Hummingbird, Enzo Crescent by Renee Leahy

Volume 8 No. 32 YOUR UNIVERSE Thursday, August 16th 2012

CHEERIN’ IN THE RAIN - The arrival of a little bit of liquid sunshine isn’t about to dampen the spirits of these Township day campers at Elgin Park, as they chant out “Camp is Awesome!” under the protection oftheir multi-coloured umbrellas. If you haven’t checked out the park lately, it’s looking mighty green! Photo by Conrad Boyce.

Inside This Week’s CosmosCoffee with the mapmakers... 3

Summer band goes to the movies... 6

Staying fit at 90... 7

Going back 200 years... 8

Why they closed the road... 9

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 20122The Uxbr idge Cosmos

Uxpool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .905-852-7831Arena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .905-852-3081Historical Centre . . . . . . .905-852-5854Animal Shelter . . . . . . . . .905-985-9547Chamber of Commerce . .905-852-7683Ux. BIA ... 905-852-9181 ext. 406

Uxbridge Public Library 905-852-9747Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat. 10 am - 5 pm

Tues., Thurs. 10 am - 9 pm Sundays after Thanksgiving to May 24 weekend 1 pm - 5 pm

Zephyr Library905-473-2375

HOURS Tues., Thurs., 3 pm - 8 pmSat 10 am - 3 pm

Uxbridge Arts Association: . . .www.uxbridgearts.comTownship Library: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.uxlib.com

51 Toronto Street SouthP.O. Box 190, Uxbridge L9P 1T1

Tel: 905-852-9181Fax: 905-852-9674

The Corporation of

The Township of Uxbridgewww.town.uxbridge.on.ca

Council and Committee Meeting Schedule for September

Monday, September 3rd NO MEETING - LABOUR DAYMonday, September 10th COUNCIL 9:30 a.m.Monday, September 17th COMMITTEE 9:30 a.m.Monday, September 24th COUNCIL 7:00p.m.

UXBRIDGEPUBLIC LIBRARY

Program Director, Pamela Noble,905-852-9747,ext. 24

LOOKING FOR THINGS FOR THE KIDS TO DO THIS SUMMER?Check out our website at www.uxlib.com for superways to fill up the holidays! Activities and pro-grams are planned for all school ages ALL sum-mer long. *PAYMENT for ALL PROGRAMS byCASH or CHEQUE.NEW THIS YEAR: MYTHS & MAKE BELIEVE DAYCAMP for GRADES 1-4. Aug. 13-17. This camp isdesigned to help children develop problem solv-ing, self expression and team work skills througha series of creative, interactive activities andcrafts indoors and outside, plus a swim at Uxpool.Lots of time to explore the library, including laptoptime/training. Students bring a lunch and snacks.$95.00/week/child, 8:30 am-4:30 pm (earlier drop-off and pick-up available).

INDIVIDUAL afternoon programs for Grds. Jk-6(Grd. as Sept.) as in previous years. Pre-registernow, in person. 'Magnificent Mythology' includingGreek Celestial Olympics! - Aug.20, grds. 3-6 &Aug. 23 for grds. 1-2; 'Superheroes' along withmask making and superhero games! - Aug. 21,grds. Jk-Sk. All classes start at 2:00 pm. PRE-TEENS DROP-IN (no need to pre-register) grds. 6-8 Thurs. nights, 6:30-8:00pm. Aug. 23 'AMAZINGRACE'SPECIAL SHOW:: 'APPLEFUN PUPPETRY' Fri. Aug.17, 11:00am-noon. Students entering grades Jk-2are welcome to join us for this awesome showentitled Robin Hood and the Dragon. Workshop tofollow for creation of a puppet to take home.Tickets $4.00 each, on sale now in the Children'sDepartment. Staff supervised. Remaining tickets,on show day, available to parents and caregivers.PATIO PLUS…Looking for a comfy place to relaxdowntown? Be sure to visit our newest attractionat the library- outdoor seating on the south sideof the upper level. Access this area from outsidewith a cool summer drink or snack, as well asfrom the inside, with your favourite reading .UXBRIDGE FALL FAIR: 'READ ALL ABOUT IT',Uxbridge Library Celebrates 125 years. Watch forour big booth at the fair, along with special showson the performance platform by the DurhamFolklore Storytellers, three shows each day: Sat.Sept. 8, 10:30am-2:00pm and Sun. Sept. 9, noon-2:30pm. FREE

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

EXTENDED HOURSThe Development Services Department will beextending its hours of operation to assist the pub-lic with their planning and building projects on thefollowing dates:

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Please use rear entrance. All other departmentswill be open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to4:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION FAIRWed., September 5, 2012 at the

Uxbridge Arena Community Centre6:30p.m. - 8:00p.m.

For groups, committees, organizations, theatre, sports…etc.

Call 905-640-3966 or email beverlynortheast@gmail.com

to book a spot.

JOIN US FOR THE3RD ANNUAL

FARMERS OF UXBRIDGE

Thurs., August 23 at Arena Hall 5 to 9pm

30 Local Farmers indoors and out

Refreshments, draw prizes, 200 vintage cars

UXBRIDGE TOWNSHIPMUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2012-2014

The Council of the Township of Uxbridgeinvites applications from members of the pub-lic who are qualified electors of the Townshipof Uxbridge who wish to have their namesconsidered for a two-year appointment (termof Council - expiring Nov.30, 2014) to theMuseum Advisory Committee. Any peopleinterested in offering their services, andwould accept an appointment, are invited tosubmit a letter of interest to the undersignedby Wednesday, August 29th 2012. Togetherwith the letter of interest, please completeand submit an Application form to become avolunteer or a committee member. Theseforms can be obtained on our website athttp://www.town.uxbridge.on.ca/initiatives -Volunteer-Committee Member ApplicationPackage.Any questions regarding theseappointments may be directed to:

Debbie Leroux, Clerk

CROSSING GUARDSThe Township of Uxbridge is currently seek-ing an individual to fill the position of CrossingGuard for the Town of Uxbridge. Spare cross-ing guard positions are also available.

If you are interested in a position, pleasecontact Jo Ann Merrick at 905-852-9181 ext202 or email: jmerrick@town.uxbridge.on.ca

For full detailson entry rulesand regulations,see the websiteat:www.yoursuper-petcalendar.comor the Townshipof Uxbridgewebsite(address above)

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

UXBRIDGE-SCUGOG ANIMAL CONTROL CENTRE

ANIMAL CONTROLPART TIME ASSISTANT REQUIRED

HOURS: Saturday and Sunday 8:30a.m. -12:00p.m. Monday 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.Filling in for staff when required and possibleafter hour emergency calls.

Under the direction of the Manager your dutieswill include daily care, cleaning and mainte-nance of kennels and the shelter building.Responsibilities will include reception duties,maintain records, filing systems and daily cashtransactions. The ability to maintain confiden-tiality of all information provided and good oraland written communication skills is essential.Knowledge of Uxbridge and Scugog areaswould be beneficial and to be within a 20minute trip to the Shelter. Animal care experi-ence required and the ability to work as a teamis a must. This position involves heavy liftingand assisting on field calls when needed.

To meet the demand of this position you willrequire the following:• Valid driver's licence and clean abstract;• Word processing skills and software applica-tions such as Microsoft Office and WordPerfect;• Animal Care Experience• Strong Interpersonal Skills

Resumes will be accepted up to and includingWednesday, August 29th, 2012. Please for-ward your resume to:Animal Control Centre1360 Reach Street, Port Perry, ON L9L 1B2

Attention: Victoria McWhirter, Manager of Animal Control

Phone: 905-985-9547 or Fax: 905-985-2015.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest inthis position, however only those selected for aninterview will be contacted.

UXBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY - 2 STUDENT POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Township of Uxbridge Public Library islooking for 2 students to work from September4, 2012 to June 30, 2013. Interviews will beconducted on Thursday August 30, 2012. A fulljob description is available at the UxbridgeLibrary.

Hours: Approximately 5 hours per weekDeadline: August 28, 2012

Please apply with a cover letter and resume to:Alexandra Hartmann, CEO/Chief LibrarianTownship of Uxbridge Public Library9 Toronto St., PO Box 279 Uxbridge, ON L9P 1P7Fax: (905) 852-9849Email: ahartmann@uxlib.com

Only those students selected for an interviewwill be contacted. Thank you for applying.

FIRE BAN LIFTED FOR UXBRIDGE TOWNSHIP

The Chief Fire Official for the Township ofUxbridge has lifted the fire ban for themunicipality effective August 9th, 2012. Theweather and ground conditions haveimproved, reducing the risk of the spread offire. An Open-Air Burning Permit is required forrecreational fires subject to certain condi-tions and controlled outdoor fires in order toclean up excess yard waste such as drybrush, wood products, and natural organicmaterials. Permit holders and residentsusing a barrel or an approved appliance toburn yard waste must contact the firedepartment at 905-852-9038 prior to burn-ing.

The Property Owner and/or the PermitHolder must comply with the requirementsas highlighted on the Permit and as noted inBy-law 209-2007. Failure to comply withthese requirements may result in the FireDepartment issuing the Property Ownerand/or the Permit Holder an invoice for feesfor service. By-law 209-2007 can be viewedon the Township's website;town.uxbridge.on.ca.

Thank you to the residents for assistingwith the prevention of fire incidents duringthe recent dry spell. For further informationplease contact Fire Prevention Officer KenMaynard at 905-852-3393.

PUBLIC TENDERTENDER U12-26

CONSTRUCTION OF TWO - 110 X 80 SOCCER FIELDS

KENNEDY HOUSE FIELDS

Sealed tenders will be received by theundersigned for the construction of 2 -110 X 80 Soccer Fields no later than2:00 PM (local time): Thursday, August23, 2012. Approximate quantities:Excavation 3870 m3Topsoil 2900 m3

Tender documents can be picked up atthe Clerks Department, Township ofUxbridge Municipal Office, 51 TorontoSt. S. Uxbridge.

Lowest tender not necessarily accepted.- Debbie Leroux, Clerk

Who hasn't been fascinated by maps since see-ing their first treasure map as a child? But fewof us give any thought to the people whomake maps. Making maps, however, is justwhat Christine Kennedy and her husband,Mark Smith, do and they travel deep into thewilderness to do it. We invited them to thewilds of downtown Uxbridge to join us for acup of coffee.

Cosmos: Are you mapmakers or cartographers,and is there a difference?Mark: Actually, we're a bit of both. They're notthe same, at least the way we look at it.Cartography is the drawings, whereas we con-sider ourselves mapmakers as well, which is thegeneration of the data the cartographer woulduse to draw. We create maps from scratch. Westart with aerial photographs and do a processcalled aerial photogrammetry to create adetailed base map and we take that out in thefield and do surveys. Only after the survey'sdone do we start the cartographic process.We're actually creating all of the data that goesinto a map.Cosmos: When I was thinking about this inter-view, I realized there are all kinds of differentmaps: road maps, political maps, topographicalmaps, marine charts, weather maps and so on.Do you do all types of maps or concentrate onone specific type?Christine: Our speciality is topographic map-ping. We do a lot of maps for paddling and hik-ing, but we do a lot of maps for golf courses,resorts, children's camps and things like that,where they need large-scale mapping. But wealso do a lot of maps for tourism, like trailguides, visitor's guides, things that help touristsfind their way to interesting places.Cosmos: Is it fair to say that most people are fas-cinated by maps?Mark: I think so. They like looking at maps. Ithink there are two aspects to it. One is just thegraphical interest of the map, because it's notsomething they see a great deal of necessarily.But aside from that, there is also the imagina-tion side of things, where they can imaginethemselves going to a place and seeing what aplace is like. That's part of the fascination for usin looking at maps. I think that's probably thecase for a lot of people. Our goal, of course, isto go places. That's part of the reason we havethe business (Chrismar Mapping), because itgets us out. We like to travel around the worldas well, but even if we couldn't it would be fas-cinating to imagine what these places are likejust by looking at maps.Cosmos: So you do travel the world with yourbusiness?Mark: We travel, I would say, Canada with thebusiness.Christine: We've done some international trav-el with the business: Hungary, Britain . .Mark: . . . the U.S. and all over Canada. Weenjoy travel a lot.Cosmos: So presumably, if we are lost in thebush with just a topographical map, we wantyou with us.Mark: Probably. We're quite comfortable in themiddle of nowhere, because that's where wespend a lot of our time. The only way we canmake our maps is to paddle, hike, ski . . .Christine: That's how we put all the informa-tion on the map, by actually going there. Weactually survey on the portages and the camp-sites, with all the access points and all of thedetail that people need to go there.Mark: It's the only way to make a good map.Cosmos: The thing about maps is they bring out

the schoolboy in me. Treasure Island and allthat. It seems you're almost like pioneers, goingout and making maps so other people can fol-low.Mark: A little bit. We have a variety of parts tothe business. One is the contract, where some-one is hiring us to make a map. So we've mademaps of most of the outdoor education centresin Ontario, for example. They use our maps forprograms to teach kids how to read maps.We've done a lot of camp maps so they canshow parents and children how the camp is laidout. But we also have our own retail series ofwaterproof wilderness recreation maps, whichis called the Adventure Map series. For those,we've chosen areas where people do go butoften not in great numbers. The more interest-ing places for us are the ones where people

don't go very often, but you can't make muchmoney selling maps of places that people don'tever go. We also make maps of places likeAlgonquin, Temagami, Quetico and the popu-lar provincial parks and national parks. We'relooking at Gros Morne in Newfoundland.Those areas are what we take a lot of interest in.The problem is our personal interest is in placeswhere people never go. We've made a few ofthose maps as well but we can’t live on those.Cosmos: How did you get into this business?Christine: Mark started drawing maps when hewas going to Queen's University for the sportof orienteering, because he was heavily involvedin that. That involves running around throughthe forest with a map in your hands, followinga designated course. He was quite good at itand that evolved into a business when we metand wanted to do something where we couldwork together.Cosmos: Did you already have thatinterest in maps or did you get it fromMark?Christine: I like maps but I was not aconfident wilderness navigator. Thatcame as a result of my involvement withMark. And I was involved in orienteer-ing as well. We sort of met that way. Itevolved to the point where now I feelcomfortable going into the wildernessanywhere and feeling confident in mymap-reading abilities.Mark: Circumstances led us to want todo something together and so whatstarted off as a bit of a hobby for meending up becoming a bit of a job and abusiness. At first we were doing simpleschoolyard maps . . .Christine: and outdoor ed centres.Mark: And over time people said "wewant this" or "we want that" so itevolved from there.Cosmos: How long have you been in thebusiness of making maps?Mark: It must be 25 years now.

Christine: Well, you started making maps inuniversity and that was before we met andwe've been married for 30 years.Cosmos: In that time, technology must havemade quite a difference.Mark: Oh, dramatically different.Cosmos: Does that make it easier or harder?Christine: It makes it different.Mark: Neither easier nor harder. Everything hasits pros and cons. In the beginning we weremaking maps using drafting film, twice thefinal scale of the map. We were using pen andblack ink on translucent drafting film . . .Christine: Layers and layers.Mark: One layer for each type of feature. Alayer for the vegetation, a layer for the wet-lands, a layer for the type and that would all beput together in the film stage and we produceda map that way. Then we moved on to scribing,which is done actual size and is a negativeprocess, cutting into a film and where the lightshines through is where the image shows up.Then in the late 1980s, we were among the firstto start using computers to draw the maps. Westill use the same technology for capturing thedata, but the cartography part has evolved dra-matically. In the beginning, it didn't seem itwas a better method, but now it allows us to bea bit more precise. And updating is easier thanit once was.Cosmos: What about the aerial photography?Do you take the photographs?Christine: No. There are companies which spe-cialize in doing that by contract. We obtain ouraerial photographs that way.Cosmos: When one starts thinking about maps,one realizes there is such a wide range of a maps. . .Mark: It's a much bigger world than most peo-ple are aware of, because maps are a part oftheir everyday life. They see them at the shop-ping mall, they use road maps to get around,Google has maps all over the place now, mapsare everywhere. So people tend to take them forgranted, which is quite understandable.Christine: It's easier to do that with road mapsthan it is with what we do, because with roadmaps, once you've made most of the area, thenit's just adding on new developments. Butwhen we're creating maps of wilderness areas,we're starting from scratch and having to createevery contour line, every stream, every marsh,everything that's there, often for the first time.

Cosmos: Do you do any work on marine charts?Mark: No. We do some sea kayaking maps,along the coast of Georgian Bay, for example.But a kayak has a draft of only six inches atmost, and therefore the depth of the water isn'ta big issue. We'll show the shallowest parts ofthe lake around the islands, but for all practicalpurposes a kayaker doesn't need to worry aboutthe depth of water.Cosmos: Have you been involved at all in any ofthe trails mapping in Uxbridge?Mark: No, we have not been approached aboutthat, most of our work has been done for . . .Christine: . . . other municipalities.Cosmos: Because if ever anyone could come upwith an absolutely detailed map of the maze oftrails in the Walker tract . . .Mark: That's sort of right up our alley, but sofar there hasn't been any request.Cosmos: Do you ever stop to think how muchpeople rely on your work and how important itis not to make mistakes?Mark: Yes. That does hit home. What we reallyappreciate is when people tell us how muchthey've enjoyed using our maps. It's alwaysworrisome when you're making original mapsof the kind we do of very intricate wildernessareas, where people are out there on their own,that we get it right. I think both of us realizethat we never can (make a mistake).Christine: The other thing we're very consciousof when we make maps is not overdoing thedetail. For example, on rivers, putting everysingle boulder and ripple, because everythingchanges with water levels. If you put too muchdetail, people are relying on that detail insteadof using their own common sense to scout whatthey're doing themselves. We always suggestpeople think for themselves and look for them-selves and don't rely on somebody spoon-feed-ing them what they think is every little thingthat's on a river. When we're mapping, becausewe're out there on our own, just the two of us,in the middle of nowhere, we don't run mostrapids. We portage, because we can't afford tohave a mishap. It's not smart when you don'thave backup.Cosmos: Christine, Mark, we could go on muchlonger but it's time to say thank you.Mark/Christine: Thank you.

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 20123The Uxbr idge Cosmos

A Cup of Coffee... with Christine Kennedy and Mark Smith by Roger Varley

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 20124The Uxbr idge Cosmos

our two cents

8,900 copies of the Cosmos are published each Thursday in the Township ofUxbridge: 8,200 delivered by mail, 700 available in stores and boxes.

Publisher/Editor Conrad Boyce 905.852.1900

38 Toronto Street North, Unit One, Uxbridge Ontario L9P 1E6e-mail: cosmosboyce@powergate.caweb site: www.thecosmos.ca

Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

EDITORIAL POLICY: Opinions expressed by columnists, contributors and in letters to the editor are not nec-essarily those of the The Cosmos. Letters must be signed and the telephone number provided (numberwill not be published). Requests that a name be withheld will be honoured only if there is a compellingreason. Errors brought to our attention will be corrected. The Cosmos reserves the right to edit or refuseto publish unsolicited material. ADVERTISING POLICY: The Cosmos reserves the right to refuse any adver-tisement. The Cosmos is not liable for slight changes or typographical errors in advertisements or anyother errors or omissions in advertisements. All material herein, including advertising design is copyright-ed, and may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

Our emeraldPromoters of the Foster Memorial call it the “Diamond of Durham”. With that in mind,it’s tempting to apply mineralogical nicknames to some of the other attractions in theTownship. The Leaskdale Historic Site, considering its tourism potential, is probably agold nugget. The Roxy, of course, is a silver screen. The Heritage Railway is a ribbon ofsteel. The Music Hall perhaps a sapphire under the warm blue spotlights.But take a stroll through Elgin Park around 7:30 p.m. these days, as the late summer

sun starts to sink over Wooden Sticks, and you immediately know it to be Uxbridge’sglowing emerald. A few weeks back it was looking a little brown up on the hill, butthanks to all the blessed precipitation of late, it’s a rich, luxurious green once again.And in the quiet of a weekday evening, it’s a refreshing place to linger.

Since it was created early in Uxbridge’s lifetime (about 140 years ago according tohistorian Allan McGillivray), Elgin Park has been cherished as a place for family fun, aswell as individual retreat. The oval was once a racetrack, and the park has been thesite of everything from weddings to political rallies.

Nowadays it’s only booked for seven big weekend events, beginning with theEverything Equine show in June, moving through Canada Day, Ribfest, the HighlandGames, this weekend’s Art in the Park, the Fall Fair and the wonderful new Fantasy ofLights at Christmas. For those major efforts, the park has shown itself to be incrediblyversatile. If you were a newcomer and found yourself at the Highland Games, thencame back a few weeks later to the Fair, you’d hardly recognize it as the same place.

For the rest of the year, Elgin Park is a much mellower place. Somewhere to ponderthe day ahead as you walk your schnauzer at sunrise on a February morning.Somewhere to gather your far-flung family under the picnic shelter among all thebreathtaking fallen leaves on an October Saturday. Somewhere to build glorious youth-ful memories at one of the Township’s popular day camps throughout July and August.Somewhere to gather your confidence as a performer as you perform for your friendsat the Rotary Club’s beautiful bandshell. Or somewhere to just sit and watch the squir-rels play around you as you drink in the peace and quiet.

Although some might cast a vote for the Kennedy Fields or the library or the arena,we strongly believe that Elgin Park is far and away the Township’s most valuable asset,and the most valuable thing about it is its versatility. Council should continue to strong-ly resist the temptation to clutter it with more permanent structures (the Kennedy prop-erty has plenty of room for those), and should similarly avoid the temptation to applyany hard-and-fast rules to its use. The proposal to ban dogs from Canada Day, asreported on page 9, is a small example. As Ted Barris notes on page 5, dogs are partof the family, and we shouldn’t over-react to one incident (sparked by who knows what)by excluding any family members from such a great family event. Councillor Ballingeris right to point out that most dogs won’t be keen on the fireworks anyway, but there’sa whole lot to Canada Day before that.

Elgin Park has always been a jewel for everyone. Let it continue so.

Letters to the EditorRe: The Udora 500 (July 26)

The reason for the speeding in the50 km. zone on Udora’sRavenshoe Rd is easy to under-stand: there is no speed limitenforcement. Although the policewill tell you they do have a policepresence there... down at VictoriaStreet and at Ravenshoe Rd, sixkm west of Udora in a 80 km zoneand behind the UdoraCommunity Centre. There youcan see often two cruisers besideeach other. When asking them, ifthey could do something aboutthe speeders, they told me theywere on a break and I should calltheir station, if I want some polic-ing on our road.

They do stand on Pond Line Rdtwice a year in marked cars andtwice In unmarked cars alongRavenshoe. Not this year so far!Asking your elected officials fallson deaf ears.

Going with the dog every dayalong the road, where there are nosidewalks, is taking a chance, espe-cially whenthere are two cars or rigs comingtoward each other.

If there is a police car on the hill,I will always go up with the dog toobserve the action, and most driv-ers got their speeding reduced to15 km over the Limit. As I wastold by one officer, we are here toenforce speed, not to punish it.

The policing on Ravenshoe isdone by York Region Police, notby Durham’s and they must alwayshave more urgent business inKeswick with all the crime there, amayor (Rossi) who demandsmore patrols in the downtownarea and at the Roc, to reduce van-dalism. And of course, they have aTim Hortons.

Last year in downtown Udora,we had several accidents, two roadsigns were run over, and severalmail boxes were decapitated byspeeding or otherwise distracteddrivers on our road. Consideringwe have no sidewalks, with all thetraffic and that hill just beforeentering the centre of Ravenshoe’smost populated area, it is just amatter of time before somebodywill get seriously hurt.

Then we will hear that policingwas here all the time. Only wenever see them. Driving alongRavenshoe once or twice a day, isnot doing the job.

Peter MullerUdora

On August 9th the Optimist Clubof Uxbridge held a concert in sup-port of the Uxbridge Rotary SkatePark. This was a wonderfulevening of guitar music enjoyed byall who attended. On behalf ofthe committee I would like to takethis opportunity to thank theOptimist Club for their support ofthe park and all the local business-es whose donations made theevening such a success!

Leslie EdwardsUxbridge Skate Park Committee

Early this spring I was surprised tosee two bylaw officers pull up infront of my home. Specifically,they stopped at one of the “ForSale” signs that was on my proper-ty. I approached them and asked ifI could help.

I was informed that they wereremoving the sign as it was in vio-lation of the Township’s bylaw. Isaid that I was unaware of the by-law and was told it wasn’t my

responsibility, but that of myagents. Since I was concerned thatthe officers would remove the signwhich is a costly item, I took itdown myself.

I contacted the bylaw office andwas advised that a property isallowed only one sign unless it hastwo street frontages. Fair enough.But what I find interesting is that

there are numerous homes in theTownship that have two signs ontheir properties, and have hadsince back in May when my signswere targeted, and they are still up.

I contacted Mr. Gratton (thechief bylaw officer), who advisedme that he would have his officerscontact “offending” realtors. Butthese signs are clearly visible inobvious locations and they are stillin place. Personally, I don’t carehow many signs are on a property,but having more than one is notdifficult to spot and yet all theproperties that were in violation atthe same time as ours still, as ofthis writing, have two signs.I have been told that I should ask

who reported me as it is obviouslysomeone in the know and some-one who has ‘targeted’ my proper-ty. I don’t care – small minded-ness is just that and if reportingme, and seeing the sign removedmade someone’s day, then I ammore than happy for them.

What bothers me is that eventhough I contacted the Townshipclose to a month ago, numerousobvious violations still exist.

If there is a bylaw in place, thenit should be enforced fairly andequitably.

Susan FedorkaGoodwood

Confessions of an armchair activist

I have a confession to make, and it's one I make with a bit of trepidation,since I feel like I might step on some toes here: Eight times out of ten, awareness campaigns bother me. Letme explain: for causes that we all know are serious problems, such as breast cancer, etc… awareness itselfisn't the problem. Awareness campaigns are useful when it's a little-known cause, or when there's a stigmathat needs to be broken in order to have people become involved. Frankly, I've come across far more aware-ness campaigns promoting things that seem to be common knowledge, which makes me suspect that it's justa trendy cause that marketers have latched onto primarily for profit. But even in the best of cases, 'aware-ness' itself should never be the end goal - theoretically, awareness should be the stepping stone to activeinvolvement.

After all, we live in a world that is far more interconnected than at any previous point in history; we havethe technology to be able to keep up with hundreds of friends and acquaintances over social media, to thepoint where - if we really wanted to - we could probably find out what they ate for dinner, how they're feel-ing about the weather, and the basics of what's going on in their lives. We have the ability to travel to justabout everywhere in the world, and we can do it reasonably fast. We are better educated in terms of themaintenance of our health, homes, and environment than ever before. It's somewhat boggling to me, there-fore, that we regularly come across this information and do nothing about it. In the western world, in ourrelative comfort, we have the ability to sit in our ergonomically-designed desk chairs and read about thecontinual slaughter of civilians in Syria, oppressive governments, the devastating earthquakes in Iran…and then we can go on with our day from there, and the updates we read provide nothing more than top-ics for conversation.

We're literally overwhelmed with information, choices, and news of all sorts. There are millions of causesbegging for our attention, and many of them ARE extremely valid. Personally, I've found that far too often,my response is inaction, and while I am educated about world events, or even the goings-on locally -- Iremain relatively unaffected. Now, I think a lot of other people struggle with this, too. We hear so muchtragedy day after day, and we're never really informed as to how to get involved, or how to make the sit-uation better, if indeed there is anything we CAN do. So, after a while, we do nothing, and we feel no per-sonal sense of responsibility. I've become aware of this tendency in myself, and it's made me feel utterlyashamed. I'm about eight months away from graduating university, intending to head out in a job marketto find something to do that will help other people in a sustainable way. That's always been my goal, andit's sobering to think of the opportunities I may have already passed by. I have always loved information,education, and obtaining knowledge, but I've come to realize that knowledge is only power when it is used,and otherwise it's completely devoid of meaning.

So, what should we do? Honestly, I don't have a clear answer. The only thing I've figured out for sure isthat I no longer wish to be a passive consumer of tragedy, whether it's far away or local. I can't do every-thing, but I can begin by looking for ways to be involved with the information I come across. I want to readthe news and have it elicit more than a momentary pang of “that's really too bad”. For any of you read-ing this column that are struggling with the same thing, I'd like to encourage you to give it a shot with me:look for ways to be involved with the news you hear. For those of you who are already involved with some-thing, or many things, I'd like to encourage you to keep it up, and to not be shy about offering peopleopportunities to get on board with you. We can all start somewhere, whether that's writing to our MP's, call-ing up the local food bank to see what's needed, investigating the best charities to give money to, volun-teering… the opportunities to live an actively involved life exist, it's just a matter of actually doing it. Ibelieve that the majority of people have the best of intentions and the desire to do something to better theworld around us. We may not be able to change everything, but a change in attitude can set a great dealin motion.

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 20125The Uxbr idge Cosmos

the barris beatcolumn by Ted Barris

Dog days of summerLate last month - I think it was just before the Civic Holiday weekend - I got a

message on a net-serve account. A writer friend of mine was in a bit of a jam and she needed help. So sheput out an all-points-bulletin to her writer colleagues for help on the Internet. Normally, this online servicehelps writers find editors, publishers, venues for reading and other aids that writing professionals require. Hercall for help this time was a little unexpected.

“Anybody know where I can kennel my dog over the holiday weekend?” she asked.She was off to the cottage and a wedding over the weekend and needed to find doggie lodgings in a hurry.

I was intrigued by my friend's Internet call for assistance. It made a lot of sense. I responded online makinga suggestion or two, but ultimately she decided she'd take her dog along to the cottage and work out doggie-sitting arrangements later. By comparison, my writer friend's dilemma paled to the problem my sister faceda week or so later. Suddenly her dog had a series of seizures. Living in Toronto, she had access to a kind ofwalk-in pet emergency clinic; she got the dog admitted and as quickly as a human gets attention in a hospi-tal (perhaps sooner) a vet attended the dog, administered medication and even prescribed an MRI. Yikes!If there was ever any question that our pets are becoming central to our lives, if not taking them over, there's

little question anymore. I did a little surfing for some statistics on the Internet and the stats back up that the-sis. According to an Ipsos Reid poll, eight out of ten Canadians consider their pet a member of the family.What's perhaps even more telling in the survey is that four in ten Canadians think their pets are a viablereplacement for human companions. And how do the pollsters know this? Well, apparently the pet owners sur-veyed generally talk to their pets a lot, allow their pets to sleep in their owners' beds, have pictures of theirfavourite pet in their wallets, and just as readily tell stories about their pets to their friends. I guess that's whymy writer friend went online for a doggie-sitter.

It also occurred to me that with the ascension of the family pet to family member status, there must be asizable cost attached. I never asked my sister what that MRI for her dog might have cost, but I know from ourown vet bills (and I'm not complaining - professional help requires professional compensation) that choosingto have pets in our lives is a financial as well as a time and emotional commitment. Again, surveys bear thisout. Most recent statistics indicate the pet industry generates $9 billion a year in Canada. If you're curious,according to the American Pet Product Association, pet products and services in the U.S. generate nearly $50billion annually.I alluded to the emotional commitment of pet ownership. It too has a significant impact on people who choose

to have pets as primary companions. We recently had an expert in dog behaviour make a house call. We havegrandchildren around these days and we wanted to ensure that “man's best friend” knows how to behavehimself around the new arrivals. We learned that, like everything else in the pet-human equation, it's up tous to invest the additional time, retraining and of course money to ensure everybody's safety. But commitment to a pet can be dangerous to your health too. Another story came to me this week. A friend

in Calgary was walking her dog by a river alone. She was suddenly distracted and discovered her dog bark-ing on the far side of the river. Instinctively, she forded the river, got her dog safely back on the near bank,but then found herself caught in a strong current floating downstream. She forced herself not to panic and justmade it ashore, but realized the river could have swept her away and no one would have known why.

Our own household pets - a frail old cat and a middle-aged Kerry blue terrier - are fortunate to have ani-mal-sitting services just steps away. We occasionally rely on a service in town - Fit for a Dog - to drop by tocare for the animals when we're away for a day or two. But our neighbour is so tuned in to our comings andgoings that she regularly bails out the Kerry blue if he's ever stuck in our home alone. In fact, it's come tothe point that he feels as much at home next door as he does here in our household. And truthfully, I thinkshe considers him as much a part of her family as we think of him part of ours.

And if my dog has read the statistics, and I wouldn't put it past him, he's taking full advantage of his dualcitizenship.

For other Barris Beat columns go to www.tedbarris.com

aiming highcolumn by Amy Hurlburt

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 20126The Uxbr idge Cosmos

YOUR ROUTINEHaving a sound routine is important to consistency. You need to quite your mind and movefrom self 1 (this is the thinking part of your brain) to self 2 (this is the reacting part of yourbrain) in order to successfully hit a good shot. A routine does not have to be long but should

have some key elements: 1) you need to stand behind the ball to pick your intermediate target.

If you are able to see the ball fight using visualization do so here. 2) You will want to do something to tell yourself to move from self 1 to

self 2; it can be as simple as a tug of your pants or opening your gloveto hear the Velcro.3) You will need to find something small after you set

up to tell yourself to start the swing. This can be as simple as one wag-gle or just a cue word such as go.

Routines are individual so take some time on the range to find yourroutine. For this and other tips consult your local CPGA pro.

TIPS FOR BETTER GOLFBY DARRICK HARROP, HEAD PRO, FOXBRIDGE GOLF COURSE

INSIDE PETRO CANADA - SERVING ALL DAY

BREAKFAST, FISH & CHIPS, SANDWICHES, WRAPS, BURGERS, SOUPS & MORE!

DROP IN!at 545 Hwy. 47

(across from UxbridgeVeterinary Clinic)

905-852-2004

The Voice of Business by Katharine Gebhardt

Make sure everybody wins withdonations and sponsorships

Uxbridge businesses are called uponfrequently to sponsor and donate tocommunity events and fundraisersfor individuals, teams, or communi-ty institutions. And they give gener-ously throughout the year.Businesses in town give because it’sthe right thing to do – giving backis what keeps small communitiesgoing, after all.

Generally Uxbridge businessescontribute as a donor or sponsor toan event that others are planningaround town. However, we talkedto Chamber of Commerce membersKhadija and Mo Mohamed, ownersof A&W here in Uxbridge, abouttheir support of the MultipleSclerosis (MS) Society through“Cruisin’ for a Cause”, an event thathappens right at their location eachsummer.

If you aren’t familiar with theevent, it’s part of A&W’s “Cruisin’the Dub” program, which was creat-ed by classic car enthusiasts whoenjoy gathering at A&W locationsto share their passion for vintageautomobiles. It brings out vintagecar owners and community mem-bers who love to check out the carcollections to mingle and enjoy

food, music and a great time atA&W. Khadija and Mo, along withother A&W restaurants acrossCanada, donate $1 from every TeenBurger sold on the day of the eventto the MS Society.

What makes the event successful,and what can other businesses andnot-for-profits learn to help withtheir next fundraiser?For one thing, the event is a perfect

match for the business that is host-ing it. Cruisin’ for a Cause is allabout the nostalgia and family timeswe associate with A&W, whichstarted as a drive-in restaurant inCanada in 1956 – the heyday ofmany of the cars that will be on dis-play on Cruisin’ for a Cause Day.

It’s also a winning event becauseeverybody contributes to its success.The Uxbridge Classic Car Cluborganizes the event, Khadija andMo contribute financially to thecause, and the community comesout to support the event, enjoy aTeen Burger, and give through in-store donation boxes.

And when a fundraiser is com-bined with a special event, every-body wins. Car clubs like theUxbridge Classic Car Club are themain attraction, customers get toenjoy a special event here in townand are attracted to the business

providing the venue, and the MSSociety is the recipient of over$1,000,000 across Canada thanksto the event.The success of Cruisin’ for a Cause

holds lessons for businesses support-ing causes and for those in townwho are promoting a cause:• Aligning the business with the

event theme is important to ensur-ing the business and the cause ben-efit the most.• Allowing as many of the partici-

pants as possible to contribute –community, another not-for-profitorganization, staff and the businessowners – contributes to success.• Everybody has to win, too. And

when a fundraiser is combined withan event, it goes a long way to mak-ing sure everybody walks away feel-ing like they got a great deal.

If you haven’t experienced Cruisin’for a Cause at A&W, or if you have,and you’re anticipating this year’sevent, you can check it out onAugust 23 at A&W here inUxbridge.

Thanks to Khadija and MoMohamed, owners of A&W Uxbridgeand members of the UxbridgeChamber of Commerce (www.uxcc.caor info@uxcc.ca), for their contribu-tion to this column.

Concert Band takesus to the moviesMovies and music go together like butter and popcorn, Abbott and Costello,or celebrities and paparazzi. This summer, the Uxbridge Community ConcertBand presents some of the best music from some of the most memorablemovies at its final concert, to be held on Saturday, August 25 at Trinity UnitedChurch.The theme for the 21st season of the UCCB is "Lights, Camera, Music!", and

the 50-piece ensemble has a selection of music representing movie genres fromWestern to War, from Superhero to Superspy, and lots in between.

Big movie musicals are here, too, from the bluegrass and gospel sounds of OBrother Where Art Thou? to the dirty jazz found in Kander & Ebb's Chicago.Blockbusters like Titanic are represented as well.The band's director, Steffan Brunette, promises a "theatrical spectacle" with a

recent work entitled "Paper Cut", where the performers create music out ofpieces of paper in addition to their wind, brass, and percussion instruments."It's a captivating piece on a recording, but it is even more engaging when it'sseen," he said.As always, a great deal of thought went into the selection of music for the con-

cert. "It would be easy to do an entire concert with music by John Williams,"Brunette said, referring to the composer of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Raidersof the Lost Ark. As it stands, Mr. Williams' sole contribution on this concertcomes at the tail end of a medley of "Great Movie Marches".

"We wanted to feature a range of movie composers, from a variety of theatri-cal genres, from across cinematic history," explained Brunette. The end resultshould be a concert that appeals to a wide variety of tastes.The band has been in rehearsal since the end of May, and presented a preview

concert at Port Perry's Palmer Park on August 12. The performance at TrinityUnited Church will mark the conclusion of the band's season. Members of thisyear's ensemble come from across Durham Region, as well as Markham.

The concert begins promptly at 7pm at Trinity United Church on FirstAvenue. Tickets are available at the door. Adult admission is $10. Seniors andchildren 12 and under are $5. Refreshments will be served on a donation basis.For more information, please contact Steffan Brunette at 905-852-7854.

Locals contribute to Ontario Summer GamesThe city of Toronto is hosting the upcoming 2012Ontario Summer Games from August 16 to 19. Thegames will involve over 2500 amateur athletes in 28sports at multiple venues across Toronto and the sur-rounding areas. Over 1000 volunteers have been busyplanning and will soon execute these games which serveas a stepping stone to many national and internationalcompetitions.

Jodi Bussiere, an Uxbridge physiotherapist, is on thehealth care team and has been organizing the medicalcoverage for the Games since the fall of 2011. Bussiereis also covering Ball Hockey at The Herb Carnegie

Arena where she will co-ordinate medical volunteers toprovide on-field care for the athletes. The organizationthat has been taking place is good practice for Torontoas it prepares for the upcoming Pan American Games in2015. Bussiere also worked at the 2010 WinterOlympics in Vancouver, BC.

Other local medical volunteers for the OntarioSummer Games include Amanda Gilroy, AthleticTherapist, and Leslie Sachse, Registered MassageTherapist. For more information about the Games or topurchase tickets, visit the website ontariosum-mergames.ca.

It seems strange to most of us toconsider “working out” at 90years old, but should it? I wasrecently at luncheon with several

colleagues in the fitness industrywhen the topic of the idealwork-out came up (what a sur-prise!). Todd, one of the trainers

at the luncheon, made the pointthat whatever work-out youchoose to do should be some-thing you can see yourself doinguntil you are ninety years old.Ninety years old! I have to say itsounded crazy at first, but Ithink Todd hit the nail on thehead.We have a warped perception of

fitness sometimes; we think of itas a means to an end, one specif-ic goal or a way to reach a num-ber on the scale. It can be all ofthose things, but it really needsto be about consistency andenjoyment to promote longevity.It's about overall health andwellness, not just how manypush-ups you can do or howmany miles you can run.

I love to run, I love a superintense workout and I love tomountain bike. Do I think I willbe doing all of those things whenI'm ninety? Not necessarily,BUT, I do think I will still bewalking the trails, lifting moder-ate weights to keep young andstrong and be out enjoyingnature. I've just made active liv-ing and fitness part of who I am.I think this is what Todd meant;even though I won't necessarily

be doing the same intensity ofexercise as I do now, I can com-pletely see myself keeping upthis frequency of activity. I canenvision myself maintaining aconsistently active lifestyle.

If you are a runner, then likelyyou can see yourself running for-ever. Maybe you are a cyclist andcan not fathom the idea of evergiving it up. But what if you arenot? What if you haven't foundyour “thing” that you can pictureyourself still doing at ninetyyears old? That's when you keeplooking and trying new things.Sometimes we miss out on agreat fun new activity justbecause it doesn't fit into ourcurrent fitness strategy or cur-rent weight loss goal. It's really ashame. If we just tried some dif-ferent activities without judgingthem first we would probablyfind our “thing” in no time!There really is something foreveryone.

The next time you start a newfitness routine (or simply re-evaluate the one you have) askyourself if you could see yourselfdoing some variation of thisactivity at 90 years old. Is theactivity fun? Do you enjoy it?

Do you see a mental and physi-cal benefit from doing it? If theanswer to all of those questionsis yes, then you will likely stillwant to do some variation of itat 90. We far too often tackle anew exercise program only toditch it a few weeks later becausewe can't keep up the pace; it'stoo hard, it's boring or we don'thave the time. Instead of pickingyour fitness activities based sole-ly on short term goals, why notjust try and be active more often?Remember to consider consis-tency and longevity. Try some-thing new and just have fun!!

My Mom tried a yoga class thispast October. She had never real-ly tried it and was determinedshe would be terrible at it. 10months later she is still goingtwice a week and is loving everyminute of it. I posed the ques-tion to her this week, “You thinkyou will still be doing yoga a fewtimes a week when you're 90?”Her answer? A resounding yes!

Brandi is a registered nutritionistand certified personal trainer atBody Design in Mount Albert:www.bodydesign.ca

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 20127The Uxbr idge Cosmos

Local fingerstyle guitarist Chris Saunders is once again bringing togetherfour musical friends for this year’s show at the Foster: Carlie Laidlaw,vocals and percussion; Haydee Grant, vocals and percussion; MichelleCharlton, fiddle; and Jean Hoevenaars, bass. Uxbridge audiences mayremember last year’s SRO show at the Foster as well as their performanc-es at several charity events throughout the year. The group is known forits eclectic blend of traditional, folk and contemporary music.

ThisFridayat theFoster

7:30 p.m. 9449 Concession 7Admission by Donation

AUGUST 17 - CHRIS SAUNDERS AND FRIENDS

Starring Uxbridge Actress

The story of Lucy Maud Montgomery duringher first 15 years in Ontario (1911-26), a timeof simple joys and heart-rending tragedy,brought to life through Montgomery's ownpowerful words.

Conceived and directed by Conrad Boyce

Playing June 28 - September 3Playing June 28 - September 3

Jennifer Carroll as MaudJennifer Carroll as Maud

Thursday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pmSunday afternoons at 3:00 pm

Tickets $20 at Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge, at the Leaskdale Country Store or by calling 905-904-0977 for reservations.

Only Eight More Shows! Don’t Miss It!

Body Work with Brandi McCarthy Fitness at 90: Why not?

Sprucing up the cenotaphThe renovations currently underway onUxbridge’s cenotaph will cost approximately$80,000, with $25,000 coming from agrant from the federal government. Thebalance is being raided from the communi-ty. The I.O.D.E. were responsible for put-ting in the cenotaph at the library in 1931.It was unveiled on November 8th of thatyear.

The base of the cenotaph is made of gran-ite, the figure of Italian marble. Anyonewishing to make a donation to the projectshould drop it off at 51 Toronto Street South,PO Box 190, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1T1,cheques payable to the Township ofUxbridge. A receipt will be issued.

During the War of 1812, thefirst Nations played a major rolein fighting the Americans. Youcan learn more about their workwith British Soldiers, thevoyageurs and the militia at theMuseum on the weekend ofAugust 25/26 at Heritage Days.Native re-enactors On-Gwe-Ho-Way will set up camp and

demonstrate the day-to-day lifeof the natives that inhabited thisarea through demonstrations ofpreparing native foods, finger-weaving, quill work, and beadwork. Displays will include acollection of tomahawks, Indiantrade rifles and furs. Drummingand singing will also be demon-strated.

A Quaker re-enactor willillustrate thepositive rela-t i o n s h i pbetween thenatives and theQuakers. Close by re-enactors BruceWhittaker and

his family offer a glimpse intothe life of an Upper CanadaMilitia Officer and his family ina period encampment consistingof canvas tents, wood furnitureand 19th century cooking appa-ratus. This gives visitors anopportunity to learn how earlypioneers lived while buildingtheir new homes in theCanadian wilderness.

Visitors will be allowed to han-dle and wear some of the house-hold items, clothing and tools.Military items will also be ondisplay, including a Red Coatworn by British troops duringthe War of 1812, a green woolcoat worn by Upper CanadaMilitia volunteers, and soldiers'

equipment including flintlockmuskets. Period camp cookingdemonstrations are offered aswell, including biscuits, breadand desserts baked in cast ironDutch Ovens. “Gifts of the North” artist JanetHannam, from Thunder Bay, islooking forward to meeting

with visitors and artists interest-ed in her work, and in having aspecial children's time. Throughher work Janet demonstrates therichness of people of many cul-tures north of Lake Superior, aplace that few people know orvisit.

CALLING ALL USSTIGERS WITH AN

INTEREST IN JOURNALISM

OR WRITING !!

Have you dreamed of seeing yourname on a byline? Do you have aninterest in writing? Do you want tolearn more about being a reporter?

Do you have curiosity aboutwhat's going on in your school andhow to get that information out toothers?

Do you enjoy creative writing andexpressing your views and feelings?

Well, do we have an offer for you!Tiger Talk, the weekly Cosmos col-

umn on Uxbridge SecondarySchool written by students, is look-ing for individuals who are interest-ed in becoming regular contribut-ing members to our writing team.We are looking for a senior (ingrade 10-12 this fall) as well as astudent entering grade nine to joinour already existing writers so wehave representation from all levelsat our school.

This would be a steady rolethroughout the school year, whereyou would be working with otherteam members to make Tiger Talk avaluable forum for USS studentsand the community to stay intouch.If you are interested, we invite you

to submit your name and contactinformation, as well as a briefdescription of why you are interest-ed in this role and what experienceor skills you have to offer, by e-mailto cosmosboyce@powergate.ca Thedeadline is Mon., Aug. 20.

Until Sept. 3 Maud of Leaskdale One-woman show about the amazing life of Lucy MaudMontgomery. Three times per week at the HistoricLeaskdale Church. See page 7 for more.

Thurs., Aug. 16 Cruise In Weekly classic cargathering, this year at the Uxbridge Arena. 6 p.m.to dusk. Entertainment by Afterglow, face paintingby Sonshine the Clown.

Fri., Aug. 17 Fridays at the Foster ChrisSaunders and Friends, Folk. FosterMemorial, 9449 Concession 7. 7:30-8:30 p.m.Admission by donation.

Fri., Aug. 17 Blood Donor Clinic 1-8 p.m.Uxbridge Seniors’ Centre, 75 Marietta Street.

Fri., Aug. 17 ZEPHYR FARMERS MARKET &GARAGE SALE. 3:00 to 8:00 pm. Fresh produce,unique treasures. Zephyr Community Centre.

Aug. 18-19 Uxbridge Lions are running their18th annual Art in the Park from 10AM to 5PMin Elgin Park Uxbridge. Admission and parking isfree. 90 to100 artists will show their works.Art/play area for kids, food vendors, entertain-ment, silent auction and much more. Proceedsgoing to Lion's Dog Guides and other communityprojects.

Wed., Aug. 22, 9:30 a.m. The Oak RidgesTrail Association is hosting a 2+hr., 11+ km fastpace hike in Durham Forest. No dogs please. We

will hike for 2+ hrs. Meet at Durham Forest parkingarea on the east side of Conc. 7, 1 km south ofDurham Rd. 21. Joan Taylor 905-477-2161.

Thurs., Aug. 23 Cruise In Weekly classic cargathering, this year at the Uxbridge Arena. 6 p.m.to dusk. Entertainment by the Dance TimeRoadshow.

Thurs., Aug. 23 Meet the Farmers ofUxbridge Featuring the Robot Cow! 5-9 pm,Uxbridge Arena Hall. 30 local farmers, refresh-ments, prizes.

Fri., Aug. 24, 9:30 a.m. The Oak Ridges TrailAssociation is hosting a 2+hr., 11+ km fast pacehike in Durham Forest. No dogs please. Meet atDurham Forest parking area on the east side ofConc. 7, 1 km south of Durham Rd. 21. JoanTaylor 905-477-2161.

Fri., Aug. 24 Slob-Stacle Course 2, 1 to 4pm.Contestants are asked to meet at the UxbridgeYouth Centre and dress appropriately to get messy.Ages 11 to 21 are welcome to come out and com-pete to win prizes and battle it out to become theultimate slob! Register by calling the UYC at 905-862-3456.

Fri., Aug. 24 Fridays at the Foster JaneLoewen Foster Memorial, 9449 Concession 7.7:30-8:30 p.m. Admission by donation.

Sat/Sun. Aug. 25/26 Heritage Days –Uxbridge Museum Travel back in time and dis-cover the ways of the pioneers. New this year-native, militia and Quaker re-enactors, the outstand-ing art display “Gifts of the North” and vintagewedding dresses. Displays, demonstrations, goodfood and entertainment. Fun for all ages. Info at

905-852-5854 Parking and children FREE, Adults$10. All 10 buildings are wheelchair accessible.

Sat., Aug. 25, 7:00 a.m. The Oak RidgesTrail Association is hosting a 1+ hr., 4 km mod-erate pace hike on the Al Shaw side Trail. No dogsplease. Meet at the trail entrance on the west sideof Conc. 6, 1.5 km south of Durham Rd. 21. JoanTaylor 905-477-2161.

Sat., Aug. 25 Uxbridge Horticultral SocietyAnnual Show, Tea and Plant Sale. 2.00pm.Seniors Centre, 75 Marietta St, Uxbridge. Comeout and see some of the amazing flowers and pro-duce on show from the beautiful gardens in andaround Uxbridge. Enjoy tea, pick up some plantsfor your garden, and meet with other gardenenthusiasts.

Sat., Aug. 25 Uxbridge CommunityConcert Band 7 p.m. Trinity United Church.More on pages 3 and 9.

Sun., Aug. 26 Rotary Summer ConcertsJulien Kelland 7-8 p.m. Rotary Bandshell, ElginPark.

Mon., Aug. 27, 9:30 a.m. The Oak RidgesTrail Association is hosting a 2.5 hr., slow tomoderate pace hike on the Secord/GoodwoodTract. Bring a picnic lunch. Well-mannered dogswelcome. Meet at parking lot 2km south ofGoodwood Rd., east on Secord Rd. Brian orWilma Millage 905-853-2407.

Wed., Aug. 29, 9:30 a.m. The Oak RidgesTrail Association is hosting a 4+ hr., 16+ kmmoderate to fast pace loop hike in theBrock/Wilder/Glen Major Conservation areas.There are hills. Meet at parking area on the eastside of Uxbridge Conc. 6, 0.6 km north of

Uxbridge Town Line, or 5.5 km south of Durham 21Bob Comfort 905-473-2669.

Thurs., Aug. 30 Cruise In Weekly classic cargathering, this year at the Uxbridge Arena. 6 p.m.to dusk. Entertainment by Afterglow, face paintingby Sonshine the Clown.

Fri., Aug. 31, 9:30 a.m. The Oak Ridges TrailAssociation is hosting a 2 hr., 10 km, fast paceand hilly hike in Walker Woods. No dogs please.Meet at parking area on the east side of the 6thConc., 2 km south of Durham 21 at Albright Rd.Joan Taylor 905-477-2161

Fri., Aug. 31, 8:00 p.m. The Oak Ridges TrailAssociation is hosting an 8 hr., 2.5 km full moonloop hike on Durham Forest Main Track. Bringwater and snack. Meet at parking area 3789Conc. 7 Uxbridge Chris Johnston 905-852-7524.

Fri., Aug. 31 Le Vent Du Nord PopularQuebec band returns... 8 pm, Uxbridge MusicHall.

Fri., Aug. 31 Fridays at the FosterShimoda Family, Recorders. FosterMemorial, 9449 Concession 7. 7:30-8:30 p.m.Admission by donation.

Fri., Aug. 31 Five Buck Fridays at the UYCwill feature Like Pacific, Bathurst, Sleepwalker andHarbour. Entry to the concert is $5 and doorsopen at 6:45pm.

Saturday and Sunday September 1 & 2Maud's Garden of Quilts Show presented bythe LMMSO of Leaskdale. 10 -5pm daily. Enjoy thelatest creations of local and guest quilters at theHistoric Leaskdale Church, 11850 Regional Road1 north of Uxbridge. $5 Admission Lunch will alsoserved. Kathy Wasylenky 905-852-5284.

Sun., Sept. 2 Music Fest Reachview Villagefrom 10-11 a.m. We welcome singers, dancers,instrument players, joke-tellers. The sky's the limit!For more info please contact jo at 905-852-6487.

Sun., Sept. 2 Rotary Summer ConcertsSleepless City 7-8 p.m. Rotary Bandshell, ElginPark

Uxbridge Parkinson’s Support Group meetsthe first Thursday of each month from 1-3 p.m. atthe Bridgwater Condo building, 22 James HillCourt off Campbell Drive. All welcome.

The ‘Gifts of the North’ sculpture display contin-ues at the Uxbridge Historical Centre until October6. A unique exhibit of 18 whimsical sculptures byartist Janet Hannam that illustrate different aspectsof life and culture in northwestern Ontario. OpenWednesday to Sunday and holidays, regularadmission fees apply: Adults $5, Seniors andStudents $4, Children $3, Family $14.www.uxbridgehistoricalcentre.com. 905-852-5854.

Glen Major Church summer services throughAugust, 7 p.m. Special speakers and music. OnConcession 7 south of Chalk Lake Road.

Hospital Auxiliary “Chances Are” Store onBascom Street accepting good summer and fallclothing. Proceeds to Cottage Hospital.

If you have a community event you’d like us to men-tion, please contact us at cosmosboyce@power-gate.ca or 905-852-1900. The deadline for ournext issue is 6 p.m. Sunday.

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 20128The Uxbr idge Cosmos

ONGOING

THIS WEEKEND

UPCOMING

NEXT WEEK

Coming Up

Tiger Talk

Life in 1812 highlighted at Heritage Days

No dogs for Canada Day? Citing anexample of a woman being bitten bya dog at this year's Canada Dayevents in Elgin Park, Councillor PatMikuse presented Uxbridge councilwith a report Monday requestingdogs be banned from future Canada

Day events at the park.The report said the Canada Day

committee wants Council to con-sider the event a "dog-free zone"from 4 p.m. until after the annualfireworks display is over. Ms.Mikuse also stated that volunteers

manning the gates for the eventdon't want to be responsible forenforcing the rule and asked that ananimal control officer be assigned tothe park for future Canada Dayevents.

Mayor Gerri-Lynn O'Connorwondered whether it should be theTownship or the organizers whowould be responsible for paying forthe officer to be on duty.

Councillor Bev Northeast saidmaking the park a dog-free zoneshould be the norm for any parkevent where there will be childrenand food "or we're just asking fortrouble," adding that some dogscan't handle the noise and thecrowds. She said she was not propos-ing a bylaw banning dogs from parkevents, but suggested organizers ofsuch events should have the right toban dogs.When Councillor Pat Molloy asked

how many dog bites have beenreported at Canada Day events overthe years, Ms. Mikuse replied: "Justthis one and we hope it's the last."

Regional Councillor Jack Ballingeropined that most dogs have difficul-ty dealing with the noise of fire-works and wondered why anyonewould take their dogs to such anevent.

Council decided to refer the reportto staff to decide whether a bylaw isneeded or not.Parking problems downtown?Former Council candidate BrianFowlow asked Council Monday toconsider banning parking and stop-ping on Albert Street, particularly inlight of the fact there are two munic-ipal parking lots on the street.

Mr. Fowlow said vehicles are oftenparked on both sides of the street,resulting in limited space forthrough traffic. He said he hadmeasured the width of the street andthe average width of cars. He saidwhen cars were parked on bothsides, it left barely enough room forother cars to pass between. He sug-gested council should at least banparking on the north side of thestreet, a suggestion that receivedsupport from Ms. Northeast.

Council asked Public WorksDirector Ben Kester to prepare areport on the situation for a latercouncil meeting.Preparing for Trans-Canada Trailcompletion: Members of theUxbridge trails committee toldcouncil they are making someadjustments to the portion of theTrans-Canada Trail that runsthrough the urban area in prepara-tion for the completion of theworld's longest trail in 2017.

Victoria Walker told council the23,000-kilometre trail - which con-nects the Pacific, Arctic and Atlanticoceans - is currently 73 per centcomplete.

Tom Rance said the portion thatpasses through Uxbridge will bererouted in some areas to take it offthe roads. It will travel along the rail-way line from Lakeridge Road andacross the trestle bridge to MainStreet and then wend its way souththrough town to the trail pavilion inCentennial Park. From there it willrun through Elgin Park and eventu-ally end up off-road along BrookdaleRoad before making its way south tothe Pickering town line on estab-lished routes.

Mr. Rance said work will need tobe done on the trestle to protect itfrom vandals who frequently stripwood from it to build fires in thevalley below. He said the trestlecould be covered in expandable steeland have lighting installed at no costto the municipality.New video unveiled: Tom Fowle ofthe Uxbridge watershed committeegave Council a preview of a newvideo the committee has made toshow the community the work thecommittee and hundreds of volun-teers have done to protect aquaticenvironments in the township.

The 10-minute video, narrated byCosmos columnist Ted Barris andcreated by Uxbridge residents, isdesigned for adults and will be avail-able for showing to service clubs andschools. A shorter version for chil-dren is also planned,The video is scheduled to receive its

first public showing on Oct. 18 atthe environmental appreciationnight at the Music Hall.

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 20129The Uxbr idge Cosmos

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Why was it needed? - Anatomy of a road closureby Roger Varley

Twice in the last two years, festivalsplanned in Leaskdale by the Lucy MaudMontgomery Society have had a spannerthrown into the works in the form ofroad construction.In 2011, when Uxbridge Township was

celebrating the 100th anniversary ofMontgomery’s arrival in Leaskdale, trafficthrough the village, where Lucy Maudlived for 15 years, was disrupted for alengthy period because of the construc-tion of a new bridge just north of theManse on Highway 1. This year, just asthe LMMS was launching it's summer-long production of Maud of Leaskdale, aprofessional one-woman play starringUxbridge's Jennifer Carroll, the DurhamRegion works department closed offRegional Road 1 at Ashworth Road toinstall a culvert. The road was scheduledto be closed to through traffic for fourweeks, but that was extended a week toJuly 27.

However, Ron Trewin, a manager withthe region works department, said thetiming of the closures was unavoidabledue to environmental reasons.

"It had to be done in the window thatwas available," he said.

He said the window for installing theculvert, for example, was only open fromthe beginning of July to Sept. 15. Headded, that, although some farmers inthe area have already been impacted bythe road closure, a lot more would beimpacted if the road was closed beyondSept. 15.Mr. Trewin said environmental concerns

also dictated the type of culvert that wasput into place. The region had to installwhat is called an open footing culvert asopposed to a box culvert or one made ofcorrugated steel. He said the environ-mental requirements came from the con-servation authority and the Ministry ofthe Environment.

Dana Eldon of the Lake Simcoe RegionConservation Authority (LSRCA) saidwhen construction work involves anywaterways, the LSRCA has to determinewhether it is a sensitive area, but it is theMinistry of Natural Resources thatdecides if the work will have any impacton fish habitats. She said the LSRCAissues permits for work in compliancewith MNR regulations and the MNRdecides on the time frames.

A biologist with the MNR told theCosmos the ministry has a mandate todetermine those time frames, which take

into account fish communities ratherthan individual fish species and the ther-mal requirements of those communities.

She said the tributary of the UxbridgeBrook that runs through the culvert is acold water ecosystem and the fish thatuse it as habitat and for spawning cannotbe disturbed outside the July-to-mid-September time frame.

Part of the reason the culvert had to bereplaced, he said, was that the originalculvert barely extended beyond the road-way's pavement.

As for the bridge that was replaced lastyear, Mr. Trewin said that work hadalready been postponed for 20 years. Hesaid if the bridge had not been replacedwhen it was, the heavy truck traffic cross-ing it would eventually have seen theroad closed for a year.

"That road has seen little improvementover the last 30 years," he said, addingthat the lack of wide shoulders on theroad prevent the option of single-lanetraffic when work is required to be done.The narrowness of the road and the lack

of shoulders are the reasons why theworks department is planning on widen-ing the road north of Sandford Roadsometime in 2014 or 2015, he said.

"We need to bring the road up to stan-

dard," Mr. Trewin said. "It needs decentshoulders and decent ditches." He addedthat, under present conditions, the speedlimit on the road should be reduced.

As for the widening of the road impact-ing the Foster Memorial and the adjacentcemetery, Mr. Trewin said his departmentis working with the Foster committeeand the cemetery board to find ways toavoid having to move the Foster gatesand the cemetery fence."We're not planning to move them," he

said, "and we're looking to improve theparking for the Foster, but safety issueshave to be a concern."

He said the department wants to talkwith the community "and do morehomework on how to make it work bestfor the community."

He said the Region is not looking toexpropriate land for the road widening:"We're trying to work with the locals."Nevertheless, he said the work will even-

tually have to be done."I feel really strongly that (the road)

needs to be brought up to standard," hesaid.

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 201210The Uxbr idge Cosmos

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Events

RYLEEPUSS PRODUCTIONSAUDITION NOTICE "Oliver" look-ing for people of all ages call Mike fora booking time at 905 852 1836.8/16MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE at one location.Saturday, August 18th. 423 Hwy 47 E. betweenLakeridge Rd and Hwy 12. Large variety ofitems from camping, furniture, housewares,clothes, kids stuff, cedar rails, x-country skis, etc.

8-12 noon. 8/16

The not-for-profit productioncompany Homages Cinema ishaving a concert fundraiser onAugust 18th at the UxbridgeMusic Hall, featuring local bandsHeavy Traffic and 1985, andpaintings by Skylyssa Carville.The funds raised through theconcert will go toward complet-ing post-production sound onthe upcoming feature film,Homages.Homages is written and directed

by Uxbridge-raised Bryan Nagle,and features Uxbridge-bornactors Brandon Sim and Grant

Goodine. The film's premisefocuses on the relational dynam-ics between three individualswith mental illness. Homagesseeks not only to faithfully repre-sent its three protagonists, but toshow the audience the constantand unique struggles that indi-viduals with mental illness faceevery day.A constant flow of kindness and

support has carried the film topost-production, and now sup-port from Canadian Tire, theCanadian Pizza House, BostonPizza, McDonalds, Shopper's

Drug Mart, and Free ToppingsPizza, are making the fundraiserpossible. The movie's producersanticipate the film to be finishedfor September with ambitions ofpremiering at the UxbridgeCelebration of the Arts.The event is 19+ and has a cash

bar. For additional informationyou may visit the film's websitewww.homagesthefilm.com oremail the event organizer athomagesthefilm@gmail.com.Doors open at eight.

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 201211The Uxbr idge Cosmos

V I E W P O I N T S

How well do you know the highways and

byways of Uxbridge Township? The first per-

son each week to call into our office number,

905-852-1900, and correctly identify the location

of our photo, will receive a prize; this week, it’s two

tickets for Maud of Leaskdale. Last week’s viewpoint

(lower photo) was not guessed. Hint: it ‘s part of a

very old building. We’ll have the answer next week.

Photo by Jennifer Carroll.

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Local film holds musical fundraiser at Music Hall

GIFTS OF THE NORTHHave you been to the museum yet

to see the amazing travellingexhibit, Gifts of the North?

Thunder Bay artist Janet Hannamused all her artistic skills and

numerous techniques to createthese 18 sculptures, a four-yearlabour of love made possible by

an Ontario Arts Council grant.Janet Hannam will be at Heritage

Days at the Museum on August25th and 26th to present herexhibit to visitors, meet with

artists to discuss technique, andhost a storytime for children fea-turing the whimsical ‘characters’

that make up Gifts. For moredetails, visit the Museum’s

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PhotosbyStuartBlower

by Shelagh Damus

When asked about his participationin previous Art in the Park shows,photographer Mike Slade answerswith a self-deprecating remark typi-cal of the British - “My wallet is fullof compliments.” OnAugust 18th and 19thSlade will be one ofnearly 100 artistsexhibiting at the 18thannual Lions Art in thePark at Elgin Park. Theshow, which runs from10 am to 5 pm bothdays, will run rain orshine, and the forecast isfor the latter.

It is the fourth yearthat Slade will set upshop. Slade describes hiswork as “a bit of everything” with afocus on portrait photography.Since the advent of Photoshop,photography has seen “the bleedingof the line between straight photog-raphy and art, photos are now creat-

ed much like an artist creates with apaintbrush.” It is a digital paint-brush but the end product possessesa new artistry. He is looking for-ward to Art in the Park because ofthe opportunity it affords him tointeract with both the public andwith fellow photographers. It is an

opportunity thatworks the otherway too! Peoplewho come to theshow have thechance to “talk tothe artists them-selves.” They canlearn “how andwhy they do thethings they do,”says Slade.

Slade’s relation-ship with photogra-phy began as a

teenager. “A friend had a camerathat intrigued me,”says Slade. “Ithad these pull out bellows on thefront. I am not sure if it was thecamera or the mechanics of the

thing,” but he was hooked. In 1960, Slade purchased his first

camera, a Bronica Twin Lens Reflexcamera. Initially photography, likefor most, was more of a “photojour-nalist thing, recording the events ofhis life.” It became more of a cre-ative entity when he switched todigital around ten years ago. Therewas no looking back. He was nevercompletely satisfied with film.

“I would get my prints back and Iwould be disappointed.” Not withhis work, but with the quality of thedeveloping and printing. “Digital isthe best things since sliced bread.”For Slade, digital offers both agreater creativity and more controlwith respect to printing.

Before participating in the show,Slade attended Art in the Parkbecause he was fascinated with thecreative work of the artists.“People should come just to seewhat people can create. If they seesomething they really like, they canbuy it.” But the first step is to seewhat is available; what has grown

out of the minds and hearts of cre-ative souls who offer their view ofthe world we live in through artisticexpression. The work that is dis-played is for sale and because thereis no middle man purchases supportthe artists directly. Other Uxbridgeartists who will be exhibiting at theshow include watercolourist Rae

MacDonald, acrylic and water-colourist Hanneke Koonstra andRaku potter Barb Thomson.

Admission is free. Parking is free.There is a children’s program and asilent auction. This weekend headto Elgin Park for Art in the Park;your walls will thank you.

Thur sday, Augus t 16 th 201212The Uxbr idge Cosmos

Far From Homeby Jennifer Carroll

Art in the Park a hive of creativity

A little superstition never hurt anyone

I have never been one for rituals orsuperstitions. The NHL playoffs havetheir bushy beards, runners tie theirshoes in disturbingly specific ways,even thespians will run thrice arounda theatre and kiss the entrance if theydare breath the name Macbeth insidea theatre's hallowed halls. But I havenever felt any pull or desire to pre-scribe to those or any other ceremoni-al conventions, popular or otherwise.

Now I know the likelihood of meever growing a beard seems improba-ble (though, I suppose, you neverknow), but even within my owninterests and occupations I neverseemed to engage in such shenani-gans. And so imagine my surprisewhen I found myself, well into therun of Maud this summer, perform-ing nightly rituals. Rituals that I dis-covered, when I looked keenly atthem, heralded back to my child-hood. Every night before stepping onstage I seem to stop, take a breath,focus my mind and spirit and nerves,and step forward into the light. I do itunconsciously and without fail. Andyet it's not new. As far back as I canremember it stilled me before my fin-gers landed at the keys of a piano.Inquiring into my memory, I discov-

er exactly where it came from. Topreface: I studied classical piano forover ten years. Correction: I studiedclassical piano for over ten years underthe tutelage of one of the best teach-ers. Ever. Her name is Susan Hall, andshe was the very first to see and nur-ture the artist in me.

As part of our study, we partook in'performance classes' - evenings whereall of Susan's students would gather inher cozy piano room. This room wasmagical to me, with its floor to ceilingbookcases, its colourful geometric tex-tiles and haunting yet comfortingcanvases. The walls were painted dar-ingly in different colours, and themassive windows peered out into thedark ravine behind us. We sat, coziedinto this enchanting space, and lis-tened to each other's masterpieces.

Whenever it was my turn to step upto the baby grand that occupied mostof the space known to me as my own

private version of heaven, I wouldturn to my makeshift audience beforesitting at the keyboard. My handwould steady on the side of the piano,and I would bow, taking my time,claiming my space. Then turning, Iwould find my home at the pianobench, taking my time to ensure itsheight, angle and distance from thepiano was just perfectly right. Notbeing rushed, I would begin to hearthe first notes in my mind before theyplayed out through my fingers.

Then, my ritual: I would pause forjust one extra moment, and take aslow, deep breath. Every unnecessarythought and worry would melt frommy mind and I would hear only themusic and my heart beating. I wouldtake that extra moment to assuremyself of the work I'd done up to thismoment, and then I would let it go,and I would just enjoy the delight ofthe music and it flowed through myheart and hammered against thestrings.

The only difference now, years later,is that instead of music there arewords. Standing in the basement ofthe Historic Leaskdale Church, I getmy cue to begin. I check my costumeand grip tighter to my suitcase. Then,my ritual: I pause for just one extramoment, and take a slow, deepbreath. Every unnecessary thoughtand worry melts from my mind and Ihear Maud's voice echoing in my ears.I think of all the work that it took toget to this point, and then I let it go.I let it go and I enjoy the sound of thewords as they form in my mouth, andthe emotions and delights that comefrom them.

So I admit, it's no playoff beard, butit has worked for me so far. And youknow they say, if it ain't broke...

And only because I cannot give upmy final opportunity for shamelessself-promotion, there are only threeweeks left of my one woman showMaud of Leaskdale, playing at theHistoric Leaskdale Church. Thoughmost weeks we run Thursday andSaturday nights at 7:30 and Sundayafternoons at 3, I would like to men-tion that our final weekend beginningAugust 30, has no performancesSaturday or Sunday, and includes afinal performance on Monday,September 3, at 3.