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Vol.26 No.16
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Pelham Youth Advisory Committee member Natalie Anderson joins in Earth Week beautification effort. Story, p.11
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Somewhere down the road Spring is a time of renewal. Time to tidy up the house and yard. But how much time have you allotted you’re going to have to to tidying up your affairs? think about it. You’ve probably revisited your Will, but have you detailed your final wishes? Prepared your Estate? Let us help you get your affairs in order.
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The Voice
Rick Lowes sex assault case sees 15th court proceeeding
PUBLISHER’S CORNER by Dave Burket
Annual amnesia: Last week the Niagara dailies quoted a Weather Network meteorologist providing some hard truth. We often forget, he said, “that the month that follows March is not June.” Guilty as charged. Those first warm days of April always lull me into visions of BBQs and bike rides. Witness this week: 27 at our place on Sunday, headed to a high of 4 on Wednesday. Just bring on the May flowers already…A Canadian first: Reader and retired Air Canada pilot Mike Hoch sends in this week’s Voice on Vacation shot. Cap’n Mike checks in from St. Augustine, Florida, where he visited the World Golf Hall of Fame. There he discovered that the first Canadian inducted into said famous hall was Fonthill’s own Marlene Stewart Streit. One section of the hall is devoted to paintings of yearly inductees, and Hoch stands beside the Class of 2004, with Marlene surrounded by fellow famers Isao Aoki, Tom Kite, and Charlie Sifford... Beware the scammers: Reader Judy Vlym writes in to warn that telephone scammers are proliferating like Creeping Charlie, using what look like local phone numbers. “Someone has honed in on these numbers and is using them pretending to be Service Canada and telling us that there is a problem with our OAS and CPP accounts.” The best advice is not to answer any unknown call. In fact, the Town is on the case with a seminar targeting this very issue. See their ad, page 8. Get an education and a free lunch at the MCC on May 5...Speaking of weather extremes: Where were you on May 20 1996? If you were in Pelham, you may well have witnessed the tornado that touched down that day and skipped a path of minor destruction along Highway 20. If so, and if you took photos of the aftermath, we want to borrow them ASAP! Please email editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca...Tech continues to shrink: Thomas TV (ad, p.7) now carries a video projector that’s basically the size of a can of diced tomatoes, for under $1200. About 20 years ago, I sourced the latest and greatest video projector (a business expense, thankfully), the size of an IBM Selectric, and forked over $12,000...Jam-packed: The hardest working man in Niagara news, Don Rickers, brings us plenty of meat this week, from politics, to art, to crime, to sports, with a trip to Maple Acre library and a greenhouse visit—fascinating all...And some literal meat: This issue we debut a new cooking column, something that’s been in the works since last autumn, after I happened to run across the author at—appropriately—a butcher shop. He’s a somewhat well known figure in Pelham, so I introduced myself. One thing led to another and he eventually agreed to write us a periodic column, but on condition that he do so under a nom de cuisine. “I’d really prefer not to be buttonholed in the grocery store for advice.” No problem! Enjoy “Svangur Geroux’s” maiden voyage, p.10. Incidentally, we’re doing our best to try these recipes ourselves, and I can personally attest to the deliciousness of this week’s entry entrée...Another palatable See CORNER Page 17
Voice
Virtually no progress in matter, now deferred to May 25 BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor Mark Evans, lawyer for accused Rick Lowes, briefly appeared in Welland virtual court last Friday before Justice of the Peace Tom Froese. Evans informed the court that he had missed a judicial pre-trial meeting with the Crown due to an error, and was making an effort to reschedule the meeting. Lowes’ case will be returning on May 25 at 9 AM to the Welland Courthouse, which would be the 16th proceeding in the matter to date. Lowes, 65, was charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference with a person under 16 in March of 2021. A butcher by trade, he owns and operates the Country Corner Market, in Fonthill, and has supported numerous charitable causes in Pelham and Niagara with food donations in the past. Lowes was recognized as the Fonthill and District Kinsmen Club’s Citizen of the Year in 2008. A publication ban prohibits the disclosure of any information about the alleged victims that may lead to their identification.
Death on Station Street BY VOICE STAFF Neighbours in the vicinity of an apartment building on Station Street near Summersides in Fonthill were concerned by an extended police presence over Easter weekend. NRPS officers and a forensics team were on site at 1391 Station for some 30 hours through Saturday
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into Sunday, April 16-17. NRPS media specialist Barry Ravenek confirmed that officers assigned to 3 District (Welland/Pelham) responded to an address on Station Street at 3:16 AM Saturday morning for a sudden death investigation. “I can confirm the Forensic Services Unit was on-scene,” said Ravenek. “Investigation has determined that foul play is not suspected. Out of respect for the next of kin, no further information is being released.”
Sweeping starts
Mike Hoch points to Fonthill's own Marlene Stewart Streit at the World Golf Hall of Fame, in St Augustine, Florida. See Publisher's Corner for more. Fore!
WHETHER ACROSS TOWN OR ACROSS THE GLOBE!
Email your photo holding the Voice to: office@thevoiceofpelham.ca S P O N S O R E D
Spring street sweeping began last Monday and will take up to three weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions. The Town asks residents to avoid parking on streets and keep roadways clear so that sweepers can make their regular passes. Sweepers will make two passes down each roadway with the mechanical sweeper and then another pass with the vacuum sweeper for the finer debris and material. For more information, contact Public Works directly at 905980-6672.
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POETRY REQUIEM MASS They lie and wait In makeshift graves, Hundreds, thousands, Lifeless souls. No longer living, Breathing, Human flesh, Yet, somehow, Even more. Victims, Bodies without blood, Bones brittle and broken? No! So much more! Buried, scattered, flung, Wherever death has found them. Brave, courageous, patriots, Valiant to the end. Their struggle for freedom over, Their cause left up to those Who still remain. Bodies buried in the Hell of one man's Pathetic reign of Tyranny. And fight survivors will, For the right to live In their chosen land, In Peace Upon this Earth. And so the dead Wait patiently, Wait to be found, Wait to be claimed, Wait for their sacrifice To be acknowledged To be honoured, By the watching,waiting, world.
S.M. Lazareth
What's That
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The Pelham Fire Department responded to six calls for assistance from Friday, April 15 to Friday, April 22. Saturday, April 16 Motor vehicle accident, River Rd., Station 2 Monday, April 18 Rubbish fire, Balfour St., Station 2 Wednesday, April 20 Medical assistance, Station 1 Motor vehicle accident, Victoria Ave., Station 2 Thursday, April 21 Medical assistance, Station 1 Medical assistance, Station 1
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The Voice
Page 3
A April 27 2022
TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
Divisive partisanship comes roaring back On range of issues, agreement is elusive BY JOHN CHICK Voice Correspondent With no substantive explanation, the political bloc of Councillors Lisa Haun, Bob Hildebrandt, Ron Kore, and Marianne Stewart killed a motion to update the Town of Pelham’s council procedural bylaw at their April 19 virtual meeting. The updated bylaw, prepared by staff over several months, included nearly two dozen items, such as moving council meetings from Mondays to Tuesdays, and extending meeting curfews from 9 PM to 9:30 PM. In most cases, when councillors intend to vote for or against an item, they speak on the matter first. This time, the item went straight to tally, with only Mayor Marvin Junkin, Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Olson and Ward 2 Councillor John Wink voting in favour. A visibly dismayed CAO David Cribbs pointedly reminded councillors that the contents of the bylaw revision had been created at their own behest. “This was an action item in the strategic plan. You ordered us to bring this to you,” the CAO said. “There were specific items that you also voted on and ordered us deferred to the spring of 2022. This report satisfied four or five motions.”
Wink wondered aloud if more discussion was needed, with each section divided. “To flat-out ‘no’ this, without discussion, doesn’t sit right,” he said. Cribbs asked for specifics on why the members who voted against it did so. “We need to hear what you’re unhappy with [in order] to be able to serve you better,” the CAO said. “I walk away not knowing if it was the proposed move to Tuesday nights? Which part was fatal to it? I don’t think any of us know why this was just defeated.” Haun said it simply wasn’t her problem. “We’ve only got, what, five or six months left or something like that, so this would be decisions I think the next council would make,” the Ward 3 councillor said, referring to the October municipal election. “Why would we determine what the next council would want?” Wink replied that it was in fact intended to be of service to the next council. “Think of all of this council when [we] first started out,” Wink said. “[We] didn’t have a clue on any of this, so what we’re trying to do is set it up and make things a little easier for next council.”
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Pelham Town Council meets virtually on April 19. Town Clerk Holly Willford told council that in order to reconsider the motion, a councillor would have to make a motion to do so at that night’s meeting, or it would be disposed of— unless a twothirds majority were able to bring it back in the future. Confused over whether this reconsideration motion needed to come from someone who originally voted against adopting the new bylaw, Kore shouted for a point of order. “Are we debating? What are we debating?” Kore exclaimed. “The vote was no and you’re asking for someone to step up … are we supposed to be debating?” Willford said it was her understanding that Wink was attempting to make a motion to recon-
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sider, which he then confirmed. However, no other councillor seconded Wink’s motion (under procedural rules, the Mayor was unable to second), and the item died a final death. Neither Kore, Hildebrandt nor Stewart provided a reason as to why they voted against it. None of the four responded to a later Voice request for comment on their motivations, and to what extent they had coordinated their vote beforehand, outside of public view, in a way that “materially advances the business or decision-making” of council, an activity which, depending on how it is undertaken, is illegal under the Municipal Act. Mayor Marvin Junkin told the Voice that prior to the meeting
there was no sign of trouble. “I had spoken in advance with our Clerk, Ms. Willford, and she had not heard any negative comments from any council members, so she was optimistic that after some debate, and perhaps one or two amendments, the report would pass. When I asked council for comments or questions on the report and received none, I remember thinking to myself how happy the Clerk would be that council was going to accept the report as is. [But] in an extremely rare act, without any comments whatsoever, the report was defeated 4-3.” Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Olson See COUNCIL back page
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The Voice
A April 27 2022
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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
Editorial
On Pelham Council, Gang of Four dips to new low
P
elham Town Council had another doozy of a meeting last week. It would be nice to report that the councillors worked harmoniously, that staff reports were reviewed and discussed, and that wise decisions were ultimately made for the community’s greater good. Sadly—but by now not surprisingly—this didn’t happen. Where to start. Shooting down a sensible, cost-free climate change measure? Crippling senior staff’s ability to fully function in the event of a Lame Duck council? Not enough room. Let’s jump to salaries. Council once again decided not to increase their own pay. On the surface, this seems to be a good thing— no increased taxes, and to pay politicians more, of all things. But hold on. As it stands, the only people who can afford to serve on Pelham Town Council are retirees, or those who run their own businesses. That’s not our town. Yes, we are home to many older residents, but they are not the majority. The average age in Pelham is 46. That’s a lot of families with kids, as can be seen daily on any public playground and at the MCC. The odds of a working parent, 30-50 years old, being willing to spend hundreds of hours per year on council matters—eating into family time, and sometimes into their day jobs—for a grand total of $16,000 and a spiffy bomber jacket,
are pretty slim. As the staff report made clear, increasing councillor pay by even a few thousand dollars would help make seeking a council seat a viable proposition for younger people. Only one member of Pelham’s current council, Lisa Haun, is young enough to still work for a living (as a self-employed consultant). All the other councillors are either retired or sufficiently well off that they could be. So to hear certain of them loftily opine about how they aren’t in it for the money, and how any payment is simply a bonus, is really to hear elderly, well-heeled persons (predominantly male) boast about their privilege, and watch them perpetuate a system in which people like themselves continue to maintain their grip on the reins of power. hen we come to the evening’s humdinger, the pièce de résistance of irresponsible governance, possibly a new low in four years of deep dips. First a little backstory. Before Covid, councillors and staff convened to determine council’s goals for their term of office—what they wanted to accomplish, wanted to prioritize. Prominent on the final list was an overhaul of the Town’s outdated Procedural Bylaw. This is the set of rules that governs how Town Council functions. The text is drier than a saltine in the Sahara sun, but it’s vital to the efficient functioning of council—meaning it saves the Town (and taxpayers)
T
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR Don Rickers
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger
CONTRIBUTORS Jane Bedard, Carolyn Botari, Colin Brezicki, Rosemary Chambers, John Chick, Michael Coren, Larry Coté, Brian Green, Miriam Han, Megan Metler, 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
time and money. The final report was the result of combined efforts of the Clerk’s office and the office of the CAO. In total, four staff contributed to the preparation of the report over the course of three months, involving hundreds of work-hours, and likely tens of thousands of dollars in opportunity cost. Several days before last Tuesday’s meeting all councillors had been provided the new 32-page bylaw, plus a six-page executive summary covering its 22 significant updates and changes. Enter the Gang of Four, stage (far) right. When the vote came to approve the new bylaw, the Mayor opened the floor to discussion. Nary a peep from our Gang members— meaning they had no objections, nothing to quibble about, right? Oh, but by now we know that a silent Gang of Four is no less dangerous. The new bylaw failed 4-3, with not a single word of explanation from the dissenters. All that work, down the drain. Staff were clearly caught flat-footed. The Mayor, Councillor Wink and the CAO reminded Councillors Haun, Hildebrandt, Stewart, and Kore that agenda items need to be publicly debated on their merits, and that no item should be defeated without an explanation, particularly so that staff can receive guidance and do better next time. This of course fell on deaf ears.
7
Then the Mayor and Councillor Wink essentially pleaded with the four to reconsider—offering to go through the report line-by-line, so that the good changes need not be thrown out with whatever it was that bothered them. Again, no movement, other than smug grins from each of the Gang. But why? Why smugly reject a document that council itself had asked for? Was there not at least one of the 22 updates that was supportable? Or was this simply the latest in a series of perverse demonstrations of power. The mind boggles. This was not the first time that the Gang of Four has killed an item of business in a coordinated way, without public discussion. No one, apart from them, knows why. None of the four councillors acknowledged a Voice request for comment on their vote. To a reasonable eye, Councillors Haun, Hildebrandt, Stewart and Kore give every appearance of seeming to communicate with each other outside of the council chamber, without so much as a single syllable of reasoning. At best this violates the spirit of Ontario’s open meeting law. Such brazenly anti-democratic behaviour is unconscionable. It is the polar opposite of the transparency that every member of the Gang of Four claimed to champion in their 2018 campaigns. It frankly deserves rejection at the ballot box
for whichever Gang member has the effrontery to run again. It’s non-negotiable: We should always know why our elected leaders make the decisions they do. The real problem is that the Gang of Four displays a paranoid fixation on staff trustworthiness, even with the CAO, whom they themselves hired. We can only imagine how demoralizing it must be to work for elected officials who doubt your ethics, your basic competence, day in and day out. inally, on a night that transparency was trampled, it is ironic that one of the items discussed behind closed doors related to an investigation by the Provincial Ombudsman. While we don’t yet know what the exact focus of the investigation is, we do know that the Ombudsman is the Town’s closed meeting investigator. We also know that the Ombudsman only goes into closed session with council members to review his draft report, prior to its public release, and only when that report makes a negative finding—a guilty verdict—regarding one or more councillors. This means that sometime over the next two or three weeks the caca is set to hit the fan. We’ll know which councillor did what, and when, and what consequences may follow. Betting that it’s one or more of the Gang of Four who have been called out is a no-brainer. Stay tuned. ◆
F
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
Mayor of Pelham Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2986 Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840 Councillor Wayne Olson wolson@pelham.ca 905-933 6033
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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
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The Voice
Page 5
A April 27 2022
OPINION Council's failure to respect science a sad commentary I would like to voice my profound disappointment in Pelham Town Council's lack of support regarding the motion brought forward by Councillor Wayne Olson at the April 19 council meeting. The scientific community has repeatedly told us that we need to cut greenhouse emissions by 45 percent by 2030, reach carbon neutrality by 2050, and limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century to avoid worst-case scenarios. Scenarios that will directly affect our children! A survey done in Niagara, conducted as part of Niagara Adapts, in collaboration with Brock University, found that the vast majority of citizens feel adapting to climate change is a top household priority, with 85 percent of respondents supporting municipal resources being used to combat it. The survey showed the people of Niagara want our elected officials to not only take meaningful action on the climate crisis, but we are willing to put tax dollars behind it. The Waterloo Region has been very progressive on climate change. Every one of us should applaud their commitment to a greener and more environmentally stable Ontario. They have already adopted a net-zero carbon policy for new local government buildings and endorsed a corporate greenhouse gas and energy roadmap to achieve a 50 percent emissions reduction by 2030 for existing local government buildings, and net-zero emissions by 2050. The Province of Ontario has committed to greenhouse gas reduction targets of 30 percent by 2030— emissions from buildings represented 22 percent of the province’s 2017 emissions The motion that Councillor Olson put forward was to support and endorse Water-
loo’s request to the provincial government to establish a model National Building Code. This code would be province-wide and ensure that, among other things, new builds are created to net zero greenhouse emission standards. We need to start somewhere. Starting with new builds and ensuring that they are constructed in ways that help us maintain a net-zero greenhouse gas emission level is a mere baby step in what needs to be done, but it is still a step forward. Councillor Hildebrandt’s objection that it would be too difficult for engineers and administrators to navigate the changes from municipality to municipality is not only insulting to engineers and other professionals in Ontario, but a moot point, as the proposal by Waterloo would ensure a streamlined Ontario-wide code for new builds. This in turn would save money going forward, as fewer buildings would need expensive retrofits to meet green building criteria. Buildings with better energy performance provide owners and occupants with lower energy bills, improved building comfort, and resilience from power disruptions that are expected to be more common in a changing climate, tackling both inequality and energy poverty. Is it too much of an ask of our councillors to respect the wishes of their constituents and support greener action? Apparently it is. That is a sad commentary on our council. Kudos to Councillors Olson and Wink, as well as Mayor Junkin, for being the only three with the ambition and foresight to move forward on this. It is my hope that this motion can be revisited with a better outcome for us all. Donna Gorham Fonthill
Golden opportunity lost At last week’s Pelham Town Council meeting, a glorious opportunity for climate action was lost. It would have been a great and significant Earth Week contribution. I believe this was a major error in judgment on the part of Town Council. Clearly, our council had not been canvassed enough on this issue. I feel that I must take some responsibility in that omission of action. Apparently, some councillors believed that, if implemented, changing building codes to reduce green house gas emissions from new builds would created too much work and confusion for engineers and administrators. My experience working on and quoting jobs for 50 years in the industrial, institutional, and residential construction industry throughout Ontario and across Canada tells me otherwise.
For too many years the environment has suffered because looking after our Earth is “too much work.” The environmental crisis that confronts us is extremely complicated. It’s unrealistic to expect minor adjustments to our way of doing things will be sufficient. This council has been too short-sighted in failing to support this resolution. We are all saddened by the fact that our council did not endorse the City of Waterloo resolution that would have created a zero Greenhouse Gas (GHG) building code. Despite our disappointment, we thank the Mayor and the councillors who voted for the motion, championed by Councilor Wayne Olson. This Waterloo resolution was largely created by the group called 50x30WR. They were in consultation with participating communities
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from across Canada. Our own 50x30Niagara, under the leadership of local pastor and environmentalist Herb Sawatzsky, has been See LOST next page
PELHAM AND COVID-19 Mayor Marvin Junkin
Gearing up for Canada Games, and optimism for Geopark
L
ast Friday, April 22, I attended two events in Niagara, each one being the accumulation of years of hard work. In the morning I was at the Glendale Campus of Niagara College, along with Councillor Wayne Olson, to attend the announcement of new monetary support from the Ontario Green Belt Foundation—$95,000 dollars was presented to The Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Global Geopark Foundation. This donation will help the Foundation secure its UNESCO Global Geopark designation. I attended the primary meeting of this dedicated group in 2018. After hundreds of hours of work, the Geopark Foundation is ready to receive UNESCO officials next summer. They will be viewing the geological sites that they have chosen to make up what would be Ontario’s first geopark. With such features as Niagara Falls, the Niagara Escarpment, the Fonthill Kame, and Balls Falls, just to name a few, there is justified optimism that the geopark designation will be granted. Once established it is hoped that the geopark will entice tourists from all over the world to visit our region. For more information on this project please go to the Niagara Geopark website. Also in the afternoon, CAO David Cribbs, Council-
lor Olson and I attended the grand opening of the Canada Games Park complex. This complex is located on the campus of Brock University, directly across from Regional Headquarters on Merrittville Highway. After listening to various speakers we toured the interior
"It is hoped that the geopark will entice tourists from all over the world" of this magnificent building. Coming in at a price of just over $100 million dollars, it is definitely what I call a WOW building. Financed by all three levels of government, this building contains two hockey rinks, a huge basketball court, and a large section dedicated as the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre. The building will host five sporting events in the upcoming Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. The games will take place August 6 to 21. Just west of the main building are six competition beach volleyball courts, a cycling and storage pavilion, and a 400-metre track and field facility.
After the Games, the complex will be a legacy for the community and provide opportunities for accessible recreation, cultural events and endless activities for all of Niagara’s residents. On the Covid front, as of April 22, 1591 patients were in Ontario hospitals. This number was down slightly from just over 1600 the day before. Patients in ICU due to Covid-related illness numbered 214, up from 207 the day before. The province announced last Friday that it will extend the remaining mask mandate in high-risk settings such as senior homes until June. I hope everyone had a happy Earth Day on the 22nd and took some time to reflect that this old rock we live on is the only one we’ve got. Scientists are telling us that we have got to show it a lot more respect! Finally, I'd like to express my appreciation to the Voice for helping the Town keep residents informed about Covid through this column for the past two years. I will be returning to this space from time to time, along with other municipal commentators from here on out. I'm sure you join me in hoping that the need for a dedicated weekly message regarding Covid does not return. Now let's enjoy some sunshine! ◆
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NEWSFLASH Tell us your story! Column Six presents tales of personal triumph, adventure, strange-but-true stories, life-changing events, and looks-back at our past. Did you conquer Everest or kick a bad habit? Everyone has a story. Tell us yours! NOW ALSO ACCEPTING FICTION— SHORT STORIES UP TO 4000 WORDS! Write it down, send it in: publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca (You won’t get rich, but you will get paid.)
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The Voice
A April 27 2022
COMMON DECENCY Rev. Michael Coren
Letters continued
Stop cherry-picking the Bible to justify oppression
O
ne day, God willing, there will be no more need to write about the relationship between Christians and the LGBTQ community. Equality and acceptance will be the set position for churches, and the debate will be over. Apologies will be made, contrition offered, even penance performed. A new pattern will emerge, and authentic Christian values and virtues can dominate. As I say, God willing. That many of you reading this opening paragraph will likely doubt me speaks volumes about how much damage has been caused. It often surprises people when they learn that the subject is hardly even mentioned in the Bible, especially when we remember how much time so many people devote to it, and how many other subjects— justice, peace, the horror of poverty and suffering, for example — are given so much Biblical coverage. The Old Testament is often quoted, but without a thorough understanding and with a painful disregard for its authentic nature. These texts are not history, and certainly not some guide to contemporary living— witness the defense of slavery, ethnic cleansing, and the archaic treatment of women. The story of Sodom, for example, is actually about protecting one’s guests, and loving God, rather than condemning gays and lesbians. The homophobic element was injected centuries later by the early medieval church, for all sorts of political and sociological reasons. When the Hebrew Scriptures do mention homosexuality—and it’s men, and never women, by the way— it also refers to the unacceptability of certain combinations of cloth, eating the wrong foods, or having sex with a woman when she is menstruating. Odd how the only segments of these lists that are still embraced are those
disapproving of gay sex. It’s the very cherry-picking of which they accuse others. Jesus doesn’t mention homosexuality at all, and is in fact startlingly unconcerned with the sex lives of those whom he encounters, often criticizing those who do condemn. The central teaching of the Gospels is love and
"Omission does not necessarily signify approval, but there may be one incident where Jesus does pass comment"
compassion, and if one group does provoke him to anger it’s the puritans and moralists. Omission does not necessarily signify approval, but there may be one incident where Jesus does pass comment. He is approached by a Roman centurion, who explains that his slave, a man he loves very much, is dying. Will Jesus heal him? The servant is cured, and Jesus is amazed at the soldier’s faith. In first-century Palestine, the Jewish people were humiliated by Rome’s occupation, and in an attempt to mock their oppressors would joke that Roman soldiers had sex with each other and with their male slaves. The dark humour of the powerless. Combine this with the specific Greek words used in this story for “love,” which go far beyond “affection” or “friendship,” and it may well have been that
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Volunteers the heart of community this scene was taken as a clear reference to a same-sex relationship. The apostle Paul does speak briefly about homosexuality, but we ought to remember that the word itself didn’t exist until many centuries later, and Paul was responding not to committed, loving relationships but to heterosexual men using boys for sex— significantly, the Greek word he uses is “exchange.” He is speaking of an abuse of power and of exploitation of the vulnerable, sometimes for pleasure and often as part of Roman and Greek religious rituals. Paul was a sublime thinker, but isn’t really part of the modern conversation around this issue. Part of this narrative goes far beyond the Bible, of course. Horribly damaging church policies towards the LGBTQ community, and to women, Jews, and Indigenous people, can often be traced to the need to preserve power and control, and have had nothing at all to do with the frequently radical culture of, in particular, the New Testament. There’s a bitter continuum here, extending from abortion to sexual identity to clericalism and the equality of all believers. But the Bible matters, and along with faith, reason, and experience, should be the foundation of the Christian conscience. I would never argue that it blasts support for LGBTQ people, but equally, when we read this collection of books with knowledge and without malice, I believe that it doesn’t condemn it either. In short, it doesn’t say very much at all. What it does say, and sing and shout and demand, is empathy, kindness, and justice. This should be the overwhelming concern of the Christian, from the most casual congregant to the most senior prelate. And that is something every follower of Jesus should state with—well, with enormous pride. ◆
If there ever was a time to honour people, animals, plants and our land, it is now. We are all privileged caretakers of the land, our earth and world that we are allowed to share and live on. Volunteers have been the heart of our community in many ways and for many years. The Friends of Maple Acre are currently working towards a great recognition of our past and present volunteers. Our projects include new gardens and an art installation of a carved silver maple tree stump. The carving will reflect all things matter. People, animals, flora and our earth. The carving will embrace the native trail (now known as Canboro Road) that passes through our village and will honour all volunteers in our community. We have many activities and projects planned at the Maple Acre Branch in Fenwick. We will be raising funds to assist us in funding these enhancements and appreciate all donations. We hope our tree carving and new gardens will begin in May and continue evolving in June and throughout the summer. The tree carving is to be done by Jean Pierre Gauthier. We invite your support and visits as these projects evolve. The Pelham Garden Club and the Pelham Beautification committee will assist the Friends with prepping the garden beds, planting and maintenance. Our new gardens will help beautify our village by providing a relaxing place for all to pause and enjoy. On Saturday April 23, The Friends of Maple Acre and volSee LIBRARY Page 14
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continued from previous page drafting its own Climate Action Plan for our region. Members from PATH (Pelham Advocates for Trees and Habitat) are involved in that effort, alongside environmentalists from like-minded groups across Niagara. Considering this major defeat for climate change action in hindsight, I am hoping that our council will work along with Herb Sawatzsky and the 50x30 organization. Let all of us pitch in to respond to the climate change crisis in every way we can. We must do better! Mike Jones Fonthill
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The Voice
Page 7
A April 27 2022
Charles Duncan awaits sentencing Crown urges prison time, defense argues for house arrest
"We're not suggesting in any way that a sentence appear to be or should be lenient"
BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor Former Pelham family physician Charles Duncan was back at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in downtown St. Catharines last Tuesday before Justice Deborah Calderwood, as his defense counsel, Seth Weinstein, completed an oral sentencing submission. Crown prosecutor Todd Morris responded to Weinstein’s comments. Duncan was found guilty on January 21 by Justice Calderwood on all six counts of sexual assault brought against him under Section 271 of the Criminal Code, in relation to five different complainants. The charges stemmed from acts committed by Duncan in his medical practice and elsewhere dating back as far as 1999, with the most recent in 2018. Her Honour reiterated for the courtroom that a ban prohibited the publication of any information that could identify the named complainants in the case. Weinstein offered a review of the case law and range of sentencing with respect to the nature of sexual assault offences. Citing several prior legal cases, he maintained that Duncan’s actions were at the “lower end of the spectrum” for sexual assault conduct. “Obviously at the end of the day, each case is dependent on its unique facts,” said Weinstein. “But what is clear is that the courts have held that in some
circumstances, a conditional sentence can achieve the fundamental principles of sentencing for breach of trust sexual assault cases.” Weinstein underscored that Duncan had no prior criminal charges, and had an unblemished record with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, until an investigation by that body commenced regarding some of the acts for which he was later charged. The defense lawyer argued that Duncan posed no risk to the community, and recommended a conditional sentence of 18 months of non-custodial house arrest. “Dr. Duncan has to live with the charges, with the publicity, with the loss of his professional standing, and the very public criminal trial convictions,” said Weinstein. “All of that, on its own, will be enough to deter Dr. Duncan from ever thinking of transgressing again.” Weinstein insisted that the stigma of conditional sentence with house arrest would provide a “restorative approach, and allow for Dr. Duncan to provide reparations to the community.” He argued that a jail sentence would only be a drain on the government’s penal resources. “A properly crafted conditional sentence can provide significant denunciation and deterrence,
Charles Duncan and his partner, named in court as Barbara Vyrostko, depart the St. Catharines courthouse for a lunch break on Friday, April 8 not to return. Duncan's lawyer cited a health issue as the reason for his client's absence. DON RICKERS
which can be achieved through strict terms like house arrest and community service. We're not suggesting in any way that a sentence appear to be or should be lenient,” said Weinstein. Duncan’s age (he will be 79 in July) and asserted poor health (he is said to have been diagnosed with leukemia and prostate cancer, and is receiving treatment for both) are additional issues for Calder-
wood to consider in her sentencing deliberations, Weinstein said. Morris reiterated the Crown’s position, that a period of real jail time of two to four years was a more fitting sentence, since the crimes “represented a significant breach of trust, involved multiple victims” over a period of two decades. The Crown sought a sentence “proportional to the gravity of the offense.”
When the defense was asked by Calderwood for a submission on actual jail time if she decided that a period of incarceration was appropriate, Weinstein responded that no more than a one year term of imprisonment should be imposed. Duncan, who practiced family medicine in Pelham for decades, resigned from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in October 2019, and also gave up his license to practice medicine, after the College commenced an investigation into allegations against him of professional misconduct. After one of the alleged sexual assault victims told her story to the Voice that autumn, several other women came forward with similar allegations. Duncan was arrested and formerly charged by Niagara Regional Police in November 2019. The women involved were aged 16 to 64 at the time of the incidents. Her Honour will review all the submission materials, and the parties will be back in court on Friday, May 6, at which time a sentence may be forthcoming.
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The Voice
A April 27 2022
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"Blue Liberal" Doug Joyner acclaimed in Niagara West Former West Lincoln mayor will face incumbent MPP Sam Oosterhoff and the NDP's David Augustyn BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor ning Appeals Tribunal] from 2019 to 2021, and am very familiar with the situation. Combine that with my mayoral and Regional Council experience, and I think I'll be able to combat that issue.” A second priority is healthcare, with mental health as a key component. “There's no question that we want to get the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital over the finish line,” said Joyner. “It has been an issue not just for four years, or ten years or 15 years, it's been an issue for 25 years. I remember standing on the field at Grimsby Secondary School years ago with thousands of others, holding up placards and pleading with the provincial government to build our hospital. And it seems to be coming along.” Bricks and mortar are one important part of the equation, but money must also be directed to hospital staffing and procurement of proper equipment, he said. “We need to bring obstetrics back to to West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, and all different forms of health. The pandemic has demonstrated that we are very vulnerable
Joyner sounded unfazed about the Liberal’s poor showing in 2018 when he spoke to the Voice about his upcoming campaign, prior to heading out for the hustings. “We had lots of excited volunteers out to the launch,” said Joyner. The event emcee was Paul Grenier, a former Welland city councillor, and there were several guest speakers, included Vance Badawey, the federal Liberal MP for Niagara Centre. Asked about his competitors heading into the election, Joyner said that he worked harmoniously with Augustyn when they were on Regional Council together, but has no real history with Oosterhoff. However, he does feel that Oosterhoff’s successful provincial campaign in 2018 put wind in the sails of the far-right Dave Bylsma, who defeated Joyner for West Lincoln mayor that year. Two topics were top-of-mind for Joyner in the upcoming election. “An issue in all municipalities is the changing identity of our urban communities,” said Joyner, pointing to zoning concerns. “This is an area where I think I will be able to shine, because I spent two years with LPAT [the Local Plan-
See JOYNER Page 17
Doug Joyner is the provincial Liberal candidate in Niagara West.
SUPPLIED
STAYING CONNECTED Scam Seminar: Thursday, May 5, 2022. Meridian Community Centre | 10:30 am - 2:00 pm. The Pelham Seniors Advisory Committee welcomes Brock Godfrey who will be providing valuable information about scams. This event is free to all attendees and lunch is included. Advance registration is required.
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A veteran Niagara public servant has reentered the political arena. Doug Joyner, the 53-year-old former mayor of West Lincoln and former Niagara Regional Councillor, was acclaimed last week as the Liberal Party’s candidate in Niagara West for the impending Ontario general election, and staged a media launch at Casa Toscana restaurant in downtown Grimsby to announce his selection. He will square off against incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Sam Oosterhoff, and the NDP’s David Augustyn, who is also attempting a political resurrection after losing his bid for Regional Council in 2018, following a controversial 12-year stint as Pelham mayor. The Ontario Liberal Party, led by incumbent Premier Kathleen Wynne, did not fare well in the last general election. In 2018, the Liberals recorded the worst result in the party's 161-year history, as Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative party won 76 of the 124 seats in the legislature and formed a majority government. In Niagara West, Sam Oosterhoff took 53 percent of the vote, while the NDP and Liberals tallied 25 percent and 15 percent respectively.
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For additional information contact: Brittany MacLean 905-732-7882 | bmaclean@pelham.ca
www.pelham.ca/seminarseries
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The Voice
Page 9
A April 27 2022
Thousands of bulbs in bloom on Terrace Heights Garden tour event to fundraise for Rose City Kids BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor Gerry and Jane Walker bought their Terrace Heights Crescent home in Fonthill a couple of years ago, and went to work on indoor and outdoor renovations. The landscaping makeover, done by DeKorte’s of Fenwick, features both a greenhouse and 4000 bulb plants, which will be in full bloom for an event open to the public on May 7 and 8, which Gerry refers to as “a stroll through our gardens.” There is no entry fee, but donations are encouraged, with all offerings directed to Rose City Kids (RCK), a faith-based organization serving 500 youths ages four through 17, operating out of a former theatre complex on East Main Street in Welland. Programming with staff and volunteers includes such activities as leadership training, mentorship, tutoring, choir, youth nights, and summer camps. Both Gerry and Jane share a love of seeing life spring from the soil. “I worked for 16 years at the Vineland Research Centre, with a focus on grapes and tree fruit, and integrated pest management,” said Gerry. “I moved on to the Tender Fruit Marketing Board, and then went into crop insurance. Jane has a farming background, and worked in wholesale flowers in the 1980s.” They just returned from checking out the tulip beds in Holland.
Gerry Walker in his backyard greenhouse.
“We planted 4000 bulbs last fall, sourced through DeKorte’s wholesale and Van Noort Bulbs in St. Catharines, which actually originated in Holland. We admittedly went a little crazy,” said Gerry. “We’re still kind of experimenting. There's a lot to learn. There are some technical things, like the greenhouse gas heating, that we still have to work out.” Gerry’s vision is to grow exotic flowers, along with vegetables, over the winter. He keeps the greenhouse heat at around 10 to
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DON RICKERS
15 degrees Celsius in the dead of winter, and an exhaust fan vents air once the temperature hits 24 Celsius. Commercial grow lights hang from the five-layer, polycarbonate ceiling panels. He has a tropical passion flower that produces fruit, a Victory plant, an olive tree, a Bird of Paradise, and a Bougainvillea in his collection, amongst others. “Janet’s passion, aside from plants, is quilting,” said Gerry. “She has a studio set up in the basement, so I’m the one who
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generally putters around in the greenhouse for a couple hours each day.” The gardens are still a work in progress, with more bulbs to be planted in future years. As to how they will look for the event in May, Gerry is uncertain. “Will the daffodils, crocuses, and tulips be in all their glory for Mothers Day weekend? Who knows what the weather will be doing between now and then? We’re hoping it doesn't get too hot, too early,” said Gerry.
The connection with Rose City Kids came through a conversation between the Walkers and John Langendoen, the chair of RCK, who was working with DeKorte’s on the landscaping. “John talked about all the good work being done at Rose City Kids, and Jane and I just thought that it was the kind of charity through which we’d be able to give back to the community,” said Gerry. “We don’t want to be cloistered, and myopic about life. We want to help people.”
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The Voice
KITCHEN ON THE KAME
A April 27 2022
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by Svangur Géroux
For our inaugural outing, a classic: Le Pain de Viande
W
elcome to the first of what I hope will be many delicious adventures in cooking of all sorts, as we ramble, ramblingly, to all corners of the globe. Now, let me establish at the top that while I know what I’m doing in a kitchen, and it’s true that I worked as a sous chef many moons ago, my official kitchen career was enjoyable but short lived, a means to pay for university, not the first step toward running a Michelin-starred restaurant for the rich and infamous. In fact, the very notion of “fine dining” is repellent to me and my spouse, a grotesque example of conspicuous consumption, of ritualized performance demanding elitist knowledge of upper class (or wannabe upper class) customs. My wife and family and I have eaten in every restaurant in Pelham at least once over the past several years, including the much-acclaimed Zest and its present successor. We finished these meals with significantly lighter wallets but no more satisfied than had we gone to an ordinary bistro. The same can be said for the various golf club restaurants. These are all businesses selling cliquish cosplay dining theatre. While the food is often good, it isn’t earth-shatteringly good, and the side dishes of snobbery and pretension are real appetite killers. Decent food, honestly cooked and served, is all we ask for. (On that score, this town lost a diamond-in-the-rough with the closing of Keith’s Restaurant.) Cooking should be fun. Your time in the kitchen should provide a respite from your worries, not add to them. If you find cooking a drudgery, there will be little here that turns your frown upside down. But if a new recipe tickles your curiosity, whets your appetite for tasting the unknown or revisiting a classic, then you’re in the right place. Covid and the Ukraine war weighing on your mind? Cooking is great therapy. Also, when you cook you are never bored.
Recommended gear
We’ll assume that your pantry is stocked with the essentials—eggs, flour, sugar, common seasonings and spices, butter and cooking oil. There are two essential tools, and one highly recommended tool to add to your gear, however, if you don’t have them. The first essential tool is a digital kitchen scale. These are now extremely affordable—there are at least ten models on Amazon for under $20. All recipes, but particularly in baking, depend on accurate ingredient
measurement. Professional bakers do not measure flour by volume, but by weight. And different flours are measured differently. Get a scale! The second essential tool is a digital kitchen thermometer. This makes it simple to know when a given dish is properly cooked, and not just meat dishes. It’s also useful for bread and other baked goods. Get the kind that has its probe at the end of a long cable, to make it easier to use and read than the all-in-one type. The ThermoPro TP16S Digital Meat Thermometer is $29 on Amazon. That’s what we use in our house. There’s no need to spend more. The highly recommended tool is an electric stand mixer, the kind that grandma had, which modern manufacturers have fetishized through their retro model designs. A stand mixer, with its paddle, hook, and whisk attachments, will save you an enormous amount of time—not just in kneading bread doughs, but also in recipes such as this week’s—and save you considerable travail in treating carpal tunnel in both wrists a couple of years down the road. There is no need to raid the kids’ university fund to acquire a good value. An excellent model is the Cuisinart SM-50RC Precision Master, available on Amazon starting at $230 depending on colour. For whatever complex consumer psychology reason, blue is $235, red is $249, white is $399, and black is $499. Avoid the cheaper Chinese knock-offs, and don’t be lured into spending some crazy amount for an elite brand name. It just isn’t necessary for the home cook.
Sourcing
You’ll notice I mentioned Amazon three times above. I am all for shopping local when possible. I’m also a realist, and know what is and isn’t worth trying to buy locally. Canadian Tire carries stand mixers, for example, but their prices are at least $50 higher than found online. And do we really consider Canadian Tire a “local” store? What is the meaningful difference between dropping $299 on corporate giant Amazon and dropping $349 on corporate giant Canadian Tire—except that we are $50 poorer at the end. That said, Zehrs on Niagara Street carries a decent range of kitchen hardware, including meat thermometers, although none that match the value of the model mentioned above. Beamer’s Hardware also carries a surprisingly good range of kitchenware, although as of last week not digital weigh
scales, according to our fact-checking editor. Of course when it comes to fresh ingredients, local is the only way to go. We shop at Zehrs (excellent produce and fish, with a decent meat department), Food Basics in Fonthill for bargains, and South Pelham Sobeys for sushi and certain sale items. FreshCo, on Lundy’s Lane, carries vegetables useful in Asian and Mexican cooking, and a good range of frozen vegetarian Indian snacks. When top quality meat is paramount, we prefer Lemayzzz Meats, in Port Colborne, whose excellence is second to none, and far superior to the two local butchers—one of which is a categorical no-go anyway, for reasons obvious to those who have kept up with recent police news. (On a related note, for reasons likewise evident to Pelham readers, we have not set foot in Fonthill Sobeys since shortly after Covid started, and have no intention to do so until there is a change of management. It’s a slightly farther drive to Zehrs or to South Pelham Sobeys, but a little extra gasoline expense is more than made up for by a clear conscience and sleeping easier at night.) Right, then. On to our debut recipe.
T
Le Pain de Viande
he original version of this succulent meat dish first surfaced in a 1980s Los Angeles Times article about the Southern California restaurant that created it. Over the decades since it has been tinkered with by many, including by me, but has remained largely intact. It’s hard to best a masterpiece. While it’s generally preposterous to proclaim a single dish or recipe “the best”— something that social media cooks tiresomely excel at— when it comes to this classic staple of North American cooking, it’s a recipe that cruises in the stratosphere. If your French is rusty, forgive the hypocritical indulgence in a little pomposity. Le Pain de Viande = Meatloaf. And this, fellow eaters, is among the most royal of meatloaves. It provides just the right blend of savoury and sweet, meat and a soffritto base, with a touch (or more) of peppery heat. With judicious use of cream and a secret ingredient, the loaf remains velvety moist. Now there are those who dismiss meatloaf as merely a hamburger in brick form. Such people are silly, and have clearly never experienced the gustatory joy of a genuinely tasty meatloaf. In that vicinity, incidentally, here’s another fundamental principle before we continue. We should not just enjoy cooking food, but enjoy eating it as well. Our meals should delight our senses, satisfy us deeply. Fat, salt, and sugar are particularly able to provoke such sensory satisfaction. We will not be
shying away from employing them in our recipes. We only live once. Recall that Man For All Seasons: Death comes for us all; even at our birth—even at our birth, death does but stand aside a little. And every day he looks towards us and muses somewhat to himself whether that day or the next he will draw nigh. It is the law of nature, and the will of God. God or no god, none of us are getting out alive. So let’s live a little along the way— also bearing in mind the Greek poet’s dictum, moderation is best in all things. (Did you know that bacon fat is actually lower in saturated fat, and higher in good monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, than butter? Butter contains 58 percent more saturated fat than bacon fat. See? It’s getting easier to eat tastier all the time.) Where were we. Right, magnificent meatloaves. Let’s first list some golden rules for any meat-
loaf: Do not include ground veal. It is essentially flavourless and quickly dries out. That grocery store premix of beef, pork, and veal is a crime against the culinary. Do not use a water bath, i.e., a pan of simmering water on the bottom oven rack. This steamy principle works well in bread baking. It’s loony for ground meat that exudes its own moisture. And for goodness sake, you want a crispy crust. Do not use fresh bread crumbs, i.e., do not take slices of bread and whiz them in a blender. We need bone-dry, unseasoned, plain old breadcrumbs from the supermarket, the better to bind. For the most efficient portions and even doneness, use a loaf pan. Do not form your meatloaf on a flat baking sheet like it’s a sourdough baguette. It won’t cook as evenly, and slicing uniform portions is impossible. That said, the baguette method does result in the crispiest crust.
Do add our secret ingredient: powdered gelatin. The resulting mouthfeel is luxurious, contributing an element of umami. Don’t forget to knead your mix. And I mean you really need to knead it. Look at most meatloaf recipes in recent years and you find alarmist warnings against kneading—we are practically ordered to avoid even looking directly at the meat, much less touching it with more than a tender caress. Know what this mollycoddling gets you? A delinquent crumbler! A meatloaf that turns into a Sloppy Joe the minute you try to slice it. Kneading is as important as the breadcrumbs and eggs in binding the ingredients, and ensuring that slices retain their shape off the knife. (And here’s a great chance to put your new paddle mixer to work.) ◆
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The Voice
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A April 27 2022
Le Pain de Viande Quantity: One large loaf, plus a small surplus for mini-meat-muffin snacks. Prep plus cook time: 2-3 hours. Loaf may be pre-mixed and stored in the fridge up to two days ahead, or frozen for three months. For frozen loaves, defrost in fridge for a full 24 hours before cooking. Servings: 6-8 from the loaf. Leftovers freeze very well. Sides: Mashed potatoes, and green beans or other veg. Ingredients 3/4 cup roughly chopped onion 3/4 cup finely chopped green onion 1/2 cup roughly chopped celery 1/2 cup roughly chopped carrot 1/4 cup roughly chopped green pepper 1/4 cup roughly chopped sweet red pepper 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, pressed with garlic press 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tsp chicken stock powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1/4 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1-1/2 Tbsp unflavoured gelatin (about two packets) 1/2 cup half and half (10% milkfat) 1/2 cup ketchup 1/2 cup cold water 2 pounds regular or lean ground beef (907 g) 12 oz lean ground pork (340 g) 3 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs NOTES If you want less heat, substitute black pepper for the cayenne. Regular ground beef will give you a slightly juicier result, but either way much of the fat is rendered out and into the pan during baking anyway.
Traditional Sweet-Savoury Glaze 1/2 cup-plus ketchup 1/8 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, depending on heat preference Preparation ■ Press garlic through garlic press, reserve. ■ Chop onions, carrots, peppers, and celery. This may be done by hand, or with a small food processor. Do not chop too finely. ■ Finely chop entire green onions, base to top. ■ Transfer chopped vegetables, garlic, and green onions to a large pan and saute in the butter on medium-high heat, until vegetables are soft and liquid is largely evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. ■ In a small bowl, add chicken stock to water. Bloom the gelatin by whisking it into the liquid and letting stand for 2 minutes. Then pour the liquid into the vegetables, mix well, then cool in fridge for 30 minutes. ■ Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Adjust main rack to lower middle position, the second rack below it. ■ After vegetable mixture has cooled in the fridge for 30 minutes, beat the eggs. Reserve. ■ In a large bowl—ideally a stand mixer bowl—combine half-and-half, ketchup, and breadcrumbs, stir to mix or use the mixer’s paddle attachment. Add cayenne, cumin, and nutmeg. Add beaten eggs. Add the cooled vegetable-gelatin mixture. Stir to mix. Add beef and pork. Mix well—either kneading by hand for 5 minutes, or with the standing mixer’s paddle for 2 to 5 minutes. The longer the mix the more firm the loaf. Anything over 5 minutes by machine will likely be too chewy. ■ At this point the mixture may optionally be taste-tested for seasoning. Take a small amount to form a tiny patty and microwave it on high until fully cooked, about 15 seconds. Or saute it in a small frypan. Adjust seasonings if needed. ■ Press mixture into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, preferably non-stick metal rather than heavy glass, which we are going to use as a mold. Wrap the pan generously in aluminum foil, including down the sides. (Loaf may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days tightly sealed. Note that cooking time will increase if later moving directly from fridge to oven.) Now a trick to ensure an even, all-over crust. Turn the loaf pan upside down on a rimmed roasting pan, then unfold and peel back the foil and spread it out to catch liquid and make cleanup easier later. Leave the loaf pan on top of the meatloaf for now. ■ There will be enough mix left over to make mini meatloaf muffins. Place the muffin tray under the meatloaf rack. Alternately, roll into meatballs and place on a second rimmed baking sheet. Muffins/meatballs take only 20 minutes to cook, depending on size, so set your timer accordingly. Using a meat thermometer, check for doneness to 155-160 F. Remove and let cool before storing for up to three days in the fridge, or freeze and nuke at your leisure for quick snacks anytime. ■ Bake the loaf for 30 minutes to set its shape. Remove baking sheet from oven and cautiously remove the loaf pan by levering it up and away from the loaf. Do this carefully! First, it’s easy to burn yourself, second it’s also easy to break off a piece of the loaf if you rush. This now exposes the entire loaf to the heat, and avoids the meat cooking in its own rendered fat inside the loaf pan. Return loaf to oven and cook an additional 20 minutes, then start checking the meatloaf’s internal temperature every 5 to 10 minutes until it reaches 140 degrees. ■ Make the glaze while the meatloaf is baking. In a small saucepan, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and cayenne. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is melted and the glaze is smooth and slightly to moderately thickened, around three minutes. Remove and reserve. ■ Once the loaf reaches 140 degrees, remove from oven. Boost the temperature to 500 degrees. Coat the top and sides of the meatloaf with the glaze. Return loaf to oven and start checking internal temperature at 10 minutes. Continue cooking until temperature reaches 155 degrees, which will happen quickly, at which point remove from the oven and let rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing. The internal temperature will continue to rise during this time. ■ Slice and serve with your sides, and marvel at how such modest ingredients combine to make such a magnificent meal.
TIME TO PITCH IN Some 200 community members stopped by the Meridian Community Centre last Saturday, April 23, to pick up their pre-ordered rain barrels. They were greeted by the Eco-Expo, which included community groups and organizations in Pelham that have an eco-focus, among them Home Depot, Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Geopark, Pelham PATH, Bruce Trail, North Pelham Youth Hall, 3rd Fonthill Scouting, Lincoln Pelham Library, and Fonthill Rotary. In addition, the Pelham Community Clean-up supplies pick up was onsite and 100-plus volunteers from groups across Pelham pitched in for the clean-up, with all ages were out and clearing garbage and debris. Above right, Town facilities staff Anthony Battista helps to unload a rain barrel with fellow co-worker Tanner Brown. Above left, previously, on Thursday, April 21, Mayor Junkin and CAO David Cribbs were doing their part to pitch in as part of Earth Week. LEAH LETFORD
Nabbed for doing 122 kph in a 50 zone BY VOICE STAFF Social media has been buzzing with complaints of speeding in rural Pelham, and Niagara Regional Police stepped up their surveillance, with recent results. Constable Barry Ravenek, of the Niagara Regional Police’s Media Relations Unit, informed the Voice that a 17-year-old male from Fenwick was apprehended on April 16 on Maple Street near Sandra Drive in the Town of Pelham. He was clocked travelling 122 kph in a 50 kph zone. He is charged under the Highway Traffic Act with driving a motor vehicle while performing a stunt, speeding by more than 40 kilometres per hour, making an illegal left turn, and driving the wrong way on a divided highway. He is also charged under the Cannabis Control Act with driving a vehicle with cannabis readily available. An NRPS post about the traffic stop on social media was shared dozens of times, drawing nearly 200 comments, including from Fenwick residents who asserted they had witnessed first-hand other alleged instances of the driver’s dangerous vehicle operation, including close tailgating, aggressive passing, and speeding,
Police caught this vehicle doing 122 kph in a 50 zone. As the individual was charged under Provincial Acts and not under the Criminal Code, as per the NRPS’s existing policy, his name has not been released. The driver’s licence was suspended for an initial 30 days and
NRPS
the vehicle in question was impounded for at least 14 days, in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act. The driver’s ultimate fate rests in the hands of a judge, who has a range of additional penalties available.
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The Voice
A April 27 2022
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Local athlete's impressive Boston Marathon performance Carly Zanatta finished 50th out of 10,500 women in this year's race BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor rowing achievements at Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School and E.L. Crossley were recognized with a rowing scholarship at the University of Massachusetts, where she competed for two years, before deciding to return to Canada to join the national women’s program at the training centre in London. Zanatta competed in the lightweight women’s single at the Under-23 World Championships in Bulgaria in 2017. Zanatta continued to row while earning an undergrad degree in food science at the University of Guelph, and subsequently completing a masters degree at Brock, studying periodontal disease and nutrition. She also sculled for the St. Catharines Rowing Club. She still has her Hudson racing shell, but has no plans to return to rowing competition in the near future. “Right now, I’m focused on my running,” she said. “I’m also doing some cycling, which is new to me.” Can a triathlon challenge be in her future? “I definitely have set a future goal to do an Ironman, although I’m not a terribly strong swimmer at present,” she said. Zanatta provided a recap of her Boston experience. “I started off pretty fast, just due to the atmosphere around me. There are so many people competing, and tens of thousands
of spectators along the course, cheering you on. My adrenaline was really pumping. The first third of the Boston route is primarily downhill, then it gets flat, and then you’re back to the hills. That's where it's mentally very hard for a lot of runners. At kilometre 32, you meet Heartbreak Hill, which is really steep. I didn't really ‘hit the wall’ until kilometre 40, but by that point, I had only a couple kilometres left.” Zanatta described crossing the finish line as euphoric. “I can't find the words to describe the experience. It was amazing.” Next up is the Berlin Marathon in Germany in September. “That’s a flat course, and one of the fastest,” she said. “So I'm hoping to have another [personal best] and get closer to that sub-elite or elite status.” When asked if she had aspirations of competing at the national level in a second sport, she responded, “Those girls are running marathons at about two hours, twenty minutes. I’m 20 minutes off that pace right now. I just plan to keep training hard and enjoy what I'm doing. Wherever it takes me, I'll be happy.”
R
Carly Zanatta at the 2022 Boston Marathon.
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Although she had been an elite rower for a number of years, 27-year-old Carly Zanatta did not get serious about long distance running until early in 2020. She had competed in a couple small marathons previously, but the Boston Marathon, a world-famous event that has been in place since 1897, was her first major test. “In my first marathon, I ran three hours and 10 minutes. In the second, I managed to shave off close to 20 minutes. At Boston, my time was just under two hours and 48 minutes,” she told the Voice. Overall, Zanatta finished 1122 out of all 24,822 runners at Boston on April 18. She was 55 amongst the women’s field of 10,564. In her age category, she was 50 out of 4910. She is planning to hire a coach in an effort to reach the next level of competition. “If I can shave off some more time, I can hopefully start with the elite groups of runners next year in Boston.” Zanatta’s training regimen involved sessions before and after work (she is Treatment Coordinator at Dr. Peter C. Fritz Dentistry, in Fonthill) and totalled about 160 kilometres a week before she started her taper before the Boston Marathon. Originally from Fort Erie but now a resident of Pelham, Zanatta’s high school
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The Voice
Page 13
A April 27 2022
The perils of success Brisk sales have depleted sculptor Rick Sereda's stock BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor The 35th annual Pelham Art Festival Show and Sale, May 6 to 8, will feature 55 artists and artisans. The pandemic necessitated a virtual show last year, but 2022 marks the return to an in-person event on Mother's Day Weekend. The venue is the Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill. The Festival is also available online, May 5 to 15, at pelhamartfestival. com. Ahead of this year’s event, the Voice is highlighting winning artists from last year’s competition. Up this week is Niagara Fallsbased sculptor Rick Sereda, a veteran of three Pelham festivals. The man doesn’t quite fit the stereotype of the bearded Greek sculptor with a hammer and chisel. “I started sculpting 16 years ago in San Miguel, in the colonial centre of Mexico,” said Sereda. “I was retired at that point, and started picking up sculpture as an interest, a hobby. I started working with an accomplished artist and sculptor named David Kestenbaum, who sort of took me under his wing and introduced me to countless kinds of media. I've worked in clay and bronze, paper mâché, and wire. I settled on concrete, using my own
formula which has a poly-acrylic additive, and concrete dyes.” For most pieces, he starts with sculpture putty, creates a mold, and then casts it in poly-concrete. After it cures for several months, he applies the finishing touches. Sereda started making outdoor sculptures for gardens and patios, and refined his technique over the years, such that he now produces a variety of concrete sculptures with both indoor and outdoor applications. “Concrete is fairly inexpensive media, and has strength and durability,” he said. “The acrylic provides waterproofing and also a clear-coat sheen. It’s quite unique. I think I’m the only one in Niagara that does this kind of work for display and sale.” Power tools are sometimes used in the process, but often it’s good old-fashioned hand tools like files, hammers and chisels, and sandpaper for the fine work. Sereda’s productivity varies from year to year, but averages six to eight finished pieces. He’s actually not in the Pelham Art Festival this year, saying that he had sold so many pieces, he didn’t have enough sculptures to show. “My sculptures take a long
Rick Sereda at work. With no stock to sell, he will miss this year's Pelham Art Festival. time to cure, two to three months sometimes. I was kind of running behind during the pandemic, and actually didn't finish many pieces. It's labor intensive, a physically demanding art form.” He has a studio in his home, but does lot of the rough work in his garage, because clean-up is easier. “It's a messy, messy process,” he said. Some of Sereda’s garden pieces of birds have measured over four feet tall, but he has stopped making them, because they are too big to easily manage. Most of his
sculptures are 10 to 20 inches, depending on the piece. “I’m sorry to miss this year’s show,” said Sereda. “Pelham mounts an absolutely great production, and I can't say enough about their organization. I've worked with many shows, and quite frankly, I just don't see for-profit groups run as efficiently as this group.” Sereda said that he sold seven pieces during last year’s virtual show. “I am definitely planning to be back next year.”
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Opening night on Friday, May 6, runs 7 PM to 10 PM. Entry is $15, and includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres, live music, and a cash wine bar. Saturday and Sunday, the event runs 10 AM to 5 PM. The entry fee is $7, with a la carte food available for purchase, a cash wine bar, and live music. Children under 12 have free admission. Proceeds from the festival benefit Pelham libraries, student art scholarships, and community arts projects. Since its start, the Pelham Art Festival has donated some $458,000 back to the community.
NEW GARDENS AND A CARVING National Pitch-In Week was underway last Saturday, as the Friends of Maple Acre staged a clean-up at the Fenwick library. New gardens will be planted through until June. On Canboro Road in front of the library, tree carver Jean Pierre Gauthier starts work on his wood sculpture. The Pelham Garden Club and the Pelham Beautification Committee will assist with prepping the garden beds, planting, and maintenance. Fundraising projects include the selling of peace decals, cookies, and stain glass replicas of the library’s 1920 windows. Online donations to the project can be made at pelhamlibrary.on.ca. DON RICKERS
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Page 14
The Voice
A April 27 2022
Volunteer to program leader
OBITUARY
Kerry Kennedy directs “Bring Back the Brookies” for Niagara chapter of Trout Unlimited
WESLEY, James Frederick (1941 - 2022)
BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor It’s springtime, and the brook trout are running. Swimming, actually, in local waterways, and the Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) has mounted efforts to ensure that the brookies’ habitat is protected. “It's a program that we've had on our radar for quite a while, realizing that education is a very important part of any attempt to improve 12 Mile Creek,” said Brian Green, secretary of the Niagara TUC contingent. “People have to understand the threats on the fish, and the necessary restoration measures.” The organization received two major grants, one from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the other from the Great Lakes Community Resiliency Fund, which enabled TUC to hire staff to implement the educational components. Fonthill’s Kerry Kennedy is the lead on the project. “Kerry has been brilliant in pulling together different components, in conjunction with the Ontario schools science curriculum,” said Green. “We now have a five-module video component, with an emphasis on experiential learning. She has organized student groups to participate in some restoration work, such as planting trees, and have had a lot of enthusiastic feedback from teachers.” The formal launch will take place on
LIBRARY
continued from Page 6 unteers tackled the cleanup of the Fenwick library grounds and the adjoining municipal parking lot. We would like to thank all our neighbours and businesses
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
Fonthill Scouts investigated the Twelve Mile Creek, observing evidence of soil erosion and sedimentation in the waterway. SUPPLIED April 28 at 6 PM at the Fonthill Legion on Highway 20. Attendance is limited to the media and a select group of Niagara environmentalists, along with local politicians. All of the group’s information is available on their website, bringbackthebrookies.ca Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff will also be in attendance to deliver remarks celebrating the launch of the educational program, supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Great Lakes Community Action Fund, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Ontario Power Generation, Walker Industries, LaFarge Canada, Bass Pro Outlets, and the many volunteers and members of Trout Unlimited Canada. “Josh White and I took on the educational stewardship activities out in the field,” said Kennedy. “We did some huge community plantings, and developed the educational pieces of the pro-
that joined in to help clean up our town. As part of the cleanup we also took the opportunity to promote our projects and to raise some funds through donation boxes and by selling Peace cookies. Donation boxes are located at both li-
Serving the Niagara Region
gram. The goal is to enhance awareness of biodiversity, and the need for improved water quality in the 12 Mile Creek.” The website also includes curriculum links for educators. “We chose Grades 7 to 9 as our focus area, but really, it's for the entire community because there are general concepts that everyone will be interested in,” she said. “We need to keep the conversation going about these stewardship activities, attracting volunteers, and engaging the community.” Kennedy stressed that the online modules, and the video series, allow people to explore at their own pace, and discover all the factors that help the brook trout maintain healthy populations. “The brookies are our mascot, but it’s really about the watershed’s overall health, the biodiversity, and water quality,” she said.
brary branches Fonthill and Maple Acre Fenwick, as well as at the Fenwick Avondale, the Broken Gavel, and the Grill on Canboro. Online donations can be made through https://pelhamlibrary.on.ca/. Tap on “donate now,” top right,
and you will be taken to Canada Helps page with the Pelham library listed on this page. Donations can be directed to Maple Acre for our carving and garden project. Tax receipts available for donations over $10. The Maple Acre friends
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It is with heavy hearts the family of James Frederick Wesley announce his passing at the St. Catharines General Hospital ICU on Saturday April 16, 2022 in his 81st year. James passed away peacefully with his family by his side. Beloved husband of 57 years to Pauline (nee Mulligan). Loving father to Christine Wesley-Madill (Erin) and Jennifer Wesley. Predeceased by his daughter Payton Anne Wesley in 2002 and parents Fred and Jessie Wesley of Pelham. He will be missed by his brother David Wesley and sister Elizabeth Wesley. James was fondly known by his family and friends as Jim, Pop’s or Gus. Born in Welland and raised in the Pelham area, Jim built his career working as a skilled Millwright, meticulous handyman and Jack of all Trades. Jim loved being outdoors and observing all its beauty on a warm sunny day. There was always a great adventure to be had Scuba diving or snorkelling around the world. Being an avid boater and fisherman, Jim enjoyed being up with the sunrise or out watching the sun set on Lake Erie in search of his next catch. He could always be found tending to his gardens, out driving his truck, golfing or watching a good baseball game on television. Most of all Jim enjoyed a good BBQ or seafood feast with a nice cold “pop” shared with family and friends, wearing his signature white baseball cap. He lived with integrity, always greeted everyone with a firm handshake, warm hello and a smile. He was respected and adored being an amazing husband, father and friend to all those who knew him. He will forever be in our hearts and missed. In keeping with Jim’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Family and friends will be received at the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME, 1292 Pelham Street, Fonthill on Saturday, May 21st from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. A private interment will follow at Fonthill Cemetery. Those attending are required to wear masks. In lieu of flowers and to honour Jim and his daughter Payton Anne, donations are welcome to be made to the Sunshine Dreams for Kids at https://www.sunshine.ca/donate. Condolences may be shared at www.pelhamfuneralhome.ca
Support your local service clubs will be selling Peace decals (permanent, removable, or iron-on) at $5 each. We also have a limited edition of stained glass replicas of our original 1920 windows in the Maple Acre branch library at $25 each. All of these items have been donated to help raise funds. We remain a great community of great donors and volunteers. Through the infamous grapevine we have also had some early donors to our project. Our garden beds at Maple Acre have generously received design assistance
and plants from Willowbrook Nursery, and we have received some financial donations from RBC, Fenwick Lionettes and some other generous individuals. Thank you for this great kick-off and support. This inspires us! We continue to have a great community and we are inviting all to join in and support us in anyway you can. Volunteers always welcome. Sandee Matthews A Friend of Maple Acre, Lincoln Pelham Public Library
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Page 15
A April 27 2022
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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 pccweb.ca/kirkonthehill
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
BALANCED LIFE
er)?’” Did you catch it? All the disciples referred to Jesus as their “Lord” except Judas. He couldn’t. He had already allowed Satan to cast doubts into his mind about Jesus’ ability to meet his expectations. For Eve, it was a question of God’s goodness. For Judas, it was a question of Jesus’ greatness. All this leaves us with two important questions — “Is Jesus my Savior?” and “Is Jesus my Lord?” The two names go together. If Jesus is truly your Savior, he will also be your Lord. ◆
this will continue, which makes it all the more important for our collective and individual health that we avoid following their descent. It is in all our hands to ensure we don’t. We must be vigilant of those that seek to influence our relationships with others for their gain. As I ride my bike or walk around our town and province, I suspect that my experience parallels yours. Mostly we nod or smile or say hello when approaching one another, and our gesture is usually reciprocated. We understand that some of those we meet may be out-of-sorts at that particular time and ignore us or look away, but it is extremely rare to be met with outward hostility or nastiness. We don’t need to pick a camp to
continued from Page 19
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor who wrestled with these questions 50 years ago.
continued from Page 18
safely walk down the street or go shopping. However, a prolonged conversation with a friend or even a s t r a n g er, one just long enough suggest P.J.O'Rourke in 2007. to potentially CATO INSTITUTE shared values, can too often turn to themes reflecting prejudice, discontent and nastiness, exposing a lurking lack of tolerance. Scientists inform us people are nasty because they are in emotional pain or discomfort, and blaming their problems on someone else offers temporary relief. We have seen countless examples of social media insidiously manipulating this hurt
and insecurity through fear and nastiness. We can resist this with our actions. As I slowly burned with P.J. O’Rourke in my hands, infuriated at yet another source of malevolence being offered for non-critical acceptance, my wife handed me One Drum by Richard Wagamese. Wagamese is a celebrated Anishinabeg (Ojibway) author from the Wabaseemoong First Nation, in northwestern Ontario. In Wagamese’ world there is no benefit to denigrating others. He offers an alternative, suggesting the healing value of tolerance, understanding and respect when confronted with nastiness from others. Wagamese recounts, “The Anishinabeg were given the earth as their home. Their original instruction, as they went out into this reality, was to walk gently on the earth and do each other no harm.” Our collective story, we who were given the earth, follows, and
describes how we lost our way through fear, greed and envy. Disharmony ensued, “True community fractured, and human beings split up into bands.” Anishinabeg teachings offer no political solutions, no international think tanks or Royal Commissions to halt the drift to meanness and opportunism that threatens to divide us. The solution will come from within when we face one another with humility, respect and honesty. This integrity provides us the courage to recognize equality, “None lesser or greater.” Wagamese tells us, “We are all one energy, one soul, one song and one drum.” If we are comfortable within ourselves we have no need to ridicule or distress others. We understand that ‘getting even,’ returning nastiness and divisiveness with the same, accomplishes nothing. Empathy and understanding are what is called for today. ◆
Page 16
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A April 27 2022
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ALL YOU NEED IS WATER Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin takes a closer look at the growing kits supplied by the Lincoln Pelham Library, free to attendees at the Eco-Expo held last Saturday at the MCC. LEAH LETFORD
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out in full force on Earth Day Clean Up last Saturday, with the help of NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION some E. L. Crossley students, clearing the storm waRodeo, games and live entertainment headline this years exciting event. Itpond at the corner of Highway 20 ter management runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Welland Fairgrounds. and Rice Road, as well as the vacant lot between the Meridian Community Centre and McDonalds. “The amount of litter that accumulates in these areas is BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE astronomical,” said Rotary president Ann Harrison. PelhamonBeautifi The Big Move Cancer Ride is a non-competitive ride taking place Sept.cation Committee member Cynthia Roberts commended the club for stepping up. 7. Proceeds for the Big Move stay in Niagara and support the Walker Fam“We encourage residents to make cleaning up our ily Cancer Centre. community a regular occurrence, thereby keeping Pelham a beautiful place to live, work and play year round,” said Roberts. Impressed by something beauWALKING CLUB tiful in town? Let the committee know at: beautificaInterested in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena tion@pelham.ca CYNTHIA ROBERTS
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continued from Page 8 right now with regard to mental health. A lot of people are suffering out there.” Joyner also advocated for assigning more mental health professionals to police cruisers to aid in crisis intervention. A big question is how Ontario L iberal leader Steven Del Duca’s recent announcement, that a Liberal government would implement a province-wide ban on handguns, will be received in rural Niagara West. The stance will likely appeal to many voters in large urban centres like Toronto, which continue to experience a rash of gun violence. Premier Ford responded to Del Duca’s comments, saying that his government has pumped $185 million into fighting gun-related gang violence, and stressed the need to continue to support the efforts of police and Customs officers in preventing the flow of illegal weapons entering the country at border crossings with the U.S. Ford also urged longer sentences for gun crimes, noting that the Supreme Court of Canada has declared as unconstitutional the imposition of significant minimum sentences for firearms offences, including handguns. “I think we have to be honest with ourselves, and admit that Niagara West and the Niagara Region in general are not immune from handgun violence,” said Joyner. “We’ve had armed standoffs in Smithville and Fonthill, and recent shootings here in Niagara. I want to be that representative that goes to Queen’s Park to provide the rural voice. I think that there needs to be balance throughout Ontario across many different issues, handguns being one of them. I think it is going to be a little bit of a hard sell in rural Ontario and rural Niagara, but I believe that I'm the guy to bring that balance to Queen's Park.” Some have expressed surprise that Joyner is carrying the Liberal banner in the impending election, given that his actions and associations in the past tended to lean more conservative on issues. Joyner was tightly connected with former Tory party leader Tim Hudak, who held the Niagara West seat from 1995 to 2016, and spent five years as Progressive Conservative leader. Joyner worked with Hudak to oppose the Liberals’ wind farm plans in Niagara a decade ago, and railed against former Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty’s removal of local control over renewable energy projects via the Green Energy Act. Joyner also collaborated closely
CORNER
continued from Page 2 prospect: After hearing a rumour that he was considering a run to return to Pelham Town Council, I dropped former Councillor Peter Papp a line to ask him. “Yes,” came the reply. “I am thinking about it! Ward 3 again!” Papp was one of only two councillors—the other was then-Councillor Marv Junkin—to vote against the David Augustyn plan to bankroll the MCC primarily on the backs of Pelham taxpayers. History quickly proved their concerns correct. Junkin famously resigned from council, alleging that Augustyn attempted to keep the full extent of the
The Voice
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A April 27 2022
with Hudak to petition the Ontario Liberal government to restore funding to the redevelopment of the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in 2012. “As I have said in the past, I've identified as a Blue Liberal, or a Red Tory,” said Joyner. “And I think that comes from the company that I've kept, not from party affi liation, as I've never belonged to a party. Over the years, and more so recently, I've come to realize that based on policy and personal values, I am, in fact, quite liberal. But I’m also more of a centrist, because of my fiscal views and my fiscal responsibility, demonstrated in the way that I served the Region and in the Township of West Lincoln.” Joyner said that as the Mayor of West Lincoln, he was well known as a collaborator inside council chambers. “That's something that I pride myself on,” he said. “Niagara West has current Conservative leadership, as it has had in recent history. I was always working with my provincial and federal counterparts to get the best outcomes for the municipality. That might have given the optics of me being embedded in the conservative camp.” Joyner lives in Smithville with his wife, Barb, who is from North Pelham originally. They have three adult children, who are fifth-generation Joyners in West Lincoln. He attended South Lincoln High School in Smithville, before moving briefly to Toronto to attend George Brown College and the Michener Institute of Applied Health Sciences. Having served on many boards and municipal committees over the years, Joyner is especially proud of his service on the board of directors for the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre of Niagara, and the Niagara West Employment Help Centre. “I'm very familiar with all of the job issues and the training that needs to be done,” he said. Noting the opening of the Canada Games Centre on Merrittville Highway, Joyner stressed the importance of providing educational, recreational, and employment opportunities for Niagara’s youth, and gave credit to local Liberal parliamentarians for their positive influence. “One of the main reasons that Brock University and Niagara College are thriving is because there has been a big injection of federal money into both of those institutions, along with provincial funding,” said Joyner. “Vance [Badawey] and Chris [Bittle] have done an excellent job in this regard.”
financial disaster out of the public eye. Ward 3 is currently represented by Councillors Lisa Haun and Bob Hildebrandt. As an abundance of reporting shows (again) this week, things aren’t exactly going so well. Personally I’d be just fine with the return of the principled Mr. Papp, who was arguably punished unfairly at the ballot box for the shenanigans of the previous administration...Sawmill collision: Two cars collided outside Sawmill Golf Course last week, prompting a group of golfers to come to the rescue, probably saving at least one life. Were you among the heroes? Contact the course—they have a gift for you!...Stay safe: Lots of Covid still around. I know of three current cases personally. See you next week. ◆
We can all shop local. Every dollar spent locally helps a local business, helps a local employee, and gets spent again in the community. The last two years have been tough for everyone. Help keep your town’s future bright
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The Voice
A April 27 2022
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
THE BALANCED LIFE by John Swart
P. J. O' Rourke or Richard Wagamese—time to choose
P
.J. O’Rourke, the eminent American Libertarian political satirist, humorist, author, columnist and talk show celebrity, died February 15, 2022. When his 2017 book, How the Hell did this Happen? recently appeared at Pelham’s best used book store, our library, I purchased it to read my first O’Rourke. It chronicles the leadup to the 2016 American presidential election, the numerous potential candidates that sought their party’s endorsement, the endless debates, and why it all ultimately became so
absurd. “O’Rourke delivers a wry, dry, and occasionally laugh-out-loud take... entertaining as O’Rourke’s quips generally are,” said Publishers Weekly about the book. “Maybe O’Rourke can’t definitively explain it all, but he can sure make you laugh while trying,” echoed the Huffington Post. These comments were representative of most reviews, so I was looking forward to a fun read. Fifty pages in I was totally disheartened and saddened, seething at the vitriol in this book.
Totally disheartened
The distain O’Rourke showed for the human beings in this book was repulsive. Carly Fiorina, Dr. Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Bernie Sanders, Marco Rubio, Hillary Clinton and all the others are not fictional characters to be denigrated. We may disagree strongly with their stances, opinions and methods, but they are people. He suggests that Mike Huckabee “Will look around you at the field of other candidates and realize that ‘without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters.’” It is of no comfort that O’Rourke bases this comment on Revelation 22:15, as he disparages Huckabee, a Baptist Minister, and every other person in the field of
candidates.
Saddened
“Americans over 30 are such deranged maniacs that Hillary Clinton might not be heinous and abominable enough for them.” O’Rourke is an educated, well-read and successful author, capable of sharing incisive views and arguments in the final pages of this book. He knows the meaning of heinous (utterly odious and wicked) and deranged (mad, insane). Are we at a point in our Mortal Kombat and Snapchat world where a writer of his stature chooses this tactic to attract an audience?
Seething
“She’ll [Clinton] raise the minimum wage to $12. A bargain compared with the $15 Bernie Sanders wants us to pay the kid,
who when we say, ‘Cheeseburger, fries and a Coke,’ looks at us as if we’d asked him to recite the value of pi to the 15th decimal point.” We’re being conned and manipulated. Are we to believe O’Rourke’s ridicule of young workers, those often struggling to find their way in our conflicted adult society, or any of the passages above, are funny? I love the humour of exaggeration, painting a verbal picture that takes readers beyond the obvious to see a comical side or perspective of a situation or character, but please tell me, Publishers Weekly, when did obvious nastiness and spite become ‘wry, dry and occasionally laugh-outloud”? In my opinion this book full of indolent comments designed to evoke snarky
contempt is not humour. Most treacherously, humour is one of few truly useful tools we have to bring people together, and if O’Rourke’s humiliating mockery is seen as humour, it is but one more wedge to drive us further from each other. American author, sociologist, and philosopher Barbara Coloroso says, “We are swimming in a culture of mean. The whole key in a culture of meanness is that we dehumanize other human beings. We make them less than us.” And that’s my point. We are not yet, in Pelham or Ontario or Canada, that part of American society that O’Rourke and Coloroso are immersed in and write about. We cannot assume See BALANCED LIFE Page 15
V oice HOROSCOPE ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, a mild feeling of discontent has you searching for new projects. There may be something that has been on your to-do list, but you can’t seem to figure it out right now. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 A lot of things are keeping you on your toes, Taurus. There’s a good chance you have been craving some quiet time. Find a retreat and stay there for a couple of days. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 There are no obstacles in your way on the path to success this week, Gemini. If you have been holding off on big plans, now is the time to push things into action. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, aligning your goals with others is a surefire way to get things accomplished. You can deviate onto your own course when action is established. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, take a moment and be sure a goal you’re pursuing right now is really worth it. If finances are involved, you will likely have to pay it back in the near future. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, collaboration could be key in the days ahead. Another person gets the ball rolling and now you can join in. Follow their lead and trust this person’s judgment. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 So many voices are shouting at you from different directions, Libra. With so much advice coming your way, you may not know which way to turn. Mull it over a bit longer.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Nothing is guaranteed, but taking a risk this week could pay off in a big way, Scorpio. Things are more likely to go your way this time of the month, so start moving! SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Pay some extra attention to your life at home, Sagittarius. There are issues that can use a little attention. Lett ing them fester could lead to big problems. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 A hectic week is likely ahead of you, Capricorn. Things seemingly pop up out of nowhere and you have to figure out how to tackle them all. Try to delegate some of your tasks. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 It’s understandable that you want to make some waves right now, Aquarius. However, it may be better to aim for subtle ripples instead of a cannonball splash. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Express your confident side at work and others will be inspired, Pisces. It’s good to stray out of your comfort zone every so often. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS APRIL 24 Kelly Clarkson, Singer (40) APRIL 25 Al Pacino, Actor (82) APRIL 26 Kevin James, Actor (57) APRIL 27 Corey Seager, Athlete (28) APRIL 28 Melanie Martinez, Singer (27) APRIL 29 Michelle Pfeiffer, Actress (64)
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ANSWERS ON PAGE 18
FAITH LIFT
by Pastor Rob Weatherby
Can you call him Lord?
H
ave you ever noticed that Jesus is often referred to as “Savior and L ord”? Most of us have some idea about the meaning of the first part. Jesus died on the cross to save us from the penalty of our sins. He offers this salvation freely to anyone who truly desires to receive it. In fact, the very name “Jesus” means “the One who saves.” But what about the second word?
A gem from Genesis
I’m still learning a lot about Scripture. I’ll never forget a mature, senior missionary telling me years ago that he felt he was just “scratching the surface” in his understanding of the Bible. I remember thinking, “Wow, where does that leave me?” Anyhow, I recently heard an insight that I never saw before. The speaker shared that in the second chapter of Genesis (the first book of the Bible), God is repeatedly referred to as “the Lord God.” I counted that term ten times in my NIV (New International Version) Bible. The word “Lord” means “Master, Ruler, Leader.” It refers to someone that we submit and commit ourselves to. In chapter three we see a change. Satan tries to tempt the first woman by casting doubt into her mind. Notice what he says, “Did God really say…” (see Genesis 3:1). Eve also refers to the Almighty as just “God” in her reply. And when Satan directly and defiantly contradicts the divine command, he again uses the word “God” twice. After that tragic dialogue (which led to the first human act of disobedience), the term “Lord God” is again used in the rest of chapter three (another eight times). Did you notice what happened? The word “Lord” was
dropped. Satan could not call God by that name and as Eve began to entertain doubts about God’s goodness, neither could she.
Another gem
Skip now to the first book of the New Testament— Matthew. Here’s another gem that I hadn’t seen before. Jesus is sharing his last meal on earth with his 12 disciples. The setting is an upper room at a home in Jerusalem. Today we call this event “The Last Supper” and it took place on the evening before Good Friday. During this Passover meal Jesus shocks his closest followers by revealing that one
of them will betray him. We then read, “They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely not I, Lord?” (see Matthew 26:22). Notice the name they had chosen to address Jesus. They didn’t understand the “Savior” part quite yet but they had chosen to follow this special man as their “Lord” or Master or Leader for the last three years of their lives. Now notice what Judas says when it’s his turn to ask the question. We read, “Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi (TeachSee FAITH LIFT Page 15
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!
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COUNCIL
continued from Page 3 told the Voice that he finds staff accommodating and that they try to find ways “to make things work.” “As a practice,” said Olson, “I will call the writer of the reports and let them know of any questions or concerns that will improve the work. If the matter has to do with scheduling [meetings], I have found that council is quite responsive and flexible. In my short term on council, I am not aware of any scheduling issues that were not accommodated.” Councillor John Wink responded, “You have seen the video of the council meeting and may draw your own conclusions. Note that no one on council seconded my motion to reconsider,” and declined further comment. (The Municipal Act requires all councillors to present a united front after a vote, even one that didn’t go their way, and direct criticism of councillors or their votes is a violation of Pelham’s Code of Conduct.)
Lame Duck safety measure deferred
Related to lame ducks, the bloc of Haun, Hildebrandt, Kore, and Stewart —along with Wink —also voted to defer delegation of authority that is standard in election years. According to the Municipal Act, a council is in “lame duck” status between nomination day and election day— which is Aug. 19 and Oct. 24 respectively this year—if a majority of councillors opt not to run for re-election. “This is a routine practice in the municipal world,” Cribbs said. Among other caveats, the delegation of authority gives financial signing clearance for expenditures over $50,000 to the CAO and Treasurer during that period, still subject to council checks and balances. Expenses up to $50,000 remain under council’s direct authority. The Voice can confirm that all municipalities in Niagara passed such a bylaw prior to the last election. In fact, the Township of Wainfleet passed their equivalent bylaw for the coming election at the same time last Tuesday night. Wink said the last council authorized their own signing clearance to a maximum of $100,000 during their lame duck period, and suggested a similar cap be instituted this year. “If something of that nature was go-
The Voice ing to make this more palatable to this council,” Cribbs said jokingly, “pick a higher number than that because I can buy a nice pickup truck for $100,000 in this world.” The humour seemed to be lost on Kore, who was seen shaking his head on his video feed. Junkin said he had no issue approving the motion as presented. “We’ve had dealings with the CAO for the last two years, he’s been in business in the municipal world for over 20 [years], I don’t believe he has any convictions of fraud,” the Mayor said as Cribbs hand-gestured a zero on his feed. “I do not think it’s a big leap of faith to just pass this as it is. It’s going to be under council scrutiny, it’s just he would be the one to sign the checks.” Haun recommended the successful deferral motion. “Is it imperative it’s done now?” she said.
Pay raise defeated
The bloc also defeated a motion to give councillors and the Mayor a pay raise that would bring their compensation into the range of the Ontario minimum wage. While perhaps an optically fraught issue during an election year, Cribbs had been pushing for raises for elected officials since last fall, saying that the current pay rate reflects poorly on Pelham, which ranks in the 50th percentile of similar Ontario municipalities. “If you were paid hourly, we’d be breaking the law,” Cribbs said. The report recommended raising councillor pay $4,700 per year from its current salary of $16,306, while bumping the Mayor’s pay by $13,000 to around $48,000 per year. Resistance immediately came from the bloc, with Hildebrandt stating “I’d do this job for free,” and Stewart saying, “This is community service with some pocket money.” Like the failed procedural bylaw matter, Cribbs said the pay raise was meant to benefit the next council, not this one. “This motion is not you giving yourselves a raise, no one is guaranteed any of these dollars—that’s why it’s appropriate now,” he said. “Not one of you has indicated a desire for personal enrichment, I’d be happy to testify to that fact.” Wink then sought a compromise that would see councillors get approximately a $2,500 raise and the mayor a $10,000 raise. “We’ve raised taxes, water rates, I
A April 27 2022
don’t think it will be well-received,” Haun responded. Both the amendment and main motion failed on the familiar 4-3 voting line. With inflation currently running at a three-decade high of nearly seven percent, the decision potentially puts the next council in the politically uncomfortable position of considering a pay raise early in their mandate.
Hildebrandt not in a party mood
Council passed a noise bylaw exemption for a planned May 22 birthday party on College Street in Fonthill, a matter that had been deferred from the previous meeting to allow the applicant to adequately notify neighbours. “This is not by any means going to be a rock concert, it’s well within our timelines, 2 to 8 PM,” Fire Chief and Chief Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bob Lymburner said, adding that problems are rare with events for which planners request permission from the Town. However, Hildebrandt said a nearby resident told him that a “heavy rock band” was set to play, and suggested the applicant move their party to “Peace Park or MCC.” The Ward 3 councillor was the only no-vote on the matter.
Odds and ends
Council approved a $103,000 increase to the Park Lane water main replacement, which includes servicing the planned splash pad in Marlene Stewart Streit Park. During digging for the project, old materials such as abandoned septic tanks were unearthed. The increase puts the budget for the project over $300,000. A motion by Councillor Olson to support and endorse Waterloo Region’s request of the province to establish an updated model Building Code was defeated, once again along 4-3 lines. The code would be province-wide and aimed at ensuring new builds are created to net-zero greenhouse emission standards. Chief Bob Lymburner reported that Pelham had 127 known cases of Covid-19 in the 28 days ending April 19. The real number is widely believed to be higher. The deaths of 530 Niagara residents have been directly attributed to the coronavirus over the last two years. The number of indirect deaths is unknown. With files by Dave Burket.
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RECIPE OF THE WEEK
4 Bubbling Blueberry Pie
Every baker needs a go-to pie recipe in their repertoire. While apple may get much of the fanfare, blueberries pack that perfect punch of sweet but tart flavor that just bursts in the mouth with every bite. “Ginger n’ Spice Bubbling Blueberry Pie” is not only the official pie of the Highbush Blueberry Council, but also a winner of America’s Best Blueberry Pie Contest. This recipe, courtesy of Barbara Estabrook and the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, is a sweet way to enjoy dessert any time of the year. Ginger n’ Spice Bubbling Blueberry Pie Serves 8 Crust 2-1⁄2 1⁄2 10 1⁄2 3-1⁄2 1⁄2 1
cups all-purpose flour teaspoon salt tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed (1⁄4-inch-thick cubes) cup chilled all-vegetable shortening tablespoons ice water tablespoon fresh lemon juice egg white, whisked to foamy (divided use)
Filling 4-1⁄2 1 3⁄4 1⁄4 2 3⁄4 1⁄8 2 3 1⁄2
cups fresh blueberries (room temperature) tablespoon fresh lemon juice cup granulated sugar cup instant or quick-cooking tapioca, ground tablespoons finely minced crystallized ginger teaspoon ground cinnamon scant teaspoon ground allspice tablespoons melted butter tablespoons orange marmalade tablespoon raw turbinado cane sugar
Crust 1. Combine lemon juice and ice water and set aside. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour and salt. Cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender until coarse meal forms. Sprinkle half the water/lemon mix over flour mixture; toss with a fork. Add remaining half, tossing until dough begins to form a ball. 3. Divide dough in half, flatten it into 1⁄2-inch-thick discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap. Chill 30 minutes. Filling 1. In a large bowl, toss blueberries with lemon juice. 2. In a separate medium-sized bowl, stir sugar, tapioca, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice together until combined. Gently fold into blueberries until well coated. 3. Melt butter, stir in marmalade, then fold into blueberry mixture. Let set. Pie Assembly 1. Heat oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. On a lightly floured surface, roll one chilled dough disc into a 13-inch circle. Fit dough in a 9-inch pie plate. Trim overhang to 3⁄4-inch of edge. Brush egg white over bottom and sides of dough. Reserve remaining egg white. Set the lined plate in the freezer. 3. Roll second chilled disc on a lightly floured surface into a 13inch circle, then cut into 1-inch-wide strips with a pastry wheel. 4. Retrieve pie plate and pour in filling, mounding slightly toward center. Weave strips of dough over filling to form a lattice top. Seal, trim and crimp edge. Brush reserved egg white over dough. Sprinkle evenly with sugar. 5. Set pie on lined sheet. Bake 18 minutes at 425 F. Reduce heat to 375 F. Bake 50 minutes or until pie is bubbling. Cool on a wire rack. Top with vanilla ice cream.
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