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Region requests Town to commission audit Column Sixto Call for clarity bolstered by Finding Sixto $50,000 offer to underwrite cost "Sugarman" Rodriguez BY VOICE STAFF
The ongoing conflict between the Town of Pelham and those seeking to investigate its finances continued on Monday at a meeting of the Niagara Regional Council’s Audit Committee. The committee, comprised of Regional councillors—including Mayor Augustyn—met for over two hours, most of which was spent discussing allegations made by developer Rainer Hummel regarding Town financial practices. Town solicitor Callum Shedden first took to the podium to summarize a motion passed at the last meeting of Pelham Town Council. The motion stated that the Town would no longer participate in the Region’s review process because Niagara Region lacks jurisdiction over municipal finances. Shedden acknowledged that Hummel was
present, but said that Hummel was “in the wrong room at the wrong meeting. He should be at the Town, where there is jurisdiction.” Echoing the motion passed at Pelham Council's meeting, Shedden said that the Town would no longer “spend the time and money” required to defend itself. Part of that time and money has, no doubt, accrued to Shedden and his law partners. When asked by Councillor David Barrick why development charge credits were issued when the parkland was bought, Shedden declined to answer, saying that his retainer for the day was merely to report Pelham’s motion to the Audit Committee. Barrick was not pleased. Barrick then asked Shedden which funds were repurposed to fund the IOUs offered as development charge credits. Shedden replied that
BY SAMUEL PICCOLO
The VOICE
I
The rest of the room muttered for a minute before Hinde brought their attention back to the presentation. She continued to speak, but when she got to mentioning Haist Street, she mistakenly pronounced it “Heist,” as in robbery or rip-off. “Excuse me,” said David Shatford, a Fenwick resident sitting in the back. “It’s ‘Haist,’ not ‘Heist.’ Just so you know.” “Thank you,” Hinde said tersely. She pointed back the screen, and began outlining the five “explora-
N FEBRUARY 2015 there was an immense snow storm. Pelham woke up to the better part of 30 centimetres of snow—school was cancelled, plows were outmatched, and I spent most of the morning helping my father dig out our driveway and sidewalk. Typically, unexpected time off is spiritually uplifting, but on this particular day I was supposed to attend a concert in Toronto, and so I was less than enthused by the dumping. Early that morning I received a phone call from the friend with whom I was supposed to go to the show. The night before, his car had broken down, and he seemed more interested in staying in bed than in finding another method of transportation. I was in something of a quandary. Getting to Toronto in that weather was in itself daunting enough, but another problem was that he had purchased the tickets, and technically he was the one who was required to pick them up at the box office. In the end, we decided that if I took his credit card and driver’s license, the resemblance would probably be sufficient to fool the ticket attendant. And by the afternoon the snow had stopped and driv-
See ARENA Page 6
See COLUMN SIX Page 17
Mayor Augustyn at Monday's Audit Committee meeting in St. Catharines. “the answers are there—you just have to look for them.” Councillor Bart Maves began to speak to the history of his concerns regarding Pelham’s community centre financing. As Maves spoke, Augustyn said something that
was barely audible. Maves stopped and addressed the Chair. “[Augustyn and I] have sat near each other for a long time, and he knows that if there’s one pet peeve I have it’s nattering. He always has
YOUTUBE SCREENCAP
to natter,” Maves said. “Stop nattering,” said Committee Chair Tony Quirk. “I apologize,” said Augustyn. “The member apologizes See AUDIT back page
Another round of Town meetings on Haist parkland plans BY SAMUEL PICCOLO
The VOICE
The Town’s efforts to arrive at a development plan for the current Pelham Arena site continued last Wednesday, with two meetings held at Pelham Fire Hall #1. The afternoon event ran from 4-6 PM, while the evening session, which was better attended, went from 6:30-8:30 PM. To begin the evening meeting, the urban planning firm hired by the Town, the Planning Partnership, outlined the process as it has occurred so far in front of 50 or so
residents. In June, the firm held public sessions in the Pelham Arena, where planners were present and developed sketches as input was given from Town residents. The Planning Partnership then distilled these sketches into five distinct plans, each containing some configuration of single-detached homes, town homes, and/or apartment complexes. These plans, said the Planning Partnership’s Donna Hinde, were then included in an online survey in July in which residents were encouraged to participate. Hinde
specified that the survey had received 120 responses. The contention began here. “Only 120?” said Paul Bryant, a resident, “Out of 17,000?” Hinde bristled, saying that 120 was actually a lot relative to how these surveys typically pan out. A few others in the crowd backed up Bryant, saying that they couldn’t access the survey. Joe Bouchard chimed-in the from the back of the room. “Considering how many people are here tonight, I’m surprised that there were even 120.”
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The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
PUBLISHER’S CORNER by Dave Burket
The archives are expanding: A tip of the visor to Carolyn Botari, who brought by a large box of old newspapers recently. Plenty of interesting reading going back decades… Here’s a 300-page-plus document of actual use: Also on the archival front, Asa Orton Hansler dropped off his 388-page history of Pelham at our office, and it’s as detailed as that weight sounds. A copy was provided to the now-disbanded Heritage Committee, but a recent enquiry in Town Hall, Hansler says, turned up no evidence of its existence. He has entrusted the Voice with the original, for which we’re grateful… Everyone was welcome: Hansler also points out that the “Quaker” cemetery at the intersection of Effingham and Welland in Fonthill also has Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans, and other sects buried there… The roar is back: You may have heard and/or felt the historical Lancaster bomber pass overhead over the weekend. She was down one engine for about a month, with rescue in the form of a refurbished replacement flown in from England with the help of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Lancaster rides are an important revenue source for the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, in Hamilton, so it’s good to see the classic gal back in the skies… Also flying high: Retired airline captain and Fonthill resident Leon Evans, the Lancaster’s chief pilot, wrote a piece on an air show held recently in Brantford. Find it on our website and Facebook page… Yet more development: Nick Saltarelli attended one of last week’s Haist arena and parklands “consultation” sessions and came away less hopeful than he went in. See his commentary on page 4… He’s back to bite your finger: Charlie the vanished Vizsla is back home, safe and sound. You may remember seeing the “Missing” ad in a recent Voice, and on our Facebook page, where it was shared widely. We hope that similar good fortune is in store for Penny the cat, on page 14 this week… Column Sixto: Sam Piccolo ventured into the big city last Friday to attend a performance by Sixto Rodriguez, subject of the 2013 documentary Searching for Sugar Man, well worth seeing if you haven’t already. Sam’s impressions start on page 1… Award-winning pumpkins: The Wainfleet Fall Fair starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. It’s fine family event, and useful to remind us how vital farmers are when it comes to that minor thing called food… Gone but not quite forgotten: In our latest Conversation feature, former Ontario PC leader and local MPP Tim Hudak tells us what he’s been up to in the year since he resigned. Making the world safer for real estate developers seems to figure prominently, and on grounds that may be debatable. The cost of GTA housing is surely down to greed more than anything, but each to his own perspective… Tunes for a good cause: Back in town, check out the Legion's Pelham Cares fundraiser on Sunday, info on page 16… Friday, 4:02 PM: Autumn arrives. Dust off the snowblower. Sigh.
Barn fire on Welland Road
IN THE NEWS
Police say that officers assisted the Pelham Fire Department with a large working barn fire on Welland Road near Centre Street on Sunday evening. Upon arrival, the structure was fully engulfed. The owners of the property were not home at the time of the incident. Police say that fire officials advised the fire was not deemed suspicious. The structure, which was totally destroyed, was primarily used for storage and did not house any livestock.
Wainfleet Fair underway this week
The 51st Wainfleet Fall Fair is on this week at the Wainfleet arena, beginning Thursday evening and running through to Sunday. Though things won’t get started until 5:00 Thursday, the schedule is thick in those few hours, including a sheep dog demonstration and fireworks to close off the night. Friday is seniors’ day from 10-4, while later there will be a “modified” tractor pull and a rabbit judging competition. Saturday sees a pancake breakfast and an ATV mud-bog, and then a baby show and Wainfleet Idol. There will be an iron farmer contest in the afternoon (The Voice advises eating your iron well-done), and if that isn’t enough, there’ll be a corn-eating competition at 5:15. The demolition derby will occur at 6:00 to help ease digestion. Free parking. No pets.
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4233 or Crimes Stoppers of Niagara.
Theft of Vehicle
Reported stolen last Saturday from a farm running between Roland Road and Sawmill Road near Effingham Street: a 2009 GMC Sierra 2500 HD, grey, with an Ontario "farm" license plate.
Thorold teen accosted
Last Wednesday, at approximately 9:15 PM uniform officers from the 1 District - St. Catharines office of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to a residence in Thorold. A 13-year-old boy and his family had contacted the NRPS after an unknown male accosted him earlier in the day. At approximately 6:45 PM the boy had been walking with his scooter in the area of Clara Street and Taylor Street in Thorold. An unknown man came up behind him and wrapped his arms around the boy. The boy struggled and struck the man with his scooter. The boy fled the area. The boy was not injured. The unknown white male suspect is described as: Approximately 50-60 years old, 180 lbs, shaggy red moustache, sunglasses, grey mesh hat. A black truck was also seen in the area at the time of the incident that may or may not be linked. The investigation remains ongoing by detectives from the 1 District Criminal Investigation Branch and the Child Abuse Unit. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 905-688-4111 ext
Mild autumn forecast
Overall a mild autumn is in store for much of the country this year, with a mild, wet pattern to delay first freezes in eastern and Atlantic Canada, according to the commercial forecasting firm AccuWeather. The first half of autumn will feature predominantly mild and wet weather across eastern Canada before chilly air blows in from the Arctic. "A wetter weather pattern may set up from southern Ontario through Quebec and into the Maritimes for October and November, but temperatures will be higher than usual, especially at night," AccuWeather Canadian Weather Expert Brett Anderson said. This may cause the first frost and freeze of the season to occur later than normal for many areas. Leaf peepers headed to the region to view the fall foliage may encounter wet weather as rain will frequent the region throughout the season. The best time to view the fall foliage is typically from late in September through the middle of October.
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In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Niagara Regional Police Service reports the names of those people who are charged with an alleged criminal impaired driving offence in the Region. None of the following charges have been proved in court. In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90-Day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. The public is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Safety Hotline or Crime Stoppers to report those who are driving in contravention of the suspension. The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath / blood sample. Willie JONES, 52, Buffalo NY Taylor V. WAINMAN, 22, Fort Erie John H. HEINEN, 43, Grimsby Garry COOMBS, 62, Burlington Jacob J. MARTIN, 21, Cambridge Samuel R. YALOWICA, 70, St. Catharines Patrick C. HOEKSTRA, 60, Fort Erie Amber S. Y. YOUNG, 22, Welland Philip R. STRATTON, 21, Port Colborne Jacqueline GOODMAN, 51, Niagara-on-the-Lake James G. HAMILTON, 60, Niagara Falls Nathaniel KERANOVIC, 28, Niagara Falls Derek M. R. DUMELE, 27, Niagara Falls Lila D. MCDOUGALL, 49, Niagara-on-the-Lake James R. HEATH, 54, Thorold Sherry L. COWELL, 59, Welland Bong V. MAI, 53, Niagara Falls Andrew J. FORD, 31, Cambridge Gregory C. SMITH, Ohsweken 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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Vol.20 No.48
CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
DSBN wants portion of Town park
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The Comfort Maple myth
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Wednesday, November 30, 2016
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Oops: No fire trucks for you
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Column Six
Growing up British
Vol.20 No.32
Wednesday October 12, 2016
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Apple Day comes to Fonthill
BY JULIE MANNELL
Special to the VOICE
W
BALLOONING INTEREST Grade 6 student Jinja Shepherd explains her experiment on static electricity at the Glynn A. Green Public School's annual science fair last Friday. See story, page 3. NATE SMELLE PHOTO
Public meeting tonight on school issues BY VOICE STAFF As questions continue to mount regarding an email that Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn quietly sent to a District School Board of Niagara trustee last summer, Augustyn has agreed to address the issue at a public meeting scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Fenwick. Nancy Beamer, speaking for “Names Matter,” a Pelham citizens group lobbying the DSBN to reverse its decision to rename a local public school, confirms that the meeting will be held at Fire Station #2, known locally as the Fenwick Fire Hall, starting at 7:00 PM. While the Mayor has agreed to ap-
Under pressure, Mayor to address email revelation, other E. W. Farr matters pear, says Beamer, DSBN officials associated with the school-naming process have either declined to attend or have not yet responded to the group’s invitation. DSBN Chair, Dale Robinson, to whom Augustyn’s email was addressed last June, has declined to appear, says Beamer, asserting that she would be
“on holidays.” The Voice was unable to independently confirm Robinsion’s intentions. She did not respond to repeated requests for comment on E.W. Farr-related matters before presstime. Beamer, whose group maintains an email list of some 580 residents, says that all members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting. “We would especially welcome parents and children who are unhappy with the name change,” she says, referring to the contentious decision by the DSBN to consolidate two Pelham See MEETING back page
HEN I WAS young, my father and I would go for long drives along the rural routes of Pelham. We’d blast George Thurgood and roll down the windows because we loved the smell of the breeze, the sensation of crisp Niagara wind beating our cheeks and tangling our hair against our summer-kissed skin. My father was not a sentimental man. He worked in factories and had a Gordon Lightfoot mustache and never shed tears over injuries. Yet something about the Pelham landscape, the hilly backdrop to his childhood and the childhoods of our ancestors, drew him in. He’d stop by a farm or a gathering of woods and, surrendering his manly veneer, tell me a story about the town. This place is precious. This is the earth that granted us life. Here is the place where we happened upon love or here is a site of devastation. On one particular drive sometime in the late ‘90s we stopped at a tree with a plaque. “This tree looks dead,” I said to my father. “It sure is getting there, Julie.” The Comfort Maple is supposedly Canada’s oldest See COLUMN SIX Page 14
Part 2 of 2: Coronation to embarkation
BY VOICE STAFF
A construction error was discovered following the opening of a traffic calming chicane on Haist Street north of Hwy 20 last Monday that prevented large vehicles from passing through. One resident living in the neighbourhood said he contacted the Town after seeing a small schoolbus get stuck as it tried to get through the new traffic calming measure. Later that day while driving behind a cement truck, he said that he became concerned for the public’s safety when the truck had to turn around because it couldn’t get through. “If a small school bus and a cement truck can’t make it through what about a fire
BY HEATHER McLAREN ROHRER
Special to the VOICE
A
Repair measures underway last week to correct a construction error in the chicane. truck or an ambulance?” he said. While waiting for the contractor to return to fix
the mistake, the Town has taken measures to temporarily allow passage for vehicles through the neigh-
VOICE PHOTO
bourhood in the short-term. Manager of Public Works Ryan Cook said that after discovering the issue with
the chicane the morning it first opened, the Town See CHICANE Page 5
Petition-inspired changes coming to 2017 Summerfest BY NATE SMELLE
The VOICE
Representatives from the Pelham Summerfest committee Candy Ashbee and Bill Gibson presented council with a final report on the 2016 Summerfest at the Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 21. Prompted by a story in the Voice in August about a merchant petition to move Summerfest from Pelham Street, in September Town staff met with various stakeholders to hear their complaints, promising at the time that changes in the way Summerfest was mounted would be con-
sidered. The main concerns identified during the community engagement process were security, parking, ensuring customer can access all businesses in town, and liability for damages. How to get all Pelham Street businesses to participate and finding ways to make it beneficial for them to set up a booth were also determined to be of high priority for the committee as they plan for next year’s event. Gibson told Council that the committee is addressing these concerns in a variety of ways. To improve parking, they intend to create bet-
ter signage for out-of-town visitors to designated parking areas and shuttle services. To make participation in Summerfest more enticing to local businesses, they plan to implement a tiered-charge for booths. Under the new system, Pelham Street business owners will be charged the least, other local businesses will pay a slightly higher fee, and vendors from outside Pelham will pay the most. In response to more specific issues for individual businesses, they will also slightly alter the footprint of the event and make adjustments to security. Another way the committee plans
Debbie
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to improve the 2017 Summerfest is by sponsoring and working with the organizers of the Thursday Night Bandshell Concert series to select the artist performing on the first night of Summefest. They also intend to make more use of the smartphone app they launched in 2016. "We are really going to push it this year," Ashbee said. “It really helps to get people to see what events there are so they can plan out where they are going. We will be able to actually help the merchants and local businesses adSee CHANGES Page 5
FTER LUNCH ON Saturday, Mum and Dad had my afternoon cut out for me. Mum had more brass than anyone I knew, and it had to be cleaned. In addition there was the set of silver fish-knives and forks which were never used, but which had to be cleaned and put back in their velvetlined box. Next was a walk to the newsagents to pay for the daily delivery of the Daily Mirror. As I said, Dad was a printer, but when he was 37 he had been rejected for a job, as being too old, by the printers of the Beano. For that reason, my favourite comic was not allowed in the house, but while I was paying the papers, the newsagent let me have a 'shoofty' at the Beano. I'd explained my predicament and he understood completely. Sundays were different again. Dad would play golf on summer mornings and billiards in winter. Then he'd stop for a 'refresher' at the local and would pick up the prawns, cockles, winkles or whelks we'd be having for tea later. Meanwhile, Mum was roasting the 'joint' and potatoes. I got to make the Yorkshire pud, and mint
See COLUMN SIX Page 14
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While shopping in Fonthill between Friday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in front of local stores with bushels of apples. As part of the annual Apple Day campaign, Scouting youth of all ages will be trading apples for donations. The yearly fundraising drive is an important way for young Scouts to connect with the communities they are serving, says Leah Marie of Scouts Canada. “The Apple Day campaign holds a great tradition of being able to have youth interacting within the communities they live in,” she says. “All of the Apple Day donations stay directly within the group that re-
The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and well-rounded individuals
ceives them, enabling youth to have experiences that build character, challenge them, and allow them to try new things. The goal is to have these youth develop into confident and wellrounded individuals, better prepared for success. Apple Day helps to achieve that.”
“Any money raised during Apple Day goes towards improving the Scouting program by providing more outdoor adventures for youth, camping equipment, canoes and paddles, training and many other endeavours that the youth want to experience,” says Marie. Scouts Canada has some 100,000 members across Canada, and carries out programs for boys, girls
Joining their principal, Karen Simpson, at the Sept. 19 Council meeting as part of a delegation from EL Crossley Secondary School, students Abby Loewen and Neenah Williams presented Council with a list of reasons that they should immediately approve the construction of the new sidewalk proposed along Hwy. 20. The asphalt side-
walk/trail is slated to be built between the south side of the road from Timmsdale Crescent to the high school. Because of the large volume of motor vehicle traffic travelling at high speeds through this area, and because of the necessity for students to tread this path on a daily basis, many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later. After delivering to Council a petition containing
Many residents would like to see the sidewalk go in sooner than later the names of 450 students calling for a safer walk to school, Simpson handed the
podium over to Loewen and Williams to plead their case. Loewen told Council that because there are a lot of students who have work placements and coop placements during the school year, this is the only route for many of them to travel. As one of the students facing this predicament, Williams said she has had no other option but to walk along the dangerous highway.
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and youth ages 5-25. This year the 3rd Fonthill Group, which includes Beavers to Ventures (youth ages 5- 25) will be hitting the streets to drum-up support. Over the weekend, Scouts will be set up in Fonthill outside Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Target Gas station, Fonthill Shopping Plaza and the Pioneer Gas station at the corner of Hwys 20 and 24.
Town Council approves sidewalk to serve E. L. Crossley BY NATE SMELLE
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Second year Beaver with the 3rd Fonthill Group, Russell Letford offers a fresh apple to shoppers in Pelham during the 2015 Apple Day campaign. SUPPLIED PHOTO A longtime Canadian tradition, Apple Day began in 1932 in Saint John, New Brunswick, when Scouts handed out 21,000 apples as a way to say thank you to the community. In return for their generosity, many people offered them donations. From then on Scouts have reached out through Apple Day to raise funds for their programs.
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Column Six It doesn’t get better than Autumn
Longtime Scouting tradition dates to 1932
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Column Six
BY VOICE STAFF The District School Board of Niagara is requesting that the Town of Pelham cede a portion of Cherry Ridge Park for use as a soccer field to serve the students of the new Wellington Heights Public School, formerly the E. W. Farr Memorial Public School, in Fenwick. Currently under renovation and expansion, the new school will combine students and staff from the previous school and Pelham Centre, where classes are being held while construction continues. Two letters, containing virtually identical text but signed by different authorities, were sent last week to nearby residents of the park, as well as to parents of Pelham Centre students. “The DSBN is currently building onto Wellington Heights Public School on Alsop Drive,” states the letter. “The size of the school's addition means the existing small soccer field will be eliminated. The Town and the Board have been discussing the possibility of working together to create a field for both the school and the
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“I start work at 2:30 PM and school lets out at 2:15 PM so I can’t take any other route,” Williams explained. “I have had friends, family, teachers and other community members reach out to me in the past about how this is unsafe and how there should be another alternative for us.” Looking ahead to winter, when she will need to walk this path three or four times See SIDEWALK Page 2
HERE IS NO BETTER time to cycle than Fall. It matters not whether you’re new to the sport, a seasoned recreational cyclist, racer, touring rider or mountain biker; we all have reason to look forward to autumn. Summer’s heat has faded, and the streams of sweat that ran from soggy helmets into our eyes are now just slight perspiration. Fitness is peaking from lots of saddle time, making those tough climbs of Spring a breeze in Autumn. It’s hard to beat the feeling of beginning a crisp, cool Fall ride with a slight shiver, knowing your efforts will soon warm you perfectly. The hues of Autumn are outstanding. A Pelham route as simple as following our southern boundary is one that would make most Toronto cyclists jealous, especially when our forests and fields are ablaze with colour. Begin from Harold Black Park, and zig-zag south along Effingham Rd toward the Welland River. If you’re new to cycling, it’s important to know south is the direction away from any hills. If you avoid the morning and evening weekday rush hours caused by those travelling through Pelham between Wainfleet See AUTUMN Page 3
Indulgence Bakery Mossimo’s Pelham Street Grille Sobeys Fonthill DeVries Fruit Farm Beamer’s Hardware & TV Fonthill Library Black Pearl Fish & Chips Bob’s Boys Antiques Moku’s Fonthill Fitness Fenwick Pie Company McDonald’s Fonthill Legion Semenuk’s Gas Bar Target Store Tim Horton’s Giant Tiger Pelham Town Hall Shoppers Drug Mart Zee Lube Express Care Lazy Loon Minor Bros Stores Avondale Stores A-1 Market Sobeys South Pelham Broken Gavel Restaurant Grill on Canboro Petro Canada Mtvl. Hwy. Renewed Thrift & Vintage Ridge Berry Farm Circle-K
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The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
Onlookers gather before the ceremony. Below, Ann Mantini-Celima, remembers her brother.
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VOICE PHOTOS
Wellspring breaks ground on East Fonthill centre Large turnout for ceremony marking start of 11,000 sq. ft. project BY VOICE STAFF Wellspring Niagara, a service centre for those with cancer, broke ground on its new facility last Tuesday at a well-attended ceremony behind the Food Basics in East Fonthill. At four in the afternoon, as the day’s heat could be felt rising from the crushed gravel below and the beaming sun above, “Boogie Wonderland” came bouncing through the loudspeakers. Mayor Dave Augustyn briefly swivelled to the music before regaining his composure and straightening up. The half-finished Community Centre loomed, but its shadow went the other way, providing no relieving shade for the assembled onlookers. Many wore hats, a few held parasols, and there were some bandanas suggestive of recent chemotherapy. “Nothing like a little ‘Earth, Wind & Fire’ to get your attention,” said Ann Mantini-Celima, Wellspring Niagara’s co-founder and Executive Director, as she took the microphone. Mantini-Celima began the afternoon’s program by recounting the emotional
story of the organization’s beginnings. In the 1990s, her brother Aldo was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and had a difficult time finding support. Mantini-Celima recalled that Aldo felt an “overwhelming isolation” in his predicament. Ann was living in Toronto at the time, and took to visiting a Wellspring centre there, where she found just the sort of support community that her brother was missing in Niagara. Aldo did not survive the disease, though he spent his last years working towards a Niagara chapter of Wellspring and on his deathbed made his sister promise to do the same. In 2001, Wellspring Niagara opened a 2,000 sq. ft. location on Schmon Parkway and operated there since. Last year it provided support for 640 individuals, and in 16 years has had over 70,000 event attendances. These services are varied in their characteristics. Wellspring offers basic support groups, where sufferers and their families can speak of their experiences with others who have gone through the same, but there are also more intricate pro-
grams, too. There are “expressive arts” events, which include music, writing, and quilting, and even financial workshops to help sufferers and their families manage the economics impacts of cancer. Wellspring focuses a great deal on food and nutrition, and its new Pelham site will house a teaching kitchen. The 1.8 acre East Fonthill site, on which the 11,000 sq. ft. building will be constructed, was donated by the Town, with a 20-year lease of $1 per year signed this May. “It all started with a glass of wine,” Mantini-Celima said to Councillor Peter Papp, with whom she had initially conceived of Wellspring’s new Pelham home in 2013. Papp subsequently approached the Mayor and Council with the idea, and soon the Town was working with Wellspring to negotiate the specifics of the agreement. Mantini-Celima closed her address by introducing her nephew Robert, who was only a year old when his father died. Her voice cracked as she concluded. “I am so grateful the Niagara community, which has helped bring Aldo’s dream to fruition,” she said. “Because of you, his vision will continue to impact the lives of men, women, and children who
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are affected by cancer, and will ensure that no one will feel alone in their cancer journey.” Lisa Bouchard, a cancer sufferer who has along with her family used Wellspring’s services, took the podium next. “I’m not usually a public speaker,” she joked. “Normally I would do anything to get out of speaking, but I thought that I’d regret it later if I didn’t speak. And I’m learning to live without regret.” Bouchard was diagnosed with cancer two
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and a half years ago. The oncologist instructed her to “go home and live your life,” and Bouchard credits Wellspring with helping her to do this. “Wellspring helps to rebuild what cancer has blown apart,” she said, mentioning that information sessions on wigs and make-up had been particularly important in maintaining her morale. Bouchard’s two young sons have made use of Wellspring’s services too, participating in “play-based
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The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 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 Nick Saltarelli King Cash Flow and The Tragedy of the Commons
A
LL CORPORATIONS, whether private, public, or municipal, live or die by a single measure, and that is cash flow. Cash flow is king. As long as money coming in is equal to or greater than money going out then bills will get paid and everybody stays happy. But given even a hint of missing payments, red flags go up, questions of solvency arise and creditors get nervous. Money tightens and the corporation shifts into crisis. It’s a blunt business reality to which the Corporation of the Town of Pelham is not immune. What follows is my take on the Pelham Arena lands, based on what information has been made public and observations taken at last week’s “Community Co-Design Workshop” at Fire Station #1. Sit down. I have bad news for those in denial, as I was before the workshop. For all intents and purposes what has come to be called the Haist Street public park shall be rezoned, partitioned, sold off and developed into a subdivision. Nothing can be done to stop or even delay it. It is in principle a done-deal that will close sometime in the current fiscal year. The
Town needs the money to help pay its bills for their East Fonthill development adventure. There is no alternative source of equiv-
I have some bad news for those in denial, as I was before the workshop
alent cash and no deferral option. In Council’s view, the sooner this gets finalised the better. Through its actions, Council has left itself no choice, and by extension we, the ratepayers, have no choice either. Considering the mandate given to The Planning Partnership, the consultants hired to sell residents on one design or another, the group did a highly credible job. The mandate is to privatise this publicly owned parkland for residential development in such a way
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that maximises return while upsetting the least number of residents. Five carefully scoped development options were presented by expert consultants prepared to answer any questions. Councillor John Durley was there to welcome participants, and the Mayor himself made an entrance 20 minutes or so after kickoff. The Pelham Arena lands have been for 40 years a beloved Commons. It is today a big, beautiful and valuable blank canvas with myriad possibilities, one of which is housing. But imagine. Imagine if the mandate given by our Council to that Toronto firm had not been to figure out the most lucrative development configuration we ratepayers might grudgingly accept, but instead to begin with the premise that these Commons would be retained and improved for current and future generations. Imagine 50 years from now, Niagara’s population triple what it is today, urban sprawl long gobbling-up most lands separate from the Greenbelt. Now imagine municipal gardens creatSee CASH FLOW next page
Letters Supports forensic audit, Bread v. Sandwich not so much I would like to thank Mr. Hummel for his remarkable offer to fund the forensic audit of the Town’s finances that so many people believe is necessary [Hummel: "I'll pay for the audit," Sept. 13, p. 1]. The Town of Pelham claims that nothing is out of order. Mr. Hummel is generously providing the taxpayers with a cost-free way to clear the air and to prove that the trust we placed in the elected Councillors and Mayor is not misplaced. Now the Town is “no longer going to co-operate” with the Region. In my mind they have not cooperated at all. They dumped a 338-page report and stated to the public that it had been put together in one evening. I can’t understand how they think the public
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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
Mayor of Pelham David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Members of Pelham Town Council
Member of Provincial Parliament
Ward 1 Councillor Richard Rybiak rrybiak@pelham.ca 905-892-2105
Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755
Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 905-684-4870
Electoral District: Niagara West-Glanbrook
Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor David Augustyn mayordave@pelham.ca 905-892-2607 Ext 317 Councillor Brian Baty brian.baty@niagararegion.ca 905-892-5317 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607
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would believe that such a comprehensive report could be pulled together in such a short time. Treasurer Cari Pupo was dismissed for undisclosed reasons, taking out the person with the most knowledge of the finances. You can be sure she is being asked to sign a comprehensive non-disclosure agreement, if she hasn’t already done so. The Town’s statement that the Region has “no business in our business” is ludicrous. The funding for the Community Centre had to go through the Region, so doesn’t it make sense that the Town should be both transparent and accurate in keeping the Region
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OPINION Letters
COMMENTARY / OP-ED Larry Coté
continued
Bravo Bandshell volunteers!
Open letter to Councillor Brian Baty I applaud you for taking a stand in regards to requesting Pelham Council to let the Region conduct a forensic audit of Pelham's finances and procedures. Since that meeting, I believe Pelham Council has continued to quietly maneuver themselves at the direction of Mayor Augustyn to minimize the damage to their political future, by doing the following: First, deferred Poth Street and Sulphur Springs repairs to next budget by keeping the study process going—buying time? Only
Councillor Junkin made sense regarding the culvert. Second, leasing Town vehicles due to lack of cash in budget to purchase. Lease is a polite term for rent. More selling-off of assets. Third, no money in budget for sidewalk snow clearing. Fourth, selling 8 hectares of land, now deemed surplus in East Fonthill, that was never disclosed in any of the original meetings to the community before construction. If I didn't know better, it would seem to me that
AUDIT continued from previous page informed, especially when transactions are called into question. I attended the “Meeting with the Experts,” found the parameters for the questions to be very narrow, and the answers did not satisfy the taxpaying public. I find it interesting that Mayor Augustyn asserts the Region should “rubber stamp” debenture requests, as reported last week, then seems to criticize this by saying that the City of Port Colborne got a $6.1 million dollar “rubber stamp” approval for storm sewers. Mayor Augustyn said that “no one said a peep,” which gives the impression that he did not agree with the debenture, but he was
CASH FLOW continued from previous page ed from the Commons once known as the Pelham Arena property, perhaps even renamed in honour of the forward-thinking men who took a visionary stand in the interests of the Ward 3 voters who elected them, dedicated to endure in perpetuity for the physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing of society. Imagine the old arena building gone and in its place a great, green expanse, more than eight glorious acres, occupied by mature trees and ivy and hedges, a pond, rose gardens and benches. Perhaps a cenotaph or a fountain and a sculpture or two. An oasis surrounded by urban development. A testament to forward thinking. Poof. Unfortunately, none of this is on the table. Instead it will become yet another subdivision of small houses on tiny lots surrounding yet another strip of townhouses and a smattering of postage stamp green zones, and in 50 years, when the new Community Centre is due for replacement, no one will
there is a mad scramble by Pelham's Mayor and some Councillors to cover the debt incurred before either the Regional Audit meeting or before the end of Pelham's fiscal year. Is Pelham cash poor or broke? Finally Mayor Augustyne goes to the "Municipality" meeting along with his staff, then is quoted as calling the leader of a provincial party a liar. The Mayor is name-calling everyone from some residents, some developers, Regional CounSee BROKE Page 8
one of the non-peepers. If I’m not mistaken sewers are actually under the Region. I would like to thank Mr. Hummel on behalf of myself and the many others I have spoken to about these financial matters. His generous offer reminds me of a line from a movie about an offer too good to refuse. It’s an especially poignant gesture considering the Town appears to be so cashstrapped that it can’t even repair its own infrastructure, e.g. closed roads. I’ll leave the rest for others to write about the Town’s amazing fable last week of Bread vs. Sandwich. I’ll put down my pen and hope that others will pick up theirs. Marianne Stewart Fenwick
remember the names of the men responsible for either. The room went a little quieter when the Mayor made his late entrance. Several shuffled in their chairs while he made his way to the back of the room where he stood, observing the goings-on. While most listened quietly a few participants were demonstrably unhappy and anxious to be heard, interrupting the consultant’s presentation. Some seemed cowed, maybe a little intimidated. Others were resigned, still others stoic, acknowledging the fait accompli and wanting only to see the final picture. One said Council has no mandate to sell off the park as it never came up three years ago during the municipal election. Councillor Durley replied that somebody had to make a decision and it fell upon Council. “What if we organised a petition?” I said to the table, but the man beside me said it wouldn’t be binding. A waste of time. Someone asked aloud “What’s the rush?” and then a man at the next table suggested simply putting it off for a year to give the people a voice in the
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matter. But there was no response. Only blank expressions. After the presentation wrapped up, several of us stood gathered around a table strewn with maps and charts discussing the matter with Councillor Durley. One woman, upset, asked what on earth the Town’s priori-
O
N E C R I T E R I O N T O G AU G E T H E social cohesiveness of a community is to measure the contributions of volunteers who add to the wellbeing of that assemblage. That wellbeing involves creating a wealth of community enhancements such as a sense of belonging and a host of other social benevolences such as health, happiness, tranquility and prosperity. There is no question that Fonthill has that social cohesiveness in grand measure. One such example is demonstrated by the volunteers who bring the Thursday night Bandshell concert series to this community. It is appropriate that the venue for these family-friendly concerts is Peace Park. The final Thursday night concert at the Fonthill Bandshell two weeks ago completed a grandly successful 2017 series of twelve superlative performances. These concerts began in 2006 and have been offered every year since. Music is said to soothe the soul. If that be true, then those who attended some of these concerts were treated to a peaceful and appeasing experience. However, one or more of the concerts were more like a rocking cardio workout than a gentle swinging in the hammock. The community owes these devoted volunteers a great deal of gratitude for their time, talents and efforts in arranging and planning for these very entertaining evenings throughout the summer. This citizens committee works year-round to prepare for these marvelous concerts. The committee, chaired by the capable and ebullient Gayle Baltjes, is comprised of a cohesive group of dedicated and talented individuals. Unfortunately, there are too many to be in-
ties are. Sports? I asked the Councillor if he’s personally in support of private development and he said he is. “No one in the neighbourhood I’ve talked to is happy with what’s happening,” I replied, “and we’ve not seen a formal public endorsement from our councillors.”
dividually acknowledged in this space but we are happy to lead a resounding round of applause for their efforts to make Fonthill a better place to live and visit. Bravo! Ole! Hooray! Although it is difficult to establish the number of persons attending these concerts, an on-site security person estimated the concert goers to average about 3,500. Many concertgoers begin setting up their camp chairs early in morning and this activity continues throughout the day until the sloped area of the park and surrounding roadways takes on the appearance of a concert hall amphitheater. The committee has coordinated a host of other community-minded individuals, organizations and Town administrators that contribute to the festive nature of these concerts. The Farmers’ Market, food and other vendors contribute to the fun-filled, sumptuous, character of these Thursday night outings. The committee and the concert goers appreciate the cooperation and support of those who add so much more to the event. After humbly taking their deserved bows for this year, the committee now turns its attention to organizing and presenting the 2018 Concert Series. The community wishes them well in their deliberations and looks forward with eager anticipation to the next round of wonderful concerts. Concert lovers should mark their calendar for next year’s opening concert on June 21, 2018. Larry Coté is a retired professor of business. He has been awarded the Governor General’s Medal for his community activites.
Mr. Durley promised to go on the record at the next public Council meeting. Perhaps Mr. Papp will do the same. The loss of the park on Haist Street is a foregone conclusion, an example of "individuals acting in their self-interest, independently and with scant regard for
the greater good, depleting or spoiling a shared resource that ought properly to benefit the larger community.” In short, a classic definition of The Tragedy of the Commons. Regardless, it's over. King Cash Flow has won. The commoners have lost.
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The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca experience of that happening.” Hudson and Hinde both assured him that any land sale to a developer would include an pre-arranged agreement as to how the land be used. The man remained skeptical. As the presentation wrapped up, the man and Hinde continued to speak. Hinde said that she and Hudson had received a lot of positive feedback in the earlier session. She looked to the large pieces of planning paper on which feedback had been written. “This a good plan,” she read.
Well, I'm not making these comments up
Residents gather around tables, examining closely the options on offer.
ARENA continued from Page 1 tions” that the Planning Partnership and the Town had included in to the survey. While acknowledging that the survey was not “statistically signifi-
cant,” because it was not sufficiently large or randomized, Hinde emphasized that it was useful for identifying “strong views” in the community. One of these “strong views” found in the survey was a desire that existing parkland be
kept. Hinde pointed to the screen where survey results showed a hostility to any plan that altered the placement of the soccer fields. As she spoke to the survey results, one man in the audience pulled out his
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phone and punched in the numbers in its calculator. “How come those don’t add up to 120?” he asked. Hinde seemed momentarily surprised. The 120-participant figure was an average, she said. Some people participated in the survey solely to register their displeasure with “exploration” five. The fifth option, one that proposed two four-storey apartment complexes on the existing arena parking lot, was another one of those “strong views” that Hinde mentioned. Mike Hudson, a planner at the firm, began to explain some of the specifics of the “explorations.” The Planning Partnership’s preferred model was number three, since, according to Hudson, it best combined the “strong views” of the public with the restrictions placed on the firm by the Town. In option three, the existing arena and parking lot would be replaced by a mix of town homes and single-detached units. Hudson said that this would provide a diversity of structures, while still maintaining a “gentle intensification” of housing. This intensification on brownfield development— meaning construction on previously paved land (as opposed to greenfield, such as the land in East Fonthill)—is something required by the province, and thus the Town had also required the Planning Partnership to include it in all plans. In this exploration, the soccer fields, platform tennis facility, wooded area, and playground would remain where they are, while the tennis courts that border Haist Street would be re-purposed as a parking lot for approximately 30 vehicles. After Hudson had finished this explanation, various objections were raised. “The flooding that exists now will only get worse,” said one woman who lives
SAMUEL PICCOLO PHOTO
nearby the site. Others argued that parts of the Pelham Arena property become very wet after heavy rains, a problem that would be exacerbated should homes be built there. Pelham’s Director of Planning and Development Barb Wiens sought to allay these fears. “There will be a full, detailed, engineering plan, including storm drainage,” she said, adding that this plan was typically not done at the current stage of planning. “Thirty spots doesn't seem like enough to me,” said Dave Grant, another resident in attendance. The Town’s Director of Recreation, Culture, and Wellness Vickie vanRavenswaay, said that the fields at the Pelham Arena are used only from Monday to Thursday and have been scheduled to be phased out for some time, with games and practises moved to Glynn A. Green school and Harold Black Park. After being pressed by residents living near the arena, vanRavenswaay conceded that some teams could still be using the fields in greater capacities. “Those are the best fields,” said David Shatford. “Glynn A. Green has no shade on a hot summer day, and after rain, you have to swim in Harold Black Park.” Shatford continued: “I’m also pleased to see Mayor Augustyn and Councillor Papp here tonight, listening,” he said, mistakenly identifying the Councillor present. “Durley,” said John Durley, the Councillor who was there. “Ah, sorry,” Shatford said, and paused for a moment. “I haven’t seen you around much.” Durley has sat on Council for nearly 14 years. The two spoke privately afterward. “What’s to stop a developer from diverging from those plans?” another man asked. “I have first-hand
The man was again skeptical. “This is really remarkable,” he said, “that there was all this positive feedback and now no one here likes anything that’s going on,” he said. “Well, I’m not making these comments up,” she said. “You should’ve come to the four o’clock meeting.” She carried the planning paper over to another table. The man continued. “We don’t want to be a big city,” he said. “Toronto wanted to be a big city, and now it’s a big city with big city problems.” “Toronto” and “the GTA” are the most profane words surrounding any sort of development in rural areas. Certainly it didn’t help in this case that the Planning Partnership is a firm based in downtown Toronto. Hudson realized that this creates a perception problem, and he spoke thoughtfully on the matter. “People might just see us as a big firm from Toronto coming in and telling them what to do. And maybe they’re right. I don’t know. But we try to really listen and to come up with the best plan that we can.” He recalled the first public consultation on the plan, in June at the Arena, when he was drawing on a sheet as members of the public looked over his shoulder and threw out ideas. Hudson said that he is used to drawing along in an office, but that the Planning Partnership is trying to reject the common practise of simply creating plans and then presenting them. Many other firms, he said, will simply do what a town asks and then present one or two options. The Planning Partnership, which has done work in Pelham since the 1990s, does occasionally run into difficulties with its non-conformist approach, but Hudson believes that it can also make for better plans, too. “This is a pretty good plan,” he said, referring to the third option, mentioning in the particular the conservation of the parkland and the tree lot. “I’ve seen much worse.”
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Page 7
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Letters
The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
continued
Customer Service 101—failed In the early evening of the next-to-last Bandshell event, well before the concert started, an overzealous female security guard in a full black and white “Security” uniform at the north downhill entrance behind the Farmers Market displayed terrible judgment, and is sorely in need of a
More calls for forensic audit refresher in listening and comprehending. After all it was Rock ‘n’ Roll concert night— but “roll” she did without listening, and “rocked” with constant over-speak. A real bummer, man! Disgruntled in Fonthill
Response to proposed Wainfleet development I grew up in Wainfleet and remember a few times that we Fleeters have banded together to stand up for our home. Remember the time they wanted to locate a toxic waste dump within our borders? Or when they tried to force water and sewer service from Port Colborne on the people along the lakeshore? I was one of them and stood in solidarity with my neighbours. Even the time Wainfleet minor hockey got the bright idea to form a small league with Port Colborne instead of the interleague we'd been in with
the surrounding small towns. As for the posters about the smell of Wainfleet…. That's just plain ridiculous. Leave the farmers the heck alone or I agree—Get Out! Those same farmers plow their neighbours out after a particularly heavy snow. Or pull them out when they get stuck. Consider the smell of manure the price you pay for having such awesome and decent neighbours. Sherry Stouth Via Facebook
I moved out of town to enjoy the rural way of life! My concern is once the Town allows one what is going to stop the rest? Look at Binbrook, now it's gotten so large you don't even see the town of yesteryear.... I find the ones who move out from larger cities to enjoy "small town" or "country lifestyle" end up ruining the very thing that appealed to
them in the first place. Case in point, Fonthill right now, and the large strip mall and stores going in when 10 minutes away the same stores are in the larger Welland. We can't stop progress completely but can keep it at a minimum, I sincerely hope! Leanne Purdy-Hawley Via Facebook
BROKE continued from Page 5 cillors, Regional government, to the Ontario Conservative's leader. Don't tell me that he agrees with the politics of the gas plant scandal and the debacle at Ontario hydro? Maybe it is time for Mayor Augustyn and some Councillors to look in to the mirror and blame themselves for the financial mess they have put Pelham into, and not everyone else.
Don't forget that East Fenwick and the old Pelham arena property issues are on the burner, and the Mayor has yet to release the "Action Plan" going forward. In the dark again? I wholeheartedly support the forensic audit as it should clear the air and finally get to the truth through transparency. Pelham residents deserve honest and transparent representation, something that hasn't existed since Dave Augustyn became Mayor. Rick Kavanagh Pelham
This weekend! Saturday’s Events ATV Expo Horse Show Wainfleet Idol– Arena Stage Baby Show Iron Farmer PK Hummingbird Orchestra- Outside Stage Second Hand News- Outside Stage Pumpkin Carving Music Depot Performing Band- Outside Stage Mary Lou Minor & Sideroad 3– Arena Stage Demo Derby
I would like to add my voice to those of my neighbours in Pelham. First, I am very concerned about the potential sale of the Haist Street arena. I feel this decision should be deferred to 2018 when we have a new Council in place. Second, I am very concerned about
our Town. Why are the Mayor and Council fighting so hard against an audit, an audit we taxpayers obviously want? What happened to the transparency of government this Council promised us while campaigning? I now understand Mr. Hummel has stepped forth and
offered to pay for an audit. As Councillor Brian Baty so respectfully stated to Council on July 24, "If there is nothing to hide then let’s clear the air once and for all. That's what everyone in town wants.” Jina Ker Fenwick
I think this Council protests too much. An audit would clear up any possibility of them being accused of anything. They have to understand there are many
rumours around town. I also have a question: who is paying for the 9,000 sq. ft. mistake in the Community Center? That is quite a mistake. Is it the construction com-
pany, the architect or the taxpayer? As I said, an audit would clear everything. L. Christie Fonthill
Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. This is a simple truth. The optics of this situation are getting worse daily for this Mayor and Council. I know none of the players and cannot begin to know who is honest and who is not but I can certainly see for myself that no one on Council is showing the kind of leadership I expect by welcoming an audit that a private citizen has offered to pay for. Simple
Every time one of you gets defensive, I get suspicious
transparency is all a voter requires. If there is a sincere and
competent adult on this Council, I invite you to show the leadership we all deserve and go on record inviting an audit. Every time one of you becomes defensive, I get suspicious. You can change this. Failure to change means we're all getting more riled by the day and it assures that your tenure on Council is likely to be short. Dianne Kerr Via Facebook
Reaction to delay in Sulphur Springs repairs It is such a shame the Town of Pelham does not have the money to repair one of the most wonderful scenic routes in Pelham [Sulphur Springs still waiting, Sept. 13, p.3]. A walk down this gem of Pelham is a zen experience. If you are res-
ident of Pelham and you don't think this is such a big deal, go stand on the side of the road at Rice Road and Highway 20, with the view of the Community Centre in the background. The Community Centre whose expense of building and
maintenance have a great potential to bring this community to its knees, then compare that with a walk down Sulphur Springs Road. Which one gives you more peace of mind? Pamela Robb Via Facebook
I've heard that another access road to that area is now closed off because of a washout at the bottom of the hill. I think it's Orchard Hill Road? (I grew up here, I should know the name you'd think, sorry.) It gets closed and gated every year before winter. My concern if I lived in
that area would be access to emergency services and timeliness of emergency arrival. Is it a possible situation of emergency services arriving to gain access to an address in these areas only to find out they have to now look for another route, wasting what could be valuable time?
Because that is a horrible thought. And the Town is spending the time and money towards research so they don't get sued if the roads aren't repaired to code. Well if the above emergency situation were to unfold (I pray it doesn't) and See DELAY Page 16
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Page 10
The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
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The Conversation
Tim Hudak, a year out Twelve months after leaving politics, the former MPP and PC leader talks about life in and out of “the arena" BY SAMUEL PICCOLO
The VOICE
D
U R ING T HE 201 4 PROV INCI A L election Maclean’s magazine said, “If everyone in Ontario could inter-
view Tim Hudak, this election might go better for him.” Of course everyone in Ontario could not interview Tim Hudak and the election did not go well for him at all.
Initially expected to win easily, the Hudak-led Progressive Conservatives lost nine seats and the Liberals earned another four years in power. Hudak resigned as leader on election night. Though departing leaders often leave politics at the same time as they relinquish the helm, Hudak chose to keep his Niagara West - Glanbrook seat for another two years. A year and one month ago he announced that he had accepted an offer from the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) to become its next CEO. Hudak was first elected to Queen’s Park in 1995, but for someone who spent most of his adult life in politics, there were always doubts as to whether he was comfortable. TVOntario’s Steve Paikin remembered asking Hudak, “Why the congenial guy I was talking to off-camera disappeared whenever the red light came on.” “Don’t you think I want to know that, too?” Hudak replied. “I’m working on it.” Perhaps all of that time in public life worked against Hudak as leader—like a golf prodigy who has been so long suffocated by coaching that any inherent ability has long been papered over. The same Maclean’s article observed that Hudak “locks onto an interviewer’s eyes with a steady gaze, in the manner of a man who has been taught by professionals to lock onto an interviewer’s eyes with a steady gaze.” “It’s unnerving,” wrote the reporter. “Am I allowed to look away?” A year out of politics, Hudak has seemingly begun the process of un-learning the instruction. When I met with him in Grimsby recently, he was in congenial off-camera mode—and, I might add, held eye-contact for a regular amount of time. His assistant accidentally arranged for us to meet at a drive-thru-only Tim Horton’s, so Hudak invited me to hop in his car and we headed down the road to a McDonald’s. He was in Niagara on OREA business and was dressed in a suit, something he says far increases the chances
that he’ll be recognized. Inside the McDonalds several people did and Hudak happily chatted with them as we waited for our order. It was particularly striking to speak with him a shortly after interviewing Sam Oosterhoff, his successor. While Oosterhoff has had little contact with the media and was likely hearing the questions I asked for the first time, forcing him to think as he spoke, Hudak has heard it all before. This isn’t to say that his responses were mechanical—only to suggest that years of practice don’t simply disappear when handing over the keys to the constituency office. Hudak was a polarizing figure during his two decades in office. He was first elected in Mike Harris’ government, a time that saw tens of thousands of people protesting, and the name of a premier—dubbed “Chainsaw Mike,” for his eagerness to cut—that still raises the blood pressure of labour activists. Despite it all, Tim Hudak displayed few regrets during our conversation. He stood by his 2014 platform, saying that he thinks, “The only time that you can truly believe a politician is when they’re telling you something that you don't want to hear.” But he was happy to talk about his new job at OREA too. It’s easy to be cynical about a former politician joining the lobbyist ranks, though the position seems to mean more to Hudak than a different means of earning an income. TVO’s Steve Paikin wrote that there were three Tim Hudaks—number one being was the congenial guy. Number two was “the over-rehearsed, too robotic, message track machine.” And number three was something of a more Machiavellian character, one who was sued by the Premier for defamation and who threw his former finance critic Peter Shurman under the bus. Some will only remember Hudak as one or both of the second two. But he, at least, now no longer has to worry about that. He can just concentrate on being Hudak number one.
Tim Hudak speaks with David Gallagher, a veteran of the Korean War, who offered the opinion that both Donald Trump and Kim-Jong U
PICCOLO: You’ve been out of politics for about a year now— HUDAK: Yeah, it was mid-August of 2016 when the Ontario Real Estate Association offered me the job of CEO, and we announced that publicly. I was still an MPP, so it was important to let people know. I said I’d spend one more month on the job to tie up some loose ends, and I though a nice end to my political career would be the barbecue at Balls Falls—that was my final day on the job. Plus the House wasn’t sitting in the summer, so I wanted to have the chance to say some last words in the legislature during the last week. A few years ago after Michael Ignatieff left politics, he gave an interview in which he said something like, “If I were still in politics, I would still have to be thinking strategically about everything I’m saying, and consider how it could perceived or twisted.” Do you sympathize with what Ignatieff said, now that you’re a year out? Do you feel a little freer?
Absolutely. It’s a tricky balance that’s easier to achieve as an MPP than as leader, the balance being that in life people like authenticity, and increasingly so in politics. They want their politicians to be more open, more honest, more transparent, more authentic. They want to know that you understand what they’re going through. And even if you make mistakes from time to time—if you say something dumb or your facts are wrong—they want to feel that you mean well and that your values line up with their values. In hindsight, it’s better to be the opposite of Ignatieff, a bit less scripted, a bit more relaxed. This is the advice I give to young politicians. But this can be tough, too, because sometimes you get in trouble for doing this. People aren’t foolish. They get it. We’re all human beings, and we all say things that we’ll later regret. But if they believe that you’re passionate about something they’ll respect that. If you make a mistake and then you correct the mistake, or
if your intentions are good, they’re very forgiving. I’m glad you brought up that idea of authenticity. Recently I spoke with Sam Oosterhoff, and one of the things that we talked about is the way that politicians interact with each other. He said that he’d really been impressed with how well he’s gotten along with the other parties, especially the other Niagara MPPs, behind closed doors. That led me to ask whether he ever doubted the value of the performative aspect of politics. Did you ever feel that if members spoke to each other during question period and press conferences and such—as they do in private—that perhaps politics would be different? That maybe there’d be less polarization? As leader, it’s a little more difficult, because you have the opposition parties and media that will try to parse your every word. All in all, it matters what your beliefs are. Are they sincere? And are you fighting for the right thing? To answer your question, politics can be a
We’re with the lea
bit like pro wrestling. You put on a big show and then go have a beer after. That’s a rewarding part of politics [the camaraderie], and that’s what happens for the most part. In all the parties, most politicians are pretty honourable. They were elected because they were fighting for an idea, or maybe a project they want to see done. You will encounter, from time to time, the unfortunate creature who has blinders on—who thinks that if you’re not a part of their political party you’re a bad person. Fortunately, that’s a relatively rare beast.
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Un were "crazy."
VOICE PHOTO
e relatively unique in parliamentary systems, where somehow if you disagree ader of the party, the world has come to an end. So we should loosen that up. If there’s an issue that you feel strongly about, or that your constituents do, you should vote against the government, vote your will.
And let me continue this way: if I had won the race as premier, one of the reforms I would have implemented— and hopefully someone still does this—is to loosen up the bounds we have around party politics in Canada. We have one of the most strict partisan approaches when it comes to adhering to the party line. In the United Kingdom, in a lot of cases, members of the governing party vote against the government. And that’s normal. In the states, Republicans can vote for Democratic bills and vice-versa, or they come together to co-sponsor leg-
islation. That’s the way life is. We’re relatively unique in parliamentary systems, where somehow if you disagree with the leader of the party, the world has come to an end. So we should loosen that up. If there’s an issue that you feel strongly about, or that your constituents do, you should vote against the government, vote your will. That would certainly make the leader’s job a lot more difficult. Yeah. You’d have to work a lot harder. Perhaps especially difficult, in some ways, for leaders of conservative par-
ties. This is one thing that I was talking to Sam Oosterhoff about. The conservative party is often a big tent, especially on social issues. That’s probably something that a lot of people appreciate about the conservative party, that there isn’t a forced orthodoxy. But at the same time, that orthodoxy can be important in having an electoral cohesiveness and trying to get things done. Do you think that it would be particularly difficult for conservative parties to govern under that proposed change? I don’t think that it would
be different across the parties. It would make the leaders work harder to make sure that they had the votes to pass things. If you’re challenging the leader on some sort of core election promise, then that’s different, but I think that for the most part allowing people to vote their conscience and vote against the party line would be healthy. And it could add some of that authenticity you mentioned. Yeah. Any person that agrees with themselves a hundred percent of the time is rare commodity, let alone agreeing with other people. We’re on the idea of conservatism, and progressive conservatism, which is an interesting combination of terms. In the big tent of conservatism there’s a wide variety—there’s a more corporate conservatism, the free market economics, the emphasis on growth. For you, coming from a more rural riding, but also having experienced a lot of the Bay Street-style conservatism, what does conservatism mean to you? Talking about the different views in the tent— when I ran for leader, I saw that it broke down into four different tribes, and each tribe had a leader. I was the Blue conservative, a small government conservative—low-growth, lower taxes, a government that spends within its means, with an emphasis on the private-sector delivering services. A government that does fewer things but does them better. Then you have the Libertarian side, which is basically, “government, get out of my way.” Very much focused on a small role for government, including personal decisions on matters like abortion or who you marry. The Red Tories were a bit closer to the liberal positions—bigger government, more intervention. And then the Social Conservatives, more concerned about social issues, from how our kids are taught, to abortion, to marriage, and values. The job of leader is to make sure that you try to include some elements of all of the family and bring them together into the platform. That has to be one of the challenges of being leader—no longer are you advocating just for what you yourself think, but you’re trying to create a vision that everyone can get behind. It’s a big-tent party, and conservatives tend to be very much motivated by ideas and values, and if you don’t represent those values, they tend to stay home.
Page 11
That’s the voting base that is most volatile in the electorate. Sam and I also discussed the fact that people often question conservatives’ motives. And I think that this is why you hear the party pushback that says, “We need to put forward a compassionate conservatism.” What are you thoughts on why this might be? Well, I think that our message is the most complex. And like Thatcher said, “Eventually, you run out of the ability to spend other people’s money.” You’ve got to make choices. The complexities are there, keeping taxes low, while having regulations that streamline and allow people to hire more people. It can take more time too, as opposed to a different type of government that might say, “We’re going to spend a billion dollars and are going to create jobs by giving this factory a big cheque or by building a big infrastructure project.” One of the things that you argued for in the last election was improved training for skilled trades— Yep. A big part of my platform. Education is a tough situation these days. I just spent some time in university politics and I can say firsthand that many are cash-strapped and are being pulled in many different directions. Do you think that the skilled trades have been devalued? And if so, what can society—and the government—do to revalue these jobs? I was at a public meeting in Wainfleet, and heard some farmers and skilled tradespeople speak, and many said that they no longer felt that their positions were valued any more because they didn’t have anything to do with higher education. Yep. I think that an important piece of advice to current politicians is to light a fire under the skilled trades in our province. The jobs are in demand. They’re highly-skilled, and they tend to pay quite well. You can’t outsource plumbing. Right. We have a bias in our education system that steers people away from the skilled trades, and that’s a big mistake. We should track back into the high schools, give students the opportunity to take college courses at the same time, and give them more exposure to the trades. We should encourage more women to go into the trades. Quite frankly, some of the labour laws we have in our province, particularly the journeyman to apprentice ratio, intentionally lim-
it the number of jobs. There are small businesses today in Pelham and Niagara that would take on an apprentice in a minute, but they can't because labour laws prevent it. As CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association, your role is mainly to liaison between realtors and the government. Is that right? Yes—the association represents over seventy thousand realtors in the province. We have thirty nine local associations, including the Niagara one. We run the real estate college. Currently, if you want to be a realtor, you have to go to our college. That contract expires in 2020. We do government relations to advocate for realtors, homeowners, and those who want to become homeowners. A big part of our work has been to make sure that home ownership stays within reach. We also provide services to our realtor members, including training, programs, technology, and we run conventions that give realtors exposure to new ideas and techniques. You’ve said in the past that the main problem in the real estate market right now is on the supply side—that there just aren’t enough homes. When you have twenty people bidding on one home, it’s just never going to work out well. People are going to be priced out of the market. What are some of the steps that you'd like to see taken so that homeownership feels attainable. I know for a lot of people in their 20s, it just doesn't feel attainable. It’s true. When I decided to leave politics after losing the 2014 election—you know, I never wanted to be a lifer—I said that I wanted to find a job that was as motivating as being an MPP, where you wake up every morning on a mission. And this job came along with the real estate association, where the mission, basically, is to help more people experience that joy of home ownership. When my wife Deb and I recently bought a home, I remember my daughters dancing in the dining room, which was then empty of furniture. And Miller, my eldest, said, “Now I understand what you’re going to do—you’re going to help the people who help other little kids get a house.” That’s motivating, and that's what I really like about my job. The best way to ensure that the millennial generation can get a home is to make sure that there’s See HUDAK Page 14
Page 12
The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
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Joe Hozjan with some of his fresh-picked apples at the fruit stand he runs with his wife, Teresa, on Canboro Road. Opposite page: Hozjan in his North Pelham orchard. VOICE PHOTOS
Joe Hozjan—Still growing after all these years BY SAMUEL PICCOLO
The VOICE
On a Sunday morning not long ago, Joe Hozjan left his Ridgeville home for his other farm, in North Pelham. Hozjan had been awake since 4 AM, watching the news from his native Slovenia and then reports about the hurricane in Florida. Before leaving, he spoke to his wife, Teresa, who manages
the fruit stand at their property on Canboro Road, west of Effingham Street. “What do want me to bring back?” he asked. “Peaches? Apples?” “Peaches,” Teresa said. “We need more peaches.” Hozjan nodded and picked up two stacks of empty fruit baskets, carried them to one of his panel vans, opened the door and put
them on its wooden floor. “I have a lot of garbage here” he said, gesturing at the collection that littered the space between the seats. “When we finish with the peaches and have a little more time, I’m going to get my son to take care of it. He’s going to take everything out, and clean it all up. He has a pickup truck that’s twenty years old, but to see it, you’d think it was
brand new. He keeps it so clean.” There were plums in the cupholders. The night had been a cold one, but by eight o’clock the sun had warmed the outside of the windshield enough that the inside was coated in condensation. Hozjan pulled a cloth from his pocket and leaned over the steering wheel to reach. As he started the engine and began to pull on to the road, a light flashing on the dash and a
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GROWING continued from previous page to a stop. “That’s my Polish doctor there,” he said. “He runs ten kilometres every day.” The runner jogged over to the truck and rested on the driver’s door, panting and glistening. “Doctor, how are you today?” Hozjan said. “Why are you sweating?” “You’re supposed to,” the doctor said, laughing. “Tell me, who is wasting those tomatoes,” he said, nodding at the field of rotting produce behind him. “Such a waste.” “It’s not.” Hozjan said. “They’re picking, picking a little bit every day. I think that there was a lot of hail damage.” The doctor persisted. “I remember when people in Europe were starving, and I cannot look at the wasted food now.” “What are you gonna do?” Hozjan said. “Maybe one day we’re going to starve here also.” The doctor laughed again, this time half-heartedly. “You never know,” he said. They said their goodbyes. Hozjan continued west, then turned north. Hozjan was born in 1945 in Lendava, a small Slovenian town near the borders of Croatia and Hungary, just as the Second World War was ending. His father raised livestock and worked odd jobs, and Hozjan’s home didn’t have electricity until he was ten years old. But Hozjan insists that they always had everything that they needed. After finishing the obligatory 18 months of military service, he began growing trees from seed and selling them wholesale. Hozjan was so content with life in Lendava that when his older sister, who had moved to Canada years previously, came to visit with her husband and two children and encouraged
The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017 him to join her in Montreal, he demurred. “I didn’t want to come to Canada,” he said. “I wanted to stay home.” Eventually he relented. “I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll go for two or three years, make some money, and then be able to come back home and open up a restaurant in my hometown.’” Before he left Slovenia he told his sister that he would stay for two weeks—and if he hadn’t found a job by then, he’d come straight back home. Hozjan arrived in Montreal in February 1968, and remembers finding mountains of snow in the streets. “Where I was coming from in Slovenia, we were wearing short-sleeves at the time. I couldn’t believe how cold it was.” There were cultural impediments, too. While Hozjan was already fluent in a handful of Eastern European languages, he spoke neither French nor English. Fortunately for him this was not a major impediment to working, and after just a few days he found a job making pantyhose in a factory owned by another Slovenian, also named Joe. He started off working beside an Italian. “He was so fast. By the time I put one stocking on the mould, he had six in the steamer.” But he learned quickly. Soon he had taught himself to fix sewing machines and had moved on from the stocking post. Hozjan had an aptitude for languages, too. He picked up French and English without trouble, though many of the workers he encountered while maintaining equipment spoke neither. Hozjan seemingly learned from them all. He says he is now comfortable in ten different languages. What this ability really meant, though, was that he was able to communicate with just about ev-
eryone around him. A supervisor took notice, telling Hozjan that everybody liked and respected him, and offered him a foreman’s position. At a gathering where his promotion was announced, Hozjan immediately felt uneasy. “I could see it in their faces—some people thought it was all right, but others were jealous.” He was given his first instructions on a Saturday, a list of things that had to be done by Monday. “I didn’t feel good. I came in Monday morning, and the guys said to me ‘Mr. Foreman, what should I do?’ And I told them: ‘If you have no work, go home.’” He quit shortly after. “I didn’t want to tell people what to do. I am not that kind of person. If you tell me what to do, I will do it.” He eventually left the factory entirely and joined Teresa in their home doing sewing contracting work, which they did until the early ‘90s, when free trade began to loom. There used to be 120,000 people employed in the Montreal garment industry, according to Hozjan. After NAFTA’s implementation, this dropped to 5,000. Hozjan’s brother, who had also come to Canada, retired from a job
in construction and moved to Pelham. Around the time that work was evaporating in Montreal, Hozjan was visiting Niagara when he noticed a farm for sale on Canboro Road. Though he had little experience—growing trees 30 years previously didn’t really count—he and Teresa decided to buy it. “I didn’t know how to turn the key in the tractor,” Hozjan said. “I thought, ‘What a mistake I’ve made.’” They worked long hours just to become competent. Hozjan wrote varietal names on pieces of tape and stuck them on apples and peaches so that they’d be able to memorize them. The two added a 25-acre farm on Centre Street to their seven acres on Canboro and started growing more crops. In those days, Hozjan slept even less than he does now, often leaving home before five to get to a Brampton farmers’ market early in the morning, while Teresa stayed and worked the fruit stand all day. Now he goes to the St. Catharines Farmers’ Market three times a week, though in the summer the two rarely work fewer than 14 hours a day. Hozjan is something of a contradiction on this point. He says that
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it’s impossible for him to sit and relax—after one week of vacation, he can’t take the stillness any longer. “If I sit around, I go crazy. I get lazy, sick, and fat, because I like to eat. I’m on the see-food diet. What I see, I eat.” At the same time, he laments the lack of emphasis that Canadian society puts on free time. In Slovenia, he says, “People work to live.” In Canada he thinks we live to work. Extended family often comes visiting from Europe, and without fail they tell him to relax. They are not enraptured by Canada. “They don’t want to stay here,” he says, “Are you kidding? They tell me ‘Joe, you’re crazy. You’re working too much.’” “Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “Canada is a great country. You can do anything that you want. It’s still not the same. And it’s never going to be. There they work to live, and here we live here to work. Just like me—I am stupid. How many times has my family told me, ‘Joe, come back home.’ And I miss it. But there’s no turning back.” Despite his claim that he needs to work, Hozjan seems to know that the end of those days is in sight. He and Teresa do most of the farm’s work themselves, though they employ one Mexican migrant worker, Victor, who is 55 and has worked for them for many summers. “When Victor quits, I’m going to quit,” Hozjan said. He is blunt about the degree to which farmers rely upon these workers. “If there were no Mexicans here, forget about farmers. They would have to close their doors. People here don’t want to work on farms. I would like to get somebody local, but I just can’t find anyone.” See GROWING Page 19
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The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
HUDAK continued from Page 11
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enough supply. We’ve had significant demand increases, and that’s a good thing. We have millennials now who are developing careers and starting families, so they’re looking to move out of their parents place. The “Bank of Mom and Dad,” which is the wealthiest generation ever—the Boomers—are helping to finance their kids’ homes. Mortgage rates, though now slightly higher, are still very low. About two hundred thousand immigrants come every year to the Golden Horseshoe area. Our economy, while it needs to be stronger, is good relative to the rest of Canada. All of that is bringing more demand, and we’re not building enough houses to keep up the supply. After spending twenty one years in the political world I speak the language, so I can go back to my former colleagues and communicate to all three parties some ideas that they can embrace. Because all parties agree that they would like to see more homeowners. That’s a good story about your daughter, because you can call a home an investment, but it’s not really an investment. It’s something so much more. You can’t live in a stock, and you can’t go to bed at night on a bond. That’s right. You don’t have memories of your Sobeys shares. It is an investment you make, but it’s where you
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raise your family, it’s where your most treasured memories are made. It’s where you can be most comfortable and be yourself. That’s why our mission is so vital. There’s been so much red tape that’s been put on the housing sector, usually with good intentions, but pile after pile after pile means that it takes up to ten years to get a new subdivision approved. Every month of delay means higher prices at the end of the day. So the best thing that we can do is accelerate the home-building process so that we can get more stock out of it. Another one is that we need to target infrastructure funds. Every provincial budget, no matter which party, will have money in there for water, sewer, roads, and rail. So why don’t we target those funds to municipalities that have housing-ready land as an incentive, and a disincentive to those that are trying to choke off growth. It’s certainly true that most of that increased demand is in the Golden Horseshoe area. A lot of people, especially in rural areas of Niagara, know that increasing the supply means a lot of homebuilding here. It means that a lot of the rural Golden Horseshoe is going to be developed, because seemingly the only other option is to have unaffordable housing pricies. So we're caught in this torque where we don't want to pave over paradise, so to speak, but we also want people to be able to afford homes. Is one of the real solutions not having an economy that is so centred around this part of the province? The realtors are now taking on issues that have a broader public benefit. Now we’re talking about fighting for homeowners that really don’t have a voice in government. One of issues we’re taking up is telling the government to invest more in transportation. So accelerating GO transit in Niagara, or expanding our highway system. That's going to give more housing opportunities for people and dramatically improve their lifestyle, because it means less time stuck on the road or living in a shoebox.
Those two things are certainly ones that everyone can get behind. Is there anything you’d like to add? I just want to thank the people of Pelham and Niagara for sending me back to Queen’s Park in six straight elections. It’s a tremendous honour that I’ll always remember, being able to represent this beautiful part of the province, that these great people put their faith in me for six straight elections.
You can't live in a stock, and you can't go to bed at night on a bond
Your riding moved a lot too, didn’t it? You started off in Fort Erie, and by the time you finished you were all the way over here in Grimsby. Ha! I had to keep on moving so they wouldn’t catch up with me. I’d keep moving just so they wouldn’t get tired of me. So every time the pitchforks came out— Exactly. I moved. But yes, by the end of my career the riding had moved so much that I didn’t represent a single inch of the original riding. You weren't expected to win that first election, were you? Oh no. I ran for the hell of it. To practise, lose— So you expected to lose? Yep, right up until the last couple of days when I realized “Holy smokes, I might actually win this.” I wanted to practise, but also to carry the banner for the party and get a job as a political advisor. So watch out what you wish for… You went from running in a riding where you expected to lose to one of the safest— though we have to be careful
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about saying that—conservative seats in the province. I’m always careful about that, because as soon as you get complacent, voters are always quick to pop that bubble. And good for them. I’d also like to say to anyone thinking of getting involved in politics, whether at the federal, provincial, or municipal level, or working on a campaign—it has been tremendously rewarding. There’s nothing like going through life working for a cause that gets you up in the morning and gets your heart beating. When my grandfather gave me that advice he said that some people chase money, and some people chase where their heart is. And those who are happiest are those who go where there heart is, and if you’re good at it, money will come. There is nothing more rewarding than fighting for a cause you believe in, to be one of those individuals who has a microphone and can use it. I think that there’s no more loathsome creature than the barstool critic who will always complain but never actually get up and do something. So your 20 years were overwhelmingly positive, even though it has got to hurt, losing, because in some ways it’s a personal rebuke. All careers are checkered by victories and defeats, but even in defeat to be about to stand up for what you believe in. Not to be facetious about this, but I do think that the only time that you can truly believe a politician is when they’re telling you something that you don't want to hear. To stand for a platform that was honest, that was bold, that would have lowered taxes and made energy rates more affordable, and had a government that spent within its means—that was worth the fight even if not enough voters endorsed it. And because of this faith, despite all that came along with it, the fight was worth it? I remember a very vivid door placard that depicted you laughing as you blew up a hospital. Absolutely. There’s nothing like having been in the arena. To have stood on principle and have fought, with some successes and some losses—there was nothing more rewarding than having the chance to be in the arena. And there were a lot of local victories that made a huge difference. Investments in our highway system, for instance, even here in Niagara having worked early on with the wine sector and now seeing how far it has come. The craft beer sector and long-term care homes built. We have a new hospital being built in Niagara, too. Now these things aren’t the result of one person, but it was great to be involved and to see a difference. It’s an interesting way to go through life, and those skills that you learn in politics—policy analysis, communications, working the media, advocacy, building a team—they all transition well into my new position in the real world. And you came out with very few grey hairs. That’s an accomplishment. There you go. Thanks very much. Any time. 4
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Places of Worship and Events Bethany Christian Reformed Church 1040 Balfour St., Fenwick
First Presbyterian Church 602 Metler Rd., Fenwick
Glad Tidings Church of God 1 Pancake Lane, Fonthill
Pelham Evangelical Friends Church 940 Haist St., Fonthill
Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill
Fonthill Baptist Church 1414 Pelham St., Fonthill
Holy Trinity Anglican Church 1557 Pelham Street, Fonthill
Ridgeville Bible Chapel 418 Canboro Rd., Ridgeville
Fenwick Church of Christ 765 Welland Rd., Fenwick
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1369 Rice Rd., Fonthill
Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church 1344 Haist St., Fonthill
St. Alexander’s Roman Catholic Church 50 Pelham Town Sq., Fonthill
Fenwick United Church 1050 Church St., Fenwick
Fonthill United Church 42 Church Hill, Fonthill
Pelham Community Church 461 Canboro Rd., Fenwick
St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church 834 Canboro Rd., Fenwick
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COMMUNITY EVENTS & CLASSIFIEDS Events Listings
Residential house cleaning – 15 years experience. Complete PELHAM LIBRARY CARD MAKING WORKSHOPjob done, weekly, bi-weekly, or Putting on an event? monthly cleaning. Make six cards with fall themes, learning a variety ofCall techniques. Materials Heather 905-321-3817. EXTEND YOUR REACH - ADVERTISE PROVINCIALLY OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY! Tell the town! are provided. At time of registration, please enquire about tools needed. For more information contact your local community newspaper or visit www.networkclassified.org Community Event Classified Bookkeeper Needed Tues., Sept. 16 10 – 12:30. Pleasein register ahead. Visit www.pelhamads$10. are available blocks EMPLOYMENT OPPS. MORTGAGES of 30 words, including library.on.ca or call 905-892-6443 for more details.Elderly gentlemen who buys two or three properties a year needs headline for $8.85 + HST. MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand someone with bookkeeping career! Employers have work-at-home posiAd booking and payment experience who can get year end tions available. Get online training you need FABULOUS FENWICK LIONS FISH FRY deadline is Thursday Noon ready for accountant. Will pay from an employer-trusted program. Visit: prior to week of publication. CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start well. Call Gary at 905-386-0582. Tasty treats with funds heading straight back into the community. Haddock, training for your work-at-home career today! Payment may be made over french fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. the phone by credit card, CUSTOM MILL FINANCIAL SERVICES or in person at our office by Portable sawmill service. I will cash or check. SALE PELHAM MINOR HOCKEY EQUIPMENT come to your home or farm and custom mill your logs. Firewood Thanks for supporting LOWER YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENTS Buy, sell or trade used equipment at the Pelham Arena. to provide & lumberAimed also available. Call your Voice! AND Rob Patterson, 905-401-4948 cheaper options for players in this upcoming season. Runs Sept. 6 from riverwood@primus.ca. office@thevoiceofpelham.ca 9-12DEBT in the morning. CONSOLIDATE YOUR NOW!!!
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WALKING CLUB Route Available in Fenwick Interested in walking in Pelham?AVON Join them Tuesdays1atPaper the Pelham Arena LOOKINGat Fonthill FOR AN Bandshell AVON from 9-10 am and Thursdays for 9-10:30 There Route 34 –am. Sandra Drive, Kerr Crescent, Cherry REPRESENTATIVE? I`m in Ridge Boulevard, Alsop Avenue - 164 papers is no fee for this program. For more information, please contact jcook@ Fonthill. Been selling for 14 years, honest, reliable. Would pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329. be happy to fulfill your AVON Please call The Voice at 905-892-8690 needs. Nicole 289-897-8618, nico.2008@cogeco.ca
HAMPER DAY FOR PELHAM CARES PELHAM CARES FUNDRAISER freshINfruit and vegetables at the Market or bring a non-perishable REACH MILLIONSPurchase OF CUSTOMERS ONTARIO WITH ONE EASY CALL! Join local band Chantler as they perform their original music on 4. September 24, 2017 from 1:30 – 5:00 pm at food item to fill the hampers at the Pelham Farmers Market on Sept. the Royal Canadian Legion, 141 Highway #20 East, Fonthill. Admission is any non-perishable food items or
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News and Features Writer Event Submissions Standards Thisthat full-time a well-rounded reporter If your organization is hosting an event would beposition of interestcalls to thefor community, FOR SALE with the ability to cover a wide range of to community issues, you may submit an events profile by sending your community events information SAWMILLS from only $4,397 - MAKE from Town Council to in-depth interviews MONEY & SAVE MONEY with your own editor@thevoiceofpelham.ca Some restrictions apply. Event submissions that meet and longer invesbandmill - Cut lumber any dimension. tigative pieces. Kindly send resume and the FREE acceptability standards of The Voice of Pelham will then be posted until the datewriting samples to In stock ready to ship. Info & DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT 1-800-566publisher@thevoiceofpelham.ca further information. of your event. The Community Events Calendar is updated weekly. Pleasefor provide 6899 Ext:400OT. as much notice and information as possible including the date, time and description of your event. The Voice of Pelham reserves the right to edit for space. Mantini-Celina then WELLSPRING continued from Page 3
Whole is greater than sum of parts
According to the latest place since early last spring. news it appears that we This type of behaviour has have one of our Region- to have the taxpayer wondering about the NPCA’s inal councillors apparently misusing taxpayers money tegrity, and the Chair who for his own personal gain runs it. If the NPCA is so by abusing the travel al- open and transparent let’s lowance system, although do this audit now and clear the air. This would be the he claims to disagree. That right thing do to win back same councillor, Sandy An- Classifi OCNA Network edstoAds nunziata, happens to be the confidence of the tax(AD CENTRAL) Chair of the NPCA and has payers of Niagara. been refusing to allow a Robert Milenkoff Welland government Week audit of to take
Fenwick Librar y has a sur vey available ask ing residents for their opinions, their vision for the future of Fenwick. The language used is important to note, i.e., "rich and unique culture,” “important to the character," "diversity of park types," "intensification.” The Haist arena parklands’ t wo-day public consultation also utilized noteworthy language... some of the language intimated inclusion but was also deliberately misleading. Choice of language is important, whether communicating facts or
September 18
these roads have been left in a state of disrepair and further erosion leading to bigger repairs needed. causes loss of life, is that Central Tammy Ruzanske-Rietveld not a situation whereby Via Facebook Region Ads included they would face a lawsuit? It's hard to fathom how long
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the Rankin Run, Regional Council Chair Alan Caslin spoke as well, his chain of office characteristically present and glinting in the sun. Once the politicians had finished, the philanthropists moved in. Betty-Lou Souter, representing Wise Guys Charity Fund, thrilled the crowd when she announced that Wise Guys would be donating $100,000 to Wellspring. Adrian Barnet, from the Ontario Paper Thorold Paper Foundation, elicited even bigger whoops when he pledged $250,000 to the cause. According to Wellspring’s chair of board Joe Matthews, these contributions were part of a total $2.5 million that Wellspring has raised towards it $5 million goal for the new facility.
returned to the podium to distribute shovels for the ceremonial groundbreaking, saving the last for her nephew Robert. The group smiled as they put the spades on a pile of dirt that had been arranged for the occasion. Those wearing dress shoes tried not to scuff them too severely. Once the cameras had been put away and the shovels lain back on the ground, Mantini-Celina invited everyone to gather across the street at the Legion, which was throwing a free barbecue in honour of the groundbreaking. Some moved to head over there, others returned to their cars parked in the dust and prepared to leave. But more stayed, chatting, eating the “Smile” cookies that were passed around, glancing at the mound of dirt and an excavator, and looking pleased.
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The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
Page 17
COLUMN SIX continued from Page 1 ing to the GO station in Burlington wasn't a problem. At the time, I didn’t have much experience navigating Toronto, and when I first arrived I was disoriented. The sidewalks had been coated in salt, melting the snow into a pulpy slush that worked its way through the laces of my shoes and made the tops of the subway grates slick like black ice. As I stopped to enter a Tim Horton’s and get my bearings, a shirtless man came crashing out and sprinted down the street, flailing his arms and howling at some invisible devil. Sitting at one of the tables inside were two men poring over tickets—evidently scalpers organizing their seats for the night’s hockey game. Surely, I thought, they would know how to get to Massey Hall. The two paused to think for minute after I had asked, their looks those of ones who had been to a place so often that the route was directionless to them. Eventually, apologetically, they gave me a series of complicated instructions, all of which I promptly forgot upon leaving the place. I did finally find the venue without too much trouble, and when I went inside the box office to pick up the tickets I removed my glasses and left on my hat and scarf, all the better to resemble my friend’s ID. The attendant gave me the tickets. Before the show, I made my way to the apartment of the friend whom I had requisitioned to replace the one whose identity I had permissibly stolen. We had been listening to the artist to whose show we were about to see when the shuffle began playing another singer. I hadn't heard him before—the sound was at once distant yet strikingly familiar. Who was it? I asked. Sixto Rodriguez, I was told. Better known as just, “Rodriguez,” and better known still as “Sugar Man” in the documentary, Searching for Sugar Man. Searching for Sugar Man begins in South Africa, where Rodriguez is one of the most popular artists around. In
Sixto Rodriguez in performance last Friday at Toronto's Massey Hall. SAMUEL PICCOLO PHOTO
the 1970s and ‘80s, in the depths of Apartheid, bootlegged copies of his two albums were ubiquitous. His anti-establishment message was just what young South Africans were eager to hear after decades of enforced racial segregation. But he released just two albums in the early ‘70s, and then dropped off the map. Rumours abounded, many of them gruesome. He had killed himself onstage, some said. Doused himself in gasoline and lit a match, or else pulled a revolver from his pocket and shot himself through the head. Whatever had happened to him, everyone thought, couldn’t have been good. Why else would a singer more popular that Elvis disappear from view. Rodriguez did not kill himself. While he was incredibly popular in South Africa, his music was poorly promoted in North America. In Detroit, where he is from, he never played in any venue larger than bars and music halls. “How many records do you think he sold in the US?” a music industry figure is asked in the film. “About six,” he answers. Having received no response, Rodriguez quit making music after those two albums. He returned to
working construction in Detroit—demolition in particular—and living in a house that he bought for $50 dollars in a government sale. He took a philosophy degree at a university in Detroit and had three daughters. In the late 1990s, Rodriguez’s eldest daughter came across a South African website devoted to her father. Before long, he was in contact with concert promoters there eager to arrange for a tour. He left his half-derelict home in Detroit and flew to South Africa, where he played shows to nearly 10,000 people. The footage of his first show of that tour, in Cape Town, is striking. Rodriguez is off-stage, while the bassist plays the distinctive opening riff to, “I Wonder,” over and over again. Rodriguez walks out and the noise seemingly registers as high as the camera’s microphone is capable of recording. Shots of the crowd show people screaming, shaking their heads from side-toside, their faces shining with sweat before the show has even begun. The bassist, who no doubt had never seen such a scene, stops playing, and just watches as Rodriguez stands at centre stage, gazing placidly at the frenzied crowd, soaking up
E
decades of adulation in one stupendous dose. And then he starts to play. Last Friday night at promptly 9 PM at Massey Hall, Sixto Rodriguez was helped on stage by two of his daughters. One held on to his right arm, and the other to his left, guiding him as he shuffled with small steps to his seat at the front. On a small table beside him, they placed two hats stacked on each other and two tightly-lidded paper cups filled with unidentified liquids. A technician handed him his guitar and helped him to loop it around one shoulder. Rodriguez pawed tentatively at the air, searching for the microphone. “Merci beaucoup,” he said. Members of the crowd could be forgiven if they thought, momentarily, that he might not know exactly where he was. “Are they going to give him his pills first, before he plays?” said a man behind me But then, as if he had heard this comment all the way from the balcony, Rodriguez gave a soft laugh. “Toronto, right?” Ignoring the hats that lay at his elbow, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a toque, holding it up triumphantly before stretching it over his hair and breaking into a broad
We are extremely grateful to the Town of Pelham for their generous gift - there are no words to express our appreciation
“
-Ann Mantini-Celima Wellspring Niagara executive director
Searching for Sugar Man won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2013 (it is available on Netflix) though it does take some narrative liberties. Rodriguez was indeed unknown in North America, but he had achieved popularity in Australia and New Zealand comparable to that in South Africa. In the late 1970s, he went on a very successful tour in Australia, playing shows to nearly 15,000. He says that after he returned home from those runs, the phone stopped ringing. But this doesn’t really explain why he quit music, or where all the money from his record sales went—and Rodriguez isn’t much interested in clearing up the confusion. When he finished playing “I Wonder” last Friday, he said, “The reason I stopped wondering is because I realized that I didn’t really want to know.” Rodriguez sat down for the most of the show, moving only when the initial set was through and his daughters again helped him shuffle to the stage door. He returned for an encore, leaving his jacket backstage. Before the last song, he stood up, shakily, pushing his stool back with the heels of his boots. He held on to his guitar tightly, as if it were the only thing keeping him upright. He plays in a manner unlike anyone else I’ve seen, pulling and slapping upwards at the nylon strings with the pads of his fingers and striking down with all his nails at once. When it was all over, he pulled off his goggles and reached out expectantly for his band’s hands. They joined arms and bowed. 4
elcome to Pelham. elcome Home.
ast Fonthill’s award-winning secondary plan saw another piece of its puzzle placed on September 12, as Wellspring Niagara ceremonially broke ground on Niagara’s only cancer support centre.
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smile. He then fingered a few chords on his guitar, slapped twice on the strings in what soon became clear was the sound man’s signal to turn on the amp, and broke into his opening song. At 75, Rodriguez is an old man and he did not pretend to be otherwise. He played "Sugar Man" — perhaps his most famous song—in which he sings of, “Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane.” “That song is descriptive, not prescriptive,” he said. “‘Take hugs, not drugs. Be smart, don’t start.’ Listen to your parents, and you’ll be all right. He is nearly blinded by glaucoma, and he wears thick goggles, much like those of a welder, to block distracting flashes that could slip through to his shrunken optical nerves. Bob Dylan, the singer to whom Rodriguez is most often compared, only bangs chords on the piano and no longer acknowledges the crowd, preferring to act as if he were doing nothing more than rehearsing in a basement. Rodriguez, for all his infirmity, was clearly pleased just to be in front of people. “We love you,” someone shouted. “I know it’s just the drink talking,” he said. “But I love you right back.”
I know it's just the drink talking, but I love you right back
Donated by the Town of Pelham, the 1.8 acres adjacent the community centre will serve as the foundation for one of the Peninsula’s most important new facilities.
Bringing Wellspring to Pelham is another example of the Town of Pelham being the most vibrant, innovative, and caring community in Niagara. Congratulations to Wellspring Niagara. Welcome to Pelham. Welcome home.
www.pelham.ca/east-fonthill
Page 18
The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
NPCA holds (not so) public consultation meeting Local resident chosen to participate in invitation-only gathering BY VOICE STAFF The NPCA held a public consultation meeting last week, part of its ongoing efforts to address accusations of impropriety and concerns that it is neglecting its responsibility to protect Niagara’s natural resources. Jim Vanderhoek, a Pelham resident and the Service Manager at Beamer’s Hardware in Fonthill, was one of the members of the public chosen to attend the meeting after applying to do so. Vanderhoek has long been a user of conservation areas in the region, and earlier this year went to a public meeting at which plans for NPCA's Morgan’s Point were being discussed. “I was surprised by the ‘corporate business’ approach to conservation,” said Vanderhoek, adding that it was something that he hadn't seen before. He was bothered by the stated plans to make money off conservation areas, including discussion of capital investments at Morgan’s Point so that the NPCA could charge to host weddings there. As Vanderhoek understands it, this change in the NPCA’s approach came with its first-ever strategic plan, which was conceived of in 2012 and applies to the period between 2014-2017. Todd MacDonald, of Performance Concepts, was the consultant hired to develop this plan, in which five areas were identified as being in need of change. Vanderhoek was further trou-
bled by the other issues that have plagued the NPCA, including the controversial hirings of David Barrick and Carmen D’Angelo, both of whom served unpaid on the board immediately prior to their ascendence to paid positions. Vanderhoek was also dismayed to see NPCA board member Bill Hodgson censured after he called for a third-party review of the NPCA’s actions. All of these concerns led Vanderhoek to register to participate in the NPCA’s meeting last week. He termed the event “quasi-public.” The NPCA requested that those interested in attending fill out a form beforehand, which included basic information (name, address, email, etc.), and also asked which of the five areas addressed by Performance Concepts’ plan they would like to speak to. A week before the meeting, Vanderhoek received an email informing him that he had been selected to participate. He then joined a Facebook group, “Save Thundering Waters Forest,” which concerns itself with proposed development near wetlands in Niagara Falls. There he learned that many of the group’s members had been denied their requests to attend. Having been denied, some requested to attend the meeting as spectators, only to be informed that the meeting was not organized in such a way that it was conducive to observation. Linda Babb, one group member whose request was denied, received an email that stated “Due to the overwhelming response, I
Protesters outside an NPCA meeting in July. regret to inform you that the review session is full and we could not reserve a space for you.” But then, after 3 PM on the day of the meeting, she and others received another email that indicated that they could indeed attend, contradicting the earlier one that said space was full. Susan Erskine-Fournier, another who received the same email, was unable to attend having being given just a few hours notice. When Vanderhoek arrived at the meeting, there were just six members of the public present, and the large conference room at Legends on the Niagara Golf Course was mostly empty. After the meeting, board member Tony Quirk acknowledged the complaints from those who had initially hoped to attend. “When it was apparent that we would have extra capacity," said Quirk, “the invitation was extended to those who asked, but
SUPPLIED PHOTO
the timing made it difficult for those to attend on short notice.” Quirk added that as a result, another session is planned. “To address these concerns, the NPCA is hosting a second meeting on Tuesday, September 26. It will be necessary to register so that we can accommodate accordingly.” At press time Quirk was not able to provide a link to the registration page, but said that he assumed it would appear at some point on the NPCA website. According to Vanderhoek, much of the meeting was comprised of a presentation by the consultant Todd MacDonald, which reiterated the main points of his strategic plan and gave an update on its progress. Entering the meeting, Vanderhoek was concerned that the NPCA was being insufficiently aggressive in protecting the wetlands in Niagara Falls. While the NPCA board members present,
including board chair Sandy Annunziata, were reluctant to address specific cases, Vanderhoek was assured by them that the wetlands were already being adequately protected by provincial authorities, and that the NPCA was trying to save valuable resources by not doubling-up on the province’s protection. NPCA board members present argued that the organization has extensive responsibilities—many of which have been downloaded on to it in recent years—which outweigh its resources, and thus it is forced to make difficult decisions about balancing sustainable development with conservation. While Vanderhoek said that he felt, “sustainable development and conservation” are contradictory terms, he called the meeting “enlightening,” and that some of his concerns had been eased. After a quiet summer, pressure seems to have intensified on the NPCA. On the first day of the Ontario Legislature’s fall session last Monday, Welland MPP Cindy Forster made a speech recounting the allegations of cronyism regarding the hirings of Barrick and D’Angelo. She also read a letter from former NPCA employee Jocelyn Baker, who alleged that she “supervised employees who regularly experienced workplace violence, harassment, unwanted comment, conduct, and behaviour including bullying” by members of senior management. Baker said that she was the complainant in three workplaces harassment cases, and the key witness in two other investigations carried out by a legal firm. See NPCA Page 20
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The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
Libraries connecting with community BY KIRK WEAVER
CEO Pelham Library
A recent U.S. based study showed that visits to public libraries over the last 20 years have increased 181% while the population grew by 28% over the same time frame. In Pelham, we have also seen a significant increase in visitors over the last few years, although not to the same extent as this study found. We are also noticing that the growth in our circulation of materials is slowing. While this data is interesting, the more important discussion is the possible reasons for this trend and what it might mean for the way we deliver services in the future. In the past, libraries tended to operate as isolated institutions with little connection to other community activities. Now it is common place for us to work in partnership with various local community groups and agencies to share resources and improve access to learning and growth opportunities. This means actively going out to community events and connecting with people where they are rather than waiting for them to come and find us. This outreach results in increase awareness of who we are and what we offer, which provides one explanation for increased visits. The other side of the equation is that by becoming better connected, libraries gain a
GROWING
better understanding of community needs. This means we are in a better position to offer programs and services that meet those needs. For us at the Pelham Public Library this has meant participating in events like Summerfest, the Green Streets Challenge, Culture Days, partnering with local service clubs to offer programs and materials, the Legion to host book launch events for local authors like Adam Shoalts, and The John Howard Society of Niagara to increase awareness and access to local social services. We have been well known for high-quality programming for some time, but there is always room to improve. By listening carefully to what topics and issues interest Pelham residents, we can be more responsive to those needs. Predicting the future is always a challenge. However, the trend of more visitors and slower circulation indicates that the people using the facilities are coming for the community space and programming more often than to borrow materials. If this trend continues we may need to consider changes that improve access to community space. We will always want to maintain a high-quality collection and encourage its use, but in order to be sustainable, we need to remain responsive to changing community needs.
Hozjan waved to Victor, who was behind the wheel. A man riding a bicycle came bumping over the dirt behind the tractor. “Ah, he brought José today,” said Hozjan. “That’s good. There’s a lot to pick.” Hozjan opened the back of his van and carried the stacks of baskets over to where José had leaned his bicycle against the tractor. “Pick these ones up high,” he told the two men, reaching above his head and pulling some from the top branches to demonstrate. “I fell off a ladder once,” Hozjan said. “And one of the Mexicans did too. After that, I pruned all the tops off so that we can reach everything from the ground.” “Tranquillo, José, tranquillo,” Hozjan said, worrying that the apples were going to bruise. “The cider ones—it’s all right, but people don’t want to eat bruised fruit.” He watched the two pick for a minute before he climbed back in the van,
continued from Page 13 As Hozjan pulled his van into the laneway at his Centre Street farm, he leaned out the window to look at his apple trees. Swollen fruit lined the boughs, most of them heavy with their bounty, arching toward the ground. Hozjan reeled off the apples’ names. “Those are the Empires—ready now. The Galas are good this year. Granny Smiths are the last ones to be ripe.” He pointed to two rows of Red Delicious. “People used to really like those,” he said. “Now, not as much. I don’t know why.” In the middle of a small clearing, Hozjan stopped the van and got out. He held up a hand against the sun angling through the maples that bordered the orchard. The grass was heavy with silver dew, darkening the bottoms of Hozjan pants as he walked from tree to tree A tractor turned a corner and came roaring up the lane.
looking satisfied. He drove up to the barn, which houses his equipment and the cold storage locker where harvested fruit is kept. Hozjan looked at the light switch and shook his head. “Victor left the lights on again. He’s always forgetting that.” Hozjan took control of a mini-forklift and walked it in to the refrigerator. He rubbed his arms against his chest. “It’s too cold in here to talk,” he said, positioning the forks underneath a box of 16 baskets of peaches. The machine groaned as he hoisted the box off the ground and carted it out to the van. Hozjan arranged them all on the bed, and then returned the forklift to its corner. He looked back into the fridge, where the tops of golden peaches glinted in the gloom and the boxes of apples were wine-dark against the wall. He closed the door. “Turn off the lights,” he said. “I’ve got enough.”
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The Voice of Pelham, September 20, 2017
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NPCA continued from Page 18 Forster said that on the previous Friday, two more employees at the NPCA, the manager of planning and the former acting CAO, “mutually resigned.” Forster implied that they were in fact terminated. St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley echoed Forster’s calls for provincial attention to the NPCA. Bradley asserted that the those who are publicly critical of the NPCA find themselves bullied and hounded, citing former NPCA board member Bill Hodgson, who was first censured and then subsequently resigned. Bradley also suggested that Pelham’s Mayor Augustyn, widely perceived to be a Liberal, was also the subject of bullying by regional Tories. Niagara West - Glanbrook MPP Sam Oosterhoff voiced his support for Forster’s request for accountability, though he cautioned Bradley against involving political parties. “I think that we do have to be careful about politicizing this as a Tory-versus-Liberal or a Tory-versus-NDP situation. I have called for [accountability] in the NPCA as well.” Oosterhoff said that he would like to see the Auditor General or an independent auditor take up this file.
Forster concluded debate on the matter by imploring Minister of Natural Resources Kathryn McGarry to take action and appoint an independent auditor to investigate the NPCA. “I think the minister has the power to appoint a supervisor to come in,” she said. “If she doesn’t, she should do it anyway. Something has to be done about this situation.” Vanderhoek, for his part, was likewise troubled by the discussion of workplace abuses, though he was hopeful that the addition of a Human Resource department to the NPCA would help address the problems. “They didn’t have an HR department until a few years ago,” he said. “And now that the employees have some unionization, hopefully the issues were just toes being stepped on during a transition period.” Nevertheless, Vanderhoek maintains that the NPCA faces some structural problems. It receives its funding partially from levies placed on towns in Niagara, yet its board is made up of mayors and local councillors in those very areas that are to be levied, creating what Vanderhoek calls a clear conflict of interest. He was unconvinced that this structure was redeemable. The NPCA may soon face the task of convincing an auditor, too.
AUDIT continued from Page 1 all the time,” said Maves. The developer Rainer Hummel then took the podium. His initial presentation was brief, and concluded with his holding up what he said was a cheque for $50,000 to pay for a third-party audit of Pelham’s books. “I’m glad I don’t have a ten-minute limit,” Maves said, launching into a long list of questions, most of which concerned the presentation that Pelham CAO Darren Ottaway made at the last Pelham Council meeting, a copy of which was included in Monday’s Audit Committee agenda. Much of that presentation was “very denigrating” to Hummel, Maves said. “There’s truthiness in it,” Hummel said of Ottaway’s remarks, using the phrase popularized a decade ago by satirist Stephen Colbert to describe distortions based on half-truths. But Hummel stipulated that his allegations were questions, and included the words “may” and “questionably” because the Town had not released documents that could confirm or refute his allegations. “The truth is fun,” said Maves. He asked Hummel whether he had any doubts over whether the development charge credits were issued. “These were DC credits,” Hummel said, declining the
cautious phrasing that his lawyers advised he use. “I’d prefer to be sued at this point,” he said, asserting that this would result in the production of documents previously unseen. Maves moved on to the land that the Town bought, for which Hummel alleges far too much money was paid. The Town asserts that the land was appraised as parkland, and thus had to be appraised as fully serviced, something Hummel says should not have been done. Councillor Tim Rigby asked why Hummel had not approached Pelham’s Town Council directly. “You certainly know when you’re not wanted,” said Hummel, and alluded to Council’s harsh treatment of Regional Councillor Brian Baty when Baty called for an audit at a Council meeting earlier in the summer. Augustyn took the moment to “extend an invitation” to Hummel, and to Regional councillors, saying that he hoped no one would feel unwelcome appearing in Pelham Town Hall. Onlookers, comprised mostly of Pelham residents, guffawed. Finally, Barrick put forward a motion that received Hummel’s comments and requested that the Town of Pelham commission an independent third-party audit of its books, in conjunction with both the Audit Committee and with Hummel. Later, Barrick acknowledged that it would be up to
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Pelham to determine whether such an audit would proceed. Since Hummel has offered to pay the cost, Barrick said, Pelham “really doesn’t have a rationale to not accept it, and if they don't accept it, then why? Is there something to hide?” Pelham residents in attendance were pleased with the committee’s motion. Paul Bryant said that it was “good to see continued action on the matter,” and hoped that the audit would be done with “appropriate timeliness.” But the morning’s most interesting exchange came after the room had emptied. As Hummel prepared to leave, Augustyn approached and introduced himself. The two had never formally met. “We were very confused, because we’ve answered all these questions,” said Augustyn. “We’ve been very straightforward, so we’ll be pleased to sit down with you at the appropriate time.” “I don’t think you’ve answered them,” said Hummel. “The questions...what part of that land is park dedication? Are hazard lines being given as park dedication?” “They’re not,” Augustyn said. Hummel listed off more inquiries regarding Summersides Boulevard. “So now you’re adding questions,” said Augustyn. “But that’s fine.” “I’ve had those questions all along, but you get ten minutes to speak here,” replied Hummel. “I could spend two hours on the questions.”
“Well then we’ll have to do that. And eat,” said Augustyn. “The very basic one is who pays $920,000 for a piece of land that you could’ve bought the day before for a lot less,” said Hummel. “I don’t know where you’re getting the day before.” said Augustyn. The two argued over the facts for a minute. Hummel reeled off a litany of land purchases and mortgages that he said that he’d researched. “When did you give the three million in development charges to the Allen Group?” Hummel asked. “In September of 2015, we set up the system for purchasing the parkland,” Augustyn said. “It’s all here. By-law 3650.” Hummel shook his head. Augustyn relented. “All right, then we’ll sit down, I’ll get staff in the room, and we’ll go through it all with you. But we’ve answered all of the questions, as far as I’m concerned. I’m sorry you haven’t seen them.” “I have seen them,” said Hummel. “But that doesn’t answer the question.” “Well you think it doesn’t, and I think it does. So let’s get to the bottom of it,” said Augustyn. As the two parted they seemed to agree to meet again. After Augustyn left the room, Hummel made an indelicate observation. Then, realizing that he had made it to a reporter, requested that it be kept off the record.