wacky workouts page 3 heritage home page 8 the …

By Nigel Gordijk

Pfenning’s Organic Farm in New Ham-burg has donated one acre of land to the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Col-lective Waterloo Region (IFSCWR), for local Indigenous farmers to grow crops for their community. On the evening of May 20, IFSCWR held a ceremony to bless the land. Attendees all wore face masks and practiced physical distanc-ing.

A Mohawk woman in her mid-eight-ies arrived early to begin praying for the land and the evening ahead. Four men sat on tree stumps and drummed

in the twilight. Women stood in a dis-tanced circle and sang while they, too, beat drums. Indigenous Elder Nina De Shane, who works with the Wilm-ot Family Resource Centre, lit a sage and tobacco offering to the land. To-bacco ties – small bundles of tobacco wrapped in cloth – were presented to attendees to take and imbue with their good intentions.

De Shane, who is Haudenosaunee, said, “The tobacco ties can either be left in the land or carried on the back of women’s drums for the planting and harvest season. The women are filled

with joy at the sense of communal planting and harvesting.”

The farmers will be planting corn, beans and squash, which are known collectively as Three Sisters. A con-nection to the land and nature is in-tegral to the story of creation that is shared by Indigenous people, and most of the key figures are female.

“These Three Sisters are the first plantings on Turtle Island,” said De Shane, using an Indigenous name for the continent that Europeans later called North America. “They arrived

By Wilmot Post Staff

First Peoples Group (FPG), the consultants brought on by Wilmot Township to assist with the future of the Prime Ministers’ Path, an-nounced the launch of the community engage-ment portion of their work.

The process began with establishing a clear outline of how and when public communica-tions would be delivered. A bi-weekly update will be available beginning May 21 on the Township’s website, social media accounts and possibly local media. Printed material is avail-able at the Wilmot Recreational Complex and Township offices.

A “share your story” survey is currently avail-able online. This will be followed by group dialogue sessions in the coming weeks. FPG will work with a committee from the Township comprised of councillors and staff members.

FPG’s introduction to the survey says in part:

“Canadians value their history and recognize that it is important to know about the coun-try’s past. Historical understanding creates engaged citizens, promotes critical thinking, encourages civic responsibility and produces a more inclusive society. Since 2015, all Ca-nadians have been called upon by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to increase their awareness about the legacy of residential schools and colonialism in Canada. Canadians recognize that more needs to be done to acknowledge the centrality of Indige-nous peoples in history. The discussion of the Prime Ministers Path in Wilmot is … complex and it is challenging, but it is a conversation that provides an opportunity for community members to learn from one another, to grow, and to form a deeper understanding and awareness of our shared history through an inclusive lens, one that allows us to better ap-preciate experiences that differ from our own.”

More information and links to the survey can be found at www.wilmot.ca/en/living-here/prime-ministers-path-public-engagement.aspx

Indigenous Food Sovereignty Collective grows in New Hamburg

The Wilmot PostServing Baden, Haysville, New Dundee, New Hamburg, Petersburg, Philipsburg, St.Agatha, Wellesley, and Punkeydoodle's Corner

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 32 $2.00

Continued on page 2

Heal.Because we have children who don’t

deserve the broken version of us.

Young Miriam Chouhan plants seeds on the land that was donated by Pfenning’s Organic Farm in New Hamburg. She is supervised by Indigenous Food Sovereignty Collective Waterloo Region’s Bekah Brown. (Photo credit: Nigel Gordijk)

Prime Ministers’ Path survey begins

We Love WilmotGarden Centre Now OpenHours: Seniors Daily 7 am to 8 am

Regular Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm; Saturday & Sunday 8am to 8pm100 Mill Street Unit A New Hamburg 519-662-1374

CANADA’SFAMILYGROCERYSTORE

WACKY WORKOUTS PAGE 3 HERITAGE HOME PAGE 8

2 Thursday, May 20, 2021 The Wilmot Post

in a mystical way, clutched in the fingers of Sky Woman as she fell from the Sky World to Earth. She grasped the Tree of Life as she began her descent to the Sea World.”

"As the pregnant Sky Woman descend-ed to Earth, a giant turtle rose out of the water and offered Sky Woman her back to land on. Several animals began div-ing to the bottom of the sea, trying to bring up soil for her seeds to be plant-ed in. This was difficult and dangerous, but finally a tiny martin was successful. With his last gasp, he placed handfuls of earth on the back of the turtle. Sky Woman planted her Three Sisters seeds, and then she gave birth to her daughter, Mother Nature."

“Turtle continued to grow into Tur-tle Island, and thus began our seasons, governed by the thirteen moons of the Turtle’s back, which began to govern the tides, the planting cycles themselves, and rhythm of women,” said De Shane. “There are thirteen moons on the Tur-tle’s back as there are thirteen moons in a year, each with a name. All are related to nature, and many to planting cycles.”

A pair of young women wearing moc-casins and colourful jingle dresses with rows of metal cones – called “ziibaas-ka’iganan” – danced as part of the bless-ing ceremony.

De Shane explained, “They tap Moth-er Earth to wake our land and prepare

her for planting, then they encourage the growth of our plants and seeds with their beautiful gestures. Usually, these would be performed in a circle, but we were happy to be apart and simply move up and down next to the land.”

IFSCWR’s website states that the group is a “grassroots collective working to re-store the land and create community. We grow, hunt, and forage organic foods in traditional Indigenous ways for those in need in our community. We help to facil-itate meals and grocery supplements for Elders. We help to restore the land using

traditional Indigenous plants, and save their seeds for the next generations.”

Jenn Pfenning’s family owns the farm that is donating the land.

“When one of the organizers emailed to connect, we were made aware of the desire for land to grow an Indigenous Food Sovereignty Garden,” she said. “This isn’t a new concept to us. We’ve hosted gardens for various community members over the years. It’s a natural fit with our philosophy of stewardship of the land and feeding the neighbourhood first. It’s an honour to be able to support

this project.”

The land is available for as long as the group wants it, Pfenning said.

“We can’t just give everyone a garden, but I don’t think we’ve ever said no. They do have to agree to follow organic regu-lations.”

IFSCWR presented Pfenning’s son Tristan with a Pendleton blanket to show their gratitude to the family.

He said, “This is a world issue I can do something about. This is something that matters that I can reach out, touch and have an impact.”

When IFSCWR went to buy the blanket, the group’s members were disappoint-ed to find there was only one in stock. That disappointment turned to tears of joy when they saw it had a turtle woven into it.

“Can you imagine how significant this was for us?” said De Shane.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the families that allowed us to use this land again. For hundreds of years, the peoples of Turtle Island lived and farmed togeth-er on these lands, raising crops of the Three Sisters, sharing these wondrous seeds, harvesting and drying produce to keep them nourished through long, hard winters.”

“Now it’s up to us to maintain this pre-cious acre through planting, weeding, watering and harvesting, and braiding corn in the fall.”

By Rose Danen

Susan Hammer has taken her love of jigsaw puz-zles and turned it into a way to give back to the community. Hammer has set up a ‘charity jigsaw puzzle store’.

The concept consists of selling puzzles donated to Hammer by people within the Wilmot commu-nity and sending all the proceeds to local chari-ties. The idea came to her in conversations with Kristin Oliver of Interfaith Counselling Centre about how she could contribute to their silent auction.

“I was trying to think of an idea, and I said I have a couple of puzzles I can donate, and she’s saying that’s great but they’re going to do it differently this year,” said Hammer. “I said, ‘You know what? Why don’t I just set up a Facebook puzzle page?’”

Hammer said she is always trying to come up with unique ways to raise money for charity and give back to the community. She started the puz-zle store two weeks ago, but already she has re-ceived almost 40 puzzles, and has sold about half of them. Part of that success she attributes to the pandemic.

“It’s funny. During COVID, there’s a lot of people that have started to do puzzles,” said Hammer. “People that have never done puzzles are finding a new love.”

Hammer has been doing jigsaw puzzles long

since before the pandemic, so this is right up her alley.

“I can do a 1000 piece puzzle in like 3 or 4 days,” she said.

Currently the proceeds from the puzzle sales are going to ICC, but Hammer said she’d also like to see proceeds go to other local causes at some point in the future.

“Community is important to me. I take after my dad that way,” said Hammer. “He had a big heart for others, as well as this community.”

Hammer is semi-retired, but she keeps busy helping in the community in lots of different ways beyond the jigsaw puzzle store.

“I keep busy with the Lioness Club. I volunteer at the thrift store. When the elections roll around, you can see me at the desk helping you vote. I always seem to find stuff to keep busy.”

Hammer said she’s appreciative of all the sup-port the Wilmot community has shown for all of her projects.

“We do have a pretty giving, caring & supportive community as well, which adds to the success of things.”

If you’re interested in buying or donating a puz-zle to the charity jigsaw puzzle store, you can go to the Jigsaw Puzzle Alley Facebook page, or you can email [email protected].

Continued from page 1

NEWS — www.wilmotpost.ca

Four men drum at twilight last Thursday during a ceremony to bless farm land near New Hamburg where the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Collective Waterloo Region will grow corn, beans and squash. (Photo credit: Nigel Gordijk)

Susan Hammer has taken her love of puzzles and turned it into a community fundraiser for various charitable groups in Wilmot. (Photo credit: Rose Danen)

Indigenous Food Sovereignty Collective grows

Pandemic Purpose: Puzzles for charity

3Thursday, May 20, 2021The Wilmot Post

By Rose Danen

Wilmot Centre Church has challenged families in Wilm-ot to travel to nine different parks across the township and complete their Wacky Workouts in Wilmot contest.

The contest consists of nine ‘wacky’ workout challeng-es and nine ‘whimsical’ trivia questions for families to complete as they visit the parks. The contest was de-signed to create some fun for families who are strug-gling right now because of the pandemic.

“We try to plan different activities that meet people both in our church community and in the greater com-munity of Wilmot where they’re at, and provide joy, love and hope in that moment. Right now there is a need for that for young families,” said Brookelynn Gerber, the church’s creative director.

The idea came about during a brainstorm meeting amongst church staff. They were trying to think of an activity that could serve the community in a way that is also safe during a pandemic.

“We were hearing from one of the ladies on our team and she was talking about how right now life is real-ly difficult for families with young kids,” said Gerber. “They’re trying to balance working at home while also helping their kids with school and doing all these other things.”

They eventually landed on the idea of getting people to visit parks in the Wilmot community where they can exercise outdoors. It aligned perfectly with the provin-cial government’s recommendations to get outdoors and exercise in their community, according to Gerber. They also decided to create a prize basket consisting of items sourced from nearby businesses in Wilmot as a way to support the local economy.

“This ended up becoming the super random but seem-ingly perfect solution to meet the community’s needs,” said Gerber.

When Candice Rowe heard about the contest she thought it would be a good way for her children to get excited about being outside and getting active.

“As soon as I saw it, I was like ‘Oh my kids will have a ton of fun doing this,’” said Rowe who is a teacher at Waterloo Oxford D.S.S.

So far, Rowe’s family has completed the Scott Park por-tion of the challenge. She says her children really en-joyed it and are hoping to complete a few more parks before the contest deadline on May 31.

“They like to see different parks. Like not every park, for example, has monkey bars, so they liked Scott Park because Scott Park has monkey bars,” said Rowe.

It also gave the family a chance to explore the surround-ing community.

“We ended up going and seeing the river because we were down there. So we just got to explore a little more of Wilmot on top of the park.”

If your family hasn’t had a chance to participate in the contest yet, Gerber says there’s still time and encour-ages you to participate even if you aren’t able to do all nine parks.

“If someone for whatever reason lives in New Hamburg and doesn’t feel comfortable going to say New Dundee, we don’t want them to feel left out. So they can do as many or as little as they want,” said Gerber. “I also hope they’ll be able to find some joy and a reason to smile and laugh together right now in our community together as a family.”

For more information about the Wacky Workouts in Wilmot contest and to enter, visit www.wilmotcentre.church/wackywilmot.

FEATURE — www.wilmotpost.ca

Wacky Workouts challenges families to get outdoorsChurch encourages active lifestyle

A sample activity and trivia question from the Wacky Workout family challenge and contest set in Wilmot and hosted by Wilmot Centre Church. (Photo credit: Rose Danen)

The Water Conservation By‐law The Water Conservation By‐law is in effect May 31 to September 30is in effect May 31 to September 30

Know your day and follow the rules to help conserve our community’s water. Water lawns once per week, based on your house number.

Water Water wisely!wisely!

Follow the by-law to help reduce summer strain on our water supply. Thanks for doing your part!

For more information:bit.ly/WaterBylaw, 519-575-4400

Deaf and hard of hearing (TTY): 519-575-4608

• You can water shrubs, trees and gardens, wash vehicles or top up pools every other day: even-numbered addresses on even days of the month and odd-numbered addresses on odd days.

• Using a bucket, watering can or rain barrel is allowed anytime.• For newly-planted grass and nematode applications, apply online or call.

Only water 5:30–10 a.m.

and 7–11 p.m.

If your address ends in: 0 or 1 your watering day is: Monday2 or 3 Tuesday4 or 5 Wednesday6 or 7 Thursday8 or 9 Friday


OPINION — www.wilmotpost.ca

This week’s article was prompt-ed by one of our local residents at Nithview Home, whose west-erly window overlooks the view toward the Nith River. He re-ported that at seven o’clock one early May morning he spotted two jack rabbits. In my rec-ollection, I had not seen one since about 1935 while on a bobsleigh ride on the Haysville

Road.

Jack rabbits resemble the more common rabbits, but are much larger in size. At one time in this area they were so numer-ous they were considered pests which were ruining crops. Groups of young men went out in rural areas with rifles to try to reduce their numbers. One report of the 1920’s indicat-ed that on one day the hunt-ers had bagged 122 of them. Two weeks later 102 were shot in one day. Fox farms, then in vogue, bought them to feed foxes paying up to six cents per pound. Adults weigh up to about 15 pounds, their body length might reach to 30 inch-es.

A bit of research showed that jack rabbits have rebounded, are not extinct and have been found along the lower reaches

of the Grand River. It is logi-cal they have found their way upstream on the Nith River to our area.

There is a report that a beaver has been spotted just above the downtown mill dam, where it had burrowed into the river bank for protection from the occasional cougar. Some spec-imens of the latter have been spotted in our area, and also to the south of Haysville. There in the bushland are to be found some deer as well. Wild tur-keys are also prevalent in some areas.

Another report indicated that some time ago several young otters were spotted in the riv-er below the dam. Some of our birdwatchers also report hav-ing seen some osprey nests and have kept watch as they nur-tured their hatchlings. Boaters

on the river upstream of the dam toward the railway bridge often spot red foxes sunning themselves on the riverbanks.

In the river are turtles which crawl up onto land to lay eggs. Nearly a century ago, a group of men from the Pittsburgh area would come each summer to camp on the river flats near the railroad bridge to trap tur-tles and eat them, particularly in soup. The local newspaper would report them having ar-rived for their summer sojourn.

More recently a local resident was not pleased when a snap-per appeared in his backyard fish pond. Several times he would pick one up and take it back to the nearby river. After three or four times he decid-ed it might be the same turtle so he painted a red dot on the back of its shell. Yes, next day

a turtle with a red dot was in the pond. This time the turtle was taken on a journey of four or five miles for release in a river downstream from New Hamburg. The pond is still be-ing watched.

The river has produced some unusual creatures, and though the Nith River Monster of 1953 was eventually revealed as a hoax, it also produced a large eel, nearly three feet in length. Caught on a fisherman’s line it was bought by a local resident, a native of Europe, who decid-ed to eat it as we would eat a fish. He had eaten eel in his native land and said this one was equally good.

For my taste, a nice fresh speckled trout or even tinned red sockeye salmon would be preferable.

PERSPECTIVES: Our wildlife

By Ernie Ritz

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Owner/Publisher: Grant Haven Management Inc. / Stewart GrantGraphic Designer: Tyler CarruthersWeb Design: Common Sense DesignSales Representative: Sharon LeisContributing writers: Ernie Ritz, Nancy Silcox, Nigel Gordijk, Marie Voisin, Kristen Hahn, Gary West, Chris Ehrat, Yvonne Zyma, Al Junker, Alex Hunt, Wendy Ruther-ford, Lisa Hagen, Olivia Miller, Kate Laing, Rose DanenColumnists: Kristen Hahn, Shirley Koehle, Nick Mehring, Delaney Regehr, Ernie Ritz, Chris Spotswood, Shevaun Voisin, Alison Willsey, Chip Bender, Ursula McCloy

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EXPERT ADVICE: Pandemic Play

It’s Spring in a lockdown…again! What to do this year for exercise? Try to rally the spirits once more. It really is our spirit that needs rallying – we need exercise not just for physical health but for mental health.

In fact, McMaster University recently added the term “pan-demic paradox” to the COVID 19 dictionary. Just what we want - another new term and definition for this global crisis.

The meaning is that while the majority of Canadians know they need to exercise to relieve stress and anxiety, they are too stressed and anxious to start. Yes, the paradox of knowing something will make you feel better but just not doing it…ugh!

What if we remove the drudg-ery of adding one more “good for us” thing to the day? Change exercise to get “outside and play” – like when we were kids. Maybe even read that using your Mother’s voice. On second thought maybe don’t. While it’s hard to find the joy in the pres-ent situation, maybe a trip back in time is just what the doctor ordered.

Return to what you enjoyed as a kid, except remember you are likely more breakable now. A slip and slide could be fun, or it might result in an ambulance ride and a cool story! A little hula hooping, that is actual-

ly a great thing, core strength and coordination. Get the fam-ily, single household of course, together for a rousing game of dodge ball. That could really get some of the pent-up together-ness stress out. I am not advo-cating violence but remember the thrill of a SOFT ball flying from your hand in the direction of one of your buddies, may-be even making contact. This could be mood altering…per-haps not totally politically cor-rect, but they are family, right?

Perhaps a game of tag or hide and seek if dodge ball brings back bad memories. Can you feel the thrill and arch of your back to avoid being caught or the jump when the “it” person finds you behind the tree, then racing to Home Free? Ah the joy of movement! These activ-ities will most likely end up in a fit of giggles and squeals, yes squeals, you know it! I can feel the happiness even as I write this, and I hope you can too.

Memories of freedom!

Have an outdoor dance par-ty. Who cares what the neigh-bours say. They may just join in, physically distanced of course -preferably before 11pm. You do not want to meet our by-law officers!

Need more structure? Try this workout in your backyard.

10 Long Jumps – jump forward, shuffle back, on a mat, maybe at the end of your fence so each jump forward you air high-five your neighbour - 2 metres away of course. Misery… I mean ex-ercise loves company!

10 Push-ups - kneeling or full, depending on fitness level.

15 Wide Squats - try to touch your hand to the ground be-tween your legs each rep, again near the fence so each time you get to standing position you can meet your neighbours’ eyes to see who gets down and up fastest! Add a jump if you have

a high fence.

20 Mountain Climbers – in a plank position alternate bring-ing knees into your chest keep-ing hips flat and parallel to the ground.

Repeat this a few times and feel your spirit lift. Finish by flipping onto your back and staring up to the clouds, watch them float by or look for shapes. Sit intently looking at a dandelion or deep into the grass searching for a four-leaf clover. Take in Mother Nature’s good vibes and start to crush that darn Paradox.

We can do it!

(Chris Spotswood is a fitness professional and certified Per-sonal Trainer. She was the founder and owner of Absolute Fitness & Personal Training in New Hamburg from 1999-2017 before transitioning to her next chapter. Opinions stated here are her own.)

By Chris Spotswood


COMMUNITY — www.wilmotpost.ca

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7 Wonders of Wilmot: The Baden HillsBy Lisa Hagen

The massive, geographical landmark near Baden “has shaped our environment, landscape, and the decision to first settle here” according to one entrant of our sur-vey who named The Baden Hills as one of the Wonders of WIlmot.

Before the European settlers, the Hills were farmed by an Indigenous Nation called The Neutrals and who, according to

a 1938 Waterloo Historical Society booklet, lived on the south-east side of the high-est hill. The camp was at 1225 ft above sea level or approximately three-quar-ters up the hill near a trout-laden creek that emptied into Meisel’s pond. A 1938 dig, in conjunction with the New Ham-burg School Board, unearthed bone tools, knives, pipes, combs, and arrowheads. As late as 1938, tobacco was still grown on the Hills just as The Neutrals had farmed

many years earlier.

Geographically, the four hills were formed by the melt water of glaciers retreating approximately 14000 years ago, and are considered the most prominent set of moulin kames in Southern Ontario ac-cording to the University of Waterloo’s Earth Sciences Department. The highest hill is 434 metres (1425 ft) above sea level and can be seen from almost anywhere in Wilmot Township. It has long been used

as a landmark for travellers throughout the ages. It was declared a protected site in the 1970’s by the renown International Biological Programme but it is unclear if any protection is currently granted.

The third hill from the East is now part of the Wilmot Trail System having been gifted to the Region by Ray Gibney and developed through the generous support of Mike Schout. Entrance to the trail is off Sandhills Road.

Letter to the Editor:We Value Diversity as well

A few weeks ago our community was unsettled by some offensive material that was posted in public. It became ap-parent that the IBPOC members were targeted, and concerns were raised that people were feeling unwelcome and perhaps unsafe due to the racist mes-

sages.

Many people wanted to send out an al-ternative message to communicate an-ti-racist views and that we value and welcome a diverse community. The Wilmot Ecumenical Working Group of Indigenous/Settler Relations met to dis-cuss such possibilities. One of the mem-

bers shared the idea of the “We Value Diversity” lawn signs that the United Churches in Atwood and Listowel had made. It so happened that they had some available. On inquiry they were happy for us to purchase them for circulation. Very quickly the word got out and the requests for more signs came flooding in. Within a few weeks, over 100 were

posted in front of residences, churches and businesses. A special thanks goes to Sandy Earl and the folks at the Atwood and Trinity United Church. Your idea of spreading a welcoming message in this way is a start to some important work that is needed in our communities.

Gladys Bender, Baden

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SPORTS — www.wilmotpost.ca

By Kristen Hahn

Thirteen-year-olds Erin Jackson and Madi van Gyssel sit at a picnic table in a community orchard in New Ham-burg. Erin takes a bite of raw rhubarb, makes a face, and takes another bite. A gentle breeze carries a coolness to remind us that it is not yet summer, and bees move from tree to tree, checking the progress of the tender shoots. It is hard to imagine that Erin and Madi are actually 4662 kilometers away in Sibbald, Alberta.

On January 1, 2021, they got on their bicycles in Halifax, Nova Scotia and ever since then they have been cycling for 45 minutes to an hour every day. Of course, the bikes may be real, but the towns and villages and long stretch-es of highway are in their minds. This certainly is not the year for epic cross-country marathons, but it is the year that the Bakhash family has the most need of help.

In 2011, the family’s city of Deraa was surrounded by the Syrian army. All utilities and provisions were cut off. Their car was crushed by a tank and their home was re-duced to rubble. For two more years, the Bakhash family moved around the city in a fruitless search for safety and on February 10, 2013, they fled to Jordan to a ref-ugee camp. Conditions in the camp were almost as dire as those in their ravaged homeland; while spared the threat from bombs, clean water, food, and medicine were scarce. They found new accommodations in the village of Natfeh, but with their refugee status they could not attend school, or secure stable employment. They were treated more-or-less like criminals.

In 2016, Baha Bakhash, his wife Ola, and their three children were able to come to Canada as part of a gov-ernment sponsorship, but they had to leave Ola's par-ents and her two brothers behind.

And so Madi, Erin, and Madi’s father Jeff got on their bicycles—as did another three teams—as part of a fund-raising campaign called Love Your Neighbour. The teen team goes by the name “Big Dreams.” Another team, “Call Us a Cab," has left Winnipeg, MB and "Wheelie Fast" is just cruising on in to Calstock, ON. The fourth group, “Faith in Motion” led by John Keupfer of Welles-ley Home Hardware, has already made it to the finish line and are on their way back. “But they’ve got 11 peo-ple and they’re on a cycling team!” Madi offered in gen-tle protest.

Before the paperwork can be sent to petition for Ola’s family to immigrate to Canada, they must have $62,000 raised. $20,000 of that can be held in trust, so the barest minimum required is $42,000. So far, Love Your Neigh-bour has raised $25,000 and recently an anonymous donor offered to match the next $10,000 raised. That would bring them to their first goal. They’ve found some other creative ways to raise money: a scrap metal drive collected $2,000 and there are plans to set up a market stand for pies, jams, and apple sauce.

Now that the weather has warmed up they were asked if they’ve taken the marathon to the streets of Wilmot. Erin enjoys being outside, saying “I find it much easier to concentrate on biking and actually get more kilome-ters in more efficiently when I'm outside than when I'm inside. I get distracted when I’m just staring at the TV.”

Contrastingly, her best friend still prefers the indoors. “I find it easier in the basement,” said Madi. “There's no wind, there's no hills, and there are no bugs in my face.”

Now, with only 1,338 km remaining, they will make their July 1 end-date although the celebration may not be what they would have liked. “Our intention was to do the last few kilometers by riding over the finish line in BC,” Jeff said. “There's an awesome rail trail out there that goes through the mountains but since we can’t do that it’s hard to find something to compare.”

Madi chirped up, “I guess we’ll have cake.” Erin added, “Hopefully we can have a big barbecue if we’re allowed.”

Asked if they plan on turning around and biking back home, the girls laughed. “I’m not going to miss having to do it every day!” said Madi. “I’ll get to spend more of my time on other things like rock climbing,” Erin, however, has been bit by the biking bug: “When I turn 16, I actu-ally want to do this! I want to really bike across Canada and camp along the way.”

More information on Love Your Neighbour and a link to their donation portal is at facebook.com/loveyourneigh-bourfundraiser. Cheques may be dropped off at Fellow-ship Bible Church, 150 Hamilton Road, New Hamburg.

Teen team within reach of their cycling and fundraising goal

Madi van Gyssel and Erin Jackson are biking across Canada while staying in Wilmot. They are raising money to help reunite a Syrian family by biking the equivalent of a cross country trek using both stationary and road bikes. (Photo credit: Kristen Hahn)

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By Rose Danen

After months of virtual dance classes, New Hamburg’s Centre Stage Dance Stu-dio is trying to stay positive after postpon-ing their dance recital until after the end of the extended lockdown.

“Fingers crossed that we’ll still be able to do this. I’m just trying my best to bring joy to the students and to the families,” said Donna Bender, dance teacher and owner of Centre Stage.

The annual dance recital was postponed from May 29 to June 26 after the provin-cial stay-at-home order was extended to June 2. The recital is the big year-end performance at the studio where all the students get to showcase what they’ve learned. Bender said it was important that it not get cancelled for the sake of the stu-dents.

“The recital is something that they all look forward to,” said Bender, “I’d really love to go out with a bang after last year, not being able to do any of it, because performance for the students is really important.”

Bender said the students have been work-ing extra hard this year because the recit-al was outright cancelled last year during the first wave of the pandemic. The hope is that the stay-at-home order will be lift-ed on schedule so that Centre Stage can resume in-person classes and begin get-ting ready for the recital. While Centre Stage was able to do some in-person dance classes last summer and autumn when things began to open up, it was forced to revert back to virtual Zoom dance classes in the winter and spring during the sec-ond and third waves.

“Everything is a waiting game. Nobody knows what the next announcement will be and we just have to keep pivoting,” Bender said.

As the waiting game continues, Bender is trying to keep her students positive, and she’s hoping the recital will help.

“When I’m on my Zoom classes I’m con-tinuing to say ‘keep praying’ and ‘keep those fingers crossed’ and ‘we are going to have a recital’ and trying to keep everyone positive.”

Bender said she can really see how the pandemic is negatively affecting her students. When teaching students their improvisation dance skills, Bender will sometimes ask the students to use emo-tions as prompts.

“I asked the students this year for a cou-ple of classes ‘give me an emotion’... and I was getting words like ‘anger,’ ‘frustra-tion,’ ‘anxiety.’”

This is coming from students that Bender said usually use words like ‘joyful,’ ‘curi-ous’ or ‘excited.’

“I realized they are all truly affected by all of this.”

Centre Stage has provided a space where the students can get physically active and see their friends, which is crucial in bat-tling the effects of the pandemic, accord-ing to Bender.

“It’s great that they can dance it out and release it from their bodies,” said Bender.

When in-person classes are allowed, the studio has had to grapple with COVID-19 safety precautions. Parents also have to fill out a COVID-19 screening question-naire for their children no earlier than two hours before each class, otherwise they’re not allowed in the studio. Social distancing squares have been placed on the floors of the studio, and sanitation protocols are in place.

“We’re teaching all of the work, it’s just not being patterned necessarily and we’ve

had to take out all of our partner work,” said Bender. “It has changed our choreog-raphy, but the kids are still learning and having fun, and that’s what’s really im-portant.”

However, during the lockdowns, Centre Stage has faced more challenges.

“During lockdowns, we’ve had to revert to Zoom classes which is challenging,” said Bender. “A lot of people decided they would just see us next year.”

Centre Stage has seen a decline in regis-trations by more than half their normal numbers. This has led to some financial struggles.

“That’s why I’m so thankful and grateful for those who are still continuing with us because it is right now about fighting to stay in business,” said Bender.

Bender said that it’s helped that her land-

lord has been very understanding about rent.

“We’re hanging in there.”

Aside from the recital, the studio is also looking for opportunities for their crew team to perform while abiding by COVID-19 restrictions, whatever that may look like.

“That’s a big thing for the kids because they love to perform and they love to give back to the community. So we are still looking for performance opportunities even under these circumstances.”

Whatever the pandemic throws at the stu-dio, Bender said she is so proud of her stu-dents for persevering through everything.

“They are little heroes in my eyes for stay-ing committed to being online with us. It’s not easy.”

By Jen Cyr, Collection Co-ordinator

One Book, One Community is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The longest running commu-nity-reading program in Canada, OBOC, as it’s often called, highlights Canadian authors and their work. Through the shared experience of reading and dis-cussing the same book, OBOC helps create a special sense of community in Waterloo Region.

The One Book, One Community Committee recent-ly revealed its platinum anniversary pick, “Extraor-dinary Canadians: Stories from the Heart of our Nation” by Peter Mansbridge and Mark Bulgutch. Featuring stories from Canadians across our nation, “Extraordinary Canadians” is a perfect feel good love letter to our country and its people. Whether it is Manny Kohli, president of Matt and Nat creating vegan fashion, or Jessica Grossman, digital market-er de-stigmatizing ostomy bags, the personal stories included highlight the voices of 17 inspiring Cana-

dians. Combined, these stories will awaken a strong sense of pride for the land we call home.

Peter Mansbridge is one of Canada’s most respected journalists and the former anchor of The Nation-al, CBC’s flagship nightly newscast, which he was a part of for thirty years. His previous work includes his book “One on One: Favourite Conversations and the Stories Behind Them”. Mark Bulgutch also worked for CBC for over forty years, eleven as the senior editor of The National and another ten as senior executive producer of all live news specials. In 2020, he released his book, “That's Why I'm a Doctor: physicians recount their most memorable moments”.

For more information on One Book, One Commu-nity or to learn about the authors’ online event and other special programs, visit oboc.ca. To place a hold on “Extraordinary Canadians”, visit RWL at rwlibrary.ca.

New Hamburg’s Centre stage “keeping fingers crossed” for recital

RW Library update

Pre-lock down rehearsal contrasts to the online, Zoom lessons that Donna Bender has pivoted to in order to prepare her dancers for the year-end recital. (Photo courtesy of Donna Bender)

Postponed recital rests on Province’s regulations

One Book, One Community Celebrates its 20th Anniversary



Heritage home on sale block virtually untouched in 70 yearsRoth homestead like stepping into history

By Marie Voisin

There is a bewitching older house set back from the road, nestled in a grove of trees on Fairview Street, once known as Bleams Road South, at one time a dirt lane that led west to Walker Road. Little children in the neighbourhood think it is haunted of course. This yellow-brick ed-ifice was built in 1891 by Christian Roth Jr. for his family and is now being readied

for sale.

Christian Roth’s grandparents, Ru-dolph and Maria Roth, immigrated from Alsace-Lorraine to Wilmot Township around 1828 and built a log cabin for their family of seven across the street from the current house - although the location is not certain. There was also a smaller log cabin beside it for the hired hand and his family. Rudolph’s oldest son, Christian

Sr., inherited the farm in 1853 and lived in the log cabin with his eight children until 1890 it was destroyed by fire.

In 1891, his son, Christian Jr., and his wife, Lydia, built the current house where they lived with their four children. By 1920, Christian Jr. retired from dairy farming and moved into New Hamburg. He bought the Rau Brewery during Pro-hibition and transformed it into the Oak

Grove Cheese Factory. During his resi-dence in New Hamburg, he owned 3 and 29 Bleams Road East, 49 and 91 and 230 Peel Street.

Christian Jr.’s son, William, took over the dairy farm of accredited Holsteins in 1920. Thus, William Roth and his wife Luella Heldman, became the second owners and their children, Albert, Arlene

Continued on page 9

The Roth homestead in New Hamburg has been virtually untouched for 70 years. Treasures await around every corner. (Photo credit: Kristen Hahn)

The summer kitchen illustrates that the bones of the house are good but much interior work is needed. (Photo credit: Kristen Hahn)

The calendar behind this jaunty, paper man reads 1937. Below that, another calendar from C.K. Berg who had a car dealership in New Hamburg through the 1950’s. The telephone number is 164. (Photo credit: Kristen Hahn)

This 1955 calendar, still hanging in the kitchen, came from an earthmoving equipment dealer in Illinois. (Photo credit: Kristen Hahn)



Heritage home on sale block virtually untouched in 70 yearsRoth homestead like stepping into history

and Lyle were born in the house as was William. Arlene became the third owner in 1985 and lived here until she died in February 2021. The rear of the house was lived in by the family; the front was used occasionally by seasonal workers.

Of the original 200 acres, 26 remain. Wil-liam sold the dairy cattle in 1956 when highway 7-8 bisected the property. A dirt

lane [that is still discernable] led to their sugar shack in Walker Woods. The bank barn, chicken coop and Quonset hut that were all across from their house, have been taken down.

Although the 4,000 s.f. house was built as a farm house, it is much grander than that. The rooms on the main floor are spacious; the wrap-around staircase is striking with large landings; the parlour

and living room are separated by huge wood-folding doors; the eight bedrooms are roomy and have closets; the maple/cherry patterned floor is exquisite. The grounds once boasted of beautiful flower and vegetable gardens; Lydia Roth plant-ed a heart-shaped flower bed at the front of the house. If you stand in the yard, you sense the spirits of the past whispering about the buildings, the people, the her-

itage apple and pear trees, the concord grapes and the love of the land.

And now the homestead with its field-stone foundation awaits a new caretak-er. The house structure is sound but the interior will require complete refurbish-ment. It is listed for sale at $1,995,000 and is waiting for someone to rescue it. Another part of our local history is at stake.

Continued from page 8

The exterior of the Roth homestead in earlier days when it featured a heart-shaped garden in the front yard. (Photo submitted)

Luella and William Roth were the second generation to live in the house. Their children, Lyle (Buck), Arlene, and Albert, were born there and remained in the area most of their lives. The last owner, Arlene, passed away in February and the house is now for sale. (Photo submitted)

A baby carriage from the last century remains in the heritage home up for sale on Fairview Street in New Hamburg. (Photo credit: Kristen Hahn)

The maple and cherry patterned wood floor is unusual for a farmhouse but indicates the care that was put into building it. (Photo credit: Kristen Hahn)


2021 SILENTAUCTION

ONLINE FOR THE FIRST TIME!

23B Church St. New Hamburg, ON N3A 1J1 (Trinity Lutheran Church)519-662-3092 www.interfaithcounselling.ca

INTERFAITH COUNSELLING CENTRE

Livewell Health & Wellness: Gift CertificateJohn Bear G.M: Gift Certificate- Oil ChangeMcDonald's: 3x Gift CertificatesTim Hortons: Gift CardOld Country Restaurant: Gift CertificatePizza Arca: 4x Gift CertificatesRiverside Flowers & Gift Studio: Gift CertificateKrug's Meat Market: Gift CertificateShakespeare Pies: Gift CertificateCress Ridge Machine Inc: Gift CertificateNW Roofing: Gift Card to Scram and DramStonetown Travel: Gift CertificateWilmot Post: 2 Year SubscriptionRandell K Thomson, B.A., LL.B, Barrister & Solicitor: Gift CertificateJim Boshart: 1 Cord of WoodRoy Bowman: Tools and Kitchen Items, Wilton Bake Set, Kuraidori Kitchen Set, Farberware 15 Piece Cutlery Set, 14 Piece Anchor Bowl Set with lids, Mastercraft 80 Piece Screwdriver Set, Big Red 6 ton Jack Stands, Mastercraft 29 piece drill set, Mastercraft 6 Piece Plier Set, Mastercraft 9 piece extension bar set, Mastercraft 6 piece plier set, Mastercraft 30 piece Wrench Set, Norton 100 Sheet Sand paper and Irwin Vise Grips, Norton 100 Sheet Sand Paper and Diamond-strike framing hammer, Mastercraft Adjustable Wrench Set, 7 Piece Machinist File Set, Carpenters Tool Belt and 10 Piece Mastercraft Screw Driver SetWellesley Apple Products: Gift Certificate

Dirt Cheap: Gift CertificateMountain Oak Cheese: Gift CertificateForbes Motor: Gift Certificate-ServiceMartin Counselling and Mediation Inc: Gift Certificate to Meme'sRiverside Brass: Gift CertificateThe Chain Mail Guy Custom metalwork: Custom Garden Art, Propane Firepit, Vintage Country-Chic Hall Bench, Large Tuned Garden Bell, Tuned Copper Wind Chimes, Steampunk/Industrial-Themed Wall LampWellesley Service Centre Ltd. /Town Barker: Dog BedBeverly's Haircut Kingdom: Gift CertificateCentre Stage Dance Studio Inc: Pilates Gift CertificateFocus Computers: Gift CertificatePharmasave Town Square Pharmacy: Gift CertificateGaia's Gardens: Gift CertificateNew Hamburg Veterinary Clinic: Pet FoodDundee Pottery: 2 Ceramic MugsKW Golden Triangle Realty Inc. Brokerage-Kate Gingerich: Adam Brenner Gift Certificate and Meme's Gift CertificateBaden Automotive: Gift CertificateDolman Eyecare Centre: Gift CertificateNew Hamburg Office Pro: Gift CertificateMagnussen: Bar Cart with Ceramic InlayJake and Humphreys: Gift CertificateNew Hamburg Home Hardware: Gift CertificatePuddicombe House: Gift CardSobey's: Gift Card

Profiles in Art: Gift CertificateLeis Pet Distribution: Bird Feeder CollectionCooks Pharmacy: Gift CertificateThe New Dundee Emporium: Gift CertificateSue's Laser Lounge: Engraved MonogramPeak Realty-Anne Clarke: President's Choice Gift CardMassel's Marine: No Frills Gift CardPat Bremner: PaintingMeadow Acres Garden Centre Inc: Gift CardColour Paradise Greenhouses: Gift Certificate and PlanterKathie Jordan Design: Gift Certificate-Design sessionHeritage Design: Gift Certificate to Canadian Tire and Sheridan NurseriesGrape Results/RJS Craft /Winemaking: Summer Wine Experience KitMarilyn Burnard: 3 Tier Slate Serving TraySusan Cressman: Vintage Tractor's and Rooster, Hand Carved Wooden Rooster, John Deere Vintage Toy Tractor, International Vintage Toy Tractor, Helen Lammers-Helps: Custom Wood Objects, Reclaimed Lath Wood Canadian Flag, Reclaimed Lath Wood Canadi-an Flag, Reclaimed Walnut Serving Tray, Wooden Cheese TrayKennedy's Restaurant: Gift CertificateRenu Health: Decorative MirrorPeter Gingerich: Wooden "Welcome" SignAnonymous: Antique Wash Stand with Pitcher and BasinBerger Plumbing: Faucet

Items available for auction as of press time

There is fun and chances to win for everyone at the Interfaith Online Auction! Kids can participate in our official colouring activity. All you have to do is; Print the colouring page

you like the most from our website, add some colour, and take a picture to submit to [email protected] by June 14! Participating in the Colouring Activity gives you the chance to win McDonald's and Flavours Ice Cream Gift Cards! Happy Colouring!

Spring wouldn’t be the same without ICC’s annual silent auction!

This year, we’ve moved our popular event online, so you can still support

our counselling services, while keeping our community healthy.

Visit our website at interfaithcounselling.ca/auction/

to view and bid on dozens of donated items.


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ENVIRONMENT — www.wilmotpost.ca

Contributed by Daryl Dore

What if I told you that one small addition to your property could provide shade, food, beauty while also helping the envi-ronment? By adding a fruit tree to your backyard you can realize the benefits of planting a tree while also enjoying the ‘fruits of your labour.’ With a little plan-ning you might also be surprised at what can grow in Wilmot township to add a unique aesthetic to your backyard in ad-dition to an annual culinary treat.

With urban lots becoming smaller, many people don’t believe that they have the space for a fruit tree. Fortunately, most fruit trees purchased today are grown by grafting a branch from a tree that pro-duces high quality fruit onto a separate tree that provides the roots and trunk. Because both parts of the tree are exact clones of existing plants, you will have reasonable certainty about the taste of fruit and size of the tree that you will have when fully grown. This explains how every Gala apple tastes basically the same whereas a tree grown from seed in the wild may or may not taste good. With the rootstock available today you can select a tree that fits your space ranging from 8’ to 30’ high depending on your location and needs.

Despite a resurgence in gardening during the pandemic, many of us are not closely connected to our food. Gro-cery stores also tend to sell fruits that have a longer shelf life so they can han-dle the long and rough ride to the store. Some varieties of your favourite fruit

might never show up in your local gro-cery store for you to enjoy. So if you are considering growing your own fruit tree I highly encourage you to try a variety that you can’t regularly purchase.

But wait, don’t I need to worry about pol-lination? Many trees will only produce fruit if there is another variety of that fruit type within a reasonable distance. In urban areas you can often count on your neighbours to have a pear or apple tree close enough to do the job. Howev-er, there are also many types of self-fer-tilizing fruit trees that do not require other close-by trees to produce fruit. For example, Peach trees are not a common sight in our area but there are self-polli-nating varieties that will produce in our climate. Even in years where you don’t get a great harvest, the stunning beau-ty of a fruit tree during spring flowering is a reward on its own. There are also multi-graft trees available with multiple varieties of fruit grafted onto one tree. This creates an opportunity for variety in your backyards with options ranging from 4 different apple trees to one tree with cherry, peach, plum and nectarines. Though the harvests of each will be rel-atively small, the taste of your own ze-ro-mile produce will be worth it.

Like all good things in life, your trees will need some support from you to get established. An annual mulching will help feed the soil and retain moisture. Regular watering for the first few years will really help it get established. Two minutes per year of pruning can help reduce disease and increase production.

There are care guides available online for every tree imaginable. At the end of the season it is a good idea to clean up the fallen fruit to reduce disease po-tential and keep your yard clean. If that sounds like too much work, come watch my neighbour make a game of it by per-fecting his hockey flip shot as he cleans his apples up every fall.

Planting food or flowers under the tree provide additional benefit for you while supporting the tree. Rhubarb, raspber-

ries, currants, chives and flowers that like shade can make full use of the al-located space to support you or wildlife. To get started, speak to your local gar-den nursery or one specializing in fruit plants for assistance with your selection and planting.

(Daryl Dore is a member of Let’s Tree Wil-mot which is a project of Wilmot Horticul-ture, partnering with the Nith Valley Eco-Boosters and other community groups.)

The ABC’s of planting urban fruit treesPetersburg local learned by doing

7 Wonders of WellesleyThis is the last week to cast your vote to select the 7 Wonders of Wellesley. We want to celebrate our townships

with the "7 Wonders” trend and feature each wonder in an article. Wellesley, your turn to show us your stuff! Vote now at www.wilmotpost.ca.

A focal point in town, the Wellesley Pond could be one of your 7 Wonders of Wellesley. Make it happen by casting your vote at www.wilmotpost.ca.

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By Gary West

There were close to a dozen members of the Upper Avon Con-servation Club hard at work last week on the farm of Lindsay and Mike Higgins of Lynn River Farm outside of Shakespeare. The vol-unteers were planting trees in what they call “block planting” and they have been doing it ev-ery Spring for the last 28 years.

To date, approximately 10,000 trees have been planted includ-ing both deciduous and conifer-ous trees. Cedar, spruce, maple and oak trees, among others, are planted along the Upper Avon River watershed in the name of conservation and to prevent ero-sion caused by both wind and water. The future wind breaks and buffer strips are good for the farming community.

The planting crew, which in-cludes young and old alike, said their motto is “neighbours help-ing neighbours” and after de-cades of planting, the group is as enthusiastic as ever. Craig Merk-ley and Brenda Gallagher from the Upper Thames River Con-servation Authority (UTRCA) organizes the crew every year, and usually can expect help from high school students, but be-cause COVID-19 most were not available this year.

Financing of the trees was pro-vided by the Stratford-Perth Foundation / Donald McTavish Fund. McTavish's legacy as a great conservationist lives on in the community he was born and raised in. More information on the program can be found at [email protected].

Shakespeare block plantingAnnual tree planting for conservation club

Upper Avon Conservation tree planting volunteers include Roger Cook, Blake and Mike Higgins, Eden Kon-trimas, Murray Schlotzhauer, Jim Campbell, John and James Campbell, Murray McTavish and Craig Merkley. (Photo credit: Gary West)

ENVIRONMENT — www.wilmotpost.ca

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By Kristen Hahn and Marie Voisin

Mary-Eileen McClear was a writer, collector of news-worthy articles, actress, mentor of young women, gar-dener, volunteer, wife, mother, grandmother and notably, a professional story teller. She was an amazing indi-vidual who could do anything. Most of all, she was the nicest and kindest person you could ever meet.

Born and raised in Michigan, she came to Canada after obtaining her BA in English and Theatre and her MA in Library Science. She stayed, married Ted Derry, had two children, Brendan and Julia, and put down roots in Baden. Mary-Eileen felt that she was more Canadian than American. After Trump became president in 2016, she renounced her American citizenship and totally em-braced her adopted country.

She was best known for her Story Barn behind her house. Located on the second floor of a white antique barn, the space was filled with shelves that heaved and bowed with books, wooden floors that creaked, an abun-dance of comfortable chairs, and a pot-bellied stove that kept the apple cider warm. Beginning in the early 1982, on the first Friday of each month, 40 to 50 people from across Ontario would attend Mary-Eileen’s get-togeth-ers. As a result of these monthly gatherings, the Baden Storytellers’ Guild was formed in 1989. After 24 years of tall tales and spinning yarns, regional regulations forced the closure of this beloved creative space, but Mary-Ei-leen’s group endured, moving to The Button Factory in Waterloo in 2012.

She was the founder and editor of Second Story Re-view and a regular contributor to Appleseed Quarterly: A Journal of Canadian Storytelling. She was also a con-tributor to the book, In the Wings: Stories of Forgotten Women. Mary-Eileen was “Folk Artist in Residence” at Joseph Schneider Haus in 2002, performed for five years at Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Table Talk Series, and was a board member of the Waterloo Regional Arts Foundation.

Mary-Eileen was an active supporter of creativity and all things magical. In 2005 she volunteered with the first Wilmot Harry Potter Festival in New Hamburg, lending her enthusiasm and extraordinary storytelling skills to the event. Even when the weather turned humid and oppressive and the electric shock she received from the microphone knocked her back a step or two, she contin-ued on. Whatever the problem, she had a creative—of-ten absurd—solution. As the Master of Ceremonies, she kept the energy high, the spirit effervescent, and the ex-perience enchanted. If the crowds believed in magic that night, it was because she believed it! Wherever there was whimsy and wonder she would commit to it fully. Mary-Eileen possessed a rare alchemy of cleverness, kindness and humour; ever adaptable, ever generous.

Words cannot express the magnitude of her presence in our community. Her mission was to make sure ev-eryone’s story was heard. She had three huge binders

packed with things/stories that she told and more bind-ers with 11 years of stories she told while working in Waterloo Region’s library system. She brought laughter to people’s lives through her stories. She never spoke poorly about anyone as she saw the good in people. She found little ways to help others even if it was just lis-tening. She was totally selfless and put others before herself.

In late November 2020, she developed an irritating back ache. It did not go away and on January 27, 2021, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given only a few months to live. By February, her children, their spouses and granddaughter, Allegra, returned home from Ottawa and were there to spend as much time as possible as a family. Up until the third week of March, she was tired but felt good and maintained her positivity.

And to that end, Mary-Eileen knew her quality of life was disappearing quickly in early April. The family had been given weeks of being together, sharing meals, sto-ries, looking at photos, and talking. Life took a turn for the worse after Easter and they all knew it was time.

Mary-Eileen had previously made arrangements for MAID to assist her. She had long been an advocate for assisted death. Ted wrote later, “while she was being given the Sacrament of the Sick by a priest, the Toron-to-bound Via train rolled through town, blowing its in-creasingly deafening horn. The priest plowed through taking short pauses during the loudest blasts, hoping each was the last. A smile spread across Mary-Eileen’s knowing face – it was so Baden and she could see the humour in this solemn moment.”

She planned her passing on her own terms, content and at peace, surrounded by her loved ones, flowers and 1000 paper-cranes, while listening to her favourite songs, as the golden sun-light shone through the win-dow. She died on April 10, 2021 at the age of 72 listening to the theme from “On Golden Pond” and watching Ted wave a plastic wand spreading iridescent soapy bubbles around the room as per her instructions. Ted said, “This world was richer because of her presence and will never be the same without her.”


SPECIALIZING IN DESIGN / BUILD / INDUSTRIAL / COMMERCIAL / INSTUTIONAL

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Community tribute: Mary-Eileen McClear - Celebrity story teller

When Mary-Eileen McClear involved herself in a communi-ty project, it was always creative and magical. Her fortune teller personae at Castle Kilbride was a memorable perfor-mance. (Photo submitted)

Mary-Eileen McClear was a renowned story teller, author, and speaker from Baden. She passed away from pancreatic cancer in April. (Photo submitted)


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Wanting to buy: All Sports cards, hockey, basball etc. stamps, Wayne Gretzky rookie cards and other collectibles. Highest prices paid in cash. Free appraisals, phone or text 519-868-3814

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May 28

New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale

This general auction, on-line event, is taking place May 28th at 7pm. The quilt auc-tion will take place on Satur-day May 29 at 9am. Pre-bid-ding is open at www.nhmrs.hibid.com

Details can be found at www.nhmrs.com

Contest Runs to May 31st- Winners announced by June 6th

Wilmot Centre Church - Wacky Workouts in Wilmot

We invite you to get outside for some exercise with your household in our community during the month of May for a chance to win our Wacky Workouts in Wilmot Contest.

This contest takes you on a journey to 9 different parks in Wilmot township.

At each park you will be asked to complete One Wacky Workout and an-swer One Whimsical Trivia

Question. Every location you complete gets your name on a ticket in the prize draw.

To download your challenge package go to https://wilm-otcentre.church/wackywil-mot

Event is free to participate in and free for all

June 1-13

2021 Silent Auction Inter-faith Counselling Centre

On-line Silent Auction for the Interfaith Counselling

Centre.

They are looking for gift cer-tificate donations. To sup-port the fundraiser, please get in touch at [email protected] or 519-662-3092

June 8th

Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp 54th annual Chicken BBQ Fundraiser

Our event will be drive-thru this year and will be held on June 8th from 4:30pm-6:30pm.

For more information please contact [email protected] or call 519-625-8602

June 10

Woolwich Community Health Centre Senior Cele-bration Event

June is Seniors’ month. Come and celebrate with us on this free admission, Zoom event with musical enter-tainer, Kevin Coates. Event is from 1:30pm – 2:30pm. Preregistration is required.

Like us on Facebook!Facebook.com/TheWilmotPost


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