T H E T O W N S H I P O F S T . C L A I R
This paddock of hungry horses, recently spotted along Plank Road, demonstrates both the right way and the wrong way to exercise coronavirus etiquette. As four of them belly up to the buffet with no re- gard for social distancing, the fifth chooses to bide his time and keep his distance until the feeding fren- zy is over. Bonnie Stevenson photo
The St. Clair Township Beacon is currently published monthly online ONLY at the township website,
www. stclairtownship.ca – on the home page, top right black information bar, click on The Beacon.
Those who wish to receive The Beacon as a free monthly subscription can email beacon@stclairtownship.ca and type the word “Subscription” in the Subject line to be put on the subscription list.
Province gets tough with COVID-19 noncompliants
The few who still refuse to grasp the need to comply with the COVID-19 safety protocols may soon find them- selves with a lot less money NS a criminal record. The recent provincial crack-down on those who ignore the rules has been prompted by an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the province and officials fear this could be the beginning of a ’second wave’ of virus spread.
It has been suggested that the phase three reopening, which increased the limits for gatherings, both indoors and outdoors, and loosened limits on restaurants and other inside venues, may be playing a part in this in- crease of cases. To mitigate this renewed threat, in ad- dition to the triple safeguard of wearing a mask, good hand hygiene, and social distancing, the current limits for indoor and outdoor gatherings of any kind has been reduced again; they allow a maximum of 10 people for indoor gatherings and 25 people for outdoor gatherings. The new limits for indoor and outdoor gatherings cannot be combined to form a new capacity limit.
However, ‘monitored’ gatherings held at a place op- erated by a business or organization in accordance with
O. Reg. 364/20 (i.e. movies, convention centres, restau- rants, gyms, sports or performing arts events) are al- ready mandated to follow very specific public health and safety guidelines to minimize risk and limit any spread of the coronavirus.
Authorized enforcement officers are now able to fine an individual guilty of noncompliance up to $100,000 or one year in prison. Companies and corporations face much stiffer fines of up to $500,000.
During council’s review of the new measures, Mayor Steve Arnold said, “They’re very, very serious in regards to what they’re asking people to do.
For the latest information and updates regarding COVID-19, go online to covid-19.ontario.ca
Polling group presents community survey results
Probe Research Inc. representative Curtis Brown at- tended the virtual Sept. 8 meeting of council to review findings of a survey conducted by his company this past summer. The survey measured citizen satisfaction with township services and spending priorities, and also gath- ered feedback regarding a proposed new waste collec- tion system. This survey was driven by the new Ontario Asset Management regulations which require community
input into the township’s core asset management plan.
The company made telephone contact with a diverse group of township residents, conducting 301 interviews in a number of categories. “We called land lines and cell phones to get a good cross-section of citizens,” said Mr. Brown. The survey subjects were asked their date of birth to ensure they were within the required age group of 18 and over. He added, “We also had an online survey which was open to everyone in the township. We made that avail- able on the township’s website for three weeks, from July 9-31. We had 159 people altogether who responded.”
Mr. Brown explained the survey was used to gather sci- entifically relevant information that was used to get an overall citizen impression of community concerns. The top five concerns for most respondents included, in order of importance: economic issues; flooding and high-water lev- els; COVID-19 and road condition and repairs; and cell/ Internet service. Mr. Brown noted the high-water levels and cell and Internet services were more likely to be men- tioned by people in Ward 2 than by those in Ward 1. Sec- ondary concerns included, in order of importance: munici- pal services in general; taxation; environment; and parks and recreation. “Overall, the news is pretty good,” said Mr. Brown. “The number of people who are dissatisfied was extremely low.”
Areas of high satisfaction included: household drinking water; waste and recycling collection; snow removal; traf- fic lights and road signage; street lighting; road mainte- nance; drainage/stormwater; sidewalks and walking trails; bridge maintenance; and the collection and treatment of waste water. When asked what services the township could improve on, Mr. Brown said street and road maintenance was the mentioned most frequently.
Inquiries into the use of taxes indicate nearly three- quarters of respondents believe they receive at least good value for their tax dollars. “One quarter said they were getting excellent value and half said they were getting good value… if you’re happy with the services you’re being provided then you’re also likely to see that you’re getting good value,” said Mr. Brown.
See page 3
All regular public council meetings will be held as virtual, online meetings until the COVID-19 threat has subsided enough to allow public gatherings. However, the public may view the meetings online by going on- to the township website at: www.stclairtownship.ca On the St. Clair Township home page, look for the link to the meeting top left side of the page highlight- ed in blue.
Upcoming meetings include: Monday, Oct. 5 at 3
p.m. and Monday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. Should emergen- cy or timely matters arise, meetings will be held as required. Although the municipal office is closed to the public, a reduced staff will be there during busi- ness hours through the work week. Anyone wishing to contact the municipality can call 519-867-2021 for further information.
The St. Clair Township Beacon is issued monthly by St. Clair Township
as a public service to township residents. Production by Bonnie Stevenson.
From page 2
Mayor Arnold clarified that the township does not keep all of the taxes collected through the year. “The township actually only keeps about 28 per cent of the tax bill. For the average between $1,000 to $1,500 per resident, they get tremendous value from the township assets and work compared to the overall tax bill of $4,000 to $5,000 dol- lars. It’s very important to make sure everything gets put into perspective,” he said. “We need to make sure that people understand the value and the money that’s being spent, and what stays here locally.”
The survey also asked about the township’s overall spending approach. “We see a pretty even split here,” said Mr. Brown. The survey indicated 40 per cent of re- spondents would be happy to maintain taxes at the same level even if it meant decreasing service levels slightly, and 42 per cent would accept a slight increase in taxes to maintain services. Only five per cent would accept a cut in services if there was a decrease in taxes; six per cent would accept increased taxes to get enhanced services, and seven per cent were unsure. The highest spending priority most often chosen was household drinking water, followed by street and road maintenance.
When the survey asked about community satisfaction with the way the township interacts with its citizens, about one in five said they had contacted the township about something in the last 12 months. “The satisfaction level wasn’t the greatest. It was just about half on the six- point scale,” said Mr. Brown.
The survey also covered how people were finding out what’s happening in the township, about services, activi- ties and programs. “The Beacon, the newsletter, we found really was the main one…older residents are most likely to read it,” said Mr. Brown. “Younger residents were most likely to pick another option, getting their information from the township website, and one in five getting infor- mation from the local paper.” The Beacon garnered 64 per cent of the survey response, with the township website at 24 per cent, newspaper at 17 per cent, and other commu- nication instruments such as Facebook (10%), word of mouth (10%), radio/television (7%), signs and Twitter (1%) mentioned as well.
“We also wanted to gauge how well people feel they’re being kept informed about what’s happening and only about two-thirds feel that the township is doing a good job,” said Mr. Brown. Those who said they didn’t feel well
-informed gave varying reasons why they felt that way. He added when people who answered “fair” or “poor” were asked the reason for their response, some said they were- n’t getting enough information, there were too few sources to get it from, or the information they’re getting wasn’t consistent, wasn’t relevant, or was out of date.
When asked questions about waste collection, respond- ents were asked how they felt about the new cart system the township is considering. (The cart system would in- volve the use of rolling carts which could be lifted and dumped into a collection truck.) The survey revealed slightly more than half the respondents would support the new system. Pricing options for the carts were also ex- plored. Option one would involve a one-time fee of $250 per large cart, $150 per medium cart, and $75 per small cart. Option two would involve an annual fee of $75 per large cart, $50 per medium cart, and $25 per small cart.
Back-up generators approved for water supply Back-up generators for the Brigden, Mooretown, and Wilkesport water supplies were approved by council at the Sept. 21 meeting. The generators will ensure these com- munities will have a dependable source of drinking water
in the event of a power outage.
Dale attended the Sept. 8 virtual meeting of council via Zoom to present the organization’s concerns regarding some of the COVID-19 measures that have been developed for the operation of the Moore Sports Complex. The “no spectator” rule and the 50-person limit were discussed, as they affect the ability of a parent to accompany younger players to their games. Citing liability concerns for MMH, Mr. Dale pointed out that the five- and six-year-olds should not just be dropped off at the rink. They need the supervision of a parent because there aren’t enough MMH personnel to take care of them. He also said the MMH re- quires more hours of ice time than have been allotted to the four user groups that must use only Rink 1.
However, council agreed stepping outside regulations that have been enacted to prevent the spread of the coro- navirus would be counter-productive. Council and staff agreed that opening the Moore Sports Complex too fast by ignoring the regulations would lead to the reclosing of the facility, an unfortunate occurrence that has taken place at other facilities. “Staff have to be comfortable before we put anything else in place,” said Mayor Arnold. “We’re dealing with a serious disease here.”
Staff member Sue Knight agreed it would be wise to wait for two weeks until the next meeting of council to see if the current safety measures work effectively.
Spectator Limit Set: At the Sept. 21 virtual meeting of council, a limit of one spectator per participant was approved beginning on Oct. 3. According to Kendall Lindsay, Director of Community Services, allowing one spectator per skater or hockey player would allow one parent to accompany each young player who needs off
-ice supervision and assistance. The limit would also allow for adequate social distancing and would be within provincially mandated protocols. The Oct. 3 starting date was chosen to allow two weeks in which Moore teams and user groups could be acquainted with the COVID-19 protocols to be observed within the facil- ity.
Need for more crossing guards discussed
Now that children are back to school, the need to im- prove safety at certain road crossings was brought to the attention of council by group of concerned parents. Rep- resenting the parents via a virtual deputation by parent Monique Desabrais, several subjects of concern were high- lighted, including: the crosswalk at Bentinck Drive and Clairwood Crescent and a possible crossing guard for that location; location of courtesy seat pick-up areas, where seating is limited; and a request for funding assistance to bus students who have special or negative circumstances such as safety concerns or those who are too young or not able to walk to school if they live outside of the 1.6 km bussing limit.
Mayor Arnold pointed out that the school boards need to be contacted with busing concerns. At the Sept. 21 meeting of council, the need for a crossing guard at the corner of Albert and Cameron Streets was also discussed. A staff report will be prduced and forwarded to the school boards for consideration.
Fireworks by-law amended
The township’s fireworks by-law was amended to al- low a seven day window for the use of fireworks on or around Victoria Day, Canada Day, and the Civic Holiday (three days before and three after the actual day). Ven- dors of fireworks will be safety-checked by the township fire department and given information for distribution to buyers. Complete information will be put online at the St. Clair Township Fire Department Facebook page.
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The Beacon of St. Clair Township October 2020 Page 4
Public Works/Roads…519-867-2993
Engineering 519-867-2125
After hours emergency
~ 519-344-9318 ~
Water Utility 519-867-2128
Fax 519-867-3886
Website…… www.stclairtownship.ca Civic Centre, 1155 Emily Street, Mooretown
Sandbags and sand available
St. Clair Township Council has approved emergency relief, free of charge, to residents of the township that are affected by the cur- rent flooding / high lake levels.
Sandbags and sand will be provided as follows:
A pile of bulk sand is located in the gravel parking lot
at the south end of Brander Park, 4555 St. Clair Parkway.
Please access the site from the driveway off Brander Park Road.
Empty sandbags will be available at this same site (next to sand pile) and will be stored inside a small storage bin. Residents may take up to a maximum of 500 per residential property and 1500 per commercial/industrial property.
Residents must fill and transport their own bags. Please bring a shovel. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this site will not be staffed.
Township staff will not provide further service. We do not fill, transport or remove sandbags.
The Beacon of St. Clair Township October 2020 Page 6
Please observe COVID-19 safety measures with masks and social distancing.
A detailed account of life in the former Moore Township in the early to mid 19th century is provided by John C. Geikie in his book Adventures in Canada; or, Life in the Woods [1882. Originally published in 1864 as George Stanley: or, Life in the Woods: A Boy’s Narrative of the Adventures of a Settler’s Family in Canada]. The following excerpts paint a picture of fall:
“The weather in the fall was delightful – better, I think, than in any other season of the year. Getting its name from the beginning of the fall of the leaves, this season lasts on ‘til winter pushes it aside. Day after day was bright and almost cloudless, and the heat had passed into a balmy mildness, which made the very feeling of being alive a pleasure. Every thing combined to make the landscape beautiful. The great resplendent river, flowing so softly it seemed scarce to move – its bosom a broad sheet of molten silver, on which clouds, and sky, and white sails, and even the further banks, with the houses, and fields, and woods, far back from the water, were painted as in a magic mirror – was a beautiful sight, of which we never tired; like the swans in St. Mary’s Loch, which, Wordsworth says, “float double, swan and shadow,” we had ships in as well as on the waters; and not a branch, not twig, nor leaf of the great trees, nor of the bushes, nor a touch in the open landscape, was wanting as we paddled along the shores, or looked across…
By the beginning of September, the first frosts had touched the trees, and the change of color in the leaves at once set in. It is only when this has taken place that the forests put on their greatest beauty; though, indeed, a feel- ing of sadness was always associated with these autumnal splendors, connected as they are, like the last colours of the dolphin, with thoughts of decay and death. With each day, after the change had commenced, the beauty in- creased. Each kind of tree — the oak, the elm, the beech, the ash, the birch, the walnut, and, above all, the maple – had its own hue, and every hue was lovely. Then there were the solemn pines, and tamaracks, and cedars, setting off the charms of their gayer brethren by their sober green, which at a distance looked almost black. The maple-leaf, the first to color, remained, throughout, the most beautiful, in its golden yellow and crimson. No wonder it has become to Canada what the shamrock is to Ireland, or the rose and the thistle, to England and Scotland.
The woods look finest, I think, when the tints are just beginning, and green, yellow, and scarlet are mingled in every shade of transition. But what sheets of golden flame they became after a time! Then every leaf had something of its own in which it differed from all others. Yonder, the colors blended together into pink of the brightest tint; then came a dash of lilac and blue, and, away by itself, a clump rose, like an islet, of glowing red gold. Lofty trees, and humble undergrowth, and climbing creepers – all alike owned the magic influence, and decked the landscape with every tint that can be borrowed from the light, till the whole looked like the scenery of some fairy tale. (reference pages 101 – 103 in Life In the Woods)
“We had a great deal of fun when our orchard got up a little, and when we were able to trade with our neighbors for fruit, in what they used to call “apple-paring bees.” The young folks of both sexes were invited for a given evening in the autumn, and came duly provided with apple-parers, which are ingenious contrivances, by which an apple, stuck on two prongs at one end, is pared by a few turns of the handle at the other. It is astonishing to see how quickly it is done. Nor is the paring all. The little machine makes a final thrust through the heart of the apple, and takes out the core, so as to leave nothing to do but to cut what remains in pieces. The object of all this paring is to get apples enough dried for tarts dur- ing winter, the pieces when cut being threaded in long strings, and hung up till they shrivel and get a leather-like look. When wanted for use, a little boiling makes them swell to their original size again, and bring back their softness. You may imagine how plentiful the fruit must be to make such a liberal use of it possible, as that which you see all through Canada. You can hardly go into any house
in the bush, however poor, without having a large bowl of “apple sass” set before you – that is, of apple boiled in maple sugar. The young folks make a grand night of it when the “bee” comes off. The laughing and frolic is unbounded; some are busy with their
This apple parer from the Moore Museum collec- tion was manufactured by Hudson and is marked Little Star. It was patented June 9, 1885.
sweethearts; some, of a grosser mind, are no less busy with the applies, devouring a large proportion of what they pare; and the whole proceedings, in many cases, wind up with a dance on the barn-floor.” (reference pages 326 to 327 in Life in the Woods).
Moore Museum seeks information about history of former Moore Twp. schools
Did you attend a school in the former Moore Township prior to 1963?
Moore Museum is developing another virtual exhibit for our website, this one featuring brief histories and photos of the schools in the former Moore Township prior to centralization in 1963. There were 19 school sections in Moore, four of which were union schools – two shared with Sombra Township and two with Sarnia Township. The map, shown above, indicates the location of these schools.
If you have information on the history of any of these schools, or photos (or scans of photos) that you would be willing to share with us, we’d love to hear from you. We would appreciate details about any school in the township, but especially School Sections #6, #13 and #19 Moore, as our research files contain some information for most of the school sections in the township, but we have no information at all for those three. Information can be sent to
lmason@stclairtownship.ca. We look forward to hearing from you!
Connect with Moore Museum
We want to hear from you. Please follow the link on the home page of www.mooremuseum.ca to our online sur- vey. We very much appreciate input from our community and, as a thanks for your assistance, survey respondents will be entered in a draw (to be held on November 13, 2020) to win a 2021 family membership and $25 gift shop gift certificate. In addition to our website and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mooremuseum, we are now also on Instagram @mooremuseum so you can watch for news from Moore Museum.
~Laurie Mason, curator, Moore Museum
Sombra Museum seeks information to document COVID-19 era
Working in a museum, we tend to be concerned about docu- menting and preserving the past, but right now we are living through an event that is unlike any we have experienced in the last century, if ever before, so the focus is very much on the pre- sent. So often, when looking through the archives we get very excited to find the shortest photo caption, post card, note, or on rare occasions, a diary recording daily life.
Looking for local accounts of the 1919 Spanish Flu pandemic and finding very little from the local perspective, we realized that we need our St. Clair Township residents to help us record and preserve memories of the present time for future genera- tions. What is going on day-to-day in Sombra, Wilkesport, Port Lambton, Mooretown, Lambton County, Canada, and elsewhere in the world?
Information we hope you will share includes:
* Shopping conditions and how they changed over time.
* Adapting to working at home, and any challenges or creative solut ions that were needed.
* Financial challenges.
* Feelings caused by the outbreak and thoughts about social distancing.
* Keeping children occupied during self-isolation.
* Keeping adults occupied during self-isolation.
* What new or newly rediscovered hobbies or crafts were taken up .
Jean Collective goal is to attract women into politics
The goal of the Jean Collective, a new Women in Politics initiative, is to attract more women into the political arena. Organizer Helen Cole, who ran for office in St. Thomas in 1991, says, “There is no question that running for council
was one of the best decisions of my life.”
The group held its first panel discussion on Sept. 24 with panel members Councillor Tracy Kingston (St. Clair Town- ship), Deputy Mayor Judy Krall (Enniskillen Township), and Anne Marie Gillis, (former councillor for the City of Sarnia).
The panel discussion, held online as a ZOOM event, ad-
* Stories from workers on the front lines and staffing essential services.
* Struggles of family members or friends infected with the virus.
* Stories of everyday heroes, i.e. people helping neighbours during self-isolation or people accepting inconveniences for the greater good.
* How daily life and routines have changed.
* For those who lived through the Great Depression, World War II, etc., are there similarities to those experiences?
* How social media and technology is impacting life in social isolation (using technology for the first time, using it differently).
Photos, videos, drawings, anecdotes, a few jotted thoughts – we want all the family-friendly material you feel comfortable sharing (no explicit material).
Submissions can be sent by email to:
sombramuseum@hotmail.com with the subject line “COVID-19 History Snapshot”.
Please share this request for community life memories with as many people as possible. We encourage everyone to docu- ment this time, if not to share publicly, then for yourself and your family to look back and reflect on in years to come.
Take care and be well.
~Kailyn Shepley, curator, Sombra Museum
dressed the joys and challenges of a woman’s life in poli- tics.
St. Clair Township Councillor Tracy Kingston says the discussion went well and many noteworthy points were made.
Ms. Cole says the Jean Collective is aimed at women who may feel they aren’t ready to enter politics or who feel they need help getting started. “If you want an understanding ear or someone to bounce ideas around, we are here for you,” she said. “Join us to learn more about our education program.
The next virtual ZOOM meeting will be held on Wednes- day, Oct. 21.
For more information, go online to: helencole@start.ca
or www.eventbrite.com/o/the-jean-collective-29056998091
The Beacon of St. Clair Township October 2020 Page 10
Welcome to the virtual brigden fair review!
Aerial view of evening on the Brigden Fair midway – A Devon & Taylor Maw photo
Continued on page 11
From page 10
You could win two adult passes to your choice of a Moore Agricultural Society event by answering these Brigden Fair-related trivia questions cor-
rectly. When you have completed these questions, please send your answers to
homecraft@brigdenfair.ca
Answers to these questions and the winner will be announced in the November Beacon.
Contest closes October 19, 2020.
Crowds gather on a cool Thanksgiving weekend to take in a show at the Brigden Fair.
3) What breed of heavy horse was he?
a. Belgian b. Clydesdale
1) What was the name of the tavern where Moore Agricultural Society (MAS) started in 1850?
a. Balmoral b. Reilly’s c. Basswood
2) Moore Agricultural Society once owned a breeding stallion. What was his name?
a. Lucky Boy b. Big Ben c. Golden Gift
c. Percheron
4) In 1889, 15 acres were purchased in Brigden by some businessmen for the fair to have a permanent location. What was the purchase price?
$1,000 b. $2,500 c. $5,000
5) What date did the women volunteers organize and become a division of MAS with their own executive?
a. 1958 b. 1960 c. 1965
6) When was the first Queen of the Fair contest held at Brigden Fair? And who won?
Past Brigden Fair Ambassadors
7) Which year was the title Queen of the Fair changed to Ambassador of the Fair to include males?
8) When was the exhibition hall built?
a. 1978 b. 1979 c. 1984
9) An addition including new washrooms was completed on the Exhibition Hall in what year?
a. 1986 b. 1990 c. 1996
10) What is the official name of the Statue that is nicknamed the “Ploughman”?
a. Farmer Bob b. Early Morning Down on the Farm c. Harvest in the Country
11) What is another nickname given to the Ploughman statue that Muriel McCallum hated?
a. Big Bill b. Farmer Jack c. Brigden Bob
12) The Ploughman became the property of MAS in 1987. Who was the artist?
a. John David b. Bill Smith c. Bill David
13) Brigden Fair became a three-day fair in which year? a. 1960 b. 1970 c. 1973
14) Who was the first woman President of the Moore Agricultural Society?
15) In what year did Brigden Fair become a four-day fair?
a. 1980 b. 1985 c. 1990
16) What was the name of the official Brigden Fair office cat?
Brigden Fair volunteer helps student visitor to Agriculture In the Class- room use an old- fashioned planting tool.
Continued on page 12
The Beacon of St. Clair Township October 2020 Page 12
Continued from page 11
a. Puddles b. Bridget c. Queenie
17) In what year did MAS purchase its first computer?
a. 1980 b. 1987 c. 1992
18) When was the first tractor pull held at the Brigden Fairgrounds?
a. 1980 b. 1984 c. 1987
19) When did the pilot project “Agriculture in the Classroom” start?
a. 1985 b. 1987 c. 1990
Excited midway crowds add to the exciting atmosphere of the Brigden Fair.
The Brigden Fair kitchen turns out food that is always a hit with fair-goers. The secret to the fine quality of those edibles
lies in the fine quality of the kitchen staff.
20) What structure was built n 1988-89, from a legacy left by Bill Moore?
a. Junior building b. Main entry gates c. Coliseum
21) How did John Ford Trucking spread the word across Ontario about Brigden Fair?
22) Which building lost its roof /covering during a wind storm in the late
70’s early 80’s?
a. administration building b. cattle Barn c. poultry barn
23) How much was the fair secretary paid in 1913?
a. $20/year b. $30/year c. $50/year
24) How much was the fair secretary paid in 1949?
a. $100/year b. $200/year
c. $300/year
25) Which Brigden Fair Ambassador was chosen as part of a Canadian National Ex- hibition Ambassador Court? And in what year?
a. Jessica Robinson Riedl b.Katie O’Brien
c. Jory Fulcher
26) Four individuals have been President of both the Homecraft and Main Board Divisions. Can you name at least 2 of them?
27) What is the name of the clown that has been part of over 100 parades at Brigden Fair?
a. Howdy Dowdy b. Windy c. Brigden Billy
28) Who is the midway provider at Brigden Fair?
29) What is Mayor Steve Arnold’s favourite piece of pie from the Ladies Fair Kitchen on fair weekend?
a. Pecan b. Lemon c. Pumpkin
30) How many volunteers does it take to ensure success at the Brigden Fair?
Continued from page 12
Moore Agricultural Society President’s summer report
Where has the summer gone?
This is a question many of us, thinking we had very little to do when the pandemic and self-isolation hit, are now asking ourselves. Despite it all, the last long weekend of summer has suddenly come and gone. In spite, or to spite, all of our hopes, it has flown by.
At this time of the year, Moore Agricultural Society is usually going into high gear to prepare for an upcoming fair, but not this year. All we can do is continue to prepare for next year, and that is what the Board of Directors are do- ing.
As you may have noticed, there is a lot of fill material being brought into the fair grounds. This material has been donated by Cope Construction, and the machines being used to level that top soil are also from Cope Construction. We have had the pleasure of working with Cope in the past and have enjoyed a great relationship with this local com- pany. We appreciate that it has helped shape Lambton County, the Chemical Valley, and the City of Sarnia, having worked in this area since the 1890’s. Projects Cope has been involved with include the first phase of Highway 402, the Highway 40 relocation, and numerous others; now they are helping us to reshape our precious Brigden fairgrounds. MAS would like to extend a big “Thank You” to COPE Construction.
We apologize to our neighbours for any dust that has been blowing around due to the dry weather and to the trucks delivering the fill material. Once all of this work is complete, the areas will all be seeded and the dust should be a thing of the past.
Other projects that we anticipate completing this year include: re-aligning at least one of our interior roads; put- ting a new trussed-steel roof over the main office; and doing some much-needed repairs to the Ploughman’s Kitchen sewer and roof. These are necessary repairs that can be completed while we have very little activity around the fair- grounds.
The board members of Moore Agricultural Society have been meeting on a regular basis (virtual for a time and now in person) in order to ensure that we all know what is happening and that we are all pulling in the same direction.
We are all looking forward to next year’s fair being as big and exciting as we have ever had. All of our buildings will be in pristine condition and ready to welcome all fair patrons. We are looking forward to seeing each and every one of you at the 2021 BRIGDEN FAIR.
Stay safe and stay healthy.
Malcolm Rogers, President
Brigden Fair / Moore Agricultural Society fundraiser supports fair and offers jackpot
The gloomy prospect of having no community fall fairs this year has prompted the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions to launch an online 50/50 draw to raise funds that will bene- fit the organizations that operate these events. The Moore Agricultural Society (Brigden Fair) is one of the organizations participating in the CAFÉ Online 50/50 draw.
Those wishing to support the fair can simply buy a numbered ticket good for a whole year. At the time of purchase, you will be able to tell the purchase
agent that you would like to support
the Moore Agricultural Society (Brigden
Fair).
With the ticket, you can play your number every week and if you win, the “pot” for that week will be split be- tween you and the Brigden Fair. If you do not want to play your number on any given week and your number is drawn,
the money from that draw will be added to the next week’s ‘pot’and for every $2 ticket purchased in support of the Brigden Fair, the fair will receive 80 cents whether the purchaser wins the pot or not.
This is the first of the ideas the MAS board of directors is working on. MAS Home Craft President Michelle Evanitski says other ideas are being considered. “The board of directors has some ideas in the works for activities and events both online and in-person, and we hope we can count on community support when we announce these plans,” she said.
For more information or to get tick- ets, go online to:
https://cafe.thelottofactory.com/
Continued on page 14
Continued from page 13
Second Term for Brigden Fair Ambassador
I have absolutely loved being the 2019-2020 Brigden Fair Ambassador. From the amazing volunteers, visitors and lots of other wonderful people, it has been lovely to meet and spend time with everyone along the way! Due to Covid-19 cancelling this year’s fair, I will be remaining the Brigden Fair Ambassador for another year (2019-2021).
I am honoured to be invited to stay on as ambassador for another year, and I look forward to whatever this new year has in store!
Thank you to the amazing people who have helped me grow into my role as an ambassador, and for all the love and support I have received over the last year.
I look forward to when we can all gather together again..
Melody Riedl Brigden Fair Ambassador
2019 – 2021
2019-2021 Ambassador Melody Riedl clowning around with Windy.
FOSCR photo contest yielding proof of river improvement
As the Friends of the St. Clair River photo contest comes to an end, FOSCR President Craig Griffiths says the results are encouraging. “We are getting some really beautiful photos,” he said. “They really illustrate how the environmental health of the river has improved over the past 30 years.
Entries from the photo contest, which ended on Sept. 26, have been displayed on the FOSCR website. Mr. Griffiths notes the photos show how much the river has changed for the better since the 1970s and 80s when 14 Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) were iden- tified as areas of environmental challenges caused by pollution and degraded environ- mental quality.
“The river had a number of BUIs that had to be addressed,” he said. “Spills to the riv- er were frequent, habitat was lost to development and agriculture, and the use of the river for swimming and fishing was compromised.” Since that time, eight are now consid- ered “not impaired”. As a result, beaches are cleaner, local species of fish and wildlife are rebounding, and the river’s aesthetic beauty has greatly improved.
EarlyON Child and Family Centres
The Early ON Child and Family Centres Sarnia- Lambton is a free family drop-in program operated by Sombra Township Child Care Inc. for families with children ages 0 to 6.
Best Start Hub – Riverview Central School
3926 St. Clair Parkway, Port Lambton, 519-892-3151
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday, & Thursday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Best Start Hub – St. Joseph’s School, Corunna
535 Birchbank Drive, Corunna , 519-862-5071, ext. 224
Hours of Operation: Monday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
& 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Brigden United Church, 2420 Jane Street, Brigden 519-892-3151
Hours of Operation: Friday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For a complete listing of hours and parent/caregiver workshops, go online to: www.ontarioearlyyears.ca .
St. Clair Fire Department is urging everyone in to take some simple steps to prevent kitchen fires in their home. This year’s theme of Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 4 -10, is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”
The theme is very timely as cooking fires continue to be the leading cause of home fires in Ontario. It fo- cuses on the prevention of cooking fires and staying fire safe in the kitchen.
Simple steps to serve up fire safety in the kitchen include:
* Always stay in the kitchen when cooking and turn off the stove if you must leave the kitchen.
* Keep a proper fitting lid near the stove. If a pot of oil catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove. Do not move the pot. Never throw water on a burning pot.
* Keep anything that burns – plastic utensils, dishcloths, paper towels – a safe distance from the stove.
* Cook responsibly. To prevent cooking fires, you must be alert. You will not be alert if you have con- sumed alcohol or drugs.
* Wear tight-fitting or rolled up sleeves when using the stove. Loose, dangling clothing can easily catch fire.
* Keep young kids one metre away from the stove. Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge so they can’t be easily knocked off.
* If you burn yourself while cooking, run cool water over the wound for three to five minutes. If the burn is severe, seek medical attention.
Cooking happens in homes every day, and it must be done responsibly to ensure it is done safely. It is your responsibility to protect yourself and your family from fire. Always remain alert and stay in the kitchen while cooking.
The following sessions are being offered at the Rapids Family Health Team clinic located in the Shell Health Cen- tre, 233 Cameron Street, Corunna. There is no charge for participation and all classes are open to the public – no phy-
sician referral required. You must register to participate. Please note space is limited.
For more information go to www.rapidsfhteam.ca or to register call 519-339-8949 and speak to reception.
Healthy Eating and YOU
A series of four sessions, each lasting two hours. The aim of the program is to help you make permanent lifestyle changes; this is not a “diet” program. You will set your own healthy eating and physical activity goals, and learn how to make plans for achieving them. Some topics that will be discussed include:
• Carbohydrates, protein and fats (the good and the bad)
• Physical activity: What types and amounts are benefi- cial
• Emotional eating strategies
• Sensible portions and portion control strategies
• Group discussions will help you learn from others ex-
periences.
This four-week series is planned for Wednesdays begin- ning Oct. 7 from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
FREE Cooking Classes: Love Your Heart – Eat Smart!
These classes focus on nutrition advice to reduce your risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
This three-week series will be held held on Thursdays beginning Oct. 1 from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
FREE Cooking Classes: Dining with Diabetes
These classes are geared for anyone looking to prevent or manage their diabetes or support a loved one diagnosed with diabetes. We’ll explore some delicious recipes to help manage your blood sugar.
This four-week series will be repeated twice through the year.
The next series is slated for Wednesdays Nov. 18, 25, Dec 2 & 9 from 10 a.m. to noon.
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LAB OPEN
Just a reminder that our lab
is open weekdays for all residents Monday to Friday –
7:30a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Note: These events, services, and activities will be dependent on COVID-19 restrictions in effect At the time.
Sacred Heart food bank –
Autumn food drive planned
The community side effects of the coronavirus have resulted in constant need for supplies at our community food banks. In an effort to keep the shelves adequately stocked in the challenging autumn season, the Sacred Heart food bank is currently in the middle of an early food drive that will continue to run through November. The collection area is divided into five zones, two of which were completed in September. Collection will continue in the remaining three zones, Zones 3, 4, and 5, every two weeks through the fall covering the area bordered by Kimball Road at Holt Line south to Whitebread Line.
All volunteers will be observing the required precautions to keep them and our donors safe. More information about dates and times, see page 20.
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St. Andrew’s foodbank remains open
Although St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is closed for worship services due to the COVID-19 emergency closure, the food bank at St. Andrew’s Church on Col- borne Street in Corunna every Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and every Thursday morning from 9 a.m. to noon. It operates in association with the Inn of the Good Shepherd in Sarnia.
The food bank offers a variety of food products to help people eat healthily, including milk, eggs, bread, and meat. The fresh food supplied at the food bank costs ap- proximately $75 per week to purchase. Anyone wishing to make a financial donation to the food bank can do so through Food Bank, C/O St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 437 Colborne Drive, Corunna, Ontario, N0N 1G0. Gift cards to Foodland and No Frills are also welcome.
Donations of non-perishable items are always wel- come. These include not only food, but household sup- plies like laundry soap, household cleaners, and toilet tissue, and personal hygiene items like toothbrushes, soap and shampoo, deodorant, and shaving items.
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Well water safety remains a concern during high water levels
Lambton Public Health (LPH) is encouraging residents with private water wells to test their water supply about
three to four times per year, and also in the event of the well being flooded by excessive rainfall or high water lev- els. Harmful bacteria may enter the drinking water supply making it unsafe for consumption.
If your well is flooded, it should be disinfected and tested as soon as the water recedes and at one-week in- tervals for three weeks afterwards to ensure the water is safe for drinking. The test for bacteria (total coliform and
E. coli) and water sample kits are free. Water samples must be dropped off within 24 hours of being taken. Local drop-off centres are at Lambton Public Health, 160 Ex- mouth Street, Point Edward, and at Bluewater Health CEE lab, 450 Blanche Street in Petrolia. (Please note there may have been changes to the way samples are received. For a full schedule of access times for these locations, as well as resources on how to take a water sample, visit LambtonPublicHealth.ca
During the COVID-19 pandemic, access restrictions are in place. Please call before visiting the office. Learn more about testing options at Lambtonpubli-
chealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/service-changes/
Volunteers needed for telephone support
Now more than ever, volunteers are being sought to provide check-in calls to seniors through the Tel-Check program. Volunteers are also needed to staff the Distress Line to ensure that when people reach out to this tele- phone help line, their call will be answered. For more information or to volunteer, call Donna at the Family Counselling Centre, 519-336-0120. This service is funded by the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton.
St. Joseph-St. Charles Catholic Church Community to participate in food program The St. Joseph-St. Charles’ Catholic Community in Co-
runna, along with the Catholic churches in Petrolia, For- est, and Watford, has worked collaboratively with the Boys and Girls Club of Sarnia-Lambton to extend Project Backpack, a food assistance program, into Lambton Coun- ty. The program provides a bag of nutritious food that can be easily assembled to people ages 14-24 who are in need of a healthy meal. Each bag also contains hygiene items and helpful information from community partners. People who qualify for this program can find these bags at the St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish office at 346 Beresford Street in Corunna during regular office hours (Monday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday-Thursday from 9
a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). Program organizers say the program will continue into the fall and they hope to continue it as long as there is a need for it.
New members welcome –
Lambton County Junior Optimist Club
The Lambton County Junior Optimist Club is always on the lookout for youth who want to make a difference in their community. Club members ages 10 through 18 vol- unteer in the community and fundraise to put on their own programs and to donate to other youth programs. Hours spent volunteering with the club can be used to- ward members’ volunteer hours at school. The club meets the first Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at the
See More Community Contact, page 17
From page 16 gram line, placing daily calls to seniors and persons
Courtright Community Centre. For more information, call Mary Lou at 519-862-3950.
Down River Junior Optimist Club new members ages 10-18
New members are being sought for the Down River Jr. Optimist Club. Youth between the ages of 10 and 18 are invited to get involved with the community and make a difference for kids. The club meets at the Port Lambton Community Hall on the third Monday of each month. High school students can acquire volunteers hours needed for graduation. For more information, call Carla at 226-402-3870.
Local TOPS weight control group meetings
Local TOPS weight control groups can be contacted for information as follows: Brigden—519-864-1865; Co- runna-519-381-5584. People of all ages are welcome to attend.
with disabilities who live alone and are feeling iso- lated. To register or to find out more about this effort, call Donna at the Family Counselling Cen- tre, 519-336-0120, ext. 251.
Good listeners wanted –
Family Counselling Centre
Good listeners are needed by the Family Counselling Centre to staff the Distress Line, speaking with individ- uals who need support and need to feel connected. Volunteers are also needed to staff the Tel-Check pro-
MAS event to be rescheduled as restrictions ease
As coronavirus mitigation measures continue to reduce the viral threat to Lambton County and Sarnia residents, we are witnessing the cautious science-based reopening of our community. The recent move to Stage 3 has raised hopes that some popular community events and activities may soon be able to restart.
The Moore Agricultural Society’s popular beef dinner, which was cancelled in March, is one of the events that may be rescheduled to later this year if the appropriate “gathering restrictions” are approved. Everyone who purchased tickets for the March beef dinner is asked to hold their tickets for a future date, even if it is in 2021. When the date is set, MAS is looking at refunding the ticket price for those who cannot attend.
For more information as the situation changes, watch the Brigden Fair website at:
www.brigdenfair.ca or the Brigden Fair Facebook page.
Wanted: Motivated youth looking for rewarding challenges
The Royal Canadian “1st Hussars” Army Cadet Corps Petrolia invites boys and girls ages 12-18 to learn new skills, marks- manship, orienteering, hiking, leadership, pipes and drum band, and teamwork, participate in many new challenges, make new friends and attend great summer camps, all at no cost. Cadets are not required to join the military. Join us today! For more in- formation, call 519-332-6555 or visit: www.petroliacadets.com
St. Andrew’s Corunna food bank receives much-appreciated community support
When St. Andrews Corunna decided to temporarily shut down due to the COVID pandemic back in early March 2020, it was decided to allow the food bank to remain open. The Lambton Public Health Unit contacted us early in the pandemic and after reviewing our operat- ing procedures, made a sizeable financial donation to the food bank to support nutritious snacks for school- aged children who were no longer able to participate in the healthy snack programs in the local schools.
Since the COVID pandemic prompted the provincial state of emergency in mid March, we have serviced 50 different local client families. Eighteen of those client families we have only seen once during the pandemic, but the remaining families have been to see us multiple times.
Our client families come primarily from between Lasalle Line in the north to as far south as Port Lambton and Walpole Island, and from the river on the west over as far east as Mandaumin Road. We are there for families from anywhere if they show up at our door asking for assistance.
The community has been extremely supportive during this difficult time. The Corunna Foodland has been oper- ating a grocery delivery service for those who are not able to or don’t feel safe doing their own grocery shop- ping. Foodbank volunteers have been involved in this program from its start, donating their time, vehicles and gas to deliver the groceries. Today the foodbank volun- teers continue to support this program and will continue to do so as long as Foodland offers it. Foodland custom-
ers make dona- tions through Foodland when paying for their groceries and those donations are directed to the foodbank in the form of Foodland gift
have noticed the extra food, cleaning and hygiene prod- ucts available and everyone is extremely grateful.
Our community has also reached out through many other programs. Captain Kidd Days organized a food drive that provided about $900 in non-perishable food donations. Robb’s No Frills made a $1,200 cash donation in addition to continuing to sell the foodbank lean ground beef in one-pound packages for $2.70 per pound – a significant discount versus any alternatives we were able to find. The local Cattle Farmers Association made a donation of 100 pounds of ground beef. Snack for Sum- mer has provided us with healthy snacks for school aged children. Some local teachers have made cash donations to support our foodbank. The Sarnia Pickleball Associa- tion has donated food and money to our foodbank. Shell Canada employees made a sizeable cash donation to the foodbank. The Royal Canadian Legion Corunna Branch
447 has made a cash donation, and Lambton Public Health has directed multiple donations our way.
Many individuals and families in our community have also reached out with generous donations of groceries and cash, all of which we continue to need and use to keep our clients supplied with fresh healthy groceries and cleaning and hygiene supplies.
Please help us spread the news about our foodbank
– to those who might offer help and support, we can always use donations. And to those who might need our assistance, we are open and currently stocked with many of the essentials needed to keep a house- hold functioning healthily and safely during this ongo- ing COVID crisis.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in, and donated to, our foodbank.
Be well, wash your hands, wear a mask, and know you are loved.
Charles Mortley-Wood, Foodbank Volunteer and Coordinator
Rob’s No-Frills is one of the generous local businesses that have helped keep the food bank shelves stocked during the pandemic.
Submitted photo
cards. To date, this pro- gram has pro- vided $12,530 in gift cards to
the foodbank. So far, $11,580.56 has been spent to pur- chase groceries for the Corunna foodbank and the Inn of the Good Shepherd in Sarnia. The foodbank customers
COVID-19 requirements affect Operation Christmas Tree donations
As in past years, businesses and residents of our com- munity generously supported Operation Christmas Tree (OCT) during the 2019 campaign. We will be asking for that same support for the 2020 OCT campaign as the need will be even greater due to the negative effects the COVID
-19 pandemic continues to have on the community.
To comply with COVID-19 protocol, we are currently asking for donations of money or gift cards from Foodland or No Frills. For those who are unfamiliar with our charity, Opera- tion Christmas Tree serves those in need who live in an area bordered by LaSalle Road East to Mandaumin Road, south on Bickford Line, and west to the river, which is known as Ward 1. All donations stay within this area helping our local food bank, providing special hampers to the area’s less fortunate families and individuals at Christmas, and providing monetary support to house fire victims.
Canned goods may be dropped off only at the Emergency Services Building, corner of Hill Street and Lyndoch Street in
Corunna, (please use the Hill Street entrance). Registra- tion dates have been set as Nov. 2-7 and Nov. 9-14 be- tween the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each week. Our delivery date to qualifying recipients will Dec 12th. COVID-19 protocol will be observed for the protection of our volunteers and the public. After these registration dates, donation times may change and will be posted at
the Hill Street entrance. The tentative final date for donations will be Dec. 18 but updates may be made through The Beacon or the new Operation Christmas Tree site – St Clair Township Facebook page!
On a sad note, the annual Poor Boy Lunch kickoff fund rais- er, provided by the Royal Canadian Legion Corunna Br. 447 has been cancelled this year due to COVID-19.
Donations can be mailed to: Operation Christmas Tree, Box 32, Corunna, Ont., N0N 1G0.
Stan Marsh President, Operation Christmas Tree
RCL Corunna Branch 447 10th Annual Elimination Draw results
Elimination Draw Results September 19, 2020
Elimination Draw Results Weekly Winners
Ticket # Winner
Ticket# 267
011
Winner John McKechnie Barb Montgomery
$2,400 199 Dave Yorke ~ Grand Prize
Winner
Note: Due to restrictions required to comply with COVID-19 protocols, the 20 Legion Elimi- nation Draws were all held on Sept. 12, 2020. Each winner was awarded $40. The usual award of $20 was increased because the accumulating weekly draw was not possible.
A group of young turkeys take in some rays on a sun- ny afternoon at Franz tur- key farm on Plank Road.
Stevenson photo
Special early food bank collection in Ward 2
COVID-19 “long haul syndrome” being studied
If you needed another reason to steer clear of COVID- 19, here’s one you might find especially compelling. Many COVID-19 victims, from seniors to children, even those who do not initially show symptoms, are becoming “long haulers”, meaning they are now experiencing dis- tressing, often severe, long-term after-effects of the virus.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the novel coronavirus can not only cause serious illness during first infection, it can also cause lasting damage to the body. Long-term effects of the virus can include: joint pain, persistent fever, brain fog, inability to con- centrate, inflammation in the brain and heart, clotting in the heart and other organs, and chronic fatigue.
This new side of the COVID-19 virus, coupled with the onset of fall and winter, when the flu and other viral infections normally become a problem, has made it more important than ever to observe the safety protocol (see poster below) we have all become familiar with. And as the cold weather forces us to spend more time indoors, it will be easier for disease to spread.
Until more is known about this mysterious virus, we owe it to ourselves, our neighbours, and our community to stay well, no matter what your age, your state of health, or your opinion of the COVID-19 safety protocol
This is not a political issue; the virus isn’t picky about who it infects, so please ‘mask up’ and stay well.
