The Voice, April 14 2021

Pelham council backtracks

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Column Six

MAVRYCK

The Throwaway

on road to

recovery

BY MARJORIE POULI Special to the Voice

A

dark and dusky beauty, discouraged, beaten, chin down, eyes averted—a 15-year-old whom, for this story, we’ll call Julie. I wanted to reach deep into her being to find bells to ring, to celebrate her beauty, the promise of lovely womanhood.

It was a promise betrayed: a drunken father, hopeless mother; society out to use and abuse, despoil and toss aside. Social workers picked her up too many times, drunk, cold, on the streets.

They sent her to our group home in Cochrane.

She moved obediently and dully through her first days at the home, not like others who sometimes fought, yelled, or defied. Her face was a mask, sullen, but protective. A social worker told us the First Nations girls showed no emotion, but she didn't see behind their masks.

Julie wore emptiness. Only the piano and singing would briefly awaken her spirit and ease her expression.

Her heart was lovely. Even given her hard life, she still

STORY PAGE 10

Less than two weeks ago, Mavryck Gatt was in a car accident whose outcome could have been worse——much worse.

Pelham Funeral Home wants to ensure your safety.

If you are not comfortable with coming in the we gladly offer all arrangements funeralfuneral so theyhome, won’t have to. to be done by phone and email.

Save your family the burden.

Plan your own Call today and ask how we can help.

As always we are here for you should you need us.

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Page 2

The Voice

by Dave Burket

Likely but not confirmed: Two more COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held next week at the community centre in Fonthill. See the Town ad, p. 3, for general registration info...

Covidiots and maskholes: Can we finally drop any pretense that COVID-19 deniers are anything other than spectacularly stupid people? And, given his prominence at the anti-lockdown mini-Nuremberg rally held in St. Catharines on Saturday, Niagara’s King of the Ignoramuses appears to be West Lincoln Mayor David Abysmal—sorry, Bylsma. Among his asinine falsehoods is that orange juice, a warm hat, and a scarf are effective at warding off coronavirus infection. St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik said in a statement that he was “deeply troubled” to see Bylsma, with whom he serves on Regional Council, speaking at the rally. “The fact that he blatantly broke the provincial government’s stay-at-home order is a serious breach of his elected position,” said Sendzik, “and I trust that NRP and public health will act accordingly.” If “accordingly” means a stiff fine and some jail time, yes, please. (A maskhole, by the way, is someone whose mask-wearing is grudging at best—positioning the fabric so that it doesn’t cover the nose, or is left dangling under the chin. Or wears a bandanna, gaiterstyle, like Jesse James, which is actually less safe than no mask at all.) This pandemic has revealed both the best and worst of people’s characters, and it’s been bitterly disappointing to witness the latter. As L arry Coté and Pogo are known to observe, we have met the enemy and he is us. I’m not so sure any longer that humanity will be able to overcome its own willful stupidity on this one...How about some delicious ice cream to calm the nerves: The Peter Piper’s Pub empire is set to expand—into ice cream. Owner Peter Moore says he’s taking over the lease for the space three doors down from the restaurant, and opening an ice cream parlour just in time for the warm weather...

Domenic’s discount: Under new management, Domenic’s on 20 (ad, p.13) will give you an additional 10% discount if you mention the Voice. Go for it!...Council comes to its senses: Well, on two issues, anyway: proxy voting (driving a stake into its heart, at long last) and micromanaging townhouse designs (story, p.3). Yet Councillor Lisa Haun persists with her odd fixation on barbecues as some sort of civilized habitation prerequisite. Apparently Haun has never lived in an apartment or condo without its own yard. There are many things that one typically cannot do in an apartment or condo—personal in-ground pools are rare, for example, garden sheds unlikely, trampolines a bit awkward. Whether or not there is adequate space for a barbecue is about as silly a reason to vote for or against a real estate development as can be imagined—though my imagination has repeatedly been no match for certain councillors...Don't miss them: John Swart's interview with a boat builder (p.18), and Marjorie Pouli's Column Six. Its effect will stay with you long after you've put down the paper. ◆

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent It was a full parking lot at the Meridian Community Centre (MCC) last Thursday, as Niagara Region Public Health conducted a COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The MCC event was one of ten scheduled on a rotating basis in April throughout Niagara. Travel to vaccination clinics is exempt from the province’s emergency stay-at-home edict.

Additional clinic dates are likely to be added to the provincial booking system in the coming days.

Courtney Westerhof, a communications consultant with Niagara Health, told the Voice that just over 1000 doses of the Pfi zer vaccine were administered at the Pelham site. Nine hundred and ninety five injections were given to those 65 years of age and older, while eight healthcare workers were given prioritized jabs. Pelham residents represented 52 percent of the clinic patients, with 27 percent from Welland, and the remainder from other parts of the region.

To date, some 100,000 doses have been administered to Niagara residents.

Close to 92 percent of those over age 80 in the region have received a first shot, and 100 percent of seniors in long-term care and highrisk retirement homes have been vaccinated.

Second-shot appointments are booked for dates approximately four months

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A April 14 2021

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The Pelham Fire Department responded to six calls for assistance from Friday, April 2 to Friday, April 9.

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Constance and Clyde McCombs got the Pfizer vaccine last week, but their son Leonard is still waiting for his appointment. DON RICKERS

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cess, as many seniors detailed significant frustration attempting to book an appointment online or by phone.

“The booking system is operated by the provincial government, and there were hiccups in the early days when most residents registered,” said Westerhof.

Niagara Region’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, told the St. Catharines Standard last

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two-dose vaccines currently approved by Health Canada —Pfi zer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca/ COVISHIELD. “This clinic ran very smoothly,” said Westerhof.

“There were very few lineups, and the vaccinations progressed at a good pace.

Many people thanked us, and told us how well organized they found the clinic to be.”

The Voice heard much the same in conversations outside the MCC, as seniors provided rave reviews about the speedy treatment they received once inside the building.

The same can’t be said for the registration pro-

from the first dose. The booking system at the MCC gave a July 29 appointment date for the follow-up jab.

“The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has provided a recommendation to extend the vaccination dose interval up to 16 weeks for the three two-dose vaccines currently approved

by Health Canada, while maintaining a strong and sustained level of protection from COVID-19,” said Westerhof. She noted that the Ontario government is following the evidence and recommendations from the NACI to extend the vaccination dose interval up to four months for the three

Sunday, April 4 Grass fire, Maple St., Short Hills

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Column Six

Growing up British

BY JULIE MANNELL

Special to the VOICE

W

BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3.

NATE SMELLE PHOTO

Public meeting tonight on school issues

BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick.

Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-

Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation.

DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be

“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime.

Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting.

“We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page

HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin.

My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries.

Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town.

This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation.

On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque.

“This tree looks dead,” I said to my father.

“It sure is getting there, Julie.”

The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14

Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation

Vol.20 No.32

BY VOICE STAFF

A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through.

One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through.

“If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire

BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER

Special to the VOICE

A

Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said.

While waiting for the contractor to return to fix

the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-

VOICE PHOTO

bourhood in the short-term.

Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with

the chicane the morning it first opened, the Town See CHICANE Page 5

Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a final report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21.

Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staff met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-

sidered.

The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event.

Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-

ter signage for out-of-town visitors to designated parking areas and shuttle services. To make participation in Summerfest more enticing to local businesses, they plan to implement a tiered-charge for booths. Under the new system, Pelham Street business owners will be charged the least, other local businesses will pay a slightly higher fee, and vendors from outside Pelham will pay the most. In response to more specific issues for individual businesses, they will also slightly alter the footprint of the event and make adjustments to security.

Another way the committee plans

to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the first night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016.

"We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said.

“It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going.

We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses adSee CHANGES Page 5

FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver fish-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box.

Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano.

For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely.

Sundays were different again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint

Wednesday October 12, 2016

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Apple Day comes to Fonthill

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BY VOICE STAFF

The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and well-rounded individuals

ceives them, enabling youth to have experiences that build character, challenge them, and allow them to try new things. The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and wellrounded individuals, better prepared for success. Apple Day helps to achieve that.”

“Any money raised during Apple Day goes towards improving the Scouting program by providing more outdoor adventures for youth, camping equipment, canoes and paddles, training and many other endeavours that the youth want to experience,” says Marie.

Scouts Canada has some 100,000 members across Canada, and carries out programs for boys, girls

Joining their principal, Karen Simpson, at the Sept.

19 Council meeting as part of a delegation from EL Crossley Secondary School, students Abby Loewen and Neenah Williams presented Council with a list of reasons that they should immediately approve the construction of the new sidewalk proposed along Hwy. 20. The asphalt side-

walk/trail is slated to be built between the south side of the road from Timmsdale Crescent to the high school.

Because of the large volume of motor vehicle traffic travelling at high speeds through this area, and because of the necessity for students to tread this path on a daily basis, many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later.

After delivering to Council a petition containing

Many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later the names of 450 students calling for a safer walk to school, Simpson handed the

podium over to Loewen and Williams to plead their case.

Loewen told Council that because there are a lot of students who have work placements and coop placements during the school year, this is the only route for many of them to travel.

As one of the students facing this predicament, Williams said she has had no other option but to walk along the dangerous highway.

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H EATHER AND P ENNY L ANE S ALES R EPRESENTATIVES

BY JOHN SWART

VOICE Correspondent

and youth ages 5-25. This year the 3rd Fonthill Group, which includes Beavers to Ventures (youth ages 5- 25) will be hitting the streets to drum-up support.

Over the weekend, Scouts will be set up in Fonthill outside Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Target Gas station, Fonthill Shopping Plaza and the Pioneer Gas station at the corner of Hwys 20 and 24.

Town Council approves sidewalk to serve E. L. Crossley

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

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Second year Beaver with the 3rd Fonthill Group, Russell Letford offers a fresh apple to shoppers in Pelham during the 2015 Apple Day campaign.

SUPPLIED PHOTO A longtime Canadian tradition, Apple Day began in 1932 in Saint John, New Brunswick, when Scouts handed out 21,000 apples as a way to say thank you to the community. In return for their generosity, many people offered them donations. From then on Scouts have reached out through Apple Day to raise funds for their programs.

Office 905.892.1702

Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn

Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932

While shopping in Fonthill between Friday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in front of local stores with bushels of apples.

As part of the annual Apple Day campaign, Scouting youth of all ages will be trading apples for donations.

The yearly fundraising drive is an important way for young Scouts to connect with the communities they are serving, says Leah Marie of Scouts Canada.

“The Apple Day campaign holds a great tradition of being able to have youth interacting within the communities they live in,” she says. “All of the Apple Day donations stay directly within the group that re-

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BY VOICE STAFF The District School Board of Niagara is requesting that the Town of Pelham cede a portion of Cherry Ridge Park for use as a soccer field to serve the students of the new Wellington Heights Public School, formerly the E. W. Farr Memorial Public School, in Fenwick.

Currently under renovation and expansion, the new school will combine students and staff from the previous school and Pelham Centre, where classes are being held while construction continues.

Two letters, containing virtually identical text but signed by different authorities, were sent last week to nearby residents of the park, as well as to parents of Pelham Centre students.

“The DSBN is currently building onto Wellington Heights Public School on Alsop Drive,” states the letter. “The size of the school's addition means the existing small soccer field will be eliminated.

The Town and the Board have been discussing the possibility of working together to create a field for both the school and the

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“I start work at 2:30 PM and school lets out at 2:15 PM so I can’t take any other route,” Williams explained.

“I have had friends, family, teachers and other community members reach out to me in the past about how this is unsafe and how there should be another alternative for us.”

Looking ahead to winter, when she will need to walk this path three or four times See SIDEWALK Page 2

HERE IS NO BETTER time to cycle than Fall. It matters not whether you’re new to the sport, a seasoned recreational cyclist, racer, touring rider or mountain biker; we all have reason to look forward to autumn.

Summer’s heat has faded, and the streams of sweat that ran from soggy helmets into our eyes are now just slight perspiration. Fitness is peaking from lots of saddle time, making those tough climbs of Spring a breeze in Autumn.

It’s hard to beat the feeling of beginning a crisp, cool Fall ride with a slight shiver, knowing your efforts will soon warm you perfectly.

The hues of Autumn are outstanding.

A Pelham route as simple as following our southern boundary is one that would make most Toronto cyclists jealous, especially when our forests and fields are ablaze with colour.

Begin from Harold Black Park, and zig-zag south along Effingham Rd toward the Welland River.

If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to know south is the direction away from any hills.

If you avoid the morning and evening weekday rush hours caused by those travelling through Pelham between Wainfleet See AUTUMN Page 3

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The Voice

Page 3

A April 14 2021

TOWN COUNCIL NEWS

In townhouse about-face, Haun takes aim at reporting

BY JOHN CHICK Voice Correspondent During Pelham Town Council’s regular meeting on April 6, Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun took issue with the way the Voice had earlier reported her apparent misunderstanding of a proposed development in East Fonthill.

During council’s previous virtual gathering, in late March, Haun led the charge against the design of Mountainview Homes’ proposed townhouse complex on Summersides Boulevard— which, based on modern design principles, would make the development more affordable for fi rst-time buyers, retirees, and lower-income residents.

“Contrary to the local tabloid,” Haun said of the Voice, “to suggest that we were provided information as to the appearance of [the townhouses], we were not.”

Haun’s complaint, however, is groundless.

Pelham Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun.

VOICE FILE

Neither in its March 31 story, nor before, did the Voice report that council had received any such information.

Yet in an ironic twist, it turns out that council was, in fact, provided with the townhouse design

on an earlier occasion. Councillor Wayne Olson kept it handy, knowing that a fi nal vote was on the horizon.

“I had a fi le from the previous time the development came to council,” Olson told the Voice last week, “so I had the rendering in front of me. I knew what I was voting for [on March 22].”

Haun, alongside political allies Ron Kore, Marianne Stewart and Bob Hildebrandt, supported the development at the March 22 meeting, but only after insisting on a design change to eliminate the layout of the townhouses, citing what they maintained was a lack of yard space, among other concerns.

Such a move is unusual by municipal councils, and potentially opened Pelham taxpayers to costly legal challenges from the developer.

Mountainview Homes, for their part, sent a letter to council afterward stressing that the plans

were in line with common townhome designs seen in many urban and suburban settings.

Her design concerns mollified, Haun wasn’t done. She disagreed with the Voice’s viewpoint in a March 31 editorial that she was effectively obstructing affordable housing choices in Pelham, and cited an irrelevant Provincial Policy Statement on affordable rental housing as the basis for her rebuttal.

“I’m overjoyed to know that these are apparently affordable houses, because that is not something that also was addressed in the last meeting. The term ‘affordable housing’ has been thrown around now in the local paper,” Haun said, digging in on semantics.

“I think it’s important to understand that the actual term, ‘affordable housing,’ per the Province of Ontario, is that it’s a unit for which the rent does not exceed 30 percent of the gross

annual household income … I’m going to hazard a guess here that’s not actually the case here.

I think the paper has erroneously projected these to be affordable homes which they are in fact not.”

The Voice, however, being aware that the development was never proposed as either rental units or low-income housing, made no such assertion.

Director of Community Planning and Development Barb Wiens then reminded Haun that the term “affordability” can also be applied to the real estate market.

“These are not rental units,” Wiens said. “There is similarly a similar type of defi nition for affordability for home ownership and it’s tied to the percentage of [income] that you spend [on mortgage payments]. Whether or not these will be affordable See COUNCIL Page 13

The Town of Pelham is home to a state-ofthe-art community centre, housing a pair of NHL-sized rinks, a double gymnasium, a walking track, and more. There’s no doubt that it’s known in the Niagara Region for its recreation and sports presence. every year. stroys thousands of lives deaths in Canada and deleading cause of criminal Impaired driving is still the ment programs like RIDE. offenders through enforceand the apprehension of offences through education reducing impaired driving lice Service is committed to The Niagara Regional Po-

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In an effort to bring further Send us Sue your Lough picture withholding daughter The Tamara, Voice, of whether Fenwick, across with new townCuban or abroad friend

toEarlyON go chargesCentres closing driving planners 83 days instead, sayRESULTS Fenwick and South Pelham NRPS impaired Peace on Earth Existing community facilities toand beAirbnbs used in Pelham At Hoo-Ahh Aerial of theHome Week qr 905.892.7900 THE VOICE POLL: Hotels

However, the Meridian Community Centre (MCC) is so much more than just sports.

It’s a Seniors Active Living Centre. It’s a social and cultural hub. And now, it’s serving perhaps its most important function since opening its doors in 2018; it is one of Niagara’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic sites.

The MCC will remain OPEN as a vaccination clinic as additional clinic dates are added.

Need assistance registering? Contact the Pelham Public Library at: 905-892-6443.

Register online at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or call 1-888-999-6488

Thank you to everyone working to

#StickItToCOVID

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Page 4

The Voice

A April 14 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

OPINION

The opinions expressed in submitted commentary and letters to the editor are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Voice of Pelham.

The Voice of Pelham is a 1211858 Ontario Limited publication David Burket, Publisher 2-1428 Pelham St., P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S1E0

COTÉ'S COMMENTS Larry Coté

A Canadian oligopoly in the making

T

he recent proposal

by Rogers Communications to buy its rival Shaw Communications, if implemented, will be one of the largest takeovers in Canadian business history.

If the $20-plus billion dollar deal goes through, the telecom industry in this country will become an even tighter oligopoly—a state of limited competition, in which a market is shared by a small number of providers.

Known as "The Big Three" in the Canadian telecommunications field, Rogers, Telus and Bell control some 90 percent of the market. This control will increase if the proposed purchase takes place.

According to Canada’s Competition Bureau, because the Big Three hold a stranglehold on this market, Canadians pay higher cellphone bills than consumers almost anywhere else in the world. During the last election campaign, the Trudeau Liberals promised a 25 percent reduction in cellphone bills over their fi rst two years in office. It appears that the

COVID-19 pandemic may have derailed that particular campaign promise. It will likely be resurrected in the next election campaign.

People and businesses in

Rogers, Telus, and Bell control some 90 percent of the market

Canada are paying in some cases nearly twice as much for wireless services than people and fi rms in some other countries. Notably, such higher costs make doing business in Canada a more costly and less competitive venture.

However, this deal is not a fait accompli yet, as it will require the approval of the Canadian Competition Bureau, the Canadian Radio and Television Com-

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The Voice

Z

Z

1428 Pelham Street, P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 Office open: Monday - Thursday 8 AM - 2 PM

(905) 892-8690

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTORS Jane Bedard, Carolyn Botari, Colin Brezicki, Rosemary Chambers, John Chick, Larry Coté, Brian Green, Miriam Han, Megan Metler, Bill Potrecz, Bernie Puchalski, Don Rickers, John Swart, Helen Tran, Mike Tucker, Rob Weatherby. Proof Sleuth: Julian Fitch NEWS INQUIRIES & TIPS editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca

mission, and the Innovation, Science and Industry department of the federal government. If past experience is any indicator, getting the approval from any one of these, let alone all three, will take many months of negotiations.

Some business experts predict that time frame will likely go well beyond the next federal election.

On the surface, it would appear that the deal will not go through, as such a merger confl icts with the avowed purpose of all three of those entities.

Their professed purpose is to protect the interests of Canadian consumers from any unsavory practices by industry and commerce.

Should any of these three entities approve of such a gigantic merger, the approval would likely involve a number of conditions that would purportedly protect Canadian consumers. Limits such as reducing Rogers’ abilities to raise prices for their services over the next while, or not allowing them to close down some of their smaller subsid-

Letters Pelham Cares thanks Hoppin' Easter Hunters for gift Pelham Cares would like to thank all those who participated in the Town of Pelham’s recent Easter weekend scavenger hunt game. One of the missions that was included in the online hunt was for participants to nominate a community group to receive an advertising credit, donated by the Voice.

Pelham Cares is the proud beneficiary of this challenge—in the amount of a $400 credit!

We wish to thank all of the participants that voted for us. We also want to thank all those pictures and videos that came in as you kindly donated at one of our donation bins within Pelham! The Town of Pelham has been incredibly supportive of Pelham Cares and we thank all their staff for their continued support.

Jennifer Dubé Coordinator, Client Services Pelham Cares

See OLIGOPOLY page 6

7

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West

Dean Allison, MP 4994 King Street Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 Dean.Allison@parl.gc.ca 877-563-7900 Member of Provincial Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West

Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755 Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2987 Councillor Diana Huson diana.huson@niagararegion.ca 905-324-3094 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607

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Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore rkore@pelham.ca 905-933-3805 Councillor John Wink jwink@pelham.ca 905-892-4475 Ward 3 Councillor Lisa Haun lhaun@pelham.ca 905-892-5877 Councillor Bob Hildebrandt bhildebrandt@pelham.ca 905-892-5647

Jill C. Anthony Law Office

Have an Opinion?

BARRISTER, SOLICITOR & NOTARY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are welcome. Letter submissions should contain the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. Names only will be published. Names may be withheld if compelling reasons are provided. The newspaper reserves the right to change, condense or reject any contribution for brevity, clarity or legal considerations. All material in this publication is protected by copyright. Reproduction is prohibited without express, written permission of the publisher. ADVERTISING: The Voice of Pelham regrets any errors or omissions that appear in advertisements in this newspaper, however, we will not be held responsible for more than one absent or incorrect insertion or for any damages beyond the cost of space containing the error. The Voice is an independent, locally owned and operated publication.

The Voice is a member of the National NewsMedia Council, a voluntary self-regulatory organization that deals with journalistic practices and ethics. If you have an unresolved complaint about news stories, opinion columns or photos, please visit their web site at mediacouncil.ca or call 1-844-877-1163. If you have a complaint about delivery or membership problems, please contact our office at (905) 892-8690. For a summary of Voice ethical guidelines, see www. thevoiceofpelham.ca/ethics

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The Voice

Page 5

A April 14 2021

OPINION DSBN REPORT Nancy Beamer, Trustee

PELHAM AND COVID-19 Mayor Marvin Junkin

Decision to close schools in provincial, not local, hands

C

OVID— after a long 13 months, it is still the main topic of conversation.

It has impacted all of our lives and it appears that with the safety measures most of us observe and with the mass vaccinations on the horizon, that maybe, just maybe, there is hope we are getting closer to the end. Even though that hope has been dimmed with the rise in the number of cases and hospitalizations in the last few days, we must persevere.

One group that has been greatly affected by all this is our students. Schools being closed, then opened, then closed again, not getting together with family and friends, no sports or birthday parties, extra safety measures in classrooms and in public areas, all have taken a toll on the mental and physical wellbeing of our children.

But students are resilient and most of them have adapted to this fluid situation caused by the pandemic. While some students have totally embraced online learning, most students are happy to be in their actual classrooms. Staff, teachers and trustees believe that the best place for students is learning, in person, with their peers and classroom teachers. We have adopted many measures to make this happen and to keep students safe in the school environment.

On the whole, this seems to be working. Although we had one major outbreak at Quaker Road School, most schools within the DSBN are experiencing no or a minimal number of cases. The DSBN COVID web page is updated at 4:30 PM daily for anyone wanting to check the numbers.

Our Director of Education, Warren Hoshizaki, is in constant contact with Dr. Mustafa Hirji from Niagara Public Health. This collaboration has resulted in as many as 4500 DSBN staff, teachers, EAs, custodians, et al., being prioritized for vaccinations.

Also, our special needs and kindergarten teachers, due to their close contact with students, were offered vaccinations several weeks ago. This means that another layer of

safety and protection is there for students, staff, and their families. We are grateful to NRPH and Niagara Health for recognizing the important role that these staff have in the community.

People have been asking — why doesn’t the DSBN just close the schools and revert entirely to online learning. The simple answer is that we do not have that aut h or it y.

The closing of schools is decided by the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the public health departments and we must follow their directives.

At our schools, the students have been actively involved in many activities.

Off the Wall Art Show: Grades 9-12 students from across the DSBN organized this year's Off the Wall Art Show online and have done an outstanding job in showing the community their hard work and talented artwork. On Tuesday, March 30, members of the DSBN community joined our secondary students for the Microsoft Teams Launch event followed by the Virtual Art Show Opening. The exhibition features some 150 unique pieces of artwork ranging from paintings to pictures, drawings, sculptures, and much more! The link for the Art Show is available on the DSBN website.

Celebration of Music—K-12 Virtual Ensemble project: Anyone who uses social media has seen choirs, etc., perform their

Most schools within the DSBN are experiencing no or a minimal number of cases

See DSBN next page

Alarming case rise sees ICU capacity 88 percent filled

S

ome 100,000 Niagara residents are now vaccinated against COVID-19.

This represents 19 percent of Niagara residents having received a first dose, while 1.9 percent have received a complete series, so are fully vaccinated.

The vaccination clinic held this past Thursday at the community centre operated without a hitch, with some 900 doses having been administered. Residents that I talked to were very impressed with the quickness that they were in and out of the building.

Health officials were so impressed with the site that at least two future dates have been booked, and will be announced shortly. All vaccination clinics within the Region are now completely booked for the next two weeks. It is great to see Niagara residents accepting the vaccines so willingly, with other areas of the province having a hard time fi lling all of their appointments.

On Monday, Niagara Public Health reminded residents in the "strongest possible terms" to continue observing the current stay-at-home order, noting that there were 1062 confirmed COVID cases in the Region, ICUs were 88 percent filled, and that the health system did not have "unlimited capacity" to provide critical care.

It’s been very disheartening to see the region’s new daily case count consistently over the 100 mark for the last several days. I find it hard to believe that Niagara residents are travelling around that much more now than we were,

All vaccination clinics within the Region are now completely booked for the next two weeks

say, three weeks ago, so I think it is safe to say that these large daily increases are due to the more infectious variants, demonstrating how they are so much more easily spread.

As of Monday there were 43 active cases in Pelham, which left us with the third -highest rate of infection among all municipalities in the Region.

One big change from the province’s science advisors has been the recommendation since February that vaccinations should be targeted into the most affected areas of the province. Last week the government an-

nounce that in Ontario’s hardest hit neighbourhoods anyone 18 and up may get vaccinated. These are the neighbourhoods where the hospital ICUs are getting alarmingly close to capacity, and doctors are predicting that they may soon have to make the impossible decision as to who gets a ventilator and who doesn’t, due to the continued influx of patients. I personally agree with this decision, at the same time hoping that we here in Niagara continue to make progress with vaccinations as well.

T

his week has been designated as pitch-in week within the Town.

Residents wanting to host a clean-up event on Town property can choose a site such as a park, trail, street or parking lot, to clean up.

The Town will provide such things as gloves, recycling bags, and specially marked garbage bags.

For more information and to register please visit: pelham.ca/ cleanup or call the community centre. If you don’t want to be quite so formal you could just simply take a garbage bag with you when doing your daily steps and pick up what you find. Until next time... ◆

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Page 6

The Voice

A April 14 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Letters continued DSBN

continued from previous page work even though they are in separate places—the wonders of technology! And now our students and teachers across the system have been invited to learn the DSBN’s very own Music Monday Song, The Music Lives Within Me. Individual student recordings can be submitted for inclusion in the K-12 Virtual Ensemble Project, which will be shared on the DSBN website on Monday, May 3 (Music Monday). Families can share in the celebration of music by viewing the final video on May 3!

PIC Speaker Series: The Parent Involvement Committee has hosted a successful Virtual Speaker Series that has provided meaningful opportunities for parents during this challenging time.

Some of the topics have included, Parenting in a Pandemic, and Screen Time and Your Teenager—How much is Too much? There are still a few more speakers in this series. As dates and times are confirmed, they will be put on the DSBN website or on my Facebook page. Well worth the time to listen.

Building: Funding has been approved for and things are moving forward on renovations to Park School in Grimsby and Peace Bridge School in Fort Erie, as

OLIGOPOLY

continued from Page 4 iaries servicing rural and remote communities.

One of the reasons the telecom industry in Canada has a limited number of competitors is that federal government policy does not allow foreign-owned telecom companies to enter the Canadian

well as for the build of the new school in Wainfleet.

The new West Niagara Secondary School building is on schedule with plans to open on schedule in September 2022. Although a new theatre was not included in the funding, the DSBN and the community felt that it would be a beneficial addition for both the students and the community at large. As such, the money for this theatre must come from fundraising. West Niagara kicked off its fi rst fundraiser on Saturday, March 20. The Virtual Concert and Fundraiser was supported by a number of local restaurants and the event was hosted by Lori Love, from radio 105.7.

The lineup included several Canadian national and local musicians and entertainers, including Steven Page, Moe Berg, Odds, and raised $9800. Many other local organizations and businesses have also generously donated to this project.

S

omeday this pandemic will be over, but until then be assured that whether online or in class, student learning will continue. The more we do our part to follow Public Health guidelines, the higher the chances are that we will continue to keep the doors of our schools open and our students safe and happy. ◆

market. One of the reasons for this ban is that telecommunications is a crucial factor in a country’s security and independence.

There are a few points that may enhance the prospects for the approval of this merger. First among these is that the development and installation of the 5G network system in this country will involve investments in the

Community centre vaccination clinic well organized Yesterday, I was at the MCC twice.

I took my neighbour Lenora in the morning for her vaccination appointment. She has mobility issues (she will be 90 in May). I pulled up to drop her off. As I was helping her out of the car, getting her walker out of the trunk, etc., there was immediate response from the volunteers. They came with a wheelchair and looked after her by taking her in through the screening and then into the gym for her shot. I went and

parked the car. I came back, went through screening, and when I got to the gym, she was just getting her shot. We sat together for the 15 minutes required. During that time, someone came by every five minutes or so to make sure she was okay. I wheeled her outside and then went to get the car.

We were helped again and she was just fine.

We both agreed that the whole process was very well organized, efficient and everyone was wonderful.

My appointment was for 4:55.

I arrived at 4:45 and walked through the screening process, into the gym and got my shot at 4:55. I waited for the 15 minutes and was out at 5:12! As before, the process was so well organized and everyone was great!

Now we both proudly wear our “Stick it to Covid” badge.

I know that some people have had difficulty getting an appointment but with patience it will happen.

Vilma Moretti Fonthill

Pelham council's townhouse vote inexplicable As I read the recent article on the Gang on Four's objections to the proposed Park Place South development application, I couldn't help but give my head a shake [Council opts to kill townhouse design, March 31, p.8].

The Park Place South development was perfectly acceptable from a planning perspective, specifically as part of the number of units per acre allowed by the Town zoning and the official plan, and to boot, provincial planning.

order of mega-millions. The ability to underwrite such costs will require business organizations with access to such resources.

Another matter that might influence a positive response to the merger is the number of jobs that could be created by the installation of the 5G network and expanding high-speed services to under- serviced areas of the

Public Notice of Pesticide Use for Gypsy Moth Control

The Park Place South development met all of the required zoning and planning policies.

This proposed development was an opportunity to meet demand for smaller homes that are priced lower than the current stock of housing in the market. Not only was the Gang of Four's objection to the Park Place South neighbourhood an impediment to de-

country. Due to the high unemployment levels created by the pandemic, any proposal that would quickly help reduce this number would be looked upon with great favour.

If this merger is allowed to proceed, then Canadian consumers will almost certainly continue to pay more for their wireless services than people and fi rms in

See TOWNHOMES Page 14

most countries around the globe.

However, if people were to let their government representatives know of their disdain for that continuing disparity, they might see their telecommunications expenses more in line with their counterparts in other countries.

It might be wise for all Canadian citizens to keep an acute ear and a sharp eye on this transaction. ◆

Gypsy Moth Home Control Methods

The Town of Pelham is conducting an aerial spray program to control European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) along the following municipal roadsides/parks, Town owned properties, and private owned properties:

Scrape off egg masses with a dull knife and place them in soapy water for a few days before discarding them in the garbage. If they fall to the ground crush them with your shoe.

Area 1: Pelham Street North at Overholt Road Area Area 2: Haist Street at Brewerton Boulevard Area Area 3: Hillcrest Park Area, Pancake Lane, Berkwood Place Area Area 4: Oak Lane, Bigelow Crescent, Crosshill Road, Millbridge Crescent Area Area 5: Stella Street at John Street Area Area 6: Cherry Ridge Blvd, Memorial Drive, Maple Street Area Area 7: Memorial Drive Cream Street, Canboro Road Area Area 8: Maple Street, Sandra Drive Area Area 9: Canboro Road (Maple Street to Sunset Drive) Area Area 10: Chruch Street (Canboro Road to Centennial Park) Area Area 11: Foss Road, Balfour, Welland Road Area All areas are within the Town of Pelham.

Late April to Late May Place sticky barriers, or bands on the tree trunk. Wrap duct tape around the tree trunk and apply a thin coat of sticky material (commercially available at most garden centres) to the duct tape.

Alternatively you may use a double band of duct tape, the outer band with the sticky side out. This band will prevent smaller caterpillars from climbing the tree.

The aerial spray program carried out by helicopter will be applying the biological pesticide Foray 48B Biological Insecticide Aqueous Suspension, active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis v. kurstaki (Btk), Registration No. 24977 under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada). Applications will occur early mornings before 8 a.m. Two applications will occur approximately 7 days apart.

Mid-May to Early June Spray with bacterial insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki (Btk). The primary objective is to protect vulnerable trees from moderate to severe defoliation. Reducing the nuisance factor caused by the presence of gypsy moth is an additional benefit of this treatment Consider having your trees sprayed with Btk by a licensed pesticide applicator if: • There are a high number of egg masses that cannot be removed mechanically from the trees.

• Large numbers of egg masses are on susceptible tree species, primarily on oaks, birches, beeches and spruces.

• If damage that is caused by gypsy moth feeding is severe for at least one or two previous years, another severe defoliation event may cause the decline or death of the host tree.

Proposed earliest commencement date of May 15, 2021, weather permitting, and ending June 15, 2021.

For further information, including aerial spray dates, please contact: Christine Tonon, Public Works • Town of Pelham 905-892-2607 x332 Collect calls will be accepted

www.pelham.ca/gypsy-moth

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

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TERRAIN FINANCE &: Offer available to qualified retail customers in Ontario on select vehicles purchased and delivered from April 1, to April 30, 2021. 0% purchase financing (0% APR) offered on approved credit by TD Auto Finance Services, Scotiabank® or RBC Royal Bank for 84 months on eligible 2021 Terrain SLE Elevation All-Wheel Drive models; includes Enterprise Credit of $500 (Tax Inclusive). $500 Enterprise Credit not compatible with Costco Member offer. Participating lenders are subject to change. Rates from other lenders may vary. Down payment, trade and/or security deposit may be required. Monthly payment and cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed and down payment/trade. Example: $36,200 financed at 0% nominal rate (0% APR) equals $414 monthly for 84 months with $1,500 down payment. $1,500 down payment required. Cost of borrowing is $0, for a total obligation of $36,200. Freight ($1,900) and air conditioning charge ($100, if applicable) included. License, insurance, registration, PPSA, applicable taxes and, dealer fees not included (all of which may vary by dealer and region). Dealers are free to set individual prices. Limited time offer which may not be combined with certain other offers. Factory order may be required. General Motors of Canada Company (GM Canada) may modify, extend or terminate offers for any reason, in whole or in part, at any time, without notice. Conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details. These offers may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. Conditions and limitations apply. Void where prohibited. Chargeable paint costs may vary depending on the vehicle/colour. See Dealer for full program details. ®Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. TD Auto Finance is a registered trademark of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ACADIA LEASE ¥: Offer available to qualified retail customers in Ontario for vehicles leased and delivered between April 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021. Lease based on suggested retail price of $43,892, towards the lease of an eligible 2021 Acadia SLE Elevation All-Wheel Drive model; includes Enterprise Credit of $500 (Tax Inclusive), $250 Dealer-To-Consumer Credit (Tax Exclusive). $500 Enterprise Credit not compatible with Costco Member offer. Bi-weekly payment is $223 for 48 months at 2.9% lease rate (2.9% APR) on approved credit to qualified retail customers by GM Financial. The $111 weekly payment is calculated by dividing the bi-weekly payments. Payments cannot be made on a weekly basis. Equivalent weekly payments are for informational purposes only. Annual kilometer limit of 20,000 km, $0.16 per excess kilometer. $2,000 down payment required. Payment may vary depending on down payment trade. Cost of borrowing is $3,672 for a total obligation of $25,076. Taxes, license, insurance, registration and applicable fees, levies, duties and, dealer fees (all of which may vary by dealer and region) are extra. Option to purchase at lease end is $22,046. Chargeable paint costs may vary depending on the vehicle/colour. See dealer for details. Credits vary by model. Dealer may sell for less. Factory order may be required.

Limited time offer which may not be combined with certain other offers. General Motors of Canada Company may modify, extend or terminate offers in whole or in part at any time without notice. Conditions and limitations apply. Offers may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. See dealer for details. Ω Whichever comes first. Limit of four complimentary Lube-OilFilter services in total.

Fluid top-offs, inspections, tire rotations, wheel alignments and balancing, etc., are not covered. See the Warranty Booklet or your dealer for details. ∞ Whichever comes first. See your dealer. Δ Visit onstar.ca for vehicle availability, coverage maps, details and system limitations. Services and connectivity vary by model and conditions as well as geographical and technical restrictions. 4G LTE service available in select markets. Requires active connected vehicle services and a data plan to access the vehicle’s built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Accessory Power must be active to use the Wi-Fi hotspot. Data plans provided by AT&T or its local service provider. Credit card is required for purchase.

Page 8

The Voice

A April 14 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

2021 Ontario Budget

Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy

PROTECTING PEOPLE’S HEALTH

PROTECTING OUR ECONOMY

HIGHLIGHTS OF ONTARIO’S PLAN TO DEFEAT COVID-19:

HIGHLIGHTS OF ONTARIO’S PLAN TO SUPPORT WORKERS AND FAMILIES:

• Ontario has made more than $1 billion available for the province’s vaccination rollout plan. The province is also making it safer to re-engage with workplaces, businesses and communities with $2.3 billion for testing and contact tracing.

• To help workers, the province is proposing a new Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit for 2021. It would provide up to $2,000 per recipient for 50 percent of eligible training expenses, for a total of an estimated $260 million in support to about 230,000 people in 2021.

• To ensure every person who requires care in a hospital can access a bed, Ontario is investing an additional $5.1 billion to support hospitals since the pandemic began, creating more than 3,100 additional hospital beds.

• To help parents, the province is providing a third round of payments to support parents through the Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit, totalling $1.8 billion since last March. The payment will be doubled to $400 per child and $500 for each child with special needs. The province is also supporting parents with a proposed 20 percent enhancement of the CARE tax credit for 2021.

• Local budget measures include funding for the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Redevelopment, which is expected to start construction in 2021-22, and New South Niagara Hospital, which will begin procurement in 2021-22.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ONTARIO’S PLAN TO FIX LONG-TERM CARE: • Ontario is investing an additional $933 million over four years, for a total of $2.6 billion, to support building 30,000 new long-term care beds.

• Local budget measures include the creation of new and upgraded long-term care beds through projects including Royal Rose Place, which will build 64 new beds in Welland, as well as previously announced projects, including Shalom Manor in Grimsby.

• To ensure loved ones receive the best quality care in Canada, Ontario is investing $4.9 billion over four years to increase the average direct daily care to four hours a day in long-term care and hiring more than 27,000 new positions, including personal support workers (PSWs) and nurses.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ONTARIO’S PLAN TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH: • To help the thousands of people struggling with mental health and addictions issues, Ontario is providing additional funding of $175 million in 2021–22 as part of a historic investment of $3.8 billion over 10 years, to provide more and better care for everyone who needs it.

• To help seniors, Ontario is introducing the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit for 2021. This new credit will provide an estimated $30 million in support for about 27,000 seniors and people who live with senior relatives.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ONTARIO’S PLAN TO SUPPORT JOBS: • To help small businesses most affected by the challenges of COVID-19, the province is providing a second round of Ontario Small Business Support Grant payments.

Approximately 120,000 small businesses will automatically benefit from an additional $1.7 billion in relief through this second round of support through grants between $10,000 and $20,000 – bringing the estimated total support through this grant to $3.4 billion.

• To support Ontario’s tourism, hospitality and culture industries, the province is investing an additional $400 million over the next three years in new initiatives to support these sectors. This builds on previously announced investments of $225 million, bringing the total to more than $625 million since the pandemic began.

• To connect homes, businesses and communities to essential broadband, Ontario is investing $2.8 billion, bringing the province’s total investment to nearly $4 billion over six years beginning 2019–20.

SAM OOSTERHOFF MPP - Niagara West

4961 King St. E, Unit M1 • Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 T: 905-563-1755 • TF: 1-800-665-3697 • Email: sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org

“I hope this helps illustrate the facts about the changes the government is making. As always, you are encouraged to contact my office for any assistance you may require.”

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

Hoppin' Easter Hunt an eggstreme success

Letters continued

BY MEGAN METLER Voice Correspondent

Purpose and promise This week is National Volunteer Week in Canada. My purpose in writing is to engage in a once and future conversation about our volunteers. Of course, I want to say thank you to all of our many volunteers and I want address the future of volunteering, and I want to invite our many new friends and neighbours to join our great service clubs and volunteer organizations.

The current situation has affected everybody in ways that we cannot now predict.

It’s been a lot to deal with.

Our volunteers have not been able to work together because of COVID-19 distancing restrictions. I can tell you one thing about volunteers: volunteers like other volunteers so this makes it a bit harder for everybody.

In so many ways, volunteering is a practice from the future. We could chose to live in the present “reality” of shortage and isolation unless we intentionally generate expanded possibilities for ourselves. What would it be like if hunger was eradicated? What if we could make sure that everybody has access to the transportation they need? What if nobody had to unwillingly bear the burden of loneliness and isolation?

These are only a few of the possibilities that drive volunteers to generate a better future for our community.

Page 9

A April 14 2021

Here is one of my favourite quotations on the motivational value of possibility.

“If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of what might be, for the eye, which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never.

And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating as possibility.” (Soren Kierkegaard) For our newcomers and those who might be considering volunteering, let me tell you something about our volunteer organizations and service clubs and why they might be attractive to you.

The single greatest skill of our volunteers is enrollment. It is really a way of being for all of our organizations. When an organization is enrolling, people will follow naturally, want to participate, and will take the ball and run with it. People describe our organizations as welcoming and inviting.

This is a big deal.

Enrollment occurs when others are inspired to see new possibilities and make a commitment, and when you are passionately committed to a future possibility and just as passionately committed to the possibilities for the rest of the volunteers and the rest of the commuSee PURPOSE Page 14

To celebrate Easter over the long weekend, Pelham families took part in the Hoppin’ Easter Hunt, running from Friday, April 2 to Monday, April 5 through a smartphone app. Over the four days, there were 55 active teams participating and over 2350 “mission” submissions—tasks or challenges— were submitted by them.

Leah Letford, Special Events and Festivals Programmer for the Town of Pelham shared the list of winners with the Voice. In first place came the Williams family, and there was a threeway tie for second between the DizonDudes, the Egg Seekers and the Hall Family. Additionally, nine runner-up prizes were awarded due to the contribution of the hunt’s sponsor, Policella Homes.

Eighty-four missions were released in total. Some were trivia-based while others were tasks or challenges that required photos or videos to be submitted as proof of completion. Letford’s personal favourites were the ones where she was able to see the fun that the families were experiencing, such as an egg toss (some teams used real eggs), a duck walk, magic tricks, and the bunny burrow challenge, in which teams had to build a blanket fort. Letford also saw a lot of creativity from the community in the form of missions submitted by local businesses that had sponsored specific prizes.

“The At Home Spa [mission] had lots of teams getting pampered, complete with manicures and cucumber slices on their eyes as part of the challenge for Allure Spa and Wellness,” said Letford, “The With my Peeps [challenge] that was done by Everyday Market had families creating and crafting their own at-home chicks, and the Big Crunch

Clockwise, from top left: the Easter Bunny at Pelham Town Hall; Beckett Academy’s team reading up on a challenge; a member of the Williams Family holding up a mission-critical copy of Captain Underpants; and the Valliere Gals displaying their Easter creation.

SUPPLIED mission had apples from DeVries being bitten into to make a crunching video.”

The hunt not only had challenges for families to complete at home, but many missions that involved visiting places around Pelham (socially distanced), like parks and trails, to do activities specific to the unique sites.

Letford added that the Easter Bunny joined in on the fun and submitted

Bunny selfies as clues to locations from around Pelham for the event. Additionally, she enjoyed seeing the smiles that showed up in the photos and videos submitted over the weekend.

“With so many of our traditional events being impacted this past year, it was wonderful to see that fami-

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The Voice

A April 14 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

His best and worst days, 24 hours apart

BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI bpsportsniagara.com For the past two school years, Mavryck Gatt and his two buddies, Julian and Luca Race, have made the trek across the river to St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute to attend the Buffalo school and play prep field lacrosse.

The journey normally starts with the Race brothers picking up Gatt at his Chippawa home and then driving down Sodom Road towards the border.

Two Tuesdays ago, Gatt was still on a high from committing the previous day to attend NCAA Division 2 Lander University on a field lacrosse scholarship, and was looking forward to the start of the St. Joe’s season in less than three weeks.

As the teens travelled down Sodom Road, arguably the best day of Mavryck’s life was soon to be followed by the worst.

“We were driving down Sodom Road just like every other day for the past two years and she was up ahead on the left,” Gatt said.

“I thought she had time to go and all of a sudden she pulled out ahead of us at the last second and we didn’t know where to go. We were going the [speed] limit and we had nowhere to go. We hit her super hard and then we drove into the ditch. I think we snapped the stop sign too.”

Sitting in the back seat on the passenger side, the first concern for Gatt was the condition of the Race brothers in the front seats.

“I thought that they were not

Far left, the totalled car that Gatt was riding in. Left, recovering in hospital.

SUPPLIED

going to be all right,” the 17-yearold said. “I was shocked when they turned around and asked me if I was okay. I was stunned.”

Gatt had the wind knocked out of him and thought there was nothing else wrong until Luca opened the door and helped him out of the vehicle.

“I climbed out of the ditch and as soon as I stood up, I knew my back was definitely messed up. I tried to lift my bag up and nothing was going right. I took a seat on the road and told Luca to call my dad.”

His dad, Nathan Gatt, received that call at 7:15 AM and was at the accident scene ten minutes later.

“When I got there, I was surprised that anyone was still alive,” Nathan said. “Both cars were destroyed and it’s the worst sight you ever want to see as a parent. Mavryck was lying on the ground and he was in pain.”

An ambulance transported the teen to Greater Niagara General Hospital and diagnostic imaging revealed the extent of his injury.

“They told us that they were going to have to get him to Hamilton right away because there was a bone fragment in his spinal canal that was one millimetre away from him being a paraplegic,” Nathan said.

Mavryck was transported to the paediatric ward of the St. Catharines hospital for four hours and then moved to Hamilton General Hospital, where surgery was performed the following day.

“The neuro team was unbelievable and they are so awe-

some,” Nathan said. “Wednesday at 11 AM he went in for surgery and six hours later he was back in his room. By Thursday, he was already strong enough to pass physio tests.”

The surgery involved placing three inches of metal on both sides of his L1 and L3 vertebrae.

“He is a young guy so it was a high risk and high reward,” Nathan said. “If he was my age, they would have put a six-inch rod in and he would never play sports again. The way they fused everything together, it will be stronger than the rest of his spine.

“It is a long road of recovery but everything went well. In six to 12 months, he will be 100 percent recovered with full range of motion like nothing ever happened.”

After the accident and waiting for surgery, Mavryck was scared and worried, wondering if he would ever play sports or even walk again.

Mavryck has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from the lacrosse and tennis world. His father has a background in tennis and Mavryck was a former top-ranked player at the under-10 and under-12 levels.

“I am going to get emotional again,” he said. “I don’t even know how I would be able to even

manage anything mentally without it. It means a lot and it is huge.

The biggest thing is being mentally strong through this and the support is helping me so, so much.

His recovery, so far, has been nothing short of remarkable.

“When they told me I wouldn’t be able to do anything for six months to a year I thought, ‘dang.’

That is really a bummer but that’s not too long. Time flies. This COVID thing has already been over a year and that is crazy.”

Four days after the accident, Mavryck was watching his little brother, Joaquin, play lacrosse in the backyard. Outfitted with a back brace he must wear for the next 12 weeks, Mavryck grabbed his stick and joined in.

“We played some catch and it just felt so natural. Playing lax helps a lot and it feels good playing and being up instead of lying in bed,” he said, adding he was shocked that he was able to be ac-

tive so soon after the surgery.

“I was blown away I could do it.

I couldn’t believe it. I can still do everything and it’s like nothing has really changed. My hands and everything feel the same. When I was in the hospital, I thought I was going to have to start over with everything. It is super nice to know that I still have those skills.”

He hopes those skills will be on display at Lander as soon as possible. The school is located in Greenwood, S.C., and the field lacrosse team plays in the Peach Belt Conference.

Mavryck had offers from other schools in the south, but Lander was his destination of choice.

“They already have a lot of Canadians and that is something that is attractive to me. Obviously it’s a beautiful area and a beautiful campus and they are super fresh and young. This is only their third season of playing in NCAA Division 2 and they are already performing well against very good schools in a tough division. I am ready to come in and help the program a lot.”

He is planning to study sports administration and business and can’t wait to play.

“I am looking to forward to seeing if I can really excel,” he said. “I know I am doing things to the best of my abilities right now but I haven’t played a season in almost two years now. Whenever I am able to play, I really want to showcase myself and who I am. I am looking forward to making a statement.”

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The Voice

Page 11

A April 14 2021

Pelham Art Festival goes virtual New delay in Bond traffic accident trial

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent

The Cultural vibrancy of Pelham will be on display and online in May. Recognized as one of the premiere events in Ontario for hosting nationally and internationally acclaimed Canadian artists, the Pelham Arts Festival will run from May 1 to May 15, 2021. Participating artists will be profiled along with their work in a new online format, and the public will be able to purchase original pieces directly from their creators.

Artists who registered for the 2020 festival, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, are present on the festival’s current website, and many of them are returning for 2021, said festival chair Heidi TeBrake. She expects between 50 and 80 artists to be involved, and each will have their own interactive page on the revised website.

Although the organizers were saddened to cancel the in-person show due to pandemic restrictions, they have extended the online version to two weeks (May 1 to 15), rather than exclusively the Mother’s Day weekend as in the past.

Annual attendance at recent festivals has been significant, with some 2000 visitors drawn to the Meridian Community Centre for the 2019 show, in addition to artists and volunteers.

“The event has been very well-attended by local people, and also those from outside of the Niagara region, said TeBrake. “We received comments that festival visitors were quite impressed by the town, and enjoyed dining at local restaurants.”

Artists and artisans continue to support the fundraising efforts of the Pelham Art Festival Committee by donating 15 percent of every artwork sale.

Since its inception, the festival has reaped $440,000.

“The majority of money raised has gone to the Pelham Library system,” said Te-

The court case of Michael Bond, a former Pelham resident who was behind the wheel when he allegedly struck and killed a 66- yearold Ridgeville woman walking along Effingham Street on November 30, 2019, has been delayed until June 8.

Bond, 54, is charged under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act with careless driving causing death, driving while under suspension, driving with no valid vehicle license, and operating an unsafe vehicle. He was to have appeared in a teleconferenced court session on Tuesday, February 23, but was ab-

sent from the proceedings. A bench warrant was issued at that time, in order to compel Bond to appear.

Toronto-based lawyer Lawrence Ben-Eliezer is representing Bond, and addressed the presiding judge, His Honour Ron Whalen, last Wednesday via Zoom meeting from the Welland Provincial Court of Justice.

Ben-Eliezer told the court that Bond’s legal aid request had finally been approved, but that thereafter Bond had effectively disappeared, and is apparently homeless at this stage, living in shelters in Niagara. Ben-Eliezer has made contact with Bond in the interim. He said that he

is currently reviewing disclosure documents, and is having experts prepare an accident reconstruction report. Ben Eliezer sought an adjournment for some six weeks.

Assistant Crown Attorney Andrew Brown and Judge Whalen discussed the possibility of a pre-trial meeting, but the court clerk advised that the docket was full, and the likelihood is that the next meeting won’t be until June.

JudgeWhalen slated the next court appearance for Bond, likely by Zoom, for June 8 at 1:30 PM, in the Welland Provincial Court of Justice, courtroom 103.

Wainfleet expands water testing program

BY VOICE STAFF

Raised in Pelham and now residing in Niagara on the Lake, Jennifer Emily Atelier will be displaying her artwork at the online 2021 Pelham Arts Festival.

SUPPLIED Brake. “That's how it started 35 years ago, and then we introduced scholarships for graduating students at E.L. Crossley, Notre Dame, and Niagara College who are pursuing studies in the fine arts.”

Fine Arts on visual display will include not just paintings, but ceramics, glassworks, jewelry, and sculpture.

Details are available by contacting TeBrake at 905-328-8177, or at the festival’s website, pelhamartfestival.com

Store is Open

Starting in mid March, Wainfleet residents began taking part in the Township’s expanded water testing program, which allows both pick-up and drop- off of water samples for testing within the Township.

“There has been a lot of excitement and public interest in this kind of service,” said Mayor Kevin Gibson in a Township statement, about the long-awaited program. “In a small rural setting with no municipal water services, the ability to test water quality is essential.”

With water testing in the Niagara Region being shut down for over a year due to the pandemic, the statement said that Gibson recognized the need for a reliable way to monitor and assess water safety. In his role on Regional Council and on the Public Health and Social Services Committee, Gib-

son advocated for reactivating the existing “pick-up only” program and expanding it to allow sample drop-offs in the Township.

The testing program is the first of its kind in Wainfleet, said the Township. In the past, residents could pick up bottles but had to either drop off at locations outside Wainfleet or engage with a private lab at their own expense.

The Township said that the process is a safe and simple touchless approach, where bottles can be picked up in the front vestibule just inside the front doors at Town Hall and full samples dropped off to the same place. Empty sample bottles can be picked up or dropped off at any time that Town Hall is open. Bottles containing sample water can be returned during normal office hours Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, and no later than 9:00 AM on Friday.

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Page 12

The Voice

A April 14 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Pelham Cares thanks volunteers

BY DON RICKERS Voice Correspondent

BOZZATO BOWS OUT April 6 was the last council meeting for Pelham Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato, who is retiring after over 40 years of service to Pelham and the Niagara Region. “Since 2010, Nancy has been guiding our council meetings with professionalism, grace, and deep-rooted knowledge of the Municipal Act,” Mayor Marvin Junkin told council, and viewers via Zoom broadcast on YouTube. “Without fail, Nancy has had answers to our questions. Whether procedural or for information, council has always been the recipient of a thoughtful and correct response. Nancy, on behalf of Pelham town council, past and present, I would like to thank you for your dedication, hard work, honesty, ethics, and professionalism as you faithfully and dutifully served as Town Clerk.” “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this community,” responded Bozzato. Mayor Marvin Junkin and Pelham CAO David Cribbs stand behind Bozzato seated at her position in council chambers, flanked by her successor, Holly Willford. DON RICKERS

truepolitics.ca WINDOWS AND DOORS THAT SAVE YOU MONEY

AMAZING WINDOWS

National Volunteer Week runs April 18-24, with its 2021 theme being “The Value of One, The Power of Many,” which reflects the acts of kindness by millions of dedicated individuals working together towards a common purpose.

Jennifer Dubé, Coordinator of Client Services at Pelham Cares, noted that the past year has presented communities with emergency lockdowns, job losses, business and service closures, and online learning stressors for students and families.

She said that the contributions of Pelham Cares volunteers have been invaluable throughout the pandemic, with some 40 volunteers contributed close to 4,000 hours of service, including 17,000 kilometres driven to transport seniors and those in need to medical appointments. Their annual food drive involved 300 volunteers in shifts over five weeks.

“It is so hard to highlight just one volunteer, since we have dozens that have dedicated their time through the entire pandemic,” said Dubé. But one who certainly deserves recognition is Jane Gilmour.

Since 2006, Gilmour has been the Pelham Cares board member who coordinates food services for the organization, ensuring that the shelves are fully stocked to fill the grocery hampers that

Pelham Cares' “Hamper Crew” of Bill Hughes, Daphne Faris, Ross McCarthy, and Jane Gilmour.

DON RICKERS are distributed to Pelham residents in need. She moved to Pelham in 1980, and started as a Pelham Cares volunteer in 1999, primarily with the Christmas food drive.

“When I retired in 2000, I decided to get more involved,” she said.

Gilmour’s spirit of giving back to the community is a family trait.

“Volunteerism was instilled in me by my father, who always served with a lot of organizations,” said Gilmour. “I guess, in part, I volunteer to honour his memory. But mainly, I just have the urge to help. And Pelham Cares is certainly a worthwhile organization, with amazing volunteers. I always say that we get more out of it than we contribute.

It's a heartwarming experience.”

Approximately 70 local families are registered with the food bank at Pelham Cares, said Gilmour, although at this point 43 families collect a monthly hamper containing a two-week supply of canned and packaged goods.

Almost all of the registrants access the Christmas hamper prepared in December.

“Just the thought of families going without food and toys at Christmas…it's heartbreaking,” said Gilmour.

She applauded Fonthill’s volunteer firefighters for continuing to lead the annual Christmas toy drive, which involves collecting and wrapping toy packages for under-privileged children.

“They do a magnificent job. And with the leftover toys, we've been able to operate a birthday room, so children can receive a present on their special day.”

Even in a municipality considered “upscale” by many in the region, Pelham still has pockets of low-income families and seniors on fixed pensions that require assistance, plus those who have suffered job loss during the pandemic shutdowns.

“We've had a rise in emergency orders—people that are forced to choose between either paying their rent, or See THANKS Page 15

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Drivers and cyclists must stop and wait until pedestrians reach the other side at PXOs. All day, every day.

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The Voice

COUNCIL

continued from Page 3 and meet that defi nition I cannot answer that. I don’t know what these houses are being marketed at, or what their price point will be, but they will certainly be less than other single-detached or other conventional townhouses.”

Haun said she just wanted to clarify her position.

“Clearly there’s miscommunication that’s been intentionally put out there, that and the fact somehow I’m against affordable housing, which of course I’m not,” she said.

Haun did not acknowledge a request by the Voice to cite specific, factual errors in the newspaper’s reporting or commentary about her stance on the townhouse design.

Kore, who was seen raising his hand three times in an attempt to jump in, was finally granted the floor and told council that he had spoken to a Mountainview official, who told him the proposed development’s units will be priced between $550,000 to $600,000 for 1,100 to 1,300 square feet—figures that the Voice has not independently verified.

“I support affordable housing, and it’s sad that the communication can’t be accurate at all times,” Kore said. “I’m glad that we’re going to be redoing this again,” apparently referring to council’s about-face on the issue.

Proxy voting finally put to rest

In another change-of-heart, after repeated requests by some councillors to study its feasibility, council unanimously decided not to adopt proxy voting, accepting a staff report recommending against the policy.

Haun, Hildebrandt and Stewart

had kept the idea alive despite the fact only one of Ontario’s 444 municipalities has permitted the controversial measure. The latest staff report found that the municipality of Mississauga did so because of its unique circumstance, in which its city councillors also sit on the Peel Regional Council— which oversees a population of 1.4 million residents.

Haun and Hildebrandt said they were satisfied with the findings.

Stewart was not in attendance for the virtual meeting.

“I feel more comfortable having done my due diligence,” Haun said.

Kore, saying that he had read Brock University political science professor David Siegel’s critique of proxy voting in the Voice earlier this year, was also in agreement.

Ward 2 Councillor John Wink added that the issue was the most common topic he heard about from constituents in recent months.

“I’m glad that this will be put to rest,” Mayor Marvin Junkin concluded.

On-demand transit up for renewal

shortcomings when it comes to users who don’t have smart phones.

Hildebrandt presented Salewytsch a “wish list,” including altering routes to Welland to include stops at the Seaway Mall.

Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Olson inquired about the possibility of Sunday service.

Clearly there's miscommunication that's been intentionally put out there, that and the fact somehow I'm against affordable housing, which of course I'm not

Bylaw, ticketing changes

Niagara Regional Transit’s Robert Salewytsch made a presentation on the Region’s on-demand transit pilot project, which is up for a one-year renewal in Pelham by late summer.

Salewytsch stressed the on-demand service remains separate from any future regionalized transit proposals, the potential costs of which have been a point of concern lately.

Salewytsch said that Pelham accounted for 2,292 on-demand transit rides between last August and February, with a mostly-even split between destinations inside Pelham and those in neighbouring municipalities. He said that rider feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, but conceded there are

Page 13

A April 14 2021

Council received a staff report on changes to the Town’s bylaw enforcement policy, which proposes alterations that will include more “proactivity” versus “reactivity” when it comes to enforcement—i.e., not waiting for a complaint to come in before writing citations.

However, Fire Chief and Chief Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bob Lymburner explained that this doesn’t necessarily mean stricter enforcement and more fi nes.

“The proactive [approach] is along the lines of winter maintenance, where we go out and give warnings … we proactively try to eliminate the problem before it exists. Reactive is more the complaint-driven kind of thing.”

Lymburner said the Town’s

last resort is ticketing and fi ning.

“We’ll exhaust all measures before we get to that point, unless it’s a life-safety hazard.”

Somewhat related—although not at the municipal level — was a Regional proposal mentioned at the meeting that would eliminate any revenue Pelham receives from fi nes stemming from Provincial Offences Act (POA) court.

Those fi nes mostly come from police-issued traffic tickets, for which Pelham and other municipalities in which the infractions occur receive a fractional portion of revenue.

Hildebrandt brought up the matter, concerned that the Region would be taking money away from the Town.

“I really don’t appreciate that kind of action,” the Ward 3 councillor said.

CAO David Cribbs explained that the Region’s plan is to use 100 percent of the revenue to re-invest in traffic safety measures such as red-light cameras.

The Region is scheduled to make its presentation to Pelham on the matter at the next Town Council meeting, on April 19.

Motions, odds, ends and goodbyes

■ Councillor Haun presented a notice of motion wherein she wants to rescind the previous council’s attempt to upload the Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport to Niagara Region.

Haun, who sits on the airport board with members of Welland and Port Colborne municipal councils, has developed into a staunch proponent of the aerodrome. During a December council meeting, she got into a heated argument with Mayor Junkin over her seeking a municipal tax break for the airfield without informing council.

■ Junkin tabled a motion to investigate the cost of regular snow removal from the paved portions of the Steve Bauer Trail. At present, snow removal is conducted along streets and sidewalks only.

■ Council received a report on the Town’s 2021 gypsy moth spray program. One notable item is that contractor Zimmer Air — which has been criticized by councillors and residents alike for various aspects of their previous spray programs — has been retained, because, according to the Town, they remain the only applicator in eastern Canada with the ability to spray over urban and residential areas.

■ It being the fi nal council meeting for retiring Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato, Junkin took the opportunity to say farewell.

“The clerk will have to forgive me for breaking procedure,” the Mayor said, half-jokingly. “Without fail, Nancy has had answers ready for questions we have all asked her. The long hours spent poring over agendas can now be spent pouring drinks on the dock. Thank you for all that you have done for the Town of Pelham.”

This earned a round of applause from staff and councillors on the Zoom call. Bozzato has been Town Clerk since 2010, and retires with some 40 years public service at municipal and Regional levels.

“I just want to express my appreciation to this beautiful community,” said the Pelham native and E. L. Crossley alum. “I wish everyone every bit of continued success.”

With files from Dave Burket.

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Page 14

The Voice

A April 14 2021

OBITUARY

Letters continued

OBITUARY

HEAL, Zoë Isabel

TOWNHOMES

(1934 - 2021)

continued from Page 6 velopment, but this threatens to take possible supply out of the mix for young people attempting to purchase (transition into) their first home, or for seniors hoping for an opportunity to downsize to make things simpler for their retirement years.

Pelham needs more opportunities for medium-priced supply, and the two key markets (young people and seniors) would be well-served and benefit from this development. This development is about relative affordability, and taking out the supply is complete nonsense. The Gang of Four trying to defend their position is simply defending the indefensible.

I will remind these four councillors what their roles are— to provide oversight when staff conduct a professional review that says that this project was indeed a solid development. Instead, the Gang of Four would rather punish taxpayers and staff with an unnecessary LPAT action (the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal—formerly Ontario Municipal Board, the OMB), that could cost the Town tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, staff resources, etc.

These councillors should be held accountable by the public for the cost that Pelham incurred for any tribunal hearing.

Not to mention that it will be staff—not they—who will have to do all of this unnecessary work, after they advised that the project was, once again, in accordance with established policy.

In conclusion, and to reiterate my previous points: there is already a shortage of supply in the current housing market. Every planner in the province would tell these councillors that back-to-back townhouses are perfectly acceptable from a planning perspective, and I am greatly concerned that the Gang of Four will kill progress for young people, couples with preschool kids, and seniors.

Why? Because they didn't like the way it looked. Once again defending the indefensible.

Steven Soos Former Pelham Town Council candidate.

Editor’s note: At their regular meeting last week, those councillors who objected to aspects of the project beat a retreat, indicating that they will likely approve it after all. Story, p.3.

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With profound sadness we announce the passing of Zoë Heal, a loving and devoted friend to all whose lives she touched, on April 4, 2021. She left us while sleeping peacefully at Margaret Behan Hospice in Newmarket, Ontario. She was in her 88th year. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the Depression, she witnessed incredible changes to her world. Her father, Edward Pritchard, died when she was 10 and she was raised by her mother, Isabel. Zoë’s future husband, John Heal, predeceased her and despite her challenges, Zoë “kept calm and carried on.” Zoë was a well-respected teacher at Earl Haig Secondary School where she brought history to life for her many students. After retiring from teaching, she and her husband bought an apple orchard near Collingwood where Zoë learned how to drive a tractor, a snowmobile, and climb ladders to pick the fruits of their labours. After the sale of the orchard, they moved to Fonthill where they became active members of the community until John’s death. Zoë then chose to move to Markham to be with her family.

Zoë passions included being a long-time member of JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America), Viennese music, travelling around the world, knitting, reading, and enjoying nature. She was best friends with Pat Reynolds (Toronto) and Marg Ann Marwick (London, England) whom she met while attending University of Toronto. For over 65 years, the trio has managed to visit once a year, either in Canada or England. Zoë is the loving aunt of many nieces and nephews and is the cherished stepmother of Bonnie Irwin (Stouffville) and stepgrandson, Darryl Irwin. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. Cremation has already taken place. A celebration of Zoë’s life will be held via a Zoom Memorial in May, 2021. Please check the Dixon-Garland website for date and time for the Zoom Memorial Service. Donations to the Margaret Behan Hospice, Newmarket or Evergreen Hospice in Markham are welcome. Online condolences may be expressed through www.dixongarland.com.

PURPOSE

continued from Page 9 nity.

It means listening to others’ commitment and engaging in an exploration of the values and possibilities for them and always respecting their choice in the matter. Enrollment always comes from choice—honouring the right of the other to choose to participate.

Successful organizations actually enroll people in their own possibilities and commitments.

In enrolling people, you create and come from a view of people that they are already committed and open to possibility. Our organizations are experts at unleashing the hands and minds of our volunteers. They might not be able to meet you faceto-face, but they are there serving you in ways that might not be so obvious in these troubled times.

To our returning volunteers and prospective new volunteers, you will find that our organizations are welcoming,

open and willing to listen to your possibilities, and committed to sharing aims. Our organizations create the freedom to invent new questions about what our shared future can look like.

Responsibility is not a burden. Our volunteer organizations give us the power of causing and of being proactive. They were willing to instigate, to create and own the challenges of COVID-19.

They have have responded at a critical time and they will stand for us in the unforeseen future. Just look at the solutions that have been found to deliver meals and groceries and medications to our residents.

Thank you to the Voice for the opportunity to speak and thank you to you, the readers, and of course thank you to the volunteers.

You found a way to come through time after time.

You have honoured your promise to our community.

That’s integrity.

Wayne Olson Pelham Town Councillor, Ward 1

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MERGL, Ethan Joseph Matthew It is with broken hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved Ethan in Ottawa on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at the tender age of 20.

Ethan was born on March 26th, 2001 in Welland Ontario. In his short life, Ethan was well-known for his big contagious smile and his heart of gold. He made friends with people of all ages. Ethan’s good attitude and likable personality both made people laugh and always feel comfortable.

Ethan was such a fun loving and easy-going person.

Ethan was a natural athlete who could play any sport he put his hands into. He was a competitor and a very hard worker. He had a passion to win and could not accept defeat, which made him the athlete every coach admired.

Whether on the ice rink with his Pelham Panther buddies, volleyball court with his Crossley OFSAA team or just hanging out with friends, he always cared for everyone’s needs. Ethan made everyone happy.

He was a light in everyone’s lives. We have all been blessed to have known him.

Ethan is survived by his parents, Brent and Maryann. Forever loved and missed by his older brother Jacob and younger sister Jenna.

As a son, he was a boy who became a young man to be extremely proud of. He was always there to help out and to state his caring views on things. As a brother, he loved his siblings with all his heart.

Treasured grandson of Joe and Sylvia Mergl & John and Betty Brenders. Ethan also leaves behind his Uncle and Aunts: Jamie VanAlstine & Sheryl (Mergl), Tom Janzen & Carolyn (Mergl), Darlene Mergl-Moore and Ron & June (Chandler) Mergl, Tony & Kay Brenders and Peter & Susan Brenders. And his cousins: Andrew & (Sharon), Justin & Joseph Mergl, Lee, Cameron, Austin and Elise Janzen, Connor and Braidon Moore. Katherine, Jonathan, Mariah and Tessa Brenders.

Genuinely loved by his girlfriend, Kaitlyn Shpurko and her parents Myron and Barb.

The funeral ceremony was held at New Hope Church on Monday, April 12th. Ethan was laid to rest at the North Pelham Cemetery.

As an expression of sympathy donations can be made to the Canadianconcussioncentre.ca or to the Pathstone Foundation.

Online condolences can be shared at pelhamfuneralhome.ca

Don't forget separate bag of bags Trying to do the right thing, I made an error in placing my large plastic wraps bag on top of the metal and plastics bin—whoops, wrong bin. Neither was picked up. I received a large, bright orange warning sticker for my efforts. (Lesson learned.)

I decided to check out my area to see how many people put out such a bag. We have been told to include food wrap, beverage wrap, gardening bags, and of course Amazon bubble wrap, just to name a few. (However not the meat-absorption bit! Apparently government has not mandated that change.)

Very few plastic bags were visible in my neighbourhood.

Is all that wrap hidden in plain sight within garbage bins or black plastic bags? Think of this as a reminder to participate in the recycling efforts. Create a smaller footprint and keep costs down. Please L. Morgan Fonthill

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Page 15

A April 14 2021

CLASSIFIEDS

PLACE YOUR AD BY EMAIL OR PHONE

office@thevoiceofpelham.ca Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8 AM - 2 PM (905) 892-8690

PUBLIC PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE Notice of Study Commencement and Public Information Centre #1 2021 Water and Wastewater Master Servicing Plan Update Niagara is expected to gain 214,000 new residents and 81,000 new jobs by 2051. We need to plan now to make sure we have the water and wastewater infrastructure we need to support this growth, including water/wastewater pipes, pumping stations and water/wastewater treatment plants. The update will be coordinated with other Regional Plans including: • • •

Development Charges Background Study and By-law Transportation Master Plan Refresh Regional Official Plan - 2051 Population and Employment Forecasts

In 2016, Niagara Region completed a Water and Wastewater Master Servicing Plan that charted infrastructure needs to the year 2041, while maintaining levels of service. This 2021 update to the plan will incorporate recent knowledge and current priorities to ensure we can accommodate further growth expected by 2051 and beyond, as per the amended Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Page 14

A recorded video and information regarding this project will be made available for Public Information Centre No. 1 on the project website beginning Wednesday, April 21, 2021. This will be followed with a two-week period to submit Public Information Centre No. 1 related comments to the Project Team.

Access the project website at: niagararegion.ca/projects/www-master-servicing-plan If you have any questions, comments, or wish to be added to the study mailing list, please contact: Ilija Stetic Project Manager, Niagara Region 289-668-4536 niagaramspu@niagararegion.ca

THE VOICE of Pelham Wednesday, August 27, 2

CLA

The study follows the master planning process as established by the Municipal Personal information collected or submitted in writing at public meetings Engineer’s Association Class Environmental Assessment process for Master will be collected, used and disclosed by members of Regional Council and Plans, which is an approved Ontario Environmental Assessment process.

Regional staff in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information The Master Servicing Plan Update will satisfy phases 1 and 2 of the Class and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). The written submissions including Environmental Assessment process including developing and evaluating names, contact information and reports of the public meeting will be made alternative servicing strategies for the Region’s systems and facilities. Public and available. Questions should be referred to the Privacy Office at 905-980-6000 Services stakeholder input will be sought throughout the process and a Master Servicing 3779 or FOI@niagararegion.ca.

PELHAM LIBRARY’S ext.

COMPUTER CLINIC Plan Update Report will be prepared and filed for public review.

Excavating contractor.

“One-to-One Help” withIfayou volunteer tutor. Get help with web browsing, require tech any accommodations for a disability in order to attend Water, sewer webmail account social media, or editing and sharing Public feedback is important. Information about the project will be available on set-up, ande-books, participate in meetings events, please let usyour know in advance so upgrades, foundation repair, water Niagara Region’s website as part of Public Information Center No. 1. and You can learn that arrangements can be made in ayour timely manner.

Please contact the photos more.

Includes use of laptop or BYOG (bring own gadget). about how this project will contribute to Niagara’s overall growth plan, key servicing Accessibility Advisory Coordinator at 905- 980-6000 ext.

3252drainage or proofing, systems, Saturdays 12:30 – 3:30. Register and pay ahead in person. $5.00 per 1/2 issues being considered and how you can have your voice heard. accessibility@niagararegion.ca. quarry stone supply, place-

COMMUNITY Events

hour. Visit www.pelhamlibrary.on.ca or call 905-892-6443 for more details.

continued from Page 9 lies were spending time and making memories together as they made their way through the different

JABBED

continued from Page 2 week that online and 1-800 number logjams could have been avoided if local public health units had been allowed to load their own clinic dates and times via the province’s registration portal, a task currently handled by provincial staff.

When residents eventually managed to access the system, they learned all Niagara’s clinics were booked solid. Another factor is that thousands of clinic appointments have been reserved for teachers and other education personnel over spring break.

Hirji expects close to 150,000 Niagara residents to be vaccinated by the end of the month.

Clyde McCombs and his wife, Constance, were two Pelham seniors who received their vaccinations last week. The couple has been married for 71 years, and they still live in the Fonthill house on Pancake Lane where Clyde was born in 1927. Constance attended the clinic in a wheel-

challenges. The Hunt really allowed for the teams to be part of something, even though they were not physically together.”

Both of the such hunts hosted by the Town in recent

chair, and was assisted by their son Leonard, 64, who is still waiting for an appointment for his injection. He confided that he was “a little leery” of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine, due to some worrisome reports in the media.

Clyde bluntly assessed the registration process.

“It was no good. We don't have a computer, so we called the 1-800 number, but they wouldn't accept us because we didn’t have an email address. I had to get a nephew to arrange the appointment. He got everything done, but it was frustrating. We’ve talked to a lot of older people who said the same thing.”

Inside the MCC, Clyde said the process was, “fantastic…very smooth and professional…the people are just great.”

Clyde said he could barely feel the injection.

“I don't know how they can get all that juice in the hole in the needle…you don't feel a thing.”

The McCombs received an instruction sheet with details for monitoring

P18-23

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Easter Hunt—have received Brick, Block, Stone and Chimney repairs. positive responses and will Wet and damaged basement repairs. not be the last of their kind.

PELHAM LIBRARY CARD MAKING WORKSHOP Phone Tom Deamude at 289-241-4767.

Another hunt is planned for 35 years of experience. Materials Make six cards with fall themes, learning a construction variety of techniques.

Canada Day.

are provided. At time of registration, please enquire about tools needed.

CUSTOM MILL Tues., Sept. 16 10 – 12:30. $10. Please register ahead. Visit www.pelhamsawmill service. library.on.ca or call 905-892-6443 for Portable more details.

I will come to your home or farm and custom mill your logs.

Firewood & lumber also available. Call Rob Patterson, LIONS FISH FRY905-401-4948, riverwood@primus.ca

their health post-vaccination, and information on FABULOUS FENWICK the second jab to come this Tasty treats with funds heading straight back into the community. Haddock, summer.

Asked if she feels confifrench fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. dent that, freshly vaccinatLACROSSE GEAR WANTED ed, she has plenty of years Looking to purchase field lacrosse equipment, adult size. Helmet, ahead of her, MINOR Constance PELHAM HOCKEY EQUIPMENT SALE gloves, arm pads, lacrosse stick, defense shafts. 905-351-3565. smiled and replied, “Yes, I thinkBuy, so!” sell or trade used equipment at the Pelham Arena. Aimed to provide Niagara Health encourcheaper options for players in this upcoming FORseason.

SALE Runs Sept. 6 from ages all residents, regardin the they morning. less 9-12 of whether have Golf lessons offered by World Golf Teachers Federation top 100 been vaccinated, to practeacher. All ages and all skill levels. Lessons held at Brock Golf tice public safety protocols Course. Call Doug at 905-327-1492.

PELHAM to help stop theMUDFEST spread of COVID-19.

These measures Men and women will be back in the mud as the second run on the year is include continuing weartrying to do the right thing, atwashing Bissil’s hands Hideaway. ing aheld mask, staying away from other continued from Page 12 often, staying at least two people. Their families can't metres from others, avoidvisit them, and I know some NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION ing non-essential travel buying groceries for their are going downhill, emoWe are worried it’s this years exciting event. It and Rodeo, contact games with others and livefamily. entertainment headline tionally and physically. We going to become a trend, beoutside the household, and runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Welland Fairgrounds.certainly try to be there for cause of COVID, and all the self-isolating when sick. them, providing food, free Some pharmacies in Ni- strain that it's put on peorides for medical appointagara are currently vacci- ple’s finances.”

BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE ments, and referring them to Accessing the food bank nating residents 55 years local services.”

The Bigolder Move Cancer is a non-competitive is a painless process, said ride taking place on Sept. of age and with the Ride Gilmour emphasized that and in there is absoAstraZeneca vaccine.

7. Proceeds for theToBigGilmour, Move stay Niagara and support the generous Walker Famthe ongoing suplutely no judgement involved. book an appointment, go to port of Pelham Cares by inily Cancer Centre.

“The ones I often worry https://covid-19.ontario.ca/ dividuals, businesses, and about are those too proud to vaccine-locations. service organizations was Questions about vacci- come and ask for help, it just critical.

WALKING CLUB nation can be directed to wasn’t the way they were “We couldn’t do anything brought up.

It's especially sad the COVID-19 Info-Line at Interested in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena without the assistance of the this year, because there are 905-688-8248. community,” sheam. said.There from 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill for 9-10:30 a lot of seniors livingBandshell alone,

THANKS

is no fee for this program. For more information, please contact jcook@ pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329.

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Bethany Christian Reformed Church www.bethanycrc.ca

First Presbyterian Church 602 Metler Rd., North Pelham

Holy Trinity Anglican Church holytrinityfonthill.org

Pelham Evangelical Friends Church www.pelhamfriends.ca

Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill

Fonthill Baptist Church www.fonthillbaptistchurch.ca

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1369 Rice Rd., Fonthill

Ridgeville Bible Chapel ridgevillebiblechapel.com

Fenwick Church of Christ www.fenwickchurchofchrist.ca

Fonthill United Church www.fonthillunited.com

Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church 1344 Haist St., Fonthill

St. Alexander Roman Catholic Church www.stalexander.on.ca

Fenwick United Church www.fenwickunited.com

Glad Tidings Church of God www.gladtidingschurchofgod.com

Pelham Community Church (United Church) www.pelham.cc

St. Ann Roman Catholic Church www.stannfenwick.com

FAITH LIFT

continued from Page 19 three survived to adulthood. As James grew older, he suffered from arthritis, gout and kidney stones.

He drank heavily and his royal court was plagued with scandal. James finally died of a stroke in 1625, at age 58, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

The version

King James sponsored the English translation of the Bible named after him. It was designed to unify the people with a common version which replaced several variant ones. The “Authorized King James Version” (as it came to be known) was commissioned in 1604. A total of 47 Bible scholars and translators worked on it for seven years, completing it in 1611.

It quickly became the world’s standard English version of the Bible.

The KJV is considered a masterpiece of Jacobean prose and majestic

style. It has been described as “one of the most important books in English culture and a driving force in the shaping of the English-speaking world.” By the beginning of the 19th century, it had become the most widely printed book in history. It is still in widespread use today (mainly among older believers) although there is a plethora of newer (and more accurate versions) now available.

Few people (besides historians) remember King James today. Those who do realize that he was a capable but flawed king and certainly not a saint. He would have greatly benefited from a more serious reading and practice of his own Bible. However, his greatest legacy lives on in the version that still bears his name and is still in use over four centuries later. ◆ Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor whose first Bible was a red-lettered King James Version.

BALANCED LIFE

continued from Page 18 ten.”

Lynch built his first boat in 1990. He wanted to get into canoeing but felt he couldn’t afford it. He read up about building canoes, and decided to craft a cedar-strip canoe from scratch.

He milled the wood himself, made his own forms, and produced a beautiful boat, which was also the catalyst for meeting Susan.

A few months after the canoe was built, Lynch, as a single dad with kids, and Buckingham, met online. She invited him for a coffee.

“The first time she came over to visit at the house, the first thing she wanted to do was go out and see this canoe, and see if it actually existed.”

Buckingham was quick to pro-

vide her version. “The reason I was attracted to his profile was because he had built a canoe.

I’d paddled all my life, but had never known anyone who’d built a canoe. I thought it must take such an incredible amount of patience, so that’s what attracted me to him, plus the fact that he was raising his children.”

They married, moved to Pelham, then, as the cliché goes, life got in the way of Lynch building kayaks or canoes for the next 15 years.

In 2005 Lynch purchased plans from Chesapeake Light Craft of Annapolis, Maryland, for a Mill Creek 13 decked canoe or kayak. The boat is a wider and more stable version of the typical sea kayak, and its covered deck and contoured slat seat make it pleasant to paddle.

He described how the Mill Creek was assembled using the glue- and-stitch method by

stitching single pieces of plywood together with tiny copper wires inserted into little holes drilled three inches apart along every seam, then fiberglassing inside the boat. When the fibreglass cured, Lynch removed each tiny stitch as would a surgeon after a laceration had healed.

He spent 120 hours building and finishing the boat.

Part of what makes Lynch’s work so aesthetically attractive while maintaining modern functionality is his ability to blend historic or vintage designs and restorations with new technologies and components. The Mill Creek has functional front and rear bulkheads, an adjustable seat, and foot braces which provide the safety and handling of a modern kayak.

Other restorations and builds followed, including a sleek and fancy 1930s-styled Chester Yawl rowboat with a petite Adiron-

Above, Lynch and three of his recent builds. Far left, The stylish interior with “Courting chair” of a cedar rib canoe Lynch recently restored. Near left, Hummingbird inlay on floor of tandem Greenland Pedartic kayak denotes Lynch’s cockpit, and a hatch cover inlay on a Greenland Pedartic kayak uses cedar, walnut, curly maple and cherry to generate striking colour contrasts.

Below, before and after deck restoration, including a mast port for a sailing rig option.

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Page 17

A April 14 2021

Buckingham.

He got a line on the bare Kevlar shell which had been sitting in a barn for 15 years, and snapped it up. Buckingham loves to row, so Lynch designed the unique canoe with a rower’s seat and gunwales strong enough to install both oarlocks and a removable portaging yoke. Buckingham chose its mauve (Lynch calls it purple) colour.

Hands down, the most beautiful of Lynch’s builds that I’ve seen is his 21-foot Greenland Pedartic cedar strip tandem kayak.

I’ve had the privilege of paddling alongside Ron and Susan in this graceful kayak as its water-skimming Inuit design cuts through the waves. It is simply stunning in the water.

“It has a special bow on it to cut through the ice,” Lynch explained. “The front piece is solid maple, which actually breaks the ice and stays above the water in rough seas and cuts the waves to keep the paddler perfectly dry.”

Buckingham, who always sits on her booster seat in the front cockpit, added, “We’ve paddled this boat in breaking waves a metre tall, and when we hit the whitecaps, water never comes over the combing.”

Lynch spent 300 hours building the boat.

“I started in the backyard, milling all the wood myself. I brought my table saw out, then had to build a 21-foot table in front of the saw, then a 21-foot table in back of the saw, just to mill the 21-foot-long strips. I had a 50-foot-long table saw.”

As well as the natural wood beauty of the cedar strips and brass fittings, the kayak has numerous intricate custom inlays.

The trim work and inlays combine cedar, walnut, curly maple and cherry to provide contrasting colours and design.

“It’s like making stained glass,” said Buckingham, “except Ron is making it out of wood.”

Lynch doesn’t display or show his boats, but noted, “When we pull this, every time we stop for gas or something, there’s always somebody that comes over, and you end up talking for 15, 20 minutes.”

I suspect that’s because for most of us, seeing these handcrafted gems guides our imagination to a simpler, happier time, and that’s a place we all appreciate just now. ◆

1201717CN.1

dack-styled chair in the back designed to aid courting paddlers.

There’s the 14-and-a-half foot cedar strip power boat that was given to Lynch and Buckingham by longtime family friends, but not in perpetuity. Lynch has restored it, and he and Buckingham own it for now, but when they pass on, the boat’s ownership reverts back to the original family.

A stripped and cleaned vintage Huron canoe with fresh canvas stretched over the hull and stapled to its gunwales currently rests on sawhorses in the shop.

These mass-market canoes from the ‘60s were made to low quality specifications for Sears and Eatons by Quebec Hurons. He’ll soon apply a special fi ller to make the canvas weave watertight. After curing for a month, the boat will be ready for sanding and painting.

When his daughter Meaghan was rowing for E. L. Crossley, Lynch repaired and restored some of the racing boats belonging to Crossley and the South Niagara Rowing Club as a volunteer.

When asked whether he enjoys building or paddling his boats more, Lynch responded, “Both. I really enjoy paddling, I really enjoy the time working, but what I really love doing is restoring the old boats. I’ve worked on a few canoes that are over 100 years old. The last boat I did wouldn’t even float. It had cracks in it over half an inch wide in the boards, it was just a basket case. Now it’s a showpiece.”

When asked how much of the original boat he was able to reclaim, Lynch replied probably 90 percent.

Lynch described his restoration of a very rare cedar rib canoe, in which the cedar strips lie perpendicular to the keel, and are held together with glued tongue and groove.

“The guy that started Peterborough Canoes actually built them himself because none of the other workers knew how to do it.

These cedar rib canoes are a work of art. It’s the boat that I’d love to own.”

Buckingham added, “The City of Peterborough gave one to Queen Elizabeth as a wedding present. There’s only about five in the world.”

Next, Lynch showed me the kevlar canoe he just finished for

The Voice

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Thank you to Pelham’s volunteers.

Councillor Wayne Olson

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A April 14 2021

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THE BALANCED LIFE

by John Swart

Timeless gems—perfectly crafted, vintage watercraft

I

t may come as a surprise, but based on insider knowledge gleaned from Ron Lynch and Susan Buckingham, of Fonthill, much of the research and testing work for the arborite in your kitchen countertops was conducted in a Chestnut Guide Special canoe, beneath the backside of Cornwall businessman George Tomlinson Jr., while he paddled the Laurentians.

“The canoe up there,” said Lynch, pointing to an unrestored boat hanging from the rafters. “We call that the Tomlinson family canoe. Tomlinson was the guy who invented arborite.

The seats in that canoe had

pieces of arborite on them as a test when he was first developing it.”

“We figure the boat is from the late ‘20s. It’s a Chestnut Guide Special, which is actually the same model that Tom Thompson had.”

The Chestnut Canoe Company was established in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 1897 by William and Henry Chestnut, with a canvas and wood design many claim was stolen from the E. H. Gerrish Canoe Company, of Bangor, Maine. Chestnut became the largest selling canoe brand in Canada in the early 1920s, producing 3000 boats per year.

Susan Buckingham, whose family cottage in Quebec was located next to Tomlinson’s, explained, “He was the CEO of a pulp and paper company in Cornwall and engineer by trade.

From what I understand, he kind of stumbled across arborite and started working with it. George, our neighbour on the other side, for a summer job, was going over every day and applying this concoction or whatever that made up the arborite onto the boat. It was first called ‘Tomlinson-O-Rite,’ which was too much of a mouthful, so they decided to call it arborite.”

Lynch has recently retired from General Motors, where he was an electrician, working on the electronics and robotics of the assembly line. He’s always enjoyed crafting with wood, and had built everything from his

Susan Buckingham personally delivering Lynch’s freshly built 1930s style Chester Yawl to one of their cottage neighbours.

SUPPLIED kids’ furniture to kitchen cabinetry before becoming enamoured with wooden boats.

Buckingham worked in

services for many years before retiring. “I was a synchronized swimmer and a coach, my life has always been in/on the water. I was

paddling and rowing as a toddler, and I had my own motorboat by the time I was See BALANCED LIFE Page 16

V oice HOROSCOPE believe doing so would be harmful to that person. Maintain your trustworthy reputation.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, don’t rush ahead on a project, even if you think you are ready to move forward. Give it a few more days of careful consideration before diving right in.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, as tedious as research can be, it is ultimately necessary if you are planning a big move or a change in your financial situation. Seek professional advice, if necessary.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, some details are still up in the air about a potential trip or adventure. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get excited about the prospects.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, if you are being too critical of yourself, change your way of thinking. Others do not view you in the same manner.

The largest of the three falls at Niagara falls is horseshoe falls, also known as the canadian falls. How high is it?

A. 1200 ft B. 872 ft c. 187 ft d. 422 ft

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS APRIL 11 Alessandra Ambrosio, Model (40) APRIL 12 Brendon Urie, Singer (34) APRIL 13 Allison Williams, Actress (33) APRIL 14 Anthony Michael Hall, Actor (53) APRIL 15 Chris Stapleton, Singer (43) APRIL 16 Bill Belichick, Coach (69)

Answer: not a, b, or d

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, if you feel like every day is the same thing, then figure out a way to add some spark to the week. Invite friends for an adventure or embrace a new hobby.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, find ways to entertain your family and yourself without breaking the bank. Recreational centers and parks are often free and have many possibilities.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, explore more creative pursuits in the days to come. You can find many great ideas and starter kits for arts and crafts projects at your local craft store.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Don’t pressure yourself into taking on more than you can handle, Cancer. Even though you may feel up to the challenge, there’s no shame in accepting help.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, this week you may find yourself looking inward, which is not necessarily the norm for you.

Try connecting with others as it may do you some good.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 A new relationship could start this week, Virgo. Don’t try to put on airs; just be yourself and you will likely find that everything will work out for the best.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Financial uncertainty has you rethinking things this week, Libra. Just be sure you are not being pennywise but dollar foolish.

Make cuts across the board.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, when another person confides in you, it is up to you to keep his or her secret, unless you

APRIL 17 Jennifer Garner, Actress (49)

36. HASP

34. SENGO

32. EMETIC

33. PARENT

30. HOARS

31. EUREKA

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1. SCENIC

2. TUVALU

SOLUTIONS DOWN

43. ACT

41. SKIN

42. POTS

39. RETE

40. SNEER

37. PARER

38. AGREES

35. HOUMA

36. HEARTEN

SHEEP

34. SLITTER

26. SAN

27. COUNTING

24. PIN

25. SBE

22. HIE

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21. NAB

MUSTARD

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11. EVIL

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8. CURB

10. COPRA

1. STP

4. BOFF

ACROSS

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

SOLUTIONS

Enjoy our Take-out Fish & Chips Fridays!

From our family to yours...stay safe

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

Page 19

A April 14 2021

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

King James—the man behind the version

S

everal years ago I visited a lady in the community where I was pastoring. She wanted to impress me with her Bible knowledge so she said, “Oh yes, I have a St. James Bible and I read it often.” I didn’t correct her faux pas but left wondering just how honest she was being. This leads me to today’s question —“Who was King James, anyhow, and how saintly was he?” Let’s find out…

The man

James Charles Stuart was born in Edinburgh Castle in (you guessed it) Edinburgh, Scotland. Old James and I share the same birthday —June 19— except he was born in 1566 (almost 400 years before me). His mother was the famous Mary, Queen of Scots, and his father was Henry Stuart.

James’ parents were devout Roman Catholics, which caused considerable conflict with the Protestant noblemen of Scotland. James was their only son and heir to the throne. His father was murdered when James was one and his unpopular mother was arrested by Protestant rebels, forced to abdicate the throne, and put in prison. She never saw her child again.

Thus, baby James became King James VI of Scotland when he was only one year old. This necessitated four regents to rule on his behalf until he was of age. They were strict disciplinarians but instilled in young James a passion for literature and learning. They also raised him in the Protestant Church of Scotland (Presbyterian today).

In 1603 (34 years later) Queen Elizabeth died leaving no heir. As a result, England and Scotland united and James’ kingdom sud-

denly greatly expanded.

He now became James I of Scotland, England and Ireland for the next 22 years, until his death.

The legacy

During James’ long reign (called the “Jacobean Period” after him), Great Britain was an important world power. He was committed to a policy of peace abroad, keeping his country out of the bloody “Thirty Years War” on the continent. With money and manpower saved, he was able to colonize the Americas.

The important settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, bears his name. Keeping the

peace at home would prove a greater challenge as James repeatedly clashed with Parliament.

The “Golden Age” of literature and drama (begun under Elizabeth) continued under James. Authors such as William Shakespeare, John Donne, Ben Jonson, and Sir Francis Bacon flourished in this literary culture.

James himself was a talented writer, authoring several books on political and religious subjects.

In 1589, James married Anne of Denmark, who gave him seven children (three boys and four girls). Only See FAITH LIFT Page 16

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Word Search: Jazz Musicians

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ANSWERS ON PAGE 18

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Page 20

The Voice

Voice

A April 14 2021

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

4

Broiled Lamb Chops with Garlic Mayo

COLUMN SIX

continued from Page 1

Spring celebrations wouldn’t be the same without lamb. In fact, it is a classic dish for Easter gatherings. While leg of lamb and other lamb roasts may be customary, lamb chops also can fit the bill.

Lamb chops are the star of the show in this recipe for “Les côtes d’agneau grillées avec aïoli (Broiled lamb chops with garlic mayonnaise)” from “The Food of France (Kyle Books) by Sarah Woodward.

These chops are best when cooked on the grill, but also can be broiled indoors.

Les côtes d’agneau grillées avec aïoli Serves 4 8 6

lamb chops Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Few sprigs of rosemary, lavender and thyme fat garlic cloves, peeled Yolks of 3 large fresh free-range eggs Extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1⁄2 lemon

Classically the aïoli is made in a pestle and mortar, but a food processor will do the job admirably. What is essential is that all the ingredients are at room temperature before you start — cold egg yolks will usually make the sauce curdle. Either crush or whizz the garlic with plenty of salt until you have a paste. Now add the egg yolks and pound or purée again. When you have a smooth mixture, start adding the oil, literally drop by drop at the beginning, either whisking in or giving short blasts on the processor. As the mixture starts to thicken, you can begin to add the oil in a steady stream. Exact quantities will depend on the garlic, the eggs and the temperature, but a generous 1 cup of olive oil would be a good estimate. The aim is to end up with a stiff emulsion, which you serve alongside the broiled lamb chops.

Finish the aïoli with a few drops of lemon juice.

To make the chops, season the chops well in advance, making sure that there is plenty of salt on the fat, and bring them to room temperature before barbecuing. It is also vital that the coals are only glowing or the fat will burn — so the barbecue needs to be lit well in advance. Alternatively, you can just broil the chops but they will lack some of that special flavor. Just before cooking, throw on the herbs so that the chops cook in their aroma. The chops only will need to grill 2 to 3 minutes per side, depending on chop thickness. Lamb is done when the internal temperature reaches 145 F. Let stand a few minutes for juicy lamb, and serve with the aïoli on the side.

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had compassion. When seeing starving, homeless children on TV, she shed tears while many girls remained cold.

But she ran away in the middle of the night. She hitchhiked and later, laughing, said Rinty, our beloved dog, kept her safe until she got picked up by a passing driver. The police put her on CPIC, but they didn't locate her. I felt her despair and didn't want to think of what would happen to her.

Two days later, my husband and I had an appointment with social services in Kirkland Lake, coincidentally Julie's hometown. We didn't expect to see her, since our meeting concerned something else. (Later we learned that runaways usually went to their hometown, regardless of their unhappy history.)

Because the social worker postponed our appointment, we went to Peter's Café, with dirty white stalactites hanging from the ceiling and lava lamps on the counters. We relaxed over coffee.

John whispered, “Look over to your right.” And there she was, but not alone.

The older guy and the love bites on her neck told their story.

I walked over and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Hello, Julie.”

Looking both astonished and shocked, she thrust her chair violently back and took off running. John, barefoot, sandals under our table, chased her down the street, yelling, “Stop that girl!”

No one did. Julie was strong, but John was still young and kept after her, dodging people and sprinting through red

lights. Finally, after dashing through Zellers, she stopped in a backlot, winded. Later she told me, “When you touched my shoulder in the restaurant, I felt like God had reached down and grabbed me.”

While I waited, I told the love-bite man that Julie was underage. Shocked, he left quickly. We knew what he fancied; what she wanted was to be loved and held. I saw a flashing red light outside—police. They told me John and Julie were at the courthouse. There we sat by a thoroughly dejected Julie as she waited for her social worker.

“Would you like a cigarette?” we asked the much-addicted girl. Not a healthy move, but we got a tiny smile.

“Would you like a visit with your mother before we return home? Maybe you can see your new baby sister.” We got a big smile.

Fat, worn, old, grey-haired, with two lonely teeth, her mother was 35, my age.

A chubby new half-sister for Julie rode on her hip, its father hiding in the bedroom. The mother had loved her children, but six of them, and a drunken husband, had been too much. She had abandoned her first family. Now she had a new man and was starting over.

No room for Julie. I grieved, sighed, and soon we left to drive home.

The trip was a quiet one. Julie seemed to realize there was no place for her in her mother's life anymore. We talked about her family and our plans for her in the group home. She was quiet but not sullen. I thought about the short time we had to make a difference. Just three months. No gentle easing into therapy. No long-term treatment. Only some reality therapy, a good program, and love. She, like her mother, was old,

tired and worn out—at 15.

“No, you are not a whore, although you give it away to strangers. Let's change that. You are not worthless, even if people treat you that way. You are a beautiful creation, made by God and so very worthwhile. Oh, honey,” I said, “You can reject everything we give to you except two things, well, actually three things. The first is God's love.

The second is our love. The third is the opportunity to see what a loving family looks like.”

She quickly got through all the program levels and did well at school. She was helpful, loved the nature walks, liked to play with our small children, listened to music and participated with the other girls, especially on pizza night, down in the rec room. She was a sweet and willing helper. Smiles came a little more frequently, but we knew she carried heavy memories and sorrow.

As she blossomed, we worried about her future. Upon leaving the group home, the social workers allowed her to move in with her boyfriend's family.

Our other girls said he was reputed to be the local drug dealer. We hoped not.

We left Cochrane a year later; we tried to trace her but failed.

Oh, Julie, we pray you have found a happier life. All these years later, I still sometimes weep for you, for all the rejection. I cry for the years when you should have been growing up young and clean and cared for and happy. I still remember thinking, “Cry, honey— let me hold you instead of your mother. Oh baby, where was the love all this time that you weep such young and such old tears on me?”

Her name was Julie. I loved her. ◆

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