The record, 7 décembre 2021, mardi 7 décembre 2021

[" T H E V O I C E O F T H E E A S T E R N T O W N S H I P S S I N C E 18 9 7 T H E New Townshippers\u2019 executive director Page 7 National Assembly Report Page 6 $1.00 + taxes PM#0040007682 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Joffre Bridge encampment comes down No sign of community spread so far for Omicron in Quebec By Gordon Lambie Quebec\u2019s provincial institute of public health published its analysis of the new Omicron variant on Monday, stating that there is no indication that the new virus strain is experiencing community transmission in the province at this time.Despite the detection of a ?rst case in a returning traveller last week, the INSPQ data shows no sign of any additional spread so far.Omicron is considered to be a variant of concern because of the number of mutations it has compared to the original strain of the virus that was detected, some of which have been associated with an increased likelihood of infection and increased resistance to immune response.The INSPQ report notes, however, that there is not yet enough reliable data on the new variant to con?rm either of these possibilities.There were 502 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Eastern Townships over the weekend, bringing the total number of cases in the region since the start of the pandemic to 21,128, with 1,399 active cases.Close to half of those new cases were in Sherbrooke, where GEOFF AGOMBAR By Geoff Agombar Local Journalism Initiative Starting around 9 a.m.Monday morning, city trucks and workers began their work of dismantling and carting away the encampment under Joffre Bridge in Sherbrooke.As rain fell throughout the day, camp residents, media cameras, police, neighbours, locals, and street social workers cycled through and watched and talked as the workers pulled down walls and loaded the pieces into trucks.Tents were emptied into piles, piles were dumped onto ?attened tents, and dragged across to trucks and trailers as the camp slowly disappeared.Few camp residents remain.Those who have come to watch the camp come down say they have found a spot in an apartment.Or, they will go back to camping in the woods across the river.Or, back to sleeping on cardboard in an underground parking lot nearby.Or, to a squat.Or, they haven\u2019t decided yet but probably to the shelter tonight so they can start warm and showered tomorrow as they scout their next spot to camp out.By mid-afternoon, the street-side half of the camp is gone, except for one of the ?repit cans which was sunk several feet into the ground.That will require more than elbow grease to CONT\u2019D ON PAGE 3 CONT\u2019D ON PAGE 5 PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 2 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Ben by Daniel Shelton The Record e-edition There for you 24-hours-a-day 7-days-a-week.Wherever you are.Access the full edition of the Sherbrooke Record as well as special editions and 30 days of archives.Renew or order a new 12-month print subscription and get a 12-month online subscription for an additional $5 or purchase the online edition only for $125.00 Record subscription rates (includes Quebec taxes) For print subscription rates, please call 819-569-9528 or email us at billing@sherbrookerecord.com 12 month web only: $125.00 1 month web only: $11.25 Web subscribers have access to the daily Record as well as archives and special editions.Subscribing is as easy as 1,2,3: 1.Visit the Record website: www.sherbrookerecord.com 2.Click e-edition.3.Complete the form and wait for an email activating your online subscription.Weather TODAY: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS HIGH -4 LOW -12 WEDNESDAY: SCATTERED FLURRIES HIGH -4 LOW -8 THURSDAY: CLOUDY WITH SUNNY BREAKS HIGH -3 LOW -6 FRIDAY: SCATTERED FLURRIES HIGH 4 LOW 1 SATURDAY: LIGHT RAIN HIGH 9 LOW 1 The ?rst week of December I try to remember to dedicate this column to those of you who are not looking forward to the holiday season.Sometimes the reasons are old, and it\u2019s been a while since it felt right, sometimes the reasons are new, or unexpected even, sometimes it isn\u2019t that you don\u2019t want to celebrate, it\u2019s just that you don\u2019t know how, and maybe this year it\u2019s because there is a presence that is missing in the strange meeting of dark and light of this time of year.When those of you 9-5\u2019ing it experience wakings and returnings in the wet and dark.It\u2019s cozy, but man it also takes a toll as you squint down the road to and from your destinations, wipers rubbing back and forth, in what feels like such long nights.There could be so many reasons that the holidays are a bit rough this year, and it\u2019s okay to shine a light on those cracks \u2013 Leonard Cohen sang that \u2018there is a crack in everything, that\u2019s how the light gets in\u2019, and sometimes we can\u2019t quite ?nd the power to shine, but we can let a little of it in.Maybe you\u2019ve been working in an industry hit hard by COVID and it feels like things never stop; and as a result it\u2019s hard to imagine relaxing and enjoying almost anything these days.Maybe responsibility is heavy, and you feel like you\u2019re carrying everyone like a giant stack of presents, and it keeps wobbling, and you know a little how Atlas felt, holding up the world.Maybe you\u2019re worried about your health, and you\u2019re not quite sure what to do.Maybe you\u2019ve kind of been avoiding what you know you need to do.Maybe it\u2019s tough to ?nd the motivation to do what you know you have to do.Maybe you look in the mirror sometimes and think of all of these things, and it just feels a little bit like being really tired, or that it is hard in ways you can\u2019t quite explain.Maybe you have moved, and, well, it doesn\u2019t feel quite the same.And you\u2019re trying to make the best of it, but the walls are different and the smells are different, and the people are different, and you feel a bit like your Christmas compass is off, because the rituals are also different.Maybe you had a really upsetting experience with someone you were close to, and it shifted the de?nition of who the two of you are together.Maybe that has cast a shadow over what is usually shared and celebratory, and you aren\u2019t sure you want to share it with them, because you might sort of want to kick them in the pants.(NOTE: Don\u2019t kick them in the pants.) Maybe you lost a pet.Like lost them and don\u2019t know where they are, or they had to live with someone else, or lost them and you were there with them when it happened, and perhaps it was sudden or maybe it was planned and no matter which of those it is, that is hard, because the purity of a pet\u2019s strange love or hyper love, or their own weird brand of love was for you, and that grief is a challenge.Maybe you lost a job.And it has made the already rather whack nature of the holidays worrisome in terms of the expectations of those around you \u2013 you\u2019re not sure how to get things under the tree or what is going to happen next, and perhaps you weren\u2019t there long, or maybe you were there for a while, and that part of you doesn\u2019t have time to settle as the time approaches.Maybe someone won\u2019t be there this year and your heart just doesn\u2019t feel right about it, even if they might be happily adventuring in a way they need to right now.Maybe you already feel homesick for them.Maybe you just feel funny.Like funny in that you want to enjoy it, but you\u2019re not sure where to get that ?re lit inside, where the chestnuts will roast in the warmth of your heart (chestnuts \u2013 you get it?), where you\u2019ve felt that shift that Scrooge does when that third and ?nal ghosts scares the living nightlights out of him and snaps him out of his greed.You sort of want the ghosts around, it would at least make things interesting.Maybe some big changes happened this year, and boy, even though there are some really good things about the transition, it still tore a strip off of you.Perhaps you\u2019re a bit worn out from all of the newness.Maybe you would just like a little more of the familiar.It\u2019s okay to feel all of these things, any of these things.It\u2019s okay to pine.It\u2019s okay to worry.It\u2019s okay to hurt.It\u2019s okay to tell uncomfortable truths.It\u2019s okay to walk the elephants in the room once in a while (it stops them from pooping on the couch).It\u2019s okay to feel heartache and it\u2019s okay to not know how to ?nd the energy to rally around and make the season bright, especially as we wonder what the new rules will be.But somewhere in there, there is a little bit of light.Somewhere there is a little Cindy Lou Who, a little tiny ray, an errant silver sheen that is glinting on the ceiling, and maybe within it there is a thread for you to tug on gently, and maybe that thread will start a tiny bit of undoing that might relieve some of that pressure you are experiencing.This is the Blue Christmas Edition of Dishpan Hands, and it is dedicated to you.As we go into these weeks that seem like a whirlwind of things that most of us struggling to really completely embrace, here\u2019s to the tiny, almost invisible threads \u2013 but oh, there it is.Grasp it, between your ?nger and thumb.Know that for this moment you\u2019re not thinking about the thing that has been weighing so heavy.Give it a pull.It\u2019s going to be okay, even if it doesn\u2019t feel okay.(And if you really don\u2019t feel okay, it\u2019s okay to call 811, and to say you need to talk to someone, because there is something bothering you, and a person on the other end of the line will listen.There are people who speak English as well.) Let\u2019s start with a wish now.A wish for tiny threads that undo what they are supposed to, and that in those slivers of light, there is hope.It\u2019s ok not to be ok this season Sheila Quinn Dishpan Hands PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 3 Local News There were 76 schools in the Eastern Townships on the province\u2019s list of schools with at least one case of Covid within the last 14 days, as of last Friday.the rate of transmission remained high compared to the provincial average, but well below that of the Des Sources region.There were 17 people hospitalised in the region on Monday, eight of whom were in intensive care.According to breakdown of new cases by age group for the week of Nov.28 to Dec.4, there were 1,122 new cases reported overall, at an average of about 160 new cases per day.Of that total, 377 were in children aged 5-11, which is more than twice the number in any other single category.Re?ecting the ongoing concentration of cases in the younger population, the closure of the Desranleau School in Sherbrooke that was announced last week was extended on Monday, with the local school service centre indicating that more time is needed to help control the spread of the virus within the school community.A return to class is now expected at the school for Dec 13.There were 76 schools in the Eastern Townships on the province\u2019s list of schools with at least one case of Covid within the last 14 days, as of last Friday.The Province of Québec reported 1,189 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of people infected to 455,825, with 10,272 active cases.There were two new deaths recorded, for a total of 11,589 since the start of the pandemic.The number of hospitalizations increased to 226, an increase of seven compared to the previous day.The number of people in intensive care also increased, reaching 62.Just over 25 per cent of children 5-11 in the Townships had received a ?rst dose of vaccine as of Monday, just slightly behind the provincial rate of 28 per cent.CONT\u2019D FROM PAGE 1 Covid Sherbrooke Police Briefs Record Staff Sherbrooke Police (SPS) are advising the public that someone is stealing catalytic converters, primarily in the Rock-Forest and St-Elie sectors.No speci?c model of vehicle is being targeted, but a large number of complaints have been ?led in recent weeks.A 40-year-old man recently received three ?nes for refusing to wear a mask inside of the Dépanneur 4 saisons in Fleurimont.The ?nes were issued after an employee called the police.The mother of an 11-month-old baby was ?ned for leaving her child unsupervised in a car.The baby was spotted by a passerby, who then called the police.The responding of?cers then removed the uninjured child from the unlocked car.The ?ne stems from the fact that it is a violation of Quebec\u2019s highway safety code to leave a child under the age of seven unsupervised in a vehicle.With the coming of the holiday season, The SPS have also started to carry out roadblocks to check for drivers under the in?uence of drugs or alcohol.Over the weekend 300 vehicles were stopped by the police, but no arrests were made.The SPS is reminding the public to take advantage of taxi services, designated drivers, and the Operation Nez Rouge drive-home service as positive alternatives to drinking and driving.The Police are also seeking the public\u2019s help in identifying two suspects in an early morning break in at the Dépanneur on St-Elie Road in the middle of last month.According to information provided by the SPS, a signi?cant number of cigarettes were stolen from the store just after 3 a.mon Nov.15.One of the two suspects sought, who committed the break-in and theft, was wearing a red hoodie and red running shoes, pale blue jeans, blue surgical gloves, a black balaclava and a Halloween mask.The other remained behind in the vehicle.Anyone who may have information about the break-in is encouraged to contact agent Vicky Simard at 819-823- 8000, extension 4364.School bus tips over in Stukely-Sud Record Staff A school bus slid off the road on Chemin Lefebvre in Stukely- Sud Monday morning, as road conditions were less than ideal for motorists in Quebec following the province\u2019s ?rst signi?cant snowfall of the winter season.According to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), there were a dozen students on the bus at the time of the accident, however, there were no serious injuries when of?cers arrived at the scene.An SQ communications of?cer could not con?rm where the bus was heading on Monday.There was at least one police cruiser to check in on the situation, but the communications of?cer did not know how many of?cers were there at the scene.The cruiser also slid off the road, and a towing operation was underway within the hour.Record Staff There is work planned this week that will cause traf?c disruptions on both the east and west ends of King Street in Sherbrooke.Beginning Tuesday, Dec 7 at 8 a.m.and lasting until the end of the day on Thursday, King Street East will see slow-downs between Raby and des Rocheuses street as work is done on the surfacing of the roadway.Although work will only be done on one section of road at a time, it will gradually move along the street over the course of the week.Beginning on Wednesday, Dec.8, at 8:30 a.m.work will be taking place between Lomas and Don Bosco Streets on King West.Although the work being done will not involve excavation, one of the westbound lanes will be closed to traf?c at various points along the route until Friday afternoon.This work is also expected to impact traf?c circulation on Don Bosco itself.King Street work to slow traf?c this week Record Staff In an effort to meet the current labour shortage in the healthcare network, new training programs are available in the Estrie region.Training programs are available to become a nursing assistant or an administrative of?cer.Acceptance into either program is accompanied by a scholarship.the 14-month training program is being offered to train 132 new nursing assistants in the Estrie region.It will begin on Jan.17, 2022 and will allow candidates to receive a $20,000 scholarship to study.Interested candidates have until Dec.20, 2021 to register through the website www.admissionfp.com.Training is offered at the following four vocational training centres: Centre régional intégré de formation (CRIF) (Granby); Centre de formation professionnelle 24-Juin (Sherbrooke); Lennoxville Vocational Training Centre (Sherbrooke); Centre de formation professionnelle le Granit (Lac-Mégantic).To meet the conditions of the bursary, candidates must commit to working full-time as a nursing assistant at the CIUSSS de l\u2019Estrie - CHUS for two years after the training.There are also 186 scholarships of $4,000 available for training as an administrative of?cer.Individuals wishing to obtain this 240-hour certi?cate of professional studies can register until March 6, 2022, 4 p.m.at www.admissionfp.com.The ?rst course will begin at the end of January 2022.The courses are offered in all the professional training centres in the CIUSSS de l\u2019Estrie - CHUS territory (Coaticook, Cowansville, Val-des- Sources, East Angus, Granby, Lac- Mégantic, Magog, Sherbrooke and Windsor).It is possible to take the course in English in certain centres.To meet the conditions of the bursary, candidates must commit to working full-time as an administrative of?cer for the CIUSSS de l\u2019Estrie - CHUS for one year after the training.At the end of these accelerated training programs, a guaranteed long- term job at CIUSSS de l\u2019Estrie - CHUS awaits the trainees.New accelerated nursing assistant training grants available PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 4 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record EDITORIAL We can reduce sensational, graphic reporting of femicide and stop suggesting any victim\u2019s actions, behaviours or lifestyles contributed to their deaths.6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 2E2 FAX: 819-821-3179 E-MAIL: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com WEBSITE: www.sherbrookerecord.com SHARON MCCULLY PUBLISHER (819) 569-9511 MATTHEW MCCULLY MANAGING EDITOR (819) 569-6345 GORDON LAMBIE ASSOCIATE EDITOR (819) 569-6345 SERGE GAGNON CHIEF PRESSMAN (819) 569-4856 JESSE BRYANT ADVERTISING MANAGER (450) 242-1188 DEPARTMENTS ACCOUNTING (819) 569-9511 ADVERTISING (819) 569-9525 CIRCULATION (819) 569-9528 NEWSROOM (819) 569-6345 KNOWLTON OFFICE 5B VICTORIA STREET, KNOWLTON, QUEBEC, J0E 1V0 TEL: (450) 242-1188 FAX: (450) 243-5155 PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS For print subscription rates, please call 819-569-9528 or email us at billing@sherbrookerecord.com ON-LINE SUBSCRIPTIONS QUEBEC: 1 YEAR 108.72 5.44 10.85 $ 1 2 5 .0 0 1 MONTH 9.78 0.49 0.98 $ 1 1 .2 5 Rates for out of Quebec and for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 9, 1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership.PM#0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 6 Mallory Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 2E2 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA RECORD THE The Record welcomes your letters to the editor.Please limit your letters to 300 words.We reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, legality and taste.Please ensure there is a phone number or email where you can be reached, to con?rm authorship and current town/city of residence.Names will not be withheld but the address and phone number of the writer are not published, except by request.Please email your letters to newsroom@ sherbrookerecord.com.Preference is given to writers from the Eastern Townships.Montréal Massacre anniversary: The media must play a key role in ighting femicide Jordan Fairbairn Associate Professor, Sociology, King\u2019s University College, Western University, King\u2019s University College Ciara Boyd PhD Student, Sociology, University of Guelph Myrna Dawson Professor and Research Leadership Chair, Sociology, University of Guelph Yasmin Jiwani Professor of Communication Studies; Research Chair on Intersectionality, Violence and Resistance, Concordia University On Dec.6, 1989, an act of violent misogyny killed 14 young women at École Polytechnique at Université of Montréal.This mass femicide, though carried out by a lone male, grew out of a societal environment of gender inequity, misogyny, colonialism, racism and other intersecting systems of oppression.Femicide, which refers to the sex/ gender-related killings of women and girls, does not occur out of the blue.Although media often portray femicides as spontaneous \u201ccrimes of passion\u201d when men kill their female partners, these femicides are the culmination of a history of violence in more than 70 per cent of cases \u2014 and are more often crimes of control.They are also often more likely to be premeditated than non-intimate partner killings.So many of these deaths are preventable, and we must use every tool at our disposal to increase public awareness and enhance prevention.Holding of?cials to account Public health efforts around the COVID-19 pandemic have illustrated the importance of clear messaging, prioritizing expert voices and holding political leaders and social institutions to account to save lives.As these efforts continue, we once again mark Dec.6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, and re?ect on the ongoing pandemic of male violence that continues to take the lives of women and girls worldwide.Our work at the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability keeps track of this extreme form of sex/gender-related violence.As is so evident with the COVID-19 pandemic, the media play a critical role in informing us about how threats are de?ned, what aspects to pay attention to and how to deal with a given problem.In short, the media frame the problem and suggest the solutions.As such, the media can be a key mechanism for primary prevention, but only if the problem is represented accurately.In covering femicide, media have a leading role, not only in awareness and education generally, but in actively shaping the construction of attitudes and beliefs that can help prevention efforts.In contrast, harmful representations include those that portray these killings as isolated or individualized events, focus on victim behaviours to suggest (implicitly or explicitly) that they were to blame for their own death or marginalizing certain groups based on race, religion, socio-economic class, sex-trade involvement, sexual orientation and other factors.There is also the matter of who isn\u2019t represented at all.The \u201cmissing white girl syndrome\u201d underscores that white, usually class-privileged victims receive copious amounts of media coverage while missing and murdered Indigenous, Black and other racialized women and girls are excluded from large-scale societal attention.Therefore, some women and girls remain invisible in life and death.Media reporting on femicide is key How reporters frame femicides is therefore critical for accurately informing the public.Media coverage of femicide has the potential to connect it to broader issues related to violence against women, thereby educating the public about these crimes, their broader societal causes, consequences and implications.This media coverage might include terminology such as femicide, statistics on the number of women killed by intimate partners, domestic violence resources or new expert sources who are more quali?ed to speak on femicide, including front- line service providers, advocates and researchers.In addition to providing more in- depth, empirically supported context about femicide, this type of coverage raises public awareness about the issue.It reports on femicides not as isolated incidents but more directly highlights community and societal solutions.That can include funding services that help victims of violence, prevention education, legal reform and cultural change, such as targeting the attitudes that support or normalize violence against women.As we remember those women and girls killed by violence in Canada, we can critically re?ect on how their stories are told and how the media educate us about their deaths.We can move beyond relying on police narratives and cultural framings about femicide, drawing from the experiences and expertise of survivors and those who have lost loved ones to violence.We can reduce sensational, graphic reporting of femicide and stop suggesting any victim\u2019s actions, behaviours or lifestyles contributed to their deaths.Femicide is a tragic loss of life.It is the most extreme act of violence against women, a human rights violation and part of a public health crisis.An accurate representation of this crime by the media must include perspectives that address all three of these areas.Jordan Fairbairn receives funding from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council.Ciara Boyd, Myrna Dawson, and Yasmin Jiwani do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would bene?t from this article, and have disclosed no relevant af?liations beyond their academic appointment.This article was originally published on theconversation.com PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 5 Moving forward When I was a kid in 1940s Winnipeg, going to the beach in the summer was a long-await- ed treat.There were lots of beaches to choose from\u2014Bird\u2019s Hill, Gimli, Grand and Winnipeg were just an hour\u2019s drive away.Winnipeg Beach was not my favorite because it had a roller-coaster, and even the thought of it made me nauseous.I\u2019ve had that same sick feeling these past two years on the metaphorical COVID rollercoaster.One week we\u2019re basking in a fresh sense of recovery and the potential for a return to normalcy and the next we face the ghastly prospect of yet more lockdowns, closed borders and anxious consumers.It\u2019s hard to say what the facts are because the virus has changed everything.It\u2019s still the headline news, but the broad measure of employment is back to the pre-pandemic trend and job creation statistics for November were much higher than expected.We seem not to want to accept this because our sense is that the economy is totally out of whack.Part of our discomfort with contradictory news may be because people are classi?ed differently compared to before the pandemic.Or it may be that the way the economy is measured doesn\u2019t re?ect what\u2019s happening on the ground.Statistics Canada is our national statistical of?ce.The Government of Canada created it 50 years ago to produce statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture.Interestingly, StatCan has acknowledged how much the pandemic has interfered with how its statistics are designed and are being interpreted.Statisticians have been surveying different segments of the population in an effort to understand how much and how permanently the virus and its many descendants may have changed how we understand the economy to work.Quoting from the StatCan website, \u201c\u2026as the recovery unfolds, Statistics Canada continues to report on its impacts on speci?c populations within Canada.From the beginning of July to early August, Statistics Canada conducted the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions to better understand the ongoing effects of the pandemic on businesses and business expectations moving forward.\u201d In one of the latest surveys, dated November 2021, over three-quarters of businesses owned by women, most prevalent in retail and food/ accommodations ?elds indicated that they have an optimistic future outlook over the next 12 months, up from just over two-thirds in the second quarter.Over one-third also expect to face challenges in recruiting skilled employees, slightly higher than all private sector businesses, and that the rising costs of inputs will be an obstacle.This latter expectation about in?ation is shared by 40 per cent of all private sector businesses.Statistics Canada has also launched the Real-time Local Business Conditions Index as an experimental statistic to measure business activity in real time during the pandemic and beyond.The Index tracks business conditions in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa/ Gatineau, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.To do this in real time, StatCan uses traf?c ?ows, both foot and road traf?c.\u201cWhile it is likely that the rapid expansion on e-commerce and online sales brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has weakened this correlation, traf?c ?ows are expected to remain a key determinant of economic performances of commercial districts as well as key determinants of broader economic vitality of a neighbourhood.\u201d Every one of these cities show signi?cant increases in business activity since the middle of the pandemic.Montreal, for example, showed an 81 per cent increase in business activity, even though it was very uneven through the whole period of August 2020 to November 2021.The Americans are having a similar perplexing issue.Their \u201cestablishment\u201d statistic for new jobs created in November came in at less than half their expectations.Yet the unemployment rate went down and the number of Americans participating in the labor force rose.The world reacts to the headlines: with all the \u201cbreaking news\u201d stories about how bad things are, the price of oil has slumped and the stock market is on a roller coaster of its own.It\u2019s hard not to get caught up in the gloom.I\u2019m pretty sure of two things \u2013 ?rst, the economy is going in the right direction and we need a little help to understand it better and then decide on the right policy prescriptions; second, the stock market is wildly overvalued.Dian Cohen is an economist and a founding organizer of the Massawippi Valley Foundation.Dian Cohen Homeless encampment remove.A few camp residents and activists are sat on a stack of palettes near the last smoking trash can.The last bag of donated bread loaves sits unattended.Someone offers hot tea.Around 1 p.m., Mayor Évelyne Beaudin arrives for a press conference.The cameras and microphones pull in tight, ringed by of?cers, as work on the bottom half of the site continues unabated.Beaudin says maintaining the link between people from the camp and community organizations will be a priority.\u201cPeople who leave here and don\u2019t go to the Partage Saint-François, where have they gone?How can we be sure they have found themselves in a situation that is safe for them?Then, can we ease them into community resources where they can access solutions for the different problems they are experiencing?\u201d Beaudin notes the deep generosity of Sherbrooke residents evidenced in recent weeks, but she says donations directly to the camp have enabled an accumulation of risks.\u201cWhen people receive food directly at the camp, they don\u2019t go to the Partage or the Chaudronné for their food support and they are deprived of a contact with a front-line intervener.\u201d Beaudin says local community organizations need the support of the city and residents alike and encourages everyone to channel their holiday giving through the relevant organizations.\u201cAs the holidays approach, we know people want to think of the needs of others who are less privileged, who have fewer opportunities in life.But the best way to help these people is always to go through those who have the expertise,\u201d says Beaudin.André, who sleeps at the Partage Saint-François shelter but keeps warm through the day at the camp, steps forward to call on the mayor by her ?rst name, asking if she remembers him from two days ago when they sat together by the ?re.\u201cYou told me there would be no bulldozer,\u201d André says and Beaudin agrees.\u201cWas that just a play on words?Because, look!\u201d as he gestures to the bare lot.\u201cIt\u2019s all gone.\u201d \u201cI am saddened,\u201d André adds.\u201cI\u2019m saddened for all the friends who are going to be dislodged, relocated.What is your solution, Évelyne?\u201d Beaudin speaks of supporting Partage Saint-François and all the community organizations, but André\u2019s question is more immediate.\u201cYes, but you know there won\u2019t be any solutions.A certain number of people will be admitted, but the others?What will be done about that?I have been smooth, you know, I have been cool, but come on\u2026 Évelyne, I know you\u2019re going to do everything you can, but it\u2019s too late.\u201d The mayor stays for several minutes after to listen to an activist who wants to develop his network to donate essential goods directly to the homeless and eventually open a 24- hour drop-in centre.Beaudin also talks to a camp resident who says they will go to the woods across the river now that the camp has closed.He wants to know what driving people from tents in the camp to tents by the river does to reduce the risk of dying from cold.The conversation quickly steers into a discussion about why the Partage Saint-François has a rule against bringing in cellphones and whether people get kicked out until the next night if they step outside to use their phone.As the mayor takes her leave, a member of her communications team is pressed on a core implication of the camp resident\u2019s question: Why is an emergency service like a shelter the primary response to a chronic issue like long-term homelessness?After stressing that homelessness is an issue that exists since long before the camp and will continue after, the conversation brie?y dips into the subject of social housing and hints of work to come before the mayor and entourage disappear.The work of clearing the camp continues as the circle of police and city workers and ?reman slowly progresses toward the back row.At some point, all the public, street social workers and friends retreat to the cleared section as the last four, then three, then two residents gather in tents encircled by palettes.Some relatively muted argument ensues, but it seems unlikely that tensions would boil over.A woman arrives and breaks into sobs when she sees what was likely her corner of the camp has already been dismantled.Two people follow her to a nearby spot out of the rain to talk.Gabriel Pallotta of the Table d\u2019itinérance de Sherbrooke spent the full day at the site.He feels that the organizations in his association are working in a good direction but recognizes that the camp story shows they are behind in the work that must be done now.In the short term, he wants to work with his organizations that have been in direct contact with the camp residents to do their best to get some sense of where people have gone if they have not gone to a shelter and reconnect with anyone who they have lost contact with.Over the longer term, he wants to deepen the communication and coordination between organizations.Pallotta seems re?ective as he watches the dismantling of the camp these people built for themselves.\u201cI hope people understand that the problem is not that there are camps.But, for some people, this does respond directly to their needs.If this experience is repeated, surely there are ways to do something that doesn\u2019t have to come to this.\u201d CONT\u2019D FROM PAGE 1 PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 6 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record #NewsMatters: The National Assembly Report By Raquel Fletcher Man\u2019s death raises concerns over ER closures Town says death was inevitable but preventable Quebec\u2019s healthcare system is facing a massive labour shortage and the government has either fully or partially closed emergency rooms across the province this fall.Last week, the town of Senneterre said the inevitable \u2013 but absolutely preventable \u2013 happened as a result of that move: Richard Genest, 65, died after being forced to wait hours to receive urgent care.His death came after Senneterre had been sounding the alarm about the night-time closure of its emergency room.Genest came from a large and tight- knit family in Abitibi.His nine brothers and sisters, three children and three grandchildren say he should not have died this way.\u201cWe\u2019re all very close, very, very close.And we\u2019re all very saddened by this and I don\u2019t know if we\u2019re going to be able to overcome it,\u201d said Genest\u2019s younger sister, Theresa Genest.\u201cIf our ER was open, he would have been taken in charge and he would still be alive today.\u201d Last Monday afternoon, Genest started to feel pain in his side.Tuesday night, when the pain had intensi?ed, he called an ambulance.Genest lived within walking distance of the ER in Senneterre, but it has been closing at 4 p.m.since Oct.18.Ambulance trips to Val d\u2019Or and Amos In Genest\u2019s case, he also had to wait for an ambulance that was out on another call.His sister explained that when the ambulance ?nally came, it followed protocol and took him to Val d\u2019Or, 68 kilometres away.However, doctors at that hospital told him he needed to see a specialist in Amos, an additional 70 kilometres.\u201cWhen he got to Amos, he got to the elevator and he died in the elevator,\u201d Theresa Genest explained.Opposition parties at the National Assembly were outraged to learn the news.\u201cWe said it months ago that things like this could happen and the government did not listen,\u201d Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade said last Thursday.At ?rst, the government refuted the version of events reported in the media and by Genest\u2019s own family.During Thursday\u2019s Question Period, Premier François Legault said that Health Minister Christian Dubé spoke with the CEO of the Abitibi- Témiscamingue CISSS about the case.The CEO told Dubé that \u201ceven if the Senneterre ER, which is an ER in a CLSC, had been open, it wouldn\u2019t have changed what happened,\u201d Legault said.Dubé told reporters the coroner\u2019s of?ce had already examined the case and determined it didn\u2019t merit an investigation.Mayor \u201cshocked\u201d about minister\u2019s comments Senneterre Mayor Nathalie-Ann Pelchat said the town was \u201cshocked\u201d to hear the minister\u2019s comments, but relieved when Thursday afternoon, the coroner announced he would be opening an investigation after all.\u201cThey were waiting for him (in Amos).The operation room was ready.Everyone was there, but he never reached the room,\u201d Pelchat said, adding if Genest could have seen a doctor in Senneterre he might have been sent directly to Amos, thus bypassing the hospital in Val d\u2019Or and saving precious time.For Genest\u2019s sister, it\u2019s not enough for the coroner to look into her brother\u2019s death - she worries other people will die if the Senneterre ER isn\u2019t reopened soon.\u201cWe need it for the population because the population is growing old here.And everybody\u2019s anxious\u201d she said.Minister Dubé, however, said he is doing everything he can to reopen emergency rooms, even increasing signing bonuses for nurses in rural areas to $30,000.Raquel Fletcher is Global News\u2019 National Assembly Reporter PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 7 By Michael Boriero Laura Kolbe was announced as the executive director of the Town- shippers\u2019 Association on Friday, and she already has plans in motion to introduce a sustainable economic approach to the organization\u2019s longstanding mission.She is taking over from Rachel Hunting, who stepped down from her role as executive director last month after nearly 10 years.While saddened to see Hunting leave her position within the organization, Kolbe eagerly jumped at the opportunity to ?ll her predecessors shoes.\u201cI\u2019m very keenly aware of the challenges that our community faces, especially in the face of the oncoming Bill 96, so I wanted to use my skill set, and my background, and my experience to help the Townshippers,\u201d said Kolbe, adding she was grateful for the board\u2019s support.She describes herself as a lifelong Townshipper.She moved to the region when she was just ?ve years old, attending elementary and high school in the Eastern Townships.She has always felt connected to the area, even when her studies took her all the way to Toronto.\u201cI\u2019ve always had roots here, so I\u2019m a lifelong Townshipper, and like many Townshippers, I left during the post- Bill 101 exodus and came back 10 years later to see that things hadn\u2019t changed as much as they should have in a positive degree for Anglophones,\u201d she said.Kolbe moves into the executive director role with an extensive educational and professional background in international business and economic development.She has travelled worldwide, touching foot in 44 countries, to help companies transition to the international market.She believes her business acumen and strong understanding of linguistic and cultural challenges in Quebec, and across the globe, will help the organization take another step forward in advocating for the English-speaking community in the Townships.\u201cI\u2019m well-known for my strength in strategic innovation and being an innovative leader, and basically [\u2026] what I intend to add [\u2026] is a sustainable economic approach to the organization\u2019s mission of promoting the interests of the English-speaking community,\u201d said Kolbe.Kolbe is introducing what she calls an \u2018economic lens approach\u2019 in an effort to establish the association\u2019s capacity to add value to the Quebec economy.She wants to look at how they can contribute to the economic progress of the province, Kolbe explained.\u201cI\u2019d like to lead our community to move from being a recipient of policy to actively being involved in creating policies for our own community and [\u2026] ?nd ways to ensure that the English- speaking community can have greater opportunity in Quebec society,\u201d she said.Her vision is to create more opportunities for the English-speaking community, keeping people in the Eastern Townships, and attracting more English-speaking Quebecers to the region.Kolbe wants to be at the table with the government, rather than staying on the outside.Although she is only a few days on the job, Kolbe is well-aware of the struggles the English-speaking community has experienced with healthcare and social services.It has been exacerbated by the pandemic, she said, but those issues have been around for a long time.Kolbe wants the English-speaking community to feel more included.There is a severe worker shortage, hurting the province\u2019s business community.She hopes to ?nd a way to answer their cries for help by bringing the needs of the English-speaking community to the forefront.She is con?dent in the organization\u2019s relationship with the Quebec government, too.There is a willingness to work together, which was highlighted when Hunting and Gerald Cutting, the association\u2019s president, attended the National Assembly to speak on Bill 96.\u201cWe are ?rst and foremost, as the Townshippers\u2019 Association said when they presented in front of the National Assembly, we are Quebecers, we acknowledge that French is a common language, we acknowledge that French is the main language in Quebec,\u201d Kolbe said.\u201cBut we\u2019re looking at how we can ?nd ways and means to ensure the English-speaking community can have greater opportunity in Quebec society, consistent with the policies of Quebec\u2019s leadership.\u201d New Townshippers\u2019 Association executive director brings an economic approach COURTESY PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 8 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record BIRTH NOTICES, CARDS OF THANKS, IN MEMORIAMS, BRIEFLETS: Text only: 40¢ per word.Minimum charge $10.00 ($11.50 taxes included) Discounts: 2 insertions or more: 15% off With photo: additional $18.50.DEADLINE: 11 a.m., day before publication.BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY & GET-WELL WISHES, ENGAGEMENT NOTICES: Text only: $16.00 (includes taxes) With photo: $26.00 ($29.90 taxes included) DEADLINE: 3 days before publication.WEDDING WRITE-UPS: $26.00 ($29.90 taxes included) WITH PHOTO: $36.00 ($41.40 taxes included) Please Note: All of the aforementioned (except death notices) must be submitted typewritten or neatly printed, and must include the signature and daytime telephone number of the contact person.Can be e-mailed to: classad@sherbrookerecord.com - They will not be taken by phone.DEADLINES FOR DEATH NOTICES: For Monday\u2019s paper, email production@sherbrookerecord.com or call 819-569-4856 between 1 p.m.and 5 p.m.Sunday.For Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday\u2019s edition, email production@sherbrookerecord.com, call 819-569-4856 or fax 819-569-1187 (please call to con?rm transmission) between 9 a.m.and 5 p.m.the day prior to the day of publication.The Record cannot guarantee publication if another Record number is called.Rates: Please call for costs.RATES and DEADLINES: ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES The Covid-19 lockdown that came into effect in the spring of 2020 necessitated the cancellation of regular and special events for the Sherbrooke Snow Shoe Club, as it did for all other similar organizations and society in general.Fortunately, the club had just completed its normal season at the end of February before the effect of the virus became widespread and government restrictions were introduced.The onslaught of the pandemic however, forced the cancellation of the club\u2019s annual sugar-on-snow party scheduled for the beginning of April and subsequently all activity for the next year and a half \u2013 including the suspension of the club\u2019s entire 2020-2021 Season.During those early months club members and the public at large were preoccupied with basic survival strategies.Staying alive became the main focus of life.The welfare of community organizations was not an immediate concern, though many pondered the impact the pandemic would have over the long run.It was evident that only the strongest institutions would endure the shutdowns and varying restrictions as the weeks turned into months and the months now into years.Many established groups like the SSSC, which owned property and which was consequently faced with the same overhead costs, found it dif?cult to survive.Costs such as heating, insurance and property taxes continued irrespective of the implications of the virus.These expenses were coupled with the inability to undertake critical fundraising activities for many groups, not the least of which included the SSSC fraternity.By some twist of good fortune, the snowshoe club had decided that its annual garage sale held in 2019 would be its last.Consequently in the months that followed, the club no longer accepted donations for its popular fundraiser.The clubhouse therefore was essentially empty of wares when the 2020 pandemic took hold.Had the club not made the fateful decision, it would have been burdened with a vast quantity of goods, which it could not sell nor adequately store.Since the onset of the pandemic, the snowshoe club has experienced a precarious existence.While restricted from meeting as a group, there have been ongoing small-scale activities undertaken by various members, either individually or in groups of two or three.Yard work routines have been maintained, small repairs to the clubhouse roof have been undertaken, and upgrades addressed in the wake of government inspections for ?re safety and building structural integrity.From the perspective of keeping the club membership as a functioning entity, efforts have been made given the government prohibition of gathering en masse.Annual club dues continued to be collected, for example, despite not being able to convene regular meetings or related activities.Also, a concerted effort was made to keep connected with one another by means of occasional phone calls among members.A \u2018photo-of-the-week\u2019 campaign based on club archives was initiated to keep the concept of fraternal comradeship alive and well, lest the club members\u2019 presence of mind wane over time.Fortunately, now in the late fall of 2021 the introduction of effective vaccines over the course of the past half-year has eased somewhat the impact of the virus on society.With the advent of double dozes and the relatively high percentage of the population inoculated, community organizations have slowly begun to resume their activities, albeit cautiously.Included among these has been the snowshoe club.In October, a group of members gathered at the clubhouse in keeping with of?cial guidelines, to ponder the means and frequency by which club members could gather in the immediate future.After assessing the various options, members opted to meet once a month instead of the regular practice of once a week.It was further decided to meet informally for lunch on Saturdays, foregoing for the time being the usual protocols of dress and procedures normally allocated to Wednesday evenings.The ?rst such gathering was held on the 13th of November in keeping with the usual start update for the annual snowshoe club season.For everyone in attendance, it was a revival of a club that has been a part of local history since 1877, the start of its 145th season.On this occasion the meal was not catered by the club\u2019s in-house chef, but relegated to a large \u2018take-out\u2019 order from a city-based food service establishment.It was not a meeting in the regular sense, just a few announcements and a decision as to when to reconvene in December.The main objective of this ?rst assemblage was the opportunity to renew old friendships, to converse in person with one another, to become re-acquainted once again.It was indeed, a club revival! Steve Moore SSSC Secretary A Club Revival TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021 Today is the 341st day of 2021 and the 77th day of autumn.TODAY\u2019S HISTORY: In 1787, Delaware became the ?rst state to ratify the U.S.Constitution.In 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing 2,403 American soldiers and civilians.In 1999, the Recording Industry Association of America ?led a copyright infringement lawsuit against the online ?le-sharing service Napster.In 2002, Iraq denied that it had weapons of mass destruction in a United Nations declaration.TODAY\u2019S BIRTHDAYS: Willa Cather (1873-1947), author; Eli Wallach (1915-2014), actor; Ted Knight (1923- 1986), actor; Ellen Burstyn (1932- ), actress; Harry Chapin (1942-1981), singer-songwriter; Johnny Bench (1947- ), baseball player; Tom Waits (1949- ), singer-songwriter; Larry Bird (1956- ), basketball player; Jeffrey Wright (1965- ), actor; Patrice O\u2019Neal (1969-2011), actor/comedian; Sara Bareilles (1979- ), singer-songwriter; Emily Browning (1988- ), actress; Nicholas Hoult (1989- ), actor.TODAY\u2019S FACT: Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Senate voted for a war resolution 82- 0.The House of Representatives approved the resolution 388-1.TODAY\u2019S SPORTS: In 2007, home-run record holder Barry Bonds pleaded not guilty to lying to investigators about using performance-enhancing drugs.TODAY\u2019S QUOTE: \u201cThe world is little, people are little, human life is little.There is only one big thing - desire.\u201d - Willa Cather, \u201cThe Song of the Lark\u201d TODAY\u2019S NUMBER: 64 - servicemen lost by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the attack on Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941.TODAY\u2019S MOON: Between new moon (Dec.4) and ?rst quarter moon (Dec.10).Date Book Canadian Red Cross Quebec Division Become a Volunteer: 1-877-356-3226 Make a donation: 1-800-418-1111 PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Your Birthday TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021 Put in the effort and you will reap the rewards.A fast pace, quick mind and fertile imagination will take you where you want to go.It\u2019s up to you to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.Share your enthusiasm with others and take a leadership position.SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec.21) - Dive in, take charge and get things done.Take the initiative, and you will turn an idea into something concrete.Refuse to let someone\u2019s negativity or misleading rhetoric get in the way.CAPRICORN (Dec.22-Jan.19) - Concentrate on getting things done on time.Use your imagination, and you\u2019ll ?nd a way to outmaneuver anyone who tries to compete with you.Use your physical attributes to your advantage.AQUARIUS (Jan.20-Feb.19) - A last- minute change will limit what you can do, causing doubt and stress.Have a backup plan in place before you commit to someone or something that has the potential to go sideways.PISCES (Feb.20-March 20) - Don\u2019t let anyone take advantage of your kindness and generosity.Offer only what you can afford and what will not compromise you mentally, emotionally or ?nancially.A little romance will help.ARIES (March 21-April 19) - Lean on someone who is always there for you.The added reinforcement will give you an edge.Be smart about the way you handle your peers, and you will gain respect and support.TAURUS (April 20-May 20) - Keep an open mind, but don\u2019t take unnecessary risks.A minimalist approach will save you time and money and help you avoid an argument with someone who can in?uence your status or reputation.GEMINI (May 21-June 20) - Assess a situation, make your move and ?nish what you start.Living up to your word will help ward off criticism and interference.A steady pace and an articulate plan will lead to victory.CANCER (June 21-July 22) - Map out what you can do before committing to something that may not be feasible.An act of kindness shouldn\u2019t put you in a vulnerable position.Get your facts straight and think creatively.LEO (July 23-Aug.22) - Don\u2019t tempt fate.Stick to a schedule and take care of your responsibilities.Don\u2019t get involved in gossip or be gullible when dealing with peers.A resourceful approach will help you avoid wasting time.VIRGO (Aug.23-Sept.22) - Mull things over.Be smart by easing into any change that comes your way; things will turn out better than anticipated.A networking event will pay off.Self- improvement will give you the boost you need.LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct.23) - Consider what\u2019s essential and concentrate on keeping the peace and being honest about how you feel and what you plan to do next.Don\u2019t let your emotions get in the way of your happiness.SCORPIO (Oct.24-Nov.22) - Do your part and make a difference.Look for solutions instead of complaining about what\u2019s wrong.Documenting everything will help you keep tabs on who does what and what helps the most.TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021 Help your partner to defend better By Phillip Alder One way to improve both your partner\u2019s and your partnership\u2019s defense is to buy the reissue of \u201cDefensive Signals\u201d (Master Point Press) by the late Marshall Miles.It is wide-ranging with lots of excellent advice across 11 chapters and 216 pages.But caveat emptor: From page 62 onward, Miles uses upside- down signals, where low encourages and high discourages.Sometimes, you cannot afford a high card to encourage, but you can usually spare one from a weak suit.In this deal from the book, East must plan his defense against three no-trump after West leads a fourth-highest heart six and dummy plays the four.North\u2019s double was negative, showing exactly four spades.East should apply the Rule of Eleven.Six from 11 is ?ve.So, there are ?ve hearts higher than the six in the North, East and South hands combined.Since East can see four of them, he knows that South has only one high heart.Given his one-no-trump rebid, surely he has ace-doubleton.To ensure that declarer cannot collect two heart tricks, East must play his two at trick one.Declarer will probably win, cross to the board with a spade and run the club queen.West takes the trick and leads another heart.East collects two tricks in that suit and shifts to a diamond; the contract goes down three.Yes, if East plays the heart 10 at trick one, when West leads another heart at trick four, South might misguess, playing dummy\u2019s queen instead of the nine.But why rely on declarer\u2019s misread when you can always succeed?The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 9 PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 10 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Go grocery sho pping with diet itians.When you choo se products with the Health Chec k symbol, it's like shopping with t he Heart and Str oke Foundation\u2019s die titians, who eval uate every partic ipating product b ased on Canada 's Food Guide.www.healthche ck.org REALITY CHECK HERMAN ALLEY OOP ARLO & JANIS THE BORN LOSER FRANK AND ERNEST GRIZZWELLS THATABABY PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 11 Call Sherbrooke: (819) 569-9525 between 8:30 a.m.and 4:30 p.m.E-mail: classad@sherbrookerecord.com or Knowlton: (450) 242-1188 between 9:00 a.m.and noon CLASSIFIED Deadline: 12:30 p.m.one day prior to publication Or mail your prepaid classi?ed ads to The Record, 6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 2E2 275 Antiques 290 Articles for Sale Make your classi- iED stAnD out, add a photo for $10.per day.Deadline: 2 days before publication.Drop by our of- ice in Sherbrooke or Knowlton.819-569- 9525.ClAssAD@ sHErBrookErECorD.com WE BUY from the past for the future, one item or a household, attic or basement, shed or garage.We like it all, give us a call.819- 837-2680.TOWNSHIPS\u2019 CRIER TOWNSHIPS If you want to drink, that\u2019s your business.If you want to stop, we can help.Call Alcoholics Anonymous 1-888- 424-2975, www.aa.org LENNOXVILLE Mental Health Estrie has of?cially launched its 2021-2022 HUGS for the homeless campaign.From November to March, we accept donations of NEW Hats, Underwear, Gloves, Socks and Scarves and other warm articles of clothing which are donated to local shelters for the homeless.Items can be dropped off directly at our of?ces in the beige bins next to door #2 at 3355 College in Lennoxville or let us do the shopping for you \u2013 all monetary gifts are used to purchase essentials.You can also call us to schedule an in-person drop-off of items or cheques.Please make cheques payable to Mental Health Estrie and indicate HUGS on the memoline.Thank you to all for your continued support and help! For more information, phone 819-565-3777 or email mhe.info@bellnet.ca.ONLINE WORKSHOPS Mental Health Estrie invites you to a free virtual workshop in English: \u201cReopening Anxiety: Navigating Social Gatherings and the Holiday Season\u201d presented by Melissa Hindley (M.A, c.o, psychotherapist).Open to all, 7 p.m.to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 8.Back by popular demand, Melissa will again focus on strategies for managing anxiety.This time she will also help us to better understand and navigate anxiety related to the reopening of our society, particularly in the context of the holiday social season.For more information, or to register, please visit our Facebook or Instagram pages, email outreach@mentalhealthestrie.com, or call (819) 565-2388.ONLINE WORKSHOPS Mental Health Estrie invites you to a free virtual workshop in English: \u201cFinding Hope for the Ag Community\u201d presented by Lauren Van Ewyk (MScMHC, RSW, sheep farmer).Whether you are part of the ag community, work with its members, or know friends and family who do, this workshop could help you develop strategies to boost the mental health of those involved in agriculture while gaining a better understanding of the challenges faced in this profession.Open to all, 2 p.m.to 3:30 p.m., Thursday, December 16.For more information, or to register, please visit our Facebook or Instagram pages, email outreach@ mentalhealthestrie.com, or call 819- 565-2388.ONLINE Online presentation \u2013 Zoom in on Health: Mental Well-Being During the Winter Season.Thursday, December 9, 12:00 to 1 p.m.; Zoom.A recording of this presentation will be shared with registered participants only.To register, email: ca@townshippers.org.819-569-9525 450-242-1188 PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 12 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Dealing with dif?cult exes Dear Annie TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021 Dear Annie: How do I convey to my adult married children that I do not like being around my ex for the holidays?My son lives several states away, and he invited my daughter and her family, my ex, and my wife and me for Thanksgiving together.This will be the ?rst time in close to seven years that I will see both of my children together for a holiday.My daughter has had Christmas at her home every year since my granddaughter was born.We are invited, but my ex is always there.I think holidays should be happy occasions, at a minimum, so maybe we could rotate years.But that does not happen.I am dreading Thanksgiving and being around her.She puts in digs at me or, in my opinion, wants to start a ?ght when everyone else is out of earshot.I consider her a lying, cheating, adulterous witch.I want to spend time with my kids, just not with her around.My daughter-in-law and son-in-law have had disagreements with her in the past.My letter is long enough; I could go on and on.- Avoiding Ex Dear Avoiding Ex: The best way to convey to your adult children that you would not like to be around your ex for the holidays is to tell them that.But understand that might mean less time with your kids.You really have two choices: Ignore the chatter and negativity that is your ex-wife for the sake of spending more (quantity) time, or spend less time - but quality time - with your kids without your ex making rude remarks.Regardless of what you decide, she is going to be in your life.It\u2019s best to try to let go and forgive some of the anger you have toward her for her adultery.Not for her sake, but for yours.Dear Annie: I broke up with the mother of my children two years ago.We have had a very rocky past.I treated her badly for the ?rst couple of years, and we separated for two years after our ?rst child was born.We got back together 18 months later.We were together for seven years on our second stint, and we had another child.We eventually didn\u2019t work out when my job took me away and she refused to leave her mother.Now I am treated like a criminal.I don\u2019t get to see them and am only allowed to talk to the youngest one, and that\u2019s only once a week.The mother refuses to work with me on a fair schedule, and the courts are so backed up it may be another six months before I can get a court date.The mother isn\u2019t a good person, and I fear for the way my kids are being raised and what they are being told.I\u2019m at a loss on what to do while I wait for the court date.- Concerned Father Dear Concerned: At least you\u2019re honest, admitting that your treatment of her was not good, so you can understand why she is keeping you away.But if you have really changed, why not write her a letter explaining what was going on in your life?Send her ?owers; send the kids gifts.You might even try to have a calm, quiet conversation with her mother as well.Try courting them a little, rather than waiting for your day in court.If you are successful, you won\u2019t need it.\u201cAsk Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie\u201d is out now! Annie Lane\u2019s debut book - featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette - is available as a paperback and e-book.Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information.Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW BromeCounty News Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Abercorn church to become community cultural centre By Ruby Irene Pratka Local Journalism Initiative The two historic churches in Aber- corn may no longer host regular services, but they are expected to remain hubs for the community thanks to the actions of concerned citizens.Both the All Saints Anglican Church and Église Saint-Simon, a Catholic church, were sold earlier this year.The Anglican church was acquired by the nonpro?t Centre culturel d\u2019Abercorn, which plans to use it as a concert venue starting in late summer 2022.\u201cThere were 14 or 15 people who donated money to be able to make an offer to buy the church\u201d earlier this year, explains Patrice Lefebvre, a board member of the Centre culturel d\u2019Aber- corn.All Saints \u201chas been maintained by members of the community for more than 150 years, and we wanted it to remain community property,\u201d Lefebvre says.The nonpro?t became the of?cial owner of the church in June 2021.The church has not held regular weekly services for many years.\u201cEven in the early 1990s, there were not regular masses; there were occasional services that were more like reunions,\u201d says Lefebvre.He has organized occasional concerts in the church since 2013 as part of the Concerts champêtres d\u2019Ab- ercorn series; pianist Mathieu Gaudet and soprano Marie-Josée Lord have performed there in recent years.The church can accommodate about 150 Gabrielle Giroux-Bertrand Library in Cowansville has full schedule of events LOUISE SMITH By Louise Smith This past Saturday Ginette Despatie, an entertainer and harpist, put on a free show in the children\u2019s section of the local library.Ginette played the harp and helped with the narration of a French story for children entitled \u201cStella Veut Des Ailes.\u201d Accompanying Ginette was a stilt walker who entertained and helped narrate the story.He came out after stilt walking to juggle various objects while moving the story along.Children and parents alike clapped after each of his mini performances.On Dec.12 at 11 a.m.there will be another event entitled \u201c400 Ans d\u2019Opera\u201d (400 Years of Opera).It is billed as being for the whole family.If you look up the Municipal Library of Cowansville and click on events, you can then register for any of the free upcoming activities.It is good to see the library open again, and it is well-at- tended and a hub for the community.CONT\u2019D ON PAGE 4 A stilt walker added to the telling of the story of Stella.Ginette Despatie is the animator of the story telling and a great harpist to boot.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 2 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 BromeCountyNews Brome County Community Bulletin Board LAC BROME FOOD BANK - If you need assistance, please call 450-242- 2020 ext: 319.Pick up at 270 Victoria at the back.December 10 Meet the Artisans! Marché Noël Artisanal is open every week, Thursday to Sunday during November and December, plus the week leading up to Christmas.Shop leisurely and safely without the crowds! Only a few artisans will be present at different times on December 10, 11, 12 but everyone\u2019s table is ready at all times.Facebook for updates @marchedesartisanatsdunham or contact michilynnd@gmail.com.December 11 Knowlton Harmony Band 2021 Christmas Concert \u2013 Knowlton United Church.Saturday December 11 at 4 p.m.Vaccination passport mandatory.Donations Accepted December 12 Lessons and Carols service, Church of the Ascension, West Brome.Sunday, December 12 3 p.m.Everyone is welcomed! All health protocols will be followed.December 15 The next food bank pick up at Trinity Anglican Church.409 South Street, Cowansville.December 15 from 1- 3 p.m.Please wear a mask and provide proof of vaccination.December 16 Album Launch & Concert.Give It Some Time by Patricia St-Onge.An intimate evening of music, friends and laughter with special guests.Thursday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m.at the Lakeview Inn (50 Rue Victoria, Lac Brome).Tickets are $20.Call or text 450-204-0203.Or leave Patricia St-Onge a message on Facebook.Seating will be limited as Covid rules will apply.CHURCH BULLETINS ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH \u2013 DUNHAM Church service every Sunday at 10 a.m.with Holy Communion.3829 rue Principale, Dunham.For more information, please contact the Rev.Sinpoh Han at 450-295-2045 ANGLICAN PARISH OF BROME Sunday services cancelled until further notice.See the announcement for Grace Anglican Church to join the on line meeting on Sunday mornings.Information: Rev Tim Smart 450-538- 8108.BEDFORD PASTORAL CHARGE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Advent Three \u2013 Joy.We light the Candle of Joy as we continue our Advent journey.Worship service 9:30 a.m.at Stanbridge East United led in rotation by our worship team leaders following pandemic protocols.Our Candlelight Communion celebration is on December 23 at 7 p.m.A special Christmas Eve Barn service will be at 7 p.m.\u2013 details to follow.Worship Leader: Rev.David Lefneski.Church of?ce: 450- 248-3044; email: bedford.pastoral@ yahoo.ca CREEK/WATERLOO PASTORAL CHARGE Creek United, West Bolton, and St.Paul\u2019s United, Waterloo, are now meeting weekly in-person, respecting physical distancing, registration of attendance, hand sanitising, and the wearing of masks.The Creek service starts at 9 a.m.The Waterloo service starts at 10:30 a.m.Communion is normally the ?rst Sunday of the month.Other special services must be arranged through the minister.Church of?ce is 450-539-2129 Rev.Dave Lambie @ 450-531-3149 EMMANUEL UNITED CHURCH Advent Three \u2013 JOY.We light the Candle of Joy as we continue our Advent journey.Sunday\u2019s hybrid worship service is at 11 a.m.following COVID-19 protocols.Please request the Zoom link that is published in the weekly Friday newsletter.Join us December 12 for a music-?lled \u201cLessons and Carols\u201d service with an ad hoc women\u2019s choir under the direction of Susan Reininger.Please join us.Minister: Rev.David Lefneski, 450-955-1574.Church of?ce: 450-263- 0204; email: capcchurchof?ce@bellnet.ca ÉGLISE CATHOLIQUE ST.ÉDOUARD CATHOLIC CHURCH Our 10:30 a.m.Sunday Mass has resumed as we adhere to the strict protocols established by the Quebec Public Health Department.Thank you for your understanding.Our mass schedule during the Christmas period will be as follows: Christmas Eve December 24 at 7 p.m., Sunday December 26 and January 2 at 10:30 a.m.Masks and/or facial coverings are obligatory.There will not be a mass celebrated on Christmas Day.May the Lord bestow his many blessings upon you and your family.For more information, call: 450-263-1616 or visit the website http://unitedesvignes.org GRACE ANGLICAN CHURCH We are now open for in-person worship at our 10:30 a.m.Sunday services at Grace Anglican Church, Sutton.Everyone is welcome, bring your voice to be accompanied by our wonderful new organ (singing with masks for now).Alternatively, you can attend online.For an invitation to join, please email the Rev.Tim Smart, revtimsmart@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page \u201cGrace Church, Sutton\u201d for the Sunday link.KNOWLTON-MOUNTAIN VALLEY PASTORAL CHARGE Join us for 11 a.m.in person worship at Knowlton United Church, 234 Knowlton Road.Worship services are held the 1st three Sundays of each month unless otherwise indicated.Also join on the Facebook Church Group \u2018Knowlton-Mountain Valley Pastoral Charge\u2019 for our services.For further information please contact Rev.Steve Lawson at 450-242-1993.Members will be asked to follow COVID-19 protocols as outlined by the Quebec Public Health Department.ST.PAUL\u2019S ANGLICAN CHURCH St.Paul\u2019s has re-opened for Sunday in person worship at 8 and 10 am.We continue to livestream our Sunday morning worship at 8 and 10 a.m.at St.Paul\u2019s Knowlton on Facebook.All services are also available for replay.At 24 St.Paul\u2019s Road in Knowlton, St.Paul\u2019s is a dynamic diverse community pursuing and serving Jesus in the Eastern Townships.Our mission is to grow in members and spiritual maturity so that we can reach as many people as possible with the love of Jesus.Everyone welcome! Telephone: 450-242-2885 email: stpaulsknowlton@ gmail.com TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH We welcome you to join us for our 10:30 a.m.Sunday morning church services in the church.We adhere to the protocols established by the Quebec Public Health Department and the Anglican Diocese of Montreal.To leave a message, please contact the church of?ce 450-955-3303.Christmas dinner for Fordyce Women\u2019s Institute, a small but warm sendoff to 2021 By Louise Smith Usually in December a large Christmas meal is organized by the Fordyce Women\u2019s Institute, and family and friends and associates from charities and schools which have bene?ted from the Institute, are invited to join in on the festivities.The reality of Covid meant that members only could gather in Emmanuel United Church\u2019s hall.A door remained open to allow for the circulation of air.After a short meeting, during which $100 was given to the Welcome Project at Emmanuel United and $200 was given to the Horizon Pour Elles women\u2019s shelter, a pot luck luncheon was spread out.The food was delicious and no one left feeling any hunger.Dessert gift boxes were made for members and associates who were not able to attend.A gift of several boxes of cookies and bags of candies were donated to the English Language Group Home on Bell Street.In the spring, if Covid numbers start to drop, a bigger celebration may be possible to celebrate the 75 years since the founding of the Fordyce Women\u2019s Institute.The Fordyce Women\u2019s Institute does not meet in January, but it will reconvene in February on the ?rst Wednesday of the month.Members of the Fordyce Women\u2019s Institute met for their December Christmas meeting and meal.LOUISE SMITH PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW BromeCountyNews Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 3 Brome-Missisquoi MP Pascale St-Onge giving youth a voice in Ottawa By Taylor McClure Special to Brome County News Pascale St-Onge, newly-minted MP for Brome-Missisquoi, and her team are on the lookout for youth between 15 and 30 in the Brome-Mis- sisquoi riding to join their Constituency Youth Council.The Youth Council meetings will take place starting in Dec.until June and it will provide a platform for participants to express their concerns on issues that matter most to them.\u201cWhen we approached MP St-Onge with this proposition, she immediately said yes,\u201d said Kimberly Luce, campaign manager.\u201cWe want to hear from the youth, exchange with them, and hear their ideas to best represent them because they are a part of the citizens here and we think they can bring a lot to the table.\u201d \u201cVery often they don\u2019t have as many opportunities to speak their mind.For example, in the riding I get to meet with business owners, I get to meet with volunteers, mayors, but a direct conversation with younger people that are our future it doesn\u2019t happen that often,\u201d said St-Onge.\u201cIt\u2019s important for me to get their thoughts, input, and criticism.\u201d St-Onge said that her team wants to provide a platform that will allow citizens to step foot in the world of politics and give them a voice at the federal table in Ottawa.\u201cIt\u2019s a chance to learn what it\u2019s like inside politics, what we can do, what we are doing, and how they can help us improve our ideas and make sure what we want to do ?ts with the young people in Quebec and Brome-Missisquoi.It is great for all parties.\u201d Four meetings will take from December to June 2022 that will be focused on the interests of the group.\u201cSomething that I would like to do, for example, if they are interested in the environment, I would ask my colleague to join in on the meetings and chat directly with participants or have other colleagues come in to talk about prevention of gun violence.Anything they are interested in, I would like to have colleagues join and talk with the group.\u201d Special projects and activities can also be organized.\u201cIf ever they are interested in doing a volunteer activity like helping out for community dinners or a soup kitchen that is something we can also organize.We can think about projects we can do for the community, it\u2019s a great way to get involved,\u201d added St-Onge.There are certain requirements when applying to be a part of the Youth Council.\u201cThey can apply if they are between 15 to 30 years old, it\u2019s quite a wide range,\u201d explained Luce.\u201cIt\u2019s important to hear from them and what they have to say.They have to be from the riding, that is very important for us since every liberal MP basically has their own youth council, and they have to be available for the four meetings that will start in Jan.to the month of June.\u201d St-Onge\u2019s team has high hopes for the new council.\u201cWe want them to learn more about the federal government and what the MP does.A lot of people don\u2019t concretely know what they do here in the region and we want to develop links and a strong relationship with groups of citizens in the riding, but youth are the future, so it\u2019s super important to include them.Once the year ?nishes, we want to stay in touch and to stay connected,\u201d said Luce.\u201cDemocracy is something that constantly needs to be renewed and sometimes younger people don\u2019t have as much faith in our system.It\u2019s a great way to reconnect with our institutions, to have a conversation, to get to know each other, and to make sure that there are young people in politics, institutions, and democracy, to ensure that it lives on after us,\u201d St- Onge emphasized.The deadline to apply for the Constituency Youth Council is Dec.10 at the link below.https://forms.gle/ VcDhZAEic6hSWg2q9.Heritage project hills rising above Bedford By Ruby Irene Pratka Local Journalism Initiative Two arti?cial hills are rising above the town of Bedford as part of the Heritage Project, a future public park funded and directed by Gray- mont, which owns and operates the nearby quarry.The hills are being built with waste stone from the quarry.\u201cWe have a lot of unused stone that we have to extract to get to the limestone, and we were running out of space to store it on our property,\u201d explains plant director Claudia Houde.\u201cPeople were worried that [this would lead to] big piles of waste, so we wanted to do something that looked nice.\u201d Houde also says the project, the ?rst of its kind in the region, will prolong the life of the quarry \u201cfor the next forty years\u201d by providing a safe and environmentally sound disposal site for the waste stone.\u201cWe\u2019re developing the park while exploiting the quarry, which allows us to [ensure] the quarry\u2019s long-term survival,\u201d she says.The project has faced several delays since it was ?rst proposed in 2010.The approval of the town of Bedford, the provincial commission for the protection of agricultural lands and the Quebec environment ministry all had to approve the proposal.The Union des producteurs agricoles also expressed concerns about valuable agricultural land being taken up by the project.After a public consultation in 2012, a citizens\u2019 follow-up committee was created to monitor the project, with residents, business representatives and municipal elected of?cials from Bedford, Bedford Township and Stanbridge Station.\u201cIt took a few years to have all the studies and authorizations required to begin construction,\u201d says Houde.The project was of?cially launched in May 2018, and in September of that year, the ?rst loads of stone were transported to the future site.Erik Simard, co-ordinator of the Heritage Project, explains the process of building the arti?cial hills.\u201cWe remove the existing soil and any vegetation that\u2019s there and we pile it up, to put it on the hill at the end.\u201d The clay is then removed to ensure the hill is built on stable ground.Acoustic barriers made with earth are put up around the site to keep noise levels down.Inside those barriers, trucks come in and start piling up the rocks, moving outward as they go, Simard explains.The hill is then covered with the reserved earth and planted with grass seed.The ?rst two hills of the Heritage Project have reached this stage; the ?rst trees will be planted on them next spring.The ?rst two hills are 18 and 45 metres high.The third hill, 60 metres high, is expected to be completed within the next 15 years and \u201cbe transformed into a forest in the very long term\u201d planted with local trees, says Houde.The highest hill will eclipse the smokestacks of the plant.The ?nal proposed project includes a nearly 20-acre park with hiking trails in crushed stone, a playground, a chalet and a 30-door housing development nearby, for which the land will be ceded to the town of Bedford.The company will apply for construction permits for the playground and chalet early in the new year.\u201cWe decided to make the park accessible to the public before completing the rest of the project,\u201d says Houde.\u201cPeople will be able to enjoy the park in 2023.\u201d Houde declined to provide the project\u2019s speci?c budget estimate, but said Graymont was investing \u201cseveral million dollars\u201d in its construction.Simard says the company\u2019s biggest challenge in the next few years will be keeping noise to an acceptable level and keeping the budget manageable, in light of the labour shortage and supply chain concerns.The company is building a fund to ensure the park\u2019s long-term survival, potentially in partnership with a local nonpro?t.The French word heritage can also be translated as \u201clegacy\u201d or \u201cinheritance,\u201d and that\u2019s what Houde and her colleagues hope the park will become for residents of Bedford and surrounding municipalities.\u201cWe want it to become a destination for people in and around Bedford, a nice place to spend an afternoon,\u201d says Simard.\u201cIn 15-20 years, I hope that\u2019s what it will be.\u201d Current Bedford mayor Claude Dubois has said a major reason he returned to municipal politics after an eight-year absence was to see the project through to the park\u2019s opening.\u201cIt\u2019s coming along well, and the population will bene?t from it for a long time,\u201d he told the BCN during an interview in late November.No of?cials from the town of Bedford were able to provide further comment at press time.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 4 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 BromeCountyNews Learn More.Achieve More.To improve reading, writing or math skills, look under LEARN in the Yellow Pages™ or visit www.LookUnderLearn.ca Brome County News welcomes your letters to the editor.Please limit your letters to 300 words.We reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, legality and taste.Please ensure there is a phone number or email where you can be reached, to con?rm authorship and current town/city of residence.Names will not be withheld but the address and phone number of the writer are not published, except by request.Preference is given to writers from the Eastern Townships.5-b VICTORIA ST., KNOWLTON, QUEBEC, J0E 1V0 TEL: (450) 242-1188 FAX: (450) 243-5155 Published weekly by 6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, QUEBEC, J1M 2E2 E-MAIL: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com website: www.sherbrookerecord.com SHARON MCCULLY PUBLISHER .(819) 569-6345 MATTHEW MCCULLY ASSOCIATE EDITOR .(819) 569-6345 NICOLE MARSH SECRETARY .(450) 242-1188 JESSE BRYANT ADVERTISING .(450) 242-1188 PRINT SUBSCRIPTION TO THE BROME COUNTY NEWS: 1 year print subscription to The Brome County News and The Record (Tuesday only) mailed to your home - $58.00 (including taxes) Call our subscription department at 819-569-9528.CIRCULATION Distributed to all Record subscribers every Tuesday as an insert, and to households and businesses in Abercorn, Bedford, Brigham, Brome, Bromont, Cowansville, East Farn- ham, Foster, Fulford, Knowlton (Brome Lake), Sutton, Bolton Centre, West Brome.The Record was founded on February 7, 1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675.Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA Established May 1991 RECORD THE OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9 A.M.TO NOON bcnnews@qc.aibn.com BCN RATES & DEADLINES COMMUNITY CALENDAR Brome County News Community Calendar is reserved for non-profit organizations only.Deadline is noon on Fridays.Must be pre-paid.Up to 40 words: $8, 41-70 words: $12, 71-100 words: $15, all prices include taxes.Special rates: $2 off for 2 insertions, 1 BCN and 1 in the Friday Record \u201cWhat\u2019s On\u201d section.Please forward notices to 5-b Victoria St., Knowlton, QC J0E 1V0, email: bcnnews@qc.aibn.com, or fax: (450) 243-5155.Visa and Mastercard accepted.Pet of the week: Arthur My name is Arthur.I am a beautiful senior Labrador aged around 11 years old.I was found roaming alone so we don\u2019t know my past.But I can still tell you little things about me.I am calm and gentle by nature.I like being surrounded by people and being cuddled.I am very affectionate.Smelling everywhere is one of my favorite things.I have hip dysplasia.I am taking medication that helps me manage the pain.That does not prevent me from taking beautiful walks on a leash.My Lyme disease test came back negative.I am looking for a family who can give me a nice peaceful retreat, ?lled with love.Yes, I am one old heart on four legs, but a heart ?lled with love to give and which would like so much to share its old days with the daily life of a family.I am looking for a home without other animals since I am not sterilized.A house without stairs would suit me well.My adoption will be one of compassion, so a donation instead of the usual fees.If you are interested in giving me la loving forever home, write to: adoptionspcamonteregie@gmail.com.Ben in Focus Frozen decoration, hanging in a tree spectators.\u201cThe concerts we were doing showed us it was possible [to use the church as a performance space] but it will cost money to renovate and winterize,\u201d he says.\u201cWe can\u2019t install elaborate lighting or curtains because of the heritage designation.We\u2019d like to organize acoustic music evenings, singing, poetry readings\u2026and make it easier for other people to organize events.\u201d Currently, the unheated building can only host events in summer.Lefe- bvre says the cultural centre is currently applying for funding to repair the church\u2019s roof, improve the lighting and add an emergency exit.In the medium term, members hope to be able to build a heated annex to serve as a ticket booth and green room.\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ll ever be able to winterize it completely for year-round use, but we\u2019ll hopefully be able to prolong the season a little, to hold events from April to October.\u201d By 2023, he hopes weekly summer events will be organized in the church.Église Saint-Simon was put on sale in mid-2020 by the Diocese of Saint-Hya- cinthe.Later that year, it was purchased by Pierre Bernier, a Cowansville-based entrepreneur.Attempts to contact Ber- nier were unsuccessful; in July 2021, he told La Voix de L\u2019Est that he planned to renovate the church and add washrooms, a kitchen and a garden.Lefebvre said he didn\u2019t have details on what Bernier\u2019s plans for the building were; although he has organized events in the Catholic church in the past, he prefers to focus on the future of the All Saints building.\u201cIf we can eventually have events every weekend [in summer] and a few weekday events, that would be great,\u201d he says.\u201cWe want to give life back to that place.\u201d Abercorn church CONT\u2019D FROM PAGE 1 PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW BromeCountyNews Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 5 Parkview Elementary collaborates with new fundraising platform to support its students By Taylor McClure Special to Brome County News Parkview Elementary School is launching its yearly fundraiser with all money raised going towards supporting a variety of activities for its students and the school\u2019s Helping Hands Program.In past years, the fundraiser involved the sale of coupon booklets, but things will run differently this time around.Through Educado, a fundraising platform for schools, sports teams, or any youth organizations, Parkview is selling what are called \u201cuniversal tickets\u201d that will allow parents, friends, and family to support Parkview students while also contributing to their local businesses and putting money back in their pockets.\u201cThe whole point was to try to ?nd a way that parents could support their kids and other children without having to buy some kind of merchandise or product and a way they can support the children without having to spend any money at all,\u201d explained Joel Gillis, creator of Educado and representative for Granby.\u201cWe wanted to ?nd a way to support the children while putting money back into the parent\u2019s and supporter\u2019s pockets and that is basically what Educado will do.\u201d The universal coupons are purchased online and there are fewer limitations.\u201cFor 10 coupons it\u2019s 20$ and that\u2019s how they get sold.Instead of using a booklet where you have a limited number of coupons per page at a particular business, if you liked the two-for-one deal at X store then you can use all 10 coupons in the same type of transaction,\u201d explained Daniel Zigby, vice-chair of the governing board.Each business involved in the fundraiser, so far located in Granby, Bromont, the West Island and Ville St- Laurent in Montreal, will be offering up to three special deals.\u201cThe deals are all posted online and the parents buy 10 universal coupons.Once they buy these coupons, they have 10 chances to save anywhere between $5 and $400 depending on where they choose to redeem it.\u201d Even if a parent takes one of the smallest deals being offered, parents will still be putting money in their pockets.\u201cYou get back two and half times your money,\u201d Gillis emphasized.\u201cYou\u2019re going to realize wow it\u2019s really worth it and save even more money and support students at the same time.\u201d The Educado platform helps make fundraising initiatives simpler.\u201cNow the kids don\u2019t have to distribute a product or collect money that they could lose,\u201d said Gillis.\u201cIt is sharing a QR code or sharing a link -that\u2019s it.When we sold the booklets, it took six weeks to get all the money in.\u201d All money raised through Educado will support student activities and outings.\u201cIn this particular case, we are raising money for the ski trip for all the students and for the end of year the year celebration that we have been doing at Parkview every year for the last 10 years\u201d said Zigby.\u201cThere will be different student activities that they will be participating in.\u201d It will also support Parkview\u2019s Helping Hands Program.\u201cBeing done at the school level, it is a fund that is available to help out families of Parkview that are in need.We use it to buy snowsuits for kids that don\u2019t have the money for it, if someone shows up and doesn\u2019t have a lunch we use it to pay for a lunch, or for a family that runs into a personal tragedy,\u201d added Zigby.Zigby said the school has set out a large goal to raise $50,000.If each student ?nds ?ve people to buy and each one of those people come back three times, it\u2019s a total of $60,000.\u201cIt it does give a huge hand to the Helping Hands fund.It will allow Helping Hands do a lot more than its already currently doing and it was one of the goals of the governing board.\u201d Gilles is looking to expand Educado and to involve other businesses and representatives.\u201cThe old booklet, the deals were only good in Granby so why would anyone outside of Granby want to support.We are able to get rid of the borders and call up friends that live 50 miles away and there will be deals in their backyard.They can support your kid in Granby and save in their own backyard, that is our goal.\u201d To donate to the fundraiser, visit https://educado.ca/parkview- elementary-granby/.If you are interested in being a participating business, email info@educado.ca.Student participants and supporters are eligible for prizes.COURTESY Joel Gillis, creator of Educado Annual poinsettia campaign a success BCN Staff The 21st edition of the Au Diapason Foundation\u2019s annual poinsettia campaign, which took place on Nov.25t and 26 was a success with a total of 3,216 poinsettias sold; 700 more than the last year\u2019s fundraiser.As a result of the generosity of the local community, the Au Diapason Foundation, which ?nancially supports the free specialized palliative care to people at the end of life and the psychological and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones in the Brome-Missisquoi and Haute-Yamaska territories offered by La Maison Au Diapason and L\u2019Équipe d\u2019accompagnement Au Diapason, raised a record amount of over $70,000.The campaign is spearheaded by a team of volunteers who, year after year, take on numerous roles and implications to ensure its success.Partners included La Voix de L\u2019Est and M105, who contributed to the promotion of the campaign, and Les Salons funéraires Désourdy and Galeries de Granby, which allowed the group to use their facilities for the distribution of poinsettias.PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 6 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 BromeCountyNews Prop.Darren Paige & Carolyn Lemaire For all your automotive and tire needs 450.243.0763 554 ch.Knowlton \u2022 Knowlton, QC J0E 1V0 info@garagedcs.com TIRES (NEW AND USED) GENERAL MECHANICS ALIGNMENTS SUSPENSION BRAKE SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONING ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS Deadline for putting on winter tires is December 1.APPOINTMENT ONLY - Book yours today! For all your advertising needs, call Jesse Bryant Sales Manager 450-242-1188 jbryant@sherbrookerecord.com BUSINESS DIRECTORY PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW BromeCountyNews Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 7 Local Women\u2019s Institutes supporting petition to grant status to the Quebec tartan By Louise Smith The Quebec tartan was designed in 1965, the same year as the Ontario tartan.Every province in Canada has adopted an of?cial tartan.Although the Quebec tartan has been in existence for 56 years it has never been adopted by the Quebec government.Quebec is the only province not to have adopted a plaid.A petition is circulating to request that the adoption of the tartan take place.It can be done on line by going to https://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/ exprimez-votre-opinion/petition/Pe- tition-9339/index.html After signing on line, a con?rmation notice will be sent to your email, and that notice will have to be con?rmed.Then your \u201csigning\u201d will have been con?rmed.There are several paper copies of the petition in circulation.The petitions will need to be in before Feb.10.It is worth noting that the ?rst Scottish immigrants settled in Quebec over 400 years ago.(Both Wolfe and Montcalm had Scottish sec- ond-in-commands!) The Scottish community in Quebec has contributed signi?cantly to the economic, social, and cultural development of the province.In education, Quebec is the only province in which its school system is based on the Scottish model of elementary and high school.Everywhere else in North America it is the English based system of elementary, middle school, and high school.The Quebec tartan, which is numbered 1949 in the Scottish Register of Tartans, was designed to represent the Quebec coat of arms.The blue is for the upper division which contains three ?eur de lys, The green is for the sprig of maple leaves on the lower division.The gold is for the lion passant in the middle division and also for the crown of the crest.The white represents the scroll with the motto \u201cJe me souviens.\u201d In December 2003 the National Assembly proclaimed April 6 as Tartan Day in recognition of Scottish immigrants.Yet the province of Quebec remains the only province which has not adopted an of?cial tartan.It only takes a few minutes to ?ll out the petition online.Help to make the adoption a reality.COURTESY The Quebec tartan PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 8 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 BromeCountyNews Almut Ellinghaus By Hannah Polinski You\u2019ll never feel alone on a visit to sculptor Almut Ellinghaus\u2019 garden.Working with stoneware clay ?red in a gas kiln, Ellinghaus creates sculpted ?gures of all shapes and sizes, with a variety of constantly changing expressions.Clay did not come initially to the German-born artist, who comes from a theatre background, studying puppetry in Stuttgart as part of the ?rst four-year puppetry degree in the Western world.It was there she met Felix Mirbt, a German-Canadian puppeteer who she followed to Quebec, where she has lived for over 30 years.After Mirbt\u2019s death in 2002, she began exploring sculpture for the garden.Her ?rst creations were done with cement, but after a back injury, turned to just clay.She now lives and works alongside her husband Stanley Lake, whom she collaborates with often in clay, music, and organizing festivals.They both work out of Ruiter Brook Pottery, Lake\u2019s pottery studio.While her ?nal product may not be malleable, Ellinghaus\u2019 sculptures capture a form in constant movement.Often, she creates ?gures whose heads are separate from the body, allowing one to move them about at different angles.\u201cWhat interests me is shape and how things relate to one another,\u201d she explains.\u201cMaybe this comes from the puppet world.You have one shape that\u2019s a body and a face.How do these two relate to one another?\u201d With modi?able heads, Ellinghaus can capture a variety of possibilities for emotion within her ?gures.When creating her sculpted faces, she aims to imbue them with questions and then have the body play into it, depending on the angle it is viewed from.\u201cWhen I make a sculpture I still want that different emotional possibility in that face, rather than just a static smile for example.Then I consider the overall shape of the body.\u201d Body language thus becomes a stage for emotion, while the expressions spread across the face are the driving force.Her process of shaping the bodies is one that she cannot plan in advance, one that relies on intuition and the act of seeing.She begins with a sheet of clay, which she shapes into a cylinder.On this cylinder, she does a basic drawing of what she sees, including some of its face.\u201cBasically, I have to listen and observe what is happening in front of me.Can I see the possibilities in its imperfection?And if I do see something, am I skilled enough to not lose it while I work it, to strengthen it?\u201d Eventually these sculptures take form into something familiar to the human mind, many taking large forms, which makes them ideal for an outdoor setting.Once her ?gures are ?lled with a range of emotional possibilities, she ?res them in a gas-?red kiln.This speci?c type of kiln interacts with its atmosphere and smoke to create chemical changes within the clay and its glaze, resulting in unpredictable colour changes.Ellinghaus is never certain what colour her sculptures will take when she puts them in the kiln, making the ?nal product a surprise to its own artist.Sculptor isn\u2019t the only art hat she wears; Ellinghaus is also a musician and community arts organizer.Along with Lake, the pair have several musical projects together, including the Almut Ellinghaus Trio and the Honeysuckle Sisters.Ellinghaus is a vocalist, while Lake plays trumpet, bringing lots of great harmonies to the Eastern Townships.They are also the organizers of the Tour des Arts and the Sutton Jazz Festival, both occurring once per year.While next summer is still far away, they are currently preparing for next year\u2019s editions while balancing out their own artistic practices.The Tour des Arts 2022 will take place from July 16 to 24, 2022, at various spots in the Eastern Townships.This project has been made possible by the Community Media Strategic Support Fund offered jointly by the Of?cial Language Minority Community Media Consortium and the Government of Canada.What\u2019s behind the creative mind Celebrating the arts in Brome-Missisquoi PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW BromeCountyNews Tuesday, November 30, 2021 Page 9 It\u2019s been a rough year for artists and performers, with public gatherings banned, venues shuttered, craft shows cancelled and theatre performances put on hold.Brome County News wants to help kickstart the arts sector that contributes so much to the vitality and richness of Brome-Missisquoi.Each week the newspaper will feature a local artist, musician, writer or performer.Brome County News will also publish a comprehensive Artists Directory for Brome-Missisquoi to allow residents and visitors to ?nd musicians for live performances, pianists for weddings or special occasions, potters to create the perfect gift, to commission a painting by a Townships artist or to buy books written by Townships\u2019 authors.Calling If you are an artist, writer, musician, actor or artisan, or otherwise involved in the arts, send us an email and someone will contact you about your FREE listing in the directory.all Artists, Artisans, Musicians, Writers and Performers Check out the Brome County News website: www.bromecountynews.com bcn@sherbrookerecord.com This project has been made possible by the Community Media Strategic Fund o?ered jointly by the O?cial Language Minority Community Media Consortium and the Government of Canada Old space, new gallery By Taylor McClure Special to Brome County News Brome Lake is getting a new art gallery.Situated in the Brome Lea house, a historic property on Victoria Street dating back to 1886, Galeri Elca London: Art Inuit et plus will showcase primarily Inuit art, but owner Mark London will also share other pieces that catch his eye.London, whose family originally founded the gallery in Montreal in the 1960s, hopes to share his love for the art form and that visitors will ?nd their own special treasure.\u201cThe gallery was founded in 1960 by my parents and we initially showed works by Canadian artists, but over the years, through various locations and interactions, we showed Canadian, American, and European works,\u201d said London.\u201cBy the mid 60s, we started to show Inuit art.It was a dual major of non-Indigenous art and Indigenous art.At some point around 25 years ago or so, we decided to focus exclusively on Inuit Art.\u201d At a time when there was a lack of galleries for artists to share their work with the public, London\u2019s parent became \u201cfacilitators\u201d for their artist friends.\u201cA couple of artists started giving commissions for their sales.At the time my mother was working as psychologist and she had three kids at home.She thought this was a great way to make a living and thought it would be a nice idea to start dealing art from the basement of our home.\u201d They eventually opened up a Gallery in Mount Royal, moved to Sherbrooke Street, then to Old Montreal, back to Sherbooke Street, before London moved it to Brome Lake.\u201cThis is sort of a semi- retirement thing; I\u2019m not opting out of the rat race, but it\u2019s sort of a lifestyle change.My wife and I wanted to opt out of Montreal.\u201d The vibrancy and the cultural scene in Brome Lake and its surrounding communities attracted London and his wife to settle in the area and they have been working on putting together the new gallery space ever since taking over the Brome Lea House.\u201cI think initially, my late mother was a psychologist and she had a predisposed interest in art by Indigenous Peoples and its connections to spirituality.So, when we started dealing Inuit art I was a child and I literally grew up with the art in the house.\u201d London purchases the pieces that are showcased through co-ops.\u201cArtists bring their work into their local coop and negotiate a price.The co-op then pays them and they either get money or they own the local store where you can buy food, clothing, guns, and ammos and whatever they need.They turn the sculptures they\u2019ve made into food and clothing, and the co-op becomes a distributor of Inuit art dealing with galleries.\u201d Sharing his love of the art and the diversity that is found within it, is a goal.\u201cEveryone has an idea in their head of what Inuit art is and they\u2019re almost all wrong.There is so much variety that you have to look more deeply to see just how wide and wonderful the selection is.Most of our inventory falls into two categories: sculpture and prints and drawings, works on paper, but I do occasionally have textile works or ceramic pieces.\u201d With a background in art history, London will also share timely pieces that he likes and purchases at auctions.\u201cI deal in new and used.My background is in art history and I always felt that it\u2019s best whenever possible to contextualize.I try and have pieces that were made in the 60s and 70s to show evolution of the art form, or the artists style and career, and how it evolved over time.\u201d London will be welcoming visitors to the gallery with open arms and he wants people to ?nd their special work of art.\u201cI never want to force someone to purchase something I have.I don\u2019t want to have to sell anything, I want to have pieces that people want to buy.I hope people will say I like this, I want it.\u201d The gallery is expected to open the week before Christmas.Keep an eye out on the Galeri Elca London: Art Intui et plus for business hours.Galeri Elca London: Art Intui takes over historical Brome Lea house COURTESY PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 10 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 BromeCountyNews Call Sherbrooke: (819) 569-9525 between 8:30 a.m.and 4:30 p.m.E-mail: classad@sherbrookerecord.com or Knowlton: (450) 242-1188 between 9:00 a.m.and Noon CLASSIFIED Or mail your prepaid classi?ed ads to 5-B Victoria St., Knowlton, Quebec J0E 1V0 The Record, 6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 2E2 Death A special sitting of Council will be held on Monday, December 20, 2021, at 7 p.m., at Centre Lac-Brome, 270 Victoria Road, Lac-Brome.The meeting will be held according to the directives given by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Minister of Health as concerns the Covid-19 pandemic.The Agenda, Presentation of Budget, the three year capital expenditures program, and other related documents will be available for consultation at Town Hall and published on the Town website: ville.lac- brome.qc.ca/fr/vie-municipale/previsions- budgetaires.In accordance with section 325 of the Cities and Towns Act, the deliberations at this meeting and question period must deal exclusively with the following subjects: Given at Brome Lake December 3, 2021 Owen Falquero, B.A., LL.B., J.D.Attorney, Town Clerk PUBLIC NOTICE SPECIAL SITTING OF COUNCIL Adoption of the budget and previsions for the 2022 ?scal year; Adoption of the three-year capital expenditures program 2022-2023-2024 \u2022 \u2022 Find the right person for the job in advertising in our Career Section Many Record readers want a career change and are looking for a new job.Shouldn\u2019t your ad be in The Record\u2019s Career Section?For reservations or further information, please call RECORD THE 819-569-9525 Eugene Robert JONES Eugene Robert Jones passed away on November 1, 2021 at the age of 82 (born December 29, 1938).Husband of Annie Lyndall Dudley and son of the late James Jones & Adeline Willette.Father to Angela (& Tony) & Jack.Grandfather to Anodea Passera.Brother of Roger and sisters: Roma Dudley, late Dorothy Premont, late Glenna Page, late Myrna Jones, Norma Kirby, Inez Kerr, Joyce Fortin & Donna Coates.Uncle to many nieces & nephews.The burial took place at St.John\u2019s Cemetery, Brome on November 5, 2021.Card of Thanks JONES, Eugene Robert \u2013 To all of Eugene\u2019s family and friends, we extend thanks for your kind support when he passed away.A special thanks to the Masons, Oddfellows & Valerie Cooke for services held in his memory.The many cards, calls and ?owers were much appreciated as well as donations, including those made to St.John\u2019s Cemetery, Brome.ANNI ANGELA AND JACK Give It Some Time BCN Staff When Patricia St-Onge was ?nishing up the recording on her debut album, back in December of 2019, she had no idea how perfect the title she chose would be.She named the album Give It Some Time, and thanks to Covid, that\u2019s exactly what she had to do! Now, she can\u2019t wait any longer to of?cially launch it and we can ?nally hear her play through it, live on Dec.16! Patricia St-Onge is a well-known performer in the Eastern Townships.She began dancing as a kid in Mansonville and quickly distinguished herself as one of the best cloggers in the province, winning many championships.This gave her con?dence to branch out as a performer and she became not just a dancer, but a singer as well and even took roles in many plays.You might remember her from her roles in Knowlton Players\u2019 pantomimes and dinner theatres, or lending her talent to countless bene?t concerts.Many know her as a choreographer and dance teacher as she ran a successful dance studio of her own called Legworks, which she had to close for Covid reasons.Still others remember her as part of the trio \u201cThe Lovely Brothers\u201d with Sheila McManus and Laura Teasdale.Needless to say, most Townshippers have seen Patricia on stage at some point.She has always been a performer who could be counted on when the chips were down.Her talented family members were always there too, and her Mom (who passed away just a few years ago) proudly recording every performance.So when Patricia ?nally set aside some time to record her own songs at the studio of sound engineering genius John Cameron, there was a long line of musicians who jumped on board to help her.The list includes Shannon McGovern, Sheila Quinn, Bruno Audet, Sheila McManus, Laura Teasdale, John Cameron and Rusty James and some of these talented musicians will be her guests at the launch.As an added bonus, Patricia\u2019s daughter Emma Lee St-Onge Audet, herself a brilliant young musician, will perform alongside her mom! St-Onge looks forward to an evening of music, friends and laughter celebrating this album she holds so dear to her heart.She wrote these songs through good times and bad, through great love and great loss.Together we can catch a glimpse of the person behind the friendly smile and effortless talent.The launch of Give It Some Time is Thursday, Dec.16 at 7:30 p.m.at the Lakeview Inn (50 Rue Victoria, Lac Brome).Tickets are $20 and you can get them by calling or texting (450) 204-0203.Or leave Patricia St-Onge a message on Facebook.Seating will be limited as Covid rules will apply.Local songwriter releases new album COURTESY Patricia St-Onge h e Brome County News local news every Tuesday Your Community\u2026 Your Family\u2026 Your Interests\u2026 Yo ur Home\u2026 It\u2019s all a part of your l ocal newspaper! ONLY $58.00 a year (taxes included) Includes the Tuesday copy of h e Record & the Brome County News 450-242-1188 \u2022 819-569-9528 | billing@sherbrookerecord.com PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW BromeCountyNews Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Page 11 Jesse Bryant Sales Manager Let our readers know about your products & services Tel.: 450-242-1188 Fax: 450-243-5155 email: jbryant@sherbrookerecord.com Teamwork is the key for Dominique Martel By Ruby Irene Pratka Local Journalism Initiative When Dominique Martel took over the position of mayor of Saint-Ignace-de-Stanbridge, she had a steep learning curve.She leaned into it.Martel was serving on the town council in 2019 when her predecessor, then-mayor Albert Santerre, died of cancer.She was the only one who volunteered to take Santerre\u2019s place.\u201cI went for it, because I didn\u2019t want the town to have to come under guardianship,\u201d she recalled.\u201cI went to all the trainings, I did a lot of networking, I found my place, but I didn\u2019t really have time to add my own colour to the position, because the pandemic came and everything had to be put on ice.Once public health measures started lightening up again and people were able to live and do what they want again, I wanted to do what I wanted.\u201d Martel has committed herself to running the town of about 700 people while keeping her full-time job as director of manufacturing at a nearby IBM facility.\u201cIt\u2019s not a small job,\u201d she says.\u201cI\u2019m always on the go; I\u2019m a very organized person.\u201d She adds that some skills, like working as part of a team, transfer well from one job to the other.She was elected to her ?rst full term on Nov.7.She says some of her biggest priorities are overseeing roadwork and the construction of the municipal garage and pitching in for the Bedford pole resource-sharing initiative.The Bedford pole encompasses Bedford, Bedford Township, Notre- Dame-de-Stanbridge, Saint-Ignace-de- Stanbridge, Stanbridge East, Pike River, Saint-Armand and Stanbridge Station.\u201cThere\u2019s a great partnership between all the members of the pole.We have had the study [commissioned to inform the development of a joint economic action plan] and now the real work can start,\u201d Martel says.\u201cWe can\u2019t continue to work in silos anymore; we need to share resources and work together, or the survival of our villages will even be in danger.\u201d Saint-Ignace is already sharing snow removal services with nearby Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge, but Martel sees the pole as much more than a service-sharing hub.\u201cWe all have different strengths,\u201d she says.\u201cWe have a lot of agriculture here; in Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge they have really strong recreational programming, and in Bedford they have all kinds of services.We need to work together to attract people to maintain the services we have; I feel we can do something to attract more people, make sure there\u2019s something for kids to do.We also have people who come to work here but who ?nd that it\u2019s dif?cult to ?nd housing.We have a lot of green [agricultural] zones here, and we need to look at how we can [?t in] more housing.\u201d Martel is also working to get more community members involved in local politics.\u201cWhen I took over [as mayor], there was no one else,\u201d she recalled.\u201cI have to think of the next generation, how to get more people involved in the community.Now I have a young councillor and more women on council [than in past years], and I like that fact.I didn\u2019t think about town council until I had a problem that needed ?xing, but once I came [to a meeting], I never left.I like listening to councillors and working together to put projects on the table.This isn\u2019t just a job \u2013 you have a certain power as a councillor.You need to have the town at heart, you need to be passionate, you need to be a good listener and you need to really want to do it.\u201d Saint-Ignace-de-Stanbridge at a glance: Population: 676 (2016) Anglophones as percentage of population: 13.3 per cent Bilingual status: No (although Martel says in-person services at the town hall can be provided in English when needed) Land area: 69.43 km3 Festif Bromont gets visitors in the holiday mood BCN Staff The weekend of Dec.10 to 12, a large Christmas market, a wine bar, entertainment, a bicycle parade, and several activities will be organized in Vieux-Bromont under the title Festif Bromont, taking place on Rue Shefford and in the village\u2019s new public square.For three days, the boutiques and gourmet establishments of Vieux- Bromont will welcome visitors.The village has a variety of producers that create products unique to Quebec.In addition to day-to-day activities, more than 20 local artisans will showcase their know-how, at businesses or in the new public square.The public square will have music, lights, and Eco-Logic bon?res.La Route des vins Brome-Missisquoi, with Léon Courville Vigneron, Val Caudalies, Vignoble la Grenouille and Domaine des Côtes d´Ardoise, will be offering a wine bar and there will be a boutique.Christmas ball decoration workshops, hot chocolate and marshmallows will also be offered.Other activities include Baratanga, traveling animation with light percussions, and a Christmas bike parade made up of 100 illuminated bikes that will make their way through Vieux-Bromont.As part of Festif Bromont, a puppet show titled Le génie de Noël will also be taking place on Dec.12 at 11 a.m.Children, with the genie\u2019s help, will have to ?nd Christmas stories to bring back the magic of Christmas.Musical guests The Lost Fingers and Benoit Chabot et Hélène Bienvenue will be providing entertainment; tickets are already completely sold out.To add to the experience, a Christmas decoration contest is organized in Vieux-Bromont.For the complete itinerary, visit https://tourismebromont.com/festif- bromont/.COURTESY PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW Page 12 Tuesday, December 7, 2021 bcn@sherbrookerecord.com Brome County News * PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY .ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW "]