ARTHUR – Wendy Vroenhoven and Susan O’Neill are putting more than money on the line to support the future Aboyne Rural Hospice.

The Arthur women are getting their heads shaved in addition to a $5,000 fundraising pledge to support the “Cut for a Cause” campaign, inspired by the “Curl for a Cause” fundraiser.

“It’s a personal thing, that’s for sure, but I think all of rural Wellington County will benefit from it (the hospice),” said O’Neill.

A visit from hospice advisory board member Dr. Clarissa Burke spurred the idea during an Arthur OptiMrs meeting.

O’Neill saw designs for the future build, to be located on Wellington County’s Aboyne Campus, and recollected when she shaved her head to support a cancer research fundraiser 15 years ago.

• Curl for a Cause raises over to $65,000 for Aboyne Rural Hospice
• Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora donates to Aboyne Rural Hospice
• Aboyne Rural Hospice gets stamp of approval
• Kick-off event planned for Aboyne Rural Hospice

“I thought, ‘I could do that again to raise money,’” said O’Neill. 

Fellow OptiMrs member Vroenhoven “jumped right up” to join in the cause, said O’Neill.

“It’s nice to have a friend do it, and it’s a good cause,” said Vroenhoven.

She typically keeps her hair very short, but has been growing it out in anticipation of a more dramatic shave.

Both women said having a hospice closer to home will benefit those drained from having to travel to access hospice care.

“The main reason I’m doing it is time equals money,” said O’Neill. 

“And for anyone that wants to pass away in a hospice, having to go to the south end of Guelph is just taxing on people that are already drained.”

O’Neill noted not everyone owns a car to get to Guelph, or has the money to make the trips.

The duo started fundraising efforts nearly a month ago, and said they’re well on their way to reaching the $5,000 goal.

The women hope to contribute to a hospice they said will “make it a little bit better for families that are enduring pain and anguish of an ill loved one,”  said O’Neill.

The shave is slated for Oct. 25 at the Arthur Optimist Club at 244 Isabella Street East.

To donate to the fundraiser, visit bit.ly/cut4cause or the Aboyne Rural Hospice social media pages for a link.

The post Arthur women to shave heads, raise funds for Aboyne Rural Hospice appeared first on Wellington Advertiser.

The Woodside Bible Fellowship church is marking its 50th anniversary this weekend.

Roland Mechler, the executive pastor, said the church really started in the 1930s out of a small house in Hawkesville, where members were baptized in the Conestogo River.

Then it became the Wallenstein Bible Chapel, he noted, adding that by the 1970s, many people were travelling from Elmira.

Kian Harron was described as a “clutch” player after he scored an overtime winner for the Wellesley Applejacks for the second weekend in a row.

The captain’s contribution, during a 3-2 victory over the Hespeler Shamrocks on Sunday night ensured the Jacks topped the PJHL South Doherty Division after winning five straight games.

“The guy is super clutch,” Wellesley head coach Derek Lebold said of the offensively inclined defenceman.

Elmira’s SOS Physiotherapy marked its first decade since opening its doors.

This location was the first satellite location from the original branch on Belmont Avenue in Kitchener.

“I should give credit to Ellen Graf-Martin, who was a local here, and thought, ‘Hey, have you ever thought about expanding,’ which we hadn’t,” said Jonathon Clay, one of the original owners of the company. 

Kyle Morey was the overtime hero as the Elmira Sugar Kings started off the weekend with a 2-1 win over Waterloo, but the next day’s visitors were less kind, with St. Marys posting a 5-2 victory.

Head coach Cory McRae saw plenty of positives in both games.

“For the most part, I thought we played well. Waterloo came in on Saturday night, and played us pretty hard. We got one late in overtime that gave us two points. So, take the two points, and we moved on,” he said.

“I actually thought Sunday, we probably played the best three periods of hockey we’ve played all year. I was pretty happy with our performance on Sunday, to be honest with you. I think we gave up like 12 shots after two periods, and it easily could have 4-0 or 5-0[in] the first period if we bury our chances.”

Local actor Emeka Agada takes his career to the next level with a pen, as he recently wrote his first play, entitled The Last Black Messiah. 

It premiered in London, England, in August of this year, and tells the story set in 1991 America, inside a prison, where Dr. Oko (played by Agada), a Black revolutionary and former professor from Howard University, is awaiting execution.

A Heidelberg family whose property taxes more than doubled following a home rebuild say they can barely afford to live, and they will have to move if they are hit with another big increase.

Wes and Lindsay Bast, who have three young sons, saw their bill jump by 127 per cent, from $2,949 to $6,688, after they demolished an old house in 2022 and replaced it with a larger one.

Having expected to pay more after increasing their home’s square footage from 800 to 1,900, Lindsay admitted they were “blown out of the water” when they received the shocking new assessment for a property Wes has lived on his whole life, and which has been in his family for three generations.

This year, the couple’s total bill was $7,930 after both the Township of Woolwich’s and Region of Waterloo’s councils voted for inflation-busting tax increases for three years in a row.

Visualizing and inspiring collective action are the themes of the month for this year’s Zero Waste Challenge.             Reep Green Solutions is inviting residents from around the region to participate in annual event. This is the ninth version of the challenge, where participants will attempt to fit all their single-use waste destined for the landfill into a one-litre mason jar.

Those who have decided to take on the challenge can do so over a stretch of seven, 14 or the full 31 days of October. The options give people the freedom to take on as much of the challenge as they feel comfortable with, said Swatil Mahmud, communications manager at Reep Green Solutions.

“Landfills are rapidly filling up, and much of the waste we discard is built into the way products are made and consumed,” said Mahmud.

The results are in! 

Thank you to everyone who nominated and voted and everyone who was nominated and everyone who was voted winner!

BEST MUSICIAN OR BAND 
A Horse Named Friday

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER
Bangishimo

BEST WRITER 
Amy Neufeld

BEST OUTDOOR SPACE
Willow River Park

BEST VISUAL ARTIST 
Torin Langen

BEST COMMUNITY LEADER
Mike Morrice

BEST 2SLGBTQIA+ SPACE
Jane Bond

BEST TATTOO PROVIDER 
Ink Den

BEST HAIR SALON
Marlowe General

BEST BARBERSHOP 
The Green Room Barbershop

BEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT
The Working Centre

BEST SCHOOL
University of Waterloo

BEST LAWYER
WR COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA
Curated KW

BEST MUSIC SHOP 
Encore Records

BEST BOOKSTORE
A Second Look Books

BEST VINTAGE SHOP 
White Tiger Vintage

BEST CINEMA
Princess Cinemas

BEST HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
SHORE Centre

BEST MENTAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
Camino Wellbeing

BEST BURGER 
Arabella Park Beer Bar

BEST SANDWICH
Vincenzo’s

BEST DONUT 
Lady Glaze

BEST COFFEE
Lucero Canteen

BEST BREAKFAST
The Yeti Cafe

BEST PIZZA
The Civil

BEST TAKEOUT
Bahn Mi Givral Deli

BEST CASUAL RESTAURANT
Jane Bond

BEST FINE DINING 
Odd Duck Wine & Provisions

BEST VEG/VEGAN SPOT
Jane Bond

BEST CAFE 
Princess Cafe

BEST ICE CREAM
FourAll

BEST BREWERY
Short Finger Brewing

BEST BEER SELECTION
Arabella Park Beer Bar

BEST PATIO
Arabella Park Beer Bar

BEST BARTENDER
Zach Hovinga

PALMERSTON – Eight hockey teams are set to face off at the Palmerston and District Community Centre Complex at the end of October to benefit the Friesen family.

Arno Friesen is battling stage-three colorectal cancer and still working as a carpenter to keep the bills paid at home in Perth East.

Though the cancer hasn’t metastasized beyond nearby lymph nodes, aggressive intervention is still needed to keep it at bay.

A tumour in Arno’s colon is too large to excise, but he’s decided against chemo and radiation to knock it down because it’s too wearing.

“He’s really been struggling health-wise, energy level, strength, he’s not been sleeping well,” said Arno’s wife, Lisa.
“He’s working every day; it’s been really tough.”

Arno said he’s grateful nonetheless to be able to keep working to bring in an income for Lisa and four of their six children still living at home, instead of being bedridden.

In the fall of 2024, with the help of a GoFundMe campaign, the family travelled to the Williams Cancer Institute in California where they met a doctor who treated Arno in Mexico with an injection straight into the tumour.

The drug used isn’t approved in the United States, requiring administration in Mexico.

Taking on debt, they went for a second trip earlier this year but haven’t been able to go back since.

The doctor wanted Arno to return four more times, three weeks apart. But the family hasn’t been able to keep up with the cost: about $63,000 each trip.

“It’s just a night and day difference … there’s just no denying this huge, huge difference,” Arno said of the treatment.

• Hockey tournament to benefit local family on organ transplant journey
• Fundraising hockey tournament returns to Palmerston in support of Mapleton family

Should the tumour shrink enough from the intertumoral immunotherapy in Mexico, he may be able to have surgery here to remove the cancer.

Money raised through the hockey tournament, orchestrated for the past three years by Winston Shantz, will go toward paying down medical debt and subsidizing the Friesen’s income, Shantz said.

Shantz started the tournament in 2022 to help support people facing financial struggles, largely because of health challenges.

“I think there’s strength in numbers, and especially myself being a Christian, we’re taught to share one another’s burdens,” Shantz said.

“You can look around in this world and there’s always going to be someone going through something tough in their life … there’s always going to be some need.”

In 2022, the tournament’s first year, money raised went to the Brubacher family to support then-12-year-old Trevor Brubacher, who was contending with a rare disorder causing internal bleeding of his kidneys.

In 2023, $62,900 was raised to help outfit a wheelchair accessible home for the eldest of Titus and Kristen Martin’s three children, Mya, who has a spina bifida, leaving her without the use of her legs.

“I actually helped them move into their new house … it was great to see Mya rolling around in her wheelchair in the house and being able to go upstairs and downstairs,” Shantz said.

Last year, $62,600 was raised for Conrad and Amanda Klippenstein, who were newly married when Conrad was involved in a crash that left him with a severe brain injury.

Now in its fourth year, Shantz’s tournament returns the Palmerston and District Community Centre Complex from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 to benefit the Friesens.

“It’s first of all going to reduce a lot of financial stress; we were kind of just blown away when we got the call,” Arno said.

“We quite honestly just go by faith; we’re asking the Lord to go above and beyond and provide for us,” Lisa said.

Shantz is inviting the community to come to catch a game, grab a bite to eat and donate toward a $60,000 fundraising goal.

The event takes place Oct. 31 from 7 to 11pm, with snacks and drinks served until 10pm. A ceremonial puck drop is set for 8pm.

On Nov. 1, hockey games run from 8am to 7pm, with a barbecue, snacks, beverages and bake sale.

Eight previously selected teams will be whittled down throughout Friday and Saturday until two face off in a final game on Saturday evening.

“It’s been really cool to see this tournament bring the community together in support of one goal and support each person’s journey,” Shantz said, adding the support makes a “lasting impact in each person’s life for years to come.”

Cash donations will be accepted at the tournament.

Donations can also be e-transferred to winston.shantz78@gmail.com.

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ABERFOYLE – Other municipalities might have trouble spending $1 million on affordable housing projects.

But Puslinch council was quick, at its Sept. 17 meeting, to approve $800,000 for the Village at Sunrise Farm proposal and another $200,000 to provide grants to residents who want to build additional residential units (ARUs) on their property.

Wellington County had planned to build a continuum of care campus in Aboyne but nixed the idea last spring.

Instead, county council decided to divvy up the $7 million set aside for that project and grant $1 million to each of the seven municipalities for affordable housing projects through its Housing Development Fund.

There’s a long list of criteria to meet to be eligible but the bottom line is all permissions must be in place by Dec. 31, 2027 for a project to qualify.

Ann Caine and Peter Cummins delegated on Sept. 17 to convince Puslinch council their project is worthy of the funding and of council’s endorsement.

Both are board members of Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre, which has a plan to build 14 supportive housing units on its rural acreage. 

A fundraising campaign is underway and the centre has also completed a site plan control application and submitted building permits for review. An $800,000 injection of cash would strengthen their campaign, officials said.

• Sunrise Therapeutic expansion to include apartments for adults with special needs

Caine said many of the centre’s clients have been attending Sunrise since they were children.

Now that they are adults, and with their parents aging too, supportive housing is a dire need in this community and among this population.

“It’s rare for a township to have the ability and resources to make an impact like this,” Cummins said. 

“The housing development fund is a rare opportunity. And we’re ready to go to tender and to build.

“Local government support will go a long way. It’s huge for us as we go to other donors.”

“This is exactly the kind of thing this funding should go to,” said councillor Jessica Goyda.

“I think this will be a flagship (development) and I hope this funding will help to unwrap other funding. This is something special.”

Mayor James Seeley suggested Caine and Cummins meet with the county’s director of social services to impress upon that person the importance and urgency of the project and hopefully to win the grant.

He noted an application for a project in Guelph/Eramosa – for Squires Lodge to construct affordable housing for seniors – was the first successful grant from the program.

“And I don’t think it was as far along as yours,” he said to the delegation.

“I think Sunrise is in a good position because it is further along.”

The township had recently updated its zoning bylaw to allow up to three ARUs on residential properties. 

But the uptick has been slow, CAO Courtenay Hoytfox told council, averaging about five applications a year.

As ARUs are a major strategy to increase housing in Puslinch Township, staff recommended using some of the funds to incite homeowners to add these kinds of rental units.

Grants of $10,000 each would support construction of 20 ARUs in the township and could be used for well or septic upgrades, professionally prepared permit drawings or construction costs.

Council agreed with the staff recommendation to start a grant program with the other $200,000.

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PUSLINCH – A Puslinch woman has been charged with careless driving following a serious crash here on Tuesday that sent three people to hospital.

Emergency crews responded to the intersection of Sideroad 10 North and Laird Road West in Puslinch Township on Sept. 30 at about 9:30pm.

Wellington County OPP officials say a sedan and SUV collided, sending three people to hospital:

• the driver of the SUV, a 21-year-old from Puslinch, who received minor, non-life-threatening injuries;
• the driver of the sedan, 30, of Breslau, who was sent to hospital as a precaution; and
• a passenger in the sedan, 29, of Breslau, who sustained serious, life-altering injuries.

Keyanna Marshall, 21, of Puslinch, was charged with careless driving causing bodily harm.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information, such as dashcam footage, can contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

The post Puslinch woman charged in crash that sent three to hospital appeared first on Wellington Advertiser.

They say there is a reason
They say time will heal
Neither time nor reason
Will change the way we feel
Gone are the days we used to share
But in our hearts you are always there
The gates of memories will never close
We miss you more than anyone knows.

Marilyn, Rob & Janet, Brenda & Ed & families

Roy David Millar passed away on December 27, 2024 at St. Mary’s Hospital in his 81st year. A lifelong resident of Wellesley Township, Roy was born August 20, 1944 on the family farm near Linwood, Ontario. Roy began his education at S. S. # 3, Wellesley Public School followed by high school at Elmira District Secondary School. His academic journey continued in the Co-op Electrical Engineering Program at the University of Waterloo. Later, he completed a Millwright Apprenticeship and went on to work as a Millwright until his retirement in 2004. Between his Co-op program and Millwright career, Roy saw the inside of many factories and industries in Ontario and Quebec. Before retiring from his profession, Roy returned to his roots by buying the family farm. He had a passion for farming and regularly attended farming-related presentations, farm shows and activities as well as financial seminars, always eager to deepen his knowledge and stay informed about topics that mattered to him. Roy was predeceased by his parents Edna (nee Stever) and David Millar. He is survived by his siblings Bruce, Jean, Gerald, Doris and David as well as his many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. A Celebration of Life is being held, to honour Roy’s memory, on October 4th between 1:30 and 4 p.m. at the Linwood Community Centre, 5279 Ament Line in Linwood. Everyone who knew Roy or his family is invited to drop by to share their memories.

It is with great sadness that we announce Gerry’s passing at the age of 90. He was a beloved husband of Joan Buckle (nee: Ernewein) for the past 67 years.

He was the loving father of Sharon Bell (Marty), the late Teresa Clayfield (Keith) and the late Melvin Buckle (Cindie).

Dear Grandfather of Bryan (Emma), Gerald, Melissa (Ben), Sarah (Scott), Michael (Sarah) and Kayleigh (Troy).

Cherished Great-Grandfather of Cole, Hannah, Owen, Lilly, Allan and James.

He is also missed by many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Gerald was born on a farm near Teeswater, Ontario on January 2, 1935. During his lifetime he had many different jobs at such places as Kitchener Packers, Carling Brewery and Quigley Containers, before retiring as a custodian with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. Gerry will be remembered for his warm and friendly personality and his service to others. He was a longtime usher at St. Michael’s Parish in Waterloo, was involved as Scout leader and was a volunteer with the Waterloo Siskins.

A devoted family man, Gerald loved family gatherings, especially helping with the annual Easter Egg hunt and decorating and wrapping at Christmas time. He was also a regular spectator at the sporting events of his grandchildren.

Relatives and friends visited the Henry Walser Funeral Home, on Monday, September 29th, 2025 and Tuesday, September 30th. A funeral liturgy was held in the funeral home chapel on Tuesday September 30th at 10:30 AM. Reception followed.

As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family.

MONTRÉAL – When Rockwood native Aaralyn McGill breaks from the starting line, the world around her seemingly falls away.

It’s just her and the ice.

At 20 years old, McGill is one of Canada’s top speed skaters in her age group, having proven herself among 2,500 other athletes in qualifying events across the country and recently in Speed Skating Canada’s trials in August.

She’s also among 100 athletes chosen to compete in RBC’s Training Ground National Final in Vancouver on Nov. 1.

McGill has never been to Vancouver, but in a distant way, that’s where her 15-year journey first began.

It was watching speed skaters at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics on TV, when McGill, just 10 years old, realized what she wanted to do with her life.

“I’ve never thought I wanted to do anything else,” McGill told the Advertiser by phone. Everything since has been about realizing her Olympic dream.

She began at the Milton Speed Skating Club, eventually landed in Calgary in 2021 to pursue her dream and, at 16, started a computer science degree.

McGill made Speed Skating Canada’s junior national team and moved across the country again in 2024, this time for Montréal to train in short-track speed skating with Canada’s best.

She’s simultaneously balancing an early athletic career and an education at Concordia University, where she has switched her focus to biochemistry and anthropology.

With the busy season now starting, McGill juggles course loads and around 15 hours each week of on- and off-ice training.

There are three major national speed skating events in a season, and this year’s second happens in December, right around exam week.

“It’s a lot to balance, but I find as long as I’m managing my time, I’m able to do it,” McGill said.

But it’s the ice McGill pursues.

“It’s just you and the ice and you’re skating, and you’re going fast,” she said. “I just love it.”

McGill’s coming trip to Vancouver is a sign of progression.

Of the 100 competitors, 35 will secure funding and a spot in a national development program aimed at moving participants closer to the Olympic Games.

“I’ve done the RBC Training Ground (qualifiers) several times throughout the years, but this is the first time I’ve ever actually made the next rounds,” McGill said.

“I’m excited to go and give it the best, put my best foot forward, and give it all I got and see what happens.”

She’s improving year-by-year on her way to a 2030 goal of making Canada’s Olympic speed skating team.

Meanwhile, she needs to get onto Speed Skating Canada’s senior national team. From there she can get onto the world tour team – it’s from that roster Canada’s best speed skaters are selected to compete on the Olympic stage.

She recently finished ninth overall in the Canadian Short Track Championships, which also doubles as an “Olympic trials” event where athletes can advance onto teams.

McGill is expected to skate the 500-, 1,000-, and 1,500-metre distances.

Reaching top speed isn’t her challenge, it’s getting there faster.

“I’m not a sprinter; I need to be a sprinter,” McGill said.

The difference between McGill and a top finisher can be less than a second per lap.

To extract maximum potential at the starting line, McGill has a lot of interval and weight training ahead.

“I’ve always wanted to be someone that works hard to make it where they want to go,” she said.

Following Vancouver, McGill’s next major stops are Sherbrooke for the Canada Cup 1 event in December and Quebec City next year for the Short Track Canada Cup Final.

McGill said she returns to Rockwood two or three times a year, visiting family over the holidays, when her busy schedule allows.

Her parents always “knew that I was going to do whatever it took,” McGill said.

“To be an elite athlete requires an incredible amount of support, both financially, but also emotional support from your family,” she continued.

“It requires a huge network, and I’m lucky enough that I have a very dedicated network.”

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