As published in The Erin Advocate
Barbara Harrison wanted to do more than just help Syrian refugees as they arrive in Canada. After seeing some of these victims of war while travelling in Greece last fall, she looked for a way to make a practical and personal contribution to the relief effort.
“It makes you feel like there’s nothing you can do – it’s such a big problem,” she said. “But there is so much we can do.”
The Erin resident has now travelled to the Greek island of Lesvos, where many Syrians land after a perilous sea voyage, to work as a volunteer with local agencies. She will be there with her friend Denise Bates from Tennessee until January 17.
“I’m sure it will be a profound experience,” she said.
Harrison is part of the Transition Erin group and her trip was highlighted at their recent fundraising event, An Evening of Dickens. About $10,000 was raised, with most going towards a sponsorship in Mono. But more than $1,000 will go to Harrison’s project, for medical supplies, food, clothing, blankets and direct aid to “boots on the ground” agencies in Greece.
“We want to support the Greek economy and spend the money there,” said Harrison. She and Bates have raised about $2,000 through online crowdsourcing (Act4Lesvos2016 on generosity.com). They are paying their own travel, accommodation and other expenses.
The situation on Lesvos can be chaotic, as officials struggle to provide food and shelter in makeshift refugee camps. The island is the shortest crossing point from Turkey on the trip to northern Europe, and refugees are expected to stay only a few months.
Local aid groups are operating without central coordination and without strong backing from international agencies. The island has only 86,000 residents and they have been overwhelmed in 2015 – sometimes with more than 1,000 refugees per day.
“While I've worked with refugees for 20 years, I personally have never seen such a human crisis as intense as this one,” said Bates, on their fundraising site. “We are a global community. We should have each other's backs.”
Harrison expects to be doing manual work – washing clothes, moving supplies in warehouses, delivering meals, looking after children and providing transportation. She does not speak Greek, Arabic or Farsi, but does not expect to have any trouble finding English speakers to help with translation.
Apart from the assistance they can deliver, the travellers have a professional interest in the refugee crisis. The experience will serve as research for an academic paper on grassroots assistance for refugees.
Bates’ background is in Public Health, and Harrison taught previously at the University of Guelph. She has been involved in promoting the idea of learning through service and community engagement, and has offered a course on the Canadian Refugee Sponsorship Program.
After Harrison returns, Transition Erin will host an evening for her to share stories about the trip. It will be held on Monday, January 25, from 7 pm to 9 pm, in the lower hall at All Saints Church, 81 Main Street in Erin. It will also be an opportunity for local groups to explore ways of working together to offer more support to Syrian refugees.
Harrison is hopeful that the Erin community will be able to organize enough support to sponsor a refugee family.
Showing posts with label International Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Development. Show all posts
January 06, 2016
June 18, 2014
China wants to build business bridges with Erin
As published in The Erin Advocate
Investment and trade in agricultural products is an area of growing interest for businesses in China, and they are looking at rural areas such as Erin for opportunities, according to the Chinese Consul General.
Fang Li and a team from the consulate in Toronto visited Erin last week at the invitation of Mayor Lou Maieron, who organized an Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability tour of Wellington County.
“You are famous for your agricultural industry,” said Li. He noted that while China is the world’s most populous country, it has relatively limited farmland and needs to import good quality grain and organic foods.
“I believe you are in a very sound position to develop economic and trade relations with my country. Also many Chinese enterprises are going abroad for opportunities, especially in high-tech sectors such as information and communication, and renewable and clean energy. I think you could find some suitable Chinese partners.”
Economic and trade relations between Canada and China have increased rapidly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970. Canadian statistics show trade valued at $73 billion (US) in 2013, making China its second largest trading partner.
China’s growth rate has slowed in recent years, but it is still at 7.7%. It is a huge market, with annual imports valued at almost $2 trillion (US). It also had 97 million tourists visiting other countries last year, each spending an average of $1,000.
Chinese investments in Canada total some $50 billion, primarily in energy, mining, telecommunications, appliances and financial services. New areas of investor interest include food products, renewable energy, real estate and high-end manufacturing, said Li.
The China Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, signed in 2012, is intended to protect the rights of investors from each country. Li urged the federal government to ratify the agreement.
Also visiting Erin was Sophia Sun, founder of the Canada China Investment Association, which sponsored Maieron’s trip to China with other mayors last year.
“I was completely blown away by the advancements, the culture and the history of a civilization that is more than 5,000 years old,” said the mayor. “We learned how Canadian clean industries, agriculture and other industries could help China and how we could do some business. There’s a great need. The Chinese are wanting to improve their diet, with dairy, animal husbandry – beef and pork – and crops. That’s something that we can do very well.”
The day started with a breakfast meeting at David’s Restaurant, hosted by David Netherton and Mary Shields of the East Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Several business people interested in or currently selling products to China were in attendance.
After Li’s speech and a brief question and answer session with Erin residents, Maieron brought the Chinese delegation for a tour of his trout farm, Silver Creek Aquaculture, then to visit the Angelstone International show jumping venue on County Road 50.
From there they went to see the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, and the Biodiversity Institute at the University of Guelph. They also went to see the family dairy farm and bio-digester of Mapleton Mayor Bruce Whale. To finish the day they toured the Grand River Raceway in Elora and watched horse racing over dinner.
Investment and trade in agricultural products is an area of growing interest for businesses in China, and they are looking at rural areas such as Erin for opportunities, according to the Chinese Consul General.
Fang Li and a team from the consulate in Toronto visited Erin last week at the invitation of Mayor Lou Maieron, who organized an Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability tour of Wellington County.
“You are famous for your agricultural industry,” said Li. He noted that while China is the world’s most populous country, it has relatively limited farmland and needs to import good quality grain and organic foods.
 |
| Mayor Maieron presented an Erin flag to Consul General Fang Li and his entourage. |
“I believe you are in a very sound position to develop economic and trade relations with my country. Also many Chinese enterprises are going abroad for opportunities, especially in high-tech sectors such as information and communication, and renewable and clean energy. I think you could find some suitable Chinese partners.”
Economic and trade relations between Canada and China have increased rapidly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970. Canadian statistics show trade valued at $73 billion (US) in 2013, making China its second largest trading partner.
China’s growth rate has slowed in recent years, but it is still at 7.7%. It is a huge market, with annual imports valued at almost $2 trillion (US). It also had 97 million tourists visiting other countries last year, each spending an average of $1,000.
Chinese investments in Canada total some $50 billion, primarily in energy, mining, telecommunications, appliances and financial services. New areas of investor interest include food products, renewable energy, real estate and high-end manufacturing, said Li.
The China Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, signed in 2012, is intended to protect the rights of investors from each country. Li urged the federal government to ratify the agreement.
Also visiting Erin was Sophia Sun, founder of the Canada China Investment Association, which sponsored Maieron’s trip to China with other mayors last year.
“I was completely blown away by the advancements, the culture and the history of a civilization that is more than 5,000 years old,” said the mayor. “We learned how Canadian clean industries, agriculture and other industries could help China and how we could do some business. There’s a great need. The Chinese are wanting to improve their diet, with dairy, animal husbandry – beef and pork – and crops. That’s something that we can do very well.”
The day started with a breakfast meeting at David’s Restaurant, hosted by David Netherton and Mary Shields of the East Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Several business people interested in or currently selling products to China were in attendance.
After Li’s speech and a brief question and answer session with Erin residents, Maieron brought the Chinese delegation for a tour of his trout farm, Silver Creek Aquaculture, then to visit the Angelstone International show jumping venue on County Road 50.
From there they went to see the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, and the Biodiversity Institute at the University of Guelph. They also went to see the family dairy farm and bio-digester of Mapleton Mayor Bruce Whale. To finish the day they toured the Grand River Raceway in Elora and watched horse racing over dinner.
May 14, 2014
Legion pays tribute to Afghanistan veterans
As published in The Erin Advocate
The young cadets saluted as O Canada was sung; heads were bowed in silent respect and divine blessing was humbly requested.
A wreath and a Canadian flag were placed by the grave of a fallen soldier at Erin Union Cemetery as Legion Branch 442 joined in the National Day of Honour for Afghanistan Veterans on May 9.
Lieutenant William Turner is buried with his father and
grandparents, just across from the former family farm on the Ninth Line.
He had worked as a research assistant at the University of Guelph, as forensic lab technician in Hamilton and as a teacher and letter carrier in Alberta. An avid cyclist and a Canadian Forces Reserve Officer in Guelph and Edmonton, he accepted a position with the Civilian Military Cooperation unit, providing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Afghanistan.
Turner died on April 22, 2006 at the age of 45 with three other members of the Canadian Forces after a roadside bomb destroyed their armoured vehicle: Corporal Matthew David James Dinning, 23, of Richmond Hill, Bombardier Myles Stanley John Mansell, 25, of Victoria and Corporal Randy Payne, 32 of Gananoque.
Joining the service last week were Turner’s uncles, Dennis Turner of Milton and Jim Smith of Ballinafad, and his cousin Gary Wallace of Port Credit.
Turner was one of the 158 Canadian soldiers who died in the Afghanistan mission, among the 40,000 who served over 12 years.
At the service, the wreath was placed by Ken and Carol Paisley, the Act of Remembrance said by Legion President Rose Ostrander, and the Legion Memorial Marker and Canadian Flag placed by Service Officer Doug Kirkwood.
“We take time to remember our continuing obligation to support those who returned home and continue to suffer the effects of war,” said Legion Chaplain, Rev. Deacon Irene Walback.
She urged people to support programs including Leave the Streets Behind for homeless or near-homeless veterans, and to “encourage those who govern our great country to relieve the pain of our service men and women who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.”
We seem to be a distracted society. Many people were so engrossed in their personal business that they didn’t truly appreciate that the nation was at war. How many are even aware of the veterans who have taken their own lives as a result of the trauma?
We say we are proud to be Canadians, but how many are willing to even cast a ballot? We say we are glad to live in a democracy, but how many are prepared to die for it? How many would sacrifice themselves for the benefit of people on the other side of the planet?
It is a unique moment of history, in which we enjoy the right to scrutinize the decisions of our government, as it plays its small part upon the world stage.
Sacrifices on the battlefield, however, quite properly transcend political debate. Laying down one’s life for others, and for cherished ideals, is always worthy of respect. Here is a portion of the final prayer by Rev. Walback:
“O God, we remember before you those Canadian men and women who laid down their lives for the people of Afghanistan during the fight for truth and freedom.
“We commend their souls into your gracious keeping and pray that we may be worthy of their sacrifice. Help us to be faithful and true to those ideals for which they fought and died, and for which the living continue to suffer.
“May we continue to perpetuate the memory of our departed comrades by service to our country Canada, to world peace and the care of all your Creation.”
The young cadets saluted as O Canada was sung; heads were bowed in silent respect and divine blessing was humbly requested.
A wreath and a Canadian flag were placed by the grave of a fallen soldier at Erin Union Cemetery as Legion Branch 442 joined in the National Day of Honour for Afghanistan Veterans on May 9.
He had worked as a research assistant at the University of Guelph, as forensic lab technician in Hamilton and as a teacher and letter carrier in Alberta. An avid cyclist and a Canadian Forces Reserve Officer in Guelph and Edmonton, he accepted a position with the Civilian Military Cooperation unit, providing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Afghanistan.
Turner died on April 22, 2006 at the age of 45 with three other members of the Canadian Forces after a roadside bomb destroyed their armoured vehicle: Corporal Matthew David James Dinning, 23, of Richmond Hill, Bombardier Myles Stanley John Mansell, 25, of Victoria and Corporal Randy Payne, 32 of Gananoque.
Joining the service last week were Turner’s uncles, Dennis Turner of Milton and Jim Smith of Ballinafad, and his cousin Gary Wallace of Port Credit.
Turner was one of the 158 Canadian soldiers who died in the Afghanistan mission, among the 40,000 who served over 12 years.
At the service, the wreath was placed by Ken and Carol Paisley, the Act of Remembrance said by Legion President Rose Ostrander, and the Legion Memorial Marker and Canadian Flag placed by Service Officer Doug Kirkwood.
“We take time to remember our continuing obligation to support those who returned home and continue to suffer the effects of war,” said Legion Chaplain, Rev. Deacon Irene Walback.
She urged people to support programs including Leave the Streets Behind for homeless or near-homeless veterans, and to “encourage those who govern our great country to relieve the pain of our service men and women who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.”
We seem to be a distracted society. Many people were so engrossed in their personal business that they didn’t truly appreciate that the nation was at war. How many are even aware of the veterans who have taken their own lives as a result of the trauma?
We say we are proud to be Canadians, but how many are willing to even cast a ballot? We say we are glad to live in a democracy, but how many are prepared to die for it? How many would sacrifice themselves for the benefit of people on the other side of the planet?
It is a unique moment of history, in which we enjoy the right to scrutinize the decisions of our government, as it plays its small part upon the world stage.
Sacrifices on the battlefield, however, quite properly transcend political debate. Laying down one’s life for others, and for cherished ideals, is always worthy of respect. Here is a portion of the final prayer by Rev. Walback:
“O God, we remember before you those Canadian men and women who laid down their lives for the people of Afghanistan during the fight for truth and freedom.
“We commend their souls into your gracious keeping and pray that we may be worthy of their sacrifice. Help us to be faithful and true to those ideals for which they fought and died, and for which the living continue to suffer.
“May we continue to perpetuate the memory of our departed comrades by service to our country Canada, to world peace and the care of all your Creation.”
December 11, 2013
Council denies money for mayor's China trip
As published in The Erin Advocate
Council voted 3-2 last week to deny “per diem” payments of $130 per day to Mayor Lou Maieron for his 10-day trip to China in May.
The trade tour of various cities to meet government officials and business people was done with several other Ontario mayors, organized by the Canada China Investment Association.
While he had been chosen for the trip early last spring, he did not actually decide to go until May 1, since taking 10 days off from his farm business at the busiest time of the year was a serious concern. When he announced to council that he was going, neither he or other councillors mentioned per diems.
Officially, Town policy says members must get advance approval from council for per diems, but Maieron said this policy has never been enforced on any councillor this term, and asked why the remuneration policy “only applies to me and this conference?”
Councillors are allowed to attend two conferences per year, with no need to ask permission, and the costs plus per diems are normally processed through expense reports without a council vote.
There is a traditional verbal understanding that they not be out-of-province events, said Councillor John Brennan, the only one to vote with the mayor on this matter. Councillor Barb Tocher said this is part of the personnel policy, and she opposed the payment for that reason, though the mayor said that applies only to staff.
“To me, it is the County that goes outside of the province,” she said.
Councillor Deb Callaghan said she was opposed because of the short notice the mayor provided to them. Councillor Josie Wintersinger said she was opposed because she felt the mayor gave them the impression the trip would cost the Town nothing, though the mayor denies this.
“I think you are right and you are entitled,” said Brennan, but his motion to make the $1,300 payment and review the policy on out-of-province events was defeated.
Maieron said the Municipal Act gives him the mandate as Erin’s chief executive officer to “promote the municipality locally, nationally and internationally”.
He had an assurance from previous CAO Frank Miele, who helped arrange the trip, that per diems would apply. Current CAO Kathryn Ironmonger said she had been uncertain about this, since it is not part of her normal duties, but said she never said they would apply.
Finance Director Sharon Marshall said no CAO has the authority to approve per diems, and she assured Maieron, “We are not picking on you – any unusual items are brought to council.”
The mayor said he only had $317 in Town expenses last year, compared to $2,800 to $5,289 for other councillors. He has attended two conferences in three years, including the China trip. Wellington County covered his costs for both, including flight and visa expenses for China (after some debate). Local Chinese governments paid for accommodations and meals.
The mayor presented a half-hour slide show on the trip at a recent meeting.
“My belief was that I did a good trip on behalf of the municipality,” he said in a letter included with the council agenda. “I have already had the president of the Bank of China (Canadian division) visit Erin and took him and others for a tour of the Town.
“I am working with the Chinese Consul General office in Toronto to arrange in the spring of 2014 an agricultural tour of Erin, Wellington County and the University of Guelph as this could really promote our region’s agriculture products in China - Ontario's 2nd largest trading partner. So I am trying to get good value from this trade conference trip.”
Council voted 3-2 last week to deny “per diem” payments of $130 per day to Mayor Lou Maieron for his 10-day trip to China in May.
The trade tour of various cities to meet government officials and business people was done with several other Ontario mayors, organized by the Canada China Investment Association.
While he had been chosen for the trip early last spring, he did not actually decide to go until May 1, since taking 10 days off from his farm business at the busiest time of the year was a serious concern. When he announced to council that he was going, neither he or other councillors mentioned per diems.
Officially, Town policy says members must get advance approval from council for per diems, but Maieron said this policy has never been enforced on any councillor this term, and asked why the remuneration policy “only applies to me and this conference?”
Councillors are allowed to attend two conferences per year, with no need to ask permission, and the costs plus per diems are normally processed through expense reports without a council vote.
There is a traditional verbal understanding that they not be out-of-province events, said Councillor John Brennan, the only one to vote with the mayor on this matter. Councillor Barb Tocher said this is part of the personnel policy, and she opposed the payment for that reason, though the mayor said that applies only to staff.
“To me, it is the County that goes outside of the province,” she said.
Councillor Deb Callaghan said she was opposed because of the short notice the mayor provided to them. Councillor Josie Wintersinger said she was opposed because she felt the mayor gave them the impression the trip would cost the Town nothing, though the mayor denies this.
“I think you are right and you are entitled,” said Brennan, but his motion to make the $1,300 payment and review the policy on out-of-province events was defeated.
Maieron said the Municipal Act gives him the mandate as Erin’s chief executive officer to “promote the municipality locally, nationally and internationally”.
He had an assurance from previous CAO Frank Miele, who helped arrange the trip, that per diems would apply. Current CAO Kathryn Ironmonger said she had been uncertain about this, since it is not part of her normal duties, but said she never said they would apply.
Finance Director Sharon Marshall said no CAO has the authority to approve per diems, and she assured Maieron, “We are not picking on you – any unusual items are brought to council.”
The mayor said he only had $317 in Town expenses last year, compared to $2,800 to $5,289 for other councillors. He has attended two conferences in three years, including the China trip. Wellington County covered his costs for both, including flight and visa expenses for China (after some debate). Local Chinese governments paid for accommodations and meals.
The mayor presented a half-hour slide show on the trip at a recent meeting.
“My belief was that I did a good trip on behalf of the municipality,” he said in a letter included with the council agenda. “I have already had the president of the Bank of China (Canadian division) visit Erin and took him and others for a tour of the Town.
“I am working with the Chinese Consul General office in Toronto to arrange in the spring of 2014 an agricultural tour of Erin, Wellington County and the University of Guelph as this could really promote our region’s agriculture products in China - Ontario's 2nd largest trading partner. So I am trying to get good value from this trade conference trip.”
January 02, 2013
New Homechild production recalls a shameful era
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erin playwright and composer Barb Perkins continues to have success in her quest to both entertain and educate Canadians with her story about British Home Children – a part of our history that needs to be better known.
"I'm just thrilled that the word is getting out," said Perkins, who is helping Orangeville Music Theatre with a new production of Homechild – The Musical, which premiered in Erin in 2005.
Back in 1984, she learned that her grandmother and three of her eight siblings had arrived in Canada from Wales in 1907 as "home children", and she later travelled to Wales to meet relatives and research the child emigration movement. She used her talents as a music teacher and songwriter to create a show that would capture more than just the historical story of a separated family.
"The music really brings out the emotion," she said.
The play had an extensive workshop at the Charlottetown Festival in 1999, but really came to life in Erin in 2005 with the help of Brett Girvin, Steve Sherry and Erin Community Theatre. There was broad community support to mount the first full production at Centre 2000.
Since then it has been produced at West End Studio Theatre in Oakville in 2009. Awareness of the history has grown, with Canada Post creating a special stamp to mark the Year of the British Home Child in 2010.
The play was produced again at Goya Theatre in Ottawa in 2011, and Ontario declared September 28 as the annual British Home Child Day. Now, Orangeville Music Theatre has taken it up close to home, with performances this month at the Town Hall Opera House on Broadway.
The show dates are January 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8:00 pm, and on Sunday afternoons, January 13 and 20 at 2:00 pm. Regular tickets are $20, with children 12 and under $15 (plus a box office fee). The box office can be reached at 519-942-3423, with on-line tickets available at www.orangevillemusictheatre.com. There is more information at www.homechildmusical.com.
The new production is directed by Raeburn Ferguson, with musical direction by Pam Claridge and choreography by Mariah Abbott, and will include some Erin talent, including Dick Murray, who acted in the 2005 show.
Starting January 9, Orangeville Library will be presenting a display of Homechild memorabilia including trunks and memorial quilts, as well as available books on the subject.
The stories of home children are particularly tragic because many were not orphans, but simply from poor families who thought they were doing the right thing by sending them to a land of opportunity – an escape from the social upheavals of the industrial revolution.
The agencies that set up the Child Migration schemes had good intentions, assuming that poor or orphaned children would have a better life in a new land that needed workers. The emigration undoubtedly saved some lives, and some children were fortunate to be taken in by kind families, but for many it was a life of unremitting hardship and abuse. Siblings were separated and any contact with the parents was strongly discouraged.
The practice gained popularity in the era of child poverty and workhouses made famous by Charles Dickens in novels such as Oliver Twist, and even though slavery had been abolished in England by then, the parallels with that particular evil are inescapable.
Some home children did commit crimes here, but many were falsely accused of criminal behaviour, denied access to basic education, and denounced by doctors, politicians, union leaders and newspaper writers as degenerates and carriers of disease.
Many were forced to work under terrible conditions. Some were severely beaten and systematically starved, while others were sexually abused. Some died as a result of their treatment, and others took their own lives.
Most survived and made lives for themselves in Canada. About 118,000 came here between 1833 and 1939, and it is now estimated that 12% of our population has a home child in their ancestry.
Like the abuse of aboriginal children in residential schools, the story of the home children is a shameful element of Canadian history that needs to be understood by future generations. Perkins said efforts are being made to include it in the Canadian History curriculum. To learn more go to www.britishhomechildren.org or www.canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com.
Famed psychiatrist Dr. C.K. Clarke (after whom Toronto's Clark Institute was named) campaigned relentlessly from the late 1800s until his death in 1924 against allowing "defective and insane" immigrants into Canada. Like many others, he believed home children were part of Great Britain's plan to ship sub-normal people out to the colonies.
The belief that "feeble-mindedness" was a hereditary problem was the basis of the eugenics movement that swept the world, and took particular hold in Alberta, where thousands of people were unjustly confined, stigmatized and sterilized between 1929 and 1972.
Is our modern society now morally superior to those earlier times when terrible injustices took place, or are we simply so affluent that we are not tempted into desperate measures?
If Canada were plunged into real poverty and chaos, would we have learned anything from our history? Or would we be as cruel and lacking in human decency as our ancestors?
Erin playwright and composer Barb Perkins continues to have success in her quest to both entertain and educate Canadians with her story about British Home Children – a part of our history that needs to be better known.
"I'm just thrilled that the word is getting out," said Perkins, who is helping Orangeville Music Theatre with a new production of Homechild – The Musical, which premiered in Erin in 2005.
Back in 1984, she learned that her grandmother and three of her eight siblings had arrived in Canada from Wales in 1907 as "home children", and she later travelled to Wales to meet relatives and research the child emigration movement. She used her talents as a music teacher and songwriter to create a show that would capture more than just the historical story of a separated family.
"The music really brings out the emotion," she said.
The play had an extensive workshop at the Charlottetown Festival in 1999, but really came to life in Erin in 2005 with the help of Brett Girvin, Steve Sherry and Erin Community Theatre. There was broad community support to mount the first full production at Centre 2000.
Since then it has been produced at West End Studio Theatre in Oakville in 2009. Awareness of the history has grown, with Canada Post creating a special stamp to mark the Year of the British Home Child in 2010.
The play was produced again at Goya Theatre in Ottawa in 2011, and Ontario declared September 28 as the annual British Home Child Day. Now, Orangeville Music Theatre has taken it up close to home, with performances this month at the Town Hall Opera House on Broadway.
The show dates are January 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8:00 pm, and on Sunday afternoons, January 13 and 20 at 2:00 pm. Regular tickets are $20, with children 12 and under $15 (plus a box office fee). The box office can be reached at 519-942-3423, with on-line tickets available at www.orangevillemusictheatre.com. There is more information at www.homechildmusical.com.
The new production is directed by Raeburn Ferguson, with musical direction by Pam Claridge and choreography by Mariah Abbott, and will include some Erin talent, including Dick Murray, who acted in the 2005 show.
Starting January 9, Orangeville Library will be presenting a display of Homechild memorabilia including trunks and memorial quilts, as well as available books on the subject.
The stories of home children are particularly tragic because many were not orphans, but simply from poor families who thought they were doing the right thing by sending them to a land of opportunity – an escape from the social upheavals of the industrial revolution.
The agencies that set up the Child Migration schemes had good intentions, assuming that poor or orphaned children would have a better life in a new land that needed workers. The emigration undoubtedly saved some lives, and some children were fortunate to be taken in by kind families, but for many it was a life of unremitting hardship and abuse. Siblings were separated and any contact with the parents was strongly discouraged.
The practice gained popularity in the era of child poverty and workhouses made famous by Charles Dickens in novels such as Oliver Twist, and even though slavery had been abolished in England by then, the parallels with that particular evil are inescapable.
Some home children did commit crimes here, but many were falsely accused of criminal behaviour, denied access to basic education, and denounced by doctors, politicians, union leaders and newspaper writers as degenerates and carriers of disease.
Many were forced to work under terrible conditions. Some were severely beaten and systematically starved, while others were sexually abused. Some died as a result of their treatment, and others took their own lives.
Most survived and made lives for themselves in Canada. About 118,000 came here between 1833 and 1939, and it is now estimated that 12% of our population has a home child in their ancestry.
Like the abuse of aboriginal children in residential schools, the story of the home children is a shameful element of Canadian history that needs to be understood by future generations. Perkins said efforts are being made to include it in the Canadian History curriculum. To learn more go to www.britishhomechildren.org or www.canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com.
Famed psychiatrist Dr. C.K. Clarke (after whom Toronto's Clark Institute was named) campaigned relentlessly from the late 1800s until his death in 1924 against allowing "defective and insane" immigrants into Canada. Like many others, he believed home children were part of Great Britain's plan to ship sub-normal people out to the colonies.
The belief that "feeble-mindedness" was a hereditary problem was the basis of the eugenics movement that swept the world, and took particular hold in Alberta, where thousands of people were unjustly confined, stigmatized and sterilized between 1929 and 1972.
Is our modern society now morally superior to those earlier times when terrible injustices took place, or are we simply so affluent that we are not tempted into desperate measures?
If Canada were plunged into real poverty and chaos, would we have learned anything from our history? Or would we be as cruel and lacking in human decency as our ancestors?
August 08, 2012
Pilgrim helping victims of West African drought
As published in The Erin Advocate
Looking at the brown lawns and stunted crops here in Erin, one gets only a hint of the drought crisis having a more serious impact in other parts of the world.
Some crops here will be covered by insurance, and Ontario has appealed to the federal government for financial help for livestock producers, whose forage crops are often not insured.
Nearly half of US counties have been declared agricultural disaster areas, and there are fears that that food shortages and rising food prices will trigger another recession.
Imagine then what it is like in the Sahel region of West Africa, where low rainfall has devastated crops and raised the spectre of famine for people living near the edge. The stability of some communities was already undermined by migrations of refugees and armed conflict.
Some 18 million people are facing serious food shortages in countries that are totally unfamiliar to most Canadians: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Nigeria and Cameroon. The United Nations and international aid agencies are stepping up emergency relief, but as always seems to be the case, available funding does not come close to meeting the needs.
For a crisis that could require $1 billion in aid, is it worthwhile for an individual Canadian to chip in $25 or $50? The answer, of course, is yes – not only for the real help that an accumulation of small donations will create, but because governments are often spurred into action when individuals care about an issue.
Erin's Heidi Matthews is on a pilgrimage this week, joining a group that each summer since 2002 has walked from the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, to the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland – a place that honours early French Jesuit missionaries who introduced Christianity to the Huron Wendat Nation. Their headquarters was the nearby Sainte-Marie among the Hurons fort, the first European community in Ontario, established in 1639.
That mission was led by the martyr for whom the Catholic church in Erin is named, Jean de Brébeuf. The Jesuits, who also initially staffed the Erin parish in the early 1960s, have a tradition of advocating for social justice.
Matthews has her own tradition in that field, working for almost 20 years with the national Catholic aid group Development and Peace (D&P). She's also part of the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE), which has been warning of the dire consequences of a rapidly warming planet.
Walking on pilgrimage to a holy place is an ancient tradition, with a difficult physical journey intended to enhance a person's spiritual journey. The group is hiking 15-30 km per day this week, camping at conservation areas, church back yards and farms, and uniting with other Ontario groups for a mass arrival of up to 1,000 people at the shrine this Saturday.
The walk is intended as a spiritual exercise, with various meditation themes and time set aside for reading, singing and prayer. But when she heard about the emerging crisis in West Africa, Matthews decided to ask people to sponsor her, with all donations going to D&P. She was surprised to raise $2,300 for the cause, including $500 from the Rotary Club of Erin.
"I was flabbergasted – I didn't expect to see that," said Matthews, who has been training with daily walks alternating between 25 and 10 km, mainly on the Elora-Cataract Trailway. She notes that there is a "wimp wagon" on the trek, a vehicle for those who need relief from blisters or body pains.
While a drought may be considered partly a natural disaster, she said the suffering that ensues from disruption of the food system is a failure of government and business.
"Who suffers the most? It's the poor people," she said.
In May, D&P targeted $5 million to specific regions, working with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies striving to end global hunger. They later expanded their response, with an appeal for donations supported by Canada's bishops. D&P distributes both food and seeds, and supports programs to improve agricultural production and nutrition.
“Our local partners are able to go where the needs are greatest and where communities are most vulnerable,” said Guy Des Aulniers, Emergency Relief Programs Officer at D&P. “Their local knowledge and expertise allow us to monitor the situation closely and support effective programs."
At this point, Matthews requests that people donate through the Development and Peace website, www.devp.org/en – or through other agencies that focus on long-term self-sufficiency for developing nations in the global south.
Looking at the brown lawns and stunted crops here in Erin, one gets only a hint of the drought crisis having a more serious impact in other parts of the world.
Some crops here will be covered by insurance, and Ontario has appealed to the federal government for financial help for livestock producers, whose forage crops are often not insured.
Nearly half of US counties have been declared agricultural disaster areas, and there are fears that that food shortages and rising food prices will trigger another recession.
Imagine then what it is like in the Sahel region of West Africa, where low rainfall has devastated crops and raised the spectre of famine for people living near the edge. The stability of some communities was already undermined by migrations of refugees and armed conflict.
Some 18 million people are facing serious food shortages in countries that are totally unfamiliar to most Canadians: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Nigeria and Cameroon. The United Nations and international aid agencies are stepping up emergency relief, but as always seems to be the case, available funding does not come close to meeting the needs.
For a crisis that could require $1 billion in aid, is it worthwhile for an individual Canadian to chip in $25 or $50? The answer, of course, is yes – not only for the real help that an accumulation of small donations will create, but because governments are often spurred into action when individuals care about an issue.
Erin's Heidi Matthews is on a pilgrimage this week, joining a group that each summer since 2002 has walked from the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, to the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland – a place that honours early French Jesuit missionaries who introduced Christianity to the Huron Wendat Nation. Their headquarters was the nearby Sainte-Marie among the Hurons fort, the first European community in Ontario, established in 1639.That mission was led by the martyr for whom the Catholic church in Erin is named, Jean de Brébeuf. The Jesuits, who also initially staffed the Erin parish in the early 1960s, have a tradition of advocating for social justice.
Matthews has her own tradition in that field, working for almost 20 years with the national Catholic aid group Development and Peace (D&P). She's also part of the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE), which has been warning of the dire consequences of a rapidly warming planet.
Walking on pilgrimage to a holy place is an ancient tradition, with a difficult physical journey intended to enhance a person's spiritual journey. The group is hiking 15-30 km per day this week, camping at conservation areas, church back yards and farms, and uniting with other Ontario groups for a mass arrival of up to 1,000 people at the shrine this Saturday.
The walk is intended as a spiritual exercise, with various meditation themes and time set aside for reading, singing and prayer. But when she heard about the emerging crisis in West Africa, Matthews decided to ask people to sponsor her, with all donations going to D&P. She was surprised to raise $2,300 for the cause, including $500 from the Rotary Club of Erin.
"I was flabbergasted – I didn't expect to see that," said Matthews, who has been training with daily walks alternating between 25 and 10 km, mainly on the Elora-Cataract Trailway. She notes that there is a "wimp wagon" on the trek, a vehicle for those who need relief from blisters or body pains.
While a drought may be considered partly a natural disaster, she said the suffering that ensues from disruption of the food system is a failure of government and business.
"Who suffers the most? It's the poor people," she said.
In May, D&P targeted $5 million to specific regions, working with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies striving to end global hunger. They later expanded their response, with an appeal for donations supported by Canada's bishops. D&P distributes both food and seeds, and supports programs to improve agricultural production and nutrition.
“Our local partners are able to go where the needs are greatest and where communities are most vulnerable,” said Guy Des Aulniers, Emergency Relief Programs Officer at D&P. “Their local knowledge and expertise allow us to monitor the situation closely and support effective programs."
At this point, Matthews requests that people donate through the Development and Peace website, www.devp.org/en – or through other agencies that focus on long-term self-sufficiency for developing nations in the global south.
July 04, 2012
Historic Exchange Hotel looks modern inside
As published in The Erin Advocate
Renovations are proceeding nicely at the Exchange Hotel in Hillsburgh, with seven condominium units now on the market and plans made to open the Coach House Creamery restaurant on the Civic Holiday weekend.
A public walk through the interior of the hotel building was the highlight in a tour of downtown Hillsburgh hosted last week by lifelong resident Lee Tocher, a former owner of the property.
It is still a construction site, but much of the electrical, plumbing and drywall work is complete and the elevator shaft is in place.
Built about 1883, in the prosperous years that followed the arrival of the Credit Valley Railway, the Exchange "outclassed the other hotels in Hillsburgh" according to Wellington historian Steve Thorning.
It served as a headquarters for the well-to-do members of the Caledon Mountain Trout Club, and the main hotel parlour was a favourite meeting place for Erin Township Council.
Tocher said traveling salesmen "in the old days" would often use the hotel as their base of operations in the area, showing their products in the sample room above the arched passageway that led to the livery stable.
"Years later, they had a restaurant in here and a big pool room at the back with three tables," he said. "It was a working hotel up until about 1966."
Tocher owned the building from 1966 to 1986, operating his store and renting out apartments. He has given some hotel artifacts to the new owners, including some glassware and a Seagrams 3-Star whiskey bottle, with a cork, which was inside a wall.
Developers Roy McCullough and Justin Morrow were on hand to show off the progress they've made.
"We've gone through a lot," said Morrow. "It's been about a year process trying to get it converted over to condominiums, and we just got approval last week."
The Creamery will be selling ice cream, soups, sandwiches and a variety of treats. The new restaurant is at the south end, while the north end on the ground floor is available for lease (or purchase) as retail or commercial space.
A section at the back of the building has been rebuilt, and reinforcements have been made to the structure. Most of the wood in the interior had to removed to meet fire regulations. They have also purchased the small building just north of the hotel. They are using it as an office, but it will soon be demolished.
There are four condo units on the second floor and three on the third, each with its own laundry facilities, furnace and air conditioning.
They range from a 534 sq.ft. one-bedroom unit called The Cataract, listed for $229,900, to The Grand (what Morrow calls the "gem"): a 1,490 sq.ft. two-bedroom unit stretching across the full front of the third floor, listed at $429,900. More information is available at www.exchange-hotel.com.
The Exchange Hotel was originally built by Bill Dwier, in a style that incorporated details normally found on much larger commercial buildings in cities. That exterior appearance has been preserved. The third floor has a mansard roof, with windows in dormers.
"This style was a feature of Second Empire buildings, perhaps the dominant style in the 1875 to 1890 period, and which still adds flavour to downtown Fergus and Guelph," said Thorning, in an article on the hotel. A series of his articles is available at www.erin.ca. Go to the About Erin section and click on History of Erin.
Renovations are proceeding nicely at the Exchange Hotel in Hillsburgh, with seven condominium units now on the market and plans made to open the Coach House Creamery restaurant on the Civic Holiday weekend.
A public walk through the interior of the hotel building was the highlight in a tour of downtown Hillsburgh hosted last week by lifelong resident Lee Tocher, a former owner of the property.
It is still a construction site, but much of the electrical, plumbing and drywall work is complete and the elevator shaft is in place.
 |
| Front door will have stained glass |
It served as a headquarters for the well-to-do members of the Caledon Mountain Trout Club, and the main hotel parlour was a favourite meeting place for Erin Township Council.
 |
| Decorative brick exterior preserved |
"Years later, they had a restaurant in here and a big pool room at the back with three tables," he said. "It was a working hotel up until about 1966."
Tocher owned the building from 1966 to 1986, operating his store and renting out apartments. He has given some hotel artifacts to the new owners, including some glassware and a Seagrams 3-Star whiskey bottle, with a cork, which was inside a wall.
Developers Roy McCullough and Justin Morrow were on hand to show off the progress they've made.
"We've gone through a lot," said Morrow. "It's been about a year process trying to get it converted over to condominiums, and we just got approval last week."
The Creamery will be selling ice cream, soups, sandwiches and a variety of treats. The new restaurant is at the south end, while the north end on the ground floor is available for lease (or purchase) as retail or commercial space.
 |
| Septic system under construction |
A section at the back of the building has been rebuilt, and reinforcements have been made to the structure. Most of the wood in the interior had to removed to meet fire regulations. They have also purchased the small building just north of the hotel. They are using it as an office, but it will soon be demolished.
There are four condo units on the second floor and three on the third, each with its own laundry facilities, furnace and air conditioning.
They range from a 534 sq.ft. one-bedroom unit called The Cataract, listed for $229,900, to The Grand (what Morrow calls the "gem"): a 1,490 sq.ft. two-bedroom unit stretching across the full front of the third floor, listed at $429,900. More information is available at www.exchange-hotel.com.
The Exchange Hotel was originally built by Bill Dwier, in a style that incorporated details normally found on much larger commercial buildings in cities. That exterior appearance has been preserved. The third floor has a mansard roof, with windows in dormers.
"This style was a feature of Second Empire buildings, perhaps the dominant style in the 1875 to 1890 period, and which still adds flavour to downtown Fergus and Guelph," said Thorning, in an article on the hotel. A series of his articles is available at www.erin.ca. Go to the About Erin section and click on History of Erin.
February 15, 2012
Cuba is a harsh lesson in conservation
As published in The Erin Advocate
To those who hope for a society that does not rely excessively on fossil fuels, may I recommend a visit to Cuba – a land with plenty of roads and very few cars.
I have been doing some mid-winter research here, scribbling my notes diligently despite the pulsating salsa music and a parade of scantily-clad distractions. There are key decisions to be made every day: Beach or pool? Buffet or à la carte? Relaxing for days at a time can drive you crazy.
I am not sure whether to feel like an upper class citizen of the world, thanks to Canada's high-value currency, or a slab of meat being grilled on the huge conveyor belt of the tourism industry. I also get a chill, knowing that if a Cuban wrote a column like mine, with mild criticism of their government, they would soon be in prison.
Cuba is a great place to meet people from other cultures, especially French Canadians. Almost half of the 2 million tourists who visit Cuba every year are Canadians, with many from Québec. Then there are the Brits, Italians, Germans and a variety of Latin tourists. Just no obvious Americans, which seems to suit everybody just fine.
The Cold War, of course, is not over here. It simmers constantly with the US, which has enforced a punishing economic embargo since 1962 and continues to levy fines on companies that do business with Cuba.
While there, I read Prisoner of Tehran, a memoir by Marina Nemat, who escaped the political repression of Iran and made it to Canada. It is important for us to remember that there are many places in the world where ordinary people live in fear of their own police and government.
Iran and Cuba are among the nations criticized by Amnesty International for severe repression of civil and political rights, with prisoners detained solely for peaceful criticism of their government.
Many nations are glad to invest in Cuba – I saw a huge nickel mine operated by the Canadian firm Sherritt – but it was Russian subsidies and trade that the country relied on for many years to build up a modern infrastructure. The collapse of the Soviet Union was an economic disaster, plunging a poor nation into deeper poverty during the 1990s.
There were severe shortages of food and fuel, and cars became a luxury that very few could afford. People had to eat less and walk more, resulting in a significant decline in deaths due to diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.
Even now, when the economy is in somewhat better shape, most of the motorized vehicles I see on the roads are taxis and buses carrying tourists. Most cars are still refurbished American models from before the embargo, or Russian Ladas used by police and others with elite status.
To buy a car is simply out of the question for most Cuban workers – it could take 10 to 100 times their annual salary, most of which is already used up for rent and other payments.
It is impossible to make direct comparisons between Cuba and Canada, but it is worth wondering just what we would do for transportation if we had a major economic meltdown, a new Depression. There would certainly be no money for fancy public transit.
Many of Cuba's roads still have washed out sections from Hurricane Ike in 2008 (reminding me of springtime gravel roads in Erin). They are busy with pedestrians, horseback riders, bicycles, tricycle taxis, horse and buggy rigs with old car axles, and public transit buses.
Groups of workers are often hauled about in old troop transports or on flatbed trucks. Instead of tractors, farm carts are drawn by small horses (they eat less) and oxen, like the ones that did the heavy work when areas like Erin were settled in the 1800s.
It is a reminder that people are generally driven to conserve by necessity, not idealism. When we run out of oil and gas, could Canada turn to tourism as its leading industry?
In Cuba, the push to open resorts to draw in foreign cash has created a situation where a good bartender with a steady flow of tips can enjoy a higher standard of living than a doctor or an engineer.
Cubans are very friendly and courteous, from the professionals to the beggars. They will complain about their low salaries if you ask them, but they are fiercely proud of their independence, their music and dance, and their universal free health care and education.
There is an underlying reserve, however. Maybe it is because until recently, just speaking with foreigners could get Cubans into hot water. Maybe when they look at me, they wonder what I ever did to deserve the privileges and opportunities of being a Canadian citizen.
To those who hope for a society that does not rely excessively on fossil fuels, may I recommend a visit to Cuba – a land with plenty of roads and very few cars.
I have been doing some mid-winter research here, scribbling my notes diligently despite the pulsating salsa music and a parade of scantily-clad distractions. There are key decisions to be made every day: Beach or pool? Buffet or à la carte? Relaxing for days at a time can drive you crazy.
I am not sure whether to feel like an upper class citizen of the world, thanks to Canada's high-value currency, or a slab of meat being grilled on the huge conveyor belt of the tourism industry. I also get a chill, knowing that if a Cuban wrote a column like mine, with mild criticism of their government, they would soon be in prison.
Cuba is a great place to meet people from other cultures, especially French Canadians. Almost half of the 2 million tourists who visit Cuba every year are Canadians, with many from Québec. Then there are the Brits, Italians, Germans and a variety of Latin tourists. Just no obvious Americans, which seems to suit everybody just fine.
The Cold War, of course, is not over here. It simmers constantly with the US, which has enforced a punishing economic embargo since 1962 and continues to levy fines on companies that do business with Cuba.
While there, I read Prisoner of Tehran, a memoir by Marina Nemat, who escaped the political repression of Iran and made it to Canada. It is important for us to remember that there are many places in the world where ordinary people live in fear of their own police and government.
Iran and Cuba are among the nations criticized by Amnesty International for severe repression of civil and political rights, with prisoners detained solely for peaceful criticism of their government.
Many nations are glad to invest in Cuba – I saw a huge nickel mine operated by the Canadian firm Sherritt – but it was Russian subsidies and trade that the country relied on for many years to build up a modern infrastructure. The collapse of the Soviet Union was an economic disaster, plunging a poor nation into deeper poverty during the 1990s.
There were severe shortages of food and fuel, and cars became a luxury that very few could afford. People had to eat less and walk more, resulting in a significant decline in deaths due to diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.
Even now, when the economy is in somewhat better shape, most of the motorized vehicles I see on the roads are taxis and buses carrying tourists. Most cars are still refurbished American models from before the embargo, or Russian Ladas used by police and others with elite status.
To buy a car is simply out of the question for most Cuban workers – it could take 10 to 100 times their annual salary, most of which is already used up for rent and other payments.
It is impossible to make direct comparisons between Cuba and Canada, but it is worth wondering just what we would do for transportation if we had a major economic meltdown, a new Depression. There would certainly be no money for fancy public transit.
Many of Cuba's roads still have washed out sections from Hurricane Ike in 2008 (reminding me of springtime gravel roads in Erin). They are busy with pedestrians, horseback riders, bicycles, tricycle taxis, horse and buggy rigs with old car axles, and public transit buses.
Groups of workers are often hauled about in old troop transports or on flatbed trucks. Instead of tractors, farm carts are drawn by small horses (they eat less) and oxen, like the ones that did the heavy work when areas like Erin were settled in the 1800s.
It is a reminder that people are generally driven to conserve by necessity, not idealism. When we run out of oil and gas, could Canada turn to tourism as its leading industry?
In Cuba, the push to open resorts to draw in foreign cash has created a situation where a good bartender with a steady flow of tips can enjoy a higher standard of living than a doctor or an engineer.
Cubans are very friendly and courteous, from the professionals to the beggars. They will complain about their low salaries if you ask them, but they are fiercely proud of their independence, their music and dance, and their universal free health care and education.
There is an underlying reserve, however. Maybe it is because until recently, just speaking with foreigners could get Cubans into hot water. Maybe when they look at me, they wonder what I ever did to deserve the privileges and opportunities of being a Canadian citizen.
May 18, 2011
Biodiversity will help us adapt to climate change
As published in The Erin Advocate
I can hardly wait to pick my Royal Burgundy Bush Beans. Of course, I still have to plant them, water them, weed them and thin them. But at picking time, they will be very easy to find among the green leaves, since they grow as violet-purple pods. The package promises that they will "magically turn an emerald green after cooking".
This version of the phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) was highly recommended when I attended a planting workshop with farmer Carl Keast. It was part of the annual Seedy Saturday event, on April 30 at Everdale Farm near Hillsburgh.
There were seed and plant vendors, a seed trading table, fun stuff for kids, advice on growing berries in your back yard from Ann Brown (the Plant Lady), and a chance to hear Cathy Nesbitt explain how red wigglers can quickly turn food scraps and paper into rich fertilizer. Her ventures include worm composting kits, compost consulting, manure management and even worm birthday parties. Check it out at www.cathyscomposters.com.
Our fruit and vegetable garden will expand this year, but there's no way it is going to feed us consistently. And since there is still no farmer's market in Erin, I took the plunge and bought into the Everdale Harvest Share program. I like the flexibility of the plan, which allows you to buy from 16 to 20 weeks worth of produce.
You get a certain number of "points", based on the size of share you buy. A small share works out to $18.64 per week and an extra large to $55.92 per week. The produce is priced in points, instead of dollars, and you spend your points as you please each week, starting June 16. Produce is available for pick-up at the farm only on Thursdays, 3-8 pm and Saturdays, 8:30-11 am. For more details, go to www.everdale.org.
The seeds I bought were "organic certified", which means the production process has been inspected to ensure it is generally free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, with no use of genetically modified organisms or biosolids (sewage sludge fertilizer).
They were also "heirloom" seeds, meaning that they have been preserved within a longstanding seed line, and are normally pollinated naturally by insects, birds and wind.
They are less common in the seed market, which is controlled by a handful of companies that have phased out many types of seeds. A much narrower range of crops has been developed through closed pollination, breeding the ability to withstand specific weather conditions, pesticides, mechanical picking and cross-country shipping.
One of the most interesting events on Seedy Saturday was a discussion on biodiversity, hosted by Faris Ahmed, Director of Policy and Campaigns at USC Canada. The non-profit group promotes family farms, rural communities and healthy ecosystems in developing nations, and advocates reform of food policies in Canada. Learn more at www.usc-canada.org.
Last year was the United Nations Year of Biodiversity, with a focus on the accelerating loss of variety in plant and animal life due to human activity.
"It's not about biology, it's about life itself now," said Ahmed. "It is so important for health, our planet and for social justice. Biodiversity is the best measure of a healthy place. It is like an insurance policy...a system being resistant to shocks."
Biodiversity issues range from the need for a wide variety in the human diet for good nutrition, to the rights of farmers throughout the world to maintain fertile land and grow what is needed to sustain their local communities. Variety within crop types increases resilience to pests, disease and the warming climate, but USC Canada reports that 75 per cent of the world's crop varieties and thousands of livestock breeds have been lost in the last century.
Large-scale farming for international trade demands less biodiversity, and it is not working well for farmers in Canada or abroad. Canada lost 17,550 farms between 2001 and 2006 and the average farm income in Canada is now negative $20,000 per year, according to the website www.peoplesfoodpolicy.ca. Food exports have increased by 400 per cent in the last 20 years, and farm subsidies are an entrenched global reality, costing Canadian taxpayers billions each year, and putting poorer nations at a disadvantage.
Climate change is expected to have a huge impact on drylands, mountain regions and seacoasts, and on the small-scale farmers who feed the majority of people in the world. If we cannot give priority to biodiversity over short term gain, the risks for our species, and others, appear to be severe.
I can hardly wait to pick my Royal Burgundy Bush Beans. Of course, I still have to plant them, water them, weed them and thin them. But at picking time, they will be very easy to find among the green leaves, since they grow as violet-purple pods. The package promises that they will "magically turn an emerald green after cooking".
This version of the phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) was highly recommended when I attended a planting workshop with farmer Carl Keast. It was part of the annual Seedy Saturday event, on April 30 at Everdale Farm near Hillsburgh.
There were seed and plant vendors, a seed trading table, fun stuff for kids, advice on growing berries in your back yard from Ann Brown (the Plant Lady), and a chance to hear Cathy Nesbitt explain how red wigglers can quickly turn food scraps and paper into rich fertilizer. Her ventures include worm composting kits, compost consulting, manure management and even worm birthday parties. Check it out at www.cathyscomposters.com.
Our fruit and vegetable garden will expand this year, but there's no way it is going to feed us consistently. And since there is still no farmer's market in Erin, I took the plunge and bought into the Everdale Harvest Share program. I like the flexibility of the plan, which allows you to buy from 16 to 20 weeks worth of produce.
You get a certain number of "points", based on the size of share you buy. A small share works out to $18.64 per week and an extra large to $55.92 per week. The produce is priced in points, instead of dollars, and you spend your points as you please each week, starting June 16. Produce is available for pick-up at the farm only on Thursdays, 3-8 pm and Saturdays, 8:30-11 am. For more details, go to www.everdale.org.
The seeds I bought were "organic certified", which means the production process has been inspected to ensure it is generally free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, with no use of genetically modified organisms or biosolids (sewage sludge fertilizer).
They were also "heirloom" seeds, meaning that they have been preserved within a longstanding seed line, and are normally pollinated naturally by insects, birds and wind.
They are less common in the seed market, which is controlled by a handful of companies that have phased out many types of seeds. A much narrower range of crops has been developed through closed pollination, breeding the ability to withstand specific weather conditions, pesticides, mechanical picking and cross-country shipping.
One of the most interesting events on Seedy Saturday was a discussion on biodiversity, hosted by Faris Ahmed, Director of Policy and Campaigns at USC Canada. The non-profit group promotes family farms, rural communities and healthy ecosystems in developing nations, and advocates reform of food policies in Canada. Learn more at www.usc-canada.org.
Last year was the United Nations Year of Biodiversity, with a focus on the accelerating loss of variety in plant and animal life due to human activity.
"It's not about biology, it's about life itself now," said Ahmed. "It is so important for health, our planet and for social justice. Biodiversity is the best measure of a healthy place. It is like an insurance policy...a system being resistant to shocks."
Biodiversity issues range from the need for a wide variety in the human diet for good nutrition, to the rights of farmers throughout the world to maintain fertile land and grow what is needed to sustain their local communities. Variety within crop types increases resilience to pests, disease and the warming climate, but USC Canada reports that 75 per cent of the world's crop varieties and thousands of livestock breeds have been lost in the last century.
Large-scale farming for international trade demands less biodiversity, and it is not working well for farmers in Canada or abroad. Canada lost 17,550 farms between 2001 and 2006 and the average farm income in Canada is now negative $20,000 per year, according to the website www.peoplesfoodpolicy.ca. Food exports have increased by 400 per cent in the last 20 years, and farm subsidies are an entrenched global reality, costing Canadian taxpayers billions each year, and putting poorer nations at a disadvantage.
Climate change is expected to have a huge impact on drylands, mountain regions and seacoasts, and on the small-scale farmers who feed the majority of people in the world. If we cannot give priority to biodiversity over short term gain, the risks for our species, and others, appear to be severe.
May 11, 2011
Looking for ways to grow greener, smarter kids
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erin celebrated its passion for the environment last week as hundreds of people gathered at the high school, discussing ways to raise kids dedicated to sustaining the planet.
Growing Green, Smart Kids was organized by the Erin Parent Connection group, with representatives from area schools: Erin, Brisbane, Ross MacKay, St. John Brebeuf and EDHS, with the help of a Ministry of Education grant.
The guest speaker was environmental author and educator David Noble of Guelph, a student of Al Gore who has travelled the globe collecting stories about people making a difference on climate change. He has been an observer of the international climate negotiations and is an entrepreneur (www.2degreesC.com).
The evening was like an environmental fair, with 21 display booths from companies, non-profit groups and public agencies, a panel discussion moderated by Liz Armstrong of the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE) and an "Eco-Challenge" for people to take specific follow-up actions and talk about them on the new Real-Action-Erin Facebook page.
Noble was welcomed by Erin District High School Principal Julie Prendergast, saying she felt "humbled by the commitment of our students" to the environment. Mayor Lou Maieron urged kids and parents to think about living within the earth's capacity.
"How can we continue to live in this society as top end predators and keep taking out resources greater than the planet can support?" he asked. "We can't. If we continue going the way we are, the planet's going to crash."
Noble said there is an urgent need for environmental leadership around the world – not just crisis management. He recently visited Greenland, and as an example of the global warming crisis, saw a glacier melting away at the rate of 34 metres per day. He noted the risk of other disasters, like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or the nuclear contamination in Japan.
"Young people need support, and they need partners across the community," he said. "We're going to have to do a whole lot better at preventing those crises from happening in the first place. The implication is that we're all going to have to push harder than we're pushing; we're all going to have to push different ways, we're all going to have to push together and work really hard to make the big changes that we need to make."
He pointed out that both the White House and the Vatican have set an example by installing solar panels. He quoted Pope Benedict, who has called for courageous environmental choices: "We need a decisive 'yes' to care for creation and a strong commitment to reverse those trends that risk making the situation of decay irreversible."
Scientists are increasingly intervening in the process of politics and decision-making, in addition to their research, a development that Noble finds encouraging.
He quoted Canadian Nobel Prize winning scientist John Polanyi: "Some seven billion of us share this crowded planet. The question is whether we can achieve a sufficient sense of community to continue doing so. This sense of community will depend on the belief that a fair apportionment of the global commons is possible. Only then can we hope to resolve our problems by law, rather than war. Is our species capable of the necessary generosity of spirit? Answered aright that question could lead to a global civilization that is sustainable, and worthy of being sustained."
The evening finished with a panel discussion, including Upper Grand School Trustee Kathryn Cooper, Wellington Water Watchers Executive Director Arlene Slocombe, Brisbane teacher Chris Green, Everdale organic farmer Olivia Ronkainen and Phil Winters, founder of EGen Power of Caledon, which promotes solar power systems and home energy efficiency.
"We need to stand up, commit, and decide to do something," said Cooper. She noted the construction of an Environmental Leaning Centre in Orangeville and development of more Eco Schools.
"I love this place," said Green. "This is the place I want to protect. We need to bring in different perspectives, not just one story. How rich is our understanding?"
The main advice to parents from this group was to get kids out into the natural environment as much as possible, so they can develop their own passion for it. "Kids will have a vested interest in preserving it," said Slocombe. "Plant something – anything," said Ronkainen. "And teach kids how to prepare food."
Winters urged people to buy local, vote for policies that benefit the environment and "listen to the children – that's the future".
Erin celebrated its passion for the environment last week as hundreds of people gathered at the high school, discussing ways to raise kids dedicated to sustaining the planet.
Growing Green, Smart Kids was organized by the Erin Parent Connection group, with representatives from area schools: Erin, Brisbane, Ross MacKay, St. John Brebeuf and EDHS, with the help of a Ministry of Education grant.
The guest speaker was environmental author and educator David Noble of Guelph, a student of Al Gore who has travelled the globe collecting stories about people making a difference on climate change. He has been an observer of the international climate negotiations and is an entrepreneur (www.2degreesC.com).
The evening was like an environmental fair, with 21 display booths from companies, non-profit groups and public agencies, a panel discussion moderated by Liz Armstrong of the Climate Change Action Group of Erin (CCAGE) and an "Eco-Challenge" for people to take specific follow-up actions and talk about them on the new Real-Action-Erin Facebook page.
Noble was welcomed by Erin District High School Principal Julie Prendergast, saying she felt "humbled by the commitment of our students" to the environment. Mayor Lou Maieron urged kids and parents to think about living within the earth's capacity.
"How can we continue to live in this society as top end predators and keep taking out resources greater than the planet can support?" he asked. "We can't. If we continue going the way we are, the planet's going to crash."
Noble said there is an urgent need for environmental leadership around the world – not just crisis management. He recently visited Greenland, and as an example of the global warming crisis, saw a glacier melting away at the rate of 34 metres per day. He noted the risk of other disasters, like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or the nuclear contamination in Japan.
"Young people need support, and they need partners across the community," he said. "We're going to have to do a whole lot better at preventing those crises from happening in the first place. The implication is that we're all going to have to push harder than we're pushing; we're all going to have to push different ways, we're all going to have to push together and work really hard to make the big changes that we need to make."
He pointed out that both the White House and the Vatican have set an example by installing solar panels. He quoted Pope Benedict, who has called for courageous environmental choices: "We need a decisive 'yes' to care for creation and a strong commitment to reverse those trends that risk making the situation of decay irreversible."
Scientists are increasingly intervening in the process of politics and decision-making, in addition to their research, a development that Noble finds encouraging.
He quoted Canadian Nobel Prize winning scientist John Polanyi: "Some seven billion of us share this crowded planet. The question is whether we can achieve a sufficient sense of community to continue doing so. This sense of community will depend on the belief that a fair apportionment of the global commons is possible. Only then can we hope to resolve our problems by law, rather than war. Is our species capable of the necessary generosity of spirit? Answered aright that question could lead to a global civilization that is sustainable, and worthy of being sustained."
The evening finished with a panel discussion, including Upper Grand School Trustee Kathryn Cooper, Wellington Water Watchers Executive Director Arlene Slocombe, Brisbane teacher Chris Green, Everdale organic farmer Olivia Ronkainen and Phil Winters, founder of EGen Power of Caledon, which promotes solar power systems and home energy efficiency.
"We need to stand up, commit, and decide to do something," said Cooper. She noted the construction of an Environmental Leaning Centre in Orangeville and development of more Eco Schools.
"I love this place," said Green. "This is the place I want to protect. We need to bring in different perspectives, not just one story. How rich is our understanding?"
The main advice to parents from this group was to get kids out into the natural environment as much as possible, so they can develop their own passion for it. "Kids will have a vested interest in preserving it," said Slocombe. "Plant something – anything," said Ronkainen. "And teach kids how to prepare food."
Winters urged people to buy local, vote for policies that benefit the environment and "listen to the children – that's the future".
January 27, 2010
Ken Graham honoured for humanitarian dedication
As published in The Erin Advocate
When Ken Graham distributes bedkits for Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), he is bringing more than useful necessities to kids in developing countries. He is delivering a message from caring Canadians.
"It's a gift of love," he said, after receiving a Paul Harris Award from the Erin Rotary Club last Wednesday. "It is important that they realize that someone cares about them."
A farmer from the Coningsby area west of Erin village, Graham has made 16 trips abroad for SCAW. He has helped deliver 78,000 kits that include a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, towel, mosquito net where needed, school supplies and clothes.
Each donation of $35 provides one kit, with 100 per cent going to benefit the child (not to administration). That direct link was one of the things that inspired Graham and his late wife Ann to get involved, after hearing the founder of SCAW, Murray Dryden, speak at the Hillsburgh Christian Church (now the Century Church Theatre).
Since 1970, the Toronto-based group has raised more than $20 million, and recently provided its one-millionth bed kit. Countries benefiting include Bangladesh, India, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Philippines. Find out more at www.scaw.org.
Graham was at the Rotary Club's annual Charter Night dinner meeting to accept a $1,000 donation from Rotary to SCAW. He was surprised to see his children and grandchildren arriving for the event, and when President Jim Miller announced the award he seemed quite overwhelmed.
"I feel like I'm doing what God wants me to do," he said. "It is an honour – thanks so much."
In a SCAW newsletter, Graham wrote about meeting parents in the Philippines in 2007: "Most parents hope their child will be fortunate enough to go to college. This is a good indication that providing a bedkit that contains things for a good night’s sleep, suitable clothing for school, and school supplies is helping not only the child but the whole family."
Graham is also known for his work with the Erin Agricultural Society, and as a deacon at Ospringe Presbyterian Church.
The certificate for the Harris award (named for a founder of Rotary) cites Graham's promotion of "better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world." The award recognizes a shared purpose with the humanitarian mission of the Rotary Foundation. Mayor Rod Finnie was on hand for the presentation at David's Restaurant, and there were letters of congratulation from MPP Ted Arnott and MP Mike Chong.
Rotary Clubs often support Sleeping Children, since both organizations share a dedication to helping people in need, regardless of race or religion. The Erin club is celebrating its 12th year of service, and is looking for new members. Like many groups, Rotary International has established a Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. For more details: www.rotary.org.
As a footnote to my recent column about the Lacan Kwite bead makers of Northern Uganda, I got a message from Mike Simons of Orton, whose wife Miyeko supports similar enterprises in Africa. Her clothing and gift store Noinkee's, at 168B Broadway in Orangeville, carries Mined ReCreations handbags made from recycled fabrics, which provides education funding for young women in South Africa. They also sell woolen animal toy creations from the Kenana Knitters, a women's co-op in Kenya. For more details: www.noinkees.com.
When Ken Graham distributes bedkits for Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), he is bringing more than useful necessities to kids in developing countries. He is delivering a message from caring Canadians.
"It's a gift of love," he said, after receiving a Paul Harris Award from the Erin Rotary Club last Wednesday. "It is important that they realize that someone cares about them."
A farmer from the Coningsby area west of Erin village, Graham has made 16 trips abroad for SCAW. He has helped deliver 78,000 kits that include a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, towel, mosquito net where needed, school supplies and clothes.
Each donation of $35 provides one kit, with 100 per cent going to benefit the child (not to administration). That direct link was one of the things that inspired Graham and his late wife Ann to get involved, after hearing the founder of SCAW, Murray Dryden, speak at the Hillsburgh Christian Church (now the Century Church Theatre).
Since 1970, the Toronto-based group has raised more than $20 million, and recently provided its one-millionth bed kit. Countries benefiting include Bangladesh, India, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Philippines. Find out more at www.scaw.org.
Graham was at the Rotary Club's annual Charter Night dinner meeting to accept a $1,000 donation from Rotary to SCAW. He was surprised to see his children and grandchildren arriving for the event, and when President Jim Miller announced the award he seemed quite overwhelmed.
"I feel like I'm doing what God wants me to do," he said. "It is an honour – thanks so much."
In a SCAW newsletter, Graham wrote about meeting parents in the Philippines in 2007: "Most parents hope their child will be fortunate enough to go to college. This is a good indication that providing a bedkit that contains things for a good night’s sleep, suitable clothing for school, and school supplies is helping not only the child but the whole family."
Graham is also known for his work with the Erin Agricultural Society, and as a deacon at Ospringe Presbyterian Church.
The certificate for the Harris award (named for a founder of Rotary) cites Graham's promotion of "better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world." The award recognizes a shared purpose with the humanitarian mission of the Rotary Foundation. Mayor Rod Finnie was on hand for the presentation at David's Restaurant, and there were letters of congratulation from MPP Ted Arnott and MP Mike Chong.
Rotary Clubs often support Sleeping Children, since both organizations share a dedication to helping people in need, regardless of race or religion. The Erin club is celebrating its 12th year of service, and is looking for new members. Like many groups, Rotary International has established a Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. For more details: www.rotary.org.
As a footnote to my recent column about the Lacan Kwite bead makers of Northern Uganda, I got a message from Mike Simons of Orton, whose wife Miyeko supports similar enterprises in Africa. Her clothing and gift store Noinkee's, at 168B Broadway in Orangeville, carries Mined ReCreations handbags made from recycled fabrics, which provides education funding for young women in South Africa. They also sell woolen animal toy creations from the Kenana Knitters, a women's co-op in Kenya. For more details: www.noinkees.com.
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