NEW SMMHA PRESIDENT PAGE 12 POLLINATOR PROJECT PAGE 14 St. Marys Independent 36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON | 519.284.0041 | [email protected] | www.stmarysindy.com Issue #1059 Thursday, June 17, 2021 FREE Black’s Financial Services 2015 HONDA CIVIC EX JUST $124 B.W. Black’s Financial Services Call us for details 519.284.1340 2015 Honda Civic EX *All rates subject to change without notice* Loaded with sunroof, htd seats, alum. wheels with 4 new tires, TERM GIC GIC INSURED bluetooth, cam, pwr windows/locks/mirrors, keyless enter & go, Are you taking advantage of the TFSA? 1 year 1.20 *All rates subject cruise and more, 1 owner with clean history 1 YR 0.79 - 3 YR 1.32 - 5 YR 1.81 3 years 1.70 to change without $ HST & licensing extra, payment over For more products and 5 years 2.15 notice* 13,795 60 months @ 5.99% o.a.c Financial Advice call us today! AllRoads.ca | 519-284-3308 It’s the kids’ turn! Canada Day is fast approaching World events shape local THURSDAY traditions come July 1 NIGHT WINGS This Canada Day, St. Marys residents are asked to look to the past and the present to commemorate Pad Thai, Gourmet Burgers, our country’s origins. Fish Tacos, Paul's Fries & more It’s the second “COVID Canada Day” for our na- First come, rst serve! Anytime tion, and as such, a mix of live and virtual events after 5pm. will comprise the celebration. Please note this We have lots of space on our schedule is subject to public health guidelines on patio for you! social gatherings and will be updated as July 1 draws near. 9 & Dine starts this Friday! There will be a special, socially distanced ceremo- Book online to secure your spot! ny streamed live on the Town of St. Marys (@st- reservations required. marysontario) Facebook page at 1 p.m. on Thurs- Call us for inquiries at day, July 1. A Facebook account is not required to Jake and Sydney Grant, ages 15 and 13, were among the many local students who got their view this page. 519.225.2329 first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday at the Stratford Rotary Complex. With children The ceremony will begin with a recognition of In- ages 12 and up now receiving their first dose, this will improve Canada’s already-impres- digenous lands and the recent tragic discovery of www.rivervalleygolfandtube.com sive vaccination rates. Roughly 65% of all Canadians have now received at least one dose, the remains of 215 children at a former residential which puts Canada near the top of the world ranking by this measure. (Laurie Grant photo) school in Kamloops, BC by local Indigenous edu- cator PatsyAnne Day. St. Marys Town Council The Canadian flag will then be raised by a local veteran, with remarks from Mayor Al Strathdee and other officials. approves by-law change for The morning of July 1, the volunteer-driven Can- ada Day parade will take place, although the ex- accessory apartment units act format is yet undetermined due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions; look for updates as July 1 By Spencer Seymour proved the changes at last Tuesday's draws near. Those looking to enter a float may Given the local rental unit market council meeting. The first amend- contact organizer Don Pike at 519-284-1548. ment has to do with maximum floor is scarce, especially for rental prop- At approximately 1:30 p.m., local bluegrass favour- erties fitting the attainable hous- size. The previous by-law stated that an accessory apartment "shall ites Corduroy Gordon will take to the Town’s Face- ing guidelines, changes have been book page for a virtual show. The band’s unique made to a by-law affecting accessory not exceed 40 percent of the gross floor area of the main building". It takes on contemporary hits and originals from the apartments in hopes of increasing band’s debut album, Werewolves and High Tides, the town's supply. also wasn't permitted to exceed 100 square meters. The maximum floor is a perfect soundtrack for a summer afternoon! The St. Marys Town Council ap- Continued on page 5 Continued on page 5 2 Thursday, June 17, 2021 St. Marys Independent COMMUNITY — Park Patrol releases top five by-law categories contravened in St. Marys St. Marys new Park Patrol are working hard to ed- Animal Control: ucate the public about the Town’s by-laws. While · All cats and dogs must be licenced on an annual most residents are aware of the by-laws, there are basis. a few by-laws that residents could benefit from additional education. · All dog and cat excrement must be picked up. “Our first few weeks patrolling St. Marys have · All cats and dogs must be leashed when on public been very positive.” Says Marcell Lungrigan, Park property including trails and parks. Patrol for Town of St. Marys, “Many residents have Open Air Burning: approached us, asked questions, and expressed · No fires are allowed unless in possession of an their appreciation in seeing us patrolling the open air burning permit. town. We have however, found there to be a few common trends in which by-laws residents need · All locations of a proposed fire must be inspected reminding of.” by the Fire Chief. Residents are reminded of the following by-laws · Fires are not permitted on public property in- and are encouraged to visit townofstmarys.com/ cluding trails and parks. bylaws for more details: Quarries: Traffic and Parking · Fishing only is permitted at the west quarry · Bicycles are not permitted on sidewalks in the (fishing quarry). downtown core. · There is no swimming or boating permitted in · Persons under the age of 14 may use sidewalks the west quarry. outside of the downtown core to bicycle. Smoking: · Vehicle U-turns are not permitted in the down- No smoking on: town core. · Trails · ATVs are not permitted on roads or road allow- Gracie Dafoe, Park Patrol for Town of St. Marys, ances. · In the parks and playgrounds, or points out one of several by-law signs in hopes of re- · Parking is not permitted in the downtown core · On municipal property including the Municipal minding residents of the importance of following all between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Operations Centre, Pyramid Recreation Centre, Town by-laws. Museum, Library, Town Hall and Cemetery · Between May 1 and October 30, vehicles are per- of St. Marys can be found at www.townofstmarys. mitted to park on roads outside of the downtown The Park Patrol have been appointed as municipal com/bylaws. Any questions regarding by-laws or core between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. law enforcement officers and have the authority to enforcement can be directed to the Clerks Depart- issue by-law infraction notices when someone is ment at 519-284-2340, ext. 212 or clerksoffice@ · Parking in the downtown core is restricted to found to be in contravention of the by-law. town.stmarys.on.ca, or spoken directly with the three hours. Additional information on by-laws for the Town Park Patrol when seen around town. 7 Day Forecast - Weather Sponsored by TheHITCHING POST Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday June-17th June-18th June-19th June-20th June-21th June-22nd June-23rd Sunny Mainly sunny Light rain Potential showers Mainly sunny Rain Potential showers c c c c c c 22 25 23 22 c 24 24 20 1.25% 1.20% 0.85% Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like 1.88% 1.70% 1.35% 2.25% 2.15% 1.81% Market Prices Sponsored by (Cash bids as of Tuesday at 12pm.) 695 Levitt Street, Granton ON, N0M 1V0 #2 YELLOW CORN SOYBEANS SOFT RED WHEAT Old Crop – $8.51 Old Crop – $19.44 Old Crop – $7.79 New Crop – $6.98 New Crop – $17.22 New Crop – $7.81 St. Marys Independent Thursday, June 17, 2021 3 COMMUNITY — London Vigil: Perspective By Lauren Eedy I came early as I was very nervous, and I haven’t The tragedy that rocked not only the communi- been around many people for over a year. It was ty, country and world on Sunday, June 6th has left a huge, well run event. Initially not knowing what us shaken and searching for answers and healing. to expect, I felt safe. The London Police did an The murder of four members of a London Mus- incredible job. Contrary to appearance, we were lim family, Salman Afzaal, 46, Madiha Salman, 44, actually spaced out, but it was still a large crowd. Talat Afzaal, 74, and Yumna Afzaal, 15, along with Security, crowd control and medical staff were on the attempted murder of Fayez Afzaal, 9, who were point and London PD had dump trucks blocking out for an evening stroll created a collective sense the intersections as a vehicle buffer. The police of mourning which we could only begin to heal presence was visible in numbers but everything from with a community held vigil. was handled professionally and with class. I spoke with Karel Jennings, a resident of St. There was a lot said and done at the vigil, and I Marys who attended the vigil held last Wednesday met some of the friends of Yumna, who was a vic- organized by the London Muslim Mosque along- tim. They were making ribbons in her favourite side other Muslim Organizations and the Nation- colour, purple.