The Voice, January 26 2022

Clearing not fast enough for some

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DUNCAN VERDICT: GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS Disgraced former family doctor sexually assaulted five females

BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor

Charles Duncan's former practice in Fonthill. He resigned and surrendered his medical license in 2019.

VOICE FILE

Victims, their family members, react to the decision

BY VOICE STAFF The Voice reached out to women and their family members who had contacted the newspaper in 2019 with allegations of Duncan’s conduct to ask for their reaction to the guilty verdicts. The news media is under a publication ban from revealing information about the plaintiffs sufficient to identify them.

It should not be assumed that any of those commenting below were necessarily among the plaintiffs in this case.

Age 65

I re-read my earlier letters to you about the experience I had in 2019 involving an examination. I am still confused and uncertain about whether my experience crossed the line of appropriate clinical assessment.

The fact that Dr. Duncan was convicted on several counts does not clarify the matter for me. I remain confused and uncertain. The uncomfortable feeling of what he

did remains. I almost wish I was more definitely angry and vengeful about all this. At least there would be certainty of some kind.

And given the obvious pattern of his towards his female patients, I should be more upset. But I am also sad and I don't understand it.

His conviction should tip the balance for me to conclude his behaviour was also inappropriate in See REACTION Page 11

Guilty on all counts.

That was the verdict received by former Pelham family physician Charles Duncan on Friday, Jan. 21, via teleconference from a St. Catharines courtroom.

Justice Deborah Calderwood was among those appearing via Zoom, with only the court clerk and a few spectators physically present in the courtroom at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.

Calderwood reiterated that a publication ban prohibited the release of any information that could identify the named complainants in the case.

Duncan, 77, was charged with six counts of sexual assault under Section 271 of the Criminal Code, in relation to five different complainants.

Calderwood pronounced him guilty on all counts.

The charges stemmed from acts committed by Duncan in his medical practice, and elsewhere, between the dates of January 1 and October 31, 1999; November 27, 2000; June 23, 2009; June 30, 2009; September 25, 2016, and between the dates of September 1 and September 30, 2018.

The next court appearance for Duncan will involve Crown counsel and defence lawyers discussing sentencing with Calderwood.

His lawyers informed the court that Duncan has medical issues which need to be addressed in February, and suggested a March date for sentencing submissions. However, Calderwood

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and the lawyers could not find a date that fit their respective schedules in March, and a date of Friday, April 8 was set.

Duncan, who practiced family medicine in Pelham for decades, resigned from the College of

Artist's rendering of former family doctor Charles Duncan listening to court proceedings via teleconference last Friday, Jan. 21. VOICE GRAPHIC Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in October 2019 and gave up his license to practice medicine, after the College commenced an investigation into allegations against him of professional misconduct and incompetence.

After one of Duncan’s victims told her story to the Voice that autumn, several other women came forward with similar allegations. Following a Voice editorial in late 2019 questioning why Niagara police had not acted earlier, Duncan was arrested by the NRPS and was ultimately charged with seven counts of sexual assault and one of sexual exploitation

by February 2020.

The women involved were aged 16 to 64 at the time of the assaults.

Page 2

The Voice

A January 26 2022

DINE-IN

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

continued from Page 7

by Dave Burket

Corrections at the top: In an amazing feat of transmogrification last week, we turned Councillor John Wink into His Worship, Mayor Junkin. This miracle-slash-horror was perpetrated in the caption under a photo of Councillor Wayne Olson, Regional Councillor Diana Huson, and Councillor Wink in attendance at a Crime Stoppers flag-raising event at Pelham Town Hall. Entirely my bad. I’ve become so accustomed to seeing Olson and Junkin together in Town event photos that the duo has apparently fused in my head, like Starsky & Hutch, Butch & Sundance, Turner & Hooch. My eyes saw Wink but my gut said Junkin.

(It may be time to open me up again.) Slim compensation: in a gracious, don’t-worry-about-it email, Wink pointed out we were partly correct—he’s currently Deputy Mayor...More support: We continue to receive messages of support following a landscaping company’s anti-vaxx tirade a couple of issues back.

A man showed up at the office and handed over a $20 bill last week, and said to stay the course. Thank you, sir, whoever you are. Very much appreciated. On that score, you’ll want to read Regional Councillor Diana Huson’s commentary this week (p.5), in which she describes some of the vitriol hurled her way as an elected official. I hope you’ll also check out a new addition to our semi-regular columnist crew, the Rev. Michael Coren (p.4).

Lauded by David Frum on the right and Stephen Fry on the left, Coren has a terrific way with words and we’re lucky to have him aboard. (If it's likely to, don't let the "Rev." put you off.)...Like a knife through butter: Last week’s blizzard left our elevated back deck dangerously loaded with snow, the weight of which I worried would cause its collapse. I gave it a half-hearted effort with the shovel, but I’m not yet really supposed to be lifting much weight. Then I had the brilliant idea to wash it away with hot water. After a couple of trips to Beamer’s Hardware to get the right adapter for the kitchen sink (hat-tips to Jim and Doug for their persistence), I was out there with a garden hose, spraying steaming hot water across the alabaster hellscape. It worked, of course, but it wasn’t exactly efficient. If I’d tried to do the entire deck I’d still be out there, but between that and some more shoveling we saved the thing to host BBQs another summer. (Note to self: wedge a couple of jack posts under there ASAP.) Incidentally, I mentioned this to a large local greenhouse operator, who had a good chuckle, and then said he had 40 workers out trying to do the same—minus the water—to save several of his grow-houses from collapse...The verdict: I have little comment on the Duncan verdict, aside from the case being another example of a man in authority conducting himself atrociously—yet who likely could still have saved himself from public humiliation and, in this case, probable jail time, by simply owning-up and apologizing. But we see the hubris time and again with these entitled types—in politics, in business, unable to admit their errors. Well, they make their choices, and they suffer the consequences in the public square...Uh-oh: Snowing again! Got to get the garden hose. See you next week. ◆

Voice

I need to charge, or people wouldn’t buy it. Frankly, my competition is no longer other local restaurants, it’s Sobeys and Food Basics.

A mom can grab a roasted chicken and frozen vegetables at a supermarket and feed her family for 20 bucks, whereas I can't feed a family of four for less than 50 bucks.”

Moore and his crew continue to roll with the punches, but he acknowledges it is getting a lot more stressful.

“We're still very thankful for the support from the community, but we're seeing a lot of pandemic fatigue. People are just tired of it all.”

Once he re-opens with dine-in service, Moore swears he’s going to go back to a five dollar burger special.

“Believe-you-me, I'm going to find a way to do it.

To get people back, we’ll do some crazy specials again, and have the music back on Sunday afternoons.”

Proprietor Christie Devos, of Cured Charcuterie and Cocktails on Pelham Street, told the Voice that her business enjoyed brisk business after its grand opening in October, which continued to climb into December with in-house and take-out service. Under the most recent bout of restrictions, things changed dramatically.

“Business is slow right now,” said Christie, “but we are still offering a take-out menu and custom cocktail kits from Wednesday through Saturday.”

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NRPS impaired driving charges ~

POETRY Resolutions Do you make them To break them?

Was that your intent?

Consider your words And the time that you spent, Preparing your list And watching it grow, Did your list have much credence Or was it for show?

Did you brag of your goals So lofty, so high, Did you hope to accomplish it all By and by?

And now you give up As you think of each task “Were my goals kind of high?”

Is the question you ask.

It's the same the world over It's that time of year Resolve, then dissolve Let your lists DISAPPEAR! It's hard to keep promises, Pledges and vows, Hard to adhere To the present, the now.

Our lives are too fractured, So nothing seems real.

Forget good intentions, Just pray we all heal.

What's That

SIREN Pelham Fire Department Weekly Calls

The Pelham Fire Department responded to six calls for assistance from January 14 to January 21.

Saturday, January 15 Medical assistance, Station 1 Sunday, January 16 Rubbish fire, Hwy 20 E, Station 1 Remote alarm, Shaldan Ln., Station 1 Medical assistance, Station 1 Monday, January 17 Medical assistance, Station 3 Medical assistance, Station 1

S.M. Lazareth Ben Han, who runs the Grill on Canboro in Fenwick, sat at a table with his family at 11:45 AM on a Wednesday. Prior to the pandemic lockdowns, the restaurant would be packed with a busy lunch crowd at that time.

Today, the room is empty, and take-out is down.

Han offers take-out but no delivery. Business has dropped off, and he has reduced his hours, now closing on Sundays and Mondays. The Grill traditionally

brings in many local diners for breakfast and lunch.

Dinner attracts smaller numbers, and the business closes earlier than many other restaurants. It’s a family-run operation, with Ben assisted by his wife, Young, daughter Janelle, and son-in-law Zeljko. In nonCovid times, Han’s staff has totalled eight.

“I guess a return to normal is going to take quite a long time…many months, at least,” said Han.

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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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Renee A. MASTROMATTEO, 35, Thorold Aleisha E. GARLOW, 29, Niagara Falls Jason A. FRANCO, 32, Orangeville Manuel F. ORELLANA, 35, St. Catharines Taylor A. ROBERTSON, 28, Niagara Falls

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Rick, Stella, Pat and Lorraine having fun in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. ¡Es tan bonito como una postal!

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.

Indulgence Bakery Domenic's on 20 Pelham Street Grille Peter Piper’s Pubhouse DeVries Fruit Farm Beamer’s Hardware Pelham Libraries Bob’s Boys Antiques PharmaChoice Pharmacy Fonthill Fitness Fenwick Pie Company McDonald’s Duffin Appleworks Fonthill Legion Semenuk’s Gas Bar Shoppers Drug Mart Tim Horton’s Giant Tiger Fonthill LCBO Zee Lube Express Care Food Basics Minor Bros Stores Avondale Stores A-1 Market Boggio's IDA Sobeys South Pelham Grill on Canboro Shell on Hwy 20 Circle-K Type your pithy letter to the Voice right

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The Voice

Page 3

A January 26 2022

Tornado of complaints blows in with Blizzard of ‘22 Impatience adds stress to already exhausting work by road crews

BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor Sadly, after a big snowfall, it’s not just the roads and driveways of Pelham that get dumped on.

The Town’s road crews and staff, assigned to operate the tractors, backhoes, and plows to shove the weighty white stuff out of the way, routinely take hits on social media, over the telephone, and even in person. Seems that they just can’t remove the snow fast enough to please some folks.

One resident on a Facebook Pelham neighbourhood page, frustrated with the snow-clearing delays, suggested that “maybe it’s time to call in the private contractors, or recruit citizens with plows to help. We need to start looking at alternatives.”

Others fired back at the comment and its perceived sense of entitlement, noting that local contractors with just a pickup truck can’t handle the 50 centimetres of snow that started falling in the early hours last Monday morning. It’s a job for heavy machinery.

In fact, some snow clearing, such as from sidewalks, is already subcontracted by the Town to commercial operators.

Another group member, who said she has operated a snow removal company for 28 years, commented that contractors always look after their client list first, and having worked around the clock, would likely not be

Top, a plow tackles Pelham Street last Monday, Jan. 17. Above left, a cheekily redeployed sign on the Bauer Trail off of Welland Rd., where the going was nothing if not slow. Above right, operated by the Town's snow removal contractor, a specialized Holder municipal tractor (price tag $100,000) takes on a Fonthill sidewalk. Clearing required repeated back-and-forth goes at the 50 cm accumulation.

DON RICKERS / BOB LOBLAW in a position to expeditiously assist the Town in an immediate cleanup. She encouraged people needing a plowing service to contact her, so that she could add them to an assigned route for her drivers.

“We are not going to be zig-zagging through town,” she wrote. “We will get to you….be patient. The roads are not even

Great food, Great people

See CLEARING Page 10

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your driveway by a local guy driving a Dodge Ram with a blade attached. It’s more like $100 a pop these days.

One local woman, who requested anonymity, contacted the Voice said that she has family members in Pelham’s Public Works

ASK US HOW

“Finer dining at diner prices” Fresh homemade food at down-toearth prices in the heart of Fonthill

plowed, stores are closed. ITS A PANDEMIC!” She also mentioned that if residents didn’t move the mound of snow deposited by Town plows at the foot of their driveway, with temperature fluctuations the pile will harden into a block of ice, impossible to remove easily, even with a snowblower or plow.

And forget about a quick $20 clearing of

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The Voice

A January 26 2022

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

OPINION

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

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

COMMON DECENCY Rev. Michael Coren

At the broken heart of anti-vaxx theocrats

T

he devil, it’s said, has all the best tunes. Not sure if that’s necessarily true, but Beelzebub certainly has an exemplary public relations department. How else can we explain how appalling the Christian world often appears at times of crisis? That’s seldom been as bitingly obvious as during the Covid pandemic, with resistance to vaccinations often led by conservative Christians.

The vast majority of churchgoers aren’t reactionary, and they’ve fully embraced lockdowns, social distancing, and vaccinations, but that can’t obscure the reality of the situation.

Read right-wing Christian media platforms and websites, listen to their radio broadcasts, look at who is protesting, and the paranoia and anger are palpable.

A poll in 2021 by the US Public Religion Research Institute found that 45 percent of white evangelicals said they’d refuse the vaccine, and the indications are that this number has remained fairly static. In Canada the percentages seem to be lower, but the problem remains.

Remember, for example,

the former conservative MP Derek Sloan sponsoring a petition before the House of Commons claiming, “Bypassing proper safety protocols means Covid-19

Look at who is protesting and the paranoia and anger are palpable

vaccination is effectively human experimentation.”

It received more than 41,000 signatures.

The opposition to vaccines is multifaceted. The most ideologically plausible, if still bizarre, objection comes from those convinced that embryonic stem cells have been used in the development and manufacture, and in some cases that may be true. Yet even the Vatican has said it’s “morally acceptable” to receive a vac-

NEED HELP? MAKE THE CALL Distress Centre Distress and crisis.

24-hour help line: 905-688-3711 Mental Health and Addictions Access 1-866-550-5205 (Toll Free) Alcoholics Anonymous Find a Niagara meeting.

905-682-2140

Narcotics Anonymous 1-888-811-3887.

Gambler’s Anonymous 905-351-1616 Kids Help Phone Service for youth.

416-586-5437 800-668-6868 (Crisis Line) www.kidshelpphone.ca

Assaulted Women’s Helpline Mobile calls to: #SAFE (#7233) 1-866-863-0511 (Toll-free) Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) www.niagaratips.com Text - 274637 (CRIMES), keyword Niagara, then your tip

The Voice

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Duc, sequere, aut de medio fiat

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

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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca PUBLISHER Dave Burket publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR Don Rickers

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION Lori Gretsinger

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

cination that has used cell lines derived from aborted fetuses, due to the “grave danger” of the pandemic.

But Pope Francis is not popular with Catholic conservatives, and they look to alternative leaders such as Cardinal Raymond Burke, who has said that the virus, “has been used by certain forces, inimical to families and to the freedom of nations, to advance their evil agenda … These forces tell us that we are now the subjects of the so-called ‘Great Reset,’ the ‘new normal,’ which is dictated to us by their manipulation of citizens and nations through ignorance and fear.” This darling of the Catholic right, by the way, was later extremely ill with Covid-19.

Thank goodness, he eventually recovered.

Other forms of Christian anti-vaccine hysteria are drenched in “hidden agenda” fantasies, conspiracy theories about the state and secularism, and eschatological mania. There is a global battle, it is said, between the remnant of authentic Christians, be they Catholic or evangelical, and the GodSee COREN Page 6

Letters Voilà—you're stuck Here I go again, complaining about observations I encounter.

To exit the Sobeys parking lot heading west onto Highway 20 you encounter a traffic light. The other day I was doing just that at about 3:30 in the afternoon. I couldn’t turn left in the parking lot to line up in the traffic waiting for the traffic lights to let people out of the parking lot. There were at least five to seven cars in front of me waiting for an exceptionally long traffic light to exit the parking lot.

By the time my turn came to make the

left to approach the traffic light, a considerate driver who knew I was waiting ahead of him, but couldn’t move, kindly let me in. I thanked him for that because cars were lined up behind him and myself. As it turned out, I didn’t even get a chance to reach the traffic light, since it had turned red three cars in front of me. So here we go again waiting for that exceptionally long traffic light to let people exit the parking lot.

See STUCK next page

7

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Member of Federal Parliament

Electoral District: Niagara West

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

Electoral District: Niagara West

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

Mayor of Pelham Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-658-2986 Members of Pelham Town Council Ward 1 Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840 Councillor Wayne Olson wolson@pelham.ca 905-933 6033

Today's forgotten business stopped advertising yesterday

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

Jill C. Anthony Law Office

Have an Opinion?

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

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

REAL ESTATE, PURCHASES, SALES & MORTGAGES, BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS & SALES, ESTATE ADMINISTRATION, WILLS & POWER OF ATTORNEY FONTHILL (Main Office)

10 Highway 20 E., P.O. Box 743, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 T: 905-892-2621 • F: 905-892-1022

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Pio Plaza, 8685 Lundy’s Lane, Unit #2, Niagara Falls, ON L2H 1H5 T: 289-296-2629 • F: 289-296-0222

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The Voice

Page 5

A January 26 2022

OPINION PELHAM AND COVID-19 Mayor Marvin Junkin

REGIONAL COUNCIL UPDATE Diana Huson, Regional Councillor for Pelham

“Die alone and in the greatest pain possible”

L

ast week there was a flurry of controversy surrounding Niagara’s back to school plan, largely due to a “leaked” letter from the Province’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Moore, to our Regional Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hirji. The letter was critical of enhanced measures taking place in Niagara’s schools.

These include the use of masks, improved air filtration, and virus-related dismissals.

It’s important to note that these measures are in addition to provincial direction.

Dr. Hirji, speaking to Niagara Regional Council on Thursday night, explained that Niagara’s plan takes a regional approach to mitigating viral spread in our schools. It was developed, and subsequently revised, in consultation with Niagara’s school boards.

The measures are intended to enhance provincial direction with an extra layer of protection for Niagara’s teachers and students, to prevent further spread not only in our classrooms, but at home as well. These measures are similar to extra measures implemented by the Section 22 order last summer. All Medical Officers of Health across Ontario can adopt measures beyond provincial direction. Some have chosen to exercise this authority. Some have not.

Different regions have been impacted by Covid differently depending on a variety of factors like population density, housing ratios (single dwellings, apartments, and re-

tirement homes), employment (i.e., in-person or remote work), healthcare resourcing, vaccinations rates, emerging variants and their subsequent spread, and so on. Over the past year, the province had relied on a regional approach in managing the pandemic so it’s curious as to why it now takes issue and not before.

Niagara’s healthcare system has very recently been overwhelmed by Covid cases. The Urgent Care clinic in Fort Erie was closed due to a medical staffing shortage.

For a time, kidney transplants were put on hold (thankfully now resumed) and we’ve had to transfer patients to other hospitals to maintain the capacity to handle medical emergencies. So, a cautious reopening of our schools seems reasonable.

However, the more alarming effect of the “leaked letter” was the latest escalation of anti-vaccine, anti-Dr. Hirji, hate-induced rhetoric that has circulated online and also landed in my inbox. I frequently receive emails denying science, personally attacking individuals, or containing misinformation. More recently I received an anonymous letter that wished that I “die alone and in the greatest pain possible,” in response to policy changes impacting visitors at longterm care homes (which was not even a Regional decision but provincial!). I’m not sure See HUSON next page

L

esson learned— never call Mother Nature predictable!

In last week’s column I mentioned how this winter had been relatively snow and ice free for the Town’s pedestrians and drivers.

This statement prompted Mother Nature, who I hear is a regular reader of this column, to show us mere humans just who is in control, and proceed to cover the Town with 50 cm of the dazzling beauty, however irksome it is to dig out from.

This was the largest one-day snow storm in decades for this area, and it definitely gave our road crew a challenging two days. However, with long hours and a “get’er done” attitude, by shortly after noon on the following day, all streets and roads in the Town had been plowed at least once. On behalf of all of the citizens I would like to give a heartfelt “Thanks, guys” to this

crew and their supervisors.

Great news from the provincial government late

I would like to give a heartfelt "Thanks, guys" to this crew and their supervisors

last week—all municipalities are on track to re-open their community centres!

On Monday, January 31, the MCC will be back open for our residents’ enjoyment.

Restrictions that were in place before the shutdown remain in place. Anyone entering must be fully vaccinated, and must have downloaded the QR health

code. Anyone who needs help with this downloading process, can simply ask staff at the MCC and they will be more than happy to lend their assistance. No food or drink will be allowed to be brought into the building, and capacity limits will be in effect, such as only 60 skaters on the ice during public skate times.

No reservations are needed for the walking track or use of the gyms for Town-run events. The Director of Wellness and Recreation, Vickie van Ravenswaay, tells me that it is full steam ahead with the planning of upcoming events in the Town, such as the Farmers Market, supper market and Summerfest. As Omicron numbers flatten out and decrease we can and must look forward to an end to these restrictions and get back to living.

See JUNKIN next page

Professional SERVICES Directory

STUCK

continued from previous page My thought is either adjust the timing on the lights or build a road behind Sobeys, like Food Basics has, to alleviate the mayhem in trying to exit that parking lot.

Things can only get worse with the amount of housing that is building up in the area.

Mark Barnard Fonthill

GREATER NIAGARA TAX SERVICE Know where you stand Advanced mock returns

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The Voice

A January 26 2022

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COREN

JUNKIN

less forces of government, media, and business.

Covid, and the vaccine response to it, are all part of the plan to control and dominate. There are myriad references to masonic plots and the illuminati, and sometimes— predictably—this dark lunacy bleeds over into anti-Semitism.

Not always though. One of the loudest resisters to vaccinations is a nun called Mother Miriam, a Jewish convert to Roman Catholicism, with a popular daily phone-in show in which she presents her, “mission to bring hope to a world that has lost its way.” Part of that mission, apparently, is to argue that vaccines are, “not only unethical and immoral, but have been proven to be very dangerous.”

Covid, runs the anti-vaccine narrative, is either a hoax or, if real, is nothing more than a mild flu. If the latter, it has been exploited by plotting governments and elites to close churches, remove freedom of religion, and impose vaccines. Donald Trump, always eager to echo fundamentalist rhetoric, said while still President that some states had closed places of worship, while allowing, “liquor stores and abortion clinics” to stay open.

The obsession with conspiracies isn’t confined to Christian conservatives of course, and is typical of any sub-group that sees its place under threat by a world it can’t accept or understand. The consequences, as we know only too well, can be fatal.

In the Christian context, it’s tied in with polemics about Armageddon, the end times, and the notion that vaccines contain the “mark of the beast.” This nonsense is supposedly from the Book of Revelation, where the Antichrist is said to tempt Christians to mark their bodies. That’s a callow misreading of the deeply complex final book of the New Testament, as much poetry as allegory, and demanding a non-literal approach. Problem is, literalism is at the broken heart of the anti-vaccine theocrats.

Mingled together, it’s a toxic and antisocial mess, with the true believers more determined than ever.

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” But that’s from the Gospel of Luke, and not to be trusted—he, of course, was a doctor. ◆

T

continued from Page 4

continued from previous page

Rev. Michael Coren is an award-winning Toronto-based columnist and author of 18 books, appears regularly on TV and radio, and is also an Anglican priest.

he one event that will encompass the whole Region is the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, set to take place from August 6 to 21.

The road cycling event will be held in Pelham, along with at least one games-related social event tentatively scheduled to be held under the yet- to-be-resurrected Pelham Town Square arches. (Frank Adamson assures me that he almost has the welding completed.) I also have been informed that all Regional mayors are expected to carry the games’ torch for a certain, to be determined, distance.

Hmm. Where did I put those track shoes from my previous life, known as youth? ◆

HUSON

continued from previous page what drives people to spread this kind of hate.

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Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and human dignity.

We all have fatigue. We’ve all faced difficulty. Instead of lashing out and dragging others down, choose to respond with patience, kindness and empathy. ◆

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The Voice

Page 7

A January 26 2022

Restaurants to reopen January 31 for inside dining Latest lockdown has biggest impact of all on some local eateries

BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor It’s grim news for Canadians on the economic front these days, with the Bank of Canada expected to announce a hike in interest rates, and the current inflation rate in Ontario sitting at 5.2 percent. The recently-released Canada's Food Price Report predicts the average Canadian family of four will pay an extra $966 for food in 2022, for a total annual grocery bill of just under $15,000 (a seven percent increase compared to 2021.) Housing prices climbed by over nine percent compared to December 2020, and gas prices were up over 33 percent during the same period.

Restaurateurs have been struggling for almost two years due to on-again, off-again lockdowns and other Covid-19 driven restrictions. Some say they are nearing the breaking point.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford shut down restaurants again on January 5 (along with many other types of businesses) due to surging Covid-19 infections. Last Thursday, Ford decreed that Ontario would ease its Covid-19 restrictions on indoor restaurant dining on January 31, with the caveat that openings must be at 50 percent customer capacity, and that masking protocols and proof of vaccination would be required.

Capacity limits are set to be withdrawn on February 21, as part of Ontario’s “cautious and phased

approach” to lifting public health measures, according to a provincial statement.

In order to help food service businesses endure the economic trauma of intermittent lockdowns and restrictions, Canada’s federal and provincial governments have made a number of financial relief initiatives available to restaurant owners and employees. The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) provides interest-free loans to Canadian small businesses up to $60,000, with up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness built into the program. The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) provided eligible businesses which experienced a drop in revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic a subsidy to cover a portion of employee wages. The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) was another federal program.

Announced in late December, a new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program provides rebate payments to cover half the property tax and energy costs while the latest restrictions remain in effect.

Also introduced is a six-month interest-and penalty-free period for businesses, which the Ford government says will provide $7.5 billion in relief to approximately 80,000 Ontario firms. Still another provincially run relief effort is a hydro-relief program for businesses and residential customers

Ben Han operates the Grill on Canboro in Fenwick with his wife Young, daughter Janelle, and son-in-law Zeljko Tomin. starting on January 18.

Restaurant owners have asserted for months that the federal Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) program has hampered efforts to bring back workers, incentivizing some, in their view, to decline work opportunities in favour of staying at home for reduced pay.

The CRB paid out as much as $500 per week to unemployed workers.

Lehmber “Sonny” Sindhar, owner of Domenic’s on 20, shares the view that CRB hurt struggling restaurants by making it hard for them to retain staff, many of which chose to stay home and collect a benefit when they could have been working.

“We're going through hell right

easy.

DON RICKERS

Piper’s Pubhouse in Fonthill, has noticed a drop-off in take-out business during this latest set of restrictions, even greater than under prior lockdowns.

“Last year I was able to keep a lot of my key staff. This time, I have had to lay some off,” said Moore.

With delivery services taking 30 percent off the top, Moore is investigating his own delivery option for the future.

“There was a huge delay on the hospitality recovery programs, and now they are a lot harder to get,” he lamented. “And the cost of food now is crazy. I can't charge what

now. Government is not doing enough for restaurants,” said Sindhar.

He took advantage of the government loan program, a necessity to keep the doors open.

Sindhar noted the dramatic jump in meat and produce prices, and said that even with take-out orders coming in, delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash take a significant chunk of the profit.

“When people come to dine-in, they have some drinks with their food. We’re not making money on the food right now, because it's so expensive. And we cannot jack up the price, because that will turn people away.”

Peter Moore, owner of Peter

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Page 8

The Voice

A January 26 2022

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Centrespread

Past meets present at

Welland water treatment plant

Analog dials, switches, and gauges merge with computer screens and digital technology at the Welland Water Treatment Plant. Top right: Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin, left, along with others, listens Adrian Rittner

“We’re in the highest percentage in the province for water quality”

I

BY DON RICKERS Contributing News Editor

t’s what one might call a fluid situation. There are six municipal water treatment plants in the Niagara Region (Welland, DeCew Falls, Port Colborne, Niagara Falls, Grimsby, and Rosehill-Fort Erie) with surface water intakes which supply over 80 percent of the population with clean H2O. The only one of the 12 sub-municipalities not part of the network is Wainfleet, which relies primarily on private wells and cisterns.

Niagara is different from many other municipalities in the prov-

ince, covering a large geographical area with a relatively low population density. Hamilton/Wentworth has only two plants, one for freshwater treatment, and one for wastewater, compared to Niagara’s six.

The Welland Water Treatment Plant, which supplies potable water to Welland, Pelham, and parts of Thorold, was originally constructed in 1910 and has been upgraded several times. In 1979, the facility produced 100 million litres of fresh water each day, built to supply large industrial water users with few conservation measures in place.

The water demand in Welland has

declined over the years due to the loss of those industrial users, water conservation efforts, and the evolution of stricter billing practices.

The Region’s integrated system occasionally requires expensive upgrades that necessitate the approval of political decision-makers. To this end, Joe Tonellato, Niagara’s Director of Water Operations and Maintenance, and Commissioner of Public Works, Bruce Zvaniga, invited Niagara Regional Councillors Marvin Junkin (Pelham) and George Darte (St. Catharines) to take a guided tour of the Welland facilities.

The Voice tagged along to get a handle on the complex process that culminates with safe water that flows from our kitchen faucets.

As one approaches the plant, it’s clear that there is a high level of security and limited access, with high chain-link fencing surrounding the facility. Clean drinking water is se-

rious business.

“A century ago, the water quality operators were very mobile individuals,” said Adrian Rittner, Manager of Water Operations. “They walked around with clipboards, checking analog dials and taking readings, and then coming back an hour later, and then the same thing, hour after hour. Once they had enough data points, they could see trends and patterns developing, so they could be a little bit more predictive in their work.”

Today, the high-tech control room and laboratory are the epicentre of the water quality universe.

The primary tool since the early 1990s is called SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), a computerized interface using coloured graphics to communicate with equipment in the facility, and other facilities that are off-site.

“Prior to SCADA, everything

was on manual motor control — switches, dials, indicator lights,” said Rittner. “We would throw a switch to open a valve. Now the operator clicks a keyboard mouse on the interface to open the valve. With SCADA, the operator has 100 percent control of the entire plant, and can see every instrument, every gauges for process control. Plus, data is tracked and stored for compliance purposes.”

Rittner assured his visitors that the water quality system is not limited to on a sole operator perched at a control panel all day.

“We have a complete regimen of samples that we examine throughout the day, and using our laboratory equipment, continuously check and analyze to confirm water quality,” he said.

So how does one become a water treatment specialist?

“When I was growing up, I didn’t

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

The Voice

r, Manager of Water Operations, describe the facility. decide to attend university to become a water treatment operator,” said Rittner. “With the Safe Drinking Water Act of 2002, new regulations, testing, and certification came into effect, and a sort of apprenticeship concept was developed.

“Twenty years ago, the veterans taught the new employees everything they needed to know. Today, almost all candidates for jobs in freshwater management have studied environmental science. We hire a lot of people out of Niagara College’s environmental field and laboratory course.”

The water that streams into the Welland treatment plant comes from Lake Erie via the Welland Canal.

“It’s a good highway of water, because it’s always moving,” said Rittner, who also noted that Erie is the shallowest and warmest of the Great

DON RICKERS PHOTOS

Lakes, and prone to algae blooms, especially during the summer, due to nutrient and phosphorus runoff, often caused by fertilizer use.

Primary filtration, using huge beds of granular activated carbon spread a metre thick, removes most of the algae, and is one of the most technologically advanced (and costly) ways of treating conventional surface water.

“It's the most expensive Brita filter you can find,” said Rittner.

“You're looking at millions of dollars of activated carbon.”

Another part of the clean water process, called flocculation, involves the clumping together of suspended organic particles using a chemical coagulant. The clumps fall into a sedimentary basin, and the clean water runs off the top. The resultant sludge is a useful by-prodSee IN TREATMENT back page

A January 26 2022

Page 9

Page 10

The Voice

CLEARING

continued from Page 3 Department who are “very abused” and are tired of “taking all the crap.”

“Some people complain about where the crews park the snow,” she said. “Don’t they understand that the blade pushes snow, and it has to go somewhere? It doesn't magically disappear into the sky. I can't believe people are that stupid and nasty.”

In some parts of town, neighbours assist neighbours in getting snow moved off the driveways and sidewalks, and even clearing sections of road. They share their snowblowers, and lend a hand with a shovel.

“People in Fonthill who live in homes priced at well over a million dollars can afford to pay a contractor to move their snow, if it’s that much of a priority,” said the woman.

Ryan Cook, Pelham’s Manager of Public Works, told the Voice that, “We had crews out Monday morning about 4 AM. Provincial legislation only allows employees to work for 13 hours, or drive for 12. We try to maximize the number of worker hours, building them into six-to-eight routes designed to take about six hours each. We have six snowplows and three tractors that are outfitted with snow blades, plus a backhoe if we need it. We're trying to hit the majority of roads. We are a one-shift operation with the ability to put a few trained spare drivers on the roads. Unfortunately, we had a number of guys off sick…kind of the reality of the times. So we were only able to operate the one shift on Monday and Tuesday.”

Cook said that all Pelham streets had at least an initial plow by late Tuesday afternoon.

“Wednesday, we went out with two trucks and two tractors doing some cleanups and widening out some areas,” he said. “Monday and Tuesday we put down about 220 tons of sand/salt mix, and 30 tons of pure salt. The pure stuff goes on major roads like Pelham Street, and the mix is for residential neighbourhoods and rural areas.”

The storm last Monday was an anomaly

A January 26 2022

for Niagara. Cook said that they normally expect one storm each winter which drops about a foot of snow.

“The last time we had anywhere near this volume was March of 2008,” he said, “but that was over the course of two or three days. This accumulation only took about 10 hours…it was just overwhelming.”

Cook said that he and his staff did field a lot of angry calls — as many as 150 — early last week. He understands the importance of first responders — doctors, nurses, paramedics, fire and police officers — having access to roadways to get to their jobs.

“A lot of people told us that they needed to get to a doctor's appointment, or they needed to get to work,” he said. “I think that we’ve been providing really good service related to snow removal in recent years. It's just when we get anything over a foot that things bog down. Having staff off sick with Covid-related issues complicates things too.”

Pelham CAO David Cribbs was quick to jump to the defence of his staff.

“Pelham has at least 562 kilometres of road and 64 kilometres of sidewalk, at last official count,” said Cribbs. “The Town experienced 50 to 60 centimetres of snow in a matter of hours. Pelham deployed 100 percent of its resources last Monday and Tuesday, and continued until the clean-up work was done. All staff worked the maximum number of hours allowed by the Ministry of Labour. This is the same group who came out last year on Christmas morning during a snowstorm. The staff are dedicated, and understand that the community is relying upon them. I couldn’t be more proud of what both Pelham Volunteer Fire Fighters and Pelham Public Works delivered for area residents. I would suggest that we all owe them thanks for a job well done.”

Mayor Marvin Junkin buttressed Cribbs’ comments, saying, “I am very proud of the effort our road crews put in to get the Town’s streets cleared within a day and a half. When compared to other municipalities in southern Ontario, our streets were cleared just as fast, if not faster. Great job, guys!”

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

Pelham Town Council meets virtually on Jan. 17.

SUPPLIED

Pelham jumps on transit bus

BY JOHN CHICK Voice Correspondent Pelham Town Council unanimously voted 6-0 in a special meeting on Jan. 17 to pass a bylaw consenting to and endorsing a Niagara Region initiative to launch an integrated transit system in 2023. Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore was not in attendance for the unusually all-virtual gathering, as Town Clerk Holly Willford coordinated the meeting from her residence, which remained snowed-in.

While the Region had already obtained the triple-majority vote needed to launch the long-discussed project prior to Pelham’s vote, all Niagara municipalities are still asked to endorse. As of last Monday, Lincoln, West Lincoln and Wainfleet had yet to vote on the matter.

While all present Pelham members voted in favour, some hesitancy over the project came from Ward 1’s Marianne Stewart,

who voiced concern over what kind of service “huge, outlying rural areas” can expect under the new system.

“I’m not opposed to a transit system, but it needs to be thoughtful,” Stewart said.

“I’m not confident in this at this point.”

Matt Robinson, GO Transit’s Niagara implementation director, explained that the current on-demand system will remain in place for those areas until such time as growth requires higher service levels.

“It doesn’t mean that Pelham will see on-demand service in its entirety for the long term,” Robinson said. “But you will see on-demand servicing Pelham in some capacity exclusively for the foreseeable future. But as more corridors demand more and more riders and service, that’s where the model is able to pivot.”

Ward 3 Councillor Bob Hildebrandt, long See TRANSIT next page

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The Voice

TRANSIT

continued from previous page a critic of the existing on-demand system, said that a recent experience using the online booking app had shown him the Region was improving service.

“As you probably know, I’ve been asking a lot of questions about the details of this service for the Town of Pelham,” he said, noting that over the holidays the wait times improved and a conversation with a bus driver indicated better strategic placement of buses.

“The driver said, ‘Well, they’re now parking a couple of vans at the Welland Arena.’”

Robinson said the system was constantly trying to improve service, but that the

REACTION

continued from Page 1 my case. But it doesn't, at this point.

I recall an article in the Voice following the original allegations, an interview with a psychologist who talked about the fact that there are good people who also do bad things. It is difficult to reconcile these perspectives. I guess that is what I am feeling. Dr Duncan took care of me from 1995 and did it properly for the most part. I chose to remain his patient for many reasons, not the least of which is the immense difficulty of finding a new family doctor in Niagara. The devil you know versus the devil you don't. I suppressed my earlier uncomfortable feelings about him (re: breast exams and Pap smears) and continued as a patient. So, am I somehow at fault? I took the risk? Yikes. That is such a cliche.

If his behaviour was more egregious toward me, possibly I would be ecstatic about the convictions.

Yet, in some small way, I am “happy” the trial is over and a conviction secured.

Now I can continue to process my experience within that context.

Age 62

Dr. Duncan was our family doctor from 1991 until 2019. Initially he seemed to be a pleasant and competent doctor, but started exhibiting inappropriate behaviour towards me for the last 15 years. This involved making comments about my appearance, breasts, grabbing my knees when I was in for a simple B12 shot, and asking for a hug when my consultation was over.

It was uncomfortable and embarrassing, but he would always try to cover his behaviour with an attempt at humour. I noticed his behaviour escalating in the last few years, to the point where I would dread having to see him. Both of my daughters later informed me that they had similar experiences with Dr. Duncan once they reached their mid teens.

My daughters and I are pleased to read about the guilty verdict. We hope that his sentence will be a just one. I only wish I had voiced my concerns and reported him much earlier.

A victim’s sibling

The backlash these women received from this community was shocking. Dr. Duncan made each of the women question not only

benchmark wait time for the on-demand system was still 60 minutes, and wouldn’t guarantee it could always beat that.

Mayor Marvin Junkin expressed his support and thanked Robinson and his implementation team.

“I just want to express my thanks to you and your team for bringing this baby home,” the Mayor said, against a Zoom background of two very large pandas.

“The fact that you have done this in the last two years, under the pandemic … your accomplishment is all the more special.

Will we have a few cogs or problems going ahead? I’m sure we will, as any child who goes from crawling to walking.”

The amalgamated Regional transit system is scheduled to officially launch Jan. 1, 2023.

their worth but their perception of men, and men in a position of power. Dr. Duncan broke their trust in the most reprehensible way. Dr. Duncan's job was to protect them—he took an oath—and he violated them for his own personal pleasure. It really is as simple as that.

To those members of the community who doubted the women who came forward, questioned their truth and their character, those who commented on social media posts and voiced their opinions as fact, I hope they take a moment to reflect on the verdict. I hope that next time—and there will be a next time—we do better.

Age 66

I was not surprised by the verdict as we all basically had the same sort of assault happen. While I didn’t hear the ladies in court and their specific details until the closing comments, it appeared he had the same MO and propensity. A few of us had contacted the physicians’ college and our claims were well substantiated and documented.

Hearing Her Honour read guilty to all six charges was a surreal moment. It was relief and release of all the emotions we had for a number of years. I really can’t imagine that Charles Duncan would have been shocked or surprised at the verdict. If a person does these deeds to that many women and feels he’s innocent, then he is truly kidding himself and mentally sick. I personally was surprised at my own reaction throughout the rest of the day. I just sobbed.

While I’ve given it much thought I haven’t really come to any conclusion about his sentence. He deserves jail time, but I think the real punishment is that his reputation as an upstanding former doctor and citizen has been tainted to say the least. It’s truly sad for his family and grandchildren.

Age 58

May justice be served.

Age 41

Page 11

A January 26 2022

Yesterday’s verdict means so much more than simply the finding of Dr. Duncan guilty of all charges.

For myself it signifies the end of a three-year journey.

There were many dark days when I didn’t think I had the strength to sit with my fear and also show up as a mother/employee/daughter/ friend. But this was always bigger than just me. I knew in my heart that there were more victims out there and that was the motivation behind my decision to reach out to the newspaper.

So to the women who came forward, I thank you.

I put out my hand and you grabbed ahold of mine in solidarity and shouted, “Me too!”

To the women who didn’t come forward and still carry the weight your experience, I see you and I fought for you too.

To the young girls growing up, we are one step closer to a world where you don’t have to be afraid anymore.

I invite every person who has experienced the shame of sexual assault to rejoice in this small victory with me.

Ananya Roy said, “Patriarchy is emboldened by

WORK AND PLAY It was a snow day for Max the dog, while intrepid Voice carrier Owen van den Brink doesn't let a little alpine peak stop him from his appointed rounds. SARA DUFFIN / TAMMY VAN DEN BRINK shame and silence.” We do not have to be silent anymore.

Age 67

This has been a long two years for those people who pushed through with their charges.

I would like to commend and congratulate all the women who were successful for their steadfast strength in following through with all of their charges.

My tears of joy for their success and validation went to tears of relief that this harrowing experience is now behind them I do not believe this doctor will get anything more than a house arrest. He is a privileged white male.

I do take great joy in the fact that he has been publicly shamed and everyone else has been validated.

I would also like to express my extreme appreciation for all that the newspaper did to bring this forward. I’m sure that otherwise much of this would have remained “under the examination table.”

women the courage to come forward. Up to that point it appeared that Duncan was just simply retiring in good standing in his community without thought of the women he had assaulted over many, many years.

He is a sexual predator who has foisted pain and suffering on innocent women without remorse. He has violated the most sacred of oaths, that being the Hippocratic oath, the founda-

tion of which is “First do no harm.”

As for sentencing, I would expect a custodial sentence but his lawyers have already set the stage to avoid this with their numerous references in court regarding Duncan's medical condition.

He can receive his necessary medical care in prison— many criminals do and he is no different. He should be given no preferential treatment whatsoever. ◆

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Thank goodness that one victim had the courage to speak to a Voice reporter. That story gave other

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The Voice

A January 26 2022

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

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Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill

Fonthill Baptist Church www.fonthillbaptistchurch.ca

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

Ridgeville Bible Chapel ridgevillebiblechapel.com

Fenwick Church of Christ www.fenwickchurchofchrist.ca

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St. Ann Roman Catholic Church www.stannfenwick.com

FAITH LIFT

continued from Page 15 nightmare. That Passover Sabbath was a long, dark day full of sorrow, confusion and questions. When it was finally over, a few women followers went to the tomb early Sunday morning to finish the embalming. But then the door flew open and there they were, panting for breath and trying to tell Mary and the disciples that the body was gone. Peter and John had confirmed their story and then one of the women claimed she had actually encountered Jesus alive!

How did Mary feel when she heard these various reports? And how did she feel when a short time later she was in the upper room with the others and she saw her son again with her own eyes…alive!

Mary has been in heaven for about two millennia. I’ll be there too in a few years. I’m looking forward to meeting Mary and having a long chat.

Can you guess what my first question will be? ◆ Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor who enjoys reliving Scripture.

ROTARY GRANT TO WOMEN’S PLACE The Rotary Club of Fonthill’s annual donation to support a local project goes this year to Women’s Place of South Niagara, earmarked for the purchase of 20 desks and chairs. When the pandemic hit, women and their children were forced to isolate in their assigned shelter rooms, which were tight quarters for doing schoolwork online. There will now be a new desk and chair in every room to provide designated study space. The grant includes $1,984 USD provided by Rotary District 7090 through the Rotary Foundation District Grants program.

Previous Fonthill Rotary grants include purchasing two defibrillators for St Johns Ambulance, a horse-powered lawnmower for I CAN-T.E.R., 2000 pairs of Socks for Change, a freezer for Pelham Cares, and tablets for Rose City Kids. SUPPLIED

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The Voice

Page 13

A January 26 2022

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ideas and experiences wash over our minds and souls.

Solo travel also offers escape from our comfort zone via anonymity, allowing us to blend into situations and experiences that we would never risk inserting ourselves into if we were with a friend or group.

Meeting people and hearing their stories Travelling with another person, or group, is the quickest way to shut out others, or have those you meet shut you out. We’re simply less approachable, less open, less vulnerable, less curious and less honest when we’re in a group. Full stop.

Your route is your own choice This doesn’t refer only to pre-departure route choices, but also to those made in the minute. Deciding on a general route which includes multiple highlights designed to satisfy a couple or group requires compromise. Solo travelers needn’t compromise their personal travel style or goals. While on a trip, it is spontaneous route choices, the pivots necessary when new circumstances and opportunities unexpectedly arise that offer true freedom of route choice to solo travelers.

I pedaled alone along the coast of Kenmare Bay, a long, sheltered finger of Atlantic Ocean which pierces the heart of southwestern Ireland. The tide was out, exposing the bay’s scraggi-

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One quickly discovers that being alone doesn’t make one lonely. The security of loving family and friends provide comfort as easily from a distance as in proximity, and the strength derived from coping with independent travel nurtures acceptance and value of oneself.

The number of likes our posts garner may be gratifying, and the heads we turn with our expensive cars and lavish homes satisfying, but they will be of little value when we’re injured in Slovakia or have had our wallet and passport stolen in Cambodia.

Leaving our comfort zone The concept of the “comfort zone” was defined

by Judith Bardwick in her 1991 business management book, Danger in the Comfort Zone, as follows: “The comfort zone is a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.”

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Route 2 – Berkwood PlaceSolo travel can be confisouth side; Vista Drive; dence-inspiring even beKathy Court; Beechnut PELHAM MUDFEST fore you depart. Simply by Court; Deverardo DriveMen and womenthat will be back the(96 mud as the second run on the year is deciding irrevocably southinside Homes) you’re going to go onHideaway. your held at Bissil’s own, adopting an “I’ve got this” mindset, and doing all the required planning is NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION hugely empowering.

Rodeo, games and Problem-solving andlive entertainment headline this years exciting event. It self-reliance come into 11-14 play at the Welland Fairgrounds. runs from Sept. automatically as you navigate the unfamiliar territory. mistakes RIDE BIG Making MOVE CANCER will test you, and surviving The Big Move Cancer Ride is a non-competitive ride taking place on Sept. them will strengthen you.

Proceeds Is 7. travelling solofor forthe you?Big Move stay in Niagara and support the Walker FamTravelling alone needn’t ily Cancer Centre. preclude the fun of a holiday or vacation with partners or groups at other times, WALKING CLUBbut don’t miss taking a life-afInterested in walking firming solo trip at least in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena once.from ◆ 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am. There

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The Voice

A January 26 2022

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

THE BALANCED LIFE

by John Swart

Travelling solo—is it for you?

I

s travelling solo in your future? If so, you’re on trend.

Booking. com data shows that pre-pandemic, in 2019, 14 percent of travellers were planning a trip on their own. In 2021 the figure nearly doubled to 23 percent, including 40 percent of 55-64 year olds.

Overseas Adventure Travel, an American travel conglomerate, reports that in 2019, 47 percent of their 60,000 travellers registered as solo, and of these, 85 percent were female.

Is a person who signs on for a Danube River cruise or a week at an all-inclusive Cuban resort without

we left our rented cottage, she with paints and brushes headed to class, me on my bike eager to explore.

During the next eight or ten hours we were apart, her pursuing her passion, interacting with her art, the instructor, and her classmates. I cycled, seeking the perfect path, most authentic villages, and a divinely delicious bagel and coffee.

Temporarily unencumbered by a companion, we experienced a short taste of solo travel each day.

Cycling from Cairo to Ethiopia with people I had never met before did categorize me as a genuine solo traveller. A commercial tour organizer transported my tent and minimum amount of luggage each day, arranged the locations we camped in each night, and offered breakfast, lunch and

a partner travelling alone any more or less than the unaccompanied millennial backpacker deplaning in Nepal?

The industry says no— they all qualify as “solo” travelers. For some, simply being physically distant from partners and friends is travelling solo. For others, travelling requires emotional and cultural separation to feel truly alone.

My wife and I travelled together to rural France a few years ago. Her purpose was to attend a portraiture workshop by a well-known Dutch artist and instructor.

Mine was to cycle in the same area. Each morning

and understand those of different cultures and faiths.

Solo travellers learn to trust strangers more readily, to listen with an open mind, to appreciate diverse opinions, and to question their own understanding of the world and those in it. There is no one to reinforce our preconceived silos or share our pigeon holes. We must reflect and judge for ourselves.

Who and what is truly important, and not.

Time away from a partner or friend may strengthen or hurt relationships. Simply trusting and encouraging a partner to experience new places, people and cultures on their own indicates a strong and confident relationship. Time alone allows clear reflection on the importance of those close to

new to us. Done right, solo travel encourages self-discovery too.

We learn what truly frightens us, how we will deal with those fears in the absence of traditional supports or someone to blame.

When forced to make decisions and own the consequences in unexpected situations, we may discover an inner bravery that lay hidden beneath our comfortable everyday routines.

Solo travel obliges us to re-evaluate our limits, to test our physical and moral strength. When we are physically alone, with no one looking over our shoulder to guide or provoke us, will are actions be fair and generous to both ourselves and those we encounter?

We’re forced to realize our prejudices and adjust our world view as we engage

dinner if I chose to partake. My responsibility was to arrive at the predetermined camp location each night before dark. Whether I cycled alone or with another member of the tour, diverted from the suggested route, where I chose to explore each day, what locals I might interact with and how, was all entirely up to me. Comfort came in knowing that if I didn’t arrive by dark, someone would realize I was missing.

Travelling truly solo, arriving in a country with an unfamiliar culture, language and money, alone and unsupported, is the purest variant of solo travel.

Regardless of the version of solo travel you consider, the rewards will be many.

Self-discovery. Travel is about discovering places, people and environments

See BALANCED LIFE Page 13

V oice HOROSCOPE ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Your affection for someone could affect your impression of a certain situation, Aries. You need to take a step back or remove yourself from the situation.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Someone in a position of authority may want to invest in your future, Taurus. Even though you may be flattered by the interest, you have to weigh all of your options.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 You may learn something about a person if you’re willing to get involved in deep conversation, Gemini. Have a talk with someone you’re eager to get to know.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, a heavy load at work is manageable. Challenges keep you engaged and you thrive on the pressure. Enjoy the responsibility and all that comes with it.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Sometimes you need to put passion ahead of stability, Leo. That means explore all possibilities when it comes to relationships. You may connect with someone unexpected.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, you may be able to move through chores and other things on your to-do list quite quickly this week. That opens up opportunities for some rest and relaxation.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, a chance to take a leadership role in your community is on the horizon. Take advantage of this unique opportunity and give it your all.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, this week you may be

pulled in two directions, but it’s nothing you haven’t handled in the past. Look to trusted confidantes for advice and even a little help, if necessary.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, find some time to delve into your passions. Figure out what piques your interests and pursue it with your customary energy. Others will admire your enthusiasm.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Getting romance off the ground this week may seem like climbing Mount Everest, Capricorn. Mixed messages may cloud the waters. Keep finding a way to connect.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, think about what you can bring to the table at work, and then promote your strengths to the higher-ups. They may be slow to come around but you’ll catch their attention.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, if you are feeling overworked, you may have to ask others to pitch in and take on a bigger share of the tasks at hand.

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The Voice

Page 15

A January 26 2022

ANSWERS ON PAGE 14

FAITH LIFT

by Pastor Rob Weatherby

How did Mary feel?

S

ometimes when I read my Bible, I try to put myself into the shoes (or sandals) of the biblical characters. After all, they too were human like us. They had their strengths and weaknesses.

They felt the same emotions we do. Well, what about Mary?

The first Christmas

Mary is a young, single woman (probably late teens) from a poor family living in the town of Nazareth in northern Israel. Nobody outside her family and town knew who she was. Locally she was known for her sincere faith in God. Otherwise, she was just another peasant Jewish girl growing up, working hard, and probably dreaming of marriage and family.

And then the archangel Gabriel pays her a visit and everything changes.

The revelation she hears is almost beyond comprehension. She would miraculously give birth to a son.

And that son would be the one called “Messiah” that her people had been anticipating for a very long time.

How did she feel when she first met an angel and heard that news? How did she feel when nine months later she held her baby boy for the first time far away from home? How did she feel when strangers (rough shepherds and elegant wise men) visited and worshipped her child and said incredible things about him? And how did she feel when more strangers (Simeon and Anna) uttered incredible prophecies over her newborn?

The first Good Friday

Fast forward 33 years.

Mary is no longer young.

She is now middle aged and approaching her senior years. Her beloved husband,

Joseph, has already passed.

She has been living and travelling with her eldest son and his small band of followers. She has heard her son teach wonderful things and she has witnessed some of his incredible miracles herself.

But things had gone downhill very quickly in recent months as opposition to Jesus’ ministry intensified. And then the unthinkable happened. Her son was betrayed by one of his own disciples. And before she knew it, he had been condemned in a mock trial, scourged almost beyond recognition, and crucified

on a bloody cross in front of a mob of jeering spectators.

How did Mary feel at the foot of that cross when her son was suffering excruciating pain and fighting for his every breath? How did she feel when her heart was as broken as her son’s body?

And how did she feel when finally it was over and Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross and she was able to hug and kiss his bloodied face one last time?

The first Easter

Mary’s mind was still reeling from the tragic whirlwind of recent events.

It all seemed like a horrible See FAITH LIFT Page 12

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The Voice

OBITUARY

Joan Haymes (nee Casselman) It is with great sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our mother on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 in her 87th year. Predeceased by her beloved husband Robert (Bob) (2010). Dear and loving mother of Brenda (Ken) Dixon, Bill (Donna) Haymes, Sue (Tony) Valovich and Tim (Nancy) Haymes.

Remembered with love by her grandchildren Tanya (Pat) Dixon, Joe (Mel) Lamontagne, Karen Laffin (Dale, Samantha and Erik), Kerri (Keith) McConkey, Kelsey (Carm) Haymes, Kendall (Adam) Haymes, Kirsten, Tyler and Justin Haymes. Will be missed by her great grandchildren Raeanna, Alyvia and Elaina Lamontagne, Abigail and Madison McConkey, Brody MacGregor and Sierra Sarnowski. Survived by her brother Wes Casselman and sister Anne (Cecil) Culley and several nieces and nephews and their families. A private service to honour mom’s life will take place. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of mom’s family and friends. Online condolences may be shared at www.pelhamfuneralhome.ca

°

IN TREATMENT

continued from Page 9 uct, as the extracted organics are hauled to farmers’ fields to enrich the soil.

With 90 percent of the impurities removed from the treated water, to the naked eye it appears clear and potable. But dangerous pathogens potentially still lurk in the form of viruses, bacteria, and other micro-organisms.

“There are good bacteria and bad bacteria, but we can’t differentiate,” said Rittner. “We need to deactivate and disinfect. Viruses are microscopic, and will bleed right through the filtration process.”

The solution? Sodium hypochlorite, or what is known in the pool industry as liquid chlorine. It completely oxidizes and destroys viruses.

Zebra mussels are another concern. They are an invasive species, which arrived in the Great Lakes in the 1980s via ballast water that was discharged from ocean-going ships from Europe. They cause problems by colonizing on intake and outflow pipes and mechanical structures. But zebra mussels don’t like chlorine either, so they get a wash with sodium hypochlorite as well.

When the water leaves the plant fully-treated, it’s pumped into storage facilities such as water towers and reservoirs that have a capacity of 10 million litres. It's not uncommon for the plant to temporarily shut down, with the entire service area getting its water from elevated tanks that are gravity-fed.

John Brunet, Associate Director of Water Operations and Maintenance, said that Niagara is at the top of the heap in the province with regard to water quality.

“Our data and inspection ratings place us in the highest percentile,” he said. “We just went three consecutive years with 100 percent scores across all six facilities. We go way above and beyond what the Ontario ministry demands.”

Is Niagara’s tap water as good as bottled water?

“Some people might think that bottled water tastes better than tap water,” said Brunet. “But Niagara tap water is much safer.

There are few testing regulations on bottled water. Most of it in Ontario is pumped out of the ground in Wellington County. They don't do the degree of analysis that we perform.”

Rittner said that he’s not in the business of bashing bottled water, and understands it has a certain practicality.

“If you drink a glass of lukewarm tap water, it’s not going to taste as good as cold bottled water,” he said. “But take your tap water and chill it in the fridge, and you won't be able to tell the difference.”

Water fluoridation remains a conten-

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tious issue in Canada, and some municipal governments — including Niagara Region — choose not to fluoridate their water supply. Approximately 70 percent of Ontarians have access to fluoridated water. The World Health Organization and Health Canada cite evidence that shows fluoridation as a safe and effective method of dental cavity prevention, while detractors cite high costs and exaggerated and false claims of health risks.

(Scratch an anti-fluoride activist and you’ll likely find an anti-vaxxer too.

At a September 2020 gathering of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology—a fringe group of dentists pushing unsupported theories about dental fillings—there appeared a “who’s who” of the anti-vaccination and Covid-19 conspiracy-theory movements, according to reporting by the National Post. Among them was a Canadian researcher presenting her debunked theory that linked fluoridated water and lower child IQ. Also in the rogues gallery, reported the National Post, were “defrocked British doctor Andrew Wakefield, whose study linking vaccines and autism was exposed as fraudulent, and Judy Mikovits, a former biochemist who starred in a viral video that promulgated a litany of false information on the coronavirus.”)

Ageing equipment needs to be repaired or replaced to maintain water quality, but some parts of antiquated machinery are almost impossible to source.

In 2012, the Region completed an environmental assessment, at which time it was determined that the plant was nearing the end of its life cycle, and it was no longer feasible to consider further upgrades. The preferred option was to replace the plant on the north side of the existing facility location.

While the cost of installing the latest water treatment technology and infrastructure to provide optimal efficiency is high, the two top annual expenditures at the plant are in chemicals and staff salaries.

Construction of Phase One of the Welland Water Treatment Plant replacement was completed in the spring of 2018. A portion of the existing plant was decommissioned, resulting in a capacity of 68 million litres per day, which meets existing demands. Phase Two of the rebuild, when completed, will result in a capacity of 73 million litres per day, within the parameters of the Region’s master servicing plan. The design also allows expansion of the plant’s capacity to over 100 million litres per day in the future, if required.

The cost of Phase Two could hit $80 to $85 million, said Brunet. The biggest line item of the project is the concrete work, including the drilling of 400 pilings into bedrock at depths of between 30 and 75 feet to anchor the structure. ◆

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RECIPE OF THE WEEK

4

Sausage-Stuffed Red Potatoes

Healthy eating is on the minds of many people at the start of a new year. One road block to healthy eating each January is the start of the National Football League playoffs, which culminate with the big game each February.

Appetizers, sandwiches and other game day offerings often prioritize taste over nutrition. However, by rethinking some game day staples, it’s easy to put a twist on popular favorites to make them lower in calories and fat and more nutritious.

This year skip the calorie-laden potato skins for “Sausage-Stuffed Red Potatoes,” which are just as delicious. Try this recipe, courtesy of “Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Cookbook” (RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC) from Taste of Home Kitchens.

Sausage-Stuffed Red Potatoes Makes 16 appetizers 8 1 1⁄2 4 9 1⁄3

small red potatoes pound Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed cup chopped sweet red pepper green onions, chopped teaspoons minced fresh parsley, divided cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

1. Scrub and pierce potatoes; place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 8 to 9 minutes or until tender, turning once.

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage and pepper over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink. Add onions and 41⁄2 teaspoons parsley; cook 1 to 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese. Cut each potato in half lengthwise.

Scoop out 1 tablespoon pulp (save for another use).

3. Spoon about 2 tablespoons sausage mixture into each half. Place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with remaining parsley.

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