The Voice, December 19 2018

EarlyON centres closing, moving page 3 EXCLUSIVE: Barrick on NPCA page 5 Card contest winners page 12 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

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Column Six

Warm wishes at Christmas Safely navigating the season gets trickier by the year

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EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

BY COLIN BREZICKI

Special to the VOICE

’M NO T A L L T H AT concerned about the offending lyrics of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Nor do I really care if Santa Claus kissed Mama consensually, or that Rudolph was bullied by the rest of the reindeer for his “otherness,” or that the whip crack at the end of “Sleigh Ride” proves the horse is a victim of speciesism.

I don’t really listen to these songs any more, to be honest. As tunefully festive clichés, they have nothing to do with a child’s nativity attended by lowly shepherds and three members of the one percent who believed him to be the son of God. It matters more to me that “Mary’s Boy Child” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain” have been restored to the playlist at a B.C. mall after administrators decided it wasn’t too religious for Christmas after all.

See COLUMN SIX back page

Page 2

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

IN THE NEWS

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

by Dave Burket

Hitting the ground running: The first real meeting of Pelham’s new Town Council was set to get underway on Monday evening, after the paper went to press. By the looks of the agenda, however, and word around town, councillors were primed to launch right into fulfilling a campaign promise or two. An audit committee is to be proposed, combining councillors and accounting professionals, charged with examining the Town’s financial condition. And talk late last week revolved around a roundabout—specifically the one proposed for the already perfectly adequate intersection of Station, Summersides, and Pelham Town Square. In what can only be described as a vanity project championed by the previous council, the roundabout was rumoured to be budgeted at some $160,000. Yet you could hear jaws dropping from North Pelham down to the river in recent days as an apparently more accurate number was revealed: nearly $700,000.

Yes, all told, almost three-quarters of a million dollars to create an unnecessary concrete impediment. Expect the new council to square that circle...And now the revolving door: If, like many, you’re tired of hearing those four initials, N-P-C-A, hold on just a minute longer. The plot twists have come nonstop over the last three weeks with firings, a rehiring, and a leave of absence. Near the centre of it all has been David Barrick, the former Port Colborne Regional Councillor who decided not to run for reelection, in part to focus on his full-time job at the Conservation Authority. When the dust settled last Friday, Barrick was the only one standing—and the interim boss. Famously averse to what he characterizes as ill-treatment by the Niagara dailies, Barrick has never refused to comment to the Voice. So we asked him what was going on, in his view. We present his remarks starting on page 5. For the record, we think that all politicians and public figures should speak to all media, but equally can understand that once burned, twice shy…

The antidote to everything: It’s been an exhausting 12 months around these parts for pretty much everyone—residents, old council, new council, the candidates who ran and lost, and the rag-tag team that has tried to report it all as clearly and fairly as possible. We’re off next week, our only vacation of the year, and I’m very much looking forward to reporting nothing. You want a great antidote for cynicism?

Kid Christmas cards. It was an absolute joy to go through the roughly 250 cards submitted as part of our Kids’ Christmas Card Contest, the results of which we present on page 12. I know I speak for all the judges in saying that the experience was truly, wonderfully, joyfully life-affirming. (And a marshmallow-scented entry was especially sweet.)…

Still looking for that perfect gift for someone you love?

How about a Voice Membership? See page 23. We’ve been derelict, I’m afraid, in getting renewal notices out (#1 on the New Year’s resolution list), so if you subscribed around this time last year, feel free to wander in, or online, to top up once more—your gift cards await… Let there be light: No, not pot-plant glow, but that stubbornly hiddenof-late orb in the sky. Winter begins this Friday, which means the days starting getting longer again on Saturday...Peace out: Bring in 2019 with a free skate, courtesy of Fonthill Rotary—see their ad on page 3, and try to stay upright. May you and yours enjoy the happiest of holidays. See you next year.

NRPS impaired driving charges

VISIBLE FROM SPACE? A reader sent in this shot taken from his car, with the message, "If you don’t understand what local residents are talking about when they complain about the lighting from the cannabis plant at Balfour and Highway 20...here you go."

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Pelham seek cannabis opinions

The Town of Pelham is asking residents for their opinion on whether or not cannabis retail outlets should be allowed to operate in the city. Residents

Voice on vacation!

will be able to provide their input through an online survey, linked below, and also available from the Voice website. It was not clear from a Town new release until when residents may provide their opin-

ions.

Background: Recreational cannabis was legalized Oct. 17, 2018, by the federal government.

The Province of OntarSee IN THE NEWS Page 16

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Column Six The Comfort Maple myth

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NIAGARA’S BEST-READ WEEKLY SINCE 1997

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Oops: No fire trucks for you Haist Street traffic-calming measure a little too effective

BY VOICE STAFF A construction error was discovered following the

The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and destroys thousands of lives every year.

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In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Niagara Regional Police Service reports the names of those people who are charged with an alleged criminal impaired driving offence in the Region. None of the following charges have been proved in court.

In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90-Day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway.

The public is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Safety Hotline or Crime Stoppers to report those who are driving in contravention of the suspension.

The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath / blood sample.

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Column Six Growing up British Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation

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Apple Day comes to Fonthill Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932

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Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn

BY JOHN SWART

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HERE IS NO BETTER

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The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

Page 3

Fenwick and South Pelham EarlyON Centres closing Existing community facilities to be used instead, say planners

BY JENNIFER CHORNLEY

The VOICE

Mandy Caughlin was browsing her social media feed when one specific to the Niagara Region’s EarlyON Child and Family Centres jumped out.

The post stated it was shutting down two nearby locations frequented by Pelham families, and amalgamating them into a central location in Welland.

The two locations affected are the Fenwick Satellite Office located at 1050 Church Street, which is closing February 1, and a Welland Satellite Office located at 735 South Pelham Road, closing on December 19.

EarlyON Child and Family Centres provide free drop-in programs for children from birth to six years of age, their parents and caregivers.

The centres are family-focused, offering space for Niagara's children to “learn, play and connect with others,” according to the organization’s promotion materials.

Parents and caregivers stay with their kids and together experience “the many benefits these centres provide.”

Programs and services are free and open to all families and include arts and crafts, physical activities, language skills, math skills and nutrition.

Family and Community Services (FACS) Niagara EarlyON Program Director Adrian McKenzie explained the centres are sub-contracted by the Region through FACS Niagara, who is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management.

Caughlin and her son have been participating for the past two years. For her, as a new mother and resident in Fenwick, it was a great way to connect with other parents and residents in the community.

“I was able to participate in an infant massage class and from there, connections grew,” she said. “Since then, I have been able to organize play dates. It gives a sense of community for all moms alike.”

Allison Peters, an 11-year resident of Fenwick, has participated in the EarlyON program for seven and a half years with her three children, aged seven, six, and three.

Peters’ is one of many families that have benefitted from the program’s location.

“When my oldest son was younger he needed to be weighed on a regular basis, so it saved me from having to drive out of the community with a new baby.”

The Peters family, consisting of a boy and two girls, enjoy the all aspects of the program including circle time, active play area, crafts, play with toys they don’t have at home and the healthy snacks.

“They just love it. The staff are just amazing and they provide an even better program than the Welland location,” Peters said.

“Even the facility location is bigger than the two Welland ones.”

The EarlyON program is a place for her three year old to play and meet new kids.

“There’s not a lot of programs in the community other than the library, so it’s nice to be able to get out into the fresh air and walk to the program,” Peters said. “It’s good that that the Library has programming for the kids, but some families just can’t afford to pay for them in some cases.”

Fonthill resident Stephanie Stokes frequents both locations.

Stokes says her “favourite” location is Fenwick, while her three year old’s is South Pelham Road as it has a toy library.

“He’s a non-stop kid and gets very excited when we go pick out a new toy every two weeks,” Stokes said.

The Stokes children have benefitted from the program as it is a place to for them play freely with bigger interactive toys like kitchen centres, enjoy messier projects like painting, and interact in story time with other kids their ages.

Stokes also likes the fact there are weekly community outings for which the sign-up lists are always

EarlyON's Fenwick United Church location. full.

“I was shocked when I heard the news, especially since it’s always busy when I go. I was crushed at the thought of the program not being there anymore.”

Mandy Caughlin is disappointed the centres are amalgamating with the Welland Young Street location.

“Location is a barrier to access.

Fonthill and Fenwick are rural areas. This makes accessing the Welland location difficult, especially since there is no public transportation available between the larger communities and us,” Caughlin said.

“It was nice. We could just walk down the street and not worry about having to pack up the little one in the car. We have been to the downtown Welland location. It’s difficult to get there and the parking is an issue,” Caughlin said. “I went there once and won’t be going back.”

Peters echoed Caughlin’s concerns about the Young Street location, asserting that there are only six spots while other spaces are specifically designated for other things.

“Where do they expect the families to park if they aren’t just being dropped off or if they take public transit?”

Peters noted that even with the newest centre located at Seaway Mall, it’s still an inconvenience to trek the kids across a parking lot.

FACS’ Adrian McKenzie did acknowledge, “Parking is limited at the Young Street location, so we have arranged an agreement with the funeral home across the street for additional parking.” Patrons are also able to park at the market and street parking is available, all in proximity to the Young Street centre.

Caughlin said programs such as EarlyON are “vital” to smaller communities like Fenwick and Fonthill as “there’s no access to all of the other services that some of the larger communities have.”

Examples she provided included private programming for sports, music, and parenting classes, aquatic centres, larger Indoor playgrounds, the Niagara Children’s Centre, and malls.

Michelle Hoytema and her family just moved to the Fenwick area a year ago and said the EarlyON program has been a “community lifeline” for her.

For her, the Fenwick location has been the middle ground for getting information that may not always be necessarily available.

She said the program is a wealth of information and provided her with resources on how to deal with the challenges of breastfeeding.

“We come from Milton, where there are so many resources available including access to health care professionals and then we moved here and there isn’t nearly as much as what was offered

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there,” Hoytema said.

Another important aspect for Hoytema is the interaction with the other parents and caregivers and allowing for sharing of information parents face daily upbring their children.

Hoytema has a “very active” two-year-old daughter and twomonth-old son. Her daughter enjoys meeting other kids and most of all, “loves storytime.”

“It gets me out of the house and the ability to relax [once there],” Hoytema said.

“To cut the program from our area and not understand the importance it has on a small outlying community such as this is devastating, I am upset.”

Although the “bricks-and-mortar” locations are changing, McKenzie said, “our plan is to continue to offer programming in those communities at various existing locations and in partnership with other community service providers such as the local libraries and community centres.”

Funding is an aspect with the EarlyON program FACS Niagara is working with and because the public funding is, “limited, we are working to provide the best possible service with the funds that we have. In this case, we have chosen to invest in programming rather than bricks and mortar.”

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Page 4

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

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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

COMMENTARY / OP-ED Larry Coté Is Pelham going to pot?

L

ONGTIME RESIDENTS of Pelham fondly remember when the Town was widely known for its bucolic, pastoral character. It was viewed as a quiescent community in the heart of the Niagara Peninsula and a respite from the more urbane lifestyle of city living. There was a time when some took up residence here to take advantage of the snooty appeal that was associated with residing in Fonthill. Some will deny that motivation but those who lived in nearby communities detected a slight touch of that aura projected by the Fonthill newbies.

For the longest time Pelham was respected for its agricultural base and idyllic acreage devoted to tender fruits and a cornucopia of agricultural nourishment.

Well established farms and well regarded farming families dotted the landscape with verdant green fields and a sprinkling of greenhouses.

So admired was the landscape that it was often the destination for Sunday drives that were so popular in years gone by.

It seems that those who set the path for the Town in more recent times decided to

segue the municipality from its countrified character and seek the conjectural rewards of bricks and mortar development. Some precious agricultural acreage was paved over and a number of nationally recognized chain stores and franchises were invited to set up shop. One by one, some locally owned shops shuttered their doors and papered over the store front windows. Many townsfolk adopted a commuter lifestyle and took employment some distance from their residences.

More recently, this once placid town has become known for cannabis production. Well financed, some likely foreign-based, companies have invested heavily in these developments under glass. Huge greenhouses have been rejigged and new ones built to capitalize on Canada’s legalization of cannabis for recreational and medicinal uses. With such developments, Fonthill may be on the road to becoming known as the cannabis capital of Canada. Such an image would be a far cry from its earlier recognition as the peaches and cream growing center for a large part of North America.

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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca PUBLISHER & EDITOR Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTORS Jane Bedard, Carolyn Botari, Colin Brezicki, Rosemary Chambers, Jennifer Chornley, Larry Coté, Gloria J. Katch, Samuel Piccolo, John Swart, Sarah Whitaker NEWS INQUIRIES & TIPS editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca

Unfortunately, and to add impetus to Fonthill’s potential new image, one of the local producers recently marketed a cannabis product tainted with a type of fungus. Under the ever watchful eyes of the news media, that grower initiated a recall but not until after the offender’s address was widely broadcast to be, you guessed it, in Fonthill. The old adage, “Closing the barn door after the horses have bolted” comes to mind here.

Residents who live near greenhouses dedicated to cannabis crops have complained about foul odors and other issues emanating from these operations. In response, the Town placed a moratorium on approvals for new cannabis growing facilities to be built within the boundaries of Pelham.

While it is said that image isn’t everything, the characterization of Fonthill may well be in transition. The newly inaugurated Town Council might debate whether such re-imaging will contribute to or detract from the Town’s future prosperity. ♦ Larry Coté is a retired professor of business. He was awarded the Governor General’s Medal for his community endeavors.

Letters Understand declaration before commenting on it The recent opinion from Dean Allison [Commentary: The Global Compact for Migration, The binding non-binding agreement, Dec. 12, p. 5] is questionable to say the least.

The Compact is a political declaration and is not legally binding. Of the 193 United Nations members, 164 have signed off on this declaration. As expected, the United States is not a signatory.

The declaration is a set of indicators and best practices. In other words, it is a road map. It has no impact on Canadian sovereignty, according to Chris Alexander, former Immigration Minister under Stephen Harper.

Please take time to read the Compact to become better informed. Over a study period of many years, 23 objectives were formulated by the United Nations. One of the key objectives of the Compact “aims to mitigate the adverse drivers and structural factors that hinder people from building and maintaining sustainable livelihoods in their country of origin.”

In other words, “solve your problems at home as opposed to migrating to another country.”

In my opinion, Mr. Allison should be educating, not lecturing, the electorate.

Art Woodruff Fonthill

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

Ward 1 Councillor Mike Ciofi mciofi@pelham.ca 905-892-2607

Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755

Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840

Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 289-929-2681 Councillor Diana Huson diana.huson@niagararegion.ca 905-324-3094 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607

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Mayor of Pelham Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317

Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore rkore@pelham.ca 905-892-5684 Councillor John Wink jwink@pelham.ca 905-892-2607

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Councillor Bob Hildebrandt bhildebrandt@pelham.ca 905-892-2607

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Have an Opinion?

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Page 5

OPINION COMMENTARY / OP-ED David Barrick, NPCA Interim CAO Getting real: Truth and transparency at the NPCA

A

S INTERIM C AO of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA), I appreciate and value honest and unbiased media, and thus welcome the opportunity to provide some much-needed clarity to the

people of Hamilton, Haldimand, and Niagara regarding our organization.

Background

The NPCA was in crisis in the years leading up to 2010. The organization was

not following its legislated mandate and was operating in a silo, ignoring municipal partners, conservationists, developers, and other stakeholders. This is precisely why the previous board of directors decided to take their responsibility for

oversight of the organization seriously.

For example, before 2010, the staff at the NPCA had completely changed floodplain mapping along the Welland River without consulting anyone and without any citizen engage-

ment. This action outraged citizens when they soon discovered that the NPCA failed to inform them that the boundaries had changed and thereby restricted their land use. The new NPCA board re-booted the project, keeping thousands of

landowners along the river informed at each step of the project.

Prior to 2010, there was no financial accountability.

The funding reserves were drained to zero, and thereSee NPCA Page 20

Fonthill & District Kinsmen one of a kind Spreading comfort and joy, and tail wags When word came out in November that the Kinsmen 57th Senior Dinner would be held at our new Meridian Community Centre, and on a Wednesday Dec.12, rather than the usual Tuesday, I thought, WOW! Times, they really are a-changing, and you, Shirley, had better pick up the pace. Leaving the Old Town Hall on Canboro Road was like forsaking an old friend, but while our time there was intimate, warm and cozy, as 110 of us packed the place, this friendly old spot was ready to retire and our new “digs” were large enough to accommodate 160 of us old coots, bright and beautiful, complete with elevator, and our Kinsmen Hosts and sponsors were the same great group. How lucky can you get? Len Doyle was our amicable M.C., assisted by Councillor John Wink. Greetings from the Town of Pelham were delivered by our new Mayor, Marv Junkin. We were entertained by Lindsey Mills, Michaela Evans and Jessica Baudreau. Dinner was delicious as always

and twice as nice when served by smiling Kinsmen, Kinettes and our wonderful dinner sponsors. Of course we sang “Here Comes Santa Claus” and lo and behold he appeared on cue! The evening included a brief history of the Kinsmen, who are the largest Canadian Service Club, with our Fonthill contingent one of the largest. We also learned about the beautiful building in which the festivities took place and what activities are offered to our community. To end this fabulous festive evening, each family received a bright red poinsettia. And I dare not forget the dessert— a most succulent bread pudding topped with warm maple syrup. A yummy memory of my youth and mother Molly. As we were told early in the evening, “This evening will cost you nothing, only a smile.” There were lots of those to go around. Thank you again dear Kinsmen, Kinettes and always the sponsors!

Shirley Lazareth Fonthill

For Fenwick resident Liz McEwan and her four-legged partner, Bonnie, spreading comfort and joy isn’t limited to the Christmas season. You see, Liz and four-year-old Goldendoodle Bonnie are one of over a hundred Therapy Tails Ontario team members.

They are a dedicated team who average 17 hours a month to bring joy and comfort to seniors’ residences, Ronald McDonald House, Niagara College students, and Community Living, to name a few who welcome the dynamic duo.

Liz, a retired physiotherapist, witnessed firsthand the positive impact visiting dogs had on the elderly and young in hospital and decided that this would be her “retirement job.”

When Bonnie arrived and proved to be big-hearted, sociable with both dogs See TAIL WAGS next page

From left, Bruce the therapy dog, Kelly York, Anne Baker, and Liz McEwan, high-fiving therapy dog Bonnie.

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Page 6

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

Wishing you and your family peace and joy for the holidays and the very best for the New Year.

From our Staff, Board of Directors, Shareholders, and Delivery Carriers

Sending Sincere Christmas Greetings To All Our Customers & Friends BEAMER’S

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From left, visitor Roger Woolcott and independent living resident June McNall take time to visit with Therapy Tails member Bonnie the Labradoodle, and Bruce, an Australian Terrier, with Liz McEwan.

TAIL WAGS

continued from previous page and people, and simply loved attention, Liz knew that she would be a fantastic therapy dog!

After failed attempts to contact the St. John’s Ambulance dog program, Liz happened upon a green-shirted lady and her dog at a Niagara Falls Dog Park, who had just finished

a school visit. She told Liz about Therapy Tails Niagara (now Therapy Tails Ontario) and it sounded like the right fit, so Liz contacted them, booked the intake assessment and voila!

Three years of Therapy Tail visits and still going strong with no end in sight.

As for Bonnie, she eagerly watches whether Liz dons the telltale bright green Therapy Tails shirt. “When

I do she can’t wait to get to the car. Loves all her visits whether it’s de-stressing a college student or improving someone’s day by simply putting a smile on their face.”

Therapy Tails Ontario is a non profit charity/dog therapy program founded in Welland by the late Tina Hill and her husband Stewart. Their mandate is to improve the lives of

Now we gather together in celebration of the meaning of His birth and the beauty of His love, in the true meaning of Christmas.

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To You And Your Family Season’s Best from the Fonthill Lions & Lioness Club We can’t thank you enough for your support and friendship.

Have a warm and wonderful holiday!

And have a Happy Year 2019!

May the Christmas lights and decorations brighten your spirits and bring joy to your heart.

We consider ourselves very lucky to have you for a customer.

Thank you for brightening our holidays.

Our very best wishes to you in this exciting new year, and we hope 2018 brings all good things.

Thanks for your support.

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physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially disadvantaged individu-

She eagerly watches whether Liz dons the telltale bright green Therapy Tails shirt

als through regular visits and therapeutic relief program. Working closely with caseworkers, coordinators, teachers, caregivers, and parents, their teams integrate themselves into existing programs. All teams consist of a lime green-clad human (highly visible) and their dog(s), who carry TTO ID cards and volunteer their time to spread comfort and joy throughout the community. For more information on Therapy Tails visit their web site www.therapytails. ca or email info@therapytails.ca.

Rosemary Culos Pelham

Trig Wa g e r rnin this gs for is " G r s u e: " D a a p e s" chs "Pa hun d " pe "Cin rback" nam o n"

sp gra e to of lur Fa i i c u s e r k o n ir o a r t w lly a ro ret asion occ es on a ris rn e t . ns .

I n t e l d ya w r Wo

Everyone who's anyone reads the Voice

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

Page 7

Page 8

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

EARLY ON

continued from Page 3 community partners and taking advantage of existing infrastructure like libraries and community centres to reduce costs while expanding its community reach, McKenzie said.

“Working with our community partners will expose more families to the EarlyON programs and will help us to grow the EarlyON community.”

With parent and caregiver concerns of programming potentially being lost in rural communities like Pelham, McKenzie said, “These changes also address our long-term plan for sustainability of the EarlyON programs in our community.”

“We will still be offering programming locally within these communities,” McKenzie said.

Using Fonthill as an example, he said an outreach program would be running at the community centre.

In regards to the current staff employed at the satellite locations, he said, “Under our current service agreement with the Region we do not plan on reducing staff as a result of our program changes. They will be redeployed to offer programming at various locations in the Welland, Fenwick and Fonthill communities.”

Over the next few months, the Region will be seeking proposals from the community to operate the EarlyON programs.

“We are proactively aligning our model with the province’s goals for programming that is accessible, modern, inclusive and co-located with other community service providers,” McKenzie said.

“These changes will position the community well for future and continued funding of EarlyON programs so that families can continue to enjoy quality programming with their children.”

McKenzie says he has been interacting with the community on social media, and that pages will be updated regularly to reflect new programming schedules.

In the meantime, on November 29, Paul Bryant created a petition and left a copy at the Fenwick Avondale. The petition was organized in support of keeping the two locations operating, especially for South Pelham Road, as it was a convenient location for many Pelham residents. Bryant also added the Fenwick location was of great benefit as many families were able to walk there.

As of press time, some 120 signatures had been collected.

Bryant and his family used the EarlyON program with their two grandchildren, ages four and six. Even though both children are now in school, he says the benefit of having this free program available for all children is that it develops structure and socialization skills.

“It’s Ground Zero for a child’s development,” Bryant said.

“The skills they learn through play, various activities and story time, they can take with them as they transition into full-time school.”

“Plus, the fact that it’s free helps many families, especially with the rising costs of living.”

Along with the petition, Bryant said he also brought the matter to the attention of Pelham Regional Councillor Diana Huson and Mayor Marvin Junkin.

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

KINSMEN'S 57TH The Fonthill and District Kinsmen Club held its 57th Annual Senior’s Christmas Dinner Party on Wednesday, December 12 at the community centre. Some 160 Pelham seniors spread holiday cheer by enjoying a free Christmas dinner and entertainment by teacher, musician and songwriter, Lindsey Mills, with Jessica Boudreau and Michaela Evans accompanying her with guitar and vocals. All participants were entered in a draw to win a gift from Santa. What started out decades ago as a simple coffee and cookie gathering has grown into a full-meal social event. Event Chair Len Doyle extended a “thank you” to all the community partners, volunteers and Kinsmen and Kinettes members who assisted with the overall event.

VOICE PHOTO

KINSMEN’S 30TH For about 30 years, the Fonthill Kinsmen have spread holiday cheer at Welland Hospital. Earlier this month, members delivered poinsettias to residents, patients, and staff of the Extended Care Unit, and other areas of the hospital.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes in 2019 from the Community of Lookout Ridge

1505 Lookout Street, Fonthill / (905) 892-9218 www.lookoutridge.ca / Check us out on Facebook!

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

Page 9

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See Dealer for full program details. + Vehicle user interfaces are products of Apple and Google and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible smartphone and data plan rates apply. € Offer available to qualified retail customers in Canada on select vehicles delivered to an authorized GM dealer in Canada from December 1, 2018, to January 2, 2019. 0.99% purchase financing (0% APR) offered on approved credit by TD Auto Finance Services, Scotiabank® or RBC Royal Bank for 60 months on eligible new 2019 Acadia. Participating lenders are subject to change. Rates from other lenders will vary. Down payment, trade and/or security deposit may be required. Monthly payment and cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed and down payment/trade. Example: $40,000 financed at 0.99% nominal rate (0% APR) equals $668 monthly for 60 months. The offer includes $1,000 Year End Bonus manufacturer-to-consumer (tax inclusive). Cost of borrowing is $992, for a total obligation of $40,107 Freight ($1,795) and air conditioning charge ($100, if applicable) included. License, insurance, registration, PPSA, applicable taxes and dealer fees not included. Dealers are free to set individual prices. Limited time offer which may not be combined with certain other offers. General Motors of Canada Company (GM Canada) may modify, extend or terminate offers for any reason, in whole or in part, at any time, without notice. Conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details. ®Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. TD Auto Finance is a registered trademark of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. As part of the transaction, dealer may request documentation and contact GM Canada to verify eligibility. These offers may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. Conditions and limitations apply. Void where prohibited. See Dealer for full program details. £ Offer available to qualified retail customers in Canada for vehicles purchased between December 1, 2018 to January 2, 2019. Lease based on suggested retail price of $38,185, including $600 Dealer to Consumer credit, includes $1,000 Year End Bonus manufacturer-to-consumer (tax inclusive) towards the lease of an eligible 2019 Terrain SLE 2.0 All-Wheel Drive Black Edition model. Bi-weekly payment is $157 for 48 months at 0.5% lease rate on approved credit to qualified retail customers by GM Financial. The $78 weekly payment is calculated by dividing the bi-weekly payments.

Payments cannot be made on a weekly basis. Equivalent weekly payments are for informational purposes only. Annual kilometer limit of 20,000 km, $0.16 per excess kilometer. $1,850 down payment required. Payment may vary depending on down payment trade. Total obligation is $18,132. Taxes, license, insurance, registration and applicable fees, levies, duties and, except in Quebec, dealer fees (all of which may vary by dealer and region) are extra. Option to purchase at lease end is $16,420. See dealer for details. Credits vary by model. Dealer may sell for less. Limited time offer which may not be combined with certain other offers. General Motors of Canada Company may modify, extend or terminate offers in whole or in part at any time without notice. Conditions and limitations apply. Offers may not be redeemed for Cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. # Whichever comes first. Conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details.≠ Limit of four complimentary Lube-Oil-Filter services in total.

Fluid top-offs, inspections, tire rotations, wheel alignments and balancing, etc., are not covered. Conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details. ± Visit onstar.ca for vehicle availability, details and system limitations. Services and connectivity vary by model and conditions as well as geographical and technical restrictions. Requires active connected vehicle services and data plan. Data plans provided by AT&T or its local service provider. Accessory Power must be active to use the Wi-Fi hotspot.

Page 10

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Workers lay coir matting as part of an effort to combat erosion.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Milestone in Twelve Mile Creek preservation

BY VOICE STAFF

HOPE I GET SOME OATS Fancy a spot of breakfast?

This buggy rider did recently in Fenwick, where his rig was hitched to a lamp post opposite the Grill on Canboro.

JOHN HITCHEN PHOTO

Support your local

service clubs

The Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada and its partners have completed work on two sections of Twelve Mile Creek in Short Hills Provincial Park. According to a media statement released in late November, the projects are designed to alleviate the effects of heavy erosion that sweeps sediment into the creek, causing it to become shallower, warmer, and poor habitat for aquatic animals.

One of the projects created “wing deflectors”: log obstructions that protrude halfway across the stream, creating meanders that narrow and deepen the channel. The team used dead Ash trees to create the deflectors, and then filled in the “V” created by the logs with last year’s Christmas trees, rocks, soil, and smaller logs, which will catch sediment and eventually create a natural sand bar.

The other project was designed to

stabilize a large clay “cliff,” which over the years has eroded from the bank of the stream, depositing huge amounts of sediment into the creek and altering its course. Bundles of live branches were embedded into the face of the cliff to create a root system that will help prevent further erosion.

These bundles, called “fascines,” were placed into hand-dug trenches on the cliff face and pinned into place with live stakes. Then native grass species were seeded across the entire clay bank, and finally coir matting (coconut fiber) was unrolled over the clay to help hold the seed and fascines in place and give them a chance to take root before being washed away. This coir mat will degrade over time.

With $159,400 in funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and $94,700 from the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program, the two projects were a combined effort by the Niagara Restoration

Council and the Niagara Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC), with the co-operation and assistance of Parks Ontario.

The Niagara Chapter of TUC has been working for almost eight years on projects to improve and preserve Twelve Mile Creek, which is the last remaining year-round cold water stream in Niagara. While it is still capable of sustaining trout, the creek is threatened by development in the headwaters that creates flooding events, by deforestation, and by other human interference, such as creating online ponds that warm the water, cutting shade trees and shrubs at the water’s edge, and depositing sand and salt from road clearing. TUC is working with landowners and the municipal government of Pelham to make improvements that will help to preserve this cold water aquatic system into the future.

Merry Christmas Fresh Apples & Apple Cider

825 Canboro Road, Fenwick • 905-892-8724

Store Hours: Mon - Fri 8 - 6 • Sat 8 - 5 • CLOSED SUNDAY

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

Page 11

Annual drainage meeting

BY VOICE STAFF

LIGHT 'EM UP The hydro meters are once again spinning at the Dougan residence on Haist Street in Fonthill, just down from the old arena. Jim and Rosemary Dougan have decked out their home for the past eight years with a variety of Christmas decorations, including Star Wars, Elf, Frozen, and this year’s newest addition, Paw Patrol. Rosemary says the decorations are rotated yearly for a fresh look. The couple looks forward to decorating for the holidays. “We do it for the joy of the people,” says Rosemary.

“We have even had people knock on the door and say ‘thank you’ for bringing joy to their day.” Rosemary adds that many times visitors tell her they pick up their parents from a retirement home and drive by to see the display. It takes about a week to organize and place the decorations. When the Voice visited last weekend for a photo, the soft, seasonal whir of electric air pumps provided an underscore to commentary by a young tot from Toronto, who, along with her grandparents who lived just up the way, happily identified various Star Wars characters on offer. “Storm troopers! That’s right,” said her pleased granddad. When reminded that the original film was released 42 years ago, grandma shook her head and said, “It’s a classic.”

BOB LOBLAW PHOTO

Friday night at 8 PM it’s

KINDRED

Pelham residents had an opportunity to discuss their drainage concerns at the Town of Pelham’s annual Open House Drainage meeting on Tuesday, December 11.

The annual gathering gave residents an opportunity to speak with Town staff and provided an opportunity to learn more about municipal drains and their maintenance.

“There are a number of municipal drains in the Town and the annual Municipal Drainage Open House is an opportunity for residents to receive information on municipal drain maintenance that has occurred in the past year,” said Director of Community Planning and Development, Barb Wiens.

“It is also to provide information to the Drainage Superintendent regarding needed municipal drain maintenance.”

Wiens, Chief Building Official and Drainage Superintendent Mike Zimmer, and Public Works Director Jason Marr were available to answer questions and take concerns back to staff.

Ward 1 Councillor Mike Ciolfi and Ward 3 Councillor Bob Hildebrandt also attended.

For Hildebrandt it was a good learning experience.

He said he didn’t realize the extent of drains that were in the area, especially in Ward 1. He also gained insight on how the provincial Municipal Drainage Act worked.

Ciolfi said because there were many concerns about drainage during his campaign he wanted to know how many drains there were, where the funds go, who is responsible for them. and how maintenance is done.

Zimmer explained that an engineer’s report determines who pays what portion of the repair or installation. “This is done through the Drainage Act, a piece of provincial legislation that gives the guidelines on how municipal drains must be installed, maintained, builtout and assessed. Whoever is affected by the drain are the ones who cover the cost.”

Zimmer says there are seven major drains within Pelham, with a majority of them to the south, which is more flat compared to north Pelham, which has a hillier terrain enabling a more natural drain flow.

The process of fixing drainage issues, either new or existing, varies in length and number of concerns by residents. “It all depends on the area who's involved and what their concerns are.”

Also brought up at the meeting were stormwater issues, which Zimmer said was beneficial as staff can pass them on to the other departments and work with them so they can be addressed.

Zimmer and Wiens said they were both pleased with participant turnout and added there was good dialogue between residents and Town staff.

WE INVITE YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS THROUGH MUSIC, SCRIPTURE AND COMMUNITY.

Saturday Jazz at 2 PM it’s

SHEA D DUO

Saturday night at 8 PM it’s

THE SKINS

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Daily Dining Specials $5 Burger Mondays $6/lb Mussels Tuesdays $7/lb Wings Wednesdays $5 Beef on Weck Thursdays $10 Haddock Fish Fry Fridays ON SUNDAYS THE WEEKENDER! All specials on one day!

Dec. 23: Worship Service - 9:30 am

Dec. 24: Christmas Eve “The Christmas Story” Family Service - 4 pm Scripture & Song - 7 pm Dec. 30: Worship Service - 9:30 am

Children’s Program every week Nursery care provided for 0-3 yrs.

Pelham Community Church 461 Canboro Road, Fenwick 905-892-5922 www.pelham.cc

Page 12

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

PRESENTING THE WINNERS OF THE VOICE

THE WINNERS ARE DECIDED! Last Wednesday evening, Santa himself made an unannounced, under-the-radar appearance at Peter

Piper's Pub to help judge the Voice's first annual Kids' Christmas Card Contest. (Santa dressed in civilian clothes to fool the paparazzi.) He

was assisted by Councillors Mike Ciolfi, Lisa Haun, Bob Hildebrandt, and Marianne Stewart, plus Mayor Junkin, along with Voice staff and

special invited judges known for their keen eye for glitter and appreciation of cake. First, Second, and Third prizes for each of Pelham's

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

Page 13

E'S 2018 KIDS' CHRISTMAS CARD CONTEST

The Voice thanks these generous local businesses that donated prizes for the winners.

"Christmas at Home" was the theme around which students were asked to create their cards. A selection of some winning entries appears on pages 14 and 15. Sobeys Fonthill will also present a display of winning and other entries in their front windows later this week.

THE WINNERS A. K. Wigg

First Place: Ian Cretney Second Place: Sioban Mitchell-Moore Third Place: Savannah Speck Honorable Mentions: Cindy Hausler, Evan Marci, Callaway Harlos

Glynn A. Green

First Place: Hillary Haining Second Place: Sydney Wilson Third Place: Devyn Vanderlip Honorable Mentions: Angel Shields, Valerie Lyttle, Hayden Williams

St. Alexander

First Place: Adelynne A. Second Place: Angelina C. Third Place: Olivia K. Honorable Mentions: Hailey T., Ceyannah G., Russell L.

St. Ann

First Place: Henry Knafelc Second Place: Lylah Ruzanske Third Place: Kait Lilliott Honorable Mentions: Beatrice McNaught, Jenny Vani, Kayleigh Bain Gillies

Wellington Heights

First Place: Charlotte Cimek Second Place: Raven Henry Third Place: Madison Chemerika Honorable Mentions: Lily Reynolds, Hilary Cimek, Maygan Book

five public schools were decided after much debate. Special thanks are due to the local businesses that made generous prize donations: Mi-

nor Brothers, Peter Piper's Pub, PetValu, Sobeys, Bloomin' Crazy, and Sweet Thoughts. In fact, there were so many wonderful entries that the

judges added 15 extra awards—3 honourable mentions per school! All 30 prizes were delivered to their recipients at each school on Friday.

First Place winners took home $30 gift cards from Minor Brothers Country Living Stores, Peter Piper's Pub and Restaurant, and Fonthill PetValu; a $10 gift card from Fonthill Sobeys, plus a delicious chocolate Rudolph lollipop from Sweet Thoughts in Ridgeville, and a beautiful poinsettia from Bloomin' Crazy Garden Centre.

Second Place winners took home $20 gift cards from Minor Brothers Country Living Stores, Peter Piper's Pub and Restaurant, and Fonthill PetValu; a $10 gift card from Fonthill Sobeys, plus a delicious chocolate Rudolph lollipop from Sweet Thoughts in Ridgeville, and a beautiful poinsettia from Bloomin' Crazy Garden Centre.

Third Place winners took home $10 gift cards from Minor Brothers Country Living Stores, Peter Piper's Pub and Restaurant, and Fonthill PetValu, and Fonthill Sobeys, plus a delicious chocolate Rudolph lollipop from Sweet Thoughts in Ridgeville, and a beautiful poinsettia from Bloomin' Crazy Garden Centre.

Honourable Mention winners received a chocolate covered Christmas Oreo from Sweet Thoughts.

The Voice offers congratulations to the winners, to all the entrants, and thanks to our dedicated judges.

VOICE PHOTOS

Page 14

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

A SELECTION OF CONTEST WINNERS Top, from left, artistry by Hayden Williams, Angel Shields, and Raven Henry. Bottom row, from left, Maygan Book, Ian Cretney, and Ceyannah G. VOICE GRAPHICS

SPONSORED CONTENT

STAY FOCUSED ON THE LONG TERM The turbulence of the past few weeks in the world’s financial markets has been difficult for Canadian investors. We are experiencing a level of volatility that we have not seen in years.

Over time, equity markets experience a series of ups and downs. The best way to deal with these market fluctuations is to remember your investment goals and stay focused on the long term.

W

ishing you joy and magic this holiday season. Merry Christmas and happy New Year.

- Mayor Marvin Junkin and Pelham Town Council

With a properly diversified portfolio of investments geared towards meeting your financial goals, the day-to-day fluctuations of the markets should not affect your plan. If you find yourself distracted by dramatic headlines in the financial news, these steps will help you stay focused: Know the potential volatility of your investments. This will help you maintain your perspective. Equity markets typically correct once every four years, and when they correct, they typically correct more than 10%.

Diversify your investments. Combining a variety of investments, including exposure to equities, fixed income and cash equivalents, with different characteristics helps to stabilize returns and reduce volatility.

Focus on the long term. The longer your time frame, the better chance your investments have of reaching their potential. If your goals are short term, you should not be in the market.

Don’t panic. Don’t sell just because an investment declines. Perhaps the most common mistake an investor makes is buying too late and selling too early. If you sell at the bottom, you will lock in losses, and miss potential future profits. History has taught that good entry points into the equity markets are when there is panic, not complacency in the market.

Buy more! View this current volatility as an opportunity to buy your investments on sale.

Over the short-term, equity markets will likely remain volatile. If you are really uncomfortable with your investment portfolio, you should talk to your advisor to ensure your portfolio is suitable for your objectives.

Our team wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

209 Hwy 20 East, Suite 1, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6 905-892-1631 ext. 13 terrylynn.holliswealth.com Terry Lynn Adamson, CFP®, FMA, Director, Private Client Group, Senior Investment Advisor The opinions expressed in this article are those of the Investment Advisor only and do not necessarily reflect those of HollisWealth. HollisWealth® is a division of Industrial Alliance Securities Inc., a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

Page 15

HO-HO-HO! Top, from left, the fine work of Savannah Speck, Beatrice McNaught, and Russell L. Bottom row, from left, Adelynne A., Callaway Harlos, and Lylah Ruzanske. These and many more cards will be displayed at Fonthill Sobeys starting later this week.

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Page 16

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

IN THE NEWS continued from Page 2

May this season of joy mark the start of a blessed and peaceful year to come.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mayor Marvin Junkin

io has laws in place about how, where and who can buy and possess cannabis in Ontario. On Oct. 17, the Province provided a model for the establishment of private retail stores for the sale of legalized recreational cannabis. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) is charged with licencing, regulating and enforcement of private cannabis retail stores.

The AGCO will begin accepting applications for new stores in December of 2018 with the intent to have private retail cannabis stores operational by Apr. 1, 2019. Prior to issuing any licences for the operation of a private cannabis retail store, the Province is giving all local munic-

ipalities the opportunity to opt-in or opt-out of locating recreational cannabis retail stores within the municipality. The municipality deadline is Jan. 22, 2019. Find the survey here: http://bit.ly/2ErPhub

Municipal office closure

The Town of Pelham’s municipal offices will be closed over the coming holiday from Dec. 24 at noon until Jan. 2. Essential services such as snow removal, addressing water main breaks, and other immediate services will continue to be provided.

Programs at the Meridian Community Centre remain as scheduled, and the centre will be open except for the statutory holidays of Dec. 25, 26, and Jan. 1.

Sam Oosterhoff, MPP Niagara West

Merry Christmas, and a blessed 2019 to you and your family!

Beamsville Town Centre

4961 King St. E, Unit M1, Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 905-563-1755 • 1-800-665-3697 samoosterhoffco@pc.ola.org • www.samoosterhoffmpp.ca

Town looking for applicants

The Town of Pelham seeks residents interested in serving on various advisory and other committees. Applications are due

by January 11, and may be submitted to Nancy Bozzato, Town Clerk. Applicants are invited to join: • Beautification Committee • Committee of Adjustment • Hospitality Advisory Committee • Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee• Library Board Committee • Livestock and Poundkeeper Committee • Meridian Community Centre User Group Committee • Pelham Active Transportation Committee • Pelham Seniors Advisory Committee • Public Art Committee • Summerfest Committee • Applications can be found at pelham.ca/committees or can be filled out at Town Hall.

Barrick named Interim CAO at NPCA

Late last week, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) issued an update to what it described as “the status of the roles and responsibilities” within the organization. According to press reports, NPCA Director David Barrick was fired from that position by then-CAO Mark Brickell in late November. Three days later, Brickell himself was placed on “adminstrative leave without pay,” according to the St. Catharines Standard, then outright fired on December 6, with Clerk Lisa MacManus named Interim CAO. In yet another twist, MacManus re-hired Barrick, then resigned as CAO and is on a leave of ab-

sence. Last Friday, Barrick was named the latest Interim CAO. According to an NPCA news release, “The role of the Interim CAO is to move the organization forward through this transition and to ensure that the NPCA has the capacity and resources to complete not only the day-to-day operational requirements of the organization but continues to implement the Auditor General recommendations and the Strategic Plan 2018-2021.” The Interim CAO will support the 2019 Board of Directors in their search of a new Chief Administrative Officer, the statement goes on to say. “NPCA will continue to share information with the public through our social channels, and website, excluding confidential human resources matters, which are protected under Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56, and legal matters, which are protected under solicitor-client privilege.”

Barrick provides an exclusive commentary to the Voice this week, starting on page 5.

䐀攀愀渀 䄀氀氀椀猀漀渀 䴀攀洀戀攀爀 漀昀 倀愀爀氀椀愀洀攀渀琀 昀漀爀 一椀愀最愀爀愀 圀攀猀琀 眀眀眀⸀搀攀愀渀愀氀氀椀猀漀渀⸀挀愀 簀 ㄀⸀㠀㜀㜀⸀㌀ 㤀⸀㌀㌀㈀㘀

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season.

DIANA HUSON | REGIONAL COUNCILLOR diana.huson@niagararegion.ca

Real estate sales up

November saw a 2.7 percent increase in Niagara property sales. The Niagara Association of REALTORS (NAR) reported 600 property sales processed through the NAR Multiple Listing Service, according to an association news release.

In Pelham, the number of new listings increased to 24 from 21, with sales down slightly to 18 compared to 19 in 2017.

The average sale price increased from $487,042 to $538,797 while the average days on the market decreased from 47 to 30.

See IN THE NEWS Page 18

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

Page 17

HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM PELHAM TOWN COUNCIL

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Best wishes for the holidays

Best wishes for a

y r r e M ristmas h C and a

Councillor

Marianne Stewart, Councillor Ward 1.

MIKE CIOLFI Ward 1

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year John Wink

RON KORE

Merry Christmas &a Blessed 2019 to the people of Pelham.

- Councillor Bob Hildebrandt

LISA HAUN Councillor Ward 3

Councillor

Entertain and Be Merry

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Engage your Hearing, Engage your Mind

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Page 18

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

SERVICE DIRECTORY Electrical Electrical

ACB

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We Service All Makes And Models

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CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR

Places of Worship and Events Bethany Christian Reformed Church 1040 Balfour St., Fenwick

First Presbyterian Church 602 Metler Rd., North Pelham

Glad Tidings Church of God 1 Pancake Lane, Fonthill

Pelham Evangelical Friends Church 940 Haist St., Fonthill

Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill

Fonthill Baptist Church 1414 Pelham St., Fonthill

Holy Trinity Anglican Church 1557 Pelham Street, Fonthill

Ridgeville Bible Chapel 418 Canboro Rd., Ridgeville

Fenwick Church of Christ 765 Welland Rd., Fenwick

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

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

St. Alexander’s Roman Catholic Church 50 Pelham Town Sq., Fonthill

Fenwick United Church 1050 Church St., Fenwick

Fonthill United Church 42 Church Hill, Fonthill

Pelham Community Church 461 Canboro Rd., Fenwick

St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church 834 Canboro Rd., Fenwick

IN THE NEWS

continued from Page 16 Overall, Niagara’s residential average sale price of $408,905 increased 6.1 percent compared to last year, while active residential property listings increased 18 percent.

In the residential freehold market, the average days on market were on par to last year’s 40.

However, there was an increase

of 8.3 percent from 36 to 39 days in the condominium market from this time last year. The sales price to list price ratio of 97.8 percent compared to 2017’s 99.3 percent remains relatively steady. To date, residential property transactions total 6,089, a decrease compared to 6,921 for 2017 and an increase compared to 5,495 in 2013. This represents a decrease of 12.0 percent versus 2017 and an increase of 10.8 percent ver-

sus 2013. Despite the trend of an increase in the average days to sell versus 2017, it was noted that the current average of 38 days to sell is 32.1 percent lower versus the 56 average days to sell at this time in 2015.

Oosterhoff says GO Transit is coming to Niagara

Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West stated last week in a news release that plans for

GO Train expansion include the Niagara Region. Specifically, a Grimsby GO Station will be built through a Transit Oriented Development (TOD), meaning that Metrolinx will find a third-party developer to build the station.

“This is good news for taxpayers here in Ontario,” said Oosterhoff.

“This is a meaningful step that will save ordinary people money while assuring value for money. A third party investment will

give us the best bang for our buck by building all new GO Stations through Transit Oriented Development. Through TOD, we will be able to have more great projects like Mimico GO Station, where a brand new station is being built and paid for by a developer.”

Free parking in St. Kitts

Downtown visitors will have See IN THE NEWS next page

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

Page 19

COMMUNITY EVENTS & CLASSIFIEDS

Place your ad by email or phone office@thevoiceofpelham.ca Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8 AM - 2 PM (905) 892-8690

EXTEND YOUR REACH - ADVERTISE PROVINCIALLY OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY! For more information visit www.ocna.org/network-advertising-program

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Community Events Listings Putting on an event?

TELL THE TOWN!

Community Event Classified ads are available in blocks of 30 words for $10 incl. HST.

Ad booking and payment deadline is Thursday Noon prior to week of publication. Payment may be made over the phone by credit card, or in person at our office by cash or check.

Thanks for supporting your Voice!

office@thevoiceofpelham.ca

Also see News vs. Promotion: www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/promotion

905-892-8690 CUSTOM MILL

Portable sawmill service.

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

Firewood & lumber also available. Call Rob Patterson, 905-401-4948, riverwood@primus.ca

KITCHEN STAFF NEEDED

Full time and part time cooks needed. One year experience is an asset but willing to train the right candidate. Send resume to pelhamstgrille@gmail.com or in person at 1507 Pelham St, Fonthill

CAR KEY FOUND

Found in the Lookout subdivision area, key for Toyota Corolla.

Contact 905-359-1078

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Reach thousands of readers weekly with a Voice classified!

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continued from previous page

CLA

COMMUNITY Events

CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT NOW!!!

IN THE NEWS

ADVERTISING

HOME OWNER LOANS FOR ANY PURPOSE!!

LOWER YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENTS

$10

WANTED WA N T E D : O L D T U B E A U D I O EQUIPMENT. 40 years or older.

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guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, our three virtuosos blend boundless energy with the unmistakable joie de vivre found only in FOR SALE traditional Quebec music. Show runs from 7-9 p.m. FRUIT FARM/GENERAL Snow tires Michelin XICE, 17 inch, less than 1,000 km, $500.

Smash table tennis, $250. Call 289-897-8713

FARM LABOURER

PELHAM LIBRARY CARD MAKING WORKSHOP Looking for seasonal/ time help.

Make six cards withWOMEN fall themes, learning a variety of full techniques.

Materials TRAINING FOR AND GIRLS Applicant must be able toabout work min.

40-60 are provided.

At time of registration, please tools needed.

Beautiful Mind Personal Training for Women and Girls enquirehours/week in any Tues., Sept.

16 10 – 12:30. $10.

Visitconditions www.pelhamCreate healthy habits by eating better andPlease movingregister better ahead. weather and 50 lbs feel better. library.on.ca so oryou callcan 905-892-6443 for more details. weekends.Lifting comfortably is required.

Starter Packages available!

Jobs included pruning, Contact Sarah Rose Personal Training Specialist Planting trees, thinning FABULOUS LIONS FISH FRY and harvesting fruit, TextFENWICK or call - 905-701-2460 and sorting Tasty treats with funds heading straight back into the packing community.

Haddock, Email - beautifulmindtraining@gmail.com fruit. No Experience Web- www.beautifulmindpersonaltraining.com required. No Education french fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. required, Must have own transportation. Min $14.00/hour.

PELHAM MINOR HOCKEY EQUIPMENT SALE wage Please drop resume off at 825 Canboro Rd, Buy, sell or trade used equipment at the Pelham Arena.

Aimed to provide Fenwick Ontario L0S cheaper options for players in this upcoming season.

1C0Runs Sept. 6 from

Support 9-12 in the morning. your local OLD PAPERS PELHAM MUDFEST If your message to Pelham Men and women service will be back in the mud as the second run on the year is clubs held at Bissil’s Hideaway. isn’t in our pages,

Do you have old issues of the Voice published from 1997 to

OCNA Network Classified AdsHow about the Pelham 2007?

Herald (any year). We'd love to (AD CENTRAL)

Then it isn’t being seen.

NORTH

Josh DeHaan Flooring “For all your flooring needs”

We offer in-stock specials: • pre-finished hardwood

flooring solid, engineered from $2/ft2 • laminate flooring from $.89/ft2 • carpet and vinyl flooring from $4.95/yd2 • fibre flooring from $1/ft2 • ceramic tile from $.89/ft2 ...and other specials!

Call us to see the products that are available & visit our showroom.

Phone: 905-892-7898 Fax: 905-892-4811

No Sunday Calls, Please TF

add them to our archive. Contact: publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca

NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION Week of Rodeo, games and live entertainment headline this years exciting event. It December 17 runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Welland Fairgrounds.

The Voice Posted December 13

BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE The Big Move Cancer RideCentral is a non-competitive ride taking place on Sept.

Region Ads included 7. Proceeds the BigPelham Move stay in Niagara and support the Walker FamThe paperforthat reads. ily Cancer Centre.

(905) 892-8690This ad is to be printed by all participating Ontario papers

WALKING CLUB advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca Interested in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena TAX INCL. from 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am. There is no fee for this program. For more information, please contact jcook@ on weekdays until Friday, pelham.ca Dec. 28. Free or cluded in the holiday parking call 905 892-2607, ext 329.promo-

a little more jingle in their pockets thanks to three hours of free afternoon parking in December at select city spots and lots. Just in time for holiday shopping and get-togethers, the St. Catharines is offering up to three hours of free parking between noon and 6 PM

Bricklaying, tuckpointing, step repair, granite coatings, brick slices items, 1PM P18-28 905-682-7061.

FLOORING

afternoon parking is available down- tion. Free afternoon parking does not town at City-owned on-street metered apply to special event parking fees at HAMPER CARES spots and City-owned parking lotsDAY theFOR HeadPELHAM Street, Race Street, Garden with pay machines. Visitors taking ad- Park and IceDogs Way parking lots Purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at the Market or bring a non-perishable vantage of free afternoon parking are during events at the Meridian Centre item to filland thethehampers at the Pelham Arts Farmers Market on Sept. 4. still subject to the City’sfood three-hour FirstOntario Performing time limit for parking in the down- Centre. The annual parking promotion town.Long-term parking at the City’s is a joint program between the City parking garages at Garden Park / Car- and the St. Catharines Downtown Aslisle Street and Ontario Street isn’t in- sociation.

COMMUNITY Events CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR

Event Submissions Standards

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Page 20

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

NPCA

continued from Page 5 fore all the pressure was to increase property taxes. No budget processes followed general accounting practices, and this translated into a lack of reflection on the actual expenditures or reality of the organization, equating to zero financial transparency.

No procurement processes were being followed, leading to needlessly expensive purchases, and lead to questionable relationships between various staff and vendors. No project management meant capital projects were completed late and grossly over budget regularly. For example,

at Long Beach Conservation Area, a water filter system was built, but never operated because of the design, after thousands of dollars in investment. Another example, there was no capital planning and management, which resulted in a 40-year-old HVAC system failing, creating an emergency crisis that led to thousands of more tax dollars being spent.

There was no human resources function whatsoever, which meant no hiring practices, zero records, and rampant nepotism. There were agreements in place where the NPCA maintained properties owned by others at its expense and risk while neglecting its own proper-

Blessings of the Season “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

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ties. There was a complete lack of corporate policies including records retention.

There were long-term and costly agreements the NPCA made without board knowledge under a blanket board resolution that would “allow staff to enter into various agreements,” again translating to zero transparency.

There was no one checking that the organization was fulfilling its mandate as it is prescribed in the Conservation Authorities Act. Just imagine an organization where staff would flex their work schedules on their own, so they could take Mondays and Fridays off. Then, within their shortened work week, would book overtime. And then, record the overtime by pencil and paper and submit to payroll.

Just imagine an organization where staff would live at an NPCA property, rent-free, while being paid an annual salary for fourmonths of programming.

Just imagine an organization where managers would hide employees from the board by placing their salaries in the capital budget.

Just imagine an organization where staff would focus their restoration work on wealthy Niagara-on-the-Lake properties, instead of other parts of the watershed, where the water quality was continuously reported as poor.

Well, this was not imagination, these were the real issues occurring at the NPCA. When the NPCA board

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

took measures to begin fixing the failing organization, that meant the freedom and liberties which certain individuals had been taking stopped, which resulted in backlash. Abusing the lack of oversight had to come to an end. Taxpayer dollars were being spent freely, and with zero accountability in the years leading up to 2010.

Simply put, it was a freefor-all with your tax dollars.

That had to stop, and it did.

Post-2010, the NPCA board hired a management team that introduced professional services, such as an electronic payroll system, a certified accountant and financial systems, additional professional planners that publicly disclosed budget details, and enhanced reporting back to the NPCA board. These historical facts are what has resulted in a media storm, as staff lost their freelance abilities to abuse the system for their personal gain.

There's been a concerted effort to purposely mislead the public, when in face we have spent thousands of hours to bring clarity to the public, even going so far as to build an entire website (npcadialogue.ca) to correct the mammoth amount of misinformation. This media storm continues to loom over the NPCA as former staff and biased journalists attempt to discredit the many improvements made by the NPCA board.

When the Auditor General's staff were shown all the improvements mentioned

above (and more), they acknowledged and accepted the changes, but responded that this was not the focus of their work.

Now, there is tremendous value in having excellent local media reporting. But in today's reality, people are turning to alternative sources for their news. The result is a significant decline in revenue.

Newspapers make money to operate by selling advertising space. "Clickbait" is an article that entices users to click on it, within which there will be an ad. The more clicks an article gets, the more easily the newspaper can demonstrate and increase what they charge for that ad space. Based on the model of revenue generation through advertising dollars, it stands to reason that a reporter would be motivated to write salacious and controversial articles. It is job security.

It is also in direct conflict with any notion of fair or honest reporting. This fact was asserted to NPCA management by a local reporter, who remarked, "If it bleeds, it reads." [Editor's note: While large media corporations may earn significant income from online advertising, the Voice does not, with such income representing less than onetenth of one percent of revenue.]

Thus, there is no need to base articles on facts, because there is no accountability to anyone but advertising sales. It is why so much news is manufac-

tured. Create the story, get the clicks, secure the money. Of course, any reporter in the game will reach out to ask questions, to which they will either ignore the response, to or ask questions they know that an organization cannot answer—such as regarding human resources and legal matters—and use that legislative restriction, which exists to protect people’s privacy, as a “gotcha” tactic that they use to say that an organization is hiding something, or is up to something nefarious.

The facts tell the real story.

Coming out of eight layers of scrutiny, including the Auditor General’s eightmonth-long audit, all indications are that the NPCA is in the best state in its recorded history.

1. Grant Thornton: financial audit—Pass. (We are now engaging KPMG to conduct our audits. The same auditors as utilized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests.)

2. Dillon Consulting: Value for Money audit—Pass.

They recommended conducting our restoration programming differently to enhance accountability (which the board has since done).

3. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) audits—Pass on both HST audit, and payroll audits.

4. Performance Concepts: Review of NPCA operations See NPCA next page

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NPCA

continued from previous page from 2014-2017—Pass.

5. Ministry of Labour (MoL): Review of any HR complaints—Pass.

6. Justice Ramsay—Pass.

Confirmed allegations and accusations are inaccurate and deliberately misleading.

7. OPP: No criminal wrongdoing at NPCA — Pass.

8. Auditor General —Pass.

All 18 recommendations are in progress.

If you look strictly at the facts, not the narrative that certain journalists and special interest groups continue to force on taxpayers, you cannot possibly conclude that this organization needs to fire everyone and hire their own people. They want you to believe we are failing our mandate so that they can come in and bring in their own people, the same people the organization removed for unaccountability.

The irony is not lost on me. We have remained a responsive and open organization. I would challenge any other publicly funded organization to point out how they are more transparent.

Present

We are in the process of executing the second stra-

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018 tegic plan in our history, the first of which was met with high marks for successful implementation. The issue at hand, I would suggest, is that the understanding-gap between what NPCA is legislatively responsible for and what people think we are responsible for is enormous. The NPCA is not an environmental protection agency; we are not a preservation agency; we are not the keeper of forests and trees.

We are a Conservation Authority, and we exist as prescribed by the Conservation Authorities Act. To put it simply, the NPCA — like many conservation authorities across the province — regulates development via a permit process.

Our mandate is: To establish and undertake programs and services, on a watershed basis, to further the conservation, restoration, development, and management of natural resources; and as prescribed by provincial regulations: to protect people and property by regulating, and risk-mitigating development through reviewing and commenting on applications, issuing permits, and ensuring policy compliance within the appropriate legislative and regulatory framework.

Our mission is to im-

plement our Conservation Authorities Act mandate by remaining a responsive, innovative, accountable and financially sustainable organization. I have included some further detail and definitions below for more clarity.

Niagara Peninsula Watershed A watershed is a geologically defined geographic area of land that catches rain and snow, and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater.

The Niagara Peninsula watershed includes lands that are predominantly drained by the Welland River into the Niagara River, as well as those lands drained by creeks and streams into Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Our complex watershed covers the Niagara Region and parts of Hamilton and Haldimand. It is made up of homes, farms, cottages, forests, small towns, and large cities. Everyone shares the responsibility to conserve within the watershed.

What does our mandate mean, and how do we implement programs and services to execute our mission?

verse recreational and educational opportunities with the purpose of keeping the properties healthy for future generations. Examples of our conservation programming include: Grooming our properties to encourage healthy ecosystems, planting native plants and trees to improve our water quality and overall land health, offering campgrounds and educational-based day camps.

Restoration

NPCA improves or redevelops natural landscapes and habitats at its Conservation Areas so that they remain safe for humans, wildlife, and plant communities. Ecological destruction is usually the consequence of pollution, deforestation, salination or natural disasters. Examples of our restoration projects include: Designing agricultural buffers, enhancing slope stability, and the planting of native trees and plants.

Page 21

O HOLY NIGHT The Fonthill Community Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service will begin at 9 PM Everyone is welcome Fonthill United Church 42 Church Hill, Fonthill (on Highway 20, one block west of Pelham St.) www.fonthillunited.com In story and in song, in spirit and in community, in beautiful worship, Christ is born again

See NPCA next page

Conservation

NPCA practices conservation on all 41 of its Conservation Areas.

NPCA manages and maintains its properties to provide di-

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Page 22

The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

NPCA

Wishing you a festive holiday season and a very happy new year!

continued from previous page

Development

Richard Brown SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Direct: 905-651-5143

NPCA works within the framework that the provincial government sets to provide comment on the suitability of proposed changes or improvements to existing resources, and may recommend conditions based on Ontario Regulation 155/06: Development, Interference with Wetlands, and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses. Exam-

ples of projects on which NPCA provides comments, recommendations or permits include: New dwellings and alterations to existing dwellings, pathway, and construction compliance when work takes place on properties that contain, for examples, a shoreline.

Management of natural resources

Natural resource management deals with managing the way in which people and natural landscapes interact. It connects

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca land use planning, water management, biodiversity, conservation, and the future sustainability of industries like agriculture. NPCA relies on a scientific and technical understanding of resources and ecology, and the life-supporting capacity of those resources. Examples of how NPCA manages natural resources include: hunting permits, building permits, and floodplain mapping.

My role as Interim CAO is moving the organization forward through this tran-

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I want to be clear that it is not my intention to apply for the full-time CAO position. I will support the new board once they are appointed through the recruitment process of finding a new CAO. ♦

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The Voice of Pelham, December 19 2018

COLUMN SIX

continued from Page 1 It’s becoming increasingly difficult to celebrate “the real meaning of Christmas” in these non-sectarian and non-partisan times that give us a Festive Hit Parade of musical confectionery.

Social media campaigners for zero restrictions on immigration use the Holy Family’s flight from Egypt as leverage for their fanciful demands.

I wonder if Christmas has become politicized to the point where we can say that nothing indeed is sacred any more.

There’s that whole business of how you greet people at this time of year. We’re made to believe that wishing someone a Merry Christmas can offend them, and so far from sharing a spirit of good will we’re assuming everyone’s Christian. I have a Punjabi friend who wishes people a Happy Diwali each year because she likes to share her culture’s festival of lights. I’m not remotely Hindu but am happy to be included in her greeting.

I’m not remotely Christian either, but I’m happy when people I don’t know wish me a Merry Christmas. And I don’t reply to either greeting with Happy Holidays or something equally insipid because it’s disingenuous.

The irony here is that a season symbolizing peace and harmony has itself become the subject of all manner of controversy and politicized bickering.

Sometimes I think that the Grinch didn’t steal Christmas at all, but that it got surrendered instead.

This isn’t to say that what was once perfectly acceptable must forever remain so.

I watched Holiday Inn recently because I’d never seen the movie that gave us “White Christmas,” and I was shocked to find Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Marjorie Reynolds applying blackface as they prepare for a number called “Abraham.” Along with the white orchestra, white dancing waitresses wore blackface while serving gleeful white diners and singing the praises of Abraham Lincoln. In the middle of the number the camera cuts

away to the hotel kitchen where a real black woman, Mamie, and her two little children contribute a verse about Abraham setting “the darkie free.” Really?

For all we know, Irving Berlin and the producers back in 1942 might have believed they were celebrating the emancipation of black people, even if it was entirely “cosmetic,” with Mamie and her two children still stuck in the kitchen while they sing of their liberation.

“White Christmas” carries a whole new meaning now, even though the scene has been cut from most screenings of Holiday Inn. A favourite Christmas song of mine is “The Huron Carol,” written by Father John Brébeuf in 1642. He wrote it in the Huron language to a traditional French tune while he was converting the nation to Christianity.

Translated into English in 1926, it tells the story of the Nativity, substituting Indigenous culture for Biblical—so the shepherds become hunters, the Magi become chiefs, and the gifts become beaver and fox pelts. Jesus

is the son of the mighty Gitchy Manitou, the Great Spirit. Father Brébeuf was captured by the warring Iroquois, who massacred the Hurons while the French looked the other way. They tortured him over several days before killing him and eating his heart because they considered it very strong.

I find it reassuring that this carol, a beautiful and haunting piece, remains politically unscathed. If there were ever a symbol of the possible harmony between cultures that share a regrettable history, maybe this is it. Though someone out there may already be thinking about giving it the hook for its assimilation or appropriation or some other crime against correctness.

Even as an agnostic I love the Christmas story. I’ve always loved stories, and believe the well-told ones to be true while I’m reading them. But for me that’s what they are: inventions. At Christmas I suspend my disbelief and enjoy a story about redemption, peace on earth, hope for a better world, light in the darkest time of the year. I also enjoy the sacred music that celebrates the birth of

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca Jesus, some of it written by agnostics.

For me, as for novelist Julian Barnes, “religions were the first great inventions of the fiction writers. A convincing representation and a plausible explanation of the world for understandably confused minds. A beautiful, shapely story containing hard, exact lies.”

Yet for all its fiction there’s a truth about the Christmas story—emotional truths can be as valid as intellectual ones, can they not?

For me Christmas will be a quiet day. I’ll listen to Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s, Cambridge, and I’ll play Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah through the day.

I’ll read and make some phone calls. There will be no arguments about politics and religion. And, ignoring all advice about healthy “food groups,” I’ll roast a prime rib with all the trimmings to round it off.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, each in their own way.

And to everyone, stay warm. ♦

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