday. Work site: 333 County Rd 18, Leamington ON, rural setting, must have own transportation. Crop maintenance and harvesting, other duties as required. Must be able to lift a minimum of 40lbs on a repetitive basis, fast paced environment, strong work ethic, punctual, reliable. No experience or education required. Please apply via email: careers@ pinnacle-acres.com
YARD SALES
MOVING / DOWNSIZING SALE on Saturday, June 6 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at 56 Queens Hill Crescent, Leamington. A lot of
Please Recycle
Email resume to: jrenaud@renaudford.com For more information call: 519-738-6767
PACKERS - VEGETABLE GREENHOUSE
Full-time Monday to Saturday • $17.60 per hour No experience necessary - will train.
We are seeking dedicated and detail-oriented Packers to join our team. The ideal candidates will be responsible for efficiently packing and preparing products for shipment, ensuring quality standards are met. This role is vital in maintaining smooth operations within our production process and delivering excellent service to our customers. Prior experience is a plus, we welcome applicants eager to learn new skills. This position offers an engaging work environment where teamwork and attention to detail are highly valued. Responsibilities:
• Pack products accurately according to specifications and quality standards.
• Inspect produce before packing.
• Capable of lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Maintain a clean and organized packing area.
• Assist with inventory management and restocking supplies as needed.
• Follow safety protocols related to packing area.
Apply: Kingsone Farms Inc. 838 Road 3 East, Kingsville, ON
REQUIRED FULL TIME Greenhouse Worker. $17.60 per hour, 50+ hours, 7 days per week. Must be available Saturdays and Sundays. Work site 341 Morse Road, Leamington ON. Have own transportation. Crop maintenance, harvesting and other duties. Able to lift 40 pounds on a repetitive basis. No education or experience required. Apply at office or phone 519-326-6325. my6-jl8 LOOKING FOR A JOB? Watch for NEW job opportunities every week in the Southpoint Sun classifieds.
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
Your energy is infectious this week, Aries. This is the perfect time to launch a passion project. Expect a surprise compliment from someone you admire.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, treat yourself to a little luxury. You have earned a slow morning of coffee and a crossword puzzle. A cozy discovery brings you a smile.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
Your social calendar is buzzing with exciting new connections. Use your natural wit to spur the conversation and you’ll be the star of every chat you have with others.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
Creative inspiration hits you mid-week, Cancer. Be sure to keep a notebook handy. Your intuition is very sharp right now, leading you to a special breakthrough.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
Whether you are looking for it or not, the spotlight is finding you, Leo. Shine bright and share your ideas. The world is ready to applaud your vision.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
Organization will be your superpower this week, Virgo. Everything finally clicks into place. Examine the small details around you. You will find peace in them and productivity.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, balance will come easily as you blend work and recreation in perfect ways. An invitation to a local event adds some sparkle to your weekend.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
Your magnetism is at an all-time high, Scorpio. Exciting opportunities are being drawn toward you, so you will need to trust your gut on a new venture.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
Adventure is calling your name this week, Sagittarius. An optimistic outlook can turn a minor detour into a grand adventure. Get ready for some exciting days ahead.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
Take a moment to celebrate your wins with a favorite treat or a good book, Capricorn. You have been hitting your stride and smashing goals with impressive ease.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Your big ideas are drawing some attention, Aquarius. Many people are ready to help you build on them. Stay curious and open to a clever suggestion from a friend.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
Your imagination is taking the driver’s seat this week, Pisces. A heartwarming moment with a loved one reminds you how much others care.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
MAY 31 - Brooke Shields, Actress/Model (61)
JUNE 1 - Tom Holland, Actor (30)
JUNE 2 - Dana Carvey, Comic (71)
JUNE 3 - Rafael Nadal, Athlete (40)
JUNE 4 - Noah Wyle, Actor (55)
JUNE 5 - Mark Wahlberg, Actor (55)
JUNE 6 - Drew McIntyre, Wrestler (41)
CHRIS BABKIRK
390 Talbot St. N. Essex
519-776-6447
chrisbabkirk@kenknappford.com
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
8U Lakers take silver in Lakers Classic tournament
The Leamington 8U Lakers brought home the silver medal from the annual Lakers Classic Tournament held at the Kinsmen Ball Diamonds over the May 29-31 weekend.
The Lakers and Kingsville Knights seemed destined to meet in an important game and that one came at noon on Sunday, when the Lakers defeated the Knights to punch their ticket to the final.
Waiting for them in the final was the unbeaten Riverside Royals, who had defeated the Lakeshore Whitecaps to get to the final.
Leamington had kicked off the tournament with a 23-12 drubbing of the Windsor Stars on Friday and then followed that with a 20-13 win over Chatham in a back-toback schedule.
On Saturday, the Lakers dropped an exciting 23-14 decision to the Kingsville Knights, setting up what looked to be a Leamington-Kingsville showdown on Sunday.
The Lakers 2-1 record got them to the quarter finals on Sunday morning, where they hosted
Chatham once again and beat them handily by a 20-4 score.
That set up the semi-final local showdown with
Kingsville. The Lakers surprised the Knights after Saturday’s lopsided game and returned the favour, winning 25-12.
In the final, the Lakers held an 11-9 lead going into the fourth inning, but Riverside came alive with the bats and won 19-11 to
take the title. In the 12U division, the Leamington Lakers dropped their Friday afternoon game 13-1 to
the Brantford Red Sox, then fell to the Chatham Diamonds 8-4 in a close game.
Leamington Lakers 8U team, back row, from left, are coaches Steve O’Neil, Paul Gossmann, Marlo Lazdins, Len Janzen, Jason Hillier and Thomas Grubb. Middle row: Liam Lazdins, Eric Dutot, Maverick Gossmann, Drew Jones, Everett Hillier, Antoine Georges, Colt Janzen. In front: Liam Hutchinson, Calvin Wright, Nash O’Neil, Gannon Grubb, Teddy Cobby, Lendyn Bruni, Noah Krahn. Photo submitted
Kingsville runner Jack Bryant (#5) slides safely into second base during the semi-final game between the Knights and Lakers on Sunday. Leamington second baseman Colt Janzen looks back for the errant ball while teammate Maverick Gossmann looks to the outfield. SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Lakers second baseman Nash O’Neil (right) is about to catch the throw from outfielder Gannon Grubb as a Riverside runner prepares to slide. The runner was out on the play during the championship game on Sunday. SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Kingsville U13 Selects win Forest Glade tournament
The Girls Fastpitch U13 Kingsville Knights Selects went unbeaten at the Forest Glade Selects Tournament on May 31, winning five games and outscoring opponents 67-24.
Kingsville opened the tournament with a 7-6 win over Forest Glade, followed by a 13-8 victory against Leamington and 14-3 win over Lakeshore in pool play. The Knights added a 19-3 win over LaSalle in the semifinal and a 14-4 victory over Essex to win the tournament title.
Kingsville finished with 44 hits over five games.
The Knights also drew 42 walks, posted a .683 on-base percentage and finished with a 1.517 OPS.
Gemma Melo led Kingsville at the plate, going 9-for-9 with two home runs, three triples, three doubles, nine RBIs and eight runs scored.
Alyssa Herrera went 8-for-9 with five RBIs and eight runs, while Maddie Cardoso finished 6-for-7 with four RBIs and seven runs.
Shannon Moncur added two triples, a home run and five RBIs.
Kingsville’s pitching staff, led by Maya Carey and Jasmine Charissé, allowed 24 runs over five games, an average of 4.8
runs per game, striking out 34. They were backed up by solid fielding along with a strong catching performance by Avril Herrera.
Kingsville’s largest offensive game came against LaSalle, when the Knights scored 19 runs. Cardoso went 3-for-3 in the game, while Melo homered and drove in three runs. Kingsville also scored 14 runs in wins over Lakeshore and Essex.
The Knights received production from across the order. Seven players finished the tournament with at least three hits, and five players scored at least seven runs.
Kingsville finished the tournament with three home runs, seven triples and nine doubles among its 44 hits.
Talbot Trail senior golfers finally get some nice weather
By Bob McLean
On May 26, there were 51 Talbot Trail senior men’s league golfers who enjoyed the beautiful weather Mother Nature provided. George had the carts tuned and ready as we used the 90-degree rule.
Only two golfers were
able to break 40. Ken Krueger continued his brilliant play by firing a 37. Close behind him was Jim Pearson who shot an excellent 39.
ers who had noteworthy results less than 50: Al Matthews, John Liddel, Bobo, Karl Werner, Fuzzy and Gary Wilson.
Larry Schmidt became a second straight nifty 50 shooter. Bob Redel and Doug Langlois also had praiseworthy 50s.
Hi... I’m Ruth Anne. I might hang back a little when we first meet or give you a few woofs - new things can feel a bit big sometimes - but if you give me a moment and come say hello softly, I promise I’ll meet you halfway. Actually... I’ll probably melt right into you. That’s kind of my specialty. I’m a gentle, loving girl who really enjoys the simple things - being close to my people, sharing quiet moments, and having a bit of fun once I feel safe. When I trust you, you’ll see my sweet and playful side shine through. I came here with my daughter, Missy. We’ve been through a lot together, and she feels much braver when I’m by her side. It’s not absolutely necessary that we go home together, but we sure would love it if we could. I help her feel safe, and she means the world to me. I should tell you, though, I’ve been known to get a little too interested in cats (I like to chase em), so a confident, dog-savvy cat would be best if we’re going to be housemates. I did meet one before and just kind of kept to myself, but I’ll likely need some time to feel them out first. As for other dogs, I do okay with ones who are calm, respectful, and not too pushy. I may not always like sharing my favourite people with other doggos but I’m willing to learn in the right home! I just really love my humans, what can I say??
Thirteen other players were able to break 50. Excessive leaf keys in the fairway and rough caused some confusion in locating and identifying their golf balls. However, the course is finally drying up from the excessive rain we’ve endured this spring. The outside workers have been kept very busy!
Nasher shot a superb 43. Bill Ward and Dutchy followed up with very solid 44s. Commendable 45s were produced by Rick Thompson, Pat Hill, Gerry V. Deven and Phil Humphries. Other play-
Super seniors Tom Hyatt and Joe Vrtel fired inspiring 49s off the silver tees. In the gold division, Neil Adamson scored a brilliant 48. He was closely followed by Carl Robinson and Erle Nash. The CP winner on #9, with his dazzling shot
10 feet from the pin, was Pearcie. Joe Vrtel was the LP champ on #2 by draining a terrific 14-foot putt. T5G1 players enjoyed a great golfing day as all four players shot in the 40s. Both Eugene Abbruzzese and Conrad Babkirk fired 44s. Dave Dibbley and newcomer,Vic Marcovecchio enjoyed solid 49s.
Scoring in June will be done by age divisions. The league’s first scramble date will be June 23. Keep trying and Just Have Fun!
The Kingsville U13 Girls Selects are, front row, from left: Reese Statham and Maya Carey. Middle row, from left: Izzy Iatonna, Alyssa Herrera, Ella Fleming, Shannon Moncur, Mia Black, Maddie Cardoso and Avril Herrera. Back row, from left: head coach Melissa Statham, Jasmine Charissé, Gemma Melo, coach Kelly Melo, Khloe Willms-Cook and coach Kevin Black. Photo submitted
SOCCER CONTINUES TO ROLL THROUGH SEASON
LDSS sports season nears its end
By Leah Sharon
As the spring sports season nears its close, Leamington District Secondary School athletes continue to achieve remarkable success, including a provincial gold medal, multiple soccer victories, strong OFSAA performances, and several personal best results at track and field.
The LDSS Ultimate Frisbee team competed at the OFSAA Championships in Kingston from May 26-28, where they faced the province’s strongest teams. Although the Lions played their first two games against two top-six teams and suffered losses, they continued to improve throughout the tournament. Their following matches were close losses, with a 8-6 loss and a 10-7 loss against previous OFSAA champions. Their teamwork and resilience paid off as they finished with two exciting victories, a 9-8 win and an 8-7 win, both secured on the final throw. Standout moments included huge dives from Reid Charles and Andrew Demant, a catch and roll by Ethan Barnewall, and exceptional defensive efforts from Eli Driedger. Contributions from Jimena Gonzales, Emery Stapleton, Isabel Friesen, and Roshane Richards
helped make a memorable provincial experience for the team.
On the soccer field, the junior girls earned two impressive victories. They opened the week on Monday, May 25 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tecumseh Vista, with Kylie Bennett scoring the lone goal. The team followed that performance on Wednesday, May 27 with a dominant 6-0 victory over Brennan. Scoring was led by Klara Van Roie with a four-goal performance, while Karlin Mellow and Kimberly Peters followed with one goal each.
The junior boys soccer team delivered one of the most exciting performances of the season on Thursday, May 28 against the previously undefeated Essex Raiders. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Lions battled back with goals from Derek Azzopardi-Neufeld, Chema Garcia and Iker De La Paz to secure a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory.
The LDSS Special Olympics soccer team travelled to London from May 26-28 and captured provincial gold. After a perfect 3-0 record in the preliminary round, the Lions rallied from a halftime deficit in the semifinals and were able
to make it to the championship game. Facing a strong Port Colborne team, LDSS overcame an early 1-0 setback and scored three goals in the last five minutes of play to secure the gold medal in the tournament’s most competitive division. Special recognition goes to Shelby, Fawn, Lindsey and Shaelyn for representing the school at the opening and closing ceremonies.
The Lions also excelled at the OFSAA West Regional Track and Field Championships. Morgan Reiter ran a personal-best time to place fourth in steeplechase, and less than an hour later, she returned to compete in the 1500m race, finishing 12th. Ellie Reiter delivered a consistent performance in the 1500m race, placing 9th. In field events, Samuel Heide achieved multiple personal bests in shot put and secured a fourthplace finish. Henry Heaton wrapped up his final event of his high school career with a 10th-place finish in discus, while Kevin Khliv placed 14th in triple jump. Kirby Polius narrowly missed first place in the 100m, finishing second by just one one-hundredth of a second. Kevin Khliv, Carlon Warmington, Charlie Ketler and alternate
Mohammed Alacacity ran a personal-best time and captured second place in the 4x400-metre relay. On day two, Kevin Khliv
added a seventh-place finish in long jump, while Kallen Driedger earned ninth place in triple jump. LDSS athletes are fin-
ishing out this 2026-27 season with outstanding performances, unforgettable achievements, and plenty of Lion pride.
Wheatley Minor Soccer continues to move through their season as captured in this photo with U9 Wheatley Legion versus Troy Dutot Mortgage on Monday, May 25. Photo by Kim Riley WHEATLEY MINOR
The Thanks, Mom Campaign
The Thanks, Mom campaign is dedicated to women’s health and encourages you to honour the special ones in your life, whether they are still with us or dearly missed. Here is how to join:
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Take a moment to write her a letter on a piece of paper, or online through our form or downloadable template. Tell her what she’s taught you, how she’s inspired you, or simply how much she means to you. Use the QR code below for the letter form and/or template. If you prefer to just donate, skip to step 3!
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Give your letter to her, place it somewhere meaningful, visit her resting place, keep it for yourself and/or share it with ESHF through the QR code/link below.
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