Hometown Strathroy - Caradoc November 2024 Issue 48
STRATHROY-CARADOC LOCAL EVENTS - NOVEMBER
Mt. Brydges Legion 2500 Veterans Dr., Mt. Brydges 519-264-1580 Mondays – Bingo 2nd & 4th Wednesdays – Cards Fridays – Darts, Euchre Saturdays – Meat Draw Fridays – Catch The Ace Saturdays – Meat Draw 4th Wednesday – Seniors Euchre Strathroy Legion 266 Metcalfe St., W., Strathroy 519-245-0683 Thursdays – Luncheon, Bingo Saturday November 23 All Handmade Christmas Market West Middlesex Centre 334 Metcalfe Rd., Strathroy 11 am – 3 pm Friday November 29 Tree of Lights Downtown Strathroy 7 pm Friday November 29 Hometown Christmas Night Market Downtown Strathroy 4 pm – 8 pm Saturday December 7 Christmas Bake Sale & Raffle Twin Elms Estates 8 Lindsay Dr., Strathroy 9 am – 12 pm WEEKLY EVENTS
Saturday November 9 Yuletide Marketplace St. John the Evangelist Church 10 am – 2 pm Saturday November 9 St. Vincent de Paul Craft Show 286 McKellar St., Strathroy 10 am – 2 pm Thursday November 14 Free Community Lunch St. John the Evangelist Church 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Saturday November 16 Christmas Bake Sale & Chile Lunch
T hursdays – November 7, 21 & 28 Free Lunch All Saint’s Church 124 Front St. E. 11:30 am Saturday November 2 Church Bazaar All Saints Parish 124 Front St. E., Strathroy 9:30 am – 1 pm Saturday November 2 Shop Till You Drop West Middlesex Centre 334 Metcalfe Rd., Strathroy 10 am – 2 pm Saturday November 2 Poppy Project Unveiling Strathroy Cenotaph and Mount Brydges Cenotaph 11 am – 1 pm Wednesday November 6 Chip Bingo Lion’s Hall 4332 Albert St., Strathroy Doors open at 6 pm Game starts at 7 pm Saturday November 9 Seniors Jamboree Caradoc Community Centre 565 Lions Park Dr, Mt. Brydges 1 pm – 4 pm
Strathroy United Church 131 Front St., Strathroy 10 am – 1 pm Saturday November 16 Children’s Crafts Mt. Brydges Legion 10 am – 2 pm
Saturday November 16 Stand-Up Comedy Tour Mt. Brydges Legion 8 pm $20 Saturday November 23 Strathroy Lions - Ricco Foods
Santa Claus Parade Downtown Strathroy 1 pm – 2 pm
The Strathroy Lions - Ricco Foods SANTA CLAUS PARADE Saturday, November 23, 2024 1 PM in downtown Strathroy!
BROKERAGE
519-495-2222
519-495-2222
The PROBUS Club of Strathroy and Area The PROBUS Club of Strathroy and Area attracts retired and semi-retired men and women who want to remain actively engaged in the community with others who have similar interests. The club’s focus is to provide fellowship and opportunities to meet new friends.
PROBUS members meet in Strathroy from 10 am until noon in the Wescast Room at the Gemini Sportsplex, 667 Adair Boulevard, on the second Tuesday of each month, except in July and August. At each meeting, the members will either tour a local business or hear from guest speakers drawn from the surrounding community. Past speakers have informed members about such things as how to prevent diabetes, the life of an NHL referee, operating the local radio station, protection from internet and telephone scams, and what we should know about Alzheimer’s disease. There is a one-time fee of $30 and an annual membership fee of $30. New members receive a PROBUS pin and name tag. They also receive a monthly newsletter with updates on upcoming programmes, a summary of the previous programme, and the names of other newly admitted members. For further information, contact PROBUS by email at strathroyprobus@gmail.com.
Easy Key Lime Pie Submitted by Ken Koprowski, Marketing/Promotion Chair of the PROBUS Club of Strathroy and Area
Ingredients 2 cups of Cool Whip Small can of Eagle Brand milk
Directions Mix ingredients together.
Pour into ready-made crust and freeze. If leftover mixture, use it to fill ready-made tart shells and freeze. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
1/2 cup lime juice 1 cup sour cream Grated peel of one lime
DETAIL SHOP
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28412 Centre Rd., Strathroy (Located next to Home Hardware) Mon-Fri 8am-5pm | Sat & Sun: Closed 519-520-0800 primeshineautospa1@gmail.com
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November 2024 Page 3
Poppy Project Commemorates Centennial Anniversary The Municipality of Strathroy marks the 100th anniversa- ry of its Cenotaph this November by hanging thousands of knit and crocheted poppies attached to bird netting from the Bell Tower in downtown Strathroy.
Working in partnership Museum Strathroy Caradoc, the Community Services department and the Legions in Strathroy and Mount Brydges, the call went out in No- vember 2023 for volunteers to make and donate thou- sands of the handmade flowers. “The response was overwhelming,” says Michelle Wright, Museum Strathroy-Caradoc’s Curator. “The original goal for the Poppy Project was 3,500 poppies. We received an overwhelming 10,000 from local, national, and inter- national donors.” A second installation will cover the gazebo in Cenotaph Park to commemorate the Mount Brydges Cenotaph’s 100th an - niversary, which took place in 2021. “Unfortunately, the Mount Brydges anniversary happened during COVID,” ex- plains Michelle. “Nothing could be done at the time to com- memorate it, so we’re doing an installation there as well.” The idea for the Poppy Project came from seeing similar
Hometown Strathroy- Caradoc Issue #48 November 2024 Your local community connector The 100% locally owned and produced Hometown Strathroy- Caradoc is published ten times a year with thousands delivered free to area residences, set out at local venues, and posted online at www.villagerpublications.com Publisher & Editor: Barb Botten P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 Barb@villagerpublications.com 519-282-7262 Content Manager: Lynne WIlliams All articles by Lynne Williams unless noted otherwise Graphic Artist: Jon Botten Advertising: Gloria Rae Gloria@villagerpublications.com 519-495-4564 Debbie Mindorff Debbie@villagerpublications.com 519-870-3203 Copyright @ 2015 Villager Publications. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher. Information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be accurate at the time of printing however the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. We’d love to hear from you. Contact Barb at Barb@villagerpublications.com Poppy Project volunteers hard at work at the Caradoc Community Centre. See the full story on this page.
installations in other communities, most notably Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Museum had to get permission from the Royal Canadian Legion, Dominion Command to use their poppy design. “Our local legions were instrumental in facilitating that,” Michelle adds. “We’re also grateful for the support of our community sponsors: Vari-Form, Entegrus, Nortera, and Execulink.” The Museum developed the poppy pattern according to the trademarked guidelines and then shared it through handouts, online, and tutorial videos on the Museum’s YouTube channel. The project also used workshops and social media to help spread the word about making the poppies. “The two local legions were also instrumental in hosting poppy-making workshops and putting the call out for volunteers to attach the poppies to the netting this past October,” adds Michelle. The Poppy Project installation is part of Strathroy’s 11 Days of Remembrance and will remain in place until November 12. The Museum hopes to obtain permission to redisplay this installation in future years. Besides the poppy installation, other events have been planned from November 1 to 11, includ- ing a war grave walking tour in the Strathroy Municipal Cemetery and a war-related artifact day at the Museum. For more information and to register for the events, visit www.strathroymuseum. ca or call the Museum at 519- 245-0492. Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc 11 Days of Remembrance Schedule of Events
Wednesday, November 6: Author Talk with C.J. Fredrick on her new book, Rooted and Remem- bered, at the Museum, 6:30 pm. Thursday, November 7: Special War Graves Walk- ing Tour of the Strathroy Cemetery, 1:30 pm. Friday, November 8: Guest speaker on the Jap- anese perspective in WWII at Museum Strath- roy-Caradoc. Saturday, November 9: Presentation by guest historian Andy Robertshaw at Caradoc Community Centre, 4 pm. Sponsored by the Strathroy Legion. Sunday, November 10: Online content available on Museum Strathroy-Caradoc’s Socials Monday, November 11: Remembrance Day Cere- mony (Organized by the Legion)
Friday, November 1: The Commanders Shadow Showing at the Museum Strathroy-Caradoc, 2:30 pm. Saturday, November 2: Strathroy Unveiling Cere- mony at 11 am and the Mount Brydges Unveiling Ceremony at 1 pm. Sunday, November 3: Online content available on Museum Strathroy-Caradoc’s Socials Monday, November 4: War artifacts on display, Museum Strathroy-Caradoc, 10 am to 4 pm. Tuesday, November 5: Cadets lead workshop at the Museum Strathroy-Caradoc at 6:30 pm.
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Class 3 roads – The following streets and roads are plowed after 8 cm of accumulation Head, Carrie, Front, Queen, McEvoy, Christi- na, and Parkhouse. Class 4 roads – all rural roads are plowed after 8 cm of accumulation. Class 5 roads – all local and residential streets are cleared after 10 cm of snow. Here’s how you can help our snowplow operators: • Between December 1 and March 31, do not park overnight on the road. • Don’t push snow from your driveway onto the road. • Don’t place garbage bins where they can be buried or damaged. Reading this in November may seem premature but as you can see there is thought put into the clearing of our roads and there are set stan- dards we need to follow. A final point. Our snowplow operators work tire - lessly – sometimes around the clock – to keep our streets clear. Let’s thank them and be un - derstanding. Let’s hope we don’t need the plows for some time – maybe at Christmas.
Mayor’s Message As I write this, it’s a beautiful autumn day in October, so it seems strange to write about snow and snow removal. However, given that our seasons seem to be changing and there is always the possibility of an early snowfall, it is appropriate to talk about snow removal policies. Upon becoming Mayor, a long-time Councillor told me that I would really become a local elect- ed official when I received my first snow remov - al complaint. That did come quickly. Here are some quick facts. Within the Munici- pality, our roads are maintained by two entities: Strathroy-Caradoc and the County of Middlesex. The County maintains major arteries such as Metcalfe and Caradoc Streets in Strathroy and Glendon and Adelaide Roads in Mount Brydges. I will speak to the roads and sidewalks under our jurisdiction. We have nine snowplow routes: four in Strathroy, one in Mount Brydges, and four in our rural areas. It typically takes four to seven hours, depending on the amount of snow, to completely plow all our roads. We also have a total of 110 km of sidewalks to clear in Strathroy, Mount Brydges and Melbourne. The deployment of plows is based on set stan- dards. These standards either meet or exceed the legislated service levels set out by the Province.
Colin Grantham, Mayor 519.245.1105 x 251 cgrantham@strathroy-caradoc.ca www.strathroy-caradoc.ca
Colin
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November 2024 Page 5 08/08/2024 3:13:44 PM
3. Your flu shots help everyone Not everyone is well equipped to overcome the flu. Some groups, such as infants, seniors, and those with weakened im- mune systems, are much more vulnerable to getting the flu. By not getting the flu shot, you’re increasing their chances of getting sick as well. The more people that are protected against the flu, the less the virus can spread. Of course, members of at-risk groups are encouraged to get flu shots, but some, such as babies under the age of 6 months, can’t be vaccinated. To minimize their risk, you can do your part by getting the flu shot. You won’t just protect yourself, but you’ll also help protect oth - ers around you. 4. It’s Easy! Getting a flu shot is quick and easy. Don’t hesitate to contact your pharmacist and know more about the flu shot availability at the pharmacy. Visit www.pharmacyonmetcalfe.com or call 519-205-1000 to register for an appointment. Flu shots are available to the general population as of October 28, 2024.
Four Reasons to Get the Flu Shot To get vaccinated or not… that is the question Canadians ask every Fall. Here are a few reasons why you might consider getting a flu shot this year. 1. The flu can be serious 2. The flu virus changes every year 3. Your flu shots help everyone 4. It's easy! Your Pharmacists can help with Medication Questions Pharmacist Meagan McGill
1. The Flu Can Be Serious “The flu? I’ll be just fine after a few days of rest.” That might be true for the common cold, but the flu is much more serious. If you get the influenza virus, you’re likely to experience high fevers, extreme fatigue, muscle aches and severe headaches, in addition to the usual cough and runny nose. The flu shot is the best way to protect you and your family against getting the flu in the first place. 2. The Flu Virus Changes Every Year The flu virus circulates all around the world, and evolves very quickly. So quickly, in fact, that new strains of the flu are con - stantly emerging. Every year, scientists and health experts cre- ate a new flu vaccine designed to fight the most prevalent flu strains. This means old vaccines may not properly protect you against this year’s influenza virus. For the best protection for the current flu season, get your up-to-date flu shot. Strathroy-Caradoc Continues Work on Local Baseball Diamond Improvements The Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc is currently working on a project aimed at making improvements to two local baseball diamonds – Royals Field at Alexandra Park and the Yorkview Community Park Bantam Diamond. The project, titled “Safe at Home,” involves modifying two Strathroy-based diamonds to ensure that they are both safe and suitable for the various levels of baseball played in the Strathroy-Caradoc community. This project began when the Municipality received news this May that they had been named a winner of the Jays Care Foundation’s 2024 Field Of Dreams grant. With $125,000 in funding secured through the Field Of Dreams grant, the Mu- nicipality has been working to complete the various stages of this multi-step project. A key goal of the project is to transfer hardball from Royals Field to Yorkview Community Park. Moving hardball to Yorkview will help eliminate safety concerns associated with Royals Field’s proximity to Caradoc Street, a nearby splash pad, and adja- cent parking lots. The improved depth and lack of surrounding problem areas at the Yorkview Community Park diamond will help to reduce concerns about individuals or property being hit by stray baseballs during hardball games.
Monday-Friday 9am-5:30pm
Upgrades to the Yorkview Community Park diamond include adding a natural turf infield, pitcher’s mound, new backstop, safety netting, bullpen areas, fencing around the dugouts, safety guards around the perimeter of the fence, a new warn- ing track, and replacement of current bleachers with accessi- ble options. Work on Alexandra Park’s Royals Field includes removing the grass infield and replacing it with clay, removing the pitcher’s mound, adding safety guards around the perim - eter of the fencing, and adding fencing around the dugouts.
Photo courtesy of the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc
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Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
Page 6
is that still exists, has had a beneficial effect on the lives of countless people. Over the decade following the war, Shot- well organized and edited the Econom- ic and Social History of the World War, which ran to 150 volumes and included input from every country involved in the conflict. Such a comprehensive history of a war had never been attempted. As a representative of the Carnegie En- dowment for International Peace, Shot- well was seen as an "honest broker" and was able "to speak truth to power": Eu- ropean and American leaders knew he could get to the heart of a problem and
James Shotwell: Strathroy’s Forgotten Son by Larry Peters Between January 1873 and December 1875, the Strathroy area saw the births of three men who would make an im- pact on the world. George Orton, born January 10, 1873, would influence the world of sport. James Shotwell, born August 6, 1874, would change the way we understand world politics. And Ar- thur Currie, born December 5, 1875, would influence World War I battlefield tactics. I doubt if there was a more his- torically significant period in Strathroy's past. In the last few years, Orton and Currie have received well deserved recognition. Unfortunately, appreciation of Shotwell has slipped away, despite achievements that have shaped our world. By 1900, Shotwell, who had found high school history classes terribly boring, was one of a group of scholars pioneering the scientific approach to history. They held the novel idea that one's conclusions must be based on unbiased assessment of the facts found through researching original documents. Today the old style of historical writing with its national bias has almost disap- peared thanks to this group. As managing editor of the 11th edition of Encyclopedia Britanni- ca, Shotwell sought out experts in every field so that information came from a solid scientific approach to research. This had never been done before. At the same time, for The Times of London, he created the first background articles that would help readers more fully understand the importance of a news report. If you click on a background site on the internet, think of James Shot- well. And he developed and taught the first American course on Social and Economic History. Think of all the documentaries that have used his approach. In 1917 Shotwell became involved in the American war effort. He convinced the government to use "Uncle Sam" as its symbol in the campaign to unite the nation in its effort to recruit soldiers. Even more important, he convinced each state to keep all the information they accumulated during the war so that a complete history could be written after the conflict ended. He also helped write background papers on the issues that a future Peace Con- ference would need to consider. While at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, Shotwell became involved in establishing the International Labour Organization to eliminate the child labour that was common in European countries after the war. The ILO, one of the few organizations created in Par-
find a solution. As the League of Nations was failing, he worked with a number of European diplomats to create the Locarno Treaty that tied the signatory countries into an alliance to avoid war that had real consequences if broken. He then convinced French cab- inet minister, Briand, to offer a similar pact to the United States, thus getting the USA once more involved in European affairs. Shotwell visited all of the new countries created by the Peace Con- ference; he recognized the unacknowledged problems that would eventually lead to war. During the 1930s he visited Spain at the start of the Spanish Civil War, and Germany, where he witnessed a Nazi parade and rally. As well, there were trips to Japan, Korea, Manchuria and China, where he met with high-ranking politicians anddiplomats. Those travels gave him a deep understanding of international problems. By this time, he probably knew more about the world's political situation than anyone. Later, in the 1940s, Shotwell wrote a 25-volume history of Canadi- an-American relations. This was the first extensive history of Can - ada that used the scientific research method. The first International Joint Conference that brought Canadians and Americans together to discuss common issues was organized by Shotwell, a Confer- ence that continues and studies an ever-widening list of topics. As the League of Nations failed and the world collapsed into anoth- er war, Shotwell formed a committee that came up with the blueprint that would become the Charter of the United Nations. Shortly after World War II ended, he warned world leaders that nuclear arms would find their way into smaller nations as technology improved. He felt this would be the great problem of future generations. On his final trip to Europe, his advice was sought by European lead - ers who were setting up the Organization for European Economic Co-Operation, which would become the European Economic Com- munity we know today. Even more interesting than this ‘short list’ of James Shotwell’s ac - complishments is the story of how he was able to reach the heights of international diplomacy and scholarship. But that’s another Tale!
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November 2024 Page 7
ARTIST OF THE MONTH
It’s Never Too Late Gail Snyder proves it is nev- er too late for the painting bug to bite. Gail discovered a love for painting four years ago when a friend gave her an in- expensive set of watercolours. During COVID, Gail picked up the brush from that set to keep herself busy and unwittingly opened a colourful new world for herself. Having not taken art classes in school, and with a busy 41-year career in banking and raising two boys with her husband, Ed,
Like many artists, Gail hopes to exhibit her work in an art gal- lery one day. As a step towards that, she entered the Art in the Park Art Show this past September and was overwhelmed by the response, selling seven paintings. To other aspiring artists, Gail says, “Take advantage of local workshops, find mentors, and practice, practice, practice. It takes time to develop your talent.” While still a new member, Gail is grateful for her fellow artists in the Art Group – Strathroy-Caradoc and the support they’ve given her so far. “The advice and critiques from the members are invaluable. I’m humbled to be included in their ranks.” To see more of Gail’s work or to message her, visit her Face - book page, True Colours Art.
becoming an artist was never part of Gail’s plan. “Art has al - ways appealed to me, and watercolour paintings were my fa- vourite,” Gail explains. “But I never thought I had an aptitude for painting.” Gail admits that when she started in 2020, her first few cre - ations were absolute disasters. She persevered, however, and taught herself by taking workshops and classes, watch- ing YouTube tutorials, reading painting books, and, of course, practicing – lots. “I paint every day,” Gail adds. “Whether it’s a quick fridge mag - net or a large landscape project.” Gail’s goal is to become proficient in all forms of painting. For now, she works primarily in acrylics and some watercolours. She uses her own photographs or reference material she’s found online as her subjects. Nature is the main motif in Gail’s work, and she is drawn to scenes from Northern Quebec where she spends her sum- mers. She has a signature "Island Tree" that appears in sev- eral pieces. Gail also infuses a bit of humour into her work occasionally. “My piece titled ‘Ladies of the Lake’ is a nod to my cheeky girlfriends from the lake.”
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Local Legions: Your Place to Connect The Royal Canadian Legion, founded in 1925, has as one of its primary goals to ensure that Canadians never forget the risks and sacrifices service men and women have made since WWI and continue to make for the freedoms we enjoy today. Remembrance Day ceremonies, Poppy campaigns, commemorative activities, youth education, and community engagement are ways in which the Legion helps Canadians remember.
The Strathroy Sir Arthur Currie Branch #116 opened its doors 96 years ago on Front Street. It moved to its current location on 266 Metcalfe Street West in 1961. This branch has 170 members and offers many social opportu- nities such as card games, darts, and cornhole. Friday night meals and monthly dinners on the last Saturday of the month are popu- lar events. The menus are posted online and change regularly. Plans are underway for a 2024 New Year’s Eve bash. To learn more about or join Strathroy Arthur Currie Branch #116: Visit the branch at 266 Metcalfe Street West, Strathroy Everyone is welcome at the legion, military and civilian alike. Any- one who wants to be part of a social network and resource in their community can become a member. The Strathroy-Caradoc area is lucky to have three such community hubs. The Legion also provides many services for Veterans, RCMP offi - cers, and their families. Advocacy, mental health support, and help finding sustainable housing are just a few ways the Legion helps ensure the well-being of service members, nationally, provincially, and at the local branch level. While the Legion began with a focus on Veterans, it has become so much more. Considered Canada’s largest volunteer base, the Legion is an integral hub within urban and rural communities. The local legion branch is often the quintessential community connec- tor by supporting seniors, providing sports programming for youth, fundraising for community projects, and creating spaces where people meet and have fun.
doc branch partners with local service clubs to provide financial assistance for many community projects and children’s school and sports programs. They also have a robust slate of weekly, monthly, and yearly activities. To learn more about or join Mount Brydges Caradoc Branch # 251: Visit mtbrydgeslegionbr251.com Come to the branch at 2500 Veterans Dr, Mount Brydges Find them on Facebook at RCL251 Email: rclegion251@gmail.com Call: 519-264-1580 The Melbourne Legion Branch #510 , like the village in which it’s located, is a small but mighty organization with 65 members. They opened their doors 75 years ago, on December 10, 1949. The Melbourne Legion is known for its Friday night Fish and Chips and Saturday meat draws and grill fare. To learn more about or join the Melbourne Legion: Visit the branch at 21884 Melbourne Road, Melbourne Call: 519-289-2109
Find them on Facebook at strathroylegion Email: strathroy.legion.116@gmail.com Call: 519-245-0683
Mount Brydges Caradoc Branch #251 was granted its charter on September 22, 1933, and the Ladies Auxiliary on January 27, 1956. They have 150 members. The Ladies Auxiliary has 20. Besides supporting Veterans and their families, the Cara-
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Page 10 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
mets of soldiers, representing our peacekeeping roles for the Unit- ed Nations. The story ends in Afghanistan with natural greens and browns, representing modern times. At the core of his desire to create this permanent symbol of remem- brance, is Red’s deep passion for listening to and recording the stories of Veterans from Melbourne and the surrounding county: “I speak to Veterans from all over and they all say the same thing. ‘We came home and lived our lives. Those who died didn’t. They need to be remembered.’ I hope this mural helps us do that and by remembering, we’ll use diplomacy to prevent these stories from happening again.” Inside the Legion, Red has six frames containing pictures, medals, and letters that document 11 Melbourne sons who went to war and didn’t come home. Seven of those 11 men volunteered for WWI, representing approximately 3% of the village’s population then. While Red has the names of the seven men, the regiments they belonged and when they died, he only has pictures of two: William (Billy) Jesse Newman who died on October 1, 1918, at the Battle of Canal du Nord, France, and James Warren Kellestine who died on the first day of the battle for Vimy Ridge, April 9, 1917. The faces of both men were incorporated into the mural along with four other Melbourne men who enlisted and died during WWII: Lorne Evans, Jack Brodie, John Dewar, and Warren Kellestine. Red joined the Melbourne Legion 45 years ago. While he didn't have his own military career, Red is proud to be part of the Melbourne branch and the community in which he grew up, and he has worked hard to ensure that the Melbourne Veterans are not forgotten. What about the stories that come after Afghanistan and of Cana- da’s future military impact? Well, that’s another story.
A Story in Brush Strokes As you drive north on Melbourne Road, the midday sun glints on metal in the distance. Images of soldiers, planes, and tanks ripple to life as you draw near. A powerful story painted in black-and-white camouflage leaps out. Your eyes naturally track the progression as black-and-white gives way to splashes of blue and muted green. You are looking at a 12x60-foot mural painted on the side of the Melbourne Legion. The impressive scenes commemorate the sac- rifices of the men and women who served in World War I and II, Canada’s role in Korea, and our role as part of the NATO Interna - tional Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. When Red Noble became President of the Melbourne Legion in 2022, he wanted to create a permanent and public monument that would tell the story of these brave warriors. A mural seemed the perfect way to emblazon this legacy. Red commissioned Olha Kovalenko, a Ukrainian artist offering art lessons to children and adults in Strathroy, to do the work. “I saw a piece Olha painted of a bombed cityscape with a child looking for its parents,” says Red. “She has an impressive way of telling a story with her paintbrush.” Olha and Red pieced together the important elements of the story Red wanted to tell, using pictures projected onto the outside wall of the Legion. “It was important to start the mural with the Vimy Ridge memorial, not only because it was such a great accomplishment for Canadian troops, but because one of Melbourne’s own boys died taking the ridge,” Red explains. The mural moves effortlessly from Vimy Ridge and the trenches of WWI into the air battles and tanks of WWII. The monochromatic black-and-white motif depicts the desolation of war. As the story progresses, splashes of blue appear in the sky and on the hel-
WWII Melbourne men lost
Afghanistan
Korea
Melbourne Legion Mural
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November 2024 Page 11
Poppy Campaigns The National Poppy Campaign begins on Friday, October 25 this year and runs until November 11th. Members of all three legions, with assistance from volunteers, distribute poppies within the community and local businesses. They give out the poppies for free; however, donations are gratefully accepted and go directly to supporting Canada’s Veterans and their families. The legions are grateful for the support of the business commu- nity who welcome the volunteers and the poppy boxes at their locations. Anyone wishing to canvass on behalf of the legion can contact them directly. Remembrance Day Services Strathroy Arthur Currie Legion on Monday, Nov. 11th, 2024 10:45 am: Cadet parade to Cenotaph, 34 Frank Street, Strathroy 11 am: Laying of the Wreath Ceremony 10:55 am: Remembrance Ceremony begins, lunch for Veterans, cadets and their families at the legion Mount Brydges Legion on Monday, Nov. 11th, 2024 10:30 am: Members and community assemble at the Caradoc Legion, 2500 Veterans Drive, Mount Brydges 10:40 am: Parade to Caradoc Cenotaph, 22503 Adelaide Road, Mount Brydges 10:55 am: Remembrance Ceremony begins, return to the legion for light lunch and comradeship. 6:00 pm: Remembrance Day dinner at the legion for members and guests.
Melbourne Legion on Sunday, Nov. 10th, 2024 10:30 am: Members and community assemble at the Melbourne Legion, 21884 Melbourne Road 10:40 am: Parade leaves for Guthrie Presbyterian Church, 606 Brook St, Melbourne 10:55 am: Church service with Remembrance Ceremony to fol- low, then parade to the legion for a potluck lunch and socializing.
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Page 12 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
ice? “If you love something, you don’t have to give it up. Look at us! 60 years old and still going strong!” The Canada +55 Senior Games featured all the athletes march - ing in behind their provincial flags in the opening ceremonies. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to compete at this level, at this age. It was just amazing.” London’s Team Chaos reached the finals without having surren - dered a goal, besting teams from BC, Alberta, and the East Coast. The gold medal game, against rivals from Mississauga, was won in a 1-0 shoot-out. “And then, to win, WOW. We came together to play for the fun of it, but once we all committed, everyone put in the time and worked really hard. Everyone - the coaches and the players. We were a team.” A team of amazing women. The next Canada Senior Games will take place in Winnipeg in 2026. Marina and the other Golden Girls will be back at it to de- fend their title.
Golden Girls: London and area 60+ Women’s Team wins Championship by Jane Roy
On August 29, 2024, London’s Wom - en’s 60+ hockey team became the Na - tional Champions at the Canada +55 Games. This year, the games took place in Quebec City and featured over 3000 ath- letes from across Canada who competed in over 20 events. The team is made up of women from the London area. They are all 60 years of age or older and share a passion for playing hockey at any age. This includes Strathroy resident, Marina McDougall.
Marina MacDougall Photo by Vince MacDougall
Marina had always wanted to play hockey. Growing up, she was only allowed to take figure skating and swimming, as her mom feared for her daughter’s well-being. Marina begged year after year to play. The answer was always the same. “Ice hockey is too violent. You’ll get hurt.” She started playing hockey when she was 32 years old. Mari- na never looked back. Playing pick-up and organized hockey whenever she could, Marina quickly became a strong skating 2-way defenceman. She moved to Strathroy in 2011, and contin- ued to play, enjoying getting on the ice with her husband Vince for fast paced co-ed games. Her advice to other women like her who weren’t allowed to play? “It’s never too late to start play - ing at any age if you want to.” Or to the young girls now on the
London Senior Women's Hockey Team. Photo by Grace Flaherty.
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November 2024 Page 13
The Duchess Steve Plunkett is known for owning rare vehicles that would make any gearhead salivate. But one of his “one of one” Cadillacs has a royal connection like no other. It’s a 1941 Cadillac custom limousine named the Duch- ess. Style 41-62190 was built to order for Edward, the former King of England, and his wife Wallace Simpson. Royal watchers will recall that King Edward abdicated the throne in 1936 in order to marry Simpson, an Amer- ican socialite who was twice divorced. The relationship caused a constitutional crisis, and Edward chose love over the throne.
Wallace Simpson and Prince Edward
The couple commissioned the car from Cadillac while living at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. It was a major coup for General Motors. The company’s CEO, Alfred Sloan, personally oversaw the vehicle’s construction at a cost of US $14,000. (Nearly US $300,000 today.) “I bought it in 2016,” Plunkett says. “The previous owner spent $400,000 restoring it to its exact original features. No modifications.” The car was built for the couple’s personal use, and they owned it for 11 years, fondly calling it the Duchess. It has an automatic transmission and was one of the first vehicles with power windows. It was an eye-catcher, with fully chromed wheels and plush, rose broadcloth upholstery with satin privacy curtains. Plunkett describes some of the custom features. “Because it has a division window separating driver and passengers, it has dual climate control systems. She was into jewellery, so it has four jewellery boxes. He smoked pipes so it has a humidor and pipe rack. Its one-off body is different than all other ‘41 Cadillacs.”
All the body panels were handmade. The vehicle’s flowing body lines would later influence the styling of Buick and Rolls Royce. It was the ultimate in luxury for the time. In Steve Plunkett’s world, classic cars, even a one-off with a royal connection, are more than just showpieces. He exercises all his cars. “I drove it 25 miles today,” he says. For 15 years, Steve Plunkett turned his love of cars into the Fleetwood Country Cruize-In, an event that supported local charities and raised over $1.7 million. “Taking a passion that I love and creating an event that benefits so many people has been a blessing,” says Steve. The event attracted thousands of people and cars from across North America. When not at home on his estate on the outskirts of Byron, Steve tours invitational car events and shows across North America, showcasing his classic cars.
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Page 14 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
The Bulldogs love it when the fans come to cheer them on. Any Mt. Brydges Cougars players attending a game wearing their jersey or team jacket get into the game for free. All children 13 and under are also free when accom- panied by an adult. Now that Saturday games are back on the slate it’s easier than ever to enjoy an evening watching some exciting local hockey. The Bulldogs are looking for volunteers for various game- day roles such as recording game videos, sounding the goal horn, timekeeping, and security. Anyone interested in helping can contact Brian at bgriffiths9494@gmail.com. Check the schedule at www.bulldogsjrhockey. com and come cheer on the Bulldogs at the Tri-Town Ice Arena. Tickets are available at the door.
Mt. Brydges Bulldogs Show Their Teeth The Mt. Brydges Bulldogs have had a scrappy start to their 2024/25 PJHL hockey season with three wins and only one regulation loss. With this being the first year of the shootout format in the PJHL, the Bulldogs found themselves in a final dogfight in their first two games against Petrolia and North Middlesex, respectively. While they didn’t hit the sweet spot in either game, the Bulldogs certainly showed their teeth and gave fans a nail-biting finish to both games. Rookies Logan Forster, Logan Gianelli, Nate VanHooydonk, and Noah Candy scored their first PJHL goals, and goalie Colin Ideson recorded his first PJHL career win with a solid victory over the Aylmer Spitfires. Excitement erupted on the bench at the October 4th game against Thamesford when defenseman Jaxon Moorhouse, a club veteran who didn't rack up any goals last year, also scored his first PJHL goal. By mid-October, the Bulldogs sit tied for 4th in the West Yeck Division even though the team is dealing with several injuries. “In many ways, this is a new team and I’m really proud of the way they’re working together,” says Brian Griffiths, Bulldog’s General Manager. “I know they’ll do big things as the season unfolds.” Kung Fu & Tai Chi School EXPERIENCE MARTIAL ARTS AND WELLNESS BOOK A TRIAL CLASS AT https://kungfu-taichi.ca Dedicated classes for children • Day Camps Classes for teens, adults and seniors. (226) 998-8703 Enhance Physical Health, Confidence and Self Esteem with Sifu Carlos Ferraz 190 Wortley Rd. Martial Arts and Wellness Programs in the Heart of Wortley Village
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November 2024 Page 15
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Tree lights being installed at the Town Hall
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Page 16 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
appearance, strolling around and spreading cheer. The MidLife Crisis band will be playing from 4 pm to 6 pm. At 5:45 pm, the stage will be set for performances by Dance Fac- tor and at 6 pm, a DJ at the Town Hall will start spinning tunes. At 6:30 pm, the Adelaide MacDonald Public School Choir will take the stage at the Town Hall with Dignitaries joining in to share warm wishes for the holiday season. At 7 pm, the Strath- roy Lions Tree of Light ceremony at Town Hall. The event draws to a close at 8 pm. Come out and enjoy this fun event with friends and neighbours. A big thank you to all the hardworking volunteers who make this event a success.
A Hometown Christmas Celebration Mark your calendars for a magical evening in Strathroy Caradoc! Join the Municipality of Strathroy Caradoc, the Downtown Strath- roy BIA, and the Strathroy Lions Club for a delightful Hometown Christmas event on Friday, November 24th, from 4 pm to 8 pm. At noon, road closures will be implemented, and volunteers will set up festive decorations to create a warm and inviting ambi- ance. At 2 pm, 45 market vendors will begin setting up with their holiday gifts and treats on Frank Street. At 4 pm, the market officially opens and AGCO licensing be - gins, ensuring that everything is in order for the festivities. The BIA’s Horse and Carriage rides begin, starting from the Shops on Sydenham on Front Street. Meanwhile, Santa will make his
Hometown Christmas Market Timed Discounts Nov. 29, 4pm - 8pm 4-5pm 15%, 5-6pm 20%, 6-7pm 25% 7-8pm 30% (Sewing machines not included)
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November 2024 Page 17
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Page 18 Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc
Aunts, Uncles and Cousins – Part II by John Caverhill My Grandparents, Wm. A. (Carpenter Bill) and Cecilia had six children. My Aunt Winnifred (Winnie), their oldest, was born in 1881, in a frame house that replaced the original cabin on our farm. The remaining five children were born in the new brick house completed in 1883 by my grandfather. One section of the frame house was joined to the carpenter shop and became a blacksmith shop. The other section was moved over to the barns behind the new house and became a pig pen. This gave rise to a standing family joke. If Winnie made a kid’s typical blunder, as all kids do, the standard comment was, “What can you expect? She was born in a pigpen!” Eventually, Winnie married Jack Campbell, a London school teacher, in 1917, and they had two sons, Lloyd and Glen. Before they were married, Uncle Jack (as I knew him) would ride his motorcycle from London to visit his fiancée in Lobo, and he could do the trip in less than twenty-five minutes, which meant pretty high speeds over rough unpaved roads. After they married all mention in Father’s diary of the motorcycle ceased, so one may infer that this departure coincided with the bride’s arrival. In 1946, with things returning to normal after the war, Uncle Jack bought a new motorboat. It was a mahogany-hulled beauty with tiller steering. Its larger-than-usual outboard motor gave it a fast top speed (which Uncle Jack didn’t use when Aunt Winnie was present). For several years after the war, a good stretch of the Thames River in London’s Springbank Park was a popular place for motorboats. Springbank Dam was still operative at this time. In the later 1800s, three steamboats, Forest City, Princess Louise, and Victoria ran daily excursions from the Forks of the Thames down to Springbank Park. River depth varied from 20 feet behind the dam to less than two feet in some other stretches, which meant the steamboats had a draught of only 16 inches. Victoria had two decks, both above the water line, and on the day of the disaster had over 800 passengers, three times her safe capacity; so being top-heavy, she overturned with a loss of at least 182 lives. By the 1940s, many parts of the river were very shallow, especially in summer. There was still deep water clear of obstacles for over half a mile behind the dam, which was ideal for motorboats, and Springbank once again became popular for boat rides. On summer weekends there were often up to a dozen operators offering rides on their boats. The large dock where the Victoria and her sister ships tied up was long gone, replaced by several small floating docks that were beached when not in use. Uncle Jack always gave us a free ride. When we were settled in our seats, he would reverse away from the deck, and then swing around. Suddenly the boat would squat and accelerate with a burst of speed that made me almost become unhinged with excitement. A regular ride consisted of one circuit of about a mile, but Uncle Jack always gave us a two-circuit ride. Even though our ride was twice as long, it ended far too quickly. As we headed home, a rare treat of an ice cream cone topped off an exciting day. It was several years later when we learned of a misadventure experienced by their boys. If business was slow, Uncle Jack
would go home and return in the afternoon leaving the boys to look after the occasional riders. To put in the time, they took turns on the boat, one driving and the other riding. The rides evolved into a game called “Flip”. The passenger rode up front, straddling the bow while the driver would try to “flip” the rider off by sudden swerves of the boat. Needless to say, they didn’t play Flip when their father was present. On one particular trip, Glen was driving while Lloyd was straddling the bow. They had just turned away from the dam and were heading back to the dock. A sudden jerk of the tiller, an abrupt swing of the boat, and Lloyd was enjoying a plunge into the Thames. “The best laid plans o’ mice and men/gang oft agley” sang the poet, Robbie Burns. While he would have expressed it differently, Glen would have agreed wholeheartedly with the poet Burns. The sudden swerve didn’t dislodge Lloyd this time; instead, there was a “clunk”, the tiller jerked from Glen’s hand and the motor disappeared into the river. They were close enough to the dock for Uncle Jack to witness the whole affair. The boys rowed back to the dock, and as Glen put it, “Dad seemed a little upset.” He made several comments during which the collective intelligence was compared unfavourably with that of a block of wood. He concluded by ordering them to row back and dive for it, and not come back until they found it. Uncle Jack accompanied them to oversee operations and warn other boats to keep clear. Being strong swimmers, the boys were not at first unduly concerned with the task confronting them. Retracing the course when approaching the dock was the thing to do. It was then that they realized the real problem lay in locating the motor in the fifteen feet of murky water. It took repeated dives and traversing back and forth across the river bottom, like dogs running back and forth to locate the trail of their quarry. It was well over an hour later, after countless dives before they finally surfaced and heaved the motor into the boat. They were back on the river the following weekend, the motor dried out and running smoothly but they never again played “Flip”. The Victoria Day Disaster in London, Ontario, as depicted by the Toronto Litho Company on June 13, 1881.
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November 2024 Page 19
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