Passed away unexpectedly, as the result of an accident, on Friday, July 17, 2026 at the age of 10 years. Daughter of Elam and Judith Bauman of Wallenstein. Sister of Enos (Lovisa) Bauman of Wallenstein, Martha (Isaac) Martin of Linwood, Salome (Simeon) Frey of Meaford, Susie and Lena both at home. Granddaughter of Elizabeth Bauman. Arrangements entrusted to Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira.

Have you heard of Jeanne Renault?

A long-term resident of Elmira, she was known for the strong connections she created in the community before passing away at the age of 40 in 1993. She was a mentor, advocate for people of all ages, and a trusted confidante for those experiencing family violence. Her impact is still being felt over three decades later, most notably with the upcoming 32nd Jeanne Renault Golf Classic.

Put on each year by Woolwich Community Services, the all-day event will be held at Ariss Valley Golf Course on August 13. Participants can expect to play a full shotgun-style 18 holes, with lunch and dinner provided, with all proceeds going to support the family violence prevention program.

A fire Sunday morning at a commercial building in Breslau caused about $40,000 in damage.

Emergency crews responded about 10 a.m. to the site on Townsend Drive. Woolwich firefighters from stations in Breslau, Maryhill and Conestogo were called out.

Township deputy fire chief Jeff Lipskie reported that there was one occupant present when firefighters arrived. No one was injured.

It would be so easy for Donald Trump to escape from the trap he has built for himself in the Persian Gulf. Just declare a victory and leave.

So what if the Iranians also declare a victory (with a lot more accuracy)? The ‘nuclear weapons’ that gave Trump (and Israeli leader Binyamin Netanyahu) a pretext for attacking Iran never really existed. This would be as close to cost-free for the United States as a lost war ever gets: only a dozen American dead.

The only audience that really matters for Trump is the MAGA supporters back home, and they would be so glad to see him drop this nonsense that they wouldn’t say a word against him. The oil price would drop, and Republicans might even manage to hold onto both Houses of Congress in the November mid-term elections.

A company’s plan to bring wind turbines to Wellesley Township has met with mixed reviews.

“There’s about probably a 50-50 split,” Wellesley Mayor Joe Nowak told The Observer of the reaction to a bid by Renewable Energy Systems Canada (RES) that was brought last month to township council.

“There are people who are absolutely opposed to it… if you drive through our countryside, it’s absolutely stunning,” he added. 

Yet others believe there’s more upside than not, welcoming the prospect of turbines dotting the countryside.

Wildfires and their impact have been the topic of conversation as thick smoke and haze rolled into southern Ontario from the hundreds of active forest fires burning in the north. Warm, dry weather plus several lightning strikes made the perfect storm for the situation to develop.

“It’s actually very interesting if you look at the fire map, and you look at where all the fires started. You can actually see it almost in an arc in the way that the storm front was moving through northwestern Ontario,” said Mike Harris, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga and Minister of Natural Resources.

About a week after the more intense fires started, more than 150 fire crews are continuing to respond to the 190 active fires across the province. This includes 120 aircraft, with 80 helicopters and waterbombers and around 700 boots on the ground. 

“Mother Nature has been a little bit helpful over the last couple of days, delivering some rain to the north. So still a very precarious situation, but we’ve now got a bit of an opportunity to do some more suppression work now that some of the smoke has started to subside a little bit,” said Harris. 

As people try to make sense of the forest fire situation, conflicting views have arisen about government investment toward the issue.

For the current fire season, the province set a starting base budget of $150 million. Critics point out that this is vastly lower than the $271 million Ontario actually spent to fight fires during the previous season. They say that the lower initial budget means fewer full-time staff, lower wages and insufficient resources secured before the season peaks.

However, Harris stressed there have been no actual budget cuts. Instead, the province is technically starting at a higher baseline budget than previous years.

“To be very clear, there are no cuts, zero cuts. In fact, since 2018, since we took government, we have actually doubled the base funding. It’s gone from about $70 million up to $150 million now as our base funding,” said Harris, adding that on top of that, depending on how severe the fire year is, the province can go to the Treasury Board to get a top-up on the amount of money they need for their response.

“I think since 2018 we’ve spent about $1.5 billion on forest-fire fighting efforts… so, no cuts.”

The confusion about budget cuts comes from how the natural disasters budget operates. The government operates on a “spend-as-needed” model for natural disasters. The province emphasizes that the $150 million figure is merely a technical starting baseline required for annual financial documentation. Typically, the province will spend more than this. In 2025’s budget, Ontario allotted $135 million for its Emergency Forest Firefighting fund; however, it ended up spending double that, $271 million, according to this year’s budget.  

The unpredictability of wildfire season is the primary driver behind using the spend-as-needed budget model.

“Our actual folks who kind of run those three- or four-person crews, four- or five-person crews, to actually work on compensation with them, and they’re actually getting paid more now, as well. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about what’s going on. No cuts. We’ve actually been able to recruit a lot more people over the last few years, which is great. I think we’ve brought on somewhere in the neighbourhood of about 150 new staff. So we’re bolstering things up, obviously, as we see some more severe seasons kind of ahead of us, and our teams do an incredible job,” said Harris. 

While Harris says there are no overall trends for wildfires in Ontario, he noted that some weather changes in northern winters are contributing to ripe conditions for the fire season. 

“I would say in the last couple of years, in particular, though, the northwest over the winter hasn’t gotten as much snow as the northeast, and it’s been a lot warmer and drier through the spring. So that’s why over the last couple of years, for example, we’ve seen a lot more fires in the northwest than we see in the northeast, because they’ve got over the last couple of years quite a bit of snow and sort of a wet drizzly spring. It’s kind of changed a little bit over those last couple years in that respect.”

Looking to the future, Harris said the province is always considering ways to improve their wildfire response. 

“Every year after we get through the fire season, usually through the winter, we always look back and see what can we do better, what can we change, what worked really well, what can we emulate. We look at other provinces, other jurisdictions, to see what they’re up to, but we have a very well trained and well-equipped fire service here in Ontario. This year is just unprecedented,” said Harris, adding that he feels there are already good policies in place for forest fire management. However, this year, dealing with so many fires at once, so close to different communities, has stretched resources thin, making the situation challenging to deal with.

Wellesley Township expects moderate growth over the next 25 years, the timeline laid out in the new official plan approved this week by council.

The population is forecasted to grow by 14.5 per cent, to 14,200 from 12,400 today. That will require an additional 630 homes and 1,000 new jobs.

The plan shared at Monday night’s meeting contained the final tweaks of a document a year in the making, a process that included public consultations and input from stakeholders such as property owners and developers.

I suppose a lot of you already know this, but the sign of a good angler is not merely his or her ability to catch fish. Anyone can do that. And any five-year-old with a Mickey Mouse rod and reel can do it even better.

The sign of a good angler is that he or she knows how to dress throughout the angling season. Whether sashaying down a dock or taking a restful Sunday stroll into a new bait shop, the mark of a true angler is knowing how to work their look.

You need to have a style that turns heads and makes people think, “Now there goes a carp fisherman!”

ELORA – A "Concert with Addy-Tude" is back at the Elora Centre for the Arts on Sept. 19, raising money for childhood sarcoma research at Toronto’s SickKids Hospital.

The show is set for 3 to 11 p.m. at the MacDonald Pavilion, located at the north end of the Elora Centre for the Arts (75 Melville St.). Tickets go on sale July 24 at 10am through ticketscene.ca — $75 general admission, $10 for children aged four to 12, and free for those under four.

Organizers say tickets are limited for the outdoor setting and expect them to sell quickly.

The event honours Addison "Addy" Hill, who died of angiosarcoma in 2022 at age 14.

Team Addy, which organizes the concert in her memory, has raised close to $1 million for sarcoma research.

Singer-songwriter TALK headlines, marking the artist's first return to Elora after a 2023 Riverfest Elora appearance.

Hamilton party band Born in the 80s closes the night with a set of 80s, 90s and 00s hits.

Also on the bill are London trio Thunder Queens, Guelph's Lennox and Hot Flashes, Elora singer-songwriter Lee Watson, and Guelph duo Quincy and Dave, start the show.

The lineup was curated with Spencer Shewen, former artistic director of Riverfest Elora, now artistic director of the Mariposa Folk Festival.

Channelling Addy’s trademark optimism, courage, and "Addytude," organizers say, the event aims to transform grief into hope.

The Friendly Society, The Evelyn, Handsome Devil and Elora Coffee Roasters will offer food and beverages.

SickKids Foundation representatives will attend, and Dr. David Malkin, who heads the research laboratory, is to speak about the impact of Team Addy's fundraising.

For the fourth time in a row, Woolwich’s Maddy Phillips and Emma Maric are off to the fast pitch nationals. The members of the U19 UTM Bandits will take part in the U19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship next month in Calgary.

“It’s a very good opportunity and experience to be able to go to nationals four times throughout the years…and with the same group of girls,” said 18-year-old Maric, who hails from Winterbourne.

But this year may be the last time on the fastpitch softball team since the squad will be parting ways with different schools, and they won’t know if they will be able to field a team next year.

It takes a special kind of crazy to participate in the ENDURrun.

Held every second year, the punishing multi-stage contest takes participants all over the region to compete in eight days’ worth of varied races. Starting with a half-marathon in RIM Park, it then travels to multiple stops around the region for events on the roadway, tracks and trails.

Ultimately, each participant covers 160 kilometres. And they’d better make sure to train ahead of time, or else they’ll get injured.

Over the past 20 years, Canadian farmers’ elevated stress and anxiety levels, which are significantly higher than the rest of the public, have become widely known.

And now, survey results that inform a new report out of Europe – alleging to be the largest ever of its kind – says that farmers everywhere are under the same gun. Canada is not an anomaly or an outlier on a chart: it’s like every other country, with farmers dismayed over widespread income loss, climate-driven production losses and dismal prices.

The online survey, by a nine-year-old Greece-based company called Wikifarmer (which describes itself as an “international agricultural platform”) invited farmers globally to participate.

More than 10,000 farmers from 158 countries answered the bell.

Almost everyone is familiar with rain barrels, but have you heard of rain roofs?

Enter the Elmira-based environmental consulting firm Enviro-Stewards, which designed a unique roof system called blue roofs, intended to help improve stormwater management, reduce flooding risk, and improve urban resilience against climate impacts.

“What they do is hold the rainwater on their roof, and then when another rain event is coming, it gets released into the stormwater, but then there is not such a high demand on the current wastewater infrastructure,” said Tova Davidson, executive director of Sustainable Waterloo Region, adding that they are a useful tool for organizations looking for a climate mitigation tool.

“I think we are definitely seeing the changing climate and the changing weather patterns from the changing climate, and a lot of good business management practices mean that you are reducing your risk exposure for your organization,” she said.

“So, as those more severe weather events become more common, we’re seeing 100-year storms far more often than we used to, it becomes necessary just to allow business to continue to function the way it always has.”

Blue roofs are a climate adaptation tool that helps cool down a building, which also saves business owners on energy costs while reducing the impact of severe weather.

While Enviro-Stewards have been around since 2000, blue roofs are one of the company’s newer projects, implemented around five years ago.

“We first did it on our own roof here in Elmira as a kind of a test case and a pilot project. And since we’ve installed it at places like Credit Valley Conservation, and a manufacturer in Walkerton, they use it in a more industrial sense,” explained Mats van Kleef, president of Enviro-Stewards.

Blue roofs are geared more towards industrial buildings than residential ones since they only function with a flat roof. Containment barriers and automated valves store heavy rainfall on flat roofs. Then the trapped water slowly drains and cools the building through evaporation.

“We have mostly done it with businesses because they typically have a larger flat roof, and it needs to be flat because otherwise the water will just run off. And most homes have a slanted roof. Maybe the equivalent in homes would be a rain barrel, where you can do that on a smaller scale,” said van Kleef.

Enviro-Stewards has built their blue roof so that some of the water held goes towards greywater use for things such as flushing toilets.

“We have a drain pipe that comes down from one section of the roof, and that lets it into an intermediate tank. We have a tank sitting in our office that probably has two cubic metres of water in it, and we can top it up. If the water is starting to get low then we can open the valve and let more water from the roof into the tank, or if it’s full, then just keep the water up on top of the roof,” said van Kleef.

“Then from that tank that we have in the office, there’s a pump that directs it to the living wall and to the toilets through purple piping, just to make sure that it’s very clear for everybody that it’s not potable water, but it’s rainwater that gets reused.”

Beyond blue roofs, Enviro-Stewards has several other sustainability-related endeavours, many related to water conservation.

“The work that we do that is our bread and butter is helping save water in factories,” said van Kleef.

Enviro-Stewards have sensors that go into factories to track water usage minute by minute, which shows where companies are using their water and how they can save their water consumption.

“One example of a factory in Toronto was that they had continuous water still flowing even on weekends when they weren’t in production. There was nothing happening in the factory, but there was still six cubic liters per minute flowing down the drain,” said van Kleef.

The sensors looked at where water was flowing and found a couple of broken valves and sensors and a broken pipe that were the culprit.

“These were all things that the company wasn’t aware of, but when we put sensors in all these places, we could show how much water was being lost in the drain in each of those places, and just manually shut off the water supply to those processes,” said van Kleef.

For more information, visit www.enviro-stewards.com.

You never know where you might find a new discovery in the fight against cancer.

A University of Guelph research team, led by Dr. Paul Spagnuolo from the Department of Food Science, has uncovered a plant-based solution to target leukemia weakness.

They discovered that leukemia cells are far less flexible and rely heavily on breaking down a specific type of fat to survive, using a part of the cell called a peroxisome. That’s akin to its fuel system.

With new rules allowing the use of drones for pesticide application, supporters say there are huge benefits for agriculture, enabling more precise and efficient pesticide use.

While the ultimate objective of engineering more efficient tools is often to curb consumption and foster environmental sustainability, the history of technology warns of a counterintuitive twist. Sometimes, when a tool becomes hyper-efficient, the exact opposite unfolds.

Cameron Shelley, a professor of systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo, routinely introduces his students to this exact phenomenon, known as Jevons’ paradox. Named after 19th-century economist William Stanley Jevons, the theory suggests that increases in technological efficiency ultimately drive up total consumption rather than lowering it.

“Which seems paradoxical. So that’s why it’s called a paradox,” said Shelley.

“You would think if you make consumption of something more efficient, you get less consumption, but the opposite is true.”

Several years ago, Shelley authored a paper exploring how this economic anomaly might collide with cutting-edge agricultural innovations, specifically the deployment of pesticide-spraying drones.

“I was reading this article about how drones can make pesticide application more efficient. Instead of broadcasting pesticides across the whole field regardless of where it’ll land, you can have a drone that will pinpoint places to apply pesticide and apply less of it, and so be more efficient,” explained Shelley, adding that while he was reading that he thought, “well, it’s not always that simple.”

On paper, the precision offered by drone technology is overwhelmingly positive. It lowers overhead costs for farmers and reduces the chemical pollution load on local ecosystems – all things Shelley points out in his article.

Over time, those reduced operating costs could even trickle down to consumers, making food cheaper at the grocery store. However, market dynamics dictate that as a process becomes cheaper, demand tends to surge. This is where Jevons’ paradox takes root. The phenomenon is well documented across various modern advancements, with air travel as a prime example.

“Studies show air travel has become more efficient. So, between the 1960s and now it costs a lot less to move a passenger, let’s say a kilometre through the air, because jet engines have gotten more efficient,” said Shelley, adding that as the air travel industry has become more efficient, the cost has lowered and more people have been using the service.

Shelley clarifies that highlighting this paradox is not an argument against technological progress or engineering innovation. Instead, it serves as a warning to slow down and critically examine the long-term systemic goals of efficiency.

“Engineers love efficiency. They’re often focused on making a particular piece of technology more efficient, and not thinking about the consumption of that technology,” said Shelley.

Complicating the matter, consumer behaviour is often driven by desire rather than strict necessity. The smartphone industry is a testament to this, with annual upgrades that make the technology more efficient, constantly compelling consumers to throw away perfectly working phones in favour of the newer, shinier model.

When it comes to altering patterns in human behaviour or balancing sustainability with efficiency, engineering has its limits.

“There probably isn’t an engineering solution, right? And the problem is how people consume things, and that’s more of a social issue, not something that you can design,” said Shelley.

Ultimately, whether drone use in agriculture will succumb to Jevon’s paradox remains an open question.

In his article entitled “Drones, Crops and Jevon’s paradox,” Shelley himself wrote he was unsure: “I do not know if adoption of drones in agriculture will have these effects.  The agricultural system is too complex to warrant sweeping conclusions from a few musings.”

As technology makes our lives increasingly efficient, ideas like Jevon’s paradox are something Shelley advocates his students consider. For the next generation of engineers, understanding the human element may be just as important as perfecting machines.

The story of a pioneering American marine biologist and writer makes its way to the stage in Kitchener next week.

JM Drama production’s Rachel Carson by Steven Elliott Jackson will be at the Registry Theatre starting July 30.

“It is about Rachel Carson. I love it being about her, and then as the title as well, because it’s so much about her journey as a person, as a woman trying to write this book, and all the stuff going on in her life,” the 49-year-old playwright said, noting the story takes place over the course of six years.

Every year, seed collectors in Ontario go out searching for pods, cones, and nuts – seeds for trees which they harvest and save. This year, there’s been a rocky start to the seed collection season in southern Ontario.

“This spring was pretty hit-or-miss for the species that I normally collect. That would be red maple and silver maple, native species that you need to collect and can’t really store long term,” said Kenton Bossy, who manages the native tree nursery at Reep Green Solutions.

“Silver maple is usually very dependable. Every year, it produces quite a bit of seed, more than you would ever need or want. And this year was a really slow year for silver maple.”

When scanning the canopies, Bossy was surprised to find the silver maples covered in a variety of pests. He attributes this sudden drop in seed dependability to shifting weather patterns.

“I think in general the trend for a lot of seeds is that the normal periods of time that we could generally depend on mast years or good seed collecting years is changing due to extreme climate,” said Bossy.

While it is normal for trees to skip seed production to conserve energy – a synchronized cyclical process known as masting – the current disruptions feel different.

“Take for example, the sugar maple. You can expect a good seed set every three to five years. Generally, it’s not typically an every-year thing to be able to sustainably collect from. So that means like when it’s determined. It’s a good year for sugar maple. You collect and ideally store a little bit to bridge the gap over the intervening years,” said Bossy.

However, rising temperatures and altered precipitation are breaking down the environmental weather cues that groves rely on to flower and seed simultaneously in their typical masting cycle.

“I do believe that it will become less dependable in the future, getting viable and high-quality seed sources from particular areas, and it is important to collect seed and distribute seed in appropriate eco districts,” said Bossy.

Eco districts are locations in the province grouped by their microclimates. Seed collectors collect and distribute in the same Eco district since they are ecologically similar and seeds are adapted for that specific microclimate.

“If you’re collecting from a certain eco district and distributing the same eco district, those seeds are likely more able to thrive and survive and adapt to that climate there. But it’s also used as a forecasting tool, so these eco districts have been modelled out decades into the future, and so you can see what climate is forecasted to be like in a different eco district in Ontario, and seeds can be distributed according to that,” explained Bossy.

While Bossy acknowledged that long-term modelling is conservative and rarely 100 percent accurate, he emphasizes its value for future planning. Without these tools, the stakes for local forestry are high.

“If we’re not able to get viable seed in certain areas, then that could affect nurseries and planting projects and planting plans for a long time.”

Do you know where the trees growing at greenhouses come from? The obvious answer is seeds; the less obvious part is where those seeds are sourced.

“People just think of seeds as magic that shows up. You can go to the nursery and buy an ornamental tree and put it in your lawn, but they have no idea where that tree came from,” said Darren Derbowka, coordinator at the National Tree Seed Centre.

The backbone of the tree seed industry has always been seed collectors, who search an area to track, identify, and harvest seed. In Ontario, reforestation projects and greenhouses depend on seed collectors; however, according to the Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA), there is currently a shortage of these skilled professionals.

Part of the shortage is driven by history. In 2018, the provincial government shut down the Ontario Tree Seed Plant in Angus after nearly a century of operation. Citing aging infrastructure and high operational costs, the closure eliminated a massive hub that processed billions of seeds and served as the province’s primary training facility.

In the aftermath, a decentralized system was left behind. Non-profits, nurseries, and private partners scrambled to overtake the roles of seed storing and collector training.

“A lot of private investment has gone into filling the gaps left by the closure of the seed plant,” said Kristen Sandvall, seed and climate change program manager at FGCA.

“Nurseries have bought equipment, increased infrastructure. They’ve worked on their internal knowledge, on seed processing, testing, storage, collection, all those things.”

Sandvall noted that the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program, a bid to plant two billion trees in the country over ten years starting back in 2020, drove an increase in the need for seed after the Angus facility closure.

“There were a lot of organizations that didn’t even necessarily do a lot of tree planting before that were suddenly doing tree planting and wanting to collect seed, and an increase of people that are starting up native plant nurseries,” said Sandvall.

Locally, grassroots operations are stepping up to fuel community planting. Initiatives like Elmira Nature Reserve’s tree nursery and Rare Charitable Research Reserve’s tree nursery grow seedlings that supply local ecological groups like Trees for Woolwich and Reep Green Solutions. But these local nurseries remain completely dependent on certified collectors who harvest from native regional stands.

To bridge the gap, the FGCA has become the primary organization offering certified training in the province, collaborating with the National Tree Seed Centre to handle testing and formal accreditations.

“There’s definitely people out there that are doing seed collection training, for sure, but as far as the certified level of training, it’s primarily just us,” said Sandvall.

This fall, the FGCA is taking their training to a new level. Armed with new funding, they are launching a nationwide virtual Certified Seed Collector Course open to anyone interested in entering the field.

The virtual expansion lands alongside the launch of Forest Source Selections (FSS), a new national certification program designed by the FGCA. The FSS framework enforces strict standards for species identification, handling practices, and complete origin-to-planting traceability.

By standardizing the industry, organizers hope to turn seed collection from an invisible, shrinking trade into a highly organized baseline for climate resilience.

For more information, visit www.fgca.net.

Environmental activism is not for the faint of heart. It requires tireless hours spent staying up to date with laws and science while often going unrecognized for your efforts. That’s why the Watershed Guardian Award takes time to celebrate people making extraordinary efforts towards water conservation in Ontario.

This year, two local advocates from the Waterloo Region were honoured for their work protecting watershed security, spanning toxic chemicals, land use planning, farmland preservation, and the Great Lakes.

The ceremony took place on July 8 and was hosted by Our Living Waters. The recipients were John Jackson, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Kevin Thomason, named Watershed Guardian of the Year.

Thomason serves as the vice-chair for the Grand River Environment Network and has been involved in the community for decades on topics such as protecting local farmland, managing urban sprawl, and securing regional water systems.

“This is a huge honour from the Ontario Headwaters Institute,” Thomason said.

“It is just fantastic to see them in many ways, yes, recognizing me, but what they’re really recognizing is the work of our entire community. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s the water crisis, the protection of the Waterloo moraine or the farmland protection. … There’s just been so many things that so many people in our community have been involved in recently that all impact water and our water quality.”

Thomason added that he was happy to see Jackson receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for all his work.

“John is just one of these incredible warriors who’s been at this since the ‘60s. His focus isn’t just our region, but how does our region fit within the larger Great Lakes community.”

For Thomason, his journey into environmentalism started 30 years ago when he got the opportunity to stay in the community after moving to the area from Toronto to attend university.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I can live out in the countryside and still wear a shirt and tie to work every day,” he recalled.

After settling in, he noticed the rare and endangered animals around him and wondered why the wetlands and creeks lacked protection.

“Why are they bulldozing that wetland? What’s going on with that creek? This isn’t going to exist if we continue to do this. Somebody’s got to speak up for all these creatures, and somebody’s got to protect this water, our aquifers, and our entire watershed.”

His passion led him to help secure the Laurel Creek Headwaters Environmentally Sensitive Landscape (ESL) designation in 2006, protecting a connected system of natural habitats, aquifers and landforms.

Today, Thomason focuses heavily on pushing for sustainable, smart urban planning. He is a spokesperson for the Wilmot Civil Action Network and recently co-authored a comprehensive, 135-page report detailing how recent land assembly in Wilmot Township bypasses provincial planning rules, lacks transparency and threatens the Waterloo moraine’s water security.

For John Jackson, the journey to becoming an environmentalist started with his childhood love for nature.

“My sort of prime childhood memories are from going out [where] there was a marsh on the farm and going out into the meadow on the farm and seeing the fireflies,” said Jackson.

When he went to University in Windsor, he got involved in his first environmental issue, the partial fuel core meltdown of a nuclear reactor 30 miles south of Detroit in Monroe County, Michigan.

“One of the nuclear power plants called Fermi 1 had actually had a near meltdown. It had started going through the process. Somehow, they managed to get it stopped, but it has never been brought into use again. It’s been completely out of use but it’s still this monster sitting there,” said Jackson.

One of his acts of activism was launching balloons with a group of environmentalists from the nuclear power plant with little postcards attached.

“We want to see where they would go, and with a note on them saying, ‘If you get this card going through the air, you would have, if the nuclear power plant had blown up, received radiation from it.’”

The results stunned Jackson and his fellow advocates.

“You could see a path very quickly. It was amazing. It was a predictable path because the winds tend to blow to the east across the lower part of Ontario, across Toronto, Quebec, but the ones that shocked us most are a few that came back from Scotland.”

Stopping nuclear expansion remains a priority for Jackson. He has also spent decades helping local citizens organize and fight back against hazardous dump sites and waste disposal facility contamination. He is a core figure in the Grand River Environmental Network and a board member of the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).

Currently, Jackson is pushing to add more toxic “chemicals of concern,” like flame retardants, to the national Pollutant Release Inventory to stop them from entering the Great Lakes.

“I’m on the government’s advisory committee with some other environmental groups and some Indigenous people as well as industry,” Jackson said.

“When they’re looking at issues of, should we add such and such? They will ask us for input, including asking industry for input. We don’t always win, but it’s a good mechanism for us to be making some influence.”

Reflecting on his life’s work, Jackson shared his gratitude for the award.

“I love what I do. I have zero regrets about having basically devoted my life to doing these sorts of things. I love it, but it also means the world when some people come forward saying, ‘Hey, we really appreciate what you’ve done with your life.’ The award was really good for lifting my spirits.”

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m thinking about using a weight-loss drug, but I’ve heard that muscle loss can be a side effect. I’m at the age where women should strive to maintain muscle mass and strength, rather than risk losing them. Can you tell me more?

ANSWER: Medically assisted weight loss, whether through bariatric surgery or one of the weight-loss (GLP-1) drugs, helps people manage the amount of food (calories) they consume in a day, creating a caloric deficit and promoting weight loss. Surgery accomplishes this by making people feel full to avoid overeating, while GLP-1 drugs curb hunger and appetite.

There are different types of body tissue that can be lost when people shed pounds. The goal is to reduce excess, nonessential body fat and lower overall body fat percentage. However, muscle or even bone can be lost, and neither is a desirable outcome.

For most people, losing muscle can diminish strength and functionality and may worsen blood sugar management and metabolic health. The goal is to minimize muscle loss and maintain or even gain it. This is important because muscle is more metabolically active than fat, meaning it burns more calories and helps maintain functionality and strength.

The key to maintaining muscle is to increase your protein intake. Protein is the building block for muscle tissue. Combining regular strength or resistance training with eating more protein will also help. If you’ve undergone bariatric surgery, you may need to delay strength training until you’ve recovered.

Consuming more protein during weight loss

For a person weighing 200 pounds (about 90-100 kilograms), 1.4 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight equals about 120-140 grams of protein per day. This is higher than the standard recommended daily allowance of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, but the added protein helps minimize muscle loss.

High-quality protein sources include eggs, dairy, chicken and lean meats. Whey protein powder also is effective. Lower-quality proteins, like collagen, may help joints and skin, but they aren’t effective for maintaining muscle mass.

One challenge to eating more protein is that both types of medically assisted weight loss will likely decrease your desire to eat. This makes it difficult to eat not only extra protein, but also foods providing the basic nutrients your body needs. These include fruits, vegetables, dairy and healthy fats. Consuming adequate amounts of fiber also can reduce some side effects, such as constipation. Prioritizing nutrient-dense foods throughout the day helps ensure that you’re getting the quality nutrients that promote body composition changes and support overall health and well-being.

Setting reminders or incorporating protein-rich foods — like Greek yogurt or protein shakes — in meals and snacks throughout the day can prompt you to eat more protein. Aim for about 20-30 grams of protein per meal.

Strength training should target the largest muscle groups — legs, chest and back. Exercises to build into your routine include pull-downs, squats (or squat variations), leg presses, rows, bench presses and pushups.

Resistance can be applied through water fitness, resistance bands, free weights or machines. The key is to progressively increase the difficulty over time to avoid plateaus and continue improving your strength. A full-body workout two to three times a week can help maintain muscle and strength.

Once you’ve established an exercise routine, strive to maintain it, not only for weight management but also for the numerous health benefits it offers.

Once you’ve reached your desired weight, then comes the mental and physical challenge to keeping it off.

For example, if a 200-pound person loses 80 pounds, bringing their weight down to 120 pounds, that person now requires fewer calories to maintain their new, reduced body size. The key is to learn how to eat like a 120-pound person to stay at that weight.

When people struggle to maintain their weight loss after stopping GLP-1 medications, they may be at risk of gaining more fat than muscle.

Continuing a strength training routine and other healthy habits is crucial. Preserving muscle during weight loss supports metabolism, which decreases the likelihood of gaining weight back. Since muscle mass burns more calories at rest, maintaining it is beneficial no matter how you lose weight — through surgery, medication or willpower.

If you’re embarking on a weight-loss journey via GLP-1s or bariatric surgery, consult with a registered nutritionist to develop a meal plan that supports your body’s nutrient needs during weight loss and afterward. And consider working with a sports medicine specialist or trainer to create an exercise routine for strength training to maintain and gain muscle mass to help keep pounds off.

Fair president Jim Zantinge said he’s feeling pretty positive in the run-up to the big weekend, but notes “it’s all going to come down to the weather.”

Zantinge recalled that last year offered up great conditions, and he’s hoping for the same this time around.

“Everything comes down to the weather. If we get rained out, we’re done.”

Since late last year, Waterloo Region has been dealing with a water capacity constraint issue, caused by over pumping of groundwater and rapid population growth. The result was a freeze on development from December through this month.

Local advocacy groups criticize the region’s handling of the water crisis, blaming the water issues on a combination of unchecked aggressive population growth, lagging infrastructure and provincial policies reducing environmental oversight.

According to Amy Shaw, the region’s director of water and wastewater operations, managing the local system is far more intricate than the public realizes.

“I don’t think people realize the complexity of the regional system,” said Shaw. 

“The complexities of it, the compliance of it, it’s quite the system to run…very, very complex, and we also require so much oversight by the province for compliance and safety because it’s drinking water. Same with wastewater: highly regulated by the province to make sure that what’s coming out of the treatment plant isn’t harming the environment. We do an extensive amount of testing and sampling and monitoring. To make sure that everything is running safely and sustainably.”

The reliance on a fragmented groundwater network, rapid growth and aging infrastructure all make the region’s water system more complicated relative to other water systems in Canada.

“The Region of Waterloo’s water system is probably one of the most complex in all of Canada, and that’s because about 80 per cent of our water comes from groundwater wells, and about 20 per cent comes from surface water, from the Grand River,” said Shaw.

This operational model stands in stark contrast to the rest of the country. More than 85 per cent of Canadians receive their drinking water from surface sources like lakes and rivers.

While other jurisdictions in Canada do rely on groundwater, none do so on Waterloo Region’s scale. For example, Prince Edward Island is entirely dependent on groundwater for its freshwater supply, but the province receives high amounts of annual precipitation to regularly and naturally replenish its water table.

“We make up 80 per cent of our drinking water from groundwater wells. We have over 100 groundwater wells throughout the region, and it’s very intricate. There are certain parts that are all interconnected. A lot of valves, and we have pumping stations, and that’s just the water side. And then our wastewater side is even just as complicated, where we have 13 wastewater treatment plants,” said Shaw.

By comparison, a city like Toronto relies on a centralized model with a single, massive wastewater treatment facility. Waterloo Region’s assets must be spread out geographically across multiple urban and rural municipalities. 

With regional projections estimating the population will swell to one million residents by 2050, Shaw emphasized that infrastructure expansion must remain a priority. 

“We need to keep up with the infrastructure to be able to allow that to happen,” said Shaw.

“I think our assets in water and wastewater are $4.9 billion that we have to oversee, it’s a massive system.”

Addressing the immediate shortage by drawing more heavily from the Grand River is not a viable option. The region is strictly limited by provincial Permits to Take Water. 

“If you take too much water, then there’s downstream impacts,” Shaw warned.

At the beginning of July, the freeze on development was lifted after the Region of Waterloo found new water capacity by tapping into existing wells. However, despite this temporary relief, long-term questions remain about how the region will safely sustain future development on top of such a delicate and complicated water system.

ERIN – Julia Scappin first visited France in 2017 during a high school trip for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

This weekend the Erin resident is embarking on a return trip as a high school history teacher on a mission.

Scappin, a supply teacher with the Upper Grand District School Board, was selected by the Juno Beach Centre Association’s Summer Institute to join educators on a trip to France from July 25 to Aug. 3 to explore Canada’s wartime involvement.

She’s joining other educators from across Canada.

The Juno Beach Centre, founded by veterans and volunteers, is Canada’s only museum on the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, France.

Scappin, who teaches high school history and English, said she wants to update her knowledge about specific battles to help students become engaged.

“They (students) actually care if they see that you care,” she said.

Scappin intends to take photos to show students and help enliven her lessons.

“They can actually get some real context to it instead of just reading it about it and forgetting about it,” she said.

Bringing history to life is a challenge Scappin rises to by sharing the history of her great grandfather, Giovanni Cocchetto, who fought in the Second World War for Italy, which aligned with Germany before joining the Allies.

Cocchetto later became a prisoner of war, was rescued by Canadians and moved here.

“That’s how my family came to Canada,” Scappin said.

Since 2005, around 400 educators have travelled with the Juno Beach Centre Association’s Summer Institute to the battlefields of Belgium and France for a first-hand learning experience.

The association’s head of education Marie Eve Vaillancourt said the goal of the trip is to help educators better teach students about Canada’s wartime involvement.

Teachers with first-hand experience, she said, “transmit that history themselves” in the classroom, adding students can “feel that difference.”

“What you see and learn and experience and feel on this trip is hard to transmit in history books,” Vaillancourt said. “It stays with you for the rest of your life.”

Scappin, 27, was chosen from a list of applicants with the hope she will one day return with her own students, Vaillancourt said.

“We try to have diversity of age, but for sure the younger teachers are good investments for us because they’re going to teach this for years and years to come to thousands of students,” Vaillancourt said.

The 10-day trip is partially subsidized with philanthropic support, costing the institute about $150,000 or $7,500 per teacher.

Scappin said she is covering around $4,000 of the trip, with no costs covered by the school board.

The personal expense is worth it, she said, adding, “I think it’s a fantastic experience, and I’m really excited to go.”

Scappin is most looking forward to returning to the Vimy Memorial in Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France. The Battle of Vimy Ridge is Scappin’s favourite to learn about and teach.

“That was the first battle where everyone knew what the objective was … it was all the different parts of Canada coming together and working as one force for the first time,” Scappin said.

“The Battle of Vimy Ridge was like the birth of a nation. Before that people were very regional,” she said, explaining the war brought about a collective sense of Canadian identity.

Teachers will be guided through visits to Canadian First and Second World War memorial sites, battlefields, cemeteries and museums, such as Vimy Ridge, Beaumont-Hamel, Dieppe, D-Day landing beaches, and the Juno Beach Centre.

GUELPH – A former Fergus fast-food restaurant manager has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage employees in 2021.

The Advertiser is not naming the restaurant to avoid identifying the women, who cannot be named under a publication ban.

Navpreet Nahar was charged in 2021-22 with sexually touching an underage person (interference), exploiting a young person by touching them sexually, and two counts of sexual assault.

Nahar pleaded not guilty to the four charges stemming from allegations made by two women aged 15 and 16 at the time.

In a May trial, the women, now 20 and 21, testified Nahar, their shift manager at the time, touched their buttocks repeatedly and in one incident grabbed one of the women’s breasts.

At the trial, defence lawyer Robert Christie argued the contact was incidental and non-sexual, the result of a cramped, busy sandwich counter and Nahar nudging staff aside rather than directing them in English.

The women testified Nahar never asked them to move out of his way, and never apologized after the contact.

Repeated contact with the women's buttocks and a lingering breast grab were neither incidental nor fleeting, prosecutor Stacey Hamilton argued.

Hamilton pushed back on Nahar’s testimony that he moved staff physically because he didn’t have time to direct them during rush periods.

In Guelph court earlier this month, Superior Court Justice Cynthia Petersen found Nahar guilty on all four counts.

Three of the four counts carry maximum prison terms of 14 years; the second sexual assault count, involving someone 16 or older, carries a maximum of 10 years. However, courts rarely impose maximums, reserving them for the most serious cases.

Although credibility of the testimony heard during the trial was “critical” in the case, Petersen said, the outcome could not “rest only on whether [a] judge believes the Crown’s evidence or finds it more plausible.”

“A conviction must always rest on proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” Petersen said on July 3.

“Mr. Nahar’s testimony suffered from multiple internal inconsistencies and did not withstand cross-examination,” the judge said, adding she found him to be evasive during the Crown’s questioning.

“The most glaring example of this pertains to the issue of whether he ever intentionally touched employees in the workplace; he was questioned about this repeatedly.

“Nahar initially stated he could not recall, and then he denied ever touching an employee intentionally, and later admitted it was possible and explained why he may have,” Petersen said.

Although Nahar’s testimony about where and how he may have touched employees was inconsistent, Petersen said, he never wavered about denying he touched the women’s buttocks.

Still, the judge said she was left with doubt about the reliability and credibility of Nahar’s testimony and accepted the women’s evidence, finding the Crown had proven the offences beyond a reasonable doubt.

Petersen said she was convinced Nahar intentionally, and without consent, touched the women’s buttocks repeatedly for a sexual purpose.

Sentencing submissions from the Crown and defence are expected to be heard this fall.

Passed away peacefully in the companionship of family at Wellington Terrace Long Term Care on Friday, July 17, 2026 in his 96th year. Predeceased by his beloved wife Alice Patricia (Porter) Bartleman (2022). Loving father of Nancy (Martin) West of Royal Wootton Bassett, England, Carolyn (Richard) Boyne of Kingsbridge, Ontario and Dr. Betty Bartleman (Murray McNab) of Yellowpoint, British Columbia. Proud grandfather of Sarah Zavitz, Maggie Boyne and Holly Boyne (Alex Fensham). Great-grandfather of Oliver Zavitz and Elliott Rose Zavitz. Lovingly remembered by his sister Mary Bartleman, sister-in-law Barbara Bartleman, and brothers-in-law Jim (Lynn) Porter and Gary (Barb) Porter. Predeceased by his parents David Knox and Hannah Elizabeth (Welland) Bartleman, sisters Ruth and Jean Bartleman, and brother David Bartleman. A kind and generous man, he was always helping someone or improving how things worked. A man of quiet, yet deep faith, he was actively involved in the church and broader community. Open to change, he moved through several careers - auto mechanic, teacher, technical director, Lutheran minister and director of Camp Edgewood. He was always giving back and supporting those around him, with Alice by his side. When she developed symptoms of Alzheimer’s he became her caregiver, focusing on her quality of life. The family would like to thank Rev. Gloria Ryder, Dr. Catherine Anderson, Dr. John Stickney and the staff at Wellington Terrace LTC for their loving care and support. Friends and family were received on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home, 280 St. David Street South Fergus, ON N1M 2L5. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 10:00am at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fergus, ON with a light reception being held at the Graham A Giddy Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Belsyde Cemetery in Fergus, ON. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations made to Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church or Wellington Terrace LTC would be appreciated by Bruce’s family. Arrangements were entrusted to Graham A Giddy Funeral Home Ltd., 280 St. David St. S. Fergus, ON N1M 2L5, (519) 843-3100. Visit www.grahamgiddyfh.com for Bruce’s online memorial.

Of Orton, aged 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on the afternoon of Monday, July 13, 2026, after a brief but courageous battle with Cancer. She is survived by her daughter Sarah (Ramesh); son Jason (Andrea); grandchildren Isabella, Rebecca and Logan; brother Doug (Theresa) and her many nieces and nephews (Cheryl, Jamie, Jennifer, Josh, Aaislinn, Sean, Laura, Scott, Pam, Sue, Dieter and Damon); Maisy, Julian, Aaliyah and her other great nieces and nephews. Patricia was predeceased by her beloved husband, Lionel; parents, Alfred and Dorothy; and her brother, James Deveau. Pat (Patti/Patsy) was fiercely independent and often referred to herself as a pioneer. Whether it be growing her own tomatoes and herbs, or spending hours in her beautiful flower gardens, she embraced country life. Even the not-so-great parts like days-long power outages. When she was offered refuge, she would puff out her chest and exclaim “I’m okay here, I’ve got a fire going”. There wasn’t any challenge that Pat, her cat Della, and her neighbor Gladys couldn’t handle together. Pat was also very proud of her East Coast roots (Nova Scotia) and made great efforts to stay connected any way she could with the friends and extended family that mattered most to her. She was so happy that she visited home one last time a few years ago. Pat’s faith was a guiding force throughout her life. She was a devoted member of St. John Brebeuf Parish for more than 40 years, where she actively contributed to the parish community in many ways and found friendship, purpose, and spiritual comfort through her lifelong commitment to her church. Pat enjoyed her visits to Judy’s Restaurant, Eramosa Cafe and The Tin Roof Cafe where she would make the rounds and say hi to anyone she knew, and that included many of the staff who got to know her order off by heart. Above all else, her greatest love was for her family. Pat was the heart of her family’s home for 54 years, a devoted wife, homemaker and matriarch who took great pride in caring for Lionel and her family. She ran a tight ship, with freshly prepared meals, perfectly ironed shirts, and a home that reflected her love, hard work, and unwavering dedication. She treasured her weekly chats with her dear friend Patricia Woods, and nothing brought her more joy than gathering family around the table for Easter, Christmas, and other celebrations, where her homemade pies and goodie trays became cherished family traditions. Sarah and Jason are so grateful that Pat and Lionel adopted them and loved and raised them as their own. They couldn’t have asked for more supportive and loving parents. It was with this great love and support that Sarah, Jason, and the rest of the family dedicated much of their time over the last 6 months, caring for Pat and being her advocate through a very difficult illness. Pat was also a wonderful Nana to her three grandchildren. She was always so excited to hear from them, see them, and participate in their lives. Watching shows or reading books so that she could have passionate conversations about them, attending plays, concerts, sporting events and graduations, liking social media posts etc. The grandkids knew without a doubt that they were loved and heard. Sometimes, they got an earful, but it was always in a loving way to pass on years of wisdom and experience. Lastly, the family would like to thank the caring and compassionate Doctors and Staff at the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) @ Midtown (Cancer Centre and Hospital). Our Mom loved you all and said many times that she was so happy to be where she was for her final days. Thank you, Dr. Potter, Dr. Califaretti, Dr. Glick, Dr. Leonard, Dr. Franchetto, and Dr. Schwarz. Also thank you to the nurses, especially Faz, Emily, Willow, Daniella, and Katie. Special thanks to Ghania from Palliative Care. As well as the RT’s and the rest of the staff on the 6th floor of the Oncology Unit. Please know that what you do makes a difference to the patient and the family. Arrangements entrusted to Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Family Funeral Home at 1099 Gordon Street in Guelph. Cremation has taken place. Funeral Mass arrangements are as follows. Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Location: St. John Brebeuf Church, 24 Millwood Rd, Erin, ON, N0B 1T0. Times: 1:00pm – 2:00pm. Visitation 2:00pm – 3:00pm Funeral Mass.

Henry George Giddings-Highstead of Palmerston passed away suddenly on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at the precious age of only 3 months. Loved and cherished son of Troy & Jendelle Giddings-Highstead, and adored baby brother of Shawn, Skyler, Spencer, Averly, Summer and Hannah. Loved by his fur animals - Roxy, Chocolate & Crew. Also survived by his Godparents - Kevin & Natasha of Waterloo, Grandparents - Darell & Sheila Weber of Palmerston, Aunt Shealene Koen & Uncle Mike Koen of Calgary, Great-grandparents Marilyn & Dave May of Lethbridge, AB. Finally, numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbours. Predeceased by his great-grandfather Andrew Kraley, grandmother Lee Giddings, and grandfather Alfred Highstead. Henry quickly became the centre of our world, brought light and laughter into our home and reminded us of the little moments. He enjoyed daily school walks with his mom and sister Hannah, catching up at the park after school with the local children, attending his sisters sport programs - skate and soccer where he cheered them on, and spread his smile to all that came across him. He looked forward to every Sunday at church where he would be dancing with his mama as they worshiped, swept away in cuddles by the ladies in church, and covered in prayer by the men around him. He never let you pass without a smile, a giggle or sweet coo. His bright eyes demanded your attention, and his quick smile and charm made you want to give him extra love. He enjoyed anytime he got in his stroller or body carrier as it meant an adventure was on the horizon, and it was always fun! His last week at VBS filled his heart with such joy. He spent the week among his friends in nursery, being doted on by the other moms, and then 1:1 time with his mama in the kitchen. He loved his mom’s cuddles best, and knew when she was close or when her voice was near. He was content to simply be near and to be included in all things - ready to learn in any way. He loved his soft bamboo blankets, the color blue and the sight of balloons. Music made him smile, and calmed him when needed. A celebration of Henry’s life was held at Palmerston Evangelical Missionary Church on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 11:00am with picnic reception to follow. The service was live-streamed, and the link available on the funeral home website. This is to be a joyous occasion, so we request that everyone wear casual, blue or bright coloured clothing, no black attire please. If Henry has touched your life is some way, and you feel called to attend - please join the family and community in celebration of his life.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Richard Nigel Jeffrey Jones (Rick), who passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the age of 80. Rick was the beloved husband of the late Gail Jones. He will be deeply missed by his loving children, Jeremy, Leanne (Kyle), and Jeffrey (Tiffany); his cherished grandchildren, Carter, Damien, and Brooklyn; his many dear friends; and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Predeceased by his parents, Richard (Dick) and Vera Jones, and his brother, Phil Jones. Richard was born in Toronto, Ontario. He was a licensed electrician and worked for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, for many years. He was involved in many hobbies, such as ham radio, stamp clubs, music (a hobby he often shared with his brother, Phil), and driving streetcars at the Halton County Radial Railway museum in Milton. Beyond his hobbies, he was a devoted father and was extremely involved in all his children’s activities. He coached soccer, umpired baseball, drove to 6:00am hockey practices, and provided first aid. He showed up for his kids, his friends, and his family. Richard was kind, funny, and loving. He was a father figure to many and was often asked for advice due to his wise outlook on life. In his younger years, he traveled to many places, creating stories and memories that will be cherished forever. Some of those travels were to locations such as Romania and Peru, where he and his beloved late wife, Gail, adopted two of their three children. The lengths they went to in building the family they dreamed of show only a glimpse of the incredible heart he carried. The lessons that come from witnessing such selflessness are truly what gravitated people toward him. It will come as no surprise to all who knew him that Richard chose to face his final days with the same courage, strength and love as he expressed daily. Richard’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Groves Memorial Hospital, for their kindness and compassion they showed towards Richard and his family members. A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 10:00am at Belsyde Cemetery, 400 Thistle Street, Fergus, Ontario. Memorial donations in Richard’s memory may be made to Groves Memorial Hospital. 

www.grahamgiddyfh.com

Passed away peacefully at the Louise Marshall Hospital, on Saturday, July 18, 2026, one day after her 79th birthday. Beloved wife of Doug Weylie for 29 years. Loving mother of Reg Sakamoto, David Hardman, Richard Hardman (late Anita), and Jacki Harkness. Survived by her brothers and sisters and their families. Ellen was a loving and devoted mother whose life was centered around her family. She had a kind and generous heart, always full of love and bringing fun and laughter to those around her. Her generosity extended beyond her family, as she quietly supported many charitable causes over the years. In her spare time, she enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and had a passion for writing. She also loved games and puzzles, always appreciating the joy of spending time with others. Private funeral arrangements entrusted to the England Funeral Home, Mount Forest. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Ellen are asked to consider World Vision Canada or the Canadian Bible Society. Donations and online condolences may be made at www.englandfuneralhome.com

Of Moorefield and formerly of Port Rowan passed away suddenly at the Palmerston and District Hospital on Friday, July 17, 2026 in her 84th year. Beloved wife of the late Jan (John) Uuldriks. Loving mother of the late Johnny Uuldriks and his wife Judy Uuldriks of Waterloo, Randy and Kathy Uuldriks of Kitchener, Denise Uuldriks of Waterloo and Debbie and Scott White of Alma. Cherished grandmother of   Christopher Uuldriks, Jonathon and Christina Uuldriks; Cindy Uuldriks and Paulo Amaral, Joselynn Uuldriks and fiancé Braeden Haddock, Joshua Uuldriks; Tanis Uuldriks; Michael Latter, Rachael and Dustin Russler. Barbara will be missed by her many great grandchildren. Sister of Marie, Jo, Lenore, Sherry and Ken and their spouses. Fondly remembered by her nieces, nephews and friends. To honour Barbara’s wishes cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends at the Heritage Funeral Home, Drayton on Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 11:00am to 11:45am followed by a Memorial Service of Remembrance at 12:00pm. As expressions of sympathy donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family.

www.heritagefuneralhomes.ca

Of Drayton and formerly Peel Township passed away peacefully at the Palmerston and District Hospital on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in his 89th year. Beloved husband of Jeanette (Euler) Beer for 61 years. Dear father of Ron Beer of Fergus, Kevin Beer of Arthur and Susanne Beer of Drayton. Cherished grandfather of Marika and Zakhar Okunev of Kelowna. Brother of John and Sharon Beer of Georgetown. Brother-in-law of Lois Euler of Kitchener. Fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  Predeceased by his parents Elmer and Olive Beer and brother-in-law Gordon Euler. Jim was passionate about agriculture his whole life, both as a farmer as well as running Beer’s Seeds Ltd. He grew and processed pedigreed farm planting seed and then, being a very entrepreneurial person, shifted the business to packaging bird seed. A significant amount of time was dedicated to serving on the board of multiple seed grower associations throughout his years. Although a hardworking man, when his family was younger, Jim still enjoyed taking his family camping in the summer, as well as loved to get out on the water in his boat. The family received friends at the Drayton Reformed Church, Drayton on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The funeral service of remembrance was held in the Drayton Reformed Church on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 11:00am. Interment in Greenfield Cemetery, Arthur.  As expressions of sympathy donations to the Drayton Reformed Church or the Charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to the Heritage Funeral Home, Drayton.

www.heritagefuneralhoms.ca

Dorothy Melinda (Newton) Emke of Elmwood passed away at Hanover Hospital on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in her 87th year. Wife of Russell Emke. Mother of Brian Emke & Alexandra Nabert of Elmwood, and Deborah Emke & Tim Schultz of Cookstown, and grandmother of Willow. Predeceased by her brothers Ira Newton, Ralph Newton and wife Carol, Lloyd Newton and wife Beulah, sisters Betty Newton, Velma Newton in infancy, and by her parents Howard and Jessie (Newman) Newton. Born on November 3, 1939, in Normanby Township, Dorothy grew up and helped with the family farm near Clifford. Later she worked in Bill Smith’s store in Clifford, then worked as a telephone operator at Wightmans, and finished her career as a teller at Zehrs in Hanover. She married Russell on August 10, 1969 in Elmwood. She took care of her elderly parents. Dorothy enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and gardening. Visitation was held at the Hardy-Lee Funeral Home, Harriston on Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00pm, where a private family funeral service was held.  Rev. Kathy Morden officiated. Interment in Harriston Cemetery. Memorial donations to Walkerton Hospital would be appreciated.  Online condolences may be left at www.hardyleefuneralhome.com

Helen Ritchie (Morris) Kreller of Clifford passed away at Strathcona LTC, Mount Forest on Thursday, July 16, 2026 in her 96th year. Wife of the late Melvin Kreller. Mother of Dorothy Stewart of Kitchener, John and Marg Kreller of Elmira, and Margaret Kreller and Kevin Kowal of Normanby Township. Grandmother of Anna Kowal and Mary Kowal. Sister of May Neilson of England and sister-in-law of Anne Warnick of Tavistock. Godmother to Jeannette Hamilton, Tom Kreller, Merle Marshall and Lana Fleming. Aunt to several nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by her sister Edith Cross and her husband William, and by her brothers-in-law William Neilson, Arnold Kreller, Bruce Kreller and Melvin Warnick. Helen was born November 14th, 1930, to parents Mary (McKay) and George Morris, of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The eldest of three siblings, she was educated in Motherwell and later attended Logan and Johnson Colleges prior to entering nursing school. After qualifying in nursing and midwifery, she practiced as a community midwife in her home town. Helen viewed nursing as a calling rather than a job. In 1956 there were opportunities to work abroad and she was hired for a nursing position in Canada where she worked as a Registered Nurse at Listowel Memorial Hospital. Although she worked in paediatrics at Listowel, her specialized training in Scotland was utilized and called upon for cases in delivery and first floor. On September 19th, 1959, Helen married Melvin Kreller and they resided on the family farm in Howick Township and had three children. She was dedicated to both home and nursing, instilling a strong work ethic in those around her. A pair of knitting needles were always in her hands and she won multiple prizes in various fall fairs and had projects entered into the CNE. She learnt to quilt and sew becoming part of the church groups, choir, and a cookie lady at VBS. In 1994, Melvin and Helen moved to Clifford when retiring off the farm. They enjoyed travelling to meet people and see new things, and enjoyed the company of family and friends in their home. Their door always open and everyone welcomed, with the kettle on for a cuppa tea and something to go with it. In her recent years, she resided at Strathcona in Mount Forest and helped care for Melvin and tried to maintain independence for herself. With unmatched dedication to nursing and a desire to help others, her empathy was extended and demonstrated in all her life vocations. She continued to practice these principles up until the final days, not only helping others but mentoring the next generation of nurses. Cheerio wee lass, away home. Visitation was held at the Hardy-Lee Funeral Home, Harriston on Tuesday, July 21 from 1:00 to 3:00pm. The funeral service was held at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Clifford on Wednesday, July 22 at 11:00am. Interment in Howick Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Howick Township. Memorial donations to St. John’s Lutheran Church or WRHN Orthopedic Unit, Kitchener would be appreciated. The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Strathcona Long Term Care, Mount Forest for their support, care and kindness during her time there. Online condolences may be left at www.hardyleefuneralhome.com