Current & Past Articles » Letters

Is technology accelerating the great divide in income?

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

by FRANK STRONACH

Back in the 1980s, when Artificial Intelligence (AI) was still the stuff of science fiction and computers and automation were changing the way we worked, a number of futurists and economists predicted “the end of work” and rising living standards. 

Not only would we not need to work, according to these experts, but incomes and living standards would rise due to the wealth these new technologies generated. 

Clearly, it hasn’t quite turned out the way – at least not for the majority of Canadians.

When I was CEO of Magna International back in the late 1980s – the time when robotics first began appearing on automotive production and assembly lines – I publicly raised the issue of who would be the chief beneficiaries of these new technologies and what would happen to the assembly line jobs being replaced by robots.

It’s hardly mentioned anymore nowadays, in part because most of our manufacturing has either been shuttered or offshored to countries where workers are still cheaper than robots. 

But without a doubt, many jobs will disappear in the years ahead because of technological advances. 

In the decade ahead, everything from self-driving transport trucks and taxi cabs to elder care robots will cause the loss of millions of jobs around the world. And that’s not counting the job losses that will happen once AI becomes deeply rooted in the offices and workplaces of our country.

A report published last week by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that AI – the most transformational new technology to emerge in our lifetimes – has the potential to increase incomes for high-income earners while also accelerating income inequality. 

On the other hand, the IMF report also warned that AI could displace a large number of high-income workers performing white-collar jobs in finance, communications, and law.

But even if AI ends up wiping out a large number of jobs, we can’t blame a technology for our society’s growing income inequality. That’s the fault of our system. 

The fact remains, Canada’s economic fundamentals are unsound and are not conducive to fostering economic growth. 

If we want to insulate ourselves from the coming wave of job losses that AI will inevitably unleash, then we need to once again start making things. We need to stop exporting our abundant raw materials and importing finished goods made elsewhere.

We need to start turning our natural resources into value-added goods that the rest of the world wants to buy. And we need to unchain our entrepreneurs and small business owners so they can create the innovative new products that will generate added wealth and increase the size of our economy.

If we created the right conditions for start-ups and small businesses to thrive – by removing business income tax, for example – then we could spark an economic boom that would add hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

But small businesses across Canada have to unite and make their voice heard, because right now no one is listening to their needs, and unless they band together and become a force to be reckoned with, nothing will change. 

Small businesses can revive our manufacturing sector – if we dismantle the red tape and create the right environment for them to grow and prosper. 

That would be a guaranteed solution to raising the incomes and living standards of millions of Canadians, regardless of what AI or any other disruptive technology has in store in the years to come. 

To learn more about how we can “Regenerate Canada”, email me at info@economiccharter.ca.   

Author Bio

Frank Stronach is the founder of Magna International Inc., one of Canada’s largest global companies, and the Stronach Foundation for Economic Rights  (www.economiccharter.ca). 

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Current & Past Articles » Letters

A bed by any other name…

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

by SHERALYN ROMAN

In a not so surprising turn of events, the Ford government is up to their usual shenanigans again, putting a unique spin on yet another announcement, this time to do with housing. Much like every other announcement that seems to emanate from Queen’s Park these days, the contents are dubious at best or what some might consider downright flagrantly inaccurate. A rose might still smell like a rose even if called by any other name but a bed? A bed is NOT, has never been and never will be a HOME.

I harken back to days of yore when a home was a home. You recall, I’m sure, in the pre-announcement days (mere days ago that is) when a home was somewhere that typically a family (of all shapes and sizes) gathered, all under a roof that also had at least four walls, and more than likely said home also had a kitchen, maybe a bathroom, perhaps even a living room of sorts, no matter how small. A home might be an apartment, a condo, a townhouse, semi-detached or a single-family dwelling – or as is increasingly the case here in Caledon – a enormous castle like structure with pillars and pot lights galore.

You know what is NOT a home? A bed. Particularly a bed in a long-term care facility, even a long-term care facility that might have once had an “iron-ring” placed around it! Remember those days? One of Ford’s early announcements during the pandemic when he claimed he’d look after our seniors by placing an iron-ring of protection around such facilities? I don’t recall him referring to LTC beds as “homes” at that time but now, suddenly, in the midst of an absolute housing crisis, a measly bed in a communal living space is somehow considered “home.” Next up? No doubt Ford will be announcing “Welcome Home” to all those who rely on a shelter bed in the middle of a snowstorm. 

Calling a bed in an LTC facility is absurd and an affront to the dignity of those who often, through ill health or otherwise no fault of their own, must rely on a long-term care facility for their care and keeping. The towns and cities who used these statistics as part of their “count” toward obtaining more government funding should be ashamed of themselves, as of course, should Ford be. By the way, if an LTC bed is indeed a “home” and these “homes” count in the numbers that result in some communities receiving huge payouts for “meeting housing targets,” shouldn’t there actually BE enough beds (oops, I mean homes) for all those that require them?

Asking for a friend. 

I think we might all agree that we are indeed in the middle of a housing crisis. That young adults today, with good incomes pooled together, are still unable to purchase an affordable home is a problem. The problem is fuelled by developers who insist on building massive properties on tiny lots at ridiculous prices. It’s fuelled by our inability to think outside of the box and take advantage of infill spaces; build affordable housing that is actually affordable, or control the volume of investors who buy up condos for the sole purposes of either reselling at a massive markup or making money on the unit as an AirBnB instead of increasing the housing supply.

The problem is exacerbated by lengthy permits and approvals processes, and by Ford’s downloading of the costs of development onto towns and cities while simultaneously prohibiting them from collecting developer fees. Even the apparent refusal to look at our past as a lens to guide future planning prohibits progress on the housing crisis. In the post-war boom of the 1950s and 60s, “catalogues” of home designs, with universal building standards, were made available to builders and the permits and approvals process was streamlined to encourage new builds – at an affordable price. “Cookie-cutter” homes are already plentiful in many a neighbourhood so using history as our teacher, why not make them easier to build and more affordable while you’re at it? 

While our current housing crisis is such that often a single-family dwelling might have a rental unit contained within it, or many young adults might still be living with their parents, two things remain true: affordable housing alternatives DO exist but there are insufficient incentives to build them despite Ford’s promise of millions of dollars, and a bed is a bed is a bed, especially one in a long-term care facility. It will only ever be a bed, nothing more and certainly not ever a home.

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Current & Past Articles » Letters

Digital Hawaiian pizza

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

by BRIAN LOCKHART

Who doesn’t like pizza?

It’s round, easily transported, and has the distinction of being probably the only hand-held food shaped like a triangle when you slice it.

It’s also one of the very few foods were you can mix and match ingredients at your pleasure.

You can go with the standard pepperoni, cheese and tomato sauce, and add olives, mushrooms, green peppers, bacon, tomato, and Italian sausage, as you like it.

For the real adventurous, you can ask for anchovies. However, other than myself, I’ve never seen anyone else ever order anchovies on a pizza.

There is also the great debate whether pineapple is an acceptable topping. Some purists claim pineapple on pizza is an abomination.

However, I like it, and routinely order Hawaiian pizza with bacon.

If you need to feed a group of people, there’s no need to spend considerable time in the kitchen. Just order pizza and everyone will be happy and well fed.

It’s also one of the few foods that is just as good the next day when you bring out the leftovers from the refrigerator.

While your local pizzeria makes pizzas to order, there is a huge industry that makes frozen pizzas that are available in any grocery store.

I watched a “how it is made” type of video that showed how frozen pizzas are made in a factory setting.

It wasn’t a whole slew of pizza makers kneading dough and throwing on toppings. The entire process from start to finish was automated.

No one touched the pizzas. Everything from the dough being flattened and shaped, to the spreading of cheese and adding toppings was done by some kind of machine.

The fact that you can buy a frozen pizza that was made with mass production techniques and not even touched by human hands is a direct result of the Industrial Revolution that began around 250 years ago.

It was an age that saw an unprecedented leap forward in human civilization and changed the world dramatically.

The invention of new machines to do the work for you changed the way industry was conducted, and new age of history began.

Not only were new methods of production being put into use, allowing for more products to be made, the effect it had on the general population was to raise the standard of living. That was followed by a massive growth in population.

Historians consider the Industrial Revolution to be the most important event in human history since the domestication of animals and plants.

Prior to this period in history, you would pretty much live your entire life and not see a single change in the way things were done. If there were any advances in technology, they were so slow to appear, and most people would never see it at all. You would spend your entire life doing the same repetitive things and no one would ever come to your village to show you a new invention to make your life easier.

This age of enlightenment got an added boost with the first workable steam engines.

Every time an advancement was made, it caused a positive ripple effect. With more production, there was a requirement for more raw materials. Materials had to get there, so ports to take in ships would get busier as well. So did mining operations.

People started making money and living better than ever before.

Once things got underway, it inspired other inventors to look for alternate ways of doing things that matched the progress of other industries.

There are few times in history that have had such an impact on the world. I think we may now be living in an age that will go down in history as super important.

The digital age has transformed our world in such ways that only a few years ago would be considered science-fiction.

Digital technology has impacted everything from communications to military weapons. It has changed everything from music and the arts, to children’s entertainment and automobiles.

Digital technology has changed the way we work and live, and it is still relatively new. Who knows what else it may change in the future?

Years from now, I think the introduction of the digital age will be in the history books as one of the most important advances of all times.

But there’s still no better way to make a pizza than to put it in the oven by hand.

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Current & Past Articles » Letters

Are we holding back the years, or letting loose?

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

by MARK PAVILONS

Hindsight, they say, is 20/20 – erfect, invaluable.

The only problem is, life has to be lived forward, not backward.

Stevie Nicks once wondered whether she could handle the seasons her life, noting:

“But time makes you bolder

“And children get older

“And I’m getting older too …”

And wise Dr. Seuss once asked “How did get so late so soon?”

We all know, even at an early age, that our time is limited and we must spend every hour and day wisely. Some argue that even wasting time is not really wasted.

We will all get to that proverbial finish line, some sooner than others. But we all have the same fate and will one day venture into what Peter Pan called the last, great adventure. Virgil, long before Pan arrived, said “time is flying never to return.”

There are times when I (maybe many men) feel like that boy who refused to grow up. He stayed away from grown-up things, to remain free, filled with irreverent joy.

Some say that time doesn’t change us, but “unfolds” us, allows us to expand to new levels. Time is like a dressmaker, according to Faith Baldwin, “specializing in alterations.”

Being a Boomer, I have fond memories of my youth, times when life was a bit simpler, easier, more satisfying. We had less stress and pressure and weren’t governed by the clock. We enjoyed lazy days of summer doing nothing. We explored.

If you think about it, much of our childhoods can be compared to Neverland, where time stopped, or at least slowed for a while. It didn’t beckon us.

How many young people today plop themselves in a grassy field, chewing on a stalk, just looking at the clouds? How many ride their bikes down the dirt road just because?

Some say we’re living in a time of anxiety and that we’re pressured to use our time creatively.

We must achieve, accomplish, rise and accumulate wealth.

One would think that age and wisdom would be cherished in our society. If you want to learn something about the past, ask someone who was there. The past isn’t just a tickle trunk filled with oddities and things like rotary phones and rabbit ears.

It’s filled with adventures, experiences, knowledge. We Boomers have a badge, one earned through the school of hard knocks. We learned by doing. We learned from each other.

Our generation also had bookworms, geeks and jocks, but if we flip through the pages of our high school yearbooks, we realize we had respect, a shared brotherhood (or sisterhood) of sorts. Despite the hairstyles and large-rimmed glasses, we were the gatekeepers of a special time.

David and Goliath, Casey and Finnegan may be gone, but they taught us a lot. Their messages were pure and kind.

Most of my peers did well for themselves, but none drive Ferraris. Some still play in bands, go on road trips and love beer and BBQ.

If find it funny that the young think they know everything, when it’s us, the older ones, who actually do. Maybe that was always the case, but in our day we did respect age, our elders, and the knowledge they accumulated.

I agree with Tom Stoppard that age is a high price to pay for maturity.

And ageism is alive and well in our society.

I remember when I was between jobs in my late 40s and went for an interview at a creative design company in Toronto, housed in a converted warehouse.

Cool place, open concept, lots of windows. The interview process included a round-table of about 12 of us, fielding questions. Of course, I was the oldest, and despite my wisdom, I received “those looks” from the 20-somethings in the room. It was obvious I wasn’t seen as a good fit, despite my skills and potential to be a leader and mentor.

There were dozens of applications, for entry level writing and proofreading jobs that failed to get a response. When I did interview, the hosts were in their 20s and perhaps my lack of regard for them was evident. I couldn’t help myself!

I recently went to a hearing clinic and, alas, was told I could benefit from hearing aids. Great!

Why these tiny gizmos are so expensive is beyond me.

We tend to link hearing loss, vision loss and dental issues with age. But in reality, these can occur at any stage of life.

In my youth, cancer was rare, and seldom affected young people. Today, we are all aware of the harsh reality of this disease. During my treatments, every floor of Princess Margaret was packed with people of all ages, from all walks of life. Sad.

I try to ignore the inevitable, and keep the demons looking over my shoulder at bay.

I love to laugh, even though I’m in that age bracket where I fell off the “humour cliff.” A four-year-old laughs roughly 300 times per day, but a 40-year-old doesn’t laugh that many times in a week. From our early 20s onward, we laugh and smile less.

But I am intent on keeping those laugh creases in my face –  earned them all. I will trade barbs and jokes with my kids, more often just to get a rise out of them. I laugh and laugh and laugh.
Juvenile humour is my forte, what can I say? Just like James Broughton observed, “I’m happy to report that my inner child is still ageless.”

Simple things keep me young at heart – my model airplanes and the regular visits to the toy box at my dentist’s office.

We should embrace the efforts and legacies of our “mature” citizens.

Let’s not forget that we’re sitting in the shade today because someone had the wisdom to plant a tree long ago.

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Current & Past Articles » Letters

Using what we have while we’ve got it

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

It’s often said that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

That is indeed true, as anyone with a reasonable amount of time under their belt can attest; but it’s also a two-way street. One sometimes doesn’t know what one has, and then, when they find it, they either have no idea what it is – or what to do with it.

Looking back on my recent move, I should have kept a list of what fell into the latter category.

For some of the seemingly random items I found sifting through my life, there was an instant spark of recognition, no matter how non-descript the object. Often this spark re-heated the sentimental value still carried by the object, followed by the difficult task of determining whether that sentiment was strong enough to carry it into the next chapter.

Take, for instance, the humble VHS tape. As I don’t personally have a working VCR or any other means of playing them, I got rid of the vast, vast majority of what I came to discover was an alarmingly vast, vast collection – but there were a couple of handfuls that I kept with me. Some, such as a trio of box sets, were imbued with that aforementioned sentiment and so many happy memories that came from unspooling them that donation to any number of organizations, or simply throwing them out, was completely out of the question. A few more I kept around just for the aesthetic value, potentially keeping a décor idea in the back of my head for another day because, quite simply, and at the risk of sounding like an old fart, they don’t make cover art like they used to!

On the other hand, for some things, there was no question that it was time purge.

Somewhere along the way, I came across three pieces of wood I glued together once upon a time. I knew in the back of my mind they were part of a project ultimately abandoned, but since I had no recollection what said project was, it was a piece of useless baggage that could be discarded. Another was an extensive cache of magazines from the early aughts that were squirreled away, presumably for a rainy day – but paper gets wet, so off to the donation piles there were placed. Maybe they made some decoupage enthusiast’s day!

Most maddening of all, were those oh-so-familiar tiny pieces of perforated paper – numbered raffle tickets emblazoned with “KEEP THIS TICKET!” that outlived any memory of what I was supposed to keep them for. Reasonably sure none of these would lead to a significant financial windfall and early retirement, out they went… but, also maddeningly, the mystery endures.

But some items, like those VHS tapes, have turned into resources in the new domestic configuration. As much as I kept them around purely for their looks, they’ve turned into lightweight and practical “bricks” on which to house beloved items in the newest abode. They’ve doubled as small, make-shift shelves, display platforms, and even means to prop up other items which would otherwise flop over – with a certain panache.

Had I realised what I had previously, I would have dusted them off much sooner for deployment in this way, but necessity is the evergreen mother of invention. 

In short, they were resources that I didn’t really know that I had – and while, in this instance, I’m speaking about objects, I think there are resources all around us, physical or otherwise, that we’re not taking full advantage of.

Our libraries, for instance, are well-used and well-loved community resources, but, in my view, despite the efforts and creativity of staff to re-imagine these spaces for maker-spaces, creative hubs, and even performance venues, there is still, in many quarters, the view that libraries are staid and quiet places to grab a book or study. They still are, of course, but they’re so much more.

Similarly, local arts venues might have the perception that they’re for certain groups of people, those who might identify themselves as “art patrons” or persons who are better heeled than others, rather than the reality of being spaces for all – and venues where everyone’s horizons, regardless of their interests, can be broadened. 

Even as I write this on March 11, Commonwealth Day, I think the same can be applied to this extensive global “family” of nations that are being celebrated this week.

The Commonwealth, to me, always seems to be a prime resource for many things that is available at our finger tips which we rarely really think to use to our full advantage.

Of course, in this day and age, a global organization that sprang out of the former British Empire and all the baggage that comes with that, can be seen as an outmoded institution that is losing its relevancy with each passing year. But, in my opinion, relevancy is only what you make of it.

For better or worse, the vast majority of Commonwealth member states have similar histories, backgrounds, and similar challenges as we collectively come to terms with that shared history. Our efforts here at home to walk the path of Truth & Reconciliation are not dissimilar to the paths currently being walked in Australia and New Zealand, for instance, or to the paths being experienced by scores of African and Caribbean member states. We can all learn from each other.

Nor, of course, are our collective efforts to combat the challenges that will come with Climate Change dissimilar. Should the direst predictions on this front come to pass, member nation Tuvalu, a country which shares our Head of State, will be one of the first to be submerged by water. As such, they have not only done the hard work of doing everything they can to mitigate the threat, but have laid the metaphorical groundwork of “recreating” their nation, and their culture, in a digital format. It might be an unthinkable outcome for many of us, but it is their lived reality and we can learn from it.

In a speech to mark the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth this week, its head, King Charles, touched upon this sense of relationship.

“Together and individually, we are strengthened by sharing perspectives and experiences and by offering and borrowing the myriad ways we have tackled the challenges of our time,” he said. “This is true both at the level of nations and, indeed, at the local level. We recognize today that our diversity is our greatest strength. The Commonwealth represents a third of humanity, from all regions of the world, with different experiences, knowledge, and aspirations that this brings.

“We must work together to understand each other’s perspectives, including the inequalities and injustices which still resonate to this day. We must find ways of healing and to support each other to pursue solutions.”

Personally, I agree, but we can only do so when we know how – and remember – to deploy this resource to our advantage and, of course, the resources that are closest to home and all around us.

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911 » Current & Past Articles

IMPAIRED CHARGES

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

Officers from the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged a Georgetown resident following a traffic stop.

“On March 4, 2024, shortly after 8:00 p.m., officers from the Caledon Detachment were patrolling the area of Highway 10 near Hurontario Street in the Town of Caledon, when a traffic stop was conducted upon a motor vehicle,” say Police. “During the course of the investigation, officers formed grounds the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol.”

As a result, Abhilash Shaju, 25, of Georgetown, was charged with:

Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

The driver is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on March 21, 2024, to answer to the charge.

The charge has not been proven.

Additionally, the driver’s vehicle was impounded for a period of seven days, and their driver’s licence suspended for a period of 90 days.

“On March 8, 2024, shortly after 10:30 p.m., Caledon OPP received a report of a single motor vehicle collision on Old Church Road, near Centreville Creek Road in the Town of Caledon. No injuries were reported. During the course of the investigation, officers formed grounds that the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol and was subsequently arrested.”

As a result, Aidan Spence, 21, of Bolton, was charged with:

Operation while impaired – alcohol;

Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).

The charges have not been proven.

“Just hours later, on March 9, 2024, shortly after 2:00 a.m., officers from the Caledon Detachment were patrolling the area of Highway 50, near McEwan Drive East in the Town of Caledon, when a traffic stop was conducted upon a motor vehicle. During the course of the investigation, officers formed grounds that the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol and was subsequently arrested.”

Following the investigation, Stephanie Faizy, 37, of Caledon, was charged with:

Operation while impaired – alcohol;

Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus);

Drive motor vehicle with cannabis readily available.

The charges have not been proven.

Both accused are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on March 28, 2024, to answer to their charges. The vehicles were also impounded for a period of seven days, and their driver’s licences were suspended for a period of 90 days.

“On March 10, 2024, just after 1:00 a.m., officers from Dufferin OPP conducted a traffic stop on HWY 10 in the Town of Mono. Officers were quickly led into an impaired operation investigation.”

Steven Engram, 37, from Mono has been charged with:

Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus);

Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs;

Speeding 1 – 49 Km/h over posted limit;

Drive vehicle or boat with cannabis readily available.

The charges have not been proven.

“On March 10, 2024, just after 6:00 p.m., officers from Dufferin OPP responded to a traffic complaint in the area of Buena Vista Drive in the Town of Orangeville. Officers were able to locate the vehicle in question and were quickly led into an impaired operation investigation.”

Paul Grottolo, 44, from Alton has been charged with:

Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs;

Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus);

Driving while under suspension.

The charges have not been proven.

The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville to answer to the charges. Their driver’s licence was suspended, and the vehicle was impounded.

The OPP remains committed to taking alcohol/drug impaired drivers off our roads through enforcement and public education. If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, it is important to call 9-1-1 to report it.

“Drivers who are impaired by drugs or alcohol continue to pose a significant threat on Ontario roads. Whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, impaired is impaired, and impaired driving is dangerous regardless of the source of impairment. If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired, it is important to call 9-1-1 to report it. You can also provide information anonymously by contacting Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.peelcrimestoppers.ca. When you contact Crime Stoppers, you stay anonymous, and you never have to testify.”

For more information about the penalties of driving impaired, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving.

BREAK AND ENTER

INVESTIGATION

Members from the Dufferin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are currently investigating a break and enter to a fast-food business in the Town of Orangeville.

“On March 2, 2024, shortly after 11:30 a.m., Dufferin OPP officers responded to a call for service in the area of Alder Street in the Town of Orangeville,” say Police. “Upon arrival, officers spoke with an employee who advised that someone had entered their workplace through the front door. No damage was caused to the front door at the time of entry.

“Security footage revealed just before 4:00 a.m., a lone suspect entered the business using a key which was securely stored in a key box outside of the business. The suspect cut open the box which allowed them to gain entry. Once inside the suspect took the cash tray along with the safe for the business. It would appear that just prior to the incident, a black minivan was observed in the area.

“The suspect can be described as a white male, wearing a black jacket with fur lining, dark coloured pants, red shoes and wearing a black/red baseball style cap.”

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Dufferin OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

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Current & Past Articles » General News

Tips to keep your pets healthy, happy when traveling over March Break

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

 

By Sam Odrowski

March Break is nearing its end, but the Ontario SCPCA and Human Society have some tips to keep pets happy and healthy during an increased time of travel. 

Over the March Break, as pet owners go on vacations, their furry friends are often left with a close friend, pet sitter or boarding kennel.

If choosing a pet sitter, make sure you ask about what training the sitter has and if they have insurance.

It’s important to also think about if they have a backup, in case they become ill. 

“Ask for references and talk to past clients. It’s also important for the pet sitter to meet your furry friend beforehand to make sure they’re a good fit,” said the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society in a press release. 

When searching for a boarding facility, it’s best to first ask a friend, your veterinarian, or dog trainer for a recommendation.

“Visit the kennel and pay attention to whether it looks and smells clean and if it has been designed with your furry friend’s comfort in mind,” said the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “Ask about the animal to staff ratio, staff training and if animals are monitored after hours. Find out what a day in the life there would look like for your pet – ask about feeding schedules, exercise, enrichment and wellness checks. What vaccinations are required? Be sure to ask about protocols and available veterinary care in the event of a health concern or emergency.”

Whether you’re asking a friend to stay in your home, or seeking professional pet sitting or boarding services, the Ontario SCPCA and Human Society recommends you always have a written contract spelling out services and fees. 

“Be sure to tell your pet’s caregiver about your animal’s likes, dislikes, fears, habits, medical conditions, medications, and routines. Outline feeding and care instructions and be sure to leave contact information for your veterinarian, as well as an alternative emergency contact who can make decisions about your pet’s health if you can’t be reached,” said the Ontario SCPCA and Human Society.

Safeguarding your pet before heading off for vacation is important as well.

“Ensure your pet is up to date on vaccinations and your microchip address is up to date. If your pet isn’t microchipped, this is a simple and effective way to help ensure you are reunited with your pet if they become lost. Now is also a great time to consider pet insurance to help cover those unforeseen veterinary bills and help your furry friends stay healthy,” said the Ontario SCPCA and Human Society.

For more travel planning tips, visit the Ontario SPCA’s blog at ontariospca.ca/blog.

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Current & Past Articles » General News

Theatre Orangeville presents “By the Light of a Story”: A Review

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Constance Scrafield

As the light comes up on the set for “By the Light of a Story” we are immediately welcomed into a home. To one side is an office chair and a vintage desk on which lie piles of notebooks; beside it is a couch with a duvet. Past the interior of the kitchen with a table in front are steps going down, and on the wall hang posters of book covers.

Designed by Theatre Orangeville’s production manager Beckie Morris, this charming set was built and finished by Theatre Orangeville’s creative team, technical director Lisa Lahue and scenic artist Candice Jeromkin. It cradles the action with everything it needs to spin the story. 

It is the story of a famous author, Rhys Holland, who died three years ago; his still grieving wife, who sleeps on the couch and the man whom the publisher has hired as a ghostwriter to finish Rhys’ work. Dashing in and out of this is the author’s sister, Tammy, determined to bring his widow, Madeline, back into the world.

“By the Light of a Story” is on now at Theatre Orangeville and running until March 24.

Early on, Madeline, played well by Daniela Vlaskalic, tells Tammy that her husband’s publisher has hired a ghostwriter to complete his book series and also, that someone is coming to rent the coach house at the back of the property.

Rhys was an established fantasy novelist with a large fan base and it turns out his publisher is anxious for the third book of his trilogy to be finished.

Jane Spence plays Tammy, lively and funny. Tammy is a motorcycle mechanic and she comes on with a biker’s flair, studded leather jacket, humour – the works. 

A knock on the door – it’s the man who has called to rent the coach house. Enter Noah, performed by Mark Crawford, who tells Madeline, “I go by Noah.” 

He is the ghostwriter Rhys’ publishers have hired to finish the series.

This is the first time Mark Crawford has acted on Theatre Orangeville’s main stage, although several of the plays he has written have been produced here. 

Noah is a huge fan of Rhys Holland, regarding him as something of a writer hero. He reveres Rhys’ writing and then suddenly, here was the chance to step in for him. Thrilling.

But…not so much for Madeline who can hardly help from trying to hinder him; refusing to interpret Rhys’ handwriting and objecting to his even touching Rhys’ things, all the while Noah endeavours to read and discern Rhys’ notes.

At one point, Tammy finally persuades Madeline to go to a “Weiner Festival,” something about little dogs, just to get her out of the house, out of her own sadness.

The repartee between Madeline and Noah can be very funny as are the many moments of clever physical humour throughout the play. 

Daniela Vlaskalic handles the heat and cool from which Madeline suffers; the turmoil she endures with a stranger in her beloved but late husband’s chair and desk. How is she to forgive him for being the interloper she sees him as but the friend he would be to her?

Noah is readily portrayed by Crawford, who must be strong in the creativity he admires so much about the author and whose shoes he is keen to fill, but somehow still sensitive to that man’s widow. She is so obstructive as to stretch his patience but he must cater more to her angst than his own frustration.

Between them and sure to keep the pain at bay and a better time to come, Jane Spence is lovely and spot-on as the ever-caring Tammy. If Madeline can return to a full life, it will be Tammy who shows her the way.

In many ways, one might agree with the audience member who observed this as a “post-pandemic awakening play.”

As always in “your favourite theatre,” the lighting, designed by Jeff Johnston Collins, wakens and relaxes in all the right places, providing the mood setting, and keeping pace with the action.

Alex Amini is the costume designer who can fulfill any needs and sees to Tammy’s leathers and the dress that provides a very funny muddle.

Stage manager Jory McLean herds the cats as only firm diplomacy and a sense of humour can.

David Nairn, directing, forever claims the best way to direct is to stay out of the way, still shows his hand at how neatly the light of this story pans out. He delivers the misunderstandings and cross purposes of this comedy to its touching finale.

Be sure to go and see “By the Light of a Story” from now until March 24. For tickets and to purchase your five or three show subscriptions, go to www.theatreorangeville.ca or call the box office at 519-942-3423.

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Current & Past Articles » General News

Agriculture industry to honour reigning Ontario Queen of the Furrow

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

An afternoon to honour Mel Karpenko, the reigning Ontario Queen of the Furrow is being organized by the Peel Dufferin Plowmen’s Association.

“Our local association has quite an amazing history and we are thrilled that Mel and her success has added a new chapter to our organization’s legacy,” says Colin French, President of the Peel Dufferin Plowmen’s Association.

The first Ontario Queen of the Furrow was crowned in 1960 and Karpenko is the eighth local representative to win the provincial honours.

She was crowned Ontario Queen of the Furrow in a celebratory evening finale as part of the 2023 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) held last September in Bowling Green, Dufferin County where the top-plowmen from across the five-day event were also named. That same night Karpenko was named Miss Friendship by her fellow competitors and placed second in the plowing competition.

Karpenko is a graduate of the University of Guelph with a Human Kinetics degree, she has worked with Corteva Agriscience and BASF Canada and is currently in her final year at Western University in the nursing program. She plans to work locally as a Registered Nurse upon graduation.

Raised in Caledon, Karpenko currently lives on a dairy goat farm in Dufferin County.

Since her crowning, Karpenko has been travelling across the province acting as an ambassador for the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA)—the parent host of the IPM—and Ontario agriculture, attending events to promote the next IPM which is being held this fall in Lindsay, Kawartha Lakes, from Tuesday, October 1 through Saturday, October 5.

It is customary for the local association of the reigning Ontario Queen of the Furrow to hold a celebration event and French says local organizers are looking forward to welcoming Karpenko’s family, friends and industry supporters for the afternoon in her honour.

The event is being held Sunday, April 14, at the Orangeville Fairgrounds, 247090 Side Road 5, Mono from 1 to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and presentations will begin at 2 p.m.

Pre-registration is encouraged by visiting the online portal: tinyurl.com/4bf7t5n9.

For more information, contact: pdplowmens@gmail.com.

The Peel Dufferin Plowmen’s Association is the local association within the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA). This year they will host their 97th Annual Plowing Match. They are the only association in Canada to produce two World Plowing Champions, James Eccles in 1953 and William Dixon in 1961. The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) has been held within the association borders on three separate occasions: twice in Peel (1924 in Brampton and 1963 in Caledon) and most recently in Bowling Green, Dufferin County in 2023.

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Current & Past Articles » General News

Credit Valley Conservation issues caution when near waterways

March 14, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Credit Valley Conservation is reminding residents of the dangers that exist near rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes this time of year and is urging people to keep their families and pets away from the edge of all waterways.

There has been lower-than-normal snowfall this year, in addition to periods of warm temperatures in January and February that resulted in an early snowmelt.

The ground within the Credit River Watershed is saturated in many places.

During periods of intense rain, there could be higher amounts of runoff, creating slippery, unstable streambanks, and extremely cold water temperatures.

This can lead to hazardous conditions close to all water bodies.

CVC is offering the following tips to stay safe near the water.

Keep family and pets away from the edges of all bodies of water.

Avoid all recreational activities in or around water, especially near ice-covered watercourses and waterbodies.

Do not attempt to walk on ice-covered water or drive through flooded roads or fast-moving water.

If you live close to water, move objects such as chairs or benches away from the water’s edge to avoid losing them during potential spring-high water.

Avoid walking close to or over ice-covered water to prevent falling through. River banks can become unstable in the spring due to snowmelt and erosion.

If you see a person fall into a body of water or through the ice, call 9-1-1 for help immediately. Rescuing another person or pet from icy water is dangerous and could result in the rescuer also getting in trouble.

Credit Valley Conservation operates a flood forecasting and warning program to reduce loss of life and risk of property damage from flooding.

When flooding is possible, or about to occur, Credit Valley Conservation issues flood messages to municipal emergency management officials, emergency medical services, school boards, police, and the media.

Municipal officials will then take action to warn local residents and respond in emergency situations.

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