The Great North Arrow – Audio for April 17th

Good day, The Great North Arrow is initiating a new service. To be clear, this is a trial and it will keep on improving. Any feedback would be appreciated. Just send Jim and email. This audio only represents the articles written by our writers at this time.

I will eventually incorporate the other sections as we move forward. I hope you enjoy it. I think that this is going to be fun. Jim

New Pete the Bear Statue to Be Unveiled on Canada Day

By: – Virginia Ney

BURK'S FALLS – GNA - Pete the Bear has become one of Burk's Falls' most cherished and heartwarming stories and remains an important part of the town's history. In the spring of 1948, Pete arrived in Burk's Falls as a one-month-old bear. Charlie Purdie adopted the young bear, naming him Pete, and for 31 years Pete lived at Purdie's Gas Station. Over the years, Pete became a well-known local attraction.

Visitors from near and far would stop to see the 450-pound black bear, who was often fed orange pop and ice cream by visitors passing through town. Pete quickly became more than just an attraction — he became part of the town's identity and a memory shared by generations of residents and visitors alike. Pete passed away in 1979 after living nearly double the average lifespan of a black bear.

After his passing, Pete remained an important part of the community's history, and the town built a wooden statue in his honour so his story would not be forgotten. For years, visitors and residents could stop and see Pete's statue, take photos, and share stories about the famous bear. However, over time the wooden statue began to rot and deteriorate due to weather and age, which eventually led town council to make the difficult decision to remove the old statue.

After the removal of the old statue, the community began discussing Pete again, especially on social media, particularly Facebook. Many residents shared memories, photos, and stories about Pete the Bear and expressed how important the statue was to the town. Seeing these discussions and the community's interest in bringing Pete back, a local chainsaw carver, Jake Rhodes stepped forward and offered his services to create a new statue. Councillor Ryan Baptiste of Burk's Falls said they hope to unveil the new Pete the Bear statue on Canada Day. "In hopes that timeline gives us an opportunity to reintroduce Pete during a meaningful community celebration and ensures the artist has time to complete the statue," he said.

Pete the Bear has always been an important and familiar part of the community, something people grew up with and cared about. For many residents, Pete represents childhood memories, local history, and community pride. The new statue shows that council listened to residents, recognized the pride people feel for their community, and restored something that meant a great deal to many people. Ryan Baptiste also said, "My hope is that the new Pete becomes a welcoming landmark once again and something the community can be proud of for years to come."

We here at the GNA can't wait to see the unveiling of the new Pete statue and the return of such an important symbol to the community. For many residents, Pete the Bear represents memories, community pride, and a piece of local history that connects generations. The new statue not only restores a familiar landmark, but also highlights the power of a community coming together, sharing their voices, and being heard. The unveiling will be a meaningful moment for many who have been eagerly waiting to see Pete return, and it will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Pete the Bear's story in Burk's Falls.

Jim Shedden

Audio by Paper2Audio.

What Can We Do?

War, huh....Yeah! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Uh-huh uh-huh. Interesting and poignant words from the song by Edwin Starr.

Let me be clear....we are not a paper of gloom and doom however; you can't keep turning a blind eye or sticking your head in the sand when there is so much going on around us. You think it doesn't affect us? Think again.

I don't have to rehash every last detail of what's going on in our world right now, yet a few highlights will bring it home as to where this article is going.

I'm on a solution mission! Yes, that's right, I want to know what we can do as a collective to turn this crap around. Everything I once thought was solid is flowing like lava and I for one am sick and tired of this BS.

Where did this idea come from? Well....my bestie and I often get together for tea and like to share events happening in our families, cheer each other up, discuss shenanigans we may or may not want to partake in and of course try to solve matters important to us. Lately our focus has been on why our world is so freaking messed up!

Have you ever noticed that most of us can sit down calmly at a table and solve all the world issues? Even without alcohol or other enhancements! LOL! Seriously! If the average Joe or Jane (don't wanna get anyone's knickers in a knot here) can see through all the smoke and mirrors and come up with some sensible solutions, then why can't these highly paid so called "leaders"? Let's not limit this to just the leaders as we all know it takes pawns as well.

I'm not trying to crap on one individual or one party because in all seriousness there are bad apples in every party in every corner of the earth. This is what can happen to those who do not know how to handle the pressures of their position and fall into the power trip pit that acts as a lure for the weak minded. I'm not trying to be mean either.

Just stop and think about it for a moment. It's always harder to take the high road. A moral compass and integrity are not attributes that come naturally, although they actually should. It all depends on how you're raised, in my humble opinion.

Even being raised right doesn't always guarantee one will not fall to temptation. Just saying So let's take a look at a few issues that could use some tweaking and see if we can come up with some positive and realistic solutions. You think I'm just playing? No, I'm dead serious. I'm sick and tired of how disgraceful characters are parading around dictating and causing destruction, pain and death unnecessarily. When will enough, be enough? Think about who benefits from all this! Definitely follow the money!

Our legal and health care systems are failing. We have politicians diverting attention away from important issues as a control tactic. Let's not worry about the criminals in the Epstein files, you know the men and women who preyed on children to fulfil their depraved sick fantasies!

Bombing a country killing innocents has become a norm! WTH? Partnerships with countries/leaders/factions that do not hold human life as sacred. Let's not focus on taking criminals off the street and removing "ILLEGAL WEAPONS" nooooooo let's take legal guns out of law-abiding citizens possession costing taxpayers millions – billions of dollars! To accomplish what exactly? How does this do anything towards removing illegal weapons? Duh! What numbnut thought this plan up? Oh wait, someone "appointed" to a position they have ZERO knowledge in! Seriously!!!.

How crazy is it getting? A Lindsay, Ontario homeowner, Jeremy David McDonald was charged with aggravated assault because he used a knife on a crossbow wielding intruder, Mike Breen. Because Breen was injured during his break-in our wise system decided to charge the homeowner because Breen had to be rushed to hospital. WTH? We can't protect ourselves, our family or our home from invaders? How can this even be real? Yet here we are. Tell me our system isn't whacked!

Ask yourself, why do they want to disarm law abiding Canadian citizens? What are they so afraid of? Focus on getting the criminal element under control and leave the rest of us alone!

We could talk about the tantrum master who spews so much hatred, racism and utter bull crap from his foul mouth, but he has shown his colours, to those who can actually see. Whether it's to control a country for their assets or using unsubstantiated claims against an individual or country, it all comes down to how much money he can personally make from the chaos. IMHO Laws are broken; a Constitution is trampled on, protocol is thrown out the window, and manic attacks are allowed to run amuck unchecked.

It's so bad comedians can't help but poke at the daily happenings with jokes every freaking night. To be perfectly honest.....it's not funny anymore. Instead of poking fun at his shortcomings, why not come up with some solutions?

Or at the very least, get him some medical help for his condition. Just saying. I would really like to see the Constitution actually protected. Ya know the one they keep referring to and quoting from but walking all over with no repercussions. But that's just my little pet peeve.....maybe.?

Many agree that all this commotion is to deflect away from the Epstein files. I do find it rather alarming that they have not brought anyone, on this side of the pond, in for questioning for these crimes against children! Yes, the victims are adults now, but that does not excuse these depraved pieces of .....dirt. None of us have any idea what they were put through because it didn't happen to us. Some went for help but were treated as if they were the criminal or were somehow enticing or enjoying what happened to them. STOP.....back up a sec....give your head a shake and tell me that this sickness is not contagious! Yes, we need to get to the truth but not by destroying the victim when you haven't even brought in the SOB who caused the pain in for questioning!!!!

Someone said, the system would collapse if they brought all those attached to the atrocities in. LET IT FALL! I would rather have individuals who possess integrity and a moral friggen compass have a shot then who is in power at the moment.

It just feels as though so much has gone off the rails in the last few years. We became "woke" and now we're broke and a joke! We are way too politically correct. We can't act for fear we offend. What happened to healthy debate? Not the display we see during elections or in political realms...that is shameful. All manners go out the window which infuriates me. I was raised to not interrupt when someone was speaking, to listen to what was said and then respond....politely!

On to other matters before I have a meltdown. Don't get me started on how the north is an afterthought when it comes to services. They want our natural resources, but they don't want to put any money into safe roadways (i.e. Hwy 11 & 17), healthcare, housing or municipal services for our communities. Oh, they love the tax dollars, but they are falling well short on providing services to our rural communities.

Several areas along the Highway 11 corridor north of Muskoka do not have service roads. What does that mean? It means if there is an accident on the highway, there is no way around it. You are stuck waiting until the highway is cleared. This is becoming a regular event in recent years and quite scary when it takes place in the winter months.

I'm not going to get into who causes the accidents, but there has been a notable increase due to inexperienced drivers with questionable licenses. So, with no service roads people are stuck on the highway in the cold. And they want us to go electric!!! How's that gonna work?

They need a gas or Deisel fueled vehicle to bring you juice!!! Insert eye roll!!!

We need to even up the playing field and make our politicians accountable. Why do they get a full pension after one term? WTH? Shouldn't they have to put in their time like the rest of us? If they are not doing a good job, why can't we fire them?

If they are fired or found to be incompetent for their position, they should be stripped of their pension, etcetera If they cost us money....shouldn't we be able to sue them? What if they are found to commit criminal acts? Shouldn't they be charged like any citizen?

We've been giving away far too much to individuals who are not qualified for the positions they have been appointed to never mind deserving! Where's the accountability?

A final thought...it's a statement I heard that resonated with me.

“We are being fooled. There is no scarcity of Gas, Oil, Food or Water. Scarcity is engineered by ego-driven psychopaths running this world. Earth is not empty. The shelves in our stores are not a problem. There is no shortage....only controlled supply. This is so the Oligarchs get wealthier while simultaneously shrinking the middle class into an ever-expanding poverty class. Hmmmm

So, what are the solutions? We need to do something, but what? I think it's time for a reset myself, but I would love to hear what your thoughts are.

If you're not part of the solution....then you're part of the problem. Time to start working together to turn this around. Are you with me?

dbussey. greatnortharrow@hotmail. com

Ooh War, I despise Cause it means destruction of innocent lives, War means tears to thousands of mother's eyes, When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives.

I said, WAR huh Good God y'all! What is it good for?

Absolutely nothing.....say it again.....

Letter to the Editor

Jim: I came across this the other day. I think it is well worth publishing in the GNA You hate Mark Carney you say?

Cool. I don't care. But I need you to explain something to me.

Because I keep hearing "he's done nothing" from people who can't name a single policy he's passed.

So let's play a game. I'm going to list what the man has actually done in 12 months and you tell me which part you disagree with.

1) He killed the carbon tax.

Gone. Day one. The thing you've been posting about for five years. He ended it. You're welcome.

2) He scrapped the EV mandate.

No more government forcing you to buy an electric car. Replaced it with a $5,000 rebate if you want one. Your choice.

3) He reversed the capital gains tax hike.

The one that had every doctor, investor, and small business owner looking at the exit door. Reversed.

4) He passed the One Canadian Economy Act.

Tore down interprovincial trade barriers that have been strangling this country since Confederation. Passed with Conservative support by the way. Nobody talks about that part.

CMHC says this alone could unlock 30,000 new housing starts a year.

5) He launched Build Canada Homes.

Not a press conference. An actual federal agency building 45,000+ homes on government land across six cities.

6) He dropped $51 billion on real infrastructure.

The Build Communities Strong Fund. Hospitals. Bridges. Water systems. Transit. Universities. Stuff you can walk into and touch. 7) He cut 40,000 government jobs.

Trimmed the federal machine and committed to balancing operational spending by 2029. With a plan. On paper.

8) He slashed temporary resident admissions.

From 673,000 down to 385,000. Because he understood what the last government refused to accept: you can't add people without adding capacity.

9) He hit the NATO 2% defense target.

Something every PM has dodged for decades. Canada just made the biggest defense spending jump in generations. Over $63 billion. Then at the NATO summit he committed to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. The Americans aren't laughing at us anymore.

10) He flew to the UAE and came back with $70 billion.

A $70 billion investment pledge into Canadian infrastructure. Not a handshake. A signed agreement.

11) He went to China and played hardball.

Got tariffs on Canadian canola dropped from 85% to 15%. Cut EV tariffs from 100% to 6.1%. That's not weakness. That's someone who knows what leverage looks like.

12) He signed Canada's first bilateral free trade deal with an ASEAN country.

Indonesia. New market. New money. New doors.

13) He made Canada the first G7 nation to recognize Palestine.

He's made 26 international trips in one year.

Building trade relationships, signing deals, and putting Canada back in rooms we got quietly removed from (yea by Trudeau...he's not Trudeau).

Now here's the part that should make you uncomfortable.

Read that list again.

Carbon tax gone. EV mandate gone. Capital gains hike gone. Immigration reduced. Defense spending up. Government jobs cut.

Trade barriers removed. Foreign investment pouring in. ..... Those are Conservative policies. Every single one.

A Liberal did them.

And that's what's really eating people alive. It's not that they disagree with the results. It's that the wrong team delivered them.

So instead of saying "good, keep going" they say "he's done nothing" because their brain won't let them give credit to someone wearing the wrong jersey.

That's not politics. That's a personality disorder.

You don't have to like Carney. You don't have to vote for him. But if you're going to sit in this comment section and tell me he's done nothing after reading that list, just say what you actually mean:

"I don't care what he does. I decided I was against him before he started."

At least that would be honest.

The scoreboard doesn't care about your feelings. And after one year, it's pretty darn full.

“How do you become the person who puts stickers on fruit because I think I could do that.”

Scam Alert!

By: Deborah Bussey of Trout Creek

I recently received an email from a friend. This friend was reaching out for a "favor." He wanted me to acknowledge receipt of his message and let him know if I could help. I responded with; Hi (his name), Message received. Ask away, if I can help I surely will.

It seems innocent enough, right? His response is what raised the hair on the back of my neck. The message was: Happy to hear from you. Thanks for your response.

Please I need to get an Apple gift card today for my Niece because it's her birthday. I'm currently travelling for a funeral of my friend's mother, I tried purchasing it online but the effort proved abortive. I was wondering if you could help me get it from any store around you?

I promise to reimburse you. WTH?

First of all, a friend would not respond Happy to hear from you as an opening line. Being a retired teacher he would of course address me properly and his use of the language would reflect his education! Not only that but he would be using English and not the American spelling.

I sat there looking at the email wondering what the hell just happened. I double-checked the email address, and it was in fact my friend. Hmmmm I wondered why he would ask me how things were going but not share what he's been up to. Nope just straight to business. It was tugging at my heart strings because this person/teacher came to my aid at a time when I truly needed help as a teenager and I wanted so much to reciprocate, but this just seemed off to me.

I sent a message to him in Messenger asking if he had in fact sent me an email. I waited.....no response. After some time had passed, I sent an email back saying; No sorry, nothing is open here. It's Good Friday.

No response.....nothing. Now if this was my friend he would have said something like, Oh right, I totally forgot about the holiday. Thanks anyway.

So I reached out to a few friends who lived close to him as this was obviously a scammer who hacked his email. Now I was concerned that they had access to my email because I responded.

Through the help of Cyndi Culbert I figured out I should call and report this. After researching and making a few calls I was told to first call and report it to our local police then inform the Anti Fraud Center. So that's exactly what I did.

Now the lesson is that the local police will not take a statement or do any follow up unless you have been defrauded. Which means you either have to have sent money or bought one of the gift cards they are asking for before they will step in. They just redirected me to the Anti Fraud Center.

So I called the Anti Fraud Center but they were closed because it was Good Friday. Duh lol But the good news is they are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4:45pm and they also have an online reporting system which I used.

It was a fairly easy process but I still have not heard back from them on the report I made so your guess is as good as mine on whether they received the message or if they intend to follow up on it.

I did hear back from my friend who thanked me for reaching out and letting him know. He was going to have his commuter checked to make sure his information was safe.

Imagine what lengths these scammers will go to in order to rip caring people off. You think it wouldn't or couldn't happen to you but let me tell ya, if they keep fine tuning their approach it will be very difficult to see through their ruse.

Look for little clues if something like this should happen to you. Are they starting off with a proper greeting like; Hi Deb, how are you. It's been a while since we spoke. How are you? Versus Are you having a good day? Let me know if you receive my message. BINGO why would anyone want to know that?

Clue two; asking for a favour. Well....that's not uncommon but if you haven't heard from someone in a long while and out of the blue they're asking for a favour it's kinda suspicious. Why wouldn't they call you directly?

- Clue three; Wanting you to purchase an Apple or any gift card for them because .... get this ..... they tried and it proved abortive. Really? Abortive? Who says that? I can laugh now but initially I just wanted to help out a friend.

- Clue four; Obviously this has to be someone who is not from here as nothing and I mean nothing is open in these parts on Good Friday! Lol

I found out that I was not the only person to receive this suspicious email from my friend. Wow....they must have sent it out to his entire contact list! How scary is that?

So, if you find yourself in a similar situation or one that seems a little off to you remember this.... don't respond at all. If it's a call, email, text, whatever method they use, verify everything before you act. And if it seems off to you report it immediately. Better safe than sorry.

Anti Fraud Center 1-888-495-8501 Monday to Friday 10am to 4:45pm Or visit their website at; antifraudcenter dot ca underlined and file a report.

Our world is becoming a scary place. Be prepared because we ain't in Kansas anymore Dorothy!

And as Bob Dylan wrote....

And there's no telling who, that it's naming For the loser now, might be later to win, For the times they are a changing....

Submitted by Tamara Brash, with permission from June's family.

You may not know her name is June, but if you live in South River, you'll remember seeing her. She hasn't been home for almost a year, and this past week her house of 50+ years sold and the new owners moved in. It's been a bittersweet occasion.

Young and old will remember her at Halloween as "The Cookie Lady" who lived beside the firehall. In recent years she's been the tiny lady who slowly walked/shuffled almost daily with her cart from her house to the post office, the grocery store, the pharmacy, the credit union. June often stopped (until the fire) to get a coffee and some conversation from Bob who always refused her money. She would also stop on the benches to smile and chat with the children getting out of school.

You might remember seeing her in the library, checking her Facebook page or getting photos printed. If you happened to be on the roadwork crew the past few summers working outside her house, you probably got freshly baked muffins or cookies from her. In fact, if you stopped to chat with June long enough, you could have been the recipient of something she baked and certainly would have received an invitation for tea.

You may remember her from her devoted attendance at the now defunct United Church, or if you're old enough, she may have babysat you or cleaned for you and you too would have enjoyed her baking. And, if at any time in the last 75+ years you entered an exhibit into the fall fair for baking, sewing, quilting or knitting, you probably lost first place to her. Her love of a good competition is unparalleled.

She might be small in stature, but June is 6ft tall in gumption - you may have witnessed her stubbornness, if she turned down your offer to drive her home - its likely because you caught her on a day that she needed to prove she could still do it. She may have looked frail, but if she was wronged, you knew it; and once she has an idea she thinks is a good one, she'll keep at it no matter how many calls she has to make, because "persistence is key". And cheeky! Oh my! Always quick with a joke or a jab, and her sassy nature always intended to make you smile - make her own self smile too.

You may not know this, but she is the most patient teacher, always encouraging, always complimenting, always finding the silver-lining in any project you messed up (trust me on this one). And if you ask her, she is not old, simply "older". For the record, she'll be 92 this year...in June.

She was born and raised in South River – she grew up in the big white house on the highway across from the gas station. Currently she is the matriarch of a large family, full of grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews, who live mostly in Sudbury or North Bay. To them she is Grandma June or Auntie June. To me and most of you, she is our friend June.

Last year on January 15, 2025, the day of her brother Ernie's funeral (which was only 3 weeks after her sister Betty passed away), June had a seizure that kept her in the North Bay hospital for several months.

Since then June has made the incredibly difficult (and brave) decision to move to a nursing home in the Sudbury area, she will be closer to family and will have the companionship of other residents. She is still settling in and predictably, she misses her beloved South River and it would do her heart good if she were to receive cards or letters from the kind and thoughtful residents here, from the only community she has ever known.

Should you feel so inclined, her new contact information is: June Mannella care-of Extendicare Countryside, Room #2104 2307 Algonquin Road., Sudbury ON P3E4X6 Her phone number is 705-386-2548

Trust in Trains, Government Institutions Requires Public Oversight By: Éric Boutilier

The Government of Ontario and the Federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities have recently made headlines regarding announcements and discussions held on the topic of passenger rail in Northern Ontario.

In March, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission purchased 205 kilometres of track between North Bay and Washago. The public now owns this strategic piece of rail infrastructure, which should help the Northlander operate more dependably through Cottage Country. The company also began testing their new train sets across the entire length of the route.

At the same time, members of Parliament raised a number of issues plaguing train service between Sudbury and White River to interim leaders and delegates of VIA Rail Canada.

The organization intends to present a plan that ensures this remote, yet essential route is once again reliable and consistent (let's hope).

These are positive developments.

Undoubtedly, there are some important issues governments need to resolve.

We don't know how well the Northlander train sets will perform in the dead of winter. The same ones purchased by VIA Rail infamously failed just before the holidays.

There is a ton of congestion between Washago and Richmond Hill that routinely creates delays and headaches for VIA's flagship train, the Canadian . Will the Northlander be able to keep a schedule on those same set of tracks?

Earlier this year, the Budd Car was inoperative for 25 calendar days due to recurring mechanical breakdowns. Until very recently, the baggage car was kaput. How much longer will this 70+ year old equipment continue running before it fails outright?

As constructive as the track purchase is towards reinstating the Northlander, we only achieve progress when we can investigate the problems and engage politicians, bureaucrats and stakeholders in constructive conversations on issues like transportation.

In order to effect change and provide meaningful contributions to the discussion, the public needs accurate, unbiased information that isn't presented through the lens of a political party, or vetted by a media relations department.

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act grants Ontarians access to official data and records through various ministries, agencies or other public sector organizations like ONTC and GO Transit — subject only to limited and carefully defined exceptions.

Premier Doug Ford wants to change that. Among other things, he's proposing to make his records as head of government and those of his cabinet ministers' secret.

This is an alarming policy change for researchers, journalists and ordinary citizens who file FOIs to find out what's happening behind the scenes.

If passed into law, the proposed changes will weaken our democracy. They will undermine confidence in government and taxpayer funded institutions.

Since the creation of Northern Tracks Blog, I've filed nearly two-dozen access to information requests on various topics related to public transportation in Northern Ontario. A few excerpts include:

ONTC Rail Division Sustainability Plan (2009):

• “Generating some 35,000 annual passenger trips out of a total market base population of 200,000 (north of Toronto) is an acceptable performance in terms of indicating support for the service by actually using it [the Northlander].”

Sudbury-White River train service interruptions:

- 44 cancellations due to engine failures, issues with batteries, fuel spills, exhaust leaks, or derailments from the passenger train or the host railway.

• 326 total passengers affected.

Annual ridership, on-time performance and test train data

When the provincial government wanted to deny access to what ultimately became the Updated Initial Business Case for the Northlander (prior to its release in 2022), I filed an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner (and won).

Filing FOLs are incredibly time consuming, and there is a nominal five dollar fee for each application. Depending on the topic or type of record requested, the province may charge additional fees to find the data in question.

But it's a small price to pay for keeping governments in check. Politicians make decisions on behalf of taxpayers and the general public. They are accountable to us, not the other way around.

The former President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, says: “Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.”

Western Development Museum and the Snowbirds

I had relatives visit from Edmonton this week. My youngest Great-Nephew is thirteen and in Air Cadets. When he grows up, he wants to join the RCAF and become a pilot.

He loved the Western Development Museum Snowbirds display. He sat in the mock-up of the Snowbird aircraft and you could tell he was off somewhere, flying through a cloudless sky. Really neat to see a kid enjoy his fantasy.

We toured the aircraft display at the Museum. I told my great-nephew the history of the Vickers Vedette and about the men who built the replica at the Museum. And how a friend of his Great- Great Aunt Mae was flying a Vickers Vedette in Vancouver out of Jerico Beach when a duck, flying in the opposite direction, smacked him in the face. And how he crash-landed off Point Grey, hung on to a piece of wreckage and was rescued. And about the Cessna Crane on display that was flown by local Flight Lieutenant Al Seward while training at Brandon during the War.

The lad was polite and listened to my stories. His mom, dad, grandmother, brother and I then went with him for lunch.

When we came out after lunch we could hear the roar of jet engines off in the distance. I was exhausted and suggested they drive out to the 15 Wing Base, park near the control tower and see what might be up flying. I needed a bit of a snooze and thought they needed a break from my endless chatter.

Snowbirds and Harvard Ils It was as if I arranged it perfectly. The Snowbirds were up practicing and a couple of Harvard Ils were doing training flights. The 'flying-show' lasted for a long time. They got photos and videos.

Their two-day visit to Moose Jaw was a totally success. The young Air Cadet was thrilled. He has photos to take back and show his mates at their next Air Cadet parade.

We are fortunate to have the Western Development Museum and 15 Wing here in Moose Jaw. We often overlook how wonderful it is, but the kid from Edmonton will remember.

Who knows if the young boy's dreams will come true. Whether he'll join the Airforce. But thanks to Moose Jaw, its people and the Snowbirds, he is off to a good start.

Dunchurch, Magnetawan, Burks Falls Connection The Great-Grandmother of the boy who wants to be a pilot was born in Hagerman Township (Whitestone). His Great-Great Grandparents were married in the Knox United Church, (then Presbyterian) Dunchurch. They lived in Burks Falls.

Bomb Them “Back to the Stone Ages” An Observation – For Educational Purposes By Richard Dowson, Moose Jaw I am not a critic. I'm an observer of world events. Criticism is a very specialized field of writing, full of all sorts of dangers. I am an amateur historian. I try to connect historic events for readers.

This is an Observation – not a Criticism.

On Wednesday evening, April 1, 2026 United States President used a television address to speak to Americans and the world about the Israel-U.S. War with ee-rahn. Critics have covered the speech every which way. And that is fine. Everyone has the right to be a critic.

I didn't watch the speech. I go to bed early.

What I learned about the speech was from news sources. President Trump said, and I quote, "We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks," (meaning ee-rahn) and he added, "we're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong." Seems Secretary of Defence, Peter Hegseth, posted the same, "bomb them back to the stone age" phrase on social media. It was a popular phrase Wednesday night.

What's New is Old

My amateur historian ear locked on to the phrase, 'bombing a nation back to the Stone Age.'

I realized, That's not new!

The phrase, 'bombing a country back to the Stone Age' is from the 1960s. It is attributed to General Curtis LeMay, the commander of the United States Air Force back then. General LeMay was talking about the Vietnam War and “Operation Rolling Thunder”, an aerial bombing campaign against North Vietnam that lasted from March 2, 1965 to November 2, 1968. LeMay's stated goal was to 'bomb North Vietnam back to the stone age' so it could no longer function as a country. There would be on infrastructure left. The phrase, “We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages...” is from the Vietnam War.

How'd That Work Out?

During 'Operation Rolling Thunder' the U.S. bombed North Vietnam for three and one half years with limited success. North Vietnam continued to fight.

The Vietnam War ended when American troops left Vietnam. On April 30, 1975, the southern capital city of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese and the Vietnam War was over.

There are no 'winners' in war. Only death and destruction.

But why would the President of the United States use a phrase from the Vietnam War in his speech? A War in which 58,220 American military personnel died.

Memories in Time

The Journey - Part 1 The summer journey to our cottage was a multi-stage process. It began with the trip from our home in Cincinnati, up 1 to 75 with a stop in Lima, Ohio at Howard Johnson's for lunch, then onward, across the Ambassador Bridge to the 401, ultimately arriving in Chatham where my mother's folks lived at 411 Queen Street. (The Canadian portion of this first part of the journey was challenging as Tim Horton's had yet to be invented to provide essential traveling nourishment along 401). A 2 to 3 day layover in Chatham allowed for final preparations and packing to be completed, and luggage and supplies were transferred from Mom's car to Grandpa's 1968 Mercury Rideau and his two wheel trailer. The second part of our journey covered quite a bit of ground as we headed from Chatham past London, Woodstock, Kitchener, Guelph, then into Toronto, shifting to a northern direction and connection to 400, and ultimately switching onto Highway 11. The only mandatory stop (based on tradition) was the Highway plaza on 401 just outside Woodstock - not that the car needed gas, but it was an opportunity to have a second breakfast of sorts in that fascinating dome-shaped restaurant.

Once we picked up #11 Highway more familiar names and sights greeted us as we passed Barrie, Orillia, and Severn Bridge, followed by the olfactory wonder that is Weber's (when the wind was right we would smell it 1 to 2 miles before we drove under their private bridge). "Back in the day" (a phrase I find myself using more frequently it seems) Highway 11 was only two lanes, and in many cases it ran through rather than around many smaller towns. Along the highway itself it was interesting to see all the small businesses that were Esso, BP, or Shell stations, plus mom-and-pop eateries of varying sorts, lots of cottage-themed supply businesses, and family run motels located less than 100' off the road. As kids I am afraid we missed out on the historical significance of Muskoka and its history as we motored north.

It never crossed our minds that we were headed into the area opened up when Canada began the Muskoka Colonization Road in 1858. The history of rail and steamship travel was lost on us - we were too busy watching for the signs that we were getting closer to Burk's Falls. It was anguish seeing the "miles to" signs along the way as it made us seem that we were creeping along rather than making rapid progress. The distinct advantage of metrification is that kilometers do seem to pass much faster than miles and one has a sense of making more rapid progress. Across the bridge at Severn River, past the signs for Santa's Village at Bracebridge, our eyes were peeled for signs letting us know how close we were to Huntsville, knowing that Melissa, Novar, Emsdale, Katrina, and ultimately Burk's Falls were just beyond.

Sometimes we would look for North Bay mileage signs and then subtract 60 miles to gauge how far it was to the end of this second part of the journey. Our immediate goal - the Burk's Falls Hotel for dinner before setting out on the third and final part of the journey.

But that will come in Part Two.

Reflections 101 1960s Food Prices versus Today With Catharina Bowers

Today's modern produce aisle The '60s were a cheaper time. If you found a few stray dollars in your pocket, you could have a burger, fries, and milkshake with your friends and still have some money left over!

Let's have a look at how 1960s grocery prices compare to today (and how they changed throughout the '60s).

Massive Price Inflation: A week's worth of groceries in the 1960s cost less than 20 dollars. Packed up in those heavy brown paper bags...whereas the average Canadian household now spends close to 200 dollars per week.

The “Dollar” Standard: Throughout the '60s, many staple meat items such as ground beef, chuck roast, and bacon were priced under one dollar per pound. Today, those same cuts can range from seven to fifteen dollars per pound.

We rented an apartment in Ajax at 60 Exeter Road on the 15th floor in a brand-new building for $160 per month, that was in September of 1966. The start of a new family.

Diaper service was a luxury at $6.50 week. It saved trips to the laundry downstairs, so this was a great convenience for a new mom. If I remember, Pampers were not yet available. They were on the horizon, by the time Peter was born 3 years later.

Fuel for car...$0.32 cents per gallon...8 cents per liter. Can that be right? Yes it was...Dad had a Texaco station on the corner of Pickering Beach Road and Bayly, across the road from Neil's Esso! Occasionally I would go help him pump gas for his customers.

Car insurance about $50 / year. We had a 63 Park Lane convertible. (It regularly got taken by a group of young guys and taken for a joy ride.

Groceries on average was about $20 per week. For that you ended up with meat, food, cleaning supplies. Baby formula was bought separately at Kemps drug store in the old Ajax Plaza.

Awe....the good old days. We were fortunate, Kurth had a good job, and we never wanted for anything. We would go on vacation regularly, we had no bills, everything was paid by cash.

Meat -The meat section was the highlight of any '60s supermarket. You could get a whole pound of meat for (mostly) less than a dollar back then. A good meatloaf, or a nice flank steak, cut on an angle was delicious, or hamburger pie could fill up your belly and your soul.

Eggs - In 1960, you could get a dozen large, Grade A eggs for the price of €57.3. In the middle of the decade, in 1965, the average price of a dozen eggs fell to €52.7. Towards the end of the decade in 1967, the price increased slightly with a dozen eggs costing you €62.1. In 2025, egg prices have increased dramatically. In the middle of 2025, you had to pay 5 to 6 for a dozen eggs on average. In late 2025, though, costs have come back down, hovering in the 2 to 3 range for a set of 12 eggs.

Dairy Products - In the '60s, you didn't necessarily have to make a trip to the grocery store to get milk. You could have fresh milk delivered right to your doorstep everyday for just an extra cent or two. And a single dollar could cover an entire gallon of milk. We had a great milk man when we lived on Cedar Street in Ajax, his name was Gord Ward.

Fruits (Fresh and Processed) - You might be surprised to know that 1960s supermarkets barely had any fresh produce. Organic? Most of the general public hadn't even heard of that word by then. The most common fruits in the 1960s were oranges, apples, grapes and bananas. Fruits like kiwi and avocado that are mainstream today were considered rare and exotic back then. We would by baskets of peaches when we would go to visit our friends the Holst family in Stoney Creek, from orchards in the Niagara Region. We also had 10 Cent crème filled donuts with chocolate on top...they were so good. I spent 50 cents a week on donuts in the High School cafeteria.

- Vegetables (Fresh and Processed) - Walk into any supermarket today, and you'll be greeted with a fresh produce aisle with a rainbow of vegetables being sprayed with mist. This wasn't a thing back in the 1960s. People mostly relied on local greengrocers and farmer's markets to buy fresh produce.

In the late 50's we lived in Brooklyn, north of Whitby. Across the street from Franks fruit stand. Later Shorts Drug Store built there. Or we would go to the fruit market on Hwy 7 that Fred and Alma Buldyke ran from their farm.

It was also the decade where frozen and canned vegetables rose in popularity. They were convenient, sure, but they were not tasty.

Next week we will look at other grocery items...baked goods, seafood, beverages etcetera

Have a great week, Catharina To learn more about this and the cost of food increases, please visit reflections101.com URL where Catharina compares prices, It's an eye opener for sure!

Deep Woods Players

Theatre in Magnetawan!

With Sue Lessard

Look out Magnetawan and area here we come! After 2 very successful Auditions we have assembled a production team, cast and the initial members of our back stage crew to bring you Do Not Resuscitate a play by Stephanie R Austin, published by Knock 'Em Dead scripts 2025.

As the name implies it is Murder Mystery but there will be plenty of space for laughter while trying to figure out whodunnit. As a Director it is truly inspiring to see the dialogue come to life. Included in the 8 member cast are 2 young girls trying acting for the first time. Wow they are killing it, and very eager to get on that stage. This blend of experienced actors and those new to the stage is a perfect combination.

Rehearsals are well underway in preparation for 2 performance dates Friday July 3rd and Saturday July 4th at the Magnetawan Community Centre. While we are rehearsing, we are finalizing all the other details, including the menu for the dinner, and where and when to purchase tickets. We will be releasing that information shortly.

If you want to be involved and part of our crew, there is no experience necessary just enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a desire to work with a fantastic group of folks. Please email us at deepwoodsplayers@gmail.com Further spotlights on the cast are forthcoming, in the meantime do you recognize anyone in this photo? Special thanks to James Shedden photography.

Horticulture

'WHERE GOOD THINGS GROW AND COMMUNITIES THRIVE' FRIDAYS FLOWER with Sue Poff SPRING GARDENING The sun is shining, temperature is rising, and the snow has melted, but look at those messy garden beds, we better get cleaning... but wait, not yet! I get it, we want to get back into gardening after a long cold and dark winter, especially like the one we had this year. Also, everything looks brown and messy, and we want to get a jump on our yard clean-up. However, if you start gardening too early you can do more harm than good.

Cutting back plants too early can disturb them before they emerge by breaking off new shoots forming just below or poking through the soil surface. With the snow melting combined with spring rainfall your beds will become saturated, so if you walk through your gardens, you will be compacting the soil plus possibly trampling young shoots. I know each spring I have forgotten where I have added some plants, so I stay off my garden beds until they are well sprouted, and we have had consistent dry weather.

Most importantly our garden plants rely on beneficial insects such as ladybugs, spiders, praying mantis, hoverflies, ground beetles, lacewing, dragonflies, stink bugs, butterflies, ants, and solitary wasps such as the mud dauber to name a few. Some of these insects aerate our garden soils and break down dead matter helping to create our much-needed topsoil, while others pollinate our fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Pollinators are responsible for helping about 80% of our flowering plants to grow and thrive.

If you work in your gardens too soon and remove dead plant growth and leaves, you will be killing those insects that your plants need. A gardener's rule is to wait until daytime temperatures are 10 degrees constantly for a week. So put down that garden rake and pruning shears for a little longer, so that your garden beds, and beneficial insects have the best chance of surviving and doing what they do best, making your property gorgeous.

Burk's Falls, Armour & Ryerson Union Public Library - Celebrate Earth Day with a run this week. @YourLibrary! Led by Paul Crawford, children will learn how plants grow and take home their own seedlings. Join us on April 22 at 3:30 PM for some hands-on, eco-friendly fun! Space is limited so be sure to register in advance.

MAY 23RD-11AM-12PM-SPRING PLANTER WORKSHOP!-Sue Poff of All Summerscape Gardens & Gifts at McKellar Community Centre - The Spring Planter workshop is back again this year! You will be making a planter with a variety of annual flowering plants and ivy that you will take home to add to your deck or front entrance. You will learn tips on how to keep these planters looking great from spring right through to the fall, plus, have an opportunity to ask any garden questions you have. All materials are covered in the fee (30 dollars per person), the only thing you may want to bring are your gardening gloves. Deposit of 10 dollars required to hold your spot. Limited to 15 participants. To register contact the McKellar Library at 705 389 to 2611

Raised Bed Gardening

By: Jodi Thibeault The snow is finally melting and seasoned gardeners are itching to get their hands in the dirt. Some people may be new to gardening but are getting the urge to give it a try. One of the first questions you might ask is, in what should I plant? There are a myriad of answers to this question and each seasoned gardener will have their own, strong opinion on this. I am no different.

I love a good, in-ground garden and it certainly is the cheapest way to make one, however, I would like to bring the idea of raised beds to mind. There are many reasons someone might choose a raised bed garden. Here are a few:

• You can fill it with a good amount of fresh, nutrient rich soil, a benefit if you're battling less than perfect native soil.

• It can be easier if you have mobility issues. Raising the garden level could make it more manageable.

• They can be very nice to look at and keep a garden tidy looking, if that's of concern to you.

I feel like we have access to a greater variety of materials these days with which we can make a raised bed. There is nothing wrong with the standard, wood framed raised bed but it can be costly and some wood working skill is involved in their production. These also will rot over time and need to be replaced.

A fairly simple and easily constructed raised bed is one with a galvanized metal frame. These are easily purchased online, if you're comfortable with that, or can be found at local building centres. Their benefit is their durability. Their disadvantage is that they cost a moderate amount of money and there is a small amount of assembly required.

Another option that can be free but does require a significant amount of muscle and effort is a dry-stacked stone raised bed. Am I partial to this kind of bed? Yes I am. Did I have significantly bigger muscles after making a couple? Yes I did. It involves scouring your (and your friend's) property for good sized rocks, then, after mapping out your bed, carefully stacking the stone, one level at a time, filling with growing medium after each layer. The advantage to this bed is that it is potentially free and doesn't rot. The disadvantage is the significant amount of work involved in collecting and stacking the stones.

The final consideration is the growing medium for your raised bed. I always think people should compost their food and garden waste. This is a wonderful source of a great soil amendment and diverts garbage from landfills. Understandably, this is not for everyone.

I suggest you layer the bottom of your raised bed with branches and, if your bed is high enough, logs.

This can take up a good amount of that space. Other growing mediums can be purchased from your local garden centre and layered on top of your branches and logs. Think triple mix or mushroom compost.

Often this can be purchased by the bag or in bulk from a local garden centre which also might offer delivery for a fee. This also could be a good time to connect with a local farmer to see if you can purchase some barnyard manure from them. You will need to have access to a pick-up truck for this option but can result in a valuable new relationship with a community member.

Whatever you choose, it is time to start planning. Planting season is right around the corner.

Sprucedale Horticultural Society

- We promote interest in horticulture by encouraging the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers on public & private grounds and the education of members through guest speakers and field trips. MEETINGS: MONTHLY: 3RD MONDAY - MARCH TO OCTOBER-SAVE THE DATES!

• April 20: The Resilient Vegetable Garden-Brenda Tota – Emsdale Community Centre

• May 16 Annual Plant Sale-Hopes Clover Farm – Novar

• May 18th-May 18: Bump the Colour – Lyndy Vardy-Sprucedale

And so many more events scheduled We invite you to become a member! Meet enthusiastic & friendly gardeners, learn from knowledgeable program speakers, share plants, seeds, tips, et, grow your garden and friendships, smile and savour the refreshments. WOW! All of this for only 15 dollars a year. Youth are invited to join too - 5 dollars a year. To join, contact: sprucedalehort@gmail.com OR at an of our scheduled monthly meetings!

The Garden Clubs of Ontario present “Discovering Ontario” Triennial Flower Show 2026 - Landscape Ontario - 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, Ontario L9T 2X8 Friday JUNE 19TH - 10 am to 8 pm – Saturday JUNE 20TH - 10 am to 4 pm - Entry $10-Cash only at door. Children under 12 free.

Don't miss this *once every three-year opportunity* to see award- winning work by some of the province's most talented floral designers and horticulturalists!

Wander at your leisure through the fully accessible venue as you take in dozens of winning designs and spectacular plantings. See stunning exhibits with flowers and plants, highlighting innovative design.

There will be two demonstrations each day at 11 am and 1:30 pm.

Parking is free. Awards will be presented in the Lunch Room of Landscape Ontario at 3:00 pm on Saturday, June 20. Public Welcome!

Interesting Read BOUT Dandelions!

It's the time of year when posts extolling the virtues of dandelions /No Mow May begin metastasizing across the Interweb. BUT....

No-Mow May is misguided.

No-Mow May is misguided.

No-Mow May is misguided.

WHY? Dandelions are the primary beneficiary of No Mow May. They are not native, and their pollen does not provide optimal nutrition for our native pollinators. And get this...a University of Toronto study showed that dandelion pollen is toxic to some (and likely many) native plants!

So what do bees eat in spring? - Look up. - The trees are flowering.

So are native spring ephemerals like spring beauties, bloodroot, trillium, and trout lily. One final note...Not mowing your yard for just one month is actually kind of sadistic. You grow habitat...then mow it after a month?? Sheesh...hope no ground-nesting birds or bunnies have made a home there! Far better: Convert part of your lawn to native plants. Learn more: cleannorth.org URL ARGYLE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY - (705) 757 to 3184 argylehorticulturesociety@gmail.com *We meet the first Thursday of every month March-December* OUR MISSION

- To bring together those vwith an interest in gardening.

- To promote and improve horticulture in our cornrunity.

• To preserve and restore our cornrunity's environment.

Schedule

SAVE THE DATE! Can't wait! Come out to Argyle Community Center in Arnstien to hear Darlene Erskine, the President of the Commanda Museum! She will be talking about the history of the building, some of its current uses as well as sharing some information about the little church behind the property! This will be a fun evening shared together! Free for all, Everyone Welcome! hosted by the Argyle Horticulture Society!

JUNE 4 to the power of th - 7 PM - Norsemans Hollow Guest Speaker JULY - NO MEETING AUGUST 6 ^{TH} - 6 PM - Preparing for the Flower Show - @Old School Farm & Gardens With Susan Purves

• AUGUST 11 superscript TH — 9 AM - IIAM - Entries to Flower Show

AUGUST 12 TH - SAM - 12PM - Flower Show

• SEPTEMBER 3 ^{RD} - 6 PM - Forest & Farm - Farm Tour, Commanda

• OCTOBER 1 ^{st} - 7 PM - Peony & Pine Floral Work Shop - Pumpkin Arrangements

- NOVEMBER 5 to the power of TH - 7 PM - Christmas Workshop. - Annual Meeting

- DECEMBER 3, superscript R D, 6 PM - Annual Pot Luck and Carols

MORE ABOUT US: We are a friendly club and we welcome guests at any time! Our meetings are casual, informative and interesting, plus you get to meet new people! Our members share a dedication to making our community beautiful. Our Society holds a FLOWER SHOW in August for members to show off their flovvers, vegetables, indoor plants and flover arrangements!

MAGNETAWAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Greetings members and friends of the society, "April showers bring May flowers"...and at this rate, the flowers will be expected to bloom like mad in May!! The rain didn't dampen our spirits as we met again on April 16th, at the Friendship Club.

Our guest speaker was Scott Brown, an avid gardener and member of our society. Scott dove into Electroculture gardening with tremendous success, as seen in photos of his pepper plants from the previous year. In his presentation, we learned about the benefits and some of the science behind these curious-looking garden "ornaments." I called them that because they were quite unique in appearance!

Following Scott's presentation, we built these “ornaments.” This was a wonderful event, and we thanked Scott for sharing such an informative and fun session. We all took away some valuable knowledge.

A reminder to our members: we always needed volunteers to help with bringing refreshments, setting up and cleaning up at meetings, and serving as garden caretakers. If you were able to spare some extra time and had not helped out in the past, we appreciated seeing your name on one of our volunteer sheets. Our success as a thriving society was because of the volunteers we had. As always, we are welcoming new members to our group, we hope you will join us, we are a great group!

Happy growing, maghortsociety@gmail.com

Huntsville Horticultural Society

huntsvillehorticulture@outlook.com P.O. Box 5354, Huntsville, ON, P1H 2K7 A dedicated group of volunteers that are "Interested in Growing" and Keeping Huntsville Beautiful. Society members enjoy interesting speakers & workshops, hold flower shows & garden tours, and help plant & maintain gardens for the Town of Huntsville.

DO love gardening? Want to help beautify our Town? to learn more about design and make some friends along the way? looking for new members to help With our endeavors. please consider joining us!

Huntsville Horticultural Society Plant Sale Sat May 23, 2026 9am-3pm - Huntsville Public School - 16 Caroline St W CASH ONLY - Rain or Shine MUSKOKA CONSERVANCY - Announcing: Our Annual Native Plant Sale Storefront is Now Open! Now's the time to choose your favourite native plants and get your garden buzzing with life. All orders are placed online and picked up on Saturday, May 9 at one of three convenient locations: Bracebridge - Huntsville - Gravenhurst - Pick-up day is the day before Mother's Day... just saying. Native plants make a pretty great gift!. Potted Shrubs | Perennials | Grasses | Bare Root | Ferns . Every year many of our plants sell out quickly, so be sure to place your order soon to get the best selection. Plant native. Help pollinators thrive. Support Muskoka Conservancy. Order now: muskokaconservancy.org URL If you hate the pope for being too liberal, wait till you hear about Jesus.

As the World Turns

I took a course on Western civilization. I suggest the President do the same.

By: Jim Shedden

I have spent considerable time in Basra, Iraq, and acquired knowledge about the country's demographic composition, which consists of three primary groups: the Kurds (15 to 20%), the Shiites (55 to 65%), and the Sunnis (30 to 40%). Historically, these groups have experienced significant tension and animosity toward one another. Upon taking power, Saddam Hussein communicated an unmistakable message: any deviation from his directives would lead to severe consequences. He frequently acted on this threat, which, despite its brutality, allowed him to maintain a certain level of order. Saddam was a "bad-ass".

In contrast, ee-rahn's population is predominantly Shiite, with approximately 95% identifying as members of this sect. The "Orange Pumpkin," made statements indicating his intention to bomb ee-rahn "Back to the Stone Age." This rhetoric reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the geopolitical context. In other words, he did not read the room correctly.

Had he fully comprehended the situation, he would have recognized that such provocations serve to galvanize the Iranian populace against perceived external threats. In Shiite Islam, the concept of martyrdom is deeply established, centered on the belief that sacrifice in the face of oppression is a moral triumph, significantly influenced by the historical martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in the seventh century.

The president's remarks inadvertently united the Iranian nation in its opposition to the United States. A parallel can be drawn with Canada; when the Orange Pumpkin threatened Canadian sovereignty, there was a collective reaction of resistance. Many Canadians ceased traveling to the United States, some divested from properties in Florida, and there was a notable decline in the purchase of American goods. This shift occurred without any formal government mandate promoting anti-American sentiment. The repercussions have had a tangible impact on the American economy, as it appears that the United States perceives its relationship with Canada as non-essential...."we don't need anything Canada has to offer". Furthermore, nations in the European Union and Australia have observed Canada's efforts to distance itself from American economic domination and are pursuing equitable trade relations ironically, with Canada.

The United States operates over 800 military bases worldwide, a strategy aimed at exerting geopolitical and economic control. Do you know how many external bases Russia and China have in operation? Russia has 15. All 15 are along the Russian border and used for defense purposes. China has one in Djibouti. Scholars have noted that throughout its 250-year history, the United States has experienced genuine peace for only 10 to 20 years. This observation suggests a troubling pattern: if nations do not acquiesce to American demands, they may resort to military intervention. I posit that a significant reckoning is imminent, ironically propelled by the actions of the United States itself. They have assimilated lessons from history, particularly from the example set by the British Empire. America has learned form the best.

When I hear prominent figures like Mark Carney refer to a "new world order," I interpret this as an indication of an international business landscape that operates independently of American influence. For substantive change to occur in the United States, it would need to disentangle itself from the constraints of its relationship with Israel. Unfortunately, it is uncertain how such a transformation could occur without a comprehensive revolution. The Congress and Senate appear to be significantly influenced by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). It is essential to clarify that my critique is not rooted in antisemitism; rather, I oppose certain policies of the state of Israel. The contemporary state of Israel does not align with the biblical Israel; it is a construct shaped by modern geopolitical considerations. The American Congress and Senate have been bought and paid for by Israel, I have articulated on multiple occasions that Benjamin Netanyahu has been one of the most detrimental leaders in American history. I joke saying that Netanyahu is the worst president that the United States of America has ever had. Furthermore, the president's characterization of the Pope as "too liberal" is noteworthy; if he and his "religious MAGA right" finds the Pope's stance objectionable, they may be taken aback by the teachings of Jesus.

The King has no Castle!

By: Stan Robison of North Bay

Well, here we stand, facing the reality of a chosen war; a war of convenience; of power mongers, and a war of weak minds in powerful, rich, old men. The reasons for the war are slow in being announced to the American people and lawmakers; for this is "not", an approved war. It is a war born of "imminent danger" and a "threat to the homeland"; for these are destined to become; the "pathways to forgiveness"; chosen as his excuses; for not getting lawful approval from the Senate. However, the wannabe king, as typical, has not rehearsed his priority list of lies with his stupid henchmen, or quite possibly, even with himself.

You see, different, alternative facts or reasons, were floated by Trump and others. Not in chronological order they included the following; to free the people of ee-rahn from persecution and possible death at the hands of the Iranian regime; to facilitate regime change; to thwart attempts to build nuclear arms; this, after they were, purportedly, obliterated seven months previous; to eliminate short, medium, and long range missiles; to eliminate Iranian proxies; to take out their navy; and last but not least; ah, we may as well take the oil; (the latter, uttered by a Fox, "take it with a grain of salt", Newscaster).

The sad irony is that, each of the reasons bare some obscure but not unrealistic shreds of logic, not necessarily the full truth, but logic. The real reasons remain unspoken through their interviews and social media interactions with the press. Necessity dictates that “imminent threat”, must be the cream that rises to the surface of this murky milk.

The public will buy nothing less. Thus it is, that Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, floats the closest version of reality with grains of truth. Rubio expands on the imminent threat aspect with a short narrative during a scrum with the press wherein; he states that when Netanyahu strikes ee-rahn, it is anticipated, that ee-rahn will strike out at American interests in the region thus “creating” the imminent threat. And so it was, that Israel chose when America would go to war, imminently!

Wait, What? Doesn't sound plausible or conceivable? You're right, there is more; with dictators and wannabe kings; there is always more. In this case, "more" goes back to the Israel/Hamas war and Netanyahu getting a new lease on his dictatorial life. You see, as disliked as he was even then; he excelled in war and ruthless retribution+; much needed traits at the time, to deal with a heinous Hamas. Interestingly, the attack on Israel came at a time when Netanyahu was under immense pressure politically due to his stance on judicial reform in Israel. Possibly coincidence, but viewed by many as a convenient coincidence.

And so it went, from 2022, through to present day; as long as Netanyahu has a war; he has a job; with elections in Israel are stayed, until said wars are resolved. With the real objective revealed and his need to continue at war; who better to help him facilitate this objective than another unpopular ruler and wannabe king; continually wreaking social havoc, in America. Enter the king of chaos; embroiled in a child sex scandal; ruthless ICE tactics/murders; discrimination; military executions of drug runners; illicit financial and other undertakings; unlawful acts, and a long list of atrocities attributable to him and his lapdog followers. He too is about to undergo serious erosion of his powers with mid term elections looming. Not unlike Netanyahu; Trump knows that his lifeline relies on his razzle dazzle antics and continued chaos.

Not to mention that under normal circumstances, “justifiable wars”, tend to improve a leaders popularity. Surely Trump does not think he would meet this quantification. All of this unravels like a pay per view, mystery dinner, to which, “we the people”, were not invited.

Netanyahu; Trump knows that his lifeline relies on his razzle dazzle antics and continued chaos. Not to mention that under normal circumstances, "justifiable wars", tend to improve a leaders popularity. Surely Trump does not think he would . quantification. All of this unravels like a pay per view, mystery dinner, to which, " Let's go back and look at some of the preceding episodes that in hindsight, may have contributed to, or laid the foundation for, this "imminent" threat and actual war that continues to this today.

The wars in Ukraine and Israel created years of chaos and a cost; in tens of thousands of lives. While similar in many respects there are distinct differences brought to bare with the principal players, vis a vis, Putin/Trump/Zelensky re; Ukraine and Netayahu/Trump re; ee-rahn/Lebanon. Trump in both cases being the mentally deficient and weaker, common denominator. Trump compensates for his personal weakness amongst tyrants by flaunting his; "Commander in Chief", control, of the largest military machine on the planet. With Putin; Trump openly expresses his adoration by publicly offering stunning examples of disrespect to Zelensky; European allies; all of NATO; as well as those good people he was supposedly, elected to represent. It is obvious from his actions and statements that some part of his end game includes a thinly veiled, "objective" to weaken NATO while assisting his fellow dictator, Putin. Russia is fighting a multi year war with Ukraine while gaining little ground after four years of destruction and death on both sides.

Trump verbally expresses support for Ukraine; at the same time; going out of his way to delay any meaningful help; thus in reality, assisting Putin and Russia. He stopped sending munitions and financial aid to Ukraine, instead; forcing Europe to purchase the weapons from America before providing them to Ukraine. He invited Zelensky to the Oval Office for the sole purpose of riding televised, roughshod; to bully and embarrass him. A scene that shocked friends and foes alike. At one point in the war; he had Elon Musk shut down the Starlink defence system, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to unfettered Russian drone attacks.

Trump; wanting to up his game of disrupt and distract, also began openly insulting those whom were long recognized as very close friends and allies of the USA; most notably, Greenland, Denmark, and even their closest, joint bordered, neighbour, friend, and ally; Canada. While people were looking at all of this, Trump was planning other steps; like waging military style activities within the borders of Democrat party governed, States, within his own country. He sent massive forces of (ICE), Immigration and Customs Enforcement, personnel into California and Minnesota; causing mayhem, public protests, and confrontation. Their actions, resulting in arrests and the death of at least two Unite States, citizens. All the while; the courts of law were attempting to reign him in on the legal front. His tactics within the USA ultimately led to several, very large, peaceful protests, in every state of the union; the most famous, (thus far) were the “No Kings” marches; drawing some eight million people marching throughout the country.

Undeterred, he concocted a plan along with the Secretary of War; Pete Hegseth; to conduct military style hits on small vessels in the Caribbean. His, unsupported and unsubstantiated, claim being; that small vessels were responsible for hauling drugs; including fentanyl, to the USA. They did this, in spite of the fact that it is commonly known, that historical pathways for these vessels and their drugs ultimately lead to Europe; and not the USA. Nevertheless, Trumps militia, indiscriminately bombed and sank, dozens of vessels and murdered in excess of one hundred individuals without a hint of accountability. These actions culminated with a bold exercise wherein a more extensive military raid was conducted on Venezuela. Under the cover of darkness during the night; the invasion began, and ended. Black Hawk helicopters were used to enter the dictators compound, resulting in an intense gun battle with contracted, Cuban guards, killing at least thirty before capturing Maduro, the ruling President of Venezuela. Maduro along with his wife would be taken to the continental USA and jailed. All of this without reporting to the U.S. Senate or answering to any checks and balances required, within this increasingly questionable, democracy.

As noted the military action itself was short and precise, lasting only a matter of hours however, in hindsight; they were only warming up. Initially thought to be motivated by a regime change; it became rapidly obvious, this was not the case. Trump proceeded by keeping the regime intact; less its leader; Maduro. Instead of appointing Nobel Peace Prize, recipient, Ms. Machado; as leader and advocate for Democracy; Trump negotiated a deal with second in command of the same regime. In January of 2026, Delcy Rodríguez was appointed as temporary leader and Trump was free through her; to access Venezuelan oil to further enrich himself.

It was also not lost on him that with control of the oil; he also had gained leverage over other smaller and vulnerable countries; like Cuba.

On the Israel front; Netanyahu and his mission against Hamas was rapidly winding down and Trump; ever the purveyor of peace; sarcasm intended, inserted himself into the process. He and his cronies had concocted a “peace plan”, affording himself and his family, an opportunity for financial gains; at the expense of those who suffered most from the years long war. Initially, it was his stated intent to simply displace the original Gaza strip inhabitants to convert the area into a tourist mecca and billionaires playground. Somewhere along the line he was credited with forming a "Board of Peace"; made up of any countries willing to contribute one billion dollars in cash for a seat at the table. Trump "assumed", that many reputable countries would jump on board, this bandwagon, including France, England, Germany, and Canada. Sensing this was not going to happen he expanded his invitation to include virtually every country controlled by a dictator style government; many of these countries, not belonging or in some cases not even recognized by NATO. Trump appointed himself as "Lifetime" President of the Board of Peace. Always the opportunist for a dollar or a slight increase in power; real or perceived.

Fast forward to mid February, 2026, and Trump is under increased pressure from the electorate to release the Epstein files, he has lost his Supreme Court battle on Tariffs, and losing case after case, brought in the lower courts. With the mid term elections drawing ever closer; he knows he must act soon. Netanyahu visited him in the USA without much fanfare or press; whom normally, might be inclined to “interfere” with their private planning sessions.

Unknown to most; Trump had already started drawing down the number of American troops in close proximity to ee-rahn. This is important timing as it happened a full, six weeks, before Marco Rubio would claim, “imminent” danger as the “reason” for striking ee-rahn and killing one hundred and sixty five school girls. Marco would attempt to explain in more detail, stating that “they knew” the Israels, Netanyahu, was going to strike ee-rahn first and thereby knew it would be placing American assets and personnel in “imminent danger”. The excuses and lies continued even as I wrote this paragraph.

The onslaught by ee-rahn on American embassies continues even as I write these words. The Epstein files remain prominent even as we hear the expanded and ever fluctuating list of excuses and lies. It is too early to call, exactly where this ends but not too early to predict that it will not end well.

In a democracy where elected leaders flaunt the constitution and long established laws; democracy will die if left unchecked. The President has prioritized getting richer; ahead of meeting his obligations to the people or to the constitution. The President is like a petulant little child acting out at every real or perceived grievance.

The President is a lifelong liar; he is a cheat; fraudster; racist; rapist; sexual abuser; felon; murderer, and so many other things one does not expect to ever see in a world leader. The Presidents men are in many respects equally unsavoury in character and share a common belief in White Christian Nationalism; a common view that America should be white; and women should again be relegated to the bedroom or kitchen; quite possibly, in that order. Nevertheless, all is not lost, yet.

As previously stated; the courts are ruling against Trump and his administration; citizens are taking to the streets in protest; and importantly; mid term elections are looming. The U.S.A. has long touted itself as a country of laws but never before has an elected official; let alone a President; openly disobeyed and disrespected those laws to such an extent; for personal, family, and friends, financial gains. His youngest son, Baron; fresh out of high school, having accumulated one hundred and fifty million dollars in wealth; yet, does not appear to actually hold down a job. His daughter and son in law; raking in billions of dollars from middle east oil barons; to share with daddy and invest at will. Also, daddy gets a multi million dollar, jet to take with him when he leaves office.

His wife, collecting obscene amounts of money to create a documentary that almost no one wishes to view. The older sons; whose job it is to run the Trump empire in daddies absence; to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest by the President. The President himself in his greatest natural role; as a television hawker of Trump products. The golden age for the Trump family while the American, minions, scrimp and save; just to keep up with the cost of running a household and putting food on the table.

Should America pull out of this, and we pray that they do; it must be top of mind to take any and all actions necessary to ensure this can never, ever, happen again. Until now, the prospect of erasing history never sat well with me however, in this case I can say without reservation; that all records and references to Donnie Trump should be stricken from sight. Further, these actions to obliterate his name must be personally witnessed by him and every member of his immediate family.

Finally, all of those in his cabinet, administration, and supporters, in the house and senate; should be forever exiled from the country. Not to inflict further pain on immigrants; but, perhaps the Somalian people might be encouraged to welcome the Trumps to their homeland in an effort to influence history and ensure that it never repeats itself. Surely they would not hurt him?

Almaguin Region Healthcare Crisis Revisited

Sounds like a song written in the 70's! Only it's not a box office success, more of a sad ballad.

I recently spoke with the Mayor of Burk's Falls, Ontario, Chis Hope, and he was optimistic on this subject. He spoke of the positives for the region as well as some issues that still need to be addressed.

Hope was happy to report that the Ambulance Station expansion project is nearing completion in Burk's Falls. Hope stated; "The task has not been an easy one as much time has been spent over the last 4 to 5 years trying to engage "all" the local communities in the discussion. There seems to be a willingness now to look at the "big picture" for the area."

Hope went on to say; “We need more space for healthcare. Funding is a major component to this, and the province needs to appoint a Healthcare Administrator for our area for any project going forward. Someone has to be at the helm that can guide healthcare and its services in our communities.”

I was told by Hope that Sundridge/Strong/Joly communities agreed to a shared co-operative before the 2025-year end with Burk's Falls.

We agreed that healthcare matters. Hope pointed out that healthcare falls under the provincial umbrella. So, I plan to investigate who does what, why, when, etcetera so that we all know who we should be going after to get these projects completed.

This is awesome news! We need more community co-operation to get the services we so desperately need here in the north. I agree that we do need an Administrator. Having someone who has knowledge, education, and experience in this field will benefit us greatly. This individual will have a better understanding of what is needed, how to achieve goals and work with Ministries and government to get the funding and services our communities are in desperate need of. None of this “appointing buddies” to a position… if you catch my drift?

I further understand that projects do require due diligence; however, it's not rocket science! We need to get the lead out, IMHO, and get moving forward.

We have a perfectly good location and building in Burk's Falls that was “designed” as a medical facility that is the old Red Cross Burk's Falls Hospital! Just saying!

People are suffering in our communities unnecessarily and it's shameful. Having to travel great distances and face lengthy wait times for care. Many in the Almaguin Region are without a family doctor, NO walk-in emergency clinics, no relief for taxpayers or our hospitals! You wonder why wait times are so high at our hospital emergency departments???? Not having Emergency Walk-In Clinics in our communities is a major factor contributing to this. Isn't this denying us of a basic human right? Seriously!!!

How much longer do we have to wait?

We are supposed to have evolved, be in a “time of enlightenment”, right? What are the advantages of becoming an organized township/community if progress is a monumental task so laiden with studies, paperwork and bureaucratic BS that we are not moving forward and if so....at a snail's pace. It's more than frustrating.

I don't know about you but TIME is precious. It's not fair to make people wait another 5 to 10 years for an Emergency Walk-In Clinic! We deserve better!

Where's Doc Hallam? If ever there was a time we could use this force of nature.....it's now.

Old Wives Tales

- When April blows its horn, Then it stands good with hay, rye, and corn, A cold and moist April fills the cellar and fattens the cow

- "Ne'er cast a clout 'til May is out": Do not shed your winter clothing until the May (Hawthorn) flowers bloom.

• Knock on Wood: Touching wood after speaking of good fortune prevents it from being reversed.

- Cows Lying Down: If cows are laying down in a field, it is a sign that rain is coming.

• Bizarre Pregnancy Myths - High/Low Belly: Carrying high means it's a girl, while carrying low means it's a boy.

• A cold May and a windy April, a full barn.

• If a bird flies into your house, it means a visitor (or sometimes a message) is on the way.

• Lice Removal - Wash your hair with vinegar to kill lice.

• Acne Treatment - Collect the first-morning urine of a pregnant cow. Dab it on the pimples and leave it

- there for 15 minutes before rinsing. Repeat until pimples are gone. (oh, this will be a big hit, I can feel it!)

- Long labor is the sign that the baby will be a boy.

- Too many hot baths can cause infertility in men.

The Helpful Housewife

"In every clutter, a homemaker sees potential."

•Care for Your Garbage Disposal with Lemons - To make the garbage disposal smell nice and to keep the blades sharp, cut a lemon in quarters and run it through. Easy peasy, lemon squeeze!

•Use a Pillowcase to Dust Ceiling Fans - Use an old pillowcase to dust all of your ceiling fans. Simply slide the pillowcase over each blade and then pull the fabric back, keeping all the dust and dirt contained.

•Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach!

•Rub shaving cream onto your bathroom mirror to keep it from fogging up.

•Sprains, Strains, and Bruises - Apply witch hazel to aching muscles.

•Toothaches-Press a whole clove of garlic against the affected gum and tooth.

•Shake your boiled eggs - The key to making sure your egg's yolk is cooked all the way through is shaking it when it's done. When it feels like a rock, it's fully cooked.

•Toothaches-Press a whole clove of garlic against the affected gum and tooth.

•Shine silver with toothpaste-If you have guests coming over, but don't have a silver polish on hand, use toothpaste. Just rub it onto silverware with a soft cloth, rinse, then dry, and you're all set.

• Use an onion to clean the grate on your grill.

• Hairspray removes ink from fabric

• Used tea bags sprinkled on rose plants will make them blossom faster with more vibrant colors.

•Baking soda and dishwashing liquid mixed into a paste (not too sloppy, or you will lose the gritiness of the baking soda) makes an excellent bath/shower cleaner – gets rid of soap scum and grime well.

•Polish copper with ketchup. - Put a dollop of ketchup on a rag, sprinkle salt on top, then rub the mixture on your copper pot or mugs the next time you're in a rush without a proper polish. Watch and see how it's done here.

•Rainy days are for cleaning. – use rainy days well! Even though you might be tempted to curl up on the couch, being stuck inside is the perfect opportunity to be productive. That way, when the sun comes out, you can go outside and enjoy it.

•Clean the grill. – USE ALUMINUM FOIL - A ball of foil makes quick work of de-gunking a grill of any burnt-on barbecue leftovers.

•For a quick ant kill, mix 2 cups of borax with one cup of sugar in a quart jar. Punch holes in the lid and sprinkle around the outside of your house.

•Another way to get rid of ants is to pour Ivory Liquid Soap around where they are. The apparently is the only soap that works.

Dear Alma: Straight Talk from the Almaguin–Parry Sound Backroads

Put the kettle on—or don't, I know half of you are reading this with a travel mug in one hand and a to-do list in the other. Around here, news travels faster than a rumour at the hockey rink, and advice is usually handed out whether you asked for it or not. The difference is, I was asked, and I'm not going to sugarcoat things just to keep the peace at the post office.

Let's get into it. _ _ Dear Alma, My neighbour has made a habit of "borrowing" my tools. At first it was the odd wrench or ladder, but now it's constant—and things either come back broken, late, or not at all. He acts like we're doing some kind of friendly exchange, but I'm the only one supplying anything. I don't want to create tension because we live side by side, but I'm starting to feel taken advantage of. What's the right way to handle this without turning it into a cold war over the fence?

Signed - Running on Empty in Magnetawan Dear Running on Empty, You don't have a neighbourly arrangement—you've got a one-man hardware heist operating in broad daylight with a friendly wave as the getaway car.

Here's the uncomfortable truth about small-town living: we're trained from birth to "keep things nice," even when "nice" is costing us time, money, and patience. Somewhere along the line, "being neighbourly" got twisted into "being endlessly available," and now you're paying the price in missing drill bits.

You're not obligated to keep the peace at your own expense. In fact, the longer you let this slide, the more you train him to expect it. People don't magically become considerate because you're quietly annoyed—they become comfortable.

The fix is simple, but not easy: you need to close the lending program. Not gradually. Not with hints. Clearly.

Next time he asks, you say: "Hey, I'm not lending tools anymore. Too many things haven't come back in good shape."

Then stop talking. Don't fill the silence. Don't laugh it off. Don't soften it with "maybe later." Just let it land. You're not accusing—you're stating a policy change.

Will it be awkward the first few times you see him at the mailbox? Possibly. Will he think you've suddenly become "difficult"? Maybe. But let's reframe that: you've become someone with boundaries, and that's unfamiliar to him.

If you want to take it one step further, you can add a touch of accountability:

“By the way, I'm still missing that extension cord and the socket set.”

Say it calmly, like you're reminding someone they forgot their sunglasses, not like you're filing a police report.

Here's the part people don't say out loud: a good neighbour doesn't repeatedly put you in this position. You're not breaking a bond, you're correcting an imbalance that never should've existed.

And if he suddenly gets distant? That's not a feud. That's the sound of someone realizing the free ride is over.

Send your questions. Alma's got opinions and she's not afraid to use them. Alma's here, she's listening, and she's not afraid to say the quiet part out loud. greatnortharrow@gmail.com Dear Alma in the SUBJECT LINE

Oh-Natural-Eh!

Mother Nature is drunk! Well....something's up with this yo-yo effect of "Oh it's Spring" oops "No it's Not" nonsense! I for one am just going to power through the manic display and push myself into believing "She" is almost here! What better way to do that then start preparing for the warmer weather, the budding of trees, the sprouting of our first flowers and spring cleaning. I could do without the last one but it's one of those chores you know ya gotta do.

I hope that you keep a couple of things in mind. If you can help it, please don't immediately start raking up the leaves. Not only is it a great compost product, but it also harbours bees and insects that are essential to our gardens. They've been hiding there all winter so let's not rouse them too soon.

Maybe think about starting a compost pile on your property. Use your vegetable peelings to feed it and create a healthy homemade compost you can use in your vegetable or flower gardens.

Egg shells are amazing for our plants as well. They're jam packed with nutrients. I was shocked at how valuable they are for our soil and plants. Loaded with Calcium; key for plant cell well development and overall health, Phosphoros; essential for root development and energy production, Magnesium; important for chlorophyll production and growth, Zinc; aids in enzyme activity and growth, Iron; necessary for photosynthesis and development, Manganese; involved in enzyme activity and growth, Copper; essential for photosynthesis and growth, Sodium; for growth and development, and Potassium; essential for photosynthesis and growth! Holy Holy!

I have been using them for a few years now. I save up my shells in a container and let them dry out thoroughly before crushing them and spreading them on my gardens. You can wash them to ensure there is no bacteria contamination or bake them in the oven to dry them out and kill any bacteria as well.

I have taken my banana peels or skins from fruit and soaked them in water overnight then watered my indoor plants to give them a little boost. Great way to utilize your peelings before putting them in the compost. Happy Gardening!

This is also the time of year that a lot of us like to do a bit of a self-cleanse. No....I'm not talking about a shower or bath here. I'm referring to an internal cleanse.

Nature is about to supply us with an abundance of the perfect ingredient to do this ..... the Dandelion! Yes, this beautiful flower of spring is a go to for not only our farm fur babies but also, it's the first food for bees! Our bodies benefit greatly from this plant. Not only is it a great detox whether in tea form, tincture, or even consuming the leaves or flowers! Just be sure to trim off the green from the flower, or you'll get a pucker face in a hurry! Lol Let's not forget it makes a rather fine wine for you connoisseurs out there.

In addition to a Spring "clean out" we tend to think we are going to start enjoying a healthier lifestyle as well. Well.... some of us do. Not all can commit to it or have endurance for the long haul, but any effort is well worth a try, in my humble opinion.

In this article I will share a couple of recipes; a few will be healthier choices. I will also give you a recipe for a great cleaner for using on appliances, stainless steal or glass that removes fingerprints and helps eliminate them in future. Now that's worth a million to anyone who has children or grandbabies that have to touch every stinking surface their little fingers can reach! LOL Oh, and I'll finish with a couple of fun recipes to keep the kiddos entertained!

Flat Bread:

4 ½ cups flour (your choice that is almond, all purpose or whole wheat) 1 tsp salt 2 ½ cups heavy cream Knead the above for 15 to 20 minutes Roll into balls (makes 12 large or 24 small) Place on a baking sheet Cover with a towel and let rest for 20 minutes Roll out and cook in a frying pan on medium high Tip: when the flat bread puffs up it's ready to flip (approx. 2 minutes) Don't have heavy cream on hand? Make your own.

Heavy Cream:

2/3 cup Milk warmed slightly

5 TBSP Melted Butter

Place 5 TBSP Butter in a saucepan on low heat and melt

Once melted (not boiled) add 2 TBSP of the warm milk, one TBSP at a time and mix well. Now add the remaining milk and stir over low heat until well combined.

Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes

Blend or use an immersion blender until butter is fully incorporated and the consistency of heavy cream.

TA DA!

Guacamole:

4 ripe Avocados

½ small sweet onion finely chopped

1 small tomato (chopped small)

4 cloves garlic (less if you don't want it to have a bite)

Jalapeño (optional; add to your desired taste)

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 Lime (juice from one Lime)

Olive Oil (drizzle over to your hearts content)

It depends if you want chunky or smooth dip so it's up to you from here on out. You can either smash the avocado or cut it into small pieces.

Pour the juice from one Lime over the Avocado. Add all the other ingredients. Mix together and let it set in the refrigerator for a couple of hours....if you can! LOL Use tortilla chips or the freshly made flat bread (see recipe above).

Dip in and enjoy!

Cottage Cheese Biscuits:

1 cup Cottage Cheese

2 large eggs

½ cup almond flour or any flour you wish to use

½ cup cheddar cheese grated

1 tsp Baking Powder

Pinch of Salt

½ tsp garlic powder (optional)

Mix all the above ingredients well. Drop by the TBSP onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 18 – 22 minutes at 350F degrees.

Cottage Cheese Ice-cream: 2 cups Cottage Cheese 1 cup frozen fruit 2 – 3 TBSP Honey or Maple Syrup 1 tsp Vanilla Blend the above ingredients well Optional: you can add 1/3 cup of crushed graham crackers or cookie crumbs at this point Pour into a glass container and freeze for a minimum of 4 hours.

Cleaner to remove Finger Prints:

1 cup water 2 TBSP Vinegar 2 TBSP Alcohol ½ tsp Corn Starch Few drop of your choice of essential oil (lemon is nice) Put in a spray bottle. Shake before using!

Homemade Bouncy Balls!

½ cup warm water 1 TBSP Borax 1 TBSP Corn Starch Few drops of food colouring Stir well. Once it thickens up you can form it into balls!

Suncatchers:

Silicone molds Cut flowers, leaves or anything the kiddos want to have in their suncatchers. Arrange the flowers etcetera in the molds. Ingredients; 1 over 2 cup water 2 TBSP Corn Starch 1 TBSP White Vinegar 1 TBSP unflavoured Gelatin powder Place the above ingredients in a pan over medium heat.

Stir until the mixture becomes glossy and thick. Pour over your arrangement in the silicone molds and let harden. Punch a hole and thread string through. Hang in a window and enjoy!

Well, that's it for this installment of Oh-Natural-Eh! Give these recipes a try and let me know what you think. Happy Spring Everyone! Go get your garden or crafty on!

Recipes with Dog On A Root Bacon & Tomato Sandwich Toasted One Side By: Jim Young, Loring, ON

Two questions will inevitably come to mind. “Why?” and “How?”

First the "why?". Why toast the bread on just one side? Before we can answer this question we should first ask, "Why toast the bread at all?" Aside from toasting stale bread to make it more presentable, toasting bread puts it through a scientific process called the "Maillard Reaction".

Without getting bogged down on exactly what the “Maillard Reaction” is, let's just accept that it's the same scientific process that occurs when searing steaks, frying dumplings, baking cookies and biscuits and even toasting marshmallows as well as many other foods to give them their distinctive flavours. It's a bit like caramelization.

If that's not a good enough explanation for you, you are welcome to peruse this chart or Google the "Maillard Reaction" for yourself while the rest of us are enjoying our "Bacon & Tomato Sandwiches Toasted One Side."

The “Maillard Reaction” aside, some sandwiches are still best made with fresh bread like peanut butter and banana or tuna sandwiches while others are traditionally enjoyed toasted, like bacon and tomato.

But who says you have to give up one for the other? Toasting bread on one side is the optimal method for making toasted sandwiches. With the outside of the bread slice toasted and the inside soft, it offers the best of both worlds.

In fact, you're probably already making some sandwiches that are toasted on one side without even thinking about it. Grill Cheese Sandwiches for example or sandwiches cooked in your Panini Press only toast one side of each slice of the bread or bun used.

This brings us to the “How?” How do you toast bread on just one side? There are several ways to do this.

You could prepare your Bacon & Tomato Sandwich as you would a grill cheese sandwich but do you really want to make the tomato soggy? Here's some other ways to toast your bread on one side.

Dig out your Grandmother's old manual toaster that only toasted one side at a time. Be certain you have an electrician check it out first for loose and frayed wires.

Unplug the toaster you have, disconnect and bypass the heating elements on the inside of the toaster between the bread slice portals so that only the outside elements will toast your bread. You might want to have an electrician or qualified Toaster Repairman perform this procedure. Of course this will render your toaster from ever toasting both sides again.

If your bread is thin enough, you can put two slices in one slot in the toaster allowing it to toast the outsides of each slice while leaving the insides fresh. As an added bonus, you can toast 4 slices of bread at a time using this method.

This is my preferred method as described below in the recipe. After removing the cooked bacon in the frying pan, toast one side of each slice of your bread in the bacon grease. As an added bonus, the bacon grease will also help enhance the flavour of your “Bacon & Tomato Sandwich Toasted One Side.”

So if you're ready, with no further ado, let's get started.

Stuff You'll Need:: 2 slices of bacon 2 slices of bread butter mayo 1 slice of cheese 1 slice of tomato (2 if it's not large enough to cover the surface of the bread) salt & pepper Do This:

Cut the slices of bacon in half and cook on medium in a frying pan.

When cooked, remove and set on a paper towel to absorb the grease.

Leave the grease in the frying pan.

Toast 1 side only of both slices of bread in the bacon grease left in the frying pan.

Spread butter on the fresh side of one slice of bread and mayo on the fresh side of the other slice.

Place bacon, cheese and tomato on one slice of bread.

Add salt and pepper on the tomato.

Cover with the remaining slice of bread and cut in half to enjoy.

Tip: When I don't have a nice fresh tomato for my sandwich I will sometimes substitute a bit of Ketchup.

If you have any questions or comments about this recipe, you can email me at dogonaroot dot greatnortharrow at gmail dot com Don't forget to cut this recipe out of the Great North Arrow to save with your favourites for future use. Caution: Be sure to read what's on the other side of this page before you cut it out.

The Kitchen Pantry 'Homemade Mixes to Save You Money!

Pre-made mixes are available in your local grocery store, but they are really expensive and most times, packed with ingredients you can't pronounce to make them shelf stable. Double, triple, make a huge batch and have them handy and save money!

Homemade Brownie Mix

Ingredients for Homemade Brownie Mix

1 Cup Flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup packed Brown Sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup cocoa powder (I used dark chocolate)

1 cup nuts or chocolate chips (you can use half chocolate and half nuts)

1 glass quart jar with lid to store the ingredients

To make the brownies add :

1 teaspoon homemade vanilla extract

3 eggs

1 Cup melted Butter or coconut oil

Pour mixture into a well greased 9 X 13 inch Pyrex Baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes for the best brownies ever.

Can't you just smell warm chocolate baking? ……

Chocolate Pudding Mix

1 1/4 cup Sugar

1 1/4 cup Cornstarch

1 cup Milk Powder, non-fat preferred for longer shelf stability. 1/2 cup Cocoa Powder Pinch of Salt 1/2 Vanilla Bean caviar, split and seeded (optional)

Instructions

For Pudding Mix:

In a bowl, whisk all the ingredients together. Seal in an airtight container for later use.

To Make Pudding:

In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of milk and 1/2 cup of Homemade Chocolate Pudding Mix to a boil. Reduce the milk to a simmer and stir constantly for about 5 minutes or until the pudding thickens. If it isn't thickening enough, you can add more mix as needed.

Remove from stove top, pour into a large bowl and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes until warm and ready to eat, or place in the fridge and let cool completely.

To prevent the “skin” that forms on cook and serve puddings, press plastic wrap onto the top of the pudding and place in the fridge to chill.

Serve.

Instant Alfredo Sauce Mix

Make any pasta dish with this Alfredo sauce mix! It's like a packet of Knorr Alfredo sauce mix but made from scratch and tastes way better than jarred Alfredo! This dry mix comes together quickly and keeps ahead of time for an easy weeknight dinner or use instantly!

Dry Alfredo Mix:

Ingredients

1 cup Parmesan Cheese, (grated)

3 Tbsp cornstarch

2 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp onion powder

To Make Dry Alfredo Mix:

Combine all the ingredients. Store tightly sealed in the fridge.

To Make Alfredo Sauce:

1 quart heavy cream

5 cloves garlic, (crushed)

4 ounces White American Cheese, (optional but makes super creamy sauce!)

Instructions To Make Alfredo Sauce:

Bring heavy cream to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan. Whisk in the dry alfredo mix (all of it) and stir until thickened. Stir in the fresh garlic and American cheese until melted. Pour over 1 pound of cooked fettuccine noodles and add 1 pound of cooked chicken pieces or shrimp. Enjoy!

Homemade Pancake Mix – so easy!

Ingredients

- Dry Pancake Mix 4 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

To Make Pancakes

1 cup pancake mix as shown above 1 egg 1 cup milk or as needed 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter or oil Instructions Dry Pancake Mix Combine all ingredients. (You can easily double or triple this part) Store tightly sealed in a cool dry place. To Make Pancakes

Preheat & lightly grease a griddle or pan over medium to high heat. Combine 1 cup of pancake mix with egg, 1 over 2 cup milk & butter or oil. Add additional milk as needed, you may need up to 1 cup. Pour 1 over 2 cup batter and cook until bubbles on the surface of the pancakes have popped (about 3 to 4 minutes). Flip and cook until the underside is light golden (another 1 – 2 minutes). Notes-Each 1 cup of dry pancake mix will make approximately 5 pancakes. Store dry pancake mix in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 3 months.

Finding Joy With Valerie Lamb

Mary was roused from her fit full sleep. The events from the past three days came crashing in, threatening to drown her in sorrow. The bright sunlight seemed to mock the realities that were pushing down on her as she raised herself from her bed. Once again she saw Jesus, as He entered Jerusalem, calm, carried on the back of the cutest wee donkey, the two moving as one. The crowds were pushing in, everyone wanting to see the man, so humble and yet so powerful. The cries of "Hosanah" rang with such intensity that it was almost deafening, the atmosphere was one of great hope, happiness and celebration.

The palm branches were waved and strewn before them as they made their way into the city. There was such a feeling of hope and joy, laughter and love filling every inch of space as the crowds cheered them on. How had it all changed so quickly, how had the cries of Hosanah became cries of Crucify Him? He needs to run, to save Himself, had passed through her mind, as she was pushed and knocked down in this new frenzied cry of the crowd. They took Him, beat Him beyond recognition, stripped and mocked Him, as the blood flowed, He became unrecognizable. Her friend was cruelly nailed to a the cross and His body was lifted up for all to see. This is your king, your Savior, worship Him now! He was mocked, belittled, beaten to the point of almost death, yet life was still in the body that hung bleeding, in agony that was not His to bear, He was sinless.

Her Jesus was gone, death had finally claimed Him as the world went dark, the mountains trembled and the temple curtain was went from the top to the bottom. Mary was broken-hearted, but had her spices to anoint His body, in respect and proper care of the dead. She made her way to the grave, sorrow weighted down her every step.

As she walked and reflected on the blur of the past three days, she wondered how she would move the stone away to get to the man who filled every space of her heart. As she approached the spot that held so much hope, buried in the reality of death, she stopped, amazed as she saw the stone was rolled away. She knelt, looked in and held her breath.

Jesus was not there, His graveclothes were neatly folded, but He was not there. Mary began to weep, wondering aloud, where have they taken my Lord? Her cries came from a heart that was so broken, that she felt it could not break more, but she was wrong. Her tears flowed, her anguish was so heavy, such that it brought her to her knees.

Suddenly a voice accompanied by a bright light reached her through her grief." Mary, why are you weeping? They have taken my Lord and I don't know where to find Him. " Why are you looking for the living amongst the dead.

He is risen, just as He said He would". Mary's heart jumped and she rose to her feet. My Lord has risen, just as He said He would. She rejoiced as she ran to share the news with her friends and family. He is alive, He is risen, He is indeed Lord and Savior. Her words have echoed down through the ages, He is risen, He has conquered death, He lives forevermore.

Because He lives, I too will Live! Good Friday brought horror, unimaginable grief, but Easter Sunday brought hope and victory. Oh grave where is your victory, oh death where is you sting? Friday is past,but praise God, Sunday is coming. He is Risen, He is Risen indeed! Calvary, a cross, a grave, an empty tomb, these are our hope, our stay as we walk this road of life and celebrate one more turn around the sun and celebrate Easter. God Bless!

Dog on a Root Alice's Diary - Memoirs of a Pioneer of Craigvale 1902 to 1906 (Part 1 of 3) By: Jim Young & Alice (Maneer) Young, LORING / CRAIGVALE, ON

"Writing is medicine. It is an appropriate antidote to injury. It is an appropriate companion for any difficult change." - Julia Cameron

In my last regular Dog On A Root Column, “How Was Your February?” I wrote about comparing my February of this year to my Great-Grandmother's February in 1903, based on the entries she made in her diary.

For anyone that missed that column in the March 1st edition of the paper, first of all, shame on you. But you're in luck. You can access it online at: www.GreatNorthArrow.com underlined Issue 5, Volume 13.

In the meantime, allow me to recap with an excerpt from that column."I have a diary that my Great-Grandmother, Alice Martha Rebecca Young nee Maneer kept from October 1902 to November 1906. Alice (29) was living in a log cabin in the tiny village of Craigvale on the 10th line of Innisfil Township with her 38 year old husband George (a farmer), daughter Bertha Lisle (10) and son William Samuel (4), who was my Grandfather. Well, he wasn't my Grandfather at the time but he one day would be."

I had found my Great-Grandmother's diary among my Grandfather's things when I was living at his house in the 1980s. After reading it I felt like I really got to know my Great-Grandmother even though she had died when my Grandfather was a very young boy.

Pioneer life was very difficult. In my previous column there were references to a neighbour's family who had, over a period of just 5 days, lost 3 young children to Scarlet Fever. There were no antibiotics to treat Scarlet Fever in 1903 and while most families lived by the maxim "cleanliness is next to godliness" there was certainly no media reminding them of the proper methods to wash their hands.

Subsequent entries revealed more tragedies, closer to home, were on the horizon. Interspersed throughout the entries that recorded these tragedies however were moments of happiness and details of the difficult and often mundane life of a pioneer in Southern Ontario at the beginning of the 20th century.

The excerpts included here will show a bit of both although it should be acknowledged that excerpts from anyone's story might be a little misleading when not read in their full context. My personal overall impression when reading the full text of my Great-Grandmother's diary was that it was the tale of a sad and lonely woman who, because of her faith, put on a brave face for her outside world.

As a point of interest you will note that there were many references to overnight guests that sometimes stayed longer periods of time in what was a very small log cabin.

These are just a sampling of my Great-Grandmother's entries. Beyond my exclusions there are several gaps that skip a few days or even a month or more at a time with no indication as to why those dates were not recorded.

Sections in italics are notes that I have added. I did not attempt to correct my Great-Grandmother's spelling, grammar or punctuation and in fact may have added a few errors of my own just for fun.

October 1902

Wed 1 - cold. Men ploughing. Father got safely home from Manitoba.

Thu 2 - Lisle, Willie and I went to Aurora. Had a very nice time.

Tue 7 - We got home from Aurora safely. No one to meet us, but got down with Mr. Thomas. Men busy ploughing. League reopened.

NOTE: A trip from Manitoba was likely made by train which would have taken 2 to 3 days. A trip to Aurora (likely to visit relatives) which is a distance of 50 kilometers would have taken several hours to a full day by horse and buggy. As Alice indicated there was "no one to meet us" on their arrival home, they more likely had taken the train which stopped in Craigvale at the time.

There are several references to "The League" in the diary. From the context of its usage in the diary it appears the League may have been a social or religious gathering somehow related to but separate from the church.

Thu 9 - George (Alice's husband) and Grandma (George's mother) went to Barrie and Grandma got a little girl from England, Ethel Lee. Butter 13 ct.

NOTE: In the early 1900s many British children, either orphaned or from poor families, were sent to Canada to work on farms as labourers or as domestic servants. I wonder if Ethel Lee might have been one of those children that had been sent from overseas to come and work on the farm? I don't know. I have never seen any family records that mention her again.

January 1903

Thu 1 - New Years day. Things quiet for us. Grandma went to Lefroy. Uncle Harry Grangers (likely George's uncle) went home yesterday after spending a week around.

Fri 2 - Quite mild. I went down to see Mr. John Leonard and caught cold. Addie (George's sister) was over.

Wed 7 - Mr. John Lenoard died this eve at 8 o'clock.

Fri 9 - Very stormy. Mr Leonards funeral, large turnout, although very rough. Mr. Jos Palmer died this morning. Father went down.

Sat 10 - Very cold. Olive (Olive Palmer was Alice's niece) came up so we fixed up the little house & the funeral came up. Mr. Ben Palmer & Father stayed up & rest came down here.

Sun 11 - Very cold and stormy. Funeral at 10 am. Geo drove Mrs Palmer & two sisters to Allandale to go home. (Just a reminder, this would have been by horse and buggy or more likely, sleigh at that time.)

Mon 12 - Father and Uncle Ben went to the city. Lisle is quite sick.

Wed 14 - Lisle has been quite sick with cold. Washed.

Thu 15 - Men killed Grandpa's hog yesterday. Mr. Wall was over for tea this evening.

February 1903

Mon 2 - Raining. Old Mrs Brown died and one of Edd Webbs little boys from Scarlet Fever Wed 4 - Men went to funeral of Mrs Brown and there is another child of Mr Edd Webbs died, poor things.

Thur 5 - Very stormy all day. No school. Convention at Craigvale this evening.

Sat 7 - Beautiful day, children were able to be out playing a great deal. Geo went to the city this morning so we are alone.

Another of Mrs Webbs children buried which makes the third, very sad.

Sat 14 - Valentines day. Very cold. George went to Barrie for Grandpa.

Wed 18 - Very very stormy. Beia nigntingale & vir wetnell married.

Thu 19 - Quite cold. Things quiet.

Fri 20 - Beautiful day. We all went to the church where the Sunday School children had a sleigh and tea, had a very nice little time.

Sat 21 - Grandpa came back. Cow Fanny had a calf.

Mon 23 - Quite mild. George and Grandpa unloaded the things that came up from Norway. Roy, Rowena and

Millie Black were over.

Note: It should be noted that the “things that came up from Norway” mentioned here did not come from the country of Norway. Elsewhere in her diary, Alice mentions her nieces Olive and May Palmer returning to Norway. The small village of Norway (named for the Norway Pines that grew there) was close to the Upper Beaches and was annexed by Toronto in 1909. It was likely the home of Olive and May.

March 1903

Fri 13 - Verv mild. Lisle has a verv bad cold but otherwise we are all happy.

Wed 25 - Sale of Mr. John Leonards farm stock and implements.

April 1903

Thu 2 - George is sick all week.

Sun 12 - Beautiful weather. Children are both sick with La Grippe.

Note: La Grippe was the French name for a very serious flu at the time. In later years it became known as The Spanish Flu.

May 1903

Fri 1 - Everybody busy Sat 2 - Men finished seeding Sun 3 - Raining all day. Grandma, George & I went to Quarterly Meeting, had a good time.

Tue 12 - We are busy house cleaning. May (Olive's sister and also Alice's niece. Their mother was Alice's sister.) came up to stay awhile to get strong. Grandpa also came back.

August 1903

Kept house. I am not well.

Olive came up on the 11th and stopped 3 weeks. Then she has started to Model school. ...to be continued.

NOTE: From the autumn of 1902 to the summer of 1903 the life of Alice (Maneer) Young was for the most part uneventful. There were only a few entries in Alice's diary between June and September of 1903 and then none until April of 1904. Alice's husband George had been sick for a week in April, but we don't know from what. Lisle and Willie had also been sick with La Grippe. In May, Alice's niece May Palmer came to stay to "get strong" - presumably from an illness and by August Alice noted that she too was not well. Could continuing illness have been the reason Alice did not maintain her diary through this period? I don't know.

Be sure to look for Part 2 in my next regular Dog On A Root Column in the May 1st edition of the Great North Arrow. In Part 2 Alice picks up her diary in April of 1904. A new addition to the family in May brings Alice some joy for the Young family but it is not to last.

If you would like to read the full transcripts of the Diary of Alice (Maneer) Young or the original diary itself, go to www.dogonaroot.com. In the search field on the left hand side of the page, type "Alice Young Diary". Open the page titled "Diary of Alice Martha Rebecca Young nee Maneer" by clicking on the title.

On the page that opens, clicking on the arrow in the top right corner of the images of the transcript or diary will open the document in full screen in a new window where you can read, download or print the pdf document at no cost.

If you enjoy reading it, please leave a comment on my webpage.

The Easter Lamb Chester's Story

Amanda had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. Amanda had a little lamb with fleece as white as snow.....

Yes, indeed, an Easter miracle occurred at Northern Legacy Ranch where owners Amanda Moore and Alex Loy, also owners of Trout Creek Feed Store, right here in Trout Creek, Ontario where lambing season brought a few challenges to deal with this year. Here's a little story that will warm your heart and touch your soul.

I came across Amanda's post on Facebook and with permission I will share how a joyous event turned to tragedy until something we might consider close to miraculous changed the stars for a little lamb named Chester. We'll discuss his name later. LOL.

This is what Amanda posted; "Well, they say when you have livestock you have deadstock.... it's always devastating when you have animals and one doesn't do so well.

We had an unfortunate incident at our farm. A newly born lamb (an hour old) escaped from his pen and had a skid fall on him! A skid! This should never have happened. But it did. We brought the baby home and it was knocking on heaven's door.

We tried everything and then Miss Gracie decided she needed to take over and be its' mom. She cleaned him and laid with his cold body. We added our "back on track" blanket and an hour then 2 hours went by and we thought he was a gonner. He was in fact not!

He was screaming ready for breakfast. The only issue was his back end was damaged.

So, we reached out to someone with way more experience than us, Julia Durham, and she guided us through making splints. And now we had a baby that was eating and standing!

We reached out to one of my "go to" people, Breanna Pearce (Breanna Holistic Touch Equine Massage). And she came and assessed the baby and taped him up and our worst fears of him not making it has turned to him now thinking he is one of the dogs.

So very grateful to have these amazing people to reach out too. This story ends in a life saved but it could have easily ended up very sad.

This little man's name is Chester! Once he is better he may be hanging out at the store (with diapers) as the new greeter lol."

Chester's Journey:

This will give you a better understanding of the challenges little Chester faced and his miraculous road to recovery. Lianne provided me with a glimpse of Chester's journey.

Three days later after receiving colostrum and loving from Miss Gracie, (the farm dog), Chester came to live with me, Lianne. He required 4 hr feedings to start, which would make it hard to do when you have to run a business.

Since I love babies, I volunteered to be his new Mama. Chester loves his milk, cuddles and his new best friend Scout (my dog).

Breanne of Holistic Touch Equine Massage came weekly to massage and adjust the muscles in the injured leg. Chester's leg would be taped and wrapped. The tape would allow the leg to move but not be over extended.

We also had to add a balloon to his little hoof so he could have traction when he walked, which, by the way, worked awesome. After three visits from our wonderful Breanne, Chester was running, jumping and bouncing everywhere. Chester now has the run of the barn, meets me at the door, looking for his bottle and goes for walks with Miss Gracie and Scout. I do not have the heart to tell him, he is not a dog.

Now you would have to know Amanda to understand just how amazing this woman is. She would go to the ends of the earth to help any one of the animals in her menagerie! She has an amazing heart, and all her critters know it. Her collection of extended family covers everything from chickens – regular and exotic, sheep, goats, donkeys or asses as I love to refer to them, cows, dogs, cats, Emus… yes Emus and her beloved horses. Oh…you might as well throw a Partridge in a Pine Tree into the mix as well! LOL!

Both Amanda and Alex come by farming honestly having been raised on farms. Amanda's mom, Lianne is my bestie who set the bar pretty high when it comes to loving and caring for “extended” family members.

I learned from Lianne the great lengths that the family went to in order to save this little lamb.

Now as a side note I am going to divulge how this little lamb got his name. A confession was made by Lianne over a cup of tea where she admitted in her haste to help name this little lamb a wee bit of an error was made. Her mind drifted back to a favourite old time tv series Gunsmoke that ran from 1955 to 1975 and she thought of the main character, Marshall Matt Dillion's sidekick. But her multitasking high energy thinking mind was racing so fast she thought the character's name was Chester and so the little lamb with the gimpy gate became Chester. It wasn't until some time later she realized her mistake.

Festus played the deputy on Gunsmoke! Fits of laughter erupted over her error, but little lamby was already Chester at this point. This is my friend who loves to come up with interesting names on our road trips. We were once on our way to Oompa, Ontario and had to pass through Madawaska on the way.

Her mind was going a thousand miles a minute when she blurted out "Oh look we're in Madagascar!" LOL! Yes, indeed we were. We all need a friend like this..... one that can make you laugh and feel joy in each moment. There are no mistakes....only happy accidents.

There's no doubt about it, Chester is one lucky little lamb. He may not have had the same outcome elsewhere but under the roof and care of the Moore/Loy family this little lamb became an Easter blessing.

Ramblings Pass the Geritol By: Tamara Bain of Port Loring

A quick run to 'town' left me weeping in the car.

There in my hand was a letter the 18-year-old in me never saw coming. Actually, the 59-year-old wasn't expecting it either.

I needed more paint last Thursday so I jumped in our SUV to make the eight-minute drive to downtown Port Loring to the hardware store. We are coming to the end of our 'hermit' phase of the year where we stick to home as close as possible, so trips to town mean many stops along the way.

I stopped at the LCBO for Sugar Bush 'sustenance', (if we ever get enough sap to make maple syrup this year), grabbed my paint, ordered some special plumbing fittings for LSL, AKA, Long Suffering Larry, my poor dear husband, and popped in to the post office for my mail.

It was a good mail day; several parcels had arrived along with a cheque from a guest for their cabin this summer, and a few letters.

Juggling the load all the way out to the car, too stubborn to make two trips, I stuffed the parcels in the backseat, keeping out the letters to open right then.

I'd been drywalling, priming, painting, shuffling furniture and slaving away at my husbands' whims all week, so I figured a short break listening to my guy-on-the-side, Chris Stapleton, was in order.

In hindsight, I should've cracked open a bottle of that 'sustenance' from the backseat to help cushion the blow, but it was far from chilled, not quite noon and slightly illegal, so I was forced to face that letter stone cold sober.

The letter in question was from the government, never a good sign, but I'd been expecting my quarterly HST refund from last year, so I tore into it happily oblivious of the depths of despair I was about to tumble down into.

I couldn't believe it. My poor drywall-dust-clogged brain went blank.

But it was unmistakable; there in my trembling hands, I held the undeniable proof; I was OLD!

I mean, I had been seeing signs; not only did I know where all the 'good' bathrooms were in North Bay, I knew which ones had the tall-toilets. 'They've' made the eye of my sewing needles smaller, actors on the T.V. whisper and the lights dimmer. And someone hides things on me to God-knows where, especially when, "I JUST had it in my hand!".

I thought I might be getting 'up-there' nine years ago when I opened another letter telling me it was time for my first colonoscopy, but at least I got a nice nap and a muffin out of that ordeal. And then there was the time (plural, sadly), while we travelled across Canada two years ago, when attendants not only didn't ask me but automatically gave me the seniors discount.

Nothing, nothing prepared me for seeing it all there in black-and-white, a seemingly simple 8x10 piece of paper which said, in bold font no less; Canada Pension Plan. Your pension at a glance-is it time to apply? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

After my tears had subsided enough to drive home, I called out to poor LSL, working down in his lair, I mean, basement, "IS IT TOO EARLY TO START DRINKING?!!" Silence. Then, "Why?' "Because I just got a letter telling me I could apply for CPP!"

By the time Larry made it up the stairs he was laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath. I'm not ashamed to admit, the thought crossed my mind to plant my size 8 ½ KEEN work-boot in the center of his chest and shove him back down those stairs. But I digress.

Thank you, you miserable Mister Government Person, but I will NOT be applying for OLD AGE PENSION just yet. That's for OLD people, right? RIGHT?! Tamara, (where did I put the Geritol?), Bai

The Tyranny of Land Acknowledgements and Other Compelled Speech

By George Ramsay

While censorship is often the main focus of discussions about free speech, there's a related phenomenon that can do just as much damage to a free society. Not by preventing people from saying things they believe in, but by forcing them to say things they do not.

Compelled speech requires people to use certain words or phrases, or to partake in upholding certain ideological beliefs. It is just as dangerous to free expression as overt censorship.

The constant recitation of Indigenous “land acknowledgements” illustrates Canada's shift towards enforced mass-compliance on complicated social issues. These statements have become ubiquitous in Canadian public life: at schools, workplaces, government functions, ceremonies and sporting events. Institutions display them on websites, documents, email signatures and social media. A busy person in Canada may come across dozens of land acknowledgements per day in various contexts.

Although framed as optional gestures of respect, many organizations now have policies mandating land acknowledgements; in other circumstances social pressure can make them seem obligatory even if they're not.

Land acknowledgements have morphed well beyond a simple sharing of history into something much more problematic – they have become a sort of sacred ritual with near-spiritual implications, tying certain ethnic groups to ownership over nature itself. When unpacked, there is a lot being said between the lines.

Stepping out of line on land acknowledgements can set off a range of hostile reactions, ranging from social condemnation to significant legal consequences. Geoffrey Horsman is a biochemistry professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. As a parent of three children in the local school system and a member of his local school's parent council, he noted the growing politicization of the regional school system. Of particular concern was the practice of opening every meeting with a land acknowledgement, which took up valuable time and reinforced what he considers a divisive premise.

“I don't think there is anything good that can come out of the idea that a certain ethnic group are the true inheritors of this land,” Horsman says in an interview. But when he raised his objections about the practice, he encountered immediate resistance. In a series of meetings with Waterloo Region District School Board staff, he was told that even discussing the issue was off the table. He has since brought a legal case against the board.

Catherine Kronas, a mother of a student attending Ancaster High Secondary School in Hamilton, actually lost her position as an elected member of her school council last year after she politely disagreed with land statements being read out loud before meetings. "School councils should decide what gets said in their meetings, and we shouldn't have to recite something mandated by the government," she says in an interview. Kronas was reinstated only after threatening legal action.

Horsman's and Kronas' cases are both about Indigenous land acknowledgements, but the issues they raise run deeper. They could have been challenging any form of imposed ideological speech. In fact, many Canadian governments and institutions are developing a worrying track record of legally enforcing ideological language on a number of topics.

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, for example, recently levied an astonishing $750,000 fine against Barry Neufeld, a former school board trustee, after he was critical of the integration and facilitation of transgenderism within public education. Neufeld says he will appeal the fine, which clearly aims to punish him financially for expressing his lack of belief in what the tribunal seems to think is an unquestionable truth.

Compelled speech, or compelled support for any position quells discourse and creates a type of moral injury. Whether you support the notion of land acknowledgements or not, there is a contradiction at the core of the concept: how can words be respectful if they are coerced?

Most Canadians consider themselves polite, kind and caring, a usually laudable set of characteristics that has lately been weaponized. How might we begin to move on from the current cultural climate of tension and towards a freer and more relaxed Canada? ketirea Manitoba judge Brian Giesbrecht has some suggestions. In an interview, Giesbrecht agrees that today's land acknowledgments "create a divisive form of belief in which some people only have rights as 'settlers'." To shift this situation, he offers a list of possible ways Canadians can object to compelled speech. His list includes making a written complaint, standing up and objecting in public, walking out of a meeting and using legal channels to challenge attempted ideological coercion.

The future of a prosperous, functional, united Canada depends on being able to say what you believe and having the freedom to remain silent when you do not. This Canada can and must be restored. Next time you encounter a belief you do not feel eager to participate in, consider abstaining or politely pushing back. If we all resist these pressures, it will no longer be an act of bravery to conduct oneself genuinely and truthfully.

Sprucedale

What is Happening in the Community Centre: With Lynda Howse

SPRUCEDALE !!! Stay On Your Feet Class – FREE Every Wednesday at 1:30 pm. No need to register – just show up and have fun. At the Sprucedale Community Centre. Seniors Luncheon program, every 2nd Tuesday of the month. Please call 705-724-6028/1-888-521-0000 to reserve your spot. $10.00/person.

Sprucedale Seniors BINGO at Sprucedale Community Centre. Monday Bingo, our numbers have been low if our players could pass the word about the Bingo. More players will add to us increasing our payouts. Please note we have NOT raised our prices on the bingo sheets. We have a wide variety of goodies at the concession, helpful volunteers, we are only 7 minutes from Hwy 11 at the centre of Sprucedale. Age limit is 18 to play if more information is needed touch base with Lynda 705-571-4797. Hope to see you there in Monday nights.

Sprucedale Senior's Friendship Club events. It is worth the drive to Sprucedale!!!

Monday at 7pm Dabber Bingo doors open at 6 pm.

Mixed Euchre Thursday at 7:00 pm these events take place at the Community Centre, 31 William Street. Come and join our players for a fun time of Bingo and Euchre.

Sprucedale Seniors BBQ Basket Raffle, tickets will be available in May, Raffle will be drawn in time for July 1 ^{st} Weekend. Watch for the posters and information soon.

There is a saying "It Takes A Village", shared responsibility together we can have unity in strength and community support.

The SPRUCEDALE SENIORS FRIENDSHIP CLUB are having a FOOD BANK/Burks Falls drive to help with NOW, & BEYOND.

Need for the donations to keep coming in.

We are asking our people that attend our events, Ladies Euchre, Mixed Euchre, Dabber Bingo and meetings to bring an item for the Food Bank. We are also hoping that the community will also support this drive. Items can be dropped off on Monday's 5 to 6 pm; Thursday's 6 to 7 pm.

At the Community Centre.

Friday night, April 17 at the Community Centre “FAMILY FUN NIGHT”. Open Mic/Karaoke, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and Beverages. 5 pm to 9 pm Sprucedale Faith Chapel, 63 Henry Street, Sprucedale.

Sunday services at 10:30 am. Ladies Bible Study, every Tuesday 10:00 am. General Bible Study weekly on Thursday's at 7:00 pm. Games Night 2 ^{nd} and fourth Friday of the month; For more information email Pastor Dallas; sprucedalefaithchapel@gmail.com ……

Sprucedale United Church. 2415 HWY 518, Sprucedale, Ont.

Service Sunday 9:30 am.

Weekly events at Sprucedale United Church.

Every MONDAY of the week at 1:00 pm we have Mixed Euchre at the Church.

And Every THURSDAY of the week at 1:30 pm we have a game of Dominoes. We invite anyone who is interested to come and eniov an afternoon with your neighbours!!!

Instruction on how to play will be provided if needed.

Holding a community event or celebrating a special occasion in Sprucedale, please contact me by email or phone at 705-685-7938, cell: 705-571-4797 and leave the details of the event and a contact number. Photos are also accepted.

Coaches Corner

I think Mother Nature is upset with us this year! She started snowing in October and she's still bringing us the white stuff in April. I for one, will be happy when the flowers bloom and the grass is green.

Unfortunately due to sickness and weather conditions, many of us missed quite a few bowling days this season. Only one bowling day left for the Almaguin Special Olympic Bowlers for the 2025/2026 season!

Everyone is looking forward to the end of the season Dance and Awards day on May 5th at the Burk's Falls Legion. It will be a fun time, because all our athletes love to dance. It's western themed so it will be a terrific hoedown!! We can't wait to see all the cowboy/girl outfits!

Here are the personal best scores for March 10th:

1 Gamers: Sandra Minka 122, Keith Piegan 119, Tania MacDonnell 117, William Fetterly 116, David Noll 115, Debbie Grogan 112, Helen Butler 99, Larry Hollingshead 95, David Cadeau 95, James Peters 89, John Hunt 87, Bonnie Jooritsma 87, Nathalie Viau 82, Bridgette Gilrov 80, Marcelle Chartrand 76, Lori Lamoreux 51

Nathalie Viau 82, Bridgette Gilroy 80, Marcelle Chartrand 76, Lori Lamoreux 51.

2 Gamers: Blake McIssac 146, Erica Summers 127, Mike Walton 126, Lise Covell 67.

3 Gamers: Stefanie Carleton 196, Justin Robinson 169, Darwyn Follick 158, Kirsten Swanston 156, Wayne Spraggett 153, Ethen Corrigan 137, John Tomkins 136, Jerry Welch 130, Joanne Storring 123, Emma Pare 117, Lois Aho 108, Jaxon Barton 106.

Here are the personal best scores for March 24th: 1 Gamers: Nathalie Viau 132, Debbie Grogan 131, Tania MacDonnell 124, Bonnie Jooritsma 124, William Fetterly 114, Helen Butler 106, James Peters 99, Keith Piegan 97, David Cadeau 89, John Hunt 75, Marcelle Chartrand 74, Sandra Minka 71, Lori Lamoreux 34.

2 Gamers: Mike Walton 120, Erica Summers 107.

3 Gamers: Justin Robinson 171, Sherri Woods 170, John Tomkins 169, Wayne Spraggett 147, Stefanie Carleton 146, Lois Aho 114, Darwyn Follick 113, Kirsten Swanston 110, Emma Pare 108, Ethen Corrigan 106, Jaxson Barton 104, Joanne Storring 97.

Here are the personal best scores for April 7th: 1 Gamers: Tania MacDonnell 111, William Fetterly 110, Debbie Grogan 109, David Cadeau 109, Keith Piegan 102, Bonnie Jooritsma 102, Sandra Minka 96, Marcelle Chartrand 95, Helen Butler 92, Lori Lamoreux 82, John Hunt 81, Nathalie Viau 65, James Peters 54.

2 Gamers: Blake McIssac 143, Mike Walton 120, Erica Summers 113, Diana Saddington 96.

3 Gamers: Fred Campbell 201, John Tomkins 177, Wayne Spraggett 169, Lois Aho 158, Stefanie Carleton 154, Sherri Woods 151, Darwyn Follick 150, Christine Campbell 137, Emma Pare 136, Ethen Corrigan 134, Kirsten Swanston 119, Joanne Storring 118, Jerry Welch 111, Jaxon Barton 110, Justin Robinson 103.

Congratulations to all bowlers! Everyone has improved their games by leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season. This is due to practice, listening to your coaches and wanting to excel. Remember, when you can't be anything else, please be kind...

Women be crying over a man who reads at a 3rd grade level. He's not ignoring your text he's sounding it out. Give him a minute

Is there a doctor in the house? By: Lyonel Doherty

The timid, freckled face lad was afraid of doctors and their cold-as-ice stethoscopes. He swallowed hard whenever they asked him to say "ahhh" to welcome a desert-dry tongue depressor which made him gag.

The boy hated it when his mother made those dreaded appointments for check-ups or for an earache that wouldn't go away. The worst: those allergy shots, which meant he couldn't play basketball for a few days.

But there was one doctor who changed everything. His name was Dr. Bev Hallam from Burk's Fall, Ontario. He was a big, rotund man who could barely fit in his office chair during our visits. He had a peculiar laugh; a cross between a penguin and a woodpecker, and he was known for his running sense of humour that never let up. Every time he saw the boy with his mother he'd make some crack about this or that, or how the clinic was so hard up for patients that they started letting in boys with freckles.

Hallam took the fear away like dawn chasing shadows from a New York alleyway.

Soon, the boy didn't mind those check-ups when the cheery doctor was in, especially when he was given the syringe after his shot, which he often used to squirt water at his sister.

The boy thought it was cool that Dr. Hallam came to his house on a number of occasions to treat his dad who was too sick to go into town. They referred to it as house calls.

A lot has changed in health care since then. Surgery wait times have increased significantly, and even hospital emergency departments have to shut down periodically due to "lack of physician availability." The truth is doctors don't want to work around the clock anymore like they used to, and you can't blame them.

Work/life balance is a key consideration now, as it should be. Who wants to be chained to their desk seven days a week dealing with people's aches and pains? Doctors have families (and personal lives) too.

Like many regions in BC, the Columbia Valley is trying hard to recruit new physicians while retaining the ones they already have. The competition out there is stiff, and will take more than a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down.

Speaking of such, that freckled face boy is nearly 60 now and battling his own ailments, but he's darn lucky that he has a family doctor, unlike many unfortunate people who don't. He doesn't run to the doctor for every bump and scratch, and he steers clear of hospital emergency departments unless he's insanely bored and wants to spend five hours staring at wall posters while waiting for someone to call his name.

Wonder what Hallam would say . . . "I feel faint; is there a doctor in the house?" No? Well, I'll settle for a janitor then." Lyonel Doherty, editor This article is printed with permission from the Columbia Valley Pioneer in Invenmore BC. They are a community based independent newspaper similar to the GNA. I found it so ironic that as I was looking for a picture of Dr. Hallam, that I came across this article! I found it really interesting that coast to coast, we are experiencing the same issues with health care in our country. You can view the Pioneer at issuu.com URL long live community newspapers!

Check them out! Columbia Valley Pioneer columbiavalleypioneer.com URL Needed a pee at the pool today, so I just did it in the deep end. Life guard noticed and blew his whistle so hard I nearly fell in.

My Grandmother's Pet Pantry

In recent editions of GNA, we have introduced you to an amazing rescue that helps to give loved pets (mainly cats) a beautiful second home when their senior can no longer take care of them due to relocation or passing. They do fabulous work and have many many wonderful adoptions, and they take the fear away when a situation is present. This edition we will introduce you to another wonderful feature of this amazing group.

My Grandmother's Pet Pantry provides seniors with free pet food shipped directly to their door — because when you keep pets fed, you keep them at home. The goal of the program is to help alleviate the rising cost of pet food for seniors, ensuring they are not forced to give up their beloved pets simply because they can't afford to feed them. Seniors can select the brand and type of food their pet eats and we will ship it directly to their door via Amazon. The program is currently set to help 260 households and feed about 500 animals each year.

The application process:

The program opens each season to help 40 seniors, with an additional 100 seniors helped during the holiday season. We will choose applicable households and contact them via phone to confirm their information before shipping the pet food directly to them.

We provide up to $200 worth of pet food and supplies per household which is shipped via Amazon. Items must be able to be shipped to an address that Amazon delivers.

To ensure we are able to help as many households as possible, each household is only eligible to receive assistance from the program once per year, which renews annually on February 20.

“Our pet pantry is the next step in the journey of My Grandfather's Cat. We've found a way to help seniors find second forever homes their pets, now we're working to make sure they can keep them in their homes even longer.” Says Angela Rafuse, My Grandfather's Cat Founder.

How it got started:

My Grandmother's Pet Pantry is inspired by our founder's grandmother, Esther. She was a compassionate animal lover who would open her pantry to anyone in need. Her kindness and generosity is the foundation of this program, which launched on February 20, 2024, her birthday.

'Recently, I was at an outing for the GNA, and somehow we were speaking of My Grandfather's cat, a friend of mine, a senior lady told me that she was so thankful for this group, they had helped her out when she needed a hand up to help feed her beloved pet. This is close to home, this group helps in adoptions and support all across Canada, even right here in Almaguin. If you can donate a little, it goes along way,' said Cyndi

If you can spare a little: our spring pet pantry is here-

Each season, our Pet Pantry provides 40 low-income seniors and terminally ill people with pet food shipped directly to their door. 100% of funds raised support our Pet Pantry. Please visit, {{mygrandfatherscat.ca URL

Please visit this wonderful site, mygrandfatherscat.ca URL Read all about them and if you are looking for a cat to join your home, take a look at who is looking for their second home, make someone purrrr loudly. adopt@mygrandfatherscat.ca

insert willow and angel

Location: Barrie, Ontario - Availability: Immediately

Meet Willow and Angel! As their human passed away, this sweet pair is in need of a second forever home together. Willow and Angel are a 10-and 6-year-old brother-sister duo who will give you the best of both worlds with their opposite personalities. Angel is more playful, energetic and the cuddle-bug of the two.

No hanging toy is safe when he is around. When he's feeling snuggly, loves to lay on of you (especially when you're sleeping!). This big boy also loves being picked up and being dressed up for photo opportunities like the star that he is! Willow is the royal empress, who will tell you when she wants her preferred back scratches, and will spend her days lounging on her cat tree, looking out the window and over her kingdom. This small, but mighty queen is a big fan of indoor grass patches, allowing her to get a taste of the outdoors.

These two are the definition of opposites attract and would make a delightful addition to your home! They would be best suited for a home without other pets, or small children. They are looking for a patient human who will give them time to adjust in their new home and really let their personalities shine.

If you are interested in adopting Willow and Angel, email sara.k@mygrandfatherscat.ca with the subject line WILLOW AND ANGEL

An Angler is Born By: Mike Borger

Bracing my dad's spinning rod against the handlebars of my bike I coasted down the long gravel hill in the predawn chill of an early May morning, I was almost there.

Just ten years old and already I was possessed with a love of fishing.

Two years earlier my dad had bought me a cheap push button rod, the type most kids start with, and I'd practically worn it out exploring the creeks near our home.

Now I felt it was beneath me and I aspired to something more.

The night before my parents had hosted a dinner party and I was sent to bed promptly at nine.

Crouching at the top of the stairs I could hear my uncle's voice as the conversation drifted to fishing.

“I think maybe the kid's old enough to handle a spinning rod this year, he's getting pretty good!”

“I think you're right” my dad murmured, “maybe I'll give him my rod to practice with when we're up north in a couple of weeks.”

In my eyes that constituted permission.

When the adults were preoccupied I crept downstairs into the basement to find my dad's rod and rig it up.

It was an old seven foot South Bend fiberglass affair paired with a Mitchell 300 spinning reel made in France, at the time state of the art.

Tying on a small hook from my precious collection, and crimping some split shot onto the line I was ready.

What my dad didn't know was I'd already been practicing with his rod in the backyard, I knew how to use it.

Steelhead were running in my local river and I aimed to catch one.

I had tried before, but my awkward attempts had always been met with failure.

Two days earlier I'd spent some of my allowance money at the local hardware store on a jar of Uncle Josh Spawn Sac's, dime sized clusters of bright red salmon eggs wrapped in orange mesh.

Unscrewing the lid at home in my bedroom the smell was overpowering, I figured every fish in the pool would be racing to pounce on them.

The house was silent when I arose the next morning at 5am and slipped out the back door with my backpack and dad's rod.

I knew I'd catch hell from my parents when I returned, but I didn't care, I was on a mission.

At the base of the long hill I turned onto a rutted trail peddling as far as I could before it grew too rough, from there I walked.

Few people knew about the trail and it soon became dim and overgrown.

I'd discovered it the previous summer while exploring the river and it was my own private paradise.

To a child of ten this was high adventure - like being in the middle of a vast roadless wilderness.

Pushing my way through the mounds of long grass I was soon soaked straight through from the heavy morning dew clinging to the undergrowth.

Shivering a bit I forged ahead, my breath forming plumes of vapour in the cold morning air.

The trail snaked its way through a dense thicket of cedar, their pungent aroma mixing with the wet forest earth and wafting into my nostrils.

To this day when I smell cedar I think of trout.

Finally clear of the cedars I arrived at the river.

Flowing sinuously through a shady copse of maples and oaks it almost seemed alive.

Just downstream was an ancient wooden foot bridge spanning the banks, its origins and purpose unknown.

Upstream the river compressed creating a jaunty little riffle that gurgled its way into a pool.

A glorious pool - one that I knew held steelhead.

The weekend before I'd biked over there in the afternoon and spent a good hour lying on the old bridge peering intently into the water.

Every so often the sun would break from behind the clouds and penetrate the depths.

Like a veil being lifted from my eyes I could clearly see the fish, there was a pod of six trout fanning over gravel in the heart of the run.

Mesmerized I watched them slowly move about like grey ghosts, perfectly camouflaged against the pebbled bottom of the river.

That's when I hatched my plan.

Fumbling now in the cold I unscrewed the cap from my jar of spawn sac's and plucked one out, carefully threading it onto the small hook.

I shivered again, this time from excitement as much as the chill.

Directly across from me was a huge submerged boulder which the pod of fish had been sitting behind when I spied them previously.

In the grey light of early morning I could see nothing, the water's surface almost looked black, but they were there.

Lobbing my bait across and slightly upstream, I fed out line as it drifted into the hole behind the rock.

Holding the rod high overhead as I'd watched my uncle do, I closed the bail and slowly reeled in slack as my bait settled to the gravel bottom of the river.

The hit, when it came, shocked me.

There was no warning.

My arm was wrenched forward and I was instantly connected to a very large, very irate steelhead.

The fish immediately zipped upstream past the big rock then stopped at the head of the pool to wallow on the surface.

When I saw the size of it I almost panicked, it looked longer than my leg.

Madly reeling in line to keep up with the fish it turned again then bolted downstream at lightning speed, the drag on the old reel screeching its protest.

The fish paused briefly at the tail out of the hole, then in a moment that's forever etched in my mind, it turned and ran under the bridge barreling further downstream at warp speed.

Not thinking, just reacting, I charged into the river up to my waist to follow the fish.

I had no waders, just an old pair of jeans and sneakers, and the icy water shocked me for an instant.

Slipping on the greasy stream bed I side stepped downstream and ducked under the bridge holding my rod low. Incredibly I was still connected to the fish.

I rushed downstream running along the shallow margins of the river, reeling as I went.

Finally in a quiet back eddy three hundred yards downstream from the bridge I caught up to the fish.

There was no finesse on my part, I hauled back on the rod and horsed it onto a shallow gravel bar. Throwing my rod on the ground I jumped on the fish and wrestled it to the bank. I was soaking wet from head to toe and covered in mud when I turned into our driveway later that morning. My parents were there waiting.

"Look at you!" my mother said in a slightly alarmed voice. "Where have you been all morning? We've been worried sick!"

My dad looked on quietly not saying a word - not a good sign. I was still bubbling over with excitement as I tried to tell them in a rush what happened. Taking my backpack off I spilled the great silver fish onto our front lawn. At that moment a strange look came over my dad's face.

Turning to mom he eyed her quietly and said softly "Don't worry about it Betty, I'll handle this." My mom clearly still agitated rolled her eyes and turned towards the door. "Fishermen! I'll never understand them!"

Dad looked towards me with a small smile on his face. "Come on inside the garage boy, I want to hear exactly what happened!"

My Grandmother's Pet Pantry

In recent editions of GNA, we have introduced you to an amazing rescue that helps to give loved pets (mainly cats) a beautiful second home when their senior can no longer take care of them due to relocation or passing. They do fabulous work and have many many wonderful adoptions, and they take the fear away when a situation is present. This edition we will introduce you to another wonderful feature of this amazing group.

My Grandmother's Pet Pantry provides seniors with free pet food shipped directly to their door — because when you keep pets fed, you keep them at home. The goal of the program is to help alleviate the rising cost of pet food for seniors, ensuring they are not forced to give up their beloved pets simply because they can't afford to feed them. Seniors can select the brand and type of food their pet eats and we will ship it directly to their door via Amazon. The program is currently set to help 260 households and feed about 500 animals each year.

The application process:

The program opens each season to help 40 seniors, with an additional 100 seniors helped during the holiday season. We will choose applicable households and contact them via phone to confirm their information before shipping the pet food directly to them.

We provide up to $200 worth of pet food and supplies per household which is shipped via Amazon. Items must be able to be shipped to an address that Amazon delivers.

To ensure we are able to help as many households as possible, each household is only eligible to receive assistance from the program once per year, which renews annually on February 20.

"Our pet pantry is the next step in the journey of My Grandfather's Cat. We've found a way to help seniors find second forever homes their pets, now we're working to make sure they can keep them in their homes even longer." Says Angela Rafuse, My Grandfather's Cat Founder.

How it got started:

My Grandmother's Pet Pantry is inspired by our founder's grandmother, Esther. She was a compassionate animal lover who would open her pantry to anyone in need. Her kindness and generosity is the foundation of this program, which launched on February 20, 2024, her birthday.

'Recently, I was at an outing for the GNA, and somehow we were speaking of My Grandfather's cat, a friend of mine, a senior lady told me that she was so thankful for this group, they had helped her out when she needed a hand up to help feed her beloved pet. This is close to home, this group helps in adoptions and support all across Canada, even right here in Almaguin. If you can donate a little, it goes along way,' said Cyndi

If you can spare a little: our spring pet pantry is here- Each season, our Pet Pantry provides 40 low-income seniors and terminally ill people with pet food shipped directly to their door. 100% of funds raised support our Pet Pantry. Please visit, {{mygrandfatherscat.ca URL

Please visit this wonderful site, mygrandfatherscat.ca URL Read all about them and if you are looking for a cat to join your home, take a look at who is looking for their second home, make someone purrrr loudly. adopt@mygrandfatherscat.ca

Location: Barrie, Ontario - Availability: Immediately

Meet Willow and Angel! As their human passed away, this sweet pair is in need of a second forever home together. Willow and Angel are a 10-and 6-year-old brother-sister duo who will give you the best of both worlds with their opposite personalities. Angel is more playful, energetic and the cuddle-bug of the two.

No hanging toy is safe when he is around. When he's feeling snuggly, loves to lay on of you (especially when you're sleeping!). This big boy also loves being picked up and being dressed up for photo opportunities like the star that he is! Willow is the royal empress, who will tell you when she wants her preferred back scratches, and will spend her days lounging on her cat tree, looking out the window and over her kingdom. This small, but mighty queen is a big fan of indoor grass patches, allowing her to get a taste of the outdoors.

These two are the definition of opposites attract and would make a delightful addition to your home! They would be best suited for a home without other pets, or small children. They are looking for a patient human who will give them time to adjust in their new home and really let their personalities shine.

If you are interested in adopting Willow and Angel, email sara.k@mygrandfatherscat.ca with the subject line WILLOW AND ANGEL

Sound Healing Tamara Brash What Feeds Your Soul?

What feeds your soul is the question that guides Colette Mesdag daily and led her to discover a deeper sense of well being, of self and of community here in Burk's Falls not that long ago.

She began her career as visual artist using photography as her medium, doing the usual portraits and special event coverage. Just as many artists discover, no matter how unique their work, she had to close her studio. Teaching photography at Georgian College in Barrie was her next step forward.

There she found a passion for teaching. As she worked with students to help them find the driving force behind their own art, she realized she needed to re-kindle hers.

To do that however, one must look at their shadows. What prevents someone from being happy? What causes fear?

What burdens have been carried since childhood? Why are negative patterns persisting? What barriers are built because only one perspective is considered? Colette did the work.

Looked deep. Connected with her higher self. She uncovered her truths, embraced them and listened to her intuition. Part of this soul-healing journey brought her to Burk's Falls and the creation of the annual Feed Your Soul holistic event.

Feed Your Soul event

Holistic practitioners, healers, vendors, artists, card readers, convene to make this event the largest of its kind in the area. It combines the practical with the mystical of holistic healing. If you are curious about alternative ways to improve your health or general well-being, this is the event for you.

Many of the participants offer demonstrations of their abilities, products, and treatments – you sign up at their table and return at your specified time. Demonstrations are often done at a reduced rate because they are a shortened version of what would be done during an actual treatment.

I participated last year using my tuning forks and crystal singing bowls – you cannot believe the sound quality of a hockey arena change room! One woman arrived stating she had spontaneously driven from Toronto because she felt called to do so and was going vendor to vendor searching for the reason she was meant to be there. It's curious, open-to-receive energy like this that finds its way to this event. Take your time, walk around, feel what you are drawn towards, try what resonates with you, discover loving kind ways to connect with what feeds your soul.

Feed Your Soul holistic event is on Sunday April 26th from 11:00am – 5:00pm in the Burk's Falls Arena lobby, change rooms and upstairs. Admission is free and the first 50 people get a free “swag bag” filled with donations from participants. There's also a community table with information from supportive local businesses.

Mystic by Colette

The other part of Colette's soul healing journey led her to the Crystal Cave in South River where she works daily as an empathic, intuitive card reader and guide. Colette's readings are gentle and thoughtful, meant to empower and draw out deep beauty. Not surprisingly, she is a visual intuitive. Messages usually appear to her as pictures, colours or symbols. She usually keeps her eyes closed, which is fascinating since her motto is: "I believe in the magic of life, come see what I see."

The Oracle decks Colette uses during her readings are entirely her creation. She used her skills as an artist and a photographer to design the images, and the words on the cards and the companion books were all intuitively inspired during meditation. Currently she has 3 decks available for sale and is working her way through a fourth.

Oracle Cards

But wait! “What the heck are Oracle cards?” you might be asking. They are a themed deck of cards with images and/or words on them and as you shuffle them, you ask a question. Then, you select a card (or number of cards) and the answer to your question is contained in the image or the words on the chosen card(s). Yes, the hippie-dippy-wiki-tiki-woo-woo delivers your answer – just perhaps not the answer you expected, though you'd be surprised. There is usually a companion book that goes into further detail about the card/image/words, providing the user with additional information.

Anyone can use a deck for their own purposes; I use mine on an almost daily basis. Going to a card reader however is a deeper experience than using them at home. Going to Colette means she will connect with your spirit guides and your energy to interpret the message you are meant to receive, based on the cards selected. A typical experience with Colette means clearing old energy out so you feel empowered and knowledgeable about your potential future.

While she comes by her intuitiveness naturally, Colette says developing the skill required training and practice, much in the way athletes develop muscles for competition, Colette took years to strengthen her connection to her spirit guides; and she can now turn it off and on at will, so no need to worry that she's reading you when you meet her in line at the grocery store.

You can find Colette Wednesday through Sunday at the Crystal Cave in South River and on Facebook as Mystic by Colette.

Mysterial Interests Group

Being a full-time card reader and event organizer, Colete also finds time to host what she calls the Mysterial Interests Group. "What the heck is that?" you exclaim again, "I thought we were almost done reading!"

The Mysterial Interests is a group where all things mystical, magical, ethereal, astrological, and even inter-galactical are discussed. There's one topic each month and topics are suggested and led by interested participants. Discussions and questions are encouraged.

Spend time with like-minded people who talk out-loud about stuff that in the past was only whispered behind closed doors. A 5 to 10 donation is appreciated.

Mysterial Interests Group meets every second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at the Burk's Falls Senior Centre (top of the library). Remember, it's never too late to discover what feeds your soul.

Tamara Brash is the owner of Subtle Remedies offering gentle solutions for whole-body healing through energy modalities of Reflexology, Reiki, Sound Healing and Aromatherapy serving the Almaguin Highlands. Find her on www.subtleremedies.ca, on Facebook or at 705-323-0264.

What's in Your Pocket? 'Keep Your Eyes on Your Change' CN Tower “Glow” Toonie Rolls Out Soon!

GNA – Cyndi Culbert-If you notice a different-looking toonie in your change this month, don't spend it too quickly, it's likely one worth keeping, at least to pass on to your grandchildren!

The Royal Canadian Mint has started rolling out a new glow-in-the-dark $2 coin to mark the 50th anniversary of the CN Tower, and it's expected to show up in circulation through April and into May.

The coin began shipping in collector rolls around April 10, but for most people it'll show up the usual way, in change from a store, coffee shop, or sitting in the bottom of a jacket pocket.

What makes this one stand out is simple, it glows. Imagine that! The design on the back features the CN Tower along with Toronto's skyline, showing both today's city and what it looked like 50 years ago. Hit it with a UV light, and in the dark, the tower and skyline light up. I have to wonder how much it cost to create this coin? The Royal Canadian Mint hasn't publicly disclosed a specific "per-coin" production cost or a total project cost for the glow-in-the-dark CN Tower toonie.

It's only the second time the Mint has ever released a glow-in-the-dark coin into general circulation. The first glow-in-the-dark coin ever released by the Royal Canadian Mint was the 2017 "Glow-in-the-Dark Dinosaur Glow Collection" $3 coin, which featured a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that glowed under UV light and in the dark. However, that was a collector coin, not a circulation coin.

No official total has been released for how many will be in everyday circulation, but it's expected to be in the millions. For collectors, there are limited options including special wrapped rolls and a $20 silver version, but most people will just be keeping an eye on their loose change.

The CN Tower officially opened to the public on June 26, 1976, but its story started a few years earlier when construction began in 1973. By 1974, it had already become the tallest structure in Canada, and by the time it was completed in 1975, it had reshaped Toronto's skyline forever. One of the most memorable moments came in 1975 when a giant helicopter helped lift and install the tower's antenna sections into place.

At 553 metres tall, the CN Tower held the title of the world's tallest free-standing structure until 2009. Today, it remains the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, only surpassed globally by towers like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Bottom line, ITS ALMOST MAGICAL! And this isn't just another coin. It's a small piece of Canadian history you might actually get back in change. (If you are really lucky!) how unique!

So next time you're handed a toonie, it might be worth a second look. I know that I will be looking for five of them, one for each of our grandchildren!

Letter to the Editor

Shared by: Desha Bryan – Dear Mark Carney, I just wanted a extena a heartfelt thank you for completely solving the housing crisis. It's incredible. Studio apartments are now only three thousand dollars a month, bedrooms in someone's basement are a steal at one thousand eight hundred fifty dollars, and a modest one-bedroom is a jaw-dropping bargain at three thousand seven hundred dollars. Truly affordable living. I especially appreciate how owning a home now only requires a one hundred eighty thousand dollar down payment and a small, manageable four thousand nine hundred dollars per month mortgage. Homeownership has never been more within reach.

Also, thank you for fixing the cost of living. Groceries are unbelievably cheap now. Eggs at 9 dollars and 49 cents, butter at 8 dollars and 99 cents, ground beef casually hovering around 14 dollars per pound — honestly, I'm saving so much money I don't even know what to do with it. I went in for milk and bread and only spent 97 dollars, which is basically nothing these days. What a time to be alive.

The tax relief has been phenomenal too. Keeping almost half of my paycheck is just incredible. I absolutely love watching 40 to 50% disappear before I even see it — it really builds character.

Nothing says financial freedom like calculating whether you can afford both rent and food in the same month. Taxes have truly never felt lower.

And the safety improvements — wow. Streets have never been calmer. You can now confidently walk past open-air drug use, random screaming matches, and bike chop shops knowing everything is totally under control. The fentanyl crisis?

Basically solved. The homelessness crisis? Completely handled. There are only rows and rows of tents, which is obviously just modern minimalist housing.

The crime situation has also improved dramatically. Nothing reassures citizens more than seeing repeat offenders released faster than a drive-thru order. It really keeps things exciting.

Who doesn't love a little unpredictability on their commute? Keeps the adrenaline pumping.

And finally, thank you for making life in general so affordable. Gas hovering around 1.80 to 2.10/L, insurance climbing, utilities up 30 to 40%, and somehow everyone still expected to smile and say “things are improving.” The financial gymnastics required just to exist are truly inspiring.

from the bottom of all Canadians' hearts, thank you for this stunning 180. Housing has never been more affordable, groceries have never been cheaper, taxes have never been lower, and the streets have never been safer. Everything is perfect. Absolutely flawless. No notes.

Warmest regards, A financially thriving Canadian P.S. If you could also fix interest rates, rent, groceries, crime, healthcare wait times, and wages — but like, don't rush. You've already done so much.

1,500 Donated with Success of 16 ^{th} Annual Easter Egg Hunt By Jocelyn Modl

Sundridge, ON — Snowy fields and smiles mark the 16th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Copeman Tree Farms. The colourful eggs were scattered across the top of the white snow, which made it easy and fun for the kids as they gathered their chocolatey treasures. Hidden amongst the trees were also two big golden eggs that, if found, won you a big prize basket! Congratulations to the two winners.

Beyond the hunt itself, families enjoyed a variety of treats and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Hot dogs and drinks were all included and Suzanne had her locally famous cookie decorating for the kids. There were also a free raffle and prizes.

Copeman Tree Farms expresses their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who purchased tickets and supported the event. Your participation not only made the day memorable, but it contributed to meaningful causes in your community.

In a generous gesture, Copeman Tree Farms has covered all event expenses, allowing every dollar raised from ticket sales to go directly to charity. This year, a total of 1,500 was donated, with 1,000 going to Collen Anderson's Christmas Cheer Fund and (with the help of our Summer Sports Camp to top it up) $500 supporting the Almaguin Special Olympics Softball Team.

THANK YOU for coming and we hope to see you at one of the next upcoming events:

- Community Clean-Up

- Summer Sports Camp on Lake Bernard

- Friday Nights BBQ & Paddle Meet-Ups

- Side Quest Summer - The Active Summer Challenge

All information can be found on Copeman Tree Farms' Facebook page, this newspaper, and printed flyers will be posted around town in the coming weeks.

How “I SEE IT” With ETHEN CORRIGAN – Intern Journalist POSSIBLE PLANS FOR WALMART SUPERCENTER IN HUNTSVILLE'S FUTURE So this Walmart Location has built around 2005 and since then nothing has really happened in this location because It has been its original size of 85,000 square feet since 2005 and hasn't really changed sadly thru out the 2000s-2010 Walmart's were becoming “Supercentre's” and they have expanded their size of their location but this one hasn't been updated to today's standards!

However also the town has constantly been denying approving possible expansion of its existing building to basically make it to a “Supercentre”.....but finally in 2023 they did much needed make over from its original look but with barely any new thing like the only thing was them getting new signage and colours, equipment, etc! However things were still the same even the cash registers were still the same looks from 2000s as well!

Then in June 1st 2020 it was reported by Meredith MacLeod of CTV News that Walmart was permanently closed its Tire, Lube and Express (TLE) Centres at 106 it's locations in Canada including in the location in Huntsville, Ontario in 2020 the move that affected 550 employees that the company comparable roles and it expected that to "retain the vast majority of associates in our stores due to them saying for them "to focus on accelerating online growth and core retail areas like food and general merchandise"! Then it became a Walmart Pick Up Department instead and that wasn't all then the "Portrait Studio" location in the Walmart Location beside the McDonalds due to a third party that operated Portrait Studio (CPI Corp) within Walmart Locations across America and Canada including in Huntsville, Ontario closed abruptly on April 2013 and the locations was shuttered because due to CPI Corp financial struggles and basically leaving many locations especially the one in Huntsville abandoned (now used for storage) which is sad!

However the other Walmart in Bracebridge in 2021 not only lost its McDonald's location (which is now just a “Walmart Pickup” Part of the Store) and even its Smart Style Hair Salon Location (which is now used for once again storage as well)!

However in 2025 we noticed some different changes in the location that happened for example the McDonalds location got a much needed renovation of the it's locations (even getting kiosk as well for the first time ever), they saying they have more space for dining (which is not true because it feels small) also they have finished re-doing the roof and also making the parking lot bigger!

But I heard from a person that I know that works for Walmart that said originally that they weren't done changing things as far as 2025 (they even originally they were thinking about doing a expansion of store) but it never happened but months.....however I was told by this person and then I went to a couple other employees that was working on Friday February 6th 2026 during the night shift to confirm that they are planning on this location finally getting a real renovation for the first time in the location history!

Even though even is hush-hush....I can possibly now confirm (that you will only see this on the Great North Arrow Newspaper) that according to a few employees at the Huntsville location in the summer (possibly in August) that they are going to be doing massive renovations in this location and here is what they planning on doing for this project (which has been approved by the Town of Huntsville, the same Town of Huntsville that has been denying Walmart's request of a groundbreaking expansion that it hasn't happened since it has been existed in Huntsville for years also according to the employee from as far as 2024/25)!

Here is a (TBD) list what they want to possibly do for this from the employee that told me that the town of Huntsville has approved its Blueprint of this project:

Possibly moving the “Shopping Cart Park” possibly to the front of the entrance instead of the way where it's currently near the self-checkouts (even possibly putting a garage door to put the carts in from outside) and (potentially removing the old Photo Centre and instead putting in a “Cart Park” just like the Walmart in North Bay, Ontario has as well) potentially as well. Possibly Moving Photo Centre (possibly back where the Electronics/Physical Media Section is) potentially as well! Possibly Moving the Pharmacy to the other part of the building potentially as well! Possibly Additionally adding “International Food” and possibly getting an alcohol license to officially sell Alcoholic Beer and Liquor for the first time ever potentially as well!

They are putting a “Vision Centre” for the first time at this location (even though its other location in North Bay already has one in the entrance as well) my thought it would go to at the exit in the front of the building or even put it at the abandoned “Portrait Studio” as well would be a no brainer to go with it potentially as well! They will be moving the regular checkouts and self checkouts as well potentially as well!

Also I recently contacted Walmart Canada Corporate to confirm if they are going to be doing renovations and someone named "Misha Tailor" Associate Manager for Walmart Canada said via an Media Inquiry saying "that they are happy to confirm that a renovation is planned for the Walmart Supercentre in Huntsville. The project includes a full transformation of the food department, along with updates to other areas of the store, planning is underway and specific details, including timing are still being finalized. We look forward to sharing information as plans are confirmed!

So I will be updating this information in the next few months!

But here is what I want to see happen if they would like to add for some new departments/areas as much as you guys would like to see!

- Potentially add a Meals to Go, Bakery, Deli, Sushi, etcetera and adding more options including like putting more like Seafood, Pork and Lamb, Poultry, etcetera for the Grocery Section of the location!

- Potentially making the Physical Media selection especially since there's a physical media renaissance especially not just for vinyl and CDs, but even for the 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD collectors as well right now and maybe I should be discussed!

- Potentially even added a “Walk in Clinic” as well! Keep the Store open a-least until 11pm ET!

- Even added a McDonalds Drive Thru as well because there's a few locations that is rare but they have a Drive-Thru as well especially in Nova Scotia!

- Make the store assessable for people who have disabilities, bring back senior hours and sensory friendly hours as well!

We always we love your feedback let us know what is your reaction to this and what would you recommend for this location to have or not to have please contact me at ethen dot corrigan zero six at gmail dot com or call or text us back at the Great North Arrow as well! Goodbye for now and I will see you next time in the next edition! From, Ethen Corrigan!

“The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the individual author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of GNA Newspaper

Birthday Wishes for Magnetawan's Mary Jane Campbell

There are some people in a community who keep things moving and are always there to lend a hand, organize an event, or simply show up when it matters most. In Magnetawan, Mary Jane Campbell is one of those people.

On April 11th, friends, family and neighbours gathered at the Friendship Club to celebrate a milestone birthday, as Mary Jane marked her 80th year surrounded by the very community she has given so much to over the years.

The room was filled with laughter, stories and familiar faces, many of whom have worked alongside Mary Jane through the countless clubs, events and volunteer efforts she's been part of. Known for her tireless energy and willingness to help wherever needed, she has become a cornerstone of community life in Magnetawan.

It was a celebration that drew a crowd from near and far. Guests travelled from across the region, with some coming from as far north as Sudbury and as far south as Toronto, all to be part of the special day.

Adding to the occasion, Mary Jane shared her birthday with her grandson Nathan, who celebrated his 26th birthday the very same day—a reminder of the strong family ties that are clearly at the heart of it all.

For those in attendance, it wasn't just about marking 80 years—it was about celebrating a lifetime of giving, kindness and community spirit.

And if there's one thing everyone in the room could agree on, it's this: Magnetawan is a better place because of Mary Jane Campbell. We wish the happiest year ahead, filled with love and good health.

Celebrating a Wonderful Man, Happy 87th, Jim Creasor

There are some people who leave a lasting impression wherever they go, and in Burk's Falls, Jim Creasor is certainly one of them.

The well-loved former teacher celebrated his 87th birthday on April 11, surrounded by family and friends who gathered to honour a man known not just for his years in the classroom, but for the joy and creativity he continues to share with everyone around him.

Jim is a familiar face to many in the community, admired for his musical talents, his love of singing and songwriting, and even his unique connection to Canadian legend Gordon Lightfoot. But beyond that, it's his spirit that truly stands out—always ready with a story, a smile, or a song.

Those who know Jim will tell you he has a way of brightening a room, bringing laughter and warmth wherever he goes. Whether through music or conversation, he has a gift for connecting with people in a way that stays with them.

Jim brings light and smiles wherever he goes and he has some wonderful stories to share. Jim, we wish you a wonderful year ahead, filled with all of the gifts that you truly need, Health, Happiness, Love and plenty more moments filled with music and memories.

May you continue to drink from that 'fountain of youth' Happy Birthday Jim!

ETC & ALSO

Burk's Falls and Area Scouting Green Bay Scout Camp, Lake Cecebe April 2026

Reporting and thank you all who supported the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts with our last fundraiser of Aunt Sarah's Chocolate bars. If you missed an opportunity, we still have a few left. As it happens, Spring has semi-sprung, and our Troop was gifted with some Red Cross Emergency Handbooks. Youth have been working on one chapter each week, which will wrap up the last meeting in May. Next focus for Scout Troop is Trail Skills led by Scout Leaders Echo and Sparky. Topics include using planning a hike, maps and symbols, waypoints with GPS, treat sprains and blisters, and fifteen other related categories. You my see us our there on those Forgotten Trails In praise of the WALKING STICK. Once a commonplace on uneven cobblestones and trails, our troop begins its next level of badgework. Trail Skills Stage 3 for new scouts and stage 4 for senior members.

Keeping the OUT in scouting Yours in scouting, Scouter Samwyz, Doug Brown

A Southern View

Stephen Lehman Power - The Hardest Addiction to Break

As much as I hate to write uncomplimentary opinion pieces about our Conservative friend down south, by default I've kind of had to pick on him because for the last 102 days there hasn't been much, if anything, happening up here with Ontario Conservatives to even express an opinion about. They have been so busy back in their ridings listening to the concerns of their constituents that I suspect the thermostats in Queens Park, as a cost saving measure for all those constituents whose taxes pay to keep the heat turned on in the legislature, had probably been turned down to 60F. But now that they have deigned us worthy of 32 days of their inspired leadership and visionary legislation before summer recess, perhaps the inspiration to comment upon some of their visions will present itself.

Actually, even though the legislature hasn't been in session over the last three plus months, so many controversial pronouncements about intended new legislation have been issued by our Premier over that time that a person could be excused for wondering if maybe we don't even need any MPPs. If we just got rid of them all and let Doug Ford dictatorially carry on as he currently appears to some of us to be doing, according to Google we would immediately save a minimum of 19 million, 523 thousand, 800 dollars and zero cents in base salaries alone. And that doesn't even include any perks. If you add another 10 thousand dollars and zero cents each for travel, pens, etcetera, that certainly puts the total cost of all those part-time Queens Park MPPs over 20 million.

Now, some voters might think that the logistics of doing so would be overwhelming. I mean, as they say in the movies; "Who ya gonna call?" when you want some answers. Well, according to our esteemed Premier, all you need to do is call his personal cell phone number because he absolutely loves to talk to the 'common folk'. Apparently, though, all those calls are strictly confidential so as one of his first legislative moves in this spring session, he is going to try to close and lock the door to the Freedom of Information office and then throw away the key.

It would appear that as far as he is concerned, somebody has to stand up to those gossipy fake news outlets that try to shine light on the questionable machinations that occur at Queens Park whenever it is open. Besides, Joe Public already has accurate information about what our MPPs are doing for us because we are constantly inundated with Paid For By The Government of Ontario TV ads, with its red, white and blue Protecting Ontario shield, that tell us what a great job they are doing at opening up the Ring of Fire or introducing our world class nuclear technology to the world. There is nothing more gratifying than knowing that my tax dollars are being used to assure me that my tax dollars are being well spent.

Lest there are still voters who rightfully wonder if Ontario could smoothly operate without a whole pile of redundant MPPs though, just cast your mind back to the Middle Ages history lessons you learned in elementary school. While that is a long cast for me personally, I do seem to remember something about Kings and fiefdoms. So if Doug Ford is the King and all Ontario municipalities are his fiefdoms, overseen by Mayors with the Strong Mayor Powers recently bestowed upon them by him, then we could also save a bundle of money by getting rid of municipal councils and just keeping the mayors.

Perchance some mayors aren't quite up to that authoritarian task though, just this past week (first week of April), Ford's Conservatives introduced legislation to pass something called the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026. As I understand it, this Act would essentially give Queens Park authority to appoint people they choose to municipal councils and give them 'strong regional chair powers' to override decisions made by the democratically elected municipal councillors who don't agree with the Conservative Party agenda. Is anyone else seeing Provincial dictatorial authoritarianism insidiously creeping into local municipalities like Almaguin or Perry or Strong? Could Huntsville make a questionable deal to do a 'boundary expansion' of its northern border into southern Almaguin, much like Barrie, with the assistance of Queens Park, did with Oro - Medonte/Springwater? In fact, I just heard recently on the radio news that with this new legislation, the District of Muskoka Chair, a position currently held by Jeff Lehman, would be by Queens Park appointment in the 2026 municipal election. I'm sure it is just a coincidence that during the 2022 provincial election, Liberal Jeff almost beat Conservative MPP Doug Downey in Simcoe.

So what sparked this contemplation about a romanticized vision of ancient times when Kings and Lords made all our decisions for us? Well, I guess the most recent incident would be the announcement of unilaterally expropriating Billy Bishop Airport from the city of Toronto. The obvious question people are asking is why. The Premier's immediate answer is that he wants jets to be able to land there and the only way for that to happen is if the runway is extended into Lake Ontario and the best way to do that is by using the power of the province to deep-six those pesky environmental studies. Beautiful.

But that then leads to wondering why the province would care if jets can land at Billy Bishop. Now, I am not an aeronautical engineer but I suspect that the jets Doug Ford is talking about are those small private jets that only rich people use. The kind of people that can afford to frequent the nearby soon-to-be revitalized Ontario Place with its fancy European influenced spa and the proposed waterfront convention centre. And just in case those rich attendees had some down time between private meet-and-greets with Ontario politicians, they could wander through the pared down exhibits at the promised new Science Centre.

Hopefully all these facilities will keep them too busy to catch the local nightly news with its recent stories about the hit-and-run death of a school crossing guard in Ottawa or the serious vehicular injury of a high school student near his school in west Toronto. While these tragedies may have absolutely nothing to do with the recent seemingly arbitrary decision of Premier Ford to remove photo radar from all Ontario school zones, the optics of it aren't very complimentary for the Conservatives. He could have maybe found that out if he had just waited to see how it was working for his western counterpart, Conservative leader Danielle Smith, after she pulled the same lame trick out in Alberta a year ago or so. I heard just recently that the city of Edmonton was taking a significant financial hit from the move, a loss that was going to have to be replaced by increasing taxes on all Albertans, even those who conscientiously slow down in school zones.

But on the upside, at least with the photo radar scrapped, post secondary students who are running late for class will be able to make up time by speeding through Toronto's residential streets to get to school. And this shouldn't really be a problem because if Mr. Ford gets his plan to drastically cut OSAP assistance rates passed, then far fewer students will be attending university or college basket weaving courses anyways so, fewer cars interacting with fewer pedestrians, problem solved.

As I re-read through this opinion piece in search of spelling mistakes, I suddenly realized that my mental state needed a boost of positivity, so throwing on my spring jacket I headed out the door for the short walk to my nearby licensed alcohol consumption site, Duffy's Tavern. (Thank goodness for the common sense reversal of Prohibition rules so long ago, rules that forced people to support their alcohol habit in back alley speak-easys). I was a little bit apprehensive because the evening was starting to settle in and ever since all the supervised 'illegal drugs' consumption sites had been mandated by Premier Ford to shut down, I never knew where some of 'those people' might be shooting up. In the darkest corner of the school yard that I had to pass on the way to my 'refuge of legal libation' maybe? I could have taken a more illuminated route to get there and back home but since the seasonal-only speed bumps the town had been promised hadn't yet arrived, I wasn't going to take a chance crossing the notorious 'flash mob' speedway later that night with its infestation of new young drivers quaffing their six-pack of beer from the nearest convenience store.

I mean, what if I got just slightly grazed by a fender and ended up breaking a hip? How long would I have to wait before a private clinic was able to fix me up? If I phoned Premier Ford's private cell phone, would he be able to give me an answer? Maybe even an honest answer? On second thought, perhaps I'll just grab a six pack of my own, return home, settle down in front of the TV and watch Douglas Fairbanks in the original 1922 movie version of Robin Hood. He knew how to deal with power-hungry feudal lords and self-appointed kings.

Residents Raise Alarm as 'Official Plan' Fuels Takeover Concerns in Unincorporated Townships Tamara Bain

In July of 2024, the North Almaguin Planning Board, (NAPB), the governing agency in charge of land division and designation, hired a planning company, Planscape, to create an 'Official Plan' for the unincorporated townships of Pringle, East Mills, Hardy, McConkey, Patterson and Wilson. These townships encompass the towns of Loring, Port Loring, Arnstein, Golden Valley, Bear Valley and Restoule.

When the decision was made to hire Planscape, the minutes stated that the plan was made in response to the sudden influx of growth in the above-mentioned communities and to provide clear definition of property use and new division of property.

Fast forward to February of this year, Planscape sent out a questionnaire to area organizations asking for input. This was the first any of us heard of the proposed 'Official Plan'.

The questions were vague; what we love about our region, what our concerns were, where we saw our community in the future and what we would like to see develop.

The proposed 'Official Plan' had all the markings of the government's first steps of our townships amalgamating with a municipality. Such an alignment would mean the downfall to most of us here in the Loring-Restoule region. Our resources would be raped; taxes would become unmanageable with little to no tangible 'improvement'.

Our area was opened up to homesteaders in 1880 after the lumber companies had largely harvested the first growth pine trees. Established land, for the most part, stayed in the family for generations. But those generations have died back, their offspring seeking work closer to urban areas. Land that had been in the same family for decades became available for sale.

During the Covid lockdowns, people were desperate to get away from the city. Land in an unincorporated area such as ours was in high demand. People flocked to our region, some sacrificing being close to their extended family, medical care and large shopping centres to live with the freedom we enjoy.

We are at least an hour and a half from a hospital, healthcare specialists and major shopping centres. In exchange we feel safe here. We know our neighbours, we look out for one another, we are a community and pull together if someone is in need. Our connection with nature is undeniable. Stewards of the land, we boat, hunt, fish, trap and enjoy being out in the fresh clean air, hundreds of kilometers from city life.

A group of concerned residents composed an email outlining our need for clarification of what exactly an 'Official Plan' would mean to us. The email was sent out mid March to both the Member of Federal Parliament and the Member of Provincial Government, NAPB and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Our Member of Provincial Parliament, Graydon Smith, (or the offices of), indicated they had met with members of the North Almaguin Planning Board. The NAPB explained their reasoning for an Official Plan is to provide them with more consistency in applications for division of land.

Word spreads fast in small towns and with the speed of social media, word got out and went 'viral' in the areas affected. Accusations of secrecy directed at the Local Services Board, outrage over not being informed, fear and conspiracy theories abounded. The board of the LSB were bombarded as was the MP and MPP's office, as well as the NAPB and Planscape.

In an effort to diffuse the situation, a meeting was held with invited stakeholders from the business sector, tourism, agriculture, board members of the Local Service Board, Roads Board and Loring-Restoule Business Association. Two members of the North Almaguin Planning Boards, a rep from Graydon Smith's office and two representatives from Planscape were also in attendance. The Restoule Services Board members could not attend due to a road washout.

The Local Service Board expressed their great displeasure upon being thrown under the bus, when in reality they had nothing to do with the Official Plan. Planscape admitted to several miscommunications screw-ups on their part. Initially the Restoule Service Board weren't even notified. I believe things could've been handled much better if public statements had been made sooner.

Right off the top, Planscape assured us all that an Official Plan is in no way a step towards becoming an incorporated community. They explained “the Official Plan's purpose is to provide the NAPB with local area guidance and consistent policy when making land use decisions related to development, (generally severance applications).”

Basically, if you own land, you will see no change. The Official Plan, once created, will affect future land division. Evidentially our townships are some of the very last to have an Official Plan created through the Provincial Planning Act.

An Official Plan gives the NAPB something to stand on when designating land severances. With an Official Plan in place, the Planning Board has protections already in place and can make their informed decisions stick. Land developers are already in our area and they couldn't care less about their impact on the environment or neighbouring properties. An Official Plan helps curb that sort of land overdevelopment.

The North Almaguin Planning Board was able to answer more concerns specific to our communities. Their main objective is to protect the environment.

The multiple upcoming public meetings, (to be announced) are the starting point. The feedback we provide is being heard. The planning company will tailor the Official Plan to our concerns. It is up to us to be a voice and convey in a clear and concise manner what we want to see happen.

Is the Official Plan a step towards incorporation? I'm still not convinced, but logically the logistics of our area joining another municipality would be unattainable. What is glaringly clear; our communities are 100% against amalgamation, and the last few weeks have polarized us all in our passionate commitment to remaining unincorporated. Attend the upcoming public meetings; notifications will be posted on the area's Facebook pages and flyers will be posted in all Post Offices. Make your voice heard. The more feedback we give, the better chance any future mandates will preserve and protect the way of life we deserve.

Contact Information: Planscape-Ryan Lloyd; rlloyd@planscape.ca North Almaguin Planning Board-napb.ca URL MPP-Graydon Smith; graydon.smith@pc.ola.org MP-Scott Aitchison; scottaitisonmp.ca URL

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