Real Living Summer 2021

Real Living Summer 2021

REAL LIVING Rural Elgin Agricultural

SUMMER 2021 Issue 9

INSURANCESHOPPER YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD SOURCE FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INSURANCE ST.THOMAS/AYLMER

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UP TOYOURNECK INWORRIES ABOUT SPRING FLOODS? No wonder! Heavy rains, rising rivers, stressed sewers: every Spring brings us a torrent of worries about flooding and water damage. Our answer? “It’s complicated!” Different insurance companies have different packages to cover water losses.

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Flood Insurance may be needed if your home is near lakes, rivers or ponds, to protect your property from storm surges, tidal waves and similar major events. OverlandWater Insurance covers sudden water events such as heavy Spring rains or a river overflowing its banks in a Spring thaw. EnhancedWater Damage Insurance will combine coverages for multiple types of water problems such as ground water, overland water, exterior water and sewer lines.

Let us keep your head above water! Your choice of coverages will depend very much on the specific location of your home, surrounding terrain and nearby water features. As your local insurance advisor, we can help to assess conditions affecting your home and compare your options from 12 top Canadian insurers.

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Page 2 Real Living • Summer 2021 2021 90 Talbot Street West, Aylmer, Ontario N5H 1J8 • Tel: 519-773-8401 • Fax: 519-765-2368 Toll free: 1-800-505-5622 • Email: [email protected] BUSINESS HOURS THURSDAY 9:30 am to 5:00 pm FRIDAY 9:00 am to 4:30 pm MONDAY/TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY 9:00 am to 5:00 pm www.mctaggartarmstronginsurance.com • 1-800-505-5622

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Celebrating Col. Talbot’s 250th Birthday!

On July 17th and 18th, we gathered at St. Peters Anglican Church, Tyrconnell in Wallacetown to celebrate the 250th birthday of Col. Thomas Talbot. In the soggy fields of the church, tents were erected and an opportunity offered to learn about our local history. Rev. Nick Wells, who often portrays Col. Talbot himself, today played the part of one of the early settlers of Col. Talbot’s land. “It’s a 250th birthday celebration to honour the founder of South Western Ontario,” said Rev. Wells, who was there with representatives from the British Indian Department, U.S. 17th, and the Royal Scots. “It’s a small affair, for folks to get out and see what life was like in the area during the War of 1812.”

The re-enactors discussed their roles and life in 1812 as well as demonstrating weapons, tactics and drills before a parade was lead over to the grave of Col. Talbot. There a toast was given by Rev. Wells with the early settlers and 3 volleys of the muskets. “It’s important to remember our local history,” said Rev. Wells. “You may or may not like Col. Talbot but he was extremely successful in settling 50,000 people in Southwestern Ontario

before his death. Yes, he was autocratic; yes, he was a curmudgeon; yes, he was difficult to deal with. He expected people to work as hard as he did to make a go of it, and God help you if you didn’t live up to your part of the bargain.” Happy Birthday, Col. Thomas Talbot. Through your planning and forethought we are able to live in one of the most beautiful parts of Canada! Huzaah!

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Page 3

Real Living • Summer 2021 •

The Family that Brews Together Stays Together

Natterjack Brewing in West Lorne is all about making dreams come true! Natterjack Brewing was the dream of Matt Soos, who graduated from the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program from Niagara Collage in 2014. After a short time at his dream job at Muskoka Breweries, Matt passed away. In 2018, Matt’s brother Daniel and his mom and dad, Kathy and Peter, started Natterjack Brewing to fulfill Matt’s dream, and keep his signature brew flowing! “Matt had two brews that he had developed, Natterjack Toad, and Soos’ Juices,” says Kathy. “Daniel, our oldest son, stepped up and took over the brewing. He creates the rest of our varieties.” “I actually have zero formal training in brewing!” says Daniel. “After Matt passed, we did a collaboration with Muskoka Brewing. We brewed Natterjack Toad which is a Belgian blonde with pistachios and cardamom. This was Matt’s final project brew during his schooling at Niagara College. We traveled to Muskoka with family and friends to brew a 4000 litre batch. Three weeks later, we again traveled up to Muskoka and helped package the brew. In under 4 weeks, it was sold out! During the brew day and packaging day, I saw how breweries help each other, Matt’s college mates and teachers taking the time to come help, and the other breweries allowing the time off. The brewing world is a very tight knit community. That’s where my passion to brew came from! I learned everything I could from Matt’s notes and from his friends who are also brewers!” Kathy echos Daniel’s sentiments on the brewing community. “All of us craft brewers are one big happy family. We are all unique and each one of us is excited when the other guy creates something we can try.”

The Soos family, L-R Kathy, Racheal (Daniel’s Wife), Daniel, and Peter

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Page 4 Real Living • Summer 2021

Natterjack Brewing is all about offering unique flavours, and seasonal, local ingredients. Kathy reveals their biggest sellers: “In the summertime, it is Lunker, our cream ale. It is nice to sit on a patio and enjoy. In the fall/winter, it is Natterjack Toad. Two new ones are the Toad Evaporation, which is made from tree sap, and finished off with a bit of maple. Also, there is Toad Stool Stout which is made with sweet potatoes from a local farmer. We always try and do seasonal things, like blueberries.”

The name of their signature line is rather unique, so we asked Kathy to explain how they came up with it. “Matt named it. He had to relate his beer to something, so he related it to the colour of the Natterjack Toad found in England and Ireland. The Natterjack Toad also gets louder as the night goes on, as do most people do as they enjoy the beer.” In addition to making their son’s dream a reality, the Soos, along with Muskoka Brewing, Denning’s Funeral Chapel, and Niagara Collage, set up the Matt Soos Project Brew Memorial fund. The top Niagara College student’s beer will be selected by faculty, judges, and students at the Annual Brewmaster Competition in August and the student who brewed the winning beer will receive $4500. Make sure to stop by Natterjack Brewing, located at 25292 Talbot Line in West Lorne, or visit them at the Horton Market and stock up on their unique and tasty brew. And if you would like a tour, just ask; they are always happy to help out!

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Real Living • Summer 2021 •

Our Community C-aw the Importance of a New C-Arm! By Kenzie Bonnet, Marketing and Communications Officer STEGHF Picture this: you’re in one of the Operating Rooms in St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) but it is silent. There’s an absence of hums, clicks, and beeps, and the ‘ker-chunk’ of the X-Ray machine is nonexistent. This happened to be a reality back in May when our hospital’s C-Arm broke down. A C-Arm is a mobile x-ray unit used for several types of surgical procedures, including stabilizing bone fractures and performing joint replacements, bowel, bladder and kidney surgery. TheC-Arm is such an important piece of equipment for STEGH because some surgeries just cannot happen without it. For example, when fixing a broken hip, a procedure that has to happen within 24 hours, surgeons need X-ray images to see what is happening in real time. Furthermore, since you cannot transfer a patient undergoing surgery to the Diagnostic Imaging department, the C-Arm is the only way to make this procedure possible. In June, the STEGH Foundation called upon this generous community to help fund a vital new C-Arm, while a loaner helped treat patients in the meantime. In just five weeks, our amazing community saw the importance of having this equipment for patients at STEGH and together raised the $198,000 needed! Jacqueline Bloom, STEGH Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, says St. Thomas and Elgin County’s support is unmatched, especially when it’s needed most. “In a very short period of time, our passionate donors came together to fund a new C-Arm. Thank you to everyone who supported

us, making sure STEGH has the tools needed to take care of our families, friends, and neighbours!” Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. Patients, the Surgical Services and Diagnostic Imaging teams as well as everyone at STEGH are incredibly grateful for the support of our community. We truly are in this together! Real Elgin Agricultural Living Summer 2021 Cover

The Royal Scots demonstrate stances at Col. Talbot’s 250th birthday. Photo by Geoff Rae.

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Page 6 Real Living • Summer 2021

FARM FIRE SAFETY CHECKLIST

People, animals, and property are in danger when fire breaks out on the farm. Inspect your barn and outbuildings for fire hazards to reduce the risk of tragic loss.

4 Dust and cobwebs around electrical outlets and lights are removed. 4 Fuels and flammable liquids are stored away from the main barn. 4 The barn is a smoke-free zone. 4 Exits are clearly marked, and pathways are clear. 4 Workers are trained to use fire extinguishers and extinguishers are kept easily accessible. 4 Everyone in the barn knows personal safety is the priority if a fire breaks out.

4 Heat lamps and space heaters are kept a safe distance from anything flammable. 4 Heaters are on a sturdy surface and cannot fall over. 4 Electrical equipment is properly installed. 4 All wiring is free from damage. 4 Extension cords are used properly, and damaged cords are discarded. 4 Lightbulbs have covers to protect them from dust, moisture, and breakage.

https://www.nfpa.org/farms http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/barnfire/fireprevention.htm Contact your local Elgin County Fire Department or local insurance company for more information or to discuss any fire safety concerns.

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Real Living • Summer 2021 •

Page 7

Hangingwith his Gnomies At the main intersection in Fingal lies 6 Gnomes , which features decorative concrete lawn ornaments. The creative force behind these garden creations is LeRoy Howald, who has been perfecting his craft for seven years now. “I would say I have always been a bit entrepreneurial,” says LeRoy. “I was looking to buy Ramsey’s Ornamental Concrete, so I did some training there, but the sale didn’t work out. So I started small in my driveway and had them as a yard sale, and I did well with it. I then rented a small shop, and people kept on buying and the business kept on progressing.” LeRoy then went through some personal changes in his life so he was looking for a new permanent location. “I found my current location here in Fingal about six years ago. Fingal is a great place where I can afford to live, work and manufacture. It is amazing how many people from Toronto area, London, and the west come through this corner on their way to Port Stanley.”

6 Gnomes has a large variety of statues and ornaments available, including birdbaths, benches, gargoyles, memorials, statues, planters and a variety of animals. LeRoy says that everyone who comes has their own niche of statue they like – animal lovers, pets,

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Historic Merchants, Crafts, Games, Entertainment, Food and Family Fun Saturday August 21 & Sunday August 22 9am-4pm

Heritage Farm Show Explore your rural roots through heritage, art, artisans and music. Experience the museum, barn and grounds. Admission $8/pp. Children 12 and under free. September 4 & 5

Life in the Talbot Settlement An 1812 Living History Weekend September 25 & 26 Admission $8/pp. Children under 12 free.

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Page 8 Real Living • Summer 2021

People who have had resin or plastic often come to me once they have come to appreciate having the statue but want something a bit more permanent.” Although LeRoy has had several careers, he says he enjoys the creativity in making his statues. “I love to create anything new. I love to see it work out for the first time; there is a little bit of anxiety and worry whenever I try a newmold, because if it doesn’t work out it will be a waste of time and money. So, when I do a complicated statue that has an arm sticking out, or wings and when it becomes this pretty cool looking statue, that’s what makes it worth it.” It is not only the art LeRoy enjoys, but is it is also the positive feeling he gets when people appreciate his work. “Previously, I was a landlord, which wore me out emotionally and physically. This wears me out physically but emotionally is so rewarding, it helps keep me going and gives me a purpose. When 99.5% of the people are happy or excited and appreciate what you have done, that makes me feel good. It has become my passion.” New to his inventory of lawn décor this year is a Celtic ring, and he LeRoy been working on a statue he likes to call Stone Man. Because LeRoy lives above his shop, he is available to assist all year round and will also deliver for a small fee. If you are looking for that perfect element to finish off your back yard oasis or have been looking all over for that Star Wars statue to compliment your décor, you should stop in to 6 Gnomes and see what creations LeRoy has available for you! 6 Gnomes is located at 35706 Fingal Line, Fingal.

religious figures, fantasy, sci-fi, and darker things like skulls. “Skulls are very popular,” he reveals. “Everything is solid cement, as it is the most quality material even though it is the most basic of materials.

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Real Living • Summer 2021 •

Growing together at Brandywine Garden Market Ryan and Jessica Statham are the owners of Brandywine Garden Market in West Lorne, and they are looking to help people reconnect with their local farmers. “Farming is almost becoming a lost art. People used to live this way for hundreds of years, and in the last century I find we have lost the connection with the land.” says Ryan “I love trying to get people back to farming. The underpinning of society is growing food, and half the kids out there don’t know how their food is grown or where it comes from.” Jessica’s family has been in the agricultural business for the past 3 generations. “My dad was a farmer, my Opa and Oma came over from Holland and originally bought this land that we now use,” says Jessica. However, Ryan and Jessica’s farming dreams started off pretty small. “We always wanted to be involved with agriculture. Ever since we first got together, we were interested in sustainable farming,” says Ryan. “We always had a small garden, and we wanted to get chickens, and two chickens grew into a small flock. We first started with just a little garden, and it grew bigger and bigger, so we did a lot of canning and freezing. We thought if we were going to do a big garden why not do a REALLY big garden and sell it,” says Jessica. So today Brandywine Garden Market (which is named after the Brandywine variety of tomato) sells lamb, chicken, turkey, duck, eggs, veggies, honey, and beauty products such as soaps and balms. The products can be purchased at the booth at the Horton Market in St. Thomas, at one of their pop-ups stands, or you can find their products online and call to arrange a pick-up of your order, or they also deliver. But

Ryan and Jessica have exciting plans for their future which include a roadside stand, as well as making connections in the restaurant industry so they can help supply and support the farm to table movement. Additionally, they would like their farm to venture into the agrotourism market. “Businesses like ours will be successful because people want to see where their food is raised or grown. The push for local food is getting stronger. When we are at the market in St. Thomas or people call us, we tell them to come out and see it, it comes from our farm to the market and to your table” says Ryan. “It is challenging, but it is rewarding’ says Jessica, who also says that price is becoming less of an issue for consumers “People recognize the quality and are willing to pay more for it”. To learn more about Brandywine Garden Market products, or to place an order go to www.thebrandywine.ca.

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Page 10 Real Living • Summer 2021

Starting a New Tradition of Shopping Local

planning and pivot as necessary. The Dutton Small Business Network formed a six person team of Kasi Burke of Modern Maple; Dave Galloway of DJ Alpha Productions; Maryjo Tait of Celtic Ridge Farms; Rachael Soos of Natterjack Brewing Company Ltd.; Councillor, Trish Corneil and myself with dōTERRA, to create, plan and organize. These 6 volunteers have worked extremely hard to form an exciting new event called the Dutton Night Market. Our plans changed multiple times throughout the year as there was so much unknown and new regulations to follow, and in June, I was able to confirm that we could move forward with the event.” “The event will bring the community together in support of one another and shoppers should enjoy a wide range of products,” says Ashley. “We will showcase 40 local artisans, makers, vendors and food vendors including food trucks. We want the community and surrounding area to come together to shop, eat and experience what local artisans and talents have to offer. Stroll the path in the park with your family, take in the scenery, listen to music, all while following the public health unit’s safety protocol. Our goal for the Night Market is to showcase local artisans and makers, support small businesses and bring the community together. Our long-term plan is to make this an annual event. We have already started planning next year’s event to include live entertainment and a beer garden.” C

Saturday, August 7th, Dutton is the place to be to shop local! From 4-9, the Sons of Scotland Park in Dunwich will be the venue for the 1st Dutton Night Market featuring vendors from all over the community. We spoke with Ashley Ross, Team Member of the Dutton Night Market about what inspired the event. She explains that it all started with a local networking group. “After moving to Dutton in 2014 and starting a small business of my own, I realized there were many home-based and small business owners in this community and I was looking for a way to learn from other motivated and action-seeking entrepreneurs. After meeting Kasi Burke of Modern Maple and Dave Galloway of DJ Alpha Productions, I approached them to see if they would be interested in starting a small business networking group. We officially started in April of 2018 and have grown the group to 9 people today. It was at one of the 2019 Dutton Small Business Network meetings that I approached the group with an idea of having a night market in Dutton to help local and surrounding small businesses share their products as well as to bring the local communities together for a great evening.” Ashley explains that partly due to COVID, this event has been a year in the making. “We started planning in July of 2020 and the following month, presented the idea to the Dutton Dunwich Economic Development Committee and the Dutton Dunwich Town Council for approval and support. Not knowing when Covid-19 would come to an end, we decided to proceed with

So put on your best shopping shoes and head over to the Sons of Scotland Park (off Scotland St) Saturday August 7th from 4-9pm.

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Real Living • Summer 2021 • Page 11

Adjusting the Health of Your Animal Most people know that if you suffer from a bad back, a chiropractor can be your best friend and a key to your overall health. But did you know the same can be said for your animals/ pets? “It is true,” says Dr. Brittany Dunlop (Dr. Britt), owner of Head to Tail Chiropractic in St. Thomas. “Chiropractic care can restore and maintain flexibility and motion to help both pets and working animals achieve optimal performance and lifespan.” Dr.Britt grewup in the farmingcommunityof ShelburneOntario, her mother a breeder of Golden Retrievers. “I was always surrounded by animals, having five dogs and four cats in our household! We currently own two dogs, three cats and welcomed our first baby in April so it is still a busy zoo in our home,” says Dr. Britt. Moving to St. Thomas in 2017 after graduating from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto, she continued her schooling at the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre in Brantford where she learned to care for animals both large and small. “I started in St. Thomas at Noad Chiropractic Clinic,” says Dr. Britt, “And had heard back in school about a course to continue my studies in both equine and canine care. I jumped at the chance, even though care for humans had always beenmy goal. I’ve always been the biggest animal lover in my family and could never fathom becoming a vet and having to euthanize. This was my shot to help them with their care while doing what I love. I currently treat dogs and cats at Elgin Animal Hospital in St. Thomas and horses from here all the way to the racetrack in Dresden.” Like humans, your pets/animals can receive many benefits from a chiropractor beyond back pain, Dr. Britt maintains. “Active and competitive dogs and horses tend to work hard and play hard

at times which puts additional stresses on their spine and joints, causing decreased movement and mobility. I treat competitive hunter/jumper, racing and barrel racing horses, and dogs in flyball, French ring, agility, dock jumping and even sled pulling! These sports require their animals to be in tip top shape to be able to compete well. Each sport requires the horse or dog to do specific movements, so there are higher rates of certain injuries that you look for in a certain sport and certain movements.”

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Page 12 Real Living • Summer 2021

MONEY SAVER MAGAZINE - ONTARIO 2021 Publication Schedule ISSUE MONTH IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE ISSUE MONTH Dr. Britt’s passion for animals is easy to see, and her work has helped many pets have a longer, happier life and for her competitive animals, she has shown some tremendous results in competition. “I have successfully helped treat numerous racehorses at the track who have gone on to win multiple important races. I also have helped and treated the three-time winning Canadian Ring Association’s Canada Cup Ring III champion who competes for Canada in France every year.” relieve pain, and improve overall health and performance. Our treatments will help restore balance in your pets’ lives and help them feel their best at any age. It gives me immense joy when the dog/horse/cat recovers fully and is able to enjoy life pain free.”

PROOF DATE: April 26, 2021

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

IN-HOMES WEEK ART D

TEMPLATE UPDATED: APriL 26, 2021 SUE: 04 N HOMES WEEK OF: 3-MAY RTWORK DEADLINE: 16-APR ISSUE: 04 IN HOMES WEEK OF: 3-MAY ARTWORK DEADLINE: 16-APR ISSUE: 04 IN HOMES WEEK OF: 3-MAY ARTWORK DEADLINE: 16-APR “Another huge category,” Dr. Britt continues, “would be geriatric care, as chiropractic care can improve your pets’ quality of life as t ey age. Structurally, some changes occur with aging that can cause them discomfort and abnormal movement patterns. Regular chiropractic treatment can help with mobility and allow them to enjoy life as much as possible, improving their walking, rising, and balance. Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive holistic approach to helping the body heal itself naturally. Also, allowing the nervous system to function properly can help your animal restore mobility, PROOF DATE: April 26, 2021 ISSUE: 04 IN HOMES WEEK OF: 3-MAY RTWORK DEADLINE: 16-APR PROOF #: -MAY-LON-FC-01 FILE NAME: TROSUN-0421-MAY-LON-FC-01 AD SIZE: Front Cover (6.875”w x 5.375”h) ROOF DATE: April 26, 2021 ROOF #: -L N-FC-01 LE NAME: TROSUN-0421-MAY-LON-FC-01 D SIZE: Front Cover (6.875”w x 5.375”h) PROOF DATE: April 26, 2021 PROOF #: -MAY-L N-FC-01 FILE NAME: TROSUN-0421-MAY-LON-FC-01 AD SIZE: Front Cover (6.8 ” x 5.375”h) TEMPLATE UPDATED: APriL 26, 2021 PLATE UPDATED: APriL 26, 2021 TEMPLATE UPDATED: APriL 26, 2021

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

IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE

IN-HOMES WEEK ART DUE DATE

If you are curious to see if Head to Tail Chiropractic can help your pet/ animal, go to the website at www.headtotailchiro.ca for more details and to book an appointment.

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Real Living • Summer 2021 • Page 13

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The Hubs of the Malahide Community Remember the fun of getting together with friends, family, co- workers and neighbours? We always had those special events circled on our calendars. After a long year and a half cooped up, it’s time to start planning those events again, and in our community we have two great gems, the Malahide Community Place in Springfield and the South Dorchester Community Hall in Lyons. “Both of our community centres offer event rental space,” says Chris Cox, Facilities Manager for the Township of Malahide. “The Malahide Community Place has three separate community rooms that can be configured to accommodate events of up to 300 people. It also has a large catering kitchen for use with the hall rental or for those home-based businesses that just need a certified kitchen to prepare their products. The South Dorchester Community Hall is a smaller facility with a single community room and a smaller, fully stocked kitchen. This hall is great for those family events when there is just not enough room in a person’s house. It is also the hub for the South Dorchester Optimists who run many community supportive events out of it.” These centres also offer some great opportunities for you and your family to have fun outdoors. “Both centres have walking

paths to get exercise on or just a nice stroll,” says Chris. “The Malahide Community Place has 3 ball diamonds; 2 larger diamonds to accommodate all ages and the third diamond, the Brokerlink Ball Park, a smaller diamond for age groups up to 10 years old. Groups can also rent out the parking lots at our centres for car or motorcycle shows. We can also rent out the green space for outdoor markets, or the pavilion for a small family picnic.”

A great plus for both buildings is that they are newer and both fully accessible. For Chris, it is important to help take away the stress for those planning on enjoying their space. “The South Dorchester Community hall has a

capacity of 60 people and has tables, chairs, dishes, cutlery, pots, pans, and a full kitchen. The Malahide Community Place can hold anywhere from 12 people in our Boardroom, up to 250 - 300 people with the use of all three community rooms since they have divider walls that tuck away out of sight to make one large room. It also has all the same items as the other hall, just in larger quantities.” Chris says that they have hosted everything from fitness classes to community suppers to business meetings and training days and of course, a lot of weddings. “With both of our centres, we offer a full service from helping to plan and organize your event, to setup of the facility for your event, to staff during the event and tear down and cleaning after your event. All of this at an affordable cost.” If you are looking to host an event, call Chris at 519-773-5344 ext. 280 to arrange a tour of the facilities and to see if your date is available!

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Page 14 Real Living • Summer 2021

Outstanding in her field

There’s hope! By Sarah Harrison, co-owner of Mazak Farms

I’m putting it out there: there’s hope, and I’m not even referring to the end of the pandemic; I’m referring to the next generations. How often do we hear, ‘young people don’t want to work’? I will admit I’ve said it myself, and if I’m honest, until recently, I even believed it. Over the years we have had a lot of people work for us. As any employer would say, there’s been good and there’s been bad…. some really bad! During this harvest of 2021, there has been hope. During this time of upheaval, we have had the pleasure of witnessing a group of young people, ranging in age from grade nine to university, step up, work hard, and grow as a team. Our 2021 team came from diverse backgrounds, a few rural, but majority urban with little to no experience in agriculture. As with any new team, everyone was quiet at first. Some rocky days were experienced, and a few ‘stern lectures’ from yours truly were made. Once we got past those early days, we all settled into a routine. The young people stepped up. They started to work together, to help each other without being asked; took on jobs that needed to be done, without step-by- step instructions. They put their phones down at breaks and

lunch times and laughed with each other. They debated current events; they shared their struggles with online school, and general pandemic fatigue. They were hot, cold, wet, sometimes all of those in one day! They were tired, oh so tired, but they showed up. Every. Single. Day. They showed up physically, and mentally to get food on your plates. They showed up when many adults wouldn’t have. They started to become interested in how things happen on the farm. They showed an interest in the livestock; they noticed when the crops were changing and asked what caused this. They were interested in each other, and us. They were engaged, they were curious, they were fabulous. They, as the saying goes, are our future. They just needed to be given a chance, and a few pushes, and they rose to the top. They kept us fed, and they kept us laughing. To the young people in our communities who have stepped up, taken a risk by putting themselves in situations of trying new things, you matter, and we appreciate you. Keep being outstanding in your field!

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Page 15

Real Living • Summer 2021 •

Buy Local and Support your Local Farmer By Laura Fraser, OFA Member Service Representative for Oxford-Elgin Summer, a prosperous time in rural Ontario, is in full swing. For some, summer means a slower pace, more

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s (OFA) food literacy initiative, Six by Sixteen, connects local food with the importance of instilling healthy eating habits in our youngest consumers. Six by Sixteen is the gateway to an extensive online library of Canadian resources, including how-to cooking videos, recipes and source guides for Ontario-grown food. It aims to teach kids how to prepare six nutritious, locally sourced meals by the time they are sixteen years old. This site will help arm them with lifelong skills and lifelong health and they’ll be supporting local farmers, food processors and our economy. To learn more, visit sixbysixteen.me. While the world is still navigating through uncertain and changing times, food security and food access remains vitally important in Ontario. We know the importance of feeding and supporting our communities in times of crisis, relying on farmers and food processors to give consumers the opportunity to fill their plates with healthy, safe and affordable food. We know that where our food is grown holds significant importance. Consumers are looking for locally grown produce, meats, dairy and other agri-products. We saw supply chain challenges between our trading partners at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic but farmers across Ontario stepped up to the plate to keep the most vulnerable in our communities fed during this time of uncertainty. So, this summer, I encourage you to look locally when you are stopping for lunch on your family road trip, when you’re packing groceries for the cottage, or looking for a fun way to entertain the kids. Local food is fresh and full of flavour, produces less waste, benefits the environment and supports the community that you call home.

vacation time or relaxing at home. For others, especially farmers, summer always presents challenges and obstacles and longer hours in the fields, steadily tending to crops and animals. While our most abundant field crops are soybeans, corn and hay, Ontario farmers grow and produce more than 200 different fruits and vegetables, such as cabbage, ginseng, strawberries, grapes, raspberries, field cucumbers, and many more, plus livestocks. Having access to some of these quality foods in your own community is a great way to support neighbours and friends. About 71% of all farms in Ontario are family- owned and operated. When you purchase locally grown food products, you are not only supporting the economy, but farm families in Ontario. Buying local keeps money in your community: for every $1 spent by the farm sector, $2.24 is circulated back into the economy. To find locally grown or sourced food, look for farmers’ markets or Ontario-made products in grocery stores. The Elgin Buy Local, Buy Fresh Guide is an important resource to find local produce, markets, recipes and maps near you. Check it out at www.buylocalbuyfresh.ca.

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Page 16 Real Living • Summer 2021

Here We Go! By Simon Joynes, Artistic Director, Port Stanley Festival Theatre So, just to clear up a matter of timing. I did not write this column today or even yesterday. In fact, I wrote it on July 16th, just as we went into Phase 3 of the Ontario Re-opening plan, so some of what I’m saying is tinged by hope and the

first glimmers of optimism, not unlike the feelings I harboured as my final day of high school approached, way back when wheels were square, and sitcoms had laugh tracks. You know what I mean; that feeling, that against all odds we might just get out of this. Well, that’s where I’m at. I’m a bit giddy, cautiously giddy, but giddy, nonetheless. It’s not like there haven’t been good things about this whole situation. My wife and I have spent more time together in the past 16 months than we have in years, and we’re still (mostly) speaking to each other. Our daughter is only a littlemore anxious to escape to university than she might otherwise be, and Ruby, our black lab, has reveled in constant companionship and regular walks. The house got some much-needed renovation; the gardens look good (Daniele’s doing, not mine I’m afraid), and I have a new deck at least half built. Having said that, I’ve sure missed some things …a good restaurant meal, hugging my mother, freedom of movement, and then there’s my work. It’s been a challenging time for theatres, indeed for artists everywhere. Hell, it’s been tough for everyone, I know that, but theatres were one of the first things to be shut down and they’ve

been one of the last things re-opened. But now they are (at least I hope they are!) open. As I write this, we are putting the finishing touches to 10 weeks of planned summer programming that will take us from Mid-August until the end of October. We are not the only theatre attempting to make a tenuous re-entry into the world of live theatre. Our friends at Lighthouse down the lake in Port Dover are running in a tent; other companies have found alternate venues with all sorts of different programming. Very few of us will make much money with the limited audiences we can welcome through our doors or tent flaps, as the case may be, but we are all so very happy to be doing it, to be welcoming you back to the theatres, the galleries, the gift shops, and the restaurants that breathe life into our communities. It won’t be big, it won’t be flashy, but boy will it be heartfelt! There will be a combination of “bring in” and home-produced; of local and of long distance; there will something borrowed and something re-visited, with artists who are both old friends and new. It will be safe, it will be happy, it will be a celebration! So, there you have it. Here we go!

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Page 17

Real Living • Summer 2021 •

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Page 18 Real Living • Summer 2021

My Mom the Mortician By Bill Denning

A friend of mine recently shared with me a Ghandi quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” It got me thinking about my mother and what she had to go through to be accepted as a female in funeral service. When her high school guidance counselor asked what she wanted to do with her life, she replied, “I want to be a funeral director.” This was a shocking statement for a few reasons. First off, it was the 70s. She had no connection with any family funeral business and in those days, hiring practices were the epitome of nepotism. The other reason that my mom’s career choice raised eyebrows was because she was a woman. She enrolled in funeral service education in Toronto where she was one of four women in a class with over one hundred men. From the onset, there were obstacles relating to her gender. Funeral home owners and mourners alike were not keen on allowing females to be in charge but that didn’t discourage my mom. She wanted to help people during their worst moments. Believe it or not, mommet my dad in the embalming lab at Humber College. They eloped during their apprenticeships and moved to Strathroy to work at the funeral home that dad grew up above. It was evident from the beginning that my mom was going to have to work hard to prove herself to her husband’s funeral director family. She was given the traditional ‘lady’ jobs in funeral service; hairdressing, door duty, and even ambulance dispatching (done some evenings while comforting two babies on her knees).

Despite the lobbying efforts of my dad, she wasn’t allowed to embalm, drive lead car, or meet with grieving families until the 28th year of being a funeral director. She took a break from her career to raise her family and returned to a very different business in 2005. Computers had overtaken typewriters and the standard praying hands image on a pre-printed card had been replaced with slideshows and websites. Mom embraced the changes and took the lead this time around. She met with every family and in doing so, injected a level of care, compassion, and empathy that the community had never seen before, and they loved her for it. Nowadays, women are an integral part of the bereavement sector. Quite frankly, funeral service could not survive without them. My mom’s strength and patience helped pave the way for the many other wonderful women who now thrive in our profession. Mom became the change she wanted to see, and I couldn’t be prouder to be her son.

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Page 19

Real Living • Summer 2021 •

BEING IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT NEVER FELT SO GOOD. BEING IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT NEVER FELT SO GOOD.

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