The Voice of Pelham, January 4 2017

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Column Six Impressed with Pelham youth

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

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E. L. Crossley student Emily Bonisteel is all smiles delivering Christmas Cheer packages. SUPPLIED PHOTO

BY KAYE CHANGE

E.L. Crossley Correspondent

It’s that time of year again, when Christmas Cheer has come and gone at E.L Crossley Secondary School.

Twenty-eight classes, over the past month, have been contributing a number of generous donations to less fortunate families through the Salvation Army.

The caring students of Crossley collected $400-worth of presents, gift cards and canned goods for their assigned families.

Mrs. Chcoski, the organizer of Christmas Cheer at Crossley, proudly stated that, “The school has been supporting one-third of the Salva-

For two decades, Christmas Cheer effort has brought joy to those in need tion Army’s families every Christmas for over 20 years. I like to think that we fulfill an important need in the community.”

She added that a vital contributor involved with Christmas Cheer was local business owner Rick Lowe. Due to Lowe’s perishable food donations, fresh meat and other produce was widely distributed to the families, to ensure that they had a proper meal come Christmas.

Chcoski, beyond being an avid Christmas Cheer supporter, is also in charge of the school’s Interact club.

On the 20th of December, members of Interact helped deliver all of the food and gift items to Holy Trinity Church in Welland.

A participant who was able to deliver the presents last year said that, “The best part of coming to help is seeing all of the gifts and knowing

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that there are going to be a lot of happy families. That’s the reason why I do this, beyond meeting new people and getting community service hours.”

Items were left unwrapped to let families have the opportunity of doing their own wrapping for Christmas.

Christmas Cheer is an important effort that brings much to those that have so little.

Due to the selfless efforts of the many students at Crossley, the Interact Club, Mrs. Chcoski, other teacher volunteers, the Salvation Army and Rick Lowe, families across the Niagara region were able to enjoy a happy Christmas.

OME OF THE MOST satisfying things about working as a journalist are the experiences you share with the people you interview. Every one of these moments leaves its mark for its own reason, however the exchanges with individuals who passionately care about their issues always create a longer lasting, more inspiring impression.

So far in Pelham the most enlightening and uplifting conversations I have found myself in have been with the youth residing in the community.

No matter what the topic under discussion may be, each of these individuals has possessed two main attributes — an innate sense of curiosity, and a passion to live compassionately. Local students Evan Bernard, Danielle Pine, Gabby Griffin, Jade Zanutto and her sister Violet all share these qualities.

Janet Zanutto and her daughters Jade,15, and Violet, 6, honoured their curiosity by travelling some 4,400 kilometres in eight days to take a stand with the Standing Rock Sioux First Nation against the Dakota Access Pipeline. By means of their cross-border campaign to protect Indigenous Rights and the environment, See PELHAM YOUTH Page 11

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Page 2

The Voice of Pelham, January 4, 2017

IN THE NEWS

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

by Dave Burket

2017 and the Three Don’ts...When he first started out in journalism, a young pup was given some advice from an old hound: The Three Don’ts.

First, don’t be lazy. Many reporters spend their entire careers asking the same three questions: What happened here. How did this happen. What happens now. You can lazily apply this sequence to almost any story, and retire 40 years later shedding no real light on anything.

Second, don’t let people in power go “off the record.”

This gives politicians and bureaucrats the ability to manipulate the press without consequence. If they don’t want to see it in print, they shouldn’t be telling it to a reporter. Don’t be their puppet.

And third, don’t do endof-year retrospectives.

They’re a waste of space, boring to read, and a cynical way to recycle old copy.

This advice came my way in the late ‘70s. Now I’m the old hound passing it along.

So you’ll not find a tedious 2016 recap in this issue, which works doubly well considering what an unfortunate year it was. And the Voice will continue to do its best to ask non-lazy questions that irk people in power, people who prefer not to be held accountable, who prefer the press to act as obedient stenographers and not critical thinkers.

However, on Don’t #2, I have to admit to making a rookie mistake a couple of months ago—out of

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an abundance of courtesy, I agreed to an off-the-record meeting with senior figures from Pelham Town Hall.

The background: In late summer the Voice ran an article about a Fonthill merchant and his effort to move Summerfest away from Pelham Street. It was a brief story about a man with a petition. But judging by the reaction inside Town Hall, you would have thought that the paper had suggested bulldozing the Comfort Maple to make way for yet another Pelham gas bar. (Actually, given this Council’s embrace of rampant development, that’s not so far-fetched.)

Long story short, weeks later, at the Town's request, a summit meeting of sorts between representatives of the Town and of the paper occurred at the Voice office, a meeting which went south nearly from the opening how-do-you-do.

Within 48 hours, as public statements started to differ from private ones, I’d regretted allowing it to occur off the record. This mistake is not one that I, nor any Voice reporter, will make again.

Ironically, the merchant’s Summerfest petition spurred the Town into almost immediate action.

Within a month—supersonic speed in municipal terms—the Town held a fact-finding meeting with Pelham Street businesses. Out of this meeting came a series of recently announced changes to Summerfest 2017, including lower fees for Pelham merchants, a reduced street presence, promises of

better security, and various other concessions to the petitioners.

In short, it took concerted taxpayer-effort to get Town Hall to wake up and smell the consternation, to acknowledge that these merchants deserved to be heard. Would the man and his petition have gotten this response had the Voice not reported the story?

Impossible to say for certain, but I think we all know the likely answer.

Please don’t mistake this for crowing, or for overly enthusiastic self-congratulation. It was a straightforward article that practically wrote itself. All we did from there was step back and watch Council repeatedly shoot itself in the foot trying to dance around the legitimacy of the merchants’ grievances. In a few months, on the record, we’ll see whether the promised improvements to the festival actually happen.

Confidential to the Sportels... Your thoughtful gesture was very much appreciated. Thank you.

Looking ahead...

2017 marks our 20th year of publication. Thanks to the expertise of Seniors on the Move, our office is back on the street where it all started.

Our editorial bench is deeper than ever, with staff talent in Nate Smelle and John Swart, plus contributors such as Larry Coté, Nick Saltarelli, Scott Hooper, Kaye Chang, Kirk Weaver, and the Pelham Historical Society. We wish our readers and advertisers the best for 2017. Happy New Year to you all.

on vacation!

Welland couple charged in dog death

On Friday December 30, 2016, at approximately at 4:00 PM, uniform officers of the Niagara Regional Police Service #3 District Welland, with the assistance of the Welland SPCA, attended a dwelling in the City of Welland after receiving information of an animal complaint regarding an injured dog.

Shortly after uniformed officers arrival the occupants of the dwelling were arrested and have been charged.

The dog, which is believed to be an American Eskimo, died as a result of injuries sustained.

The Welland detective office subsequently continued the investigation, executing a search warrant at the dwelling.

The dog has been transported to the University of Guelph where it will undergo a necropsy (similar to an autopsy) on December 31, 2016.

Welland residents, Jeffrey Tisi and Krhystina Paonessa were to have appeared in bail court on charges of Cause Unnecessary Suffering to an Animal, Failing to Comply with Undertaking, Failing to Comply with Probation Order (Tisi); and Cause Unnecessary Suffering to an Animal (Paonessa).

The Welland detective office continues to investigate this matter. Police ask that anyone with information icontact (905) 688-4111 ext. 3300.

New police rules

As of January 1, a new regulation comes into effect that will prohibit police from requesting identifying information arbitrarily, or based on a person’s race or presence in a highcrime neighbourhood during certain police-public interactions.

“Collection of Identifying Information in Certain Circumstances Prohibitions and Duties” sets out new rules that police must follow when requesting identifying information, and outlines in what situations these new rules apply. The new rules apply if an officer asks the person for identifying information or to see an identifying document while: Looking into suspicious activities, gathering intelligence, or investigating possible criminal activity.

The new rules do not apply if police ask for identifying information or to see an identifying document while: Doing a traffic stop, arresting or detaining someone, executing a warrant, investigating a specific crime.

More information is available at Ontario.ca/streetchecks

New jobs in Smithville

Dean Allison, Member of Parliament for Niagara West, announced in December that Stanpac Inc., Smithville’s largest employer, will be expanding its production capacity and creating up to 50 new permanent manufacturing jobs.

According to Allison’s press office, Stanpac is being offered a loan of up to $4.5 million by FedDev Ontario to integrate advanced manufacturing processes and add four new production lines. The company is presently operating at near capacity.

“Stanpac is a Canadian manufacturing success story,” Allison said. “At at time when other companies have been reducing their production capacity, Stanpac has been expanding its operations” Stanpac manufactures closures for glass milk bottles, and packaging for the ice cream and beverage industries. It also uses technology that prints on glass bottles.

See IN THE NEWS Page 8

Grill on Canboro

NRP impaired driving charges 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.

Ana-Maria BALOG, 48, Welland Paul D., J. COTE, 27, Essex Brendan D. WALL, 29, St. Catharines Markus J. MADRID VASCO, 23, Mississauga Paul R. RUTSCH, 44, Fort Erie Raul D. SOSA-ZABALETA, 44, Fort Erie Lenny CUYLLE, 56, Innerkip Alexandra G. McQUEEN, 23, Niagara Falls Stefan D. TRIFONOV, 33, Lutz, FL Albert G. BENNS, 50, St. Catharines Aaron D., C. RYCKMAN, 26, Hamilton 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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Santa relaxes with the Voice and his dog Boo-Boo at the North Pole. Santa thanks Callum, Morgan, Hudson, Cole, Luke, Logan, Conner, Griffin, and Cooper for their letters! Have a great 2017!

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Page 3

Kinsmen searching for Citizen of the Year

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

For the past 18 years, the Fonthill and District Kinsmen have honoured one very special local individual as Pelham’s Outstanding Citizen of the year. Now that they have wrapped up their series of annual Christmas events the club has set its sights on finding the 19th community member to join this elite group of honourees. Brian Iggulden is the Chair of the Citizen of the Year selection committee.

The award is an important way for the club to express its gratitude, and to recognize someone from the community who gives of themselves to make the town a better place.

“We have had 18 great winners, and I am sure there will always be outstanding volunteers in Pelham,” said Iggulden.

“When we started this in 1998 we recognized a need to honour the people who give their time to serve others. Surely with the wealth of volunteers out there in our community there is an outstanding individual who deserves to be this year’s

Citizen of the Year.”

The Fonthill and District Kinsmen Club has been working to serve the greatest needs of the community since it was first founded in 1951. Over the years, they have been regular supporters of Pelham Cares, Special Olympics, Pathstone Mental Health, Pelham Minor Sports Teams, the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and other local charities and organizations. The Club is also a supporter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Foster Parents Plan, the United Way and the Welland Hospital. The Kinsmen have also contributed to numerous local High School Scholarships.

“Until you have actually volunteered for your community in one way or another you don’t realize how rewarding it is,” said Iggulden.

“We just finished our Seniors Christmas Dinner where we fed more than 100 seniors. Before that we delivered 170 poinsettias to Extended Care at the Welland Hospital. For some of them that’s the only present they get, so it means a lot to people to know we care about

them and our community.”

Last year’s winner was chair of the Summerfest committee, John Wink. Iggulden said Wink was a perfect selection because he embodies all of the qualities they are looking for in a Citizen of the Year.

“It’s nice for the community to know who these people are,” he said.

“It doesn’t have to be someone who is always in the media, it can be someone working behind the scenes. They can be a coach of a sports team or a member of another service club.”

The candidate must have a history of volunteerism and community activism, and must live or work in Pelham. They cannot be a sitting politician, nor a member of the Kinsmen Club. This year’s winner will be announced early in February and the award will be handed out at the Kinsmen’s annual dinner on Tuesday, March 7.

Submissions must be in writing and postmarked no later than Friday, Jan. 27.

Submissions are to be sent to The Kinsmen Club of Fonthill and District, Box # 906 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0.

CONTRIBUTION TO PELHAM CARES Tina Sidler, owner of the James L. Pedlar Funeral Home, along with Funeral Director Brooklynn Deamude and their comfort dog Condor, are pleased to present Keith Moore of Pelham Cares a cheque for $500 in hopes that it will help those families in need this holiday season.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Brock University offers new free-tuition plan

BY VOICE STAFF Brock University will become a reachable option for thousands more Niagara families next fall, when a new program covers undergraduate tuition costs for students from middle- or low-income homes.

The provincial government’s Ontario Grant Program, which takes effect in September 2017, is designed to pay most or all tuition costs for students from households earning less than $50,000 a year.

Last week, the government posted an online calculator where students can see if they qualify for free tuition or grants. For students about to graduate from high school, Jan. 11, is the application deadline to attend Brock next fall.

According to a Brock news release, about 55,000 households in Niagara have an annual income of less than $50,000,

Interested students need to act fast—application deadline is next Wednesday according to Statistics Canada figures from 2011, the most recent available. Niagara, which is rebuilding its economy after losing thousands of industrial and manufacturing jobs over the past 15 years, has a median income ($68,410) significantly lower than the Ontario average ($74,890).

Brock officials say the new program means that university is now a serious choice for all qualified students, regardless of income, but especially for those who can attend university while continuing to live at home.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to help more young people achieve a better future for themselves and their families,” said Tom Traves, Brock’s Interim President and Vice-Chancellor.

“Our bright young people are the ones who will build Niagara and build Canada. They should not be denied access to a good education because of financial disadvantages beyond their control, and now those barriers are being removed.”

Traves said having a well-educated, innovative workforce is crucial for Niagara, and added, “this is a huge breakthrough for Niagara students that can really change our region’s future.”

For more on Brock’s undergraduate programs, and how to apply, go to discover.brocku.ca Learn more about the Ontario Grant Program at www.ontario.ca/page/new- ontario-student-grant

Province decides NPCA can audit itself Pelham Council had joined with other municipalities in requesting an external audit of agency

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

Following a presentation at its meeting on Monday, Dec. 19 by concerned resident Ed Smith, Pelham Town Council added the Town to the list of municipalities calling for an audit of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

Council unanimously passed a resolution to become the sixth municipality demanding the province conduct an external review of the Conservation Authority.

St. Catharines, Welland, Thorold, Port Colborne and Niagara on the Lake also passed similar resolutions, while Niagara Falls and Wainfleet passed resolutions requesting the NPCA hire a third party to conduct the audit.

Despite the overwhelming municipal and public support for Smith’s campaign for the province to audit the NPCA, Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Kathryn McGarry announced that the province would be leaving NPCA in charge of auditing itself.

“The ministry does not have the legislative ability to order a forensic audit,” McGarry wrote in a letter sent out to councils in Niagara.

“The province oversees the policy relating to conservation authorities but it is municipalities, like you, who have the sole authority to appoint the boards. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s (MNRF) interests are in flood control and watershed management, and we have no hand

in the operations or operational oversight of the conservation authorities.”

The letter also stated that the MNRF is currently undergoing a review of the Conservation Authorities Act to ensure it is meeting the “modern needs of Ontarians.” The review also confirmed that the public, stakeholders and indigenous communities have raised similar concerns regarding transparency at conservation authorities.

McGarry said that she is aware that improvements can be made to strengthen conservation authority governance and accountability and that the MNRF will be looking to do this when they move forward with new legislation.

Ed Smith said that an internal audit would be virtually useless, having no value in regards to examining the conservation authority’s business practices. He said that the NPCA’s shift away from acting as an environmental protection agency is obvious. The fact they are

At some point, enough is enough, and we have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect these types of spaces

proud of having reduced the average wait time for developers to get a permit from 32 days to 14 days is evidence of their “real agenda,” Smith asserted.

"I believe the conservation authority is the single advocate for the environment in the government's day-to-day interaction with business here in Niagara. They need to play that role as environmental advocates, not as advocates for developers. If it takes 32 days to get a permit so the work is done right, and the

environment is not harmed then so be it. Most people would see that as responsible stewardship."

Smith's concerns about the NPCA's ability to uphold its mandate peaked after attending a meeting at their headquarters in Welland last November, where then-NPCA CAO Carmen D'Angelo spoke about the idea of biodiversity offsetting. Proposed by the Wynne government as a sustainable way to promote development, biodiversity offsetting allows develop-

ers to pave over ecologically sensitive areas such as wetlands if they commit to creating a man-made replacement. Noticing how the 50 or so others at the meeting, who were there representing various environmental organizations, opposed the idea of biodiversity offsetting, Smith began asking why the NPCA — an agency meant to protect the environment— was being challenged by so many reputable environmentalists.

"I saw an article, again quoting Carmen D'Angelo about this so-called miracle thing they were planning to do called biodiversity offsetting. They've been telling us that this will allow for development while still preserving our green space.

Well you don't have to be an expert in the environment to realize that it sounds like they are trying to sell us something."

Wanting to learn more about biodiversity offsetSee NPCA Page 9

Page 4

The Voice of Pelham, January 4, 2017

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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 Go, Gray Jay, Go

F

OLLOWING an extensive effort the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, publisher of Canadian Geographic magazine, has given us the bird — literally speaking.

Amazingly, people get paid to do such things. Really!

These well educated people sat around a boardroom table at CanGeo and observed that Canada didn’t have a bird as an official symbol of this wonderful nation of abundant wildlife. They lamented with aghast, “Can you believe Canada still doesn’t have a national bird?”

That group of scribes were all atwitter about this national shortcoming. Many true-blue Canucks assumed that this deficiency had been resolved 30 years ago with the minting of the Loonie that presumably struck that avian as our bird of choice.

Others mistakenly thought the Canada Goose might have ruled the roost on that score.

Turns out, both assumptions were for the birds.

Canadian Geographic magazine designed an engaging two-year-long process with the aim of recommending what would be the bird-of-birds for Canada.

The magazine reports tens of thousands of Canadians re-

sponded — Canada deserved a national bird — and they voted and offered opinions.

Ornithologists, conservationists and Indigenous Peoples contributed their expertise and debated the issue.

From the very outset the objective was not about being a popularity contest but a process to identify the bird that best symbolized the essence of Canada and Canadians.

Were it a simple popularity contest CanGeo reports the Common Loon would have won with 29% of the nearly 50,000 votes. Following behind were the Snowy Owl with 18.5%, the Gray Jay at 16% and the Canada Goose at 7.5%.

Niagara residents rarely see a Gray Jay (aka Whiskey Jack and Canada Jay), as their closest habitat to this area is Algonquin Park. This friendly energetic little avian can be found in every Canadian province and territory.

Interestingly, these hearty birds, unlike many of their avian comrades, do not hibernate, and uniquely nest and incubate their offspring even in the coldest months of winter. These full-blooded birds are full-time residents and shun the habits of ubiquitous ‘snowbirds.’

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In years past we visited the forests of Algonquin Park with our young grandchildren in winter. We stood very still, held birdseed in outstretched hands and these brave friendly little creatures would settle on our hand and gratefully partake of the banquet. Such encounters helped nurture in our grandchildren a great love and respect for all in nature. That love still abides in them today.

Hopefully, there will be consensus that the Gray Jay would be a fine symbol of our country. It is already scientifically identified in ornithological circles as Perisoreos canadensis and Mésangeai du Canada. Can there be anything more Canadian than that? In any language?

Canadian Geographic has presented a well reasoned recommendation to establish the Gray Jay as the National Bird of Canada. It would be befitting for the Federal Government to officially declare this as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017.

Go, Gray Jay, Go! Larry Coté is a retired college professor. He was awarded the Governor General medal for community involvement. He and his wife recently moved to Pelham.

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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca MANAGING EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca NEWS EDITOR Nate Smelle editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger office@thevoiceofpelham.ca CORRESPONDENT John Swart jswart7@cogeco.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@thevoiceofpelham.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@thevoiceofpelham.ca

Resolved to make no resolutions I'm just too flippin' logical to make New Year resolutions. What's the use? Making a New Year resolution is not going to stop me from giving the finger to another driver when they honk at me from behind at a four-way stop while I'm checking out my nose hairs in the mirror.

Or, will a New Year resolution stop me from thinking bad thoughts, the 50,000 Hail Mary's, and 100,000 Our Father's kind of bad thoughts, when the horse's asses over at Pelham Town Hall are

making idiotic and incompetent decisions with my tax money?

And, oh, ya, here's the biggie. Hold onto your touques.

I've been rerunning this one for the last 40 years — I'm going to lose weight, 100 lbs., in the new year.

For crying out loud, Possums! Someone threw a tub of Helluv-a-Good-Chip Dip at my head and it knocked some sense into me.

Here's the thing. If I'm not asking 240-Gordie, my husband, "Does my butt look fat in this?" I don't give a flying flip anymore! Or, maybe I've

realized there's no downsize to my upsized butt. It's my own fluffy personal booster seat when I pull up a stool to the bar over at Iggy's. So mark my words, cross my heart, hope to die, never tell another lie, poke a stick in my eye — these Pamcita Marie Robbinsky lips are not going to be flapping and spurting out liar-liar-pants on-fire Trumpster promises in 2017...I guess I should add a na-na-na-boo-boo, just to cement my point.

Pam "Pamcita" Robb 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 Member of Provincial Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West-Glanbrook

The Voice

Letters

Sam Oosterhoff, MPP P.O. Box 35 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 www.samoosterhoff.ca/Contact 905-563-1755 Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Councillor Brian Baty 742 Memorial Dr. Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0 905-892-5317 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607

Mayor of Pelham David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Richard Rybiak rrybiak@pelham.ca 905-892-2105 Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-684-4870 Ward 2 Councillor Catherine King cking@pelham.ca 905-658-8599 Councillor Gary Accursi gaccursi@pelham.ca 905-892-5528 Ward 3 Councillor John Durley jdurley@pelham.ca 905-892-5388 Councillor Peter Papp ppapp@pelham.ca 905-328-6008

Fonthill and District Kinsmen

are accepting submissions for their annual

Pelham Citizen of the Year Award, 2016 The guidelines are... you cannot be a sitting politician, and must live or work in Pelham.

The Citizen of the Year should exemplify volunteerism, and positive community activism.

Submissions must be in writing, and postmarked no later than Friday, January 27, 2017

Send submissions to:

The Kinsmen Club of Fonthill & District P.O. Box 906, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0

Jill C. Anthony Law Office

Have an Opinion?

BARRISTER, SOLICITOR & NOTARY

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are welcome provided the submission contains the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. Names only will be published.

Names may be withheld if compelling reasons are provided. The newspaper reserves the right to change, condense or reject any contribution for brevity or legal reasons. All material in this publication is protected by copyright. Reproduction is prohibited without express, written permission of the publisher. ADVERTISING: The Voice of Pelham regrets any errors or omissions that appear in advertisements in this newspaper, however, we will not be held responsible for more than one absent or incorrect insertion or for any damages beyond the cost of space containing the error. The Voice is an independent, locally owned and operated publication.

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The Voice of Pelham, January 4, 2017

Page 5

Slow Food Niagara celebrates Terra Madre at Zest

BY NATE SMELLE

The VOICE

From a small demonstration in 1986, opposing the construction of a McDonald’s restaurant proposed adjacent to the Spanish Steps in Rome, the Slow Food movement was born.

Founded by journalist Carlo Petrini and a small group of Italian activists promoting local foods and traditional gastronomy and food production, the grassroots network has grown over the past 30 years to become a worldwide movement. The 35 local members who currently make up the Slow Food Niagara (SFN) convivium are but a fraction of some 100,000 members working internationally in 160 countries.

Originally called Slow Food Pelham, the SFN formed 10 years ago, when another small group of people sharing a passion for local food met at the old location of de la Terre

Bakery on South Pelham Street to discuss the merits of slow food. In December, members of SFN and its supporters gathered for a locally-inspired dinner at Fonthill’s Zest Kitchen to celebrate Slow Food International’s annual Terra Madre Day. SFN Convivium Leader Valerie Grabove said that each year since the event was first held in 2009, food communities and Slow Food convivia around the world have used the anniversary to actively embrace its philosophy of local eating, agricultural biodiversity and sustainable food production.

“Fast food is anonymous food,” she said.

“You don’t know where it comes from, and usually it comes from far away.

It’s been prepared to taste good although you don’t know what’s in it, but it’s not very memorable. There is no diversity. It’s meant to taste the same wherever you are.”

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The Terra Madre event, she said, is intended to remind people of the personal, social and environmental value of locally produced food. During this year’s celebration, Grabove said she asked her fellow members what Terra Madre Day meant to them. She said one of the women told her how from her perspective the event was all about building “solid friendships.”

Grabove explained that this is because the Slow Food movement encourages people to take time to savour their food, appreciate where it comes from and enjoy the company they are sharing it with.

“Part of the premise underlying slow food is good conversation,” Grabove said.

“It’s not just about taking the time to prepare good, sustainable, clean food and supporting local producers, it’s also about enjoying like-minded values and sharing as much as we can.”

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By offering convenient access to a large quantity of unhealthy food, fast-food culture compels people to eat as much food as they can as quickly as possible so they can get back to their busy lives. In response to this self-destructive way of life, Grabove said the Slow Food movement defends regional traditions, good

food, gastronomic pleasure and a slower paced lifestyle.

One way she said people can practice the slow food philosophy at home with their family and friends is to serve their meals in courses.

“There is nothing wrong with allowing a dinner to go on for a while,” said Grabove.

“When you have a course

SUPPLIED PHOTO

during a meal, you are savouring what it is that you are eating. I think everything about it is more mindful and it definitely slow things down.”

Grabove said that Chef de Cuisine Anthony Greco and his team at Zest Kitchen went above and beyond to See SLOW FOOD Page 6

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Page 6

The Voice of Pelham, January 4, 2017

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SURVEY OF THE WEEK RESULTS

Pelham in rear-view mirror for most seniors?

BY VOICE STAFF It’s Grim Expectations for older Pelham residents when it comes to whether they think they’ll be able to continue living in Pelham after they retire and into their later years.

The answers of 271 respondents to our survey on senior housing affordability paint a stark picture of gloom.

As real estate prices continue to escalate, fully 85% of those aged 50 and up do not expect to be able to afford living in Pelham when they downsize before or during retirement. This is due primarily to what 8 out of 10 respondents consider an affordable home price: $350,000. This is already well below the Pelham average of $536,279 as of November 2016 (Source: Debbie Pine).

Nearly two-thirds of those aged 50-plus expect to downsize before entering assisted living. Of these, a little over a third say they’ll downsize to a small detached house or

to a townhome, with the rest looking to buy a condo or to rent an apartment.

A bit over half of respondents said that an affordable rent would be $850 to $1,000 a month.

(An apparently well-off 4% of respondents said they’d be happy paying over $1,600 per month.)

The majority of respondents have lived in Pelham for 20 years or longer, are married, aged 65 or older, and own their homes.

Paradoxically, while there is overwhelming support for moves to legalize and regulate comparatively affordable inlaw apartments, respondents were equally adamant (82%) that they themselves will not seek to live in them.

Finally, 85% of respondents say that the Town of Pelham should require developers to include affordable senior housing in new developments.

For charts showing full survey results, see our website, www.thevoiceofpelham. ca/seniors

SLOW FOOD continued from Page 5 serve a menu that embodied the values of the slow food philosophy. Preparing such a menu is not a new endeavor for Greco, she said.

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Find a link to the survey from our website, www.thevoiceofpelham.ca/2017 or find it from our Facebook page. Look for results in next week’s Voice!

In 2016 he was awarded the Gold Medal at Food Day Canada for his use of local produce and his acknowledgment of the farmers and producers and foragers who supply the high quality seasonal ingredients which make up the Zest menu.

By sourcing food locally, she said, people can live a healthier lifestyle while at the

Attention parents!

THE PURSE PROJECT Guider Sherry Frost first heard about The Purse Project Niagara on Facebook and thought it would be a great community service project for the 1st North Pelham Guides. The girls filled 48 purses and presented them to project coordinators Sarah and Mandi who will forward them to provide women in shelters and retirement homes with new or gently used purses filled with love and items of need, giving them hope and love.

SUPPLIED PHOTO

same time reducing the size of their ecological footprint.

Grabove said they are immediately lessening their impact on the environment because they are no longer demanding that their food to be shipped thousands of miles before it ends up on their plate.

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“Slow food is not just about the consumer, it’s also about the producer and it’s about the future. It’s thinking about our children and where are they’re going in terms of food."

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The Voice of Pelham, January 4, 2017

Page 7

SAM OOSTERHOFF, MPP for Niagara West–Glanbrook invites you and your family to a

Maple Acre renovations near completion.

New Year’s Levee

ELAINE ANDERSON PHOTO

Capping a year of growth, Pelham Public Library eager for 2017

BY KIRK WEAVER

CEO Pelham Library

2016 was truly a year of growth for the Pelham Public Library. Here are just a few of the highlights: ▶ Construction began in June on a 3,500 square foot expansion of the Maple Acre branch in Fenwick.

This long-awaited project will provide much improved space for community meetings, children’s activities, and quiet study space. ▶ As part of the Maple Acre project, we launched a fundraising campaign to help support the purchase of furniture and equipment for the new branch. Through the generous support of the community, we have raised more than $40,000. ▶ A complete redesign of

our website was undertaken which will meet community expectations for access to library services including online program registration and payment. ▶ A study of possible renovations to the Fonthill Branch allows us to get cost estimates and seek grant funding. The goal of the renovation project is to free up additional space on the main floor for community use. ▶ The Library Board undertook a significant update to the strategic plan that will set the direction for library services for the next few years. ▶ With the continued generous support of the Pelham Art Festival we were able to place an order for new furniture in the Chil-

Saturday, January 7, 2017

dren’s area of the Fonthill Branch. This will allow us to freshen up the look of this area and provide a more comfortable area for our youngest patrons.

While the full benefit of many of these initiatives may not be realized until 2017, 2016 was a year of laying the groundwork for these exciting changes as we strive to provide the best possible service to the community.

If you haven’t been to the library for a while we encourage you to come and visit.

While we would love for you to get a library card, many of our programs and services can be accessed without one. We think you’ll be surprised at the breadth of services we offer.

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The Voice of Pelham, January 4, 2017

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

IN THE NEWS continued from Page 2 The multi-million dollar investment will allow Stanpac to meet the needs of its existing customers and pursue additional export opportunities beyond North America, said Allison. The loan is leveraging an additional $41.1 million in private sector investment.Smithville is Stanpac’s North American headquarters. The company has been in business since 1949.

Fatal Grimsby collision

At approximately 12:10 PM on Friday, December 30, the Niagara Emergency Medical Services, Grimsby Fire Department and the Niagara Regional Police Service responded to a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Wolverton Road at Kemp Road, in Grimsby.

Police say that initial investigation revealed that a 44-year-old male resident of Grimsby was driving a 2015 Hyundai Veloster southbound on Wolverton Road when he collided with the side of a northbound 2003 GMC cargo van being driven by a 51-year-old Grimsby male. The Hyundai then crossed the center line and collided headon with a northbound 2016 Dodge Caravan that was being driven by a 62-year-old male from Hamilton.

The driver of the Hyundai suffered fatal injuries in this collision and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Dodge suffered life threatening injuries and was transported to an out-of-region hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the GMC was uninjured in the collision.

This accident remains under investigation by the Coroner's Office and Detectives of the Niagara Regional Police Services Collision Reconstruction Unit.

RIDE checks

In late December, members of the Niagara Regional Police Service

conducted R.I.D.E. checks within the city of Niagara Falls and St. Catharines.

Officers stopped some 450 vehicles. Of those drivers stopped, eight were required to provide breath samples for suspected alcohol consumption.

As a result of providing a breath sample into an approved screening device, one driver was arrested for impaired driving resulting in a mandatory 90-day drivers licence suspension and 7-day vehicle impoundment. An additional driver also received a 3-day drivers licence suspension.

In addition to the alcohol-related charges and suspensions, several drivers were issued provincial offence tickets for various Highway Traffic Act offences.

Canadians happy about image

Public support for the Trudeau government’s performance is softening, but Canadians are feeling upbeat about the image our country is projecting in the world.

This year’s Nanos-IRPP Mood of Canada survey found that 63 percent of Canadians think the country’s reputation around the world has improved or somewhat improved. That’s the highest it’s been for a decade, and even higher than the 9-year figure of 59 percent reached in 2015.

Canadians also continue to give the government high marks on federal-provincial relations, with 45 per cent saying relations have improved or somewhat improved in the past year. That is more than double the rating the Conservatives received in their best year – 21 per cent in 2012.

At the same time, Canadians are more critical of the Liberals after their first year in office, and fewer believe the country is moving in the right direction.

In last year’s Mood of Canada survey, 37 percent of respondents

rated the Liberal government’s performance as very good. This year the number has fallen to 15 percent – virtually the same rating as Stephen Harper’s government got in 2014 (16 percent).

Overall, 43 percent of Canadians rated the Trudeau government as very good or somewhat good in 2016, compared with 60 percent in the very early days of their mandate in 2015.

In terms of where the country is headed, 54 percent of Canadians believe it is going in the right direction, while 31 percent believe it is going in the wrong direction – compared with the 63 percent right direction and 25 percent wrong direction numbers in 2015.

“The views of Canadians on the direction of the country and the performance of the government under the Liberals are comparable with the levels the Conservatives saw after their election wins,” said Nik Nanos, chairman of the Nanos Research Group.

“However, when it comes to how Canadians feel about our reputation globally and how our federation is functioning, there is some sunshine for the Trudeau government.”

The study was commissioned by the Institute for Research on Public Policy, an independent, national, bilingual, not-for-profit organization based in Montreal.

Second stunting charge

On Tuesday December 27, members of the Niagara Region-

al Police Service - Traffic Enforcement Unit conducted a speed measuring exercise on Feeder Road in Wainfleet.

Police stopped a vehicle operated by a Lowbanks resident who was subsequently charged with stunt driving with a clocked speed of 131 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone. The driver has a lengthy abstract documenting numerous Highway Traffic Act speeding offences including a charge of stunting this past November.

The driver will now face provincial sanctions which include a mandatory 7-day vehicle impoundment , administrative driver's license suspension and a monetary fine of up to $10,000.

Collision with serious injuries

At approximately 8:50 PM on Sunday, December 26, the Niagara Regional Police Service, along with the Niagara Emergency Medical Services and the Welland Fire Department responded to reports of a two-car collision at the intersection of Moyer Road and Bigger Road in Welland.

Police say that initial investigation revealed that a 72-year-old Niagara Falls man was operating his 2014 Ford F150 northbound on Moyer Road. At the same time a 78-year-old Thorold woman was operating her 2015 Mazda 3 westbound on Bigger Road.

The Mazda failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection and entered into the path of the northbound Ford.

The resulting collision caused the Ford to leave the west edge of roadway and roll an undetermined number of times, coming to rest on its roof.

The Mazda was redirected in a northerly direction and came to rest in the easterly ditch, just north of the intersection.

The pickup truck driver was transported to the Niagara

Health System with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The 78-year-old Thorold woman was airlifted to the Hamilton Health Sciences in serious but unstable condition.

Any witnesses with information regarding this collision are asked to contact investigators at (905) 688-4111.

Natural gas prices rising

Natural gas customers across Ontario will see increases on their bills in the New Year, but overall, prices will remain lower in 2017 than they have been during recent peak periods — even when factoring in the cost of cap and trade.

The changes include the routine quarterly adjustment for the market price of the natural gas commodity — known as the Quarterly Rate Adjustment Mechanism (QRAM) — which has taken place every three months since 2001 and will impact rates for customers of Ontario’s three natural gas utilities: Enbridge, Union Gas and NRG, beginning Jan. 1.

In addition, the OEB recently granted interim rates for cap and trade and a rate adjustment for utility operations for Enbridge and Union Gas — all of which will impact customer bills in the New Year.

Despite these rate adjustments and the introduction of cap and trade, overall customers are still paying significantly less than they were at peak periods in 2009 and 2014, when natural gas costs were higher in Ontario due to factors including high market prices and unusually cold weather.

The amount of the increases to customers’ bills will vary between utilities and how much natural gas individual customers use.

However, typical residential customers can expect to see their bills rise by between $4.65 and $13.54 on average per month for the year ahead.

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NPCA continued from Page 3 ting and why the NPCA was backing such a pro-development measure instead of remaining focused on nature conservation, Smith attended a second meeting on the subject held at the Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation. Hearing the NPCA's reasons for wanting to implement biodiversity offsetting and why the crowd of 250-plus in attendance opposed the idea, he felt compelled to begin his campaign to protect natural green space in Niagara.

The Thundering Waters development proposed by the NPCA as a pilot project for biodiversity offsetting in Niagara Falls is especially concerning, Smith said, because most of the site is designated as a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW).

If the NPCA permits a protected green space such as a PSW to be developed so that a private foreign developer can profit, Smith believes no protected green space will be safe.

"If they can rationalize developing just because there is a billion dollars tagged on to it that's ridiculous to me, because then they might as well say everything is for sale, it's just

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a matter of the right price,” he said.

“The higher message, the more imperative message to me, is that there is a limit.

Yes, we all want development. None of us are against development, but there is a limit. At some point, enough is enough, and we have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect these types of spaces."

Biodiversity offsetting in Thundering Waters was the canary in the coal mine that grabbed Smith’s attention in regards to the NPCA. At first, he said he thought it was the only problem. Learning about the agency’s new strategic plan and the mass firings that recently took place, he said he began to see the bigger issues at stake.

"Thundering Waters is hugely important and it's why I got involved, but it's just one case," Smith said.

“They will not pursue developers. It's not a Conservation Authority, it's a development agency. Their new strategic plan is to facilitate development with the least amount of environmental encumbrance as they can."

By taking a stand against the NPCA and biodiversity offsetting, Smith said environmentally concerned citizens like himself are ac-

tually taking on the role of the conservation authority.

He said he feels compelled to hold the NPCA accountable because they have neglected their responsibility as an advocate for the environment.

“If we had a properly run conservation authority that cared about its mission they would be doing their job."

"Where is the collective voice of the environmental organizations? It's time for them to go public and take a strong stand, not just about biodiversity offsetting but about the state of affairs in Niagara and the role the NPCA plays in the region.

This is the environmental fight of our lifetime. This will define going forward what we expect out of our conservation authority and if a property like Thundering Waters isn't worth saving then what is."

Although Smith has been threatened with a lawsuit by the NPCA, he said the fight to save Thundering Waters and other natural spaces in Niagara is far from over.

He is now calling on all environmentally concerned citizens and organizations in Niagara to join the campaign and add their voices to the movement at the NPCA’s next meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

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Final report on "Thursday Night Experience"

BY VOICE STAFF At its Dec. 19 meeting, Pelham Town Council received a final report regarding what the Town has dubbed the “Thursday Night Experience” for 2016.

The 2016 Supper Market took place every Thursday beginning on June 2 and the season was extended to Sept. 29 to help boost attendance at the Farmers’ Market, however due to poor weather on Sept. 29 the market remained closed on the final day.

Though the majority of attendees are from Pelham, organizers observed regular attendees travelling from St. Catharines, Dunnville, Niagara Falls, Welland, Port, Vineland, Grimsby and Chippawa.

Feedback from the public acknowledged that there was a good variety of performers this year as well as some new additions. It was also brought to the committee’s attention that more picnic tables are needed in the Bandshell area.

The organizing committee made a few alterations to the 2016 Supper Market.

Using funds from a Regional Niagara Investment in Cul-

ture grant, local musicians were added to the line-up, performing before the main attraction on stage at 7 PM for the Band Shell Concert Series.

The Niagara Region Water Wagon was also there to help keep people hydrated.

To make the weekly event more sustainable, the Town’s interdepartmental Green Team created a zero-waste area they called the Green Zone, which used to reduce the eco-footprint of the event and to educate residents on the Niagara regions recycling and organics program.

“I am looking at the Green Team as a very significant feature of our existence here,” said Councillor John Durley.

“When you look at the surveys and the responses they are overwhelming supportive of what this partnership has done,” said Councillor Gary Accursi.

“It certainly has brought more people out. It certainly has helped to support the Farmers’ Market and I think in many ways it has helped to solidify the Bandshell as well.”

With the volunteer committees of the Farmers’

Market, Supper Market and Band Shell working together this year, organizers asserted that they were able to achieve their goal of creating a family friendly atmosphere with great community spirit, live music, food and local shopping.

The event was also successful in reducing vehicular traffic congestion, while minimizing inconvenience to local businesses and encouraging active transportation.

Parking remains the biggest challenge for the event, as does getting people to use the shuttle.

The committee suggests that next year larger signs are used to point to the proper direction.

The ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s-themed Tribute shows were the most popular performances in terms of attendance with the Town selling out of beer and wine on two separate occasions.

Still, the Bandshell Concert Series ended the year with a small loss.

Upon review of the unaudited financial statement the 2016 Supper Market generated revenue of $36,270 against expenses of approximately $33,580.

Page 10

The Voice of Pelham, January 4, 2017

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Page 11

Pelham youth inspire with unfiltered enthusiasm continued from Page 1 the two sisters returned to their classes at E.L. Crossley Secondary School and Glynn A. Green Public School with an enriched awareness of the world they are a part of.

Listening to them reflect upon the experience when they got home, I was amazed by how much they had learned in such a short time. I wondered how they would handle the wisdom they gained from the people they met on the journey, and what they would do with the unconventional education they had received.

Would the lessons regarding the traditional medicines and language of the Lakota that Violet described be shared with her classmates in Pelham? Would Jade’s passionate campaign to protect fresh water, the environment and indigenous rights gain momentum when her fellow students learned of the injustices taking place in Standing Rock?

Would this spark the curiosity of their teachers and where would those new branches of thought lead?

Following one of the tracks back to my conversation with Evan Bernard last September about his experiences at the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, I thought of how he recommended that we satisfy our curiosities by allowing it to branch out so that our consciousness can evolve. I remembered how he described the two-week international program as being the most rewarding experience of his life so far.

For Evan one of the most stimulating aspects of the program was being a part of a scientific community eager to share their wealth of knowledge. As with the

community-based learning Jade and Violet participated in at Standing Rock, this type of sharing of information brings people together by creating a social atmosphere conducive to growth.

Back in November, Danielle Pine expressed a simi-

It appears to me that the more we share, the more we grow lar sentiment about how she and her fellow passengers on the Peace Bus bonded as they crossed Canada, absorbing knowledge and acquiring wisdom as they volunteered with a wide variety of notfor-profit organizations and community groups.

Witnessing how the history of violence and racism in Canada’s residential school system was still affecting indigenous communities today, Danielle said it was painful to process the education they received while aboard the Peace Bus. She also said that by taking time to discuss these inconvenient truths as a group they were able to achieve a clearer understanding of why they took place and how they can be prevented from ever happening again.

I started thinking about how much I had learned from my encounters with each of these extraordinary individuals after meeting another remarkable young activist just before Christmas.

Catching wind of the

Warm Hands, Warm Hearts project at A.K. Wigg’s Way to Grow Daycare, I headed down to the school to speak with the teachers and students who had been working to make gifts for children throughout Niagara.

Using reclaimed fabric from sweaters, the project began with students learning to sew by making mittens to donate to Niagara’s Emergency Medical Service’s’ annual Toy Drive.

Enjoying the sewing lessons and the thought of helping others, 9-year-old Gabby Griffin came up with an idea to enhance the project.

Recognizing that there was left over fabric when they made the mittens, Gabby asked her teachers if they could use the excess materials to make stuffed animals for the children who would be receiving the mittens they donated.

Gabby said she just wanted to give the children something nice that they could hug. While working on their individual projects, Gabby and her classmates talked and laughed as they learned three important skills — how to sew, how to socialize and how to be a compassionate member of society. Important lessons for community members of all ages.

Every interaction we have with one another provides us with a new opportunity to look at ourselves, another chance to observe the community we are a part of. Living for the most part without the distractions of the adult world, youth have much insight to offer us into what truly matters in life. Paying attention to the directions that the branches of curiosity listed above have sprouted, it appears to me that the more we share the more we grow.

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Page 12

The Voice of Pelham, January 4, 2017

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice of Pelham

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