As published in The Erin Advocate
Perhaps it is a short attention span that has led me to try a lot of different things, without becoming an expert at any of them. The pursuit of variety makes life interesting, of course, but still I envy people who can concentrate their efforts and be very successful.
I got a film camera as a present for my fifth birthday, a simple plastic box with a lens, and my friends thought I was a bit strange, going around the neighbourhood in Welland taking snapshots of trees and flowers.
Well, I’m still doing that with the Town of Erin as my neighbourhood, and while the quality has improved slightly, I’m just figuring it out as I go along. I’ve realized that if you wait for perfection, you’ll be waiting forever, and if you don’t share what you’ve got, you miss an opportunity to have some useful fun.
Putting stuff out there for the public has been central to my careers as a writer and graphic designer. The 345 columns I’ve written for the Advocate in the last 7 years are republished on a blog: erininsight.blogspot.ca. They are fully searchable, organized by date and topic.
Some articles have photos with them, but until recently the content was 99% words. In January I started a new section within the blog called Somewhereinerin. It is a gallery of photos I’ve taken in the Erin area (plus a few vacation sunsets). Just click on the tab at the top of the home page to take a look.
At first, I was trying to post a new photo every day, until I discovered just how difficult that is while trying to make a living doing other things. A few new ones every week is more realistic.
Of course, I’m not the first photographer to take an interest in Erin. I admire the professional work of Martin Lamprecht (featured on the new Town of Erin website), Tristan Clark who does local news and portrait/wedding photography, and former Advocate photographers Sandra Traversy and Jill Janson, all of whom have web sites.
Whenever I post an article or a photo, I’ll normally send out a tweet – a very small sound in a noisy world – in an attempt to spark some interest and link readers to the blog. You can follow me on Twitter using @ErinWriter, and sign up as a follower on the blog.
Part of the blogging game is to drive traffic to your site, in order to sell products or make money from advertising. My blog, however, is more of a community service than a business, especially since I can’t be competing with The Advocate while working for them.
Still, I thought I’d try putting non-local ads on the blog, to see if they would generate some income. It’s easy to sign up with Google. They put a constant rotation of ads onto the blog that are somehow linked to the content, but you really only make money if people actually click on them.
I’m not much of an ad clicker and it turns out that my readers are not either. After ten weeks, I’ve made a total of $4.85, and they don’t send you anything until you hit the $10 mark.
With an average of more than 80 visits to the blog every day, I thought I might do better than that, but I had no illusions about hitting a jackpot. Still, you never know. Maybe a photo or story will go viral some day. Maybe I should learn how to shoot video.
The curious thing about traffic to the blog is that while the content is all about Erin, most of the visitors are not from Erin. Of the 86,200 all-time visits, less than half are from somewhere in Canada.
The topics obviously have a broad appeal, since I’ve had 20,000 visits from the US, 7,000 from Germany, 3,300 from Russia, 3,000 from France, 2,300 from Ukraine, 1,400 from the United Kingdom, 601 from China and 460 from Saudi Arabia. Go figure.
March 25, 2015
March 18, 2015
Let’s not be too efficient in setting Town budget
As published in The Erin Advocate
There are lots of good things happening in the budget process upon which Erin town councillors have embarked, but there are some areas where caution and a bit more time are required.
Council members are getting along with staff and each other. Mayor Al Alls is working cooperatively with CAO Kathryn Ironmonger to make sure council business flows smoothly. There’s a positive atmosphere at the Town office, which is refreshing news for all concerned.
Staff have impressed council by presenting a pre-trimmed budget, including only the top priority projects that can be accomplished with a moderate tax increase. Instead of chopping away through five or six grueling budget meetings, the plan is to wrap this thing up in two sittings – a five-hour one last week and the second March 24 at 10 am.
Council has to decide what to add back into the budget, how much to borrow, how much to pull from reserves and ultimately how much to tax. The choices are important, but if they agree with the priorities in the plan set before them, relatively simple.
In considering new debt of $1 million, council was wise to request a report on debt ratios and servicing costs. They’re also thinking of pulling a million and a quarter from reserves, so they need to be confident that such a move will not create problems in the future.
In its key role of setting policies and priorities, council needs to ensure that debates over difficult choices happen at public meetings and that the public has adequate opportunity to understand and comment. Here are some suggestions to improve the current budget process:
Have a public meeting where people can comment on the operating budget, just as they appreciated doing on the capital budget. At the very least, don’t just present a slide show to explain the budget, then approve it the same day. Give them a couple of weeks to digest it and possibly appeal for changes.
Don’t schedule all two of the budget reviews and the final approval for daytime meetings. The most important issues should get some exposure at evening meetings.
Schedule budget meetings so that each department head can appear before full council to state their priorities and answer questions. Fire Chief Dan Callaghan and Interim Water Superintendent Joe Babin had other obligations and could not attend the meeting where their budgets were discussed. What if councillors were considering a change to one of those budgets and needed to know the implications?
With only two budget meetings, players are left out. Councillor Matt Sammut, who ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, was away for the first meeting and Councillor John Brennan, the voice of experience from recent councils, will be away for the second. Having three or four shorter meetings could lessen this impact and allow time for comprehension and possible amendments.
Finally, council and staff should be careful with the use of “working groups”. These are private meetings of senior staff with the mayor and one other councillor. (Having three council members at a non-public meeting would violate the Municipal Act.)
Essentially, we have two out of five politicians present at what would normally be a staff meeting. This is not necessarily a problem. Discussing strategy on Town issues is beneficial, but there should never be even the appearance that final decisions are being made behind closed doors, or that staff being given clear direction by other than the full council.
These meetings have been used to discuss the fill bylaw and for preliminary cutting of departmental budgets and community grants.
Last week, Councillor Jeff Duncan objected when full council was asked to endorse the pared-down list of community grants without ever seeing it. The problem was quickly resolved, but it illustrates the need for traditional separation of duties: staff make recommendations and council gets enough information to make final decisions.
Perhaps working groups should be treated more like subcommittees, with clear terms of reference and a report with recommendations or options that full council could debate.
There are lots of good things happening in the budget process upon which Erin town councillors have embarked, but there are some areas where caution and a bit more time are required.
Council members are getting along with staff and each other. Mayor Al Alls is working cooperatively with CAO Kathryn Ironmonger to make sure council business flows smoothly. There’s a positive atmosphere at the Town office, which is refreshing news for all concerned.
Staff have impressed council by presenting a pre-trimmed budget, including only the top priority projects that can be accomplished with a moderate tax increase. Instead of chopping away through five or six grueling budget meetings, the plan is to wrap this thing up in two sittings – a five-hour one last week and the second March 24 at 10 am.
Council has to decide what to add back into the budget, how much to borrow, how much to pull from reserves and ultimately how much to tax. The choices are important, but if they agree with the priorities in the plan set before them, relatively simple.
In considering new debt of $1 million, council was wise to request a report on debt ratios and servicing costs. They’re also thinking of pulling a million and a quarter from reserves, so they need to be confident that such a move will not create problems in the future.
In its key role of setting policies and priorities, council needs to ensure that debates over difficult choices happen at public meetings and that the public has adequate opportunity to understand and comment. Here are some suggestions to improve the current budget process:
Have a public meeting where people can comment on the operating budget, just as they appreciated doing on the capital budget. At the very least, don’t just present a slide show to explain the budget, then approve it the same day. Give them a couple of weeks to digest it and possibly appeal for changes.
Don’t schedule all two of the budget reviews and the final approval for daytime meetings. The most important issues should get some exposure at evening meetings.
Schedule budget meetings so that each department head can appear before full council to state their priorities and answer questions. Fire Chief Dan Callaghan and Interim Water Superintendent Joe Babin had other obligations and could not attend the meeting where their budgets were discussed. What if councillors were considering a change to one of those budgets and needed to know the implications?
With only two budget meetings, players are left out. Councillor Matt Sammut, who ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, was away for the first meeting and Councillor John Brennan, the voice of experience from recent councils, will be away for the second. Having three or four shorter meetings could lessen this impact and allow time for comprehension and possible amendments.
Finally, council and staff should be careful with the use of “working groups”. These are private meetings of senior staff with the mayor and one other councillor. (Having three council members at a non-public meeting would violate the Municipal Act.)
Essentially, we have two out of five politicians present at what would normally be a staff meeting. This is not necessarily a problem. Discussing strategy on Town issues is beneficial, but there should never be even the appearance that final decisions are being made behind closed doors, or that staff being given clear direction by other than the full council.
These meetings have been used to discuss the fill bylaw and for preliminary cutting of departmental budgets and community grants.
Last week, Councillor Jeff Duncan objected when full council was asked to endorse the pared-down list of community grants without ever seeing it. The problem was quickly resolved, but it illustrates the need for traditional separation of duties: staff make recommendations and council gets enough information to make final decisions.
Perhaps working groups should be treated more like subcommittees, with clear terms of reference and a report with recommendations or options that full council could debate.
March 11, 2015
Erin’s aging water tankers bump fire insurance costs
As published in The Erin Advocate
Shopping for insurance is already an annoying ordeal. Discovering that you have to pay extra because your fire department’s tanker trucks are more than 20 years old makes it very annoying.
It’s a confusing business, since companies may offer highly competitive rates for some types of coverage while charging more for others. So-called “quick” quotes over the phone can turn into hour-long inquisitions about your house and driving habits. I gave up on two quotes from call centres when they wouldn’t call me back later.
My broker (who actually answers the phone) found me a deal with a new company that was going to save me many hundreds of dollars. But when I reviewed the details, it was based on having fire hydrant protection. I told her that I live in a rural area with no hydrants, but that I have the protection of tanker shuttle service.
Firefighters can set up a water reservoir at my house in the event of a fire, with two tanker trucks taking turns filling it up. The insurance industry considers this the equivalent of a hydrant for fighting a fire.
My broker tried to confirm that the Town of Erin provides this service, but found nothing. A phone call to the Town revealed the bad news: last year, Erin lost its Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation because two of the trucks are more than 20 years old. The trucks are working fine and providing the protection, but the service no longer qualifies residents for a better insurance rate.
“We are getting calls about this every week,” said Fire Chief Dan Callaghan. “Many residents have a 15% increase.”
This issue does not affect urban residents with hydrants. It applies to rural residents who live less than 8 km from a fire hall, by road. Those further away would not normally qualify for the insurance discount in any case, but check your policy, since company standards vary.
For “superior” accreditation, the one that counts for insurance, Erin Fire must demonstrate to Fire Underwriters Survey that they have the training and two qualified trucks to shuttle water to a test site. They must pump at least 950 litres of water per minute continuously for two hours, filling tankers from hydrants, ponds or the seven underground fire reservoirs in the area.
Erin has three tankers, with model years 1990, 1994 and 2009. In the past there was no fixed cut-off date, but council learned in 2013 that tankers over 20 could no longer be used for the test. In 2014, Erin’s accreditation slipped to “standard” when the second tanker passed the limit. An extension of the cut-off was possible if the Town committed to buying a tanker within an agreed time frame.
A new tanker would cost at least $250,000, but it is only one of the budget priorities that have been delayed. The department is still hoping to replace a 1986 pumper-rescue truck, which would cost twice as much as a tanker.
“Where it is on the list, council will have to decide, but they are determined not to keep passing the buck forward,” said Mayor Al Alls. Each department head has been asked to look at what can be cut in their budget and the current operational review may make additional recommendations about priorities.
Councillor John Brennan said the tanker purchase must be “weighed in conjunction with other pressing needs”. He said accreditation was a factor in 2014 budget discussions.
“Council did not make it such a priority as to be fully addressed in that budget for a variety of reasons and I'm not sure the short time frame of the impending loss of accreditation was fully understood.”
Shopping for insurance is already an annoying ordeal. Discovering that you have to pay extra because your fire department’s tanker trucks are more than 20 years old makes it very annoying.
It’s a confusing business, since companies may offer highly competitive rates for some types of coverage while charging more for others. So-called “quick” quotes over the phone can turn into hour-long inquisitions about your house and driving habits. I gave up on two quotes from call centres when they wouldn’t call me back later.
My broker (who actually answers the phone) found me a deal with a new company that was going to save me many hundreds of dollars. But when I reviewed the details, it was based on having fire hydrant protection. I told her that I live in a rural area with no hydrants, but that I have the protection of tanker shuttle service.
Firefighters can set up a water reservoir at my house in the event of a fire, with two tanker trucks taking turns filling it up. The insurance industry considers this the equivalent of a hydrant for fighting a fire.
My broker tried to confirm that the Town of Erin provides this service, but found nothing. A phone call to the Town revealed the bad news: last year, Erin lost its Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation because two of the trucks are more than 20 years old. The trucks are working fine and providing the protection, but the service no longer qualifies residents for a better insurance rate.
“We are getting calls about this every week,” said Fire Chief Dan Callaghan. “Many residents have a 15% increase.”
This issue does not affect urban residents with hydrants. It applies to rural residents who live less than 8 km from a fire hall, by road. Those further away would not normally qualify for the insurance discount in any case, but check your policy, since company standards vary.
For “superior” accreditation, the one that counts for insurance, Erin Fire must demonstrate to Fire Underwriters Survey that they have the training and two qualified trucks to shuttle water to a test site. They must pump at least 950 litres of water per minute continuously for two hours, filling tankers from hydrants, ponds or the seven underground fire reservoirs in the area.
Erin has three tankers, with model years 1990, 1994 and 2009. In the past there was no fixed cut-off date, but council learned in 2013 that tankers over 20 could no longer be used for the test. In 2014, Erin’s accreditation slipped to “standard” when the second tanker passed the limit. An extension of the cut-off was possible if the Town committed to buying a tanker within an agreed time frame.
A new tanker would cost at least $250,000, but it is only one of the budget priorities that have been delayed. The department is still hoping to replace a 1986 pumper-rescue truck, which would cost twice as much as a tanker.
“Where it is on the list, council will have to decide, but they are determined not to keep passing the buck forward,” said Mayor Al Alls. Each department head has been asked to look at what can be cut in their budget and the current operational review may make additional recommendations about priorities.
Councillor John Brennan said the tanker purchase must be “weighed in conjunction with other pressing needs”. He said accreditation was a factor in 2014 budget discussions.
“Council did not make it such a priority as to be fully addressed in that budget for a variety of reasons and I'm not sure the short time frame of the impending loss of accreditation was fully understood.”
March 04, 2015
Parents apply pressure for Brisbane safety zone
As published in The Erin Advocate
With heavy traffic on County Road 124 and dozens of cars forced to park on the shoulders, parents of students at Brisbane Public School have mounted a strong campaign to get Wellington County to establish a 40 kilometre per hour safety zone.
A delegation made up of Parent Council Chair Rachel Ingram, School Trustee Kathryn Cooper and Town Councillor Matt Sammutt appeared as a delegation to the County Roads Committee last month, armed with a petition from 325 parents and a traffic study that highlights the risks at the Brisbane site.
Sammut said committee members were “extremely positive” about the idea of a safety zone, but that County staff were resistant to the idea of trying to slow traffic to 40 kph in an area where the speed limit has already been reduced from 80 to 60 kph. Parents also want a flashing amber sign in each direction to warn drivers of the safety zone, at a cost of $7,900.
The speed limit would be lowered only during school transition times, 8 to 9:30 am and 2:30 to 4 pm. Instead of approving the proposal, the committee sent a recommendation to the full council that staff should review all schools on County roads and report back to the committee.
Sammut said that if the eventual decision is to install flashing signs, but leave the speed limit at 60 kph, “It would be better than nothing, but parents would be extremely upset.”
Traffic problems at the school have increased since the addition of junior kindergarten and all day (every day) kindergarten, pushing the school population to 416. With little parking available on site and no room for expansion, parents must park on both sides of the former Hwy. 24 roadway during drop-off and pick-up times. The school is served by 17 buses, and vehicles parked on the side of the road create visibility problems.
The traffic passes at a rate of one vehicle every five seconds in the morning (slightly less in the afternoon), with more than 18% of them being trucks, according to the traffic study.
As a parent, Sammut decided to get involved after witnessing a near miss between a small child and a truck. He said a safety zone would only cost drivers a few seconds of time, but provide a great benefit to the school community.
In October, parents met with school, board and county staff to demand action. Mark Bailey, Chair of the Upper Grand District School Board, told the county in December that many drivers do not obey the speed limit, with some exceeding it by more than 25 kph.
“The high traffic volume and speeds make it dangerous for children and their families,” said Bailey, asking the county to move quickly to establish a safety zone.
Ingram told the roads committee that there has been at least one accident at the site this year, and that the county could face a liability problem if there is an injury. According to criteria published by the Transportation Association of Canada, Brisbane definitely qualifies for a safety zone, the delegation said.
They provided research showing widespread use of 40 kph school safety zones, including urban areas such as Guelph, and at rural schools in Peel Region.
“The County has a duty to provide safe roads around schools, especially elementary schools,” said the delegation during their presentation. “Be proactive before a tragic accident occurs.”
Clearly, the situation cannot be allowed to continue. If common sense does not prevail at County Council, the school board will have to re-organize its services to relieve the pressure. But even with a smaller school population, a safety zone would still be the right thing to do at this site.
With heavy traffic on County Road 124 and dozens of cars forced to park on the shoulders, parents of students at Brisbane Public School have mounted a strong campaign to get Wellington County to establish a 40 kilometre per hour safety zone.
A delegation made up of Parent Council Chair Rachel Ingram, School Trustee Kathryn Cooper and Town Councillor Matt Sammutt appeared as a delegation to the County Roads Committee last month, armed with a petition from 325 parents and a traffic study that highlights the risks at the Brisbane site.
Sammut said committee members were “extremely positive” about the idea of a safety zone, but that County staff were resistant to the idea of trying to slow traffic to 40 kph in an area where the speed limit has already been reduced from 80 to 60 kph. Parents also want a flashing amber sign in each direction to warn drivers of the safety zone, at a cost of $7,900.
The speed limit would be lowered only during school transition times, 8 to 9:30 am and 2:30 to 4 pm. Instead of approving the proposal, the committee sent a recommendation to the full council that staff should review all schools on County roads and report back to the committee.
Sammut said that if the eventual decision is to install flashing signs, but leave the speed limit at 60 kph, “It would be better than nothing, but parents would be extremely upset.”
Traffic problems at the school have increased since the addition of junior kindergarten and all day (every day) kindergarten, pushing the school population to 416. With little parking available on site and no room for expansion, parents must park on both sides of the former Hwy. 24 roadway during drop-off and pick-up times. The school is served by 17 buses, and vehicles parked on the side of the road create visibility problems.
The traffic passes at a rate of one vehicle every five seconds in the morning (slightly less in the afternoon), with more than 18% of them being trucks, according to the traffic study.
As a parent, Sammut decided to get involved after witnessing a near miss between a small child and a truck. He said a safety zone would only cost drivers a few seconds of time, but provide a great benefit to the school community.
In October, parents met with school, board and county staff to demand action. Mark Bailey, Chair of the Upper Grand District School Board, told the county in December that many drivers do not obey the speed limit, with some exceeding it by more than 25 kph.
“The high traffic volume and speeds make it dangerous for children and their families,” said Bailey, asking the county to move quickly to establish a safety zone.
Ingram told the roads committee that there has been at least one accident at the site this year, and that the county could face a liability problem if there is an injury. According to criteria published by the Transportation Association of Canada, Brisbane definitely qualifies for a safety zone, the delegation said.
They provided research showing widespread use of 40 kph school safety zones, including urban areas such as Guelph, and at rural schools in Peel Region.
“The County has a duty to provide safe roads around schools, especially elementary schools,” said the delegation during their presentation. “Be proactive before a tragic accident occurs.”
Clearly, the situation cannot be allowed to continue. If common sense does not prevail at County Council, the school board will have to re-organize its services to relieve the pressure. But even with a smaller school population, a safety zone would still be the right thing to do at this site.
February 18, 2015
County tax share continues to grow
As published in The Erin Advocate
Steady increases in property values have been a bonus for Erin residents when they want to sell their homes, but when county tax taxes are calculated, there is an extra price to pay for living close to the Greater Toronto Area.
Wellington County recently approved a tax increase that averages 2.8%, meaning an extra $18 for every $100,000 of a home’s assessed value. If all property values were increasing at the same rate, we would all pay an extra 2.8% in county taxes, but that is not the case.
The County has never reported the tax impact split by municipality in the past, but I asked Treasurer Ken DeHart to crunch the numbers.
“An average residence in the Town of Erin will experience a 3.1% increase due to the change in property assessment being higher than the County average,” he said.
Tax bills will vary based on individual properties, but the average assessed value of an Erin home was up 3.8% last year, compared to an average of 3.4% countywide. By provincial law, assessment determines the share of property taxes – the County and the Town have no authority to change the system.
Paying .3% above the county average may not seem like much, but over the years the differences in assessment have become quite dramatic, and Erin is not the highest. The average single family detached (SFD) home in Erin has gone from $444,572 in 2013, to $463,933 in 2014 and $481,394 in 2015.
The average SFD home assessment for Wellington County in 2015 was $372,956. Here are the averages by municipality:
The relatively low amount of taxes paid on farmland, 25% of the regular rate, is a particular issue for municipal taxpayers. Farmland qualifies for the Farm Tax Rebate if it is actually farmed, generating at least $7,000 in gross income per year.
The rebate used to be paid by the province and shared through income taxes. When it was shifted to municipalities, provincial grants were supposed to cover the cost. Actual grants cover less than half, however, leaving county taxpayers to cover the balance. The net cost is $487 per household.
Steady increases in property values have been a bonus for Erin residents when they want to sell their homes, but when county tax taxes are calculated, there is an extra price to pay for living close to the Greater Toronto Area.
Wellington County recently approved a tax increase that averages 2.8%, meaning an extra $18 for every $100,000 of a home’s assessed value. If all property values were increasing at the same rate, we would all pay an extra 2.8% in county taxes, but that is not the case.
The County has never reported the tax impact split by municipality in the past, but I asked Treasurer Ken DeHart to crunch the numbers.
“An average residence in the Town of Erin will experience a 3.1% increase due to the change in property assessment being higher than the County average,” he said.
Tax bills will vary based on individual properties, but the average assessed value of an Erin home was up 3.8% last year, compared to an average of 3.4% countywide. By provincial law, assessment determines the share of property taxes – the County and the Town have no authority to change the system.
Paying .3% above the county average may not seem like much, but over the years the differences in assessment have become quite dramatic, and Erin is not the highest. The average single family detached (SFD) home in Erin has gone from $444,572 in 2013, to $463,933 in 2014 and $481,394 in 2015.
The average SFD home assessment for Wellington County in 2015 was $372,956. Here are the averages by municipality:
Puslinch - $644,852;
Erin - $481,394;
Guelph-Eramosa - $450,361;
Centre Wellington - $342,817;
Mapleton - $308,628;
Wellington North - $221,778 and
Minto - $202,304.
It is important to remember that assessment growth does not directly result in tax increases. But with the county deciding it needs to collect $84.5 million in taxes this year (as part of a $185.8 million total budget), assessment determines the relative share for each taxpayer.
People are often shocked at how much money the county spends. In 2014 Wellington collected $12.5 million from Erin, 55.2% of total taxes. The Town of Erin collected $5.5 million (24.4%), while schools got $4.6 million (20.4%).
County roads and bridges make up the largest part of Wellington’s budget, but many expenses can be traced back to the downloading of the 1990s, when the provincial government forced counties to take over the cost of some major services. Those still account for more than $40 million on the annual tax levy.
The big-ticket items include:
It is important to remember that assessment growth does not directly result in tax increases. But with the county deciding it needs to collect $84.5 million in taxes this year (as part of a $185.8 million total budget), assessment determines the relative share for each taxpayer.
People are often shocked at how much money the county spends. In 2014 Wellington collected $12.5 million from Erin, 55.2% of total taxes. The Town of Erin collected $5.5 million (24.4%), while schools got $4.6 million (20.4%).
County roads and bridges make up the largest part of Wellington’s budget, but many expenses can be traced back to the downloading of the 1990s, when the provincial government forced counties to take over the cost of some major services. Those still account for more than $40 million on the annual tax levy.
The big-ticket items include:
• Rural OPP service ($17.3 million),
• The Farm Tax Rebate ($10.6 million),
• Social Housing ($4.3 million),
• Land Ambulance ($4 million),
• Former Provincial Highways ($3.7 million),
• Social Services and Childcare ($1.8 million) and
• Public Health ($2 million).
The relatively low amount of taxes paid on farmland, 25% of the regular rate, is a particular issue for municipal taxpayers. Farmland qualifies for the Farm Tax Rebate if it is actually farmed, generating at least $7,000 in gross income per year.
The rebate used to be paid by the province and shared through income taxes. When it was shifted to municipalities, provincial grants were supposed to cover the cost. Actual grants cover less than half, however, leaving county taxpayers to cover the balance. The net cost is $487 per household.
February 11, 2015
Food strategy discussion at Family Farm screening
As published in The Erin Advocate
The creative ways in which small family farms can prosper in an era of industrialized agriculture will be the topic of a film screening and panel discussion hosted by Transition Erin.
The showing of the CBC-sponsored documentary The Family Farm will take place at 7 pm this Friday, February 13, at the Legion Hall on Dundas Street East. Admission is free.
Created by Ari Cohen, the film explores the farm-to-table process through the lens of Canadian small farmers and identifies the systemic barriers they face in running a profitable farm.
“There’s got to be a better way of growing food, something that makes us feel responsible and proud of what we’re doing,” said one farmer in the documentary.
“We’re a dying breed,” said another. “The corporate farm is slowly taking us over and there doesn’t seem to be too much concern about it. It’s not only the production of food, but we are looking after the environment and the land. When it gets into corporate hands, things get lost.”
Discussion after the screening will centre on how a coordinated plan for a sustainable food system can be promoted in Erin and Guelph-Wellington.
“These are creative times for farmers, and I’m surprised at how many young people are involved,” said organizer Jay Mowat. “If you get out to the farmers’ markets, you’ll get to know the person who is selling you your food. Family farms can still be made profitable.”
The panelists will include Mark Skinner, Manager at Everdale Organic Farm, Matt Setzkorn, Executive Director at Ontario Farmland Trust and Pam Fanjoy, Owner of The Friendly Chef Adventures and the Mill Run Eatery in Erin.
The event is co-sponsored by the Guelph-Wellington Food Round Table (www.gwfrt.com), which seeks to build up production, distribution and consumption of local food. The group hopes to increase self-sufficiency, reduce impact on the environment and preserve rural communities. They support the Community Gardens Network and initiatives such as Taste Real and the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT).
The other sponsor is the Guelph chapter of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (www.opirgguelph.org), part of an international network on social and environmental issues, founded by activist Ralph Nader.
It is difficult to adopt a conserving farm lifestyle in today’s society, and a variety of projects plus outside jobs are often needed to ensure year-round income.
In some ways, the challenges of farmers are similar to those of many other small businesses. But it other ways they are unique, because of the demanding way of life, the close connection with the power of nature and the proud tradition of public service.
Family farms remain an important part of Canada’s economic backbone, and they play a role in ensuring the survival and well-being of local communities and environments. It is a heritage worth preserving, both with government policy and our consumer dollars.
The creative ways in which small family farms can prosper in an era of industrialized agriculture will be the topic of a film screening and panel discussion hosted by Transition Erin.
The showing of the CBC-sponsored documentary The Family Farm will take place at 7 pm this Friday, February 13, at the Legion Hall on Dundas Street East. Admission is free.
Created by Ari Cohen, the film explores the farm-to-table process through the lens of Canadian small farmers and identifies the systemic barriers they face in running a profitable farm.
“There’s got to be a better way of growing food, something that makes us feel responsible and proud of what we’re doing,” said one farmer in the documentary.
“We’re a dying breed,” said another. “The corporate farm is slowly taking us over and there doesn’t seem to be too much concern about it. It’s not only the production of food, but we are looking after the environment and the land. When it gets into corporate hands, things get lost.”
Discussion after the screening will centre on how a coordinated plan for a sustainable food system can be promoted in Erin and Guelph-Wellington.
“These are creative times for farmers, and I’m surprised at how many young people are involved,” said organizer Jay Mowat. “If you get out to the farmers’ markets, you’ll get to know the person who is selling you your food. Family farms can still be made profitable.”
The panelists will include Mark Skinner, Manager at Everdale Organic Farm, Matt Setzkorn, Executive Director at Ontario Farmland Trust and Pam Fanjoy, Owner of The Friendly Chef Adventures and the Mill Run Eatery in Erin.
The event is co-sponsored by the Guelph-Wellington Food Round Table (www.gwfrt.com), which seeks to build up production, distribution and consumption of local food. The group hopes to increase self-sufficiency, reduce impact on the environment and preserve rural communities. They support the Community Gardens Network and initiatives such as Taste Real and the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT).
The other sponsor is the Guelph chapter of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (www.opirgguelph.org), part of an international network on social and environmental issues, founded by activist Ralph Nader.
It is difficult to adopt a conserving farm lifestyle in today’s society, and a variety of projects plus outside jobs are often needed to ensure year-round income.
In some ways, the challenges of farmers are similar to those of many other small businesses. But it other ways they are unique, because of the demanding way of life, the close connection with the power of nature and the proud tradition of public service.
Family farms remain an important part of Canada’s economic backbone, and they play a role in ensuring the survival and well-being of local communities and environments. It is a heritage worth preserving, both with government policy and our consumer dollars.
February 04, 2015
Pond drainage needed for Round Goby eradication
The Round Gobies of Hillsburgh have caused quite a stir among fisheries biologists and may soon find out just how unwelcome they in the Credit River watershed.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) considers the problem so severe that they have a plan to apply piscicide – a poison that would kill off every gill-breathing animal in six ponds and a short section of the West Credit River near Hillsburgh.
If the plan goes ahead this spring, they would draw down the water levels and use electrofishing to stun and capture quantities of desirable fish, which could be returned to the water once the poison is gone. Lower pond levels would allow the operation to be done with less of the chemical, called Rotenone.
Round Goby (neogobius melanstromus) arrived in the Great Lakes about 25 years ago, thanks to ships from the Black Sea. In 2013 some were dumped in Hillsburgh, probably from a bait bucket.
Since then they’ve been doing what comes naturally – feeding aggressively on diverse aquatic food supplies and spawning several times a year. Their ability to dominate the local environment qualifies them as an Invasive Species.
Since they became established in Lake Erie they have eliminated nearly all of the small bottom dwelling fish, such as darters and sculpins, which were once found there. They’ve also caused significant damage to the nests of Smallmouth Bass by consuming their eggs and young. They like to feed on zebra mussles, another invasive species.
They have advantages over some other fish, since they are able to survive in lower-quality water and have a sensory system that helps them gather food more aggressively.
At a public meeting last fall at the Hillsburgh Fire Hall, MNRF said if the Round Goby is not “controlled”, it is a major threat to native fish, including Brook Trout and other salmonids.
According to their presentation, “Downstream movement of goby to more suitable habitats could negatively impact the fish community of an additional 80+ km of the Credit River, which contains recreationally and economically important fisheries.”
MNRF had hoped to carry out the eradication last fall. It is now planned for the spring, but a final decision has not been made. They have promised to keep the community informed.
“MNRF will continue to work with landowners to secure permission to access properties for monitoring and treatment,” said Management Biologist Art Timmerman, in a letter sent to residents and Town Council.
Rotenone is the only registered piscicide in Canada, to be used as a “fisheries management tool”. It is a natural substance extracted from the roots of tropical plants, and only affects gill breathers.
MRNF says there will be no accumulation in the aquatic environment, no effect on birds or other wildlife and no threat to public health. They said this preferred option is “safe and effective, with immediate results at moderate cost.” Dead fish would have to be collected before the ponds are refilled.
Rotenone breaks down quickly in the water. All residue would be gone in one to four weeks, and oxidizing agents could be added to neutralize any downstream impact, MNRF says.
Round gobies have not been found upstream or downstream from Hillsburgh, probably because they prefer the relatively warm environment of the ponds, but once their population increases, they are likely to spread.
The ponds could be restored to their pre-treatment levels and restocked with native fish, depending on the preferences of the landowners.
The long-term future of the main Hillsburgh pond and the Station Street dam are currently being studied in an Environmental Assessment.
Since then they’ve been doing what comes naturally – feeding aggressively on diverse aquatic food supplies and spawning several times a year. Their ability to dominate the local environment qualifies them as an Invasive Species.
Since they became established in Lake Erie they have eliminated nearly all of the small bottom dwelling fish, such as darters and sculpins, which were once found there. They’ve also caused significant damage to the nests of Smallmouth Bass by consuming their eggs and young. They like to feed on zebra mussles, another invasive species.
They have advantages over some other fish, since they are able to survive in lower-quality water and have a sensory system that helps them gather food more aggressively.
At a public meeting last fall at the Hillsburgh Fire Hall, MNRF said if the Round Goby is not “controlled”, it is a major threat to native fish, including Brook Trout and other salmonids.
According to their presentation, “Downstream movement of goby to more suitable habitats could negatively impact the fish community of an additional 80+ km of the Credit River, which contains recreationally and economically important fisheries.”
MNRF had hoped to carry out the eradication last fall. It is now planned for the spring, but a final decision has not been made. They have promised to keep the community informed.
“MNRF will continue to work with landowners to secure permission to access properties for monitoring and treatment,” said Management Biologist Art Timmerman, in a letter sent to residents and Town Council.
Rotenone is the only registered piscicide in Canada, to be used as a “fisheries management tool”. It is a natural substance extracted from the roots of tropical plants, and only affects gill breathers.
MRNF says there will be no accumulation in the aquatic environment, no effect on birds or other wildlife and no threat to public health. They said this preferred option is “safe and effective, with immediate results at moderate cost.” Dead fish would have to be collected before the ponds are refilled.
Rotenone breaks down quickly in the water. All residue would be gone in one to four weeks, and oxidizing agents could be added to neutralize any downstream impact, MNRF says.
Round gobies have not been found upstream or downstream from Hillsburgh, probably because they prefer the relatively warm environment of the ponds, but once their population increases, they are likely to spread.
The ponds could be restored to their pre-treatment levels and restocked with native fish, depending on the preferences of the landowners.
The long-term future of the main Hillsburgh pond and the Station Street dam are currently being studied in an Environmental Assessment.
January 28, 2015
Steen’s milk discontinued, but many choices available
As published in The Erin Advocate
The Steen’s brand of milk products is no longer available on store shelves, but local consumers still have many choices – including Jersey milk from Miller’s Dairy in Creemore, sold in returnable one-quart glass bottles.
Fred Steen started Steen’s Dairy in 1944. It became a major independent brand in Southern Ontario, with the Steen’s Dairy Bar known as an icon of Erin village. Unable to expand at its downtown location, it formed a partnership with the Organic Meadow farmers’ co-op, and in 2010 shifted production to a new plant in Guelph.
“Organic Meadow has been proud to partner with Steen’s Dairy to offer consumers access to both organic (Organic Meadow) and local (Steen’s) dairy offerings,” said Michelle Schmidt, Marketing Manager at Organic Meadow.
“Last year, we made some strategic changes to our business, specifically the elimination of our in-house distribution service, that we had used to primarily service local customers carrying the Steen’s brand. And so while Steen’s dairy products continue to be available (primarily through food service channels), by and large, they are no longer readily accessible on retail store shelves.”
Erin outlets do not appear to be carrying any Organic Meadow milk, but shoppers still have a variety of options. The Beatrice brand is available at some convenience stores, along with Lactancia, while Valu-Mart carries mainly the Neilson brand, with a small quantity of PC Organics.
Foodland in Hillsburgh sells Sealtest and Natrel, but in December after Steen’s was discontinued, they brought in Miller’s milk. That dairy uses bottles that only people of a certain age will remember – one-quart returnable glass, now with a refundable deposit of $2.00. The company also distributes half-gallon glass bottles to some outlets.“The reaction of people has been very good,” said Foodland owner Mary McArthur. “It’s more of a country item.”
At $3.19 plus deposit for 946 ml, it won’t be practical or economical for families that consume lots of milk. But for low volume households, it creates a new option in a marketplace that for many decades has been quite homogenized.
Since 1965, under the milk system organized by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, milk from various farms is routinely pooled for efficient processing and marketed under major labels. Organic milk and other specialties are kept separate.
More than 90% of milk is from Holstein cows, with only 4% from Jersey cows. Now the industry is encouraging on-farm microdairies, partly due to consumer demand for local food, enabling Millers to offer pure Jersey milk. It comes from a purebred Jersey herd of 120 milking cows that has been tended at the same farm, by the same family, for 50 years.
“People want to know where their food comes from and we want to make that personal connection,” says the Miller family on their website.
After buying a bottle of Jersey milk, I did an informal taste test. The new milk tasted slightly different from regular milk, but was quite satisfying. It had a richer feel, even though it comes with the standard butterfat content levels – skim, 2%, whole (about 3.25%), 10% cream (half & half) and 35% whipping cream.
All the feed for the Miller herd is grown on the farm where they live. The milk is pasteurized, but not advertised as organic. The glass bottles keep it extra cold, naturally slowing down its aging process.
According to the American Jersey Cattle Association, Jerseys have a 20% lower carbon footprint, and their milk offers higher nutritional value, providing 15-20% more protein, 15-18% more calcium, 10-12% more phosphorus and higher levels of vitamin B12, compared to most milk on the market.
January 21, 2015
Gourmet groceries at new downtown restaurant
As published in The Erin Advocate
Chef Pam Fanjoy has taken an opportunity to combine her passion for local food with an interest in local history by opening the Mill Run Eatery on Main Street in downtown Erin village.
It is part gourmet grocery store, with some products not normally available in a small town, and a 14-seat breakfast-lunch restaurant that offers Sunday brunch and features a large community table.
Located in the building vacated by Carver’s Block, the Mill Run is two doors up from The Friendly Chef Adventures (formerly What’s Cookin’), which Fanjoy started just a year ago. The locations are on either side of Erin’s historic millrace, which once diverted water from Hull’s Dam on Church Blvd. to the mill behind Budson Farm and Feed, running directly under Debora’s Chocolates.
Her primary business was already expanding and in need of more space. In addition to prepared foods, gift baskets and kitchen-related products, Friendly Chef Adventures is now fully licensed and serving lunch, providing catering, offering cooking classes and renting out space for parties.
The Mill Run Eatery has its restaurant seating by the window, then inside are displays that include a selection of cheeses and fresh meats. Each Friday, they bring in a different supply of fresh seafood for the weekend. There are also sections for frozen foods, and fresh produce such as lemon grass.
“I asked the community what they wanted,” said Fanjoy, who is a partner in the Taste•Real initiative for Guelph and Wellington, promoting the benefits of local, organic products. Information on events and incoming specials is available at www.thefriendlychef.ca.
The décor pays homage to Erin’s village history, with a large historical downtown map showing the millrace and photos of four mills from the 1800s. The location even has a trap door leading to the old water route.
While premium offerings do cost a bit more, Fanjoy said she has making an effort to offer people choices and to keep prices reasonable.
The Mill Run sells the Planet Bean line of coffee from Guelph – Fair Trade and Certified Organic – ready to drink or as beans. They have been carrying products from Everdale Farm near Hillsburgh, and meat from Wellington County farms that do not use hormones and antibiotics to enhance growth.
Packaged products include Roasted Chickpeas, Bomba Rice, Soup Girl mixes, 00 Pasta Flour, Smoked Paprika Powder (spicy or mild), and there are natural soda drinks with flavours like Blackberry-Pomegranate-Ginger and Pineapple-Coconut-Nutmeg.
Bottled products include All-Natural Mayonnaise, Rice and Fig Balsamic Vinegar, and various oils – Almond, Sesame, Hazelnut and Walnut.
The eatery is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm, except Friday when they are open until 6 pm. Sunday Brunch ($12.50 for adults, $10.50 for kids) is served 9 am to 2 pm.
The Mill Run Eatery has its restaurant seating by the window, then inside are displays that include a selection of cheeses and fresh meats. Each Friday, they bring in a different supply of fresh seafood for the weekend. There are also sections for frozen foods, and fresh produce such as lemon grass.
“I asked the community what they wanted,” said Fanjoy, who is a partner in the Taste•Real initiative for Guelph and Wellington, promoting the benefits of local, organic products. Information on events and incoming specials is available at www.thefriendlychef.ca.
The décor pays homage to Erin’s village history, with a large historical downtown map showing the millrace and photos of four mills from the 1800s. The location even has a trap door leading to the old water route.
While premium offerings do cost a bit more, Fanjoy said she has making an effort to offer people choices and to keep prices reasonable.
The Mill Run sells the Planet Bean line of coffee from Guelph – Fair Trade and Certified Organic – ready to drink or as beans. They have been carrying products from Everdale Farm near Hillsburgh, and meat from Wellington County farms that do not use hormones and antibiotics to enhance growth.
Packaged products include Roasted Chickpeas, Bomba Rice, Soup Girl mixes, 00 Pasta Flour, Smoked Paprika Powder (spicy or mild), and there are natural soda drinks with flavours like Blackberry-Pomegranate-Ginger and Pineapple-Coconut-Nutmeg.
Bottled products include All-Natural Mayonnaise, Rice and Fig Balsamic Vinegar, and various oils – Almond, Sesame, Hazelnut and Walnut.
The eatery is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm, except Friday when they are open until 6 pm. Sunday Brunch ($12.50 for adults, $10.50 for kids) is served 9 am to 2 pm.
January 14, 2015
Bioswales and rain gardens reduce stormwater impact
As published in The Erin Advocate
Credit Valley Conservation is urging municipalities and landowners to use techniques that allow more rainwater to soak into the ground, instead of simply dumping it into the closest stream.
It’s part of a trend called Low Impact Development (LID) that sees the asphalt and concrete surfaces of urban areas as a threat, leading to excessive sediment and chemicals in waterways.
“We want to reconnect the natural hydrological cycling within our urban areas,” said Cassie Corrigan, a CVC Water Resource Specialist, at a workshop last fall.
 |
| Biorention planters and swales allow more rainwater to soak into the ground. Photo courtesy of CVC. |
Some measures can be required by planning regulations, while others are optional. Not every municipality is forcing developers to incorporate LID features.
“If a developer isn’t forced to do it, they’re not going to do it,” said Corrigan.
LID practices do not just apply to new housing developments. They can be used when roads are reconstructed, when parks or commercial zones are improved and when buildings are retrofitted.
Grants are sometimes available to offset the added costs of LID and municipalities can offer incentives through their water rates to encourage property owners to make specific changes.
In practice, LID starts by dealing with some of the rain where it lands, installing permeable paving, directing residential downspouts away from driveways and sewers, harvesting rainwater for other uses (such as water gardens or flushing toilets) and installing vegetation-covered green roofs on suitable buildings.
The risk of flooding on streets and properties can be reduced with bioswales – the new name for shallow grassy ditches. Other strips of land engineered with good drainage and a variety of low-maintenance plants, shrubs and trees are called rain gardens or bioretention swales.
These slow the run-off and filter out pollutants from roads and parking areas. They improve stream habitat and ease the burden on municipal infrastructure, extending its life and reducing the investment needed to build and maintain the system.
The goal is to allow as much water as possible to infiltrate the ground or evaporate before it ends up in a storm sewer, with the benefit of adding attractive greenery to urban areas.
Even where underground servicing is needed, it may be possible to use perforated pipes that allow some of the water to return to the ground.
Flood control still requires the use of ponds, which can be either dry or partially filled between major storms.
These are not ideal, however, since the discharged water is warmer than normal and not completely filtered, and there can be a build-up of sediment. Vegetated wetlands can also be created, though these have the potential of increasing phosphorus in the discharge.
Former Town of Erin Water Superintendent Frank Smedley said in 2012 that LID would not be suitable for the planned Solmar subdivision north of Erin village, due to the high groundwater and low permeability of the soils in the area.
For case studies, guidelines and more information on Low Impact Development, go to www.bealeader.ca.
Grants are sometimes available to offset the added costs of LID and municipalities can offer incentives through their water rates to encourage property owners to make specific changes.
In practice, LID starts by dealing with some of the rain where it lands, installing permeable paving, directing residential downspouts away from driveways and sewers, harvesting rainwater for other uses (such as water gardens or flushing toilets) and installing vegetation-covered green roofs on suitable buildings.
The risk of flooding on streets and properties can be reduced with bioswales – the new name for shallow grassy ditches. Other strips of land engineered with good drainage and a variety of low-maintenance plants, shrubs and trees are called rain gardens or bioretention swales.
These slow the run-off and filter out pollutants from roads and parking areas. They improve stream habitat and ease the burden on municipal infrastructure, extending its life and reducing the investment needed to build and maintain the system.
The goal is to allow as much water as possible to infiltrate the ground or evaporate before it ends up in a storm sewer, with the benefit of adding attractive greenery to urban areas.
Even where underground servicing is needed, it may be possible to use perforated pipes that allow some of the water to return to the ground.
Flood control still requires the use of ponds, which can be either dry or partially filled between major storms.
These are not ideal, however, since the discharged water is warmer than normal and not completely filtered, and there can be a build-up of sediment. Vegetated wetlands can also be created, though these have the potential of increasing phosphorus in the discharge.
Former Town of Erin Water Superintendent Frank Smedley said in 2012 that LID would not be suitable for the planned Solmar subdivision north of Erin village, due to the high groundwater and low permeability of the soils in the area.
For case studies, guidelines and more information on Low Impact Development, go to www.bealeader.ca.
January 07, 2015
$5 garbage bag surcharge would improve waste habits
Having grown tired of calendars with cute animals, race cars and scenic outhouses, I can now gaze upon images of garbage trucks, swamplands being preserved, composting in action, pre-paid yellow garbage bags and employees doing their jobs with enthusiasm.
County staff appear to have good reason to be cheery, since their Human Resources Department recently won an “Oscar” in its profession. At a prestigious gala, Wellington was the winner of the Best Health and Wellness Strategy award from KPMG.
Initiatives have included tree planting, a ping-pong tournament, hockey and soccer teams that challenge other municipalities, fitness events, lunch time education on personal health, a Wellness Fair, mental health training and retirement readiness workshops.
I am always happy to read about my tax dollars being put to good use, but I would be just as glad to read the news in black and white, rather than in expensive colour publications and advertising.
The County has been politically and environmentally correct by printing their 36-page calendar booklet on 100% post consumer paper fibre. In the spirit of waste reduction, however, I suggest that the booklet is a luxury that most taxpayers would prefer to do without.
When I want to download the waste calendar, or read about what is allowed in my blue box, I will go to www.wellington.ca. When I want to learn how to keep re-usable materials out of the waste stream, I will go to the Recyclopedia page at www.wellington.reuses.com.
To be notified about a change in my garbage collection day, I’d rather sign up for an email or text message service.
Also, to promote frugality and waste reduction, I propose that the price of large yellow garbage bags be raised by $5, from $1.75 to $6.75 – on one condition.
A portion of the revenue would be used to cover the actual costs of collecting garbage and recyclables, but all of the excess money would be returned as an annual equal payment to each household in the pick-up areas.
By raising the price and providing an equal payback to each household, Solid Waste Services would expand a key benefit of the user pay system, as outlined in their calendar:
“It encourages diversion. The more residents reduce, reuse, recycle and compost, the fewer garbage bags they need to buy. It gives residents some control over how much they want to spend on their garbage each week.”
With a $5 surcharge per bag, it would cost $27 to put out four large bags. With pickup every two weeks, that would total $702 per year. The annual rebate would certainly be less than that.
A household that put out one bag every two weeks would pay only $175.50 a year, and could expect a rebate that would be higher than that – unless everyone cut back to one bag.
It would be a bit like the Carbon Fee and Dividend system that has been proposed to reduce gasoline consumption. You actually pay people to change their wasteful ways.
Of course, if we all become super waste reducers, garbage bag revenues will decline – and it is still going to cost about the same to drive garbage trucks up and down the roads. Maybe then we can switch to once a month rural pick-up, and urban folks can learn how to get by with pick-up every two weeks.
Erin Radio is back in town
As published in The Erin Advocate
After a brief stay in Fergus, the Erin Radio studio is back on the Main Street of Erin village, with a team dedicated to local programming.
“We’re starting fresh and getting back to our roots,” said Ronia Michael, who took over as Chair of the CHES-FM Board of Directors last week.
Weekday content will include popular music and community information, but they are planning to have more specialized shows with local hosts, guests and musicians in the evenings and on weekends. There is a new website, erinradio.org, and an Erin Radio 88.1 Facebook page.
The radio station still broadcasts at 88.1 FM from the Erin water tower, as it continued to do when production was shifted last year to Centre Wellington Community Radio in Fergus as a way to cut costs.
The Fergus group, which operates The Grand FM 92.9, had come to the rescue of the Erin operation in 2012, investing in equipment, operating a local studio as the Headwaters New Mix, adopting a more commercial style and hoping to tap into more of the Orangeville market.
With lack of advertising revenue from Erin and the recent refusal of the CRTC to allow an additional transmitter in Orangeville, the Fergus group was not willing to continue. They have returned the station to some of the people who founded it in 2006.
“It was great to build a station, but we couldn’t make it work,” said Chair Larry Peters. He has resigned from the board along with Scott Jensen and Vic Folliott. “It’s community radio, but you have to run it as a business,” said Jensen.
Remaining on the board are Ronia Michael and Sales Coordinator David MacDonald, while returning are Treasurer Jay Mowat, Music Director Phil Taylor, Fundraising Co-ordinator Ray Young and Producer Rob Dodds.
“I want to thank 92.9 for being supportive,” said Michael. “We’re very grateful for your help through this transition period – for two years you have kept us on the air. You’ve gone above and beyond.”
Taylor said while listeners can still expect some familiar popular music, there will be more variety, with a greater focus on independent Canadian artists.
Erin Radio will continue as a volunteer-based non-profit venture, keeping costs as low as possible. Erin United Church has donated space for their new studio, which went live on January 5. Arrangements are being made for on-line listening.
Michael appreciates the local community cooperation she has experienced while bringing the new team together, and has special thanks for Doug Bingley of Barrie, whose company Central Ontario Broadcasting operates the Toronto-based radio station Indie 88.1.
She said Bingley supports community radio and has made a partnership with CHES, providing a donation to help with transition costs.
Bingley won the competition to use the 88.1 frequency in 2012 after the Ryerson University station lost its CRTC license. Indie 88.1 plays 60% of its Canadian music from emerging artists – those who have never had a hit single.
Bingley’s station shares the 88.1 frequency with Erin Radio and is not allowed to overpower the Erin signal. The transition of radio reception between the two stations occurs in the south part of the Town of Erin, near 5 Sideroad.
When the Toronto station wants to increase the power of its transmission, it has an interest in helping Erin Radio boost its power, to balance the signals and maintain the territories. Mowat said Erin has benefited from this situation, and may do so again.
After a brief stay in Fergus, the Erin Radio studio is back on the Main Street of Erin village, with a team dedicated to local programming.
“We’re starting fresh and getting back to our roots,” said Ronia Michael, who took over as Chair of the CHES-FM Board of Directors last week.
Weekday content will include popular music and community information, but they are planning to have more specialized shows with local hosts, guests and musicians in the evenings and on weekends. There is a new website, erinradio.org, and an Erin Radio 88.1 Facebook page.
The radio station still broadcasts at 88.1 FM from the Erin water tower, as it continued to do when production was shifted last year to Centre Wellington Community Radio in Fergus as a way to cut costs.
The Fergus group, which operates The Grand FM 92.9, had come to the rescue of the Erin operation in 2012, investing in equipment, operating a local studio as the Headwaters New Mix, adopting a more commercial style and hoping to tap into more of the Orangeville market.
With lack of advertising revenue from Erin and the recent refusal of the CRTC to allow an additional transmitter in Orangeville, the Fergus group was not willing to continue. They have returned the station to some of the people who founded it in 2006.
“It was great to build a station, but we couldn’t make it work,” said Chair Larry Peters. He has resigned from the board along with Scott Jensen and Vic Folliott. “It’s community radio, but you have to run it as a business,” said Jensen.
Remaining on the board are Ronia Michael and Sales Coordinator David MacDonald, while returning are Treasurer Jay Mowat, Music Director Phil Taylor, Fundraising Co-ordinator Ray Young and Producer Rob Dodds.
“I want to thank 92.9 for being supportive,” said Michael. “We’re very grateful for your help through this transition period – for two years you have kept us on the air. You’ve gone above and beyond.”
Taylor said while listeners can still expect some familiar popular music, there will be more variety, with a greater focus on independent Canadian artists.
Erin Radio will continue as a volunteer-based non-profit venture, keeping costs as low as possible. Erin United Church has donated space for their new studio, which went live on January 5. Arrangements are being made for on-line listening.
Michael appreciates the local community cooperation she has experienced while bringing the new team together, and has special thanks for Doug Bingley of Barrie, whose company Central Ontario Broadcasting operates the Toronto-based radio station Indie 88.1.
She said Bingley supports community radio and has made a partnership with CHES, providing a donation to help with transition costs.
Bingley won the competition to use the 88.1 frequency in 2012 after the Ryerson University station lost its CRTC license. Indie 88.1 plays 60% of its Canadian music from emerging artists – those who have never had a hit single.
Bingley’s station shares the 88.1 frequency with Erin Radio and is not allowed to overpower the Erin signal. The transition of radio reception between the two stations occurs in the south part of the Town of Erin, near 5 Sideroad.
When the Toronto station wants to increase the power of its transmission, it has an interest in helping Erin Radio boost its power, to balance the signals and maintain the territories. Mowat said Erin has benefited from this situation, and may do so again.
December 31, 2014
Chong’s Reform Act could give MPs real power
As published in The Erin Advocate
2015 is shaping up as a momentous year for MP Michael Chong, with his Reform Act expected to come up for Third Reading and a final vote in the House of Commons this month.
It would be turning point in the history of Canadian democracy, tipping the balance of power away from party leaders, in favour of members of parliament.
“I am cautiously optimistic that the Reform Act will be passed into law,” he said. “We are up against the hard deadline of the 2015 federal election. It’s important that the bill be passed into law before the House rises next June.”
The act would reinforce the traditional concept of “responsible government”, making the executive (prime minister and cabinet) more accountable to the legislature and ensure that leaders maintain the confidence of their MPs – similar to systems in the United Kingdom and Australia.
2015 is shaping up as a momentous year for MP Michael Chong, with his Reform Act expected to come up for Third Reading and a final vote in the House of Commons this month.
It would be turning point in the history of Canadian democracy, tipping the balance of power away from party leaders, in favour of members of parliament.
“I am cautiously optimistic that the Reform Act will be passed into law,” he said. “We are up against the hard deadline of the 2015 federal election. It’s important that the bill be passed into law before the House rises next June.”
The act would reinforce the traditional concept of “responsible government”, making the executive (prime minister and cabinet) more accountable to the legislature and ensure that leaders maintain the confidence of their MPs – similar to systems in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Exchange program reduces fentanyl misuse
As published in The Erin Advocate
In an effort to reduce the black market supply of the lethal prescription drug fentanyl, Wellington County is promoting an exchange program that requires patients to return all their used medication patches before getting new ones from a pharmacist.
Modeled on a successful program in North Bay, it is an initiative of the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy (WGDS), which tries to reduce substance misuse through prevention, treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement.
“There is a lot of concern because of the lethality of the drug,” said WGDS Manager Adrienne Crowder, noting that the patch exchange reduces risks to individuals and the community. “The program creates a partnership between patients, doctors and pharmacists. It’s a more connected care pathway that is good for everyone.”
Use of the program is optional for pharmacists and doctors, but WGDS is urging them to participate. The County has produced a video on the issue, created by Ironcloud Productions of Hillsburgh, which can be accessed at www.wellington.ca or through a “fentanyl patch” search on YouTube.
It says police and health care providers in Guelph and Wellington are seeing increased misuse of the drug. It includes a first-person account of a recovering addict, an 18-year-old girl who started by taking painkillers from the family medicine cabinet at age 14, then moved on to stronger substances. Addicts may end up selling their possessions and resorting to crime in order to buy more of the drug.
In North Bay, where fentanyl addition was a particularly severe problem, a patch exchange program has made the drug much more difficult to obtain on the street – forcing dealers to import it from other areas.
In October, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli proposed a private members bill that would mandate the Patch-for-Patch program for pharmacies across Ontario. Patients who do not return their used patches undamaged would have to provide an explanation, and their doctor could refuse to authorize a further supply.
Known by the brand name Duragesic, fentanyl is a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. It was originally an operating room drug and a treatment for terminally-ill patients, but is now used for various types of chronic pain.
In 2011, it caused 102 overdose deaths in Ontario. It has come into wider use since then, after the Canadian government pulled OxyContin from pharmacy shelves in 2012, due to its high level of abuse. Fentanyl is intended for slow release through a patch over 72 hours, but addicts remove the drug from the patch so it can be smoked, injected, chewed or made into pills. Police say its potency is dangerously unpredictable.
It has become a street commodity, with some addicts stealing patches from legal users or retrieving used patches from garbage cans to get a residual amount of the drug.
Even legal use of the drug is risky, with 30 million tablets or patches of high-dose opioids (oxycodone and fentanyl) dispensed in Canada annually from 2006 to 2011. Statistics Canada estimates that approximately 1 in 10 Canadians suffers from a chronic pain condition.
A six-year study led by Tara Gomes at St. Michael’s Hospital, reported in the November, 2014 issue of Canadian Family Physician, showed that with Canada and the US leading the world in high-dose opioid prescriptions, Ontario had the highest rate of fentanyl dispensing – 112 patches annually per 1,000 population.
Some researchers believe it is being over-prescribed, with little evidence of safety or effectiveness at high doses, and with wide variations in provincial guidelines for doctors.
Methadone is used to treat addiction to heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, percocet and morphine, blocking their euphoric effects and reducing withdrawal symptoms. Guelph has four methadone clinics; Orangeville has one and Georgetown will have one this January. Addicts can also be treated in residential rehabilitation programs, but there are waiting lists.
In an effort to reduce the black market supply of the lethal prescription drug fentanyl, Wellington County is promoting an exchange program that requires patients to return all their used medication patches before getting new ones from a pharmacist.
Modeled on a successful program in North Bay, it is an initiative of the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy (WGDS), which tries to reduce substance misuse through prevention, treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement.
“There is a lot of concern because of the lethality of the drug,” said WGDS Manager Adrienne Crowder, noting that the patch exchange reduces risks to individuals and the community. “The program creates a partnership between patients, doctors and pharmacists. It’s a more connected care pathway that is good for everyone.”
Use of the program is optional for pharmacists and doctors, but WGDS is urging them to participate. The County has produced a video on the issue, created by Ironcloud Productions of Hillsburgh, which can be accessed at www.wellington.ca or through a “fentanyl patch” search on YouTube.
It says police and health care providers in Guelph and Wellington are seeing increased misuse of the drug. It includes a first-person account of a recovering addict, an 18-year-old girl who started by taking painkillers from the family medicine cabinet at age 14, then moved on to stronger substances. Addicts may end up selling their possessions and resorting to crime in order to buy more of the drug.
In North Bay, where fentanyl addition was a particularly severe problem, a patch exchange program has made the drug much more difficult to obtain on the street – forcing dealers to import it from other areas.
In October, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli proposed a private members bill that would mandate the Patch-for-Patch program for pharmacies across Ontario. Patients who do not return their used patches undamaged would have to provide an explanation, and their doctor could refuse to authorize a further supply.
Known by the brand name Duragesic, fentanyl is a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. It was originally an operating room drug and a treatment for terminally-ill patients, but is now used for various types of chronic pain.
In 2011, it caused 102 overdose deaths in Ontario. It has come into wider use since then, after the Canadian government pulled OxyContin from pharmacy shelves in 2012, due to its high level of abuse. Fentanyl is intended for slow release through a patch over 72 hours, but addicts remove the drug from the patch so it can be smoked, injected, chewed or made into pills. Police say its potency is dangerously unpredictable.
It has become a street commodity, with some addicts stealing patches from legal users or retrieving used patches from garbage cans to get a residual amount of the drug.
Even legal use of the drug is risky, with 30 million tablets or patches of high-dose opioids (oxycodone and fentanyl) dispensed in Canada annually from 2006 to 2011. Statistics Canada estimates that approximately 1 in 10 Canadians suffers from a chronic pain condition.
A six-year study led by Tara Gomes at St. Michael’s Hospital, reported in the November, 2014 issue of Canadian Family Physician, showed that with Canada and the US leading the world in high-dose opioid prescriptions, Ontario had the highest rate of fentanyl dispensing – 112 patches annually per 1,000 population.
Some researchers believe it is being over-prescribed, with little evidence of safety or effectiveness at high doses, and with wide variations in provincial guidelines for doctors.
Methadone is used to treat addiction to heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, percocet and morphine, blocking their euphoric effects and reducing withdrawal symptoms. Guelph has four methadone clinics; Orangeville has one and Georgetown will have one this January. Addicts can also be treated in residential rehabilitation programs, but there are waiting lists.
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