Real living fall 2021

Real living fall 2021

REAL LIVING Rural Elgin Agricultural

FALL 2021 Issue 10

stylish living N E V E R L O O K E D S O G O O D ü Energy Eff icient ü NetZero Ready ü Improved Indoor Air Quality

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Page 2 Real Living • Fall 2021 2021

Please Yield to Flashing Green Lights! by Jeff McArthur, Fire Chief, Southwold and West Elgin Fire Departments Red lights, blue lights, yellow lights, orange lights – most of us can identify the type of emergency or construction vehicle by the colour of the flashing lights, but what about green lights? Across Ontario, as permitted in the Highway Traffic Act, flashing green lights are used by firefighters responding to an emergency. Typically, you’ll see these flashing green lights in rural areas, as the firefighters using them are part-time, volunteer, or paid- on-call, but you may also see them in towns and cities. The firefighters will either be responding to their fire station or directly to the scene. Locally, most fire departments across Elgin County rely on volunteer/paid-on-call firefighters who leave their homes or workplaces when their pagers sound, calling them to their fire station from where they can respond to the scene in a fire truck. The fire truck, or fire apparatus as we commonly call it, carries all the necessary tools required for different types of emergencies. Elgin County Fire Departments not only respond to fires but also to motor vehicle collisions, alarms sounding, unknown odors, natural gas leaks, medical assists, burn complaints and more. Yielding to flashing green lights can save responding firefighters precious time when responding to an emergency! Please yield to vehicles with flashing green lights as you would yield and pull over to all emergency vehicles. They could be on the way to help your own family or friends. I’d like personally to thank all the families that support our firefighters, right across Elgin County. Being on call as a volunteer/paid-on-call firefighter is a tremendous commitment. Outside of responding to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, your local firefighters spend countless hours training, performing equipment inspections, delivering fire safety public education, and engaging with their communities in several different ways. None of this could be done without the support of families and friends. Another key component of your local fire departments is the ongoing cooperation of local businesses across Elgin that allow firefighters to leave their workplaces for emergencies. Please take an opportunity to thank those employers, along with the firefighters who are self-employed, for their flexibility! Lastly, consider joining your own local fire department. Each fire department has varying requirements but often no experience

is necessary, and all the required training is provided. Serving your own community by being a firefighter can be an extremely rewarding experience!

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Real Living • Fall 2021 •

Dutton Dunwich-West Elgin Community Fund Today, Tomorrow, Forever A group of local citizens with a desire to serve have come together to create the Dutton Dunwich-West Elgin Community Fund which has now launched and will be a separate fund within the St. Thomas/Elgin Community Foundation. Says Bonnie Rowe, Chair of the Fund Steering Committee, “The Community Fund was started in the fall of 2020 as a way to raise awareness in the local area of the great work our Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation has done, and to show a direct route for our local citizens to help our local community. We understand that many local citizens are wanting to support their own community, but may not know just how or where they can help. This Community Fund gives them another option to support local charities in their work within the community.” Bonnie, a retirednurseandcurrent Councillor at theMunicipality of West Elgin, has lived in both Dutton Dunwich and West Elgin most of her life. She was excited at the opportunity to put her skill set to use with the fund. “When the idea of a Community Fund was first discussed, I felt my skills and community connections could be useful to getting this Community Fund organized and off the ground.” “The goal of the Dutton Dunwich West Elgin Community Fund is similar to many Community Funds,” Bonnie explains, “In that it can be described as a “charity for other charities”. We are like a savings account for the community – today, tomorrow, forever. Donations received will be held in funds within the Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation, who will invest the funds as permanent endowments, and the annual earnings of FILE NAME: TROSUN-0621-JUL-LON-BC-03 AD SIZE: Back Cover (7.375”w x 10.75”h) ISSUE: 06 IN HOMES WEEK OF: 5-Jul ART ORK D ADLINE: 18-Jun PROOF #: TROSUN-0621-JUL-L N-BC-03 PROOF DATE: June 10, 2021 PROOF #: TROSUN-0621-JUL-L N-BC-03

MONEY SAVER MAGAZINE - ONTARIO 2021 Publication Schedule ISSUE MONTH IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE ISSUE MONTH

IN-HOMES WEEK ART

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the funds will be returned to the Dutton Dunwich West Elgin Community. Through a granting process managed by the local Steering Committee, local charities will receive funds to be used to address the needs of the local community.” “The Steering Committee, which ismade up of local community members, decided to help raise awareness of the new Community Fund, and to give it a strong start by conducting a Founding Donor Campaign in 2021. The campaign committee volunteers are approaching local people, businesses and organizations, explaining what the Community Fund is, and asking for Founding Donor contributions,” says Bonnie. The Chair of the Founding Donor Campaign is Jerry Galbraith, another local resident with family history within the community that stretches back for generations. Jerry settled in Dutton Dunwich after a career in the Canadian Armed Forces, and then spent the next twenty years as a financial consultant, with an office in Dutton. He retired five years ago and currently resides in West Elgin. Here is what Jerry had to say about why he feels the IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE MONEY SAVER MAGAZINE - ONTARIO 2021 Publication Schedule ISSUE MONTH IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE ISSUE MONTH IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE Proud supporters of the fund are L: Larry and Gwen Schneider, R: Gerree Beacom

MONEY SAVER MAGAZINE - ONTARIO 2021 Publication Schedule ISSUE MONTH IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE ISSUE MONTH MONEY SAVER MAGAZINE - ONTARIO 2021 Publication Schedule ISSUE MONTH IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE ISSUE MONTH ISSUE: 06 IN HOMES WEEK OF: 5-Jul ARTWORK DEADLINE: 18-Jun

OF DATE: June 10, 2021 OF #: N-BC-03

NAME: TROSUN-0621-JUL-LON-BC-03 ZE: Back Cover (7.375”w x 10.75”h) P OF DATE: June 10, 2021 PROOF #: -0621-JUL-LON-BC-03

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PROOF DATE: June 10, 2021

IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE

FILE NAME: TROSUN-0621-JUL-LON-BC-03 AD SIZE: Back Cover (7.375”w x 10.75”h)

ISSUE: 06 IN HOMES WEEK OF: 5-Jul ARTWORK DEADLINE: 18-Jun MONEY SAVER MAGAZINE - ONTARIO 2021 Publication Sch dule ISSUE MONTH IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE ISSUE MONTH

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MONEY SAVER MAGAZINE - ONTARIO 2021 Publication Schedule ISSUE MONTH IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE ISSUE MONTH VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART SHOWROOM! IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE

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FILE NAME: TROSUN-0421-MAY-LON-FC-01 AD SIZE: Front Cover (6.875”w x 5.375”h)

ISSUE: 04 IN HOMES WEEK OF: 3-MAY ARTWORK DEADLINE: 16-APR

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Page 4 Real Living • Fall 2021 See for yourself why everyone loves a sunroom: For only a few dollars a day we can create a space that implores your senses to re-adjust, demands your heart rate to slow and adds a smile to your face. It’s a space perfect for me-time. A space you won’t ever want to live without. Let us build your new favourite room! www.tropicalsunrooms.com London (Lambeth) 2490 Main St., 226-777-8048 GREEN keyline represents text safety MAGENTA keyline represents trim DIRECT RESPONSE MEDIA GROUP 2285 Wyecroft Road Oakville, ON L6L 5L7 Canada (905) 465-1233 | 1 (866) 993-0600 [email protected] | drmg.com DIRECT RESPONSE MEDIA GROUP 1 (866) 993-0600 • drmg.ca Thank you for using DRMG to promote your business. Any correction to the ad must be requested by the customer within 48 Hours of receiving this

Fund has such a strong backing in the community: “The people who live here care about what their communities will look like for coming generations. Their strong support for local service clubs is a reflection of that concern. With the Community Fund, we have tapped into that long-term outlook. Interest in our efforts, and in the Founding Donor Campaign, has been steadily increasing.” Another Community Fund in Elgin is the Southwold Community Fund. Created in 2019, this fund also supports charitable activities in the Southwold geographic area. The committee there is also conducting a Founding Donor campaign this year. If you are interested in making a donation to the Southwold Community Fund you can go to escf.ca. Donations for the Dutton Dunwich-West Elgin Community Fund can be made to the Founding Donor Fund; donors may wish to create their own named fund. People may donate in many ways – in cash, land, bequests, in a will or an insurance policy, as examples. If you would like to make a donation to the Founding Donor Campaign you can do so: By cheque: Mail cheques to Elgin – St. Thomas Community Foundation, 103-750 Talbot Street, St. Thomas ON N5P 1E2. Cheques must be made out to Elgin – St. Thomas Community Foundation, or ESCF, and put DD-WE CF Fund in the Memo line; By credit card: Go online to escf.ca. Click on Donate Today and select Dutton Dunwich-West Elgin Community Fund; By e-transfer: Email an e-transfer to [email protected] and select Libro as the Financial Institution. For the security question, use “What County are we in?” with “Elgin” as the answer. “Thiscommunity initiativebringsdirectlytoour local area,onemore important strategy to strengthen the charitable activities in our

community,” says Bonnie. “Members of this steering committee are very passionate about supporting their community, so that brings positive and exciting ideas to the table.” For more information about the Community Fund, or the Founding Donor Campaign, please contact the Foundation office by email at [email protected], at 519-637-8230, or check out the website at www.escf.ca. Proud supporters of the fund Cemeron and Anne Marie McWilliam

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Real Living • Fall 2021 •

Back to the House of Commons by Karen Vecchio, MP Elgin-Middlesex-London On October 5th, I returned to Ottawa for our first official Caucus meeting for Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. My return to Ottawa allowed me time to reflect on my re-election as your Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London. I am truly honoured to represent the great people of this riding in the 44th Parliament and recognize the privilege that I have been given. This past election provided the opportunity for multiple parties to put forward their platforms and for the electorate to voice their opinions onmultiple issues facing Canadians. Key policies included housing, healthcare, affordability, mental health and addictions, the economy, the environment and truth and reconciliation. However, the dominant conversation in this riding focused on vaccines and potential federal and provincial mandates. Since my re-election, I have been addressing these issues both locally and nationally as your representative. I recognize that within our local communities, protocols surrounding COVID-19 and vaccination status can cause great division. It was obvious to me throughout this election that we must work on having productive discussions so we can move towards real solutions. I will continue to host meetings with stakeholders and receive feedback on these issues as I prepare for my return to the House of Commons to debate these important concerns this fall. The election also provided me an opportunity to speak to many people regarding the concerns they have for their families and their future. I am excited to work with our local municipal councils, our MPP Jeff Yurek, and other regional partners to find

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innovative solutions that will help overcome these challenges. We have many examples of local partnerships that have produced amazing results, and we must continue to work together to make progress in these areas. On September 30th, Canadians came together to commemorate the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. I along with my constituency staff Cathy, Jena, Jill and Charli, attended

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Page 6 Real Living • Fall 2021

Time to accessorize your truck? • Tonneau Covers •Running Boards • TruckRacks •Hood Protectors •Moulded SplashGuards andmore Growing our economy and adopting a responsible approach to federal spending must also be a key priority of this government in the 44th Parliament. Throughout the election, I heard from many constituents about the increased cost of living. Many families, seniors and individuals are struggling to get by as life becomes increasingly unaffordable. We must tackle inflation local ceremonies in Elgin-Middlesex-London. For many Canadians, we are only beginning to learn about the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada and some of the tragedies they suffered. This day offered dedicated time for Indigenous leaders and communities to join local municipalities and leadership to honour the lives lost in Residential Schools and to address the inter-generational trauma that Indigenous people continue to face. I would like to thank the many individuals who worked to commemorate this important day in their communities and acknowledge their work in providing this opportunity for us to come together on this first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. I look forward to growing my relationship with local Indigenous communities. The riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London is composed of the County of Elgin, the City of St. Thomas, the Municipality of Thames Centre and a portion of the city of London. Although the geography is vast and the demographics are different, there are many common concerns facing constituents. Although many people have returned to work, many jobs remain unfilled. We must work together to address the growing disconnect between employers and employees. I am optimistic that our local economy will have strong growth, but that must be launched through a strong economic plan that includes skills development, credential recognition and building a strong workforce.

and the rising cost of necessities as well as work out a plan to address the ever-growing debt and deficit. Prior to the election, the Federal Government announced support to improve VIA rail service in Southwestern Ontario. Following the announcement, the community was looking for clear timelines andmore details on this service. I will address this issue which is important to our region with the newly appointed Minister of Transport and our local levels of government. Over the past six years, I have had the honour to work with many organizations representing women, young girls, and minors. In this work, I have truly found one of my passions. I look forward to addressing issues such as domestic violence, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, violence against women, and the need to empower youth. As the former chair of Status of Women in the 42nd and 43rd Parliament, I met with representatives who shared their personal stories and provided me a broader perspective on issues impacting our society. These are important issues in our local communities, and I look forward to meeting with experts locally and nationally to discuss these topics. I will continue my outreach to communities throughout this Parliament to ensure that I am representing the voices of this riding accurately. I remain extremely thankful for the trust given to me and look forward to working for the people of Elgin- Middlesex-London. CANADA H A P P Y D A Y Karen VECCHIO MP ELGIN N MIDDLESEX X LONDON KAREN.VECCHIO O PARL.GC.CA KARENVECCHIOMP.CA 519 9 637 7 2255

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Real Living • Fall 2021 •

Page 7

Being a Good Ancestor by Julie Berrie The most important question we must ask ourselves is, “Are we being good ancestors?” Jonas Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine The Three R’s of Three Ridges The road from Sparta to Three Ridges Ecological Farm is hilly and winding, so it’s no wonder I miss the entrance on my first go-round. Goldenrod and New England asters are still blooming in the ditches, and also on the unruly and beautiful fifty-acre farm that Sarah Hargreaves, Drake Larsen and their young daughter call home. They share the land with some cows, pigs, Muscovy ducks, sheep and more microbes than anyone can count. Their seven-year-old daughter knows the names of all the animals and shares them with me while her dad finishes his morning chores. Naming the microbes is her parents’ job (Drake has a M.Sc. in sustainable agriculture and Sarah has a Ph.D. in soil microbial ecology). This morning, Sarah is at work in her home office. She takes off her farming hat regularly to attend to her various other responsibilities as a researcher and educator. Drake is the full-time farmer in the family. The ducks are named Fire, Lightning, Strike, Greyhead, Sea, Look, and See. The youngest member of this family can explain how she came to choose the names, and the stories are as fascinating as the names themselves, but I have another story to tell today. Ecologists turned farmers – that’s how Sarah Hargreaves and Drake Larson describe themselves. When I decided to write about Sarah and Drake and their farm, Three Ridges Ecological Farm, located east of Sparta on Sparta Line, I began by checking out their website. Our family has been purchasing chickens from

their farm for a number of years, and we have mutual friends, so I thought I knew who these two people are. That was before I read their website, top to bottom; if you’re looking for a source of information about ecological farming, and also a reason to feel hopeful about the future, check out threeridges.farm. Here’s a teaser for you: their story involves polar bears.

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Page 8 Real Living • Fall 2021

A few years ago, I expressed interest in the unusual contours of the vegetable garden behind their home, so Sarah kindly gave me a tour. My idea of a garden is a rectangular bit of flat land with rows of vegetables. From a distance this garden had no apparent order at all. But after she explained a few things about the use of the morning sun, the use of shade provided by the very shape of the small hills and more of the rationale behind permaculture, it sounded like a dream-come-true kind of garden. Once you establish it, a permaculture garden needs little to no interference to be productive, which means you won’t have to work as hard. Hmmm. In 1978 Ecological researcher and writer, Bill Mollison together with David Holmgren combined the words permanent and agriculture to create permaculture as a system of ecological farming. They later changed it to permanent and culture to include the social needs of people and their housing as well. To put it simply, permaculture works with nature instead of against it. In the wild, ecosystems regenerate on their own and are self-maintaining. Farmers like Sarah and Drake observe these natural processes and recreate themon their farms. People with small yards can do the same. It’s a challenge getting started but once established, a permaculture garden is less work. And good for the planet. Sarah and Drake’s overriding goal is to create a highly diverse ecosystem on their farm. On their website, they declare their belief that nurturing the countless relationships among the plants, animals, microbes and people living together will gradually bring about “increased nutrient cycling and energy flows, soil regeneration, pest and disease management, and wildlife and pollinator health.” They are passionate about

SCOTT LEWIS AUTO A name you can trust When we support farmers like Sarah and Drake by purchasing their grass-fed beef or pasture-raised chicken, we are not only demonstrating our appreciationfor good, healthy food, but we are ensuring the success of their enterprise, which is nothing short of ensuring a good, healthy future for ourselves, our children, and all life on this planet. What are you reading right now? Recapture the Rapture: Rethinking God, Sex, and Death in a World that’s Lost Its Mind, by Jamie Wheal What’s your view on the future? I’m hopeful that, with the Earth as our ally, we can find realignment and our way to a better future. regeneration of the soil so that it will be healthy and productive long into the future, and able to thrive despite the natural setbacks that occur for all farmers, including drought and severe weather incidents. Resilience is the word they use for this: Relationships, Regeneration and Resilience are the three R’s that fuel the passion and hard work behind Three Ridges Ecological Farm. Modern conventional agriculture is a suicidal endeavour, based on soil loss and the poisons used, so creation of an agriculture that not only sustains humanity but allows humans to thrive is THE challenge of our era. While I don’t suppose we have any answers, we do what we do in order to experiment with some of the alternatives and to inspire others to imagine a more beautiful world. Three Questions for Drake: Why do you do what you do? Now that the golf season is over it is now time to book your vehicles undercoating and winter maintenance so you can keep driving all winter long (even if you can’t putt).

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Real Living • Fall 2021 •

Aylmer Home Hardware Makes Big Move into Much Bigger Space I recently visited the new Home Hardware store in Aylmer. This beautiful space is in some ways quite the contrast to the old store on John St. Big, bright and beautiful, it has the space for owners Ada and Aaron Kelly to finally show all that their store can offer you. Even though their space has grown, one thing that hasn’t changed is that abundance of friendly staff who are happy to ask how they can help you! Aaron and Ada have owned Home Hardware stores for over 29 years, owning both their Aylmer location and another in Dorchester. “They are both small, approx. 4,000 square feet,” says Aaron. “It has been a 15 year dream of ours; something on the back burner, for the store, to have a little more space, to have more selection. We were bursting at the seams. We just knew that there was so much more we could offer that we just couldn’t have in our old location with just 4,000 square feet.” Clearing Clearing CONCRETE JOBS MADE EASIER The Right Tools & Equipment for FARM, CONSTRUCTION, HOME CONCRETE JOBS MADE EASIER The Right Tools & Equipment for FARM, CONSTRUCTION, HOME Scaffolding Tough Jobs Made Easier Tough Jobs Made Easier Deck, Patio, Fencing Helpers EquipmEnt for EVErY proJECt eck, ti , n in l ers E ip E t f E E p JECt e , a e c H E u pm n r V rY r t Deck, Patio, Fencing Helpers EquipmEnt for EVErY proJECt While onstruction was effected by the pandemic shut downs and the su ply issues, the store was only delayed ten weeks and opened its doors in September. “It has been well received,” says Ada. “The layout is so much nicer for the customer as there is so much more on display. We have always been able to CON RETE JOBS MADE O CR J I ls The Right Tools & Equipment for ARM, CONSTRUCTION, qui e t f r , HOME I EASIER

offer everything in our old location, but it was harder for people to know unless they could see it and see that you have it.” “It’s been a lot of work, but our staff have really rallied around it and they’ve been very excited about the move, to come from 4,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet. Of course, we hired a lot of new staff; we went from twelve to twenty-eight, which more than doubled our workforce to this point and it’s still growing.” The store still offers all that it did before, including Stihl, Benjamin Moore paints and of course, all of the Home Hardware products you would expect. But with the new space, Aaron and Ada were able to add even more products, and services you may not have expected, like a 24 hour purified water dispenser and M&M Meat products. “We have an M&M Food Market Express; while it’s not the full line-up; we have eight freezers filled with some of M&M Meats’ top sellers. It’s an extra convenience we can offer our customers and so far, people are just thrilled that it’s here.” Ada says the new M&M products have been so well received that to stock enough to keep up with the demand, they have had Agricultural Directory – Local Connections

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Page 10 Real Living • Fall 2021 1241 Talbot St.

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more options for some of their customers’ favourite items, like their new tower of Yeti products! “We have intentionally kept the layout kind of open and when you walk in you’ll see there’re three different areas, seasonal, paint and plumbing.” While being large enough to offer everything the big box stores do, it was important to Aaron and Ada that they keep their small-town values. “We really feel that people are truly looking at shopping local, and we feel our store helps meet their needs,” says Ada. “We’re excited about being able to provide our townspeople with the opportunity to get their needs met in town” says Aaron. “Growing up in a small town myself, I understand small town mentality. If you get a bad reputation with customers, you’re cooked. One of the things I’ve been saying to staff during Covid was, ‘Be a hero; don’t be a zero. Let’s be positive for people.’ We know there are still glitches and we have a lot of new stuff. But by and large, customers have been extremely patient because they understand we’re new cat this. But the bigger thing

they understand is the supply issue because it’s everywhere. But I think the nicest thing is when people comment, ‘Wow, this is amazing for the town of Aylmer, tohave a store like this’.” “We are a Canadian, home grown company and we we’re the owner, so that’s kind of the nice thing about what we have to offer because we are not a franchise; here at Home Hardware we are dealer-owned,” says Ada. Next time you need a can of paint, some DIY plumbing or home renovation items, or you need to a tick items off that holiday shopping list, check out the new location of Aylmer Home Hardware. Aylmer Home Hardware is now located at 45 Progress Dr., just northeast of their old location on John St.

to add a second storage freezer in the back. Aaron also points out that one of the benefits of the new, larger store is the ability to carry

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Real Living • Fall 2021 • Page 11

Making Sure Everyone has a Magical Christmas

Since 1979, Christmas Care has been helping families in St. Thomas and surrounding communities have a special Christmas season. According to President Worth Chisholm, Christmas Care was started by a small group with good intentions: “Initial funding was through a generous donation of two Salvation Army Brigadiers, Mr. & Mrs. Greenwood. The idea was to focus as many churches and service groups as possible into one organization to provide food hampers and toys to those in need of assistance in the local area.” “Christmas Care extends out beyond St. Thomas,” says Worth. “St. Thomas Elgin Christmas Care serves the geographic area bound by Iona Station to the west, Oneida First Nation to the north, Orwell to the east, and south to Union – Sparta as well as St. Thomas. Last year, we served 1200 client families and 1000 children through to age sixteen. We work closely with the St. Thomas Food Bank to ensure we reach as many families and children as possible.” Vice Chair Richard Auckland adds, “In addition to our clientele who have a home address, we try to assist the homeless. They benefit more from gift cards for grocery stores, excluding alcohol or cigarette purchases.” Continuously running for over forty years takes the hard work and dedication of a board of directors, coordinators and 50+ volunteers. While Christmas Care runs primarily in November and December, the operation is busy throughout the year. “We have fifty-sixty volunteers each year. Some come in every day during

our campaign and others, perhaps once a week. We welcome anyone who can contribute,” says Food Coordinator, Pat Conner. “Call me at 519-870-4639. We will find a spot for you. There are all kinds of different positions for volunteers; some to handle the food donations, some the toys, some administrative matters, and when it comes time to deliver, we always need drivers.” “Every organization benefits fromnew people,” Pat continues. “When volunteers spend more time with us, especially year over year, we Christmas Care volunteer coordinators L-R Pat Conner, Liz Casey, Carl Bagshaw, Andreana Collins and Al Mintz

519-633-9691 1030 Talbot Street St. Thomas Open Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm Saturday and Sunday 8am - 6pm

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"They who for their country die shall fill an honoured grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb and beauty weeps the brave." Joseph Drake We Remember

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Page 12 Real Living • Fall 2021

grow. New ideas make us more efficient and that is passed on to our clients through better food choices and toys for children.” While everyone would love to see the need for an organization like Christmas Care disappear, the reality is that this group of volunteers is here each year to helpmake sure as many people as possible have a magical Christmas season. “The depth of care and generosity from the citizens and businesses of our city,” enthuses Pat -- we never get a ‘no’ answer when we need something! The volunteers who come back each year are the best I have associated with. I want to be part of them. This city has been good for my family since we came here in 1948 and it is an opportunity and a pleasure to pay back.” Richard agrees, adding, “Working with such a great team of people is encouraging. When

still in school receive gift cards. Registration takes place at our location during our regular business hours. You must register in person. Whole families do not need to come in although they must provide ID for everyone they are registering in the household. Proof of address and income must also be provided.” Christmas Care this year will greatly appreciate your donation of non-perishable food, toys, money and of course, your time. Donations of toys and non-perishable foods can be made 9-5 Monday to Friday, at their Elgin Centre location (former Zellers location inside the West doors) starting November 4th. Donations of money can be made on their website, www. christmascarestthomas.com, or in-person at the Elgin Centre location, or you can scan the UR Code on this page. It is asked that all donations of food, money or toys be made by December 10th. If you would like to volunteer, contact Pat at the number above as they will be looking for volunteers from when they open in November until the days of their deliveries. For more information go to www.christmascarestthomas.com, or stop in during business hours to their Elgin Centre location at 417 Wellington St, St Thomas. Pasta/sauce jello Soups stuffing mix KD Visit us at: www.christmascarestthomas.com. Registration Nov. 9 to Dec. 10 Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Elgin Centre Mall 519-637-0710 We are especially in need of: Peanut butter/jam cereal (no sugar please) Fruit/pudding cups Hearty soups/stew canned meat/fish cann d vegetables

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you see the impact you have on the community – those who give and those who receive – it is also motivating. In retirement, it is good to find purpose, and helping out in the community is one way to do that – so it is a little bit selfish too!” If your family or the family of someone you know could benefit from a little help from the team at Christmas Care this holiday season, you can stop in and apply. “All individuals and families that are receiving Ontario works, ODSP (Ontario disability), OAS (old age security), CPP (Canada pension) and lower income families (i.e. working part-time for minimum wage or students living on their own on student loans) are each individually assessed based on their income,” says Coordinator, Andreanna Collins. “Support is usually in the form of food and gifts if children are involved; teens Your generosity is making a difference

Donation tips from Geoff: I learned long ago from my dad to always be generous around the holidays, especially for kids in need. One tip he gave me was if you buy a toy that requires batteries, include a pack or two of the right kind of batteries. I always buy a toy that I think would be fun for a small child, and always take my daughter to pick out a gift that she would like and donate it for someone her age. If you need our services, you can register at the mall. Bring all ID and register early. Donations of non-perishable food, new toys and money will be accepted at the Elgin Centre Mall or at drop boxes around town. Also watch for our food drives happening this month. See us at the Santa Claus par de where donations will be g atefully acce ted. Interested in volunteering? We especially will need drivers thi year. Contact us if you are willing.

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Real Living • Fall 2021 • Page 13

An Attitude of Gratitude … by Simon Joynes, Artistic Director, Port Stanley Festival Theatre So, we recently celebrated Thanksgiving. When I was a kid, I wasn’t always great at remembering to say, “thank you”. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate stuff, because I did … okay, maybe not school lunches (a particular kind of culinary torture inflicted upon English school children, no doubt intended

519-631-1333 • 6804 Sunset Drive Beside the Masonic Centre and Shaw's After a while, the Canadian accent stopped sounding like an accent. I relaxed my “thank you” regime, and I started saying “you’re welcome” along with everybody else. Nowadays (perhaps because the quality of my food has improved so dramatically) I try not to ration my thanks. I also do my level best to mean it when I say, “thank you”. I think it’s like apologizing; if you can’t find some meaning behind the utterance, then best save your breath. Here at the theatre, against all odds, we’ve recently completed 10 weeks of programming. Now, it’s true we only had 50 patrons per performance, and we certainly didn’t make a fortune, but we did it. We opened our doors, people came, and it only remains now to say, “thank you”. So, thank you to our patrons, to our volunteers, and to our staff. Thank you to our Board of Governors, and to the various levels of Government that helped us out along the way. Finally, thank you to the artists who gave the very best they could under trying circumstances every single time they stepped on our stage: Chris Gibbs, Jamie Williams, Danielle Nicole, Suzanne McArthur, Emily Huizenga, Rick Kish, Connor Boa, Neven Campbell, Sandy Mackay, and Larry Ernewein. And to those of you who say, “thank you” to us? Well … you’re welcome. You’re very, very welcome! And then … I came to Canada. In Canada, the whole “thank you” think was completely different. It was wonderful. In Canada, if you said “thank you” the other person would say “you’re welcome” in this crazy Canadian accent! It was like a reflex, they couldn’t help themselves, and I couldn’t help myself. I started saying “thank you” for everything, even ridiculous things that didn’t require it … my teacher would give me a bad grade on a test, and I’d say, “thank you”; someone would hit me with a snowball (happened a lot to an immigrant British kid) and I’d say, “thank you”. Oh, they’d look confused alright, but like clockwork, “you’re welcome”.

to build character so that in later years we’d all be able to defend the empire when called on to do so because we’d be hardened against adversity); I didn’t appreciate school lunches. Mainly it was a question of frequency. I mean if you had to say “thank you” for every little thing, you’d never have time for anything else. So, I figured I’d ration myself. Two or three “thank yous” a day seemed like a good number. You know, for important stuff, like ice cream or being allowed to stay up late to watch “The Thunderbirds” on a school night. Needless to say, the “powers that be” … teachers, parents, older siblings, lunch ladies, almost everybody really, when you’re 8 years old, didn’t agree with the “limited thank yous” plan. No, the expectation was that I continue to spout a non- stop torrent of meaningless gratitude like some demented, obsequious parrot. So, I did; I was English after all, but I did it under duress!

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Page 14 Real Living • Fall 2021

The ForgottenWar To many Canadians, the Korean War was fought by the Americans and South Koreans against North Korea, with most of their knowledge coming from the comedy, M.A.S.H. For many Canadians, Korea is the forgotten war. However, after WWI and II, the Korean War was the bloodiest overseas conflict for Canadian soldiers with 516 losing their lives and over 1200 more wounded. After the end of the 2nd World War, with Japan surrendering their control over it, the Korean Peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel into two regions; North Korea, which the Soviet Union had armed, and South Korea which had American forces. On 25 June, 1950, after a long period of tension and years of failed negotiations and posturing, North Korea launched the Korean War with a surprise attack across the 38th parallel, which immediately drew condemnation from the UN. Within days, the UN Security Council asked it’s members to assist in defending South Korea: together the United States, Canada, the UK, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Philippines, Ethiopia and France came to the their aid. By the spring of 1951, Canada had deployed 8,500 troops to help the UN effort. However in October, 1950, China joined with North Korea, helping them drive their assault further south. Prior to the bulk of Canadian troops arriving in Korea, however, two Canadian destroyers, HMCS Cayuga and HMCS Athabaskan, assisted the US in evacuating forces that had been trapped in the port of Chinnamp’o, on the west coast of the Korean peninsula. The Korean War saw massive swings in momentum for both sides. However, there was one battle in which our Canadian troops made the world take notice, the Battle of Kapyong, fought over a hill in the front lines, a key position for both sides. From April 23-25th, 700 Canadians from the 2nd battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Regiment, along with a small Australian force, defended this hill against over 5000 Chinese soldiers who were pushing back US and South Korean forces. The Canadians and Australians used this higher ground to try and stem the relentless Chinese assault and help give the UN forces time to withdraw. At one point, 400 Chinese soldiers were in battle with only 100 Canadians, who nevertheless, held their ground. This fighting was described as particularly vicious with a great deal of hand-to-hand combat. Lieutenant Colonel Jim Stone, Commander of the 2nd battalion, was a WWII veteran and described as a fearless individual. Stone knew the value of the hill and encouraged his

HMCS Cayuga

men to fight on at all costs. After the Chinese finally withdrew, 10 Canadian soldiers had been killed, with 23 wounded; 32 Australian Soldiers were lost and 59 wounded, while the Chinese suffered over 2000 killed and wounded. This was a small battle with monumental consequences. In the end, over 25,000 Canadian soldiers fought in Korea, which made us the 3rd largest force amongst the UN troops. Our efforts, along with those of the Australians during the battle of Kapyong, helped turned the tide of the Korean War until its final armistice in 1953. WE REMEMBER Clearing Clearing Dirt Moving Moving Dirt Scaffolding Tough Jobs Made Easier Tough Job Made Easier

An excellent account of Canada’s important contribution to the Korean conflict is presented in David J. Bercuson’s book, Blood on the Hills.

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JEFF YUREK, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London Here to help you with any of the following provincial matters Monday through Friday, 10:00 - 4:30: Ontario Disability Support Program OHIP Cards • Driver’s Licences Ontario Works • Birth Certi f icates P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201 St. T h omas, ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected] JEFF YUREK, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London Here to help you with any of the following provincial matters Monday through Friday, 10:00 - 4:30: Ontario Disability Support Program OHIP Cards • Driver’s Licences Ontario Works • Birth Certi f icates P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201 St. T h omas, ON N5P 1E2 Email: [email protected] P: 519-631-0666 • T: 1-800-265-7638 750 Talbot St, Unit 201, St. Thomas ON N5P 1E2 Email: jeff.yur [email protected]

Ontario “He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.” - James Allen

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They gave their lives so you can live yours.

Remember them. Port Stanley Villager oomerrs B and EYOND B

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KAREN VECCHIO MP Elgin—Middlesex—London

[email protected] KARENVECCHIOMP.CA • 519-637-2255

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Real Living • Fall 2021 • Page 15