REAL LIVING Rural Elgin Agricultural
SUMMER 2024 Issue 21
Plenty of Summer Entertainment still to come! 2024 SUMMER THEATRE
Letter from the Editor Well, here it is, August already, and the summer is half over. It has been a busy summer so far. I have done a little travelling, spent time with the family, and enjoyed what summer in Elgin has to offer. As a child, one of the best ways to spend a summer’s day was swimming. As a kid, I spent a lot of time in the water, at the lake, camping with my parents, or in the
AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 24
By Ephraim Ellis B GFOOT!
backyard in our pool. I may not have the body of a swimmer, but I can swim and dive with the best of them. But tragedies like this past weekend in Port Stanley are a solemn reminder that while water is a wonderful way to pass the time, in the blink of an eye, it can also become treacherous. I lost a family member years ago to drowning while at the cottage, so I know how hard it can be to sit on the beach while heroes go out in search of your loved ones, and I know how painful it can be when they find them. The third week of July is recognized as National Drowning Prevention Week; for more information on how to keep your family safe while enjoying the water, visit the Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition website at www.ecdrowningprevention.com. In the Spring issue of REAL Living , we talked about the upcoming Seniors Picnic in the Park happening July 10th. As it happens, the picnic was postponed due to poor weather. So, mark your calendars for the make-up date of Wednesday, September 18th, from 9 am to 3 pm at Pinafore Park in St. Thomas. We are bringing back a full lineup of live music, prizes and information. The summer also brings many opportunities to explore our region and support local farmers and vendors through our various markets. We have the historic Horton Market (10 Manitoba St, St Thomas), which runs every Saturday from 8 am to 12 noon and now offers Wednesday markets from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm; the Wildflowers Market (42338 Fruit Ridge Line, St Thomas), running each Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm; the Old Imperial Market (516 John St. N., Aylmer) on Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm; the Dutton Farmers Market (1 Scotland St., Dutton) operating every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. I am a huge fan of markets; not only do I have an opportunity to save a little money buying directly from the farmer, but I am also supporting my local community. To me, that is what these markets represent -- community. I am such a regular at one market that what could take me five minutes usually takes an hour as I stop and chat with friends! While summer slowly fades into fall, I would encourage you to get out there and explore what this amazing county has to offer for you in your family. Take a day off work and spend it with your kids -- no one ever looks back and thinks, ‘Gee, I wish I had worked that Friday’! Get out there and explore. Until November, stay safe!
Truth or legend? Reality or hoax? Three Intrepid explorers set out to prove once and for all that Sasquatch is alive.
WORLD PREMIERE
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Page 2 Real Living • Summer 2024
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From Dust to Delight Katie Locke and Maryellen Borecki, the dynamic mother-daughter duo behind St. Thomas Molly Maid, have every reason to celebrate. Together they were recently crowned as St. Thomas’ Favourite Cleaning Service, and also came home with the Client Focused Award at their national convention. Together their journey to these accolades are marked by dedication, community spirit, and a commitment to excellence. While Molly Maid has a long history in St. Thomas and Elgin, Katie and Maryellen purchased the franchise just over two years ago. St. Thomas Molly Maid proudly serves St. Thomas, Elgin County, and Tillsonburg with a range of residential, commercial, and industrial cleaning services. Katie says, “St. Thomas Molly Maid services a wide area, ensuring our clients receive top-notch service wherever they are.” What sets Molly Maid apart from the rest? “All our staff is fully bonded and insured,” Katie emphasizes. “But it’s more than that; it’s about building lasting relationships and bringing joy and comfort into people’s lives.” Realizing each customer’s needs are unique, Katie ensures that they offer different frequencies to suit the client’s needs and schedule. The journey into the cleaning business wasn’t happenstance. Katie and Maryellen’s passion for community and people led them here. “We love meeting new people, networking, and setting and achieving goals,” shares Katie. “It’s the connection with our clients and the community that keeps us motivated.” Consistency is key at Molly Maid. “With us, you get the same team each time,” Katie affirms. “We believe in the power of teamwork and collaboration to deliver exceptional results.” Yet, there’s more to Molly Maid than meets the eye. “We’re ALL-IN,” Katie declares. “Fully committed to our clients and each other, striving for excellence in all we do.”
Being chosen for the Client Focused Award is more than just an accolade; it validates their hard work and dedication. “Recognition by peers is incredibly gratifying, especially when surrounded by such incredible leaders. Knowing that my peers view me positively fuels my motivation to perform at a high level. This acknowledgment validates the values we hold in high regard,” beams Katie. “For us, it’s a vote of confidence. For our business, it’s a way to measure success. It also proves that the metrics we were tracking truly reflect our results. We believe we were recognized because of our actions. Having specific goals to pursue daily is crucial, but without practicing the behaviours you deem important, the results won’t follow. In short, we identified a key performance indicator, emphasized the importance of client focus, trained for it, and fostered a culture around it. We couldn’t have done it without our clients and our teams. With a winning culture and a passion for making a positive impact, St. Thomas Molly Maid continues to set the standard in the cleaning industry. To book a cleaning, call 519-637-3542 or email st.thomas@mollymaid.ca. Katie Locke accepting her national recognition for Client Focus. In photo from left to right Aaron Abrams, President and CEO of Molly Maid Canada, Adrianne Stringer, Founder of Molly Maid, Katie Locke, Franchise Partner of Molly Maid St. Thomas, and Chris Stringer, Founder of Molly Maid.
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A Celebration of Music and Community On August 24th at 2 pm, the Middle River Music Festival will return to Common Grounds Farm, located at 6986 Middle River Rd, St. Thomas. This year marks the festival’s fourth anniversary. Gabe Fontana, Co-Creative Director at Middle River Music Fest, shares that the idea for the festival originated from attending other music festivals. “We thought, ‘We could do this in St. Thomas on the farm,’” he recalls. Living with Amanda’s family and working on her husband Chris’s organic vegetable farm, Common Grounds Farm, Gabe proposed the idea of hosting a music festival there. “They were both immediately open to the idea, unsure and cautious about how much work it involved, but receptive and ready to host this type of event for their community. We all recognized the potential.” The festival has continued to thrive thanks to its clear and compelling vision. “It’s creating a stage for musicians to perform their art in our little corner of southwestern Ontario, welcoming our fellow community members of Elgin, Middlesex, and beyond, inviting food vendors, and collaborating with local charity partners,” Gabe explains. Above all else, the vision we share is of happy people, smiling people, dancing in our field, enjoying music and spending a day on an organic vegetable farm that has provided year-round food to over 400 families in this region for over a decade.” While the core essence of the festival remains unchanged, there have been significant enhancements since its inception. “The first year of the festival went smoothly,” Gabe recounts. “We covered our expenses and donated the proceeds to Grace Cafe in St. Thomas.” Over the years, the festival has upgraded
its stage, offered more activities for children, increased its budget, and accommodated a growing number of festival- goers. “At its core, Middle River Music Fest is still the same unique festival that popped up in our region in 2019. Performers and festival-goers all want to come back, and that’s what gives us the energy to welcome them back.” For those who have never attended, the Middle River Music Festival offers a unique and welcoming atmosphere. “You’ll enter our farm property, park your vehicle in one of our fields of oats, peas, and mixed forage, and walk down our dirt road to the main area,” Gabe explains. The journey to the festival grounds is itself an immersion into the farm’s natural beauty, passing fields of vegetables, ponds, compost piles, greenhouses, and Safety Lighting for Commercial Vehicles SAFETY LIGHTING FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES SAFETY COMMER
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instrumental in the festival’s success. The overwhelmingly positive feedback they receive keeps Gabe motivated to continue hosting the festival: “The feedback and praise we receive from the musicians who play all over the world and from the festival-goers who tell us how incredible and comfortable they feel at our event, all tell us we have something unique at Middle River Music Fest.” “Our larger vision is a multi-day event with multiple stages, camping, and an even larger capacity for contributing to the local charities we partner with, charities which do incredible work for the Elgin and Middlesex communities.” As the festival continues to evolve, it remains rooted in its mission of bringing people together through music, community and the natural beauty of Common Grounds Farm. See you on August 24th, 2024, at 2 pm at Common Grounds Farm. Peace & Love.
fruit trees. The festival prides itself on being family-friendly and inclusive. “The vibe is a welcoming and positive atmosphere where you can expect space to sprawl out, sit, stand, or dance in our field and orchard.” The festival’s lineup is carefully curated to introduce attendees to a diverse range of musical genres. This year’s lineup includes Wesli, a Juno-winning world music band from Montreal; Kobo Town, a calypso band from Toronto, and local talents like Lucy Morgan and Micah Sage. “Our goal is to introduce people to musicians they aren’t familiar with,” Gabe says. Past performers have included Alysha Brilla, Niall Mutter, and Harrow Fair among others, each bringing their unique sound and energy to the festival. The support from musicians, attendees, and sponsors like Railway City Tourism and the Ontario Arts Council has been The FDC Foundation has pledged to MATCH all gifts to the Transforming Tomorrow Campaign dollar for dollar up to $1 million. EXCITING NEWS! $1 MILLION MATCH! Give Today. December 31st Help us exhaust this matching opportunity by
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Real Living • Summer 2024 • Page 5
Preserving the Past for the Future with the Belmont Historical Society In January 2023, the Belmont Historical Society was formed, ignited by a passion project started by Barry Weaver to record the town’s rich history. Barry’s dedication to Belmont is evident in his words: “I’m very partial to Belmont. There are two kinds of people in this world: those who were born in Belmont and those who wish they were. That’s the basis for getting started.” The historical narrative of Belmont has been meticulously documented over the years by the Women’s Institute, where women like Bernice Taylor, Nellie George, and others recorded the town’s history. This tradition continued as Barry, upon returning to Belmont to care for his parents, began contributing to local history records. Inspired by a local newspaper article, Barry started compiling additional information, fuelled by his father’s vivid recollections despite dementia. Barry recalls, “My dad had dementia, but he could remember way back. So, I wrote it down. My mother added her insights, and we sent the article to the local newspaper.” This sparked a larger project for Barry. “I thought, well, I’m going to take advantage of this. I went to the library, got photocopies of everything written about Belmont, and started organizing it by street. It took me about three or four years, but I ended up with about 150 pages of history.” Barry’s work laid the foundation for the Belmont Historical Society. Sandy Higgs, the society’s chairperson, explains their collaborative process: “We started meeting and going through Barry’s book. We began at the north end of Belmont, researching and documenting historical sites like the house that Barry lives in now, once inhabited by Squire Manning. We’ve gone over our findings multiple times to ensure accuracy.” SCOTT LEWIS AUTO A name you can trust Old or new, we’ll fix them for you!
Some members of the Belmont Historical Society. From the left is Jim Moore, Evelyn Mooser, Donna Draper, Jim Jenkins, Sandy Higgs, Barry Weaver. The society’s ambitious project involves putting up signs at historical sites, creating a walking trail, a mural on the arena and engaging the community. However, funding remains a
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To advertise here, please contact Geoff@villagerpublications.com Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of compani © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial I Services (Canada) Inc. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of compan © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financia (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Services (Canada) Inc. Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Your Elgin County Sun Life Advisor for 22 plus years and counting. Balanced decisions made easy. While there’s no shortage of demands on your money, now’s the time to build a strong foundation for the future. It all starts with a conversation. Wherever you are in life, strengthening your plan today will help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow. Wherever you are in life, strengthening your plan today will help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow. Wherever you are in life, strengthening your plan today will help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow. Balanced decisions made easy. While there’s no shortage of demands on your money, now’s the time to build a strong foundation for the future. It all starts with a conversation. Raise your family, build your future. Balanced decisions made easy. While there’s no shortage of demands on your money, now’s the time to build a strong foundation for the future. It all starts with a conversation. Balanced decisions made easy. While there’s no shortage of demands on your money, now’s the time to build a strong foundation for the future. It all starts with a conversation. RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Life insurance C Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com Michael L. Moore* Advisor, Sun Life Tel: (519) 637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs Balanced decisions made easy. While there’s no shortage of demands on your money, now’s the time to build a strong foundation for the future. It all starts with a conversation. RRSPs/RRIFs • RESPs* • TFSAs
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Page 6 Real Living • Summer 2024
The group’s goal is to share and preserve Belmont’s history. Sandy emphasizes, “With all the new subdivisions coming in, the chances of losing this history are great. By putting up signs and creating a walking trail, we help people understand and appreciate the families who were here.” Barry adds a historical perspective, “Belmont was founded by six families, United Empire Loyalists. Three families came by way of Quebec and the other three through Picton, Ontario. Knowing these roots helps us understand our community better.” The Belmont Historical Society is not just about preserving the past; it’s about building a sense of community. Sandy reflects, “Belmont is still at heart a small community, a wonderful place to be. When we needed $6000 for street flowers, we raised $11,000 in two days. It’s worth remembering and preserving.” The evening we met, the society was just getting the final edits done on the new sign that will be appearing outside of Barry’s home, with plans already underway for their next signs. “After this one is done. We’re working on one called Springfield Farm and the Seven Sisters, which is the big house at the north end of Belmont with all the gables and Victorian gingerbread work,” says Sandy. The society meets at Sandy’s place every second Thursday except in December. They welcome new members and donations to support their mission. For more information on how to join, contact Sandy at sandyahiggs@gmail.com. To make a direct donation, you can e-transfer to bhsdonate@gmail.com. Belmont’s history is a tapestry woven with the stories and efforts of its residents, past and present. The Belmont Historical Society ensures that these stories are not forgotten, fostering a deeper connection to the town for future generations.
challenge. Sandy shares, “We have lots of information and help, but we need funding. We’re considering becoming a charitable organization, but there are many hoops to jump through.”
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Real Living • Summer 2024 • Page 7
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Economic Growth and Community Improvement: The Elgincentives Advantage
Elgin County is proud to support local businesses through innovative programs that drive economic development. Among these initiatives is the Elgincentives Community Improvement Plan, designed to fund private property improvements that boost the region’s economic vitality. In partnership with local municipalities, the Elgincentives program offers grants for projects that stimulate economic development and enhance the community’s appeal. Recently, three businesses in Elgin County successfully leveraged grants from the Elgincentives program to fuel their growth and transformation. Peter Letkeman Guenther Inc. received a Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) through the Elgincentives program, marking a significant step in stimulating local investment. This TIEG grant will support the construction of a 38,000-square-foot facility on Hacienda Road in the Township of Malahide. This new development will convert vacant land into a vibrant business hub, housing six industrial and commercial units and creating over 100 jobs in the region. The grant will defer the increase in property taxes for five years, with an estimated deferral of $109,637.43 for the County and a similar impact on the Township of Malahide. With an estimated project cost of $1,800,000, the new business units aim to attract investments from industrial and commercial sectors and provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Brandywine Farms and Garden Market is another success story, having received $2,175.60 through the Elgincentives Façade, Signage, and Property Improvement Grant. This support enabled them to paint their façade and improve the deck at the
entrance to their storefront. The project involved painting the main building and replacing the deck boards surrounding the store. The building, which is over 200 years old, had a neglected façade with mismatched siding and degraded deck boards. The renovations made the storefront more visually appealing and safer for visitors, customers, and vendors. Thousands of guests will enjoy these updates during Brandywine’s summer farmers’ markets, farm tours, storefront sales, and other events. As an agri-tourism destination, Brandywine will draw visitors
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from within Elgin County and beyond, stimulating economic growth and diversifying tourism dollars. Dutton Mercantile, situated on Main Street in Dutton, also benefited from the Elgincentives Façade, Signage, and Property Improvement Grant, receiving $1,955.66 for façade enhancements. As the largest storefront on Main Street, Dutton Mercantile required aesthetic enhancements to restore its appeal. The renovations, strongly encouraged by community members, gave the business a clean and classic look, complementing the surrounding buildings and businesses in Dutton’s tourism area. The upgraded façade not only enhances the visual appeal of Main Street but also strengthens Dutton Mercantile’s position as a beautiful focal point in the area. This improvement underscores how local business enhancements can strengthen the community and improve the quality of life for residents. The success stories of Guenther Homes, Brandywine Garden Market, and Dutton Mercantile exemplify the positive impact of the Elgincentives grant program on the region’s economic growth and on the enhanced quality of life for residents and visitors. These initiatives demonstrate Elgin County’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment, stimulating local investment, and enhancing the appeal of each community. If you are interested in learning more about ways Elgin County can support your business, we’d like to hear from you! While the Elgincentives program intake is currently closed, the TIEG is open year-round, and businesses undertaking major projects can apply at any time. For more information or to schedule a pre-consultation, please contact economicdevelopment@elgin.ca.
From left to right, standing on what will be the site of the new building, are Carolyn Krahn, Manager of Economic Development, Tourism, and Strategic Initiatives; Warden Ed Ketchabaw; business owner Peter Guenther; Councillor Dominique Giguere; Stephen Tripp, Community Relations and Economic Development Manager for the Township of Malahide; and Nathan Dias, Chief Administrative Officer for the Township of Malahide.
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Real Living • Summer 2024 • Page 9
Doug Tarry Limited Acquires Land from Elgin County Railway Museum The Elgin County Railway Museum (ECRM) and Doug Tarry Limited (DTL) have announced the completion of a significant land sale, finalized on June 28, 2024. DTL has purchased the western eight acres of ECRM’s brownfield land for $2.4 million. This deal marks a pivotal moment in the revitalization of downtown St. Thomas. Alongside the land purchase, DTL has demonstrated its commitment to ECRM’s mission by donating a generous $200,000. This financial boost will help ECRM address current initiatives and critical needs, ensuring the museum’s future as a key cultural landmark in downtown St. Thomas. Additionally, DTL will contribute $36,295 to assist ECRM in shaping a strategic vision for the museum and its historic building. To facilitate this, ECRM has enlisted the expertise of Lord Cultural, an Ontario-based global consulting firm renowned for its work with railway and transportation museums. Doug Tarry expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “It’s bringing together a vision that is something we’ve been working on for quite a few years. And as Joe (Preston, St. Thomas Mayor) would say, this is really kind of the beginning of a long journey. We’ve got many steps along the path, and we’ll have to continue. We would agree that St. Thomas is on the brink of really exciting economic and demographic growth. It’s already happening, and there’s a lot of buzz within our community that we should be really excited about.” This project is largely seen as a collaborative vision for St. Thomas. The Railway Lands Redevelopment, led by Doug Tarry
Developments (DTD), a division of DTL, aims to create a walkable district and central gathering place in downtown St. Thomas. This project will offer diverse housing options and support both existing and future commercial and community opportunities, including the ECRM, CASO Station, and local businesses. DTL and ECRM have pledged to work closely to ensure seamless integration between the redevelopment and the museum lands.
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Page 10 Real Living • Summer 2024
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both financially and through your expertise, will definitely help us take that next step and bring this building back to life, continuing to thrive both as a building and as a museum.” Joe Preston reflected on the project’s potential, saying, “What we accomplished is to look at our past here in St. Thomas and our future, and say we’ve been talking for a while about what steps we can do and, through the help of Doug and his group, how can we accomplish all the things we want to accomplish? As Doug said in his speech, we don’t yet know all of those steps, but we sure know in what direction we’re trying to head.” DTL’s acquisition of the land and their substantial donations signify a robust partnership aimed at preserving the city’s railway heritage while fostering innovative housing and community spaces. This project is set to transform downtown St. Thomas, blending historical preservation with modern development to create a vibrant, thriving hub for generations to come.
Real Agricultural Elgin Living Summer 2024 cover Checking out the Southwold Fire Department booth at the Rosy Rhubarb Festival. Photo by Geoff Rae
Scott Sleightholm, President of the Board of Directors for ECRM, highlighted the significance of the collaboration: “Not only is this extremely exciting for the entire community, but it is an extremely exciting time for ourselves, for the members, volunteers, and membership here at the museum. It’s a starting point for us to take us to the next step. Your support,
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The EFA Wants You! by Laura Fraser, OFA Member Service Representative, Oxford and Elgin Counties Laura.fraser@ofa.on.ca Summer is in full swing, and farmers are busy on the land and in their barns. While for many, summer indicates a break, vacation time or a slower pace, we all know it is typically not that way in agriculture.
career fair in St. Thomas that will help students make real-world connections and learn about future career pathways in the agri-food sector. Each event features a variety of agriculture industry representatives who run hands-on stations related to agriculture, food and careers. The EFA is excited to bring this educational event to Elgin County in April 2025.
This is especially true for agriculture groups and committees that rely on volunteer directors to keep things running efficiently and to remain productive over the busy summer months. The Elgin County Federation of Agriculture is a perfect example. The EFA is a member-based county affiliate of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The general purpose of the EFA is to lobby to improve the economic and social well-being of farmers in Elgin County; provide members with information on agricultural issues and increase public awareness of agriculture and the food system. The EFA is made up of a board of directors that offers a diverse range of expertise and knowledge of the farming industry. The directors commit hours of their time to events and meetings, engaging with municipal council and commodity groups and engaging with members and the community. The EFA has been instrumental in events that help the community, such as the waste oil recycling days, farm safety outreach, and bursaries for post-secondary education opportunities, to name a few. They are currently working with Agscape to hold an agricultural Everything is Just Peachy at
Did you know that if you hold a valid OFA membership and reside in Elgin County, you are considered a general member of the EFA? This means that you have the right to vote at all general meetings and can be eligible to be elected to attend OFA’s Annual General Meeting each November. Elections for this year take place at EFA’s Regional meeting, on August 22, 2024, at the Gay Lea Dairy Museum from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. All OFA members are welcome to attend. For more information about the EFA, please go to their website at elginfarmers.ca. To register for the Regional Meeting or for any other inquiries, please contact Danielle at elginfarmers@gmail.com.
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Geoffrey Rae Managing Editor / Sales Geoff@villagerpublications.com 519-495-7177
All articles written by Geoff Rae unless otherwise indicated. Copy Editor – Peter Bloch-Hansen Publisher: Barb Botten barb@villagerpublications.com Graphic Artist – Cathy Wood Photos, community events and article suggestions welcome. 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.
Page 12 Real Living • Summer 2024
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OUTSTANDING IN HER FIELD How Much is your Home Worth? by Sarah Harrison, Co-Owner of Mazak Farms We would be hard-pressed to find anyone in this county who is not aware of the activity happening around the EV plant. At this point, changes are affecting people and property from one end of the county
communities, and simply lived their lives. For a growing number of our neighbours, all of that is being upended in the name of ‘progress.’ One day this spring, we heard from three different neighbours that they had received notice that their homes were being expropriated, in one day. Taken. That is what expropriation means, ‘The act of taking away’. Imagine. I hope that all you or I ever have to do is imagine that it doesn’t happen to us -- it could. It could happen to any of us. As much as you think that you are going to be the one who fights the government and prevents them from taking your property, you aren’t, and you won’t; there is no winning in that situation. So, is it about the money? No. How much money would it be worth to you to leave your home and start all over? How much money would it be worth to you to undergo the stress, the trauma, the uncertainty, the all-consuming demand on your time and attention to deal with this unwanted issue? We need to talk about all those elements and stop speculating about how much money was received in exchange for uprooting lives. It’s okay to feel sad, overwhelmed, and unsure about the changes to our community; you are not alone in those feelings. We can all accept that change is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean it is easy.
to the other, with highway modifications, pollution plant creation, and the already completed clearing of the plant site. A change that largely brings with it chatter, opinions, and misinformation. A lot of the chatter is something to the effect of, ‘Don’t feel too bad for those who have been expropriated; they got lots of money.’ That train of thought blows my mind and breaks my heart. Maybe they did, perhaps they didn’t. It’s none of our business. It isn’t really about the money. It is about the complete disruption of people’s lives. Some of those people have tended their land for generations, have fed your family and mine, have protected the wildlife, bettered our
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Real Living • Summer 2024 • Page 13
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Page 14 Real Living • Summer 2024
Footprints and Fossils by Port Stanley Festival Theatre Artistic Director, Liz Gilroy The search for the unknown and the discovery of extinct beasts from the past seems to fascinate us, especially as children. Whether it be travelling to Scotland in search of ‘Nessie’ or uncovering the remains of dinosaurs, we are all looking for something mystical and larger than life. When I was a wee child in the Scottish Highlands, I was positive I saw actual Fairies tripping through the forest. Their iridescent wings and the songs they sang are still etched in my mind today. When I went to the Museum of Natural History and witnessed the dinosaur exhibits, it took my breath away. It seems hard to believe that creatures of this size once dominated the earth. Maybe as we grow older, we lose our belief in the mystical world, or perhaps we just don’t see it anymore. Perhaps we are also not as enthralled with the giants of the past as we deal with the day-to-day minutia of our lives. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to just let go for a couple of hours and find ourselves lost in wonderment again? If you are searching for a little magic, our last two shows of the season may fit the bill. Our World Premier of Bigfoot! by Ephraim Ellis takes us on a quest to prove that Sasquatch is alive and well and living in the wilds of British Columbia. Dr. Abagail Franklin is positive this is the summer; she will spot him once and for all and prove to her esteemed colleagues that she isn’t a joke but a bonified researcher. Along for the journey are Jake, a podcaster and huckster who’ll do anything to make some money and have
his 15 minutes of fame, and his apprentice, the naive Leaf, who looks pretty good in a t-shirt, much to Abby’s chagrin -- she doesn’t have time for distractions. These three explorers take us on a funny, heartfelt adventure full of possible danger. If you’re fast enough, you might even spot the elusive Bigfoot himself. The last show of our summer season is The Perils of Persephone by Dan Needles. We’re going all the way back to 1989 to the Currie homestead where the Great Wooly Mammoth once reigned supreme, but where the new town reeve and his family now reside. Throw in a toxic mishap, small-town politics, a wily statesman, a spin doctor, a couple of farmers, the press, a professor, and you have a recipe for possible disaster and a rural comedy that will have you chuckling all night long. Bigfoot! runs from August 7thto the 24th, and The Perils of Persephone runs from August 28th to September 14th.
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