King Country Magazine, winter 2017, volume 1, issue iii

KINGCOUNTRY magazine winter 2017. volume 1, issue iii 150 years later and not much has changed page 46 The abstraction of Ernestine Tahedl page 26 No need to skip dessert page 25 Touching Christmas, the Greek Orthodox way page 20

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Bweeccaaunsedwoeitktnoogewther.The King Campus expansion is getting ever closer to our goalbut we still have a ways to go. Generous donors have beenstepping forward in support of this project, for which wecontinue to be incredibly thankful.During this season of giving, Seneca Help us realize our vision by contributingis asking individuals, companies and to the Campaign for King.organizations who benefit from thepositive and extraordinary work our Please donate today.graduates bring to the region — to helpbring the campaign home. senecacollege.ca/king



Contents Black ready beyond the dojo 8 Everyone is a paesano at John Pastore’s Italian kitchen  10 KING COUNTRY The strength & vigour of Bev Berger  12 magazine Promoting local agriculture since 1850  14 the fine print Discovering purpose with No Sacrifice® 18 publisher, editor-in-chief Funding the annual spirit of Christmas 20 Yevgenia Casale Between the bars  22 copy editor Eleonora Tartakovsky Upside down plum cake  24 Leonardo Casale Pass the sweets  25 contributors Ernestine Tahedl 26 Beverley Barra-Berger Bev Donaldson, Schomberg Agricultural Society A piece of string 33 Freyda Tartak Water delivery & tank maintenance  38 Gary van Bolderen, Dutch Masters What most people fail to consider  39 Karen Kastner, Keys Kathleen Adamson Worth keeping  40 Marco Cavallari, Aquafinity Water Solutions Dr. Oswaldo Ramirez, Nobleton Medical Clinic Raising kids in the country  42 Chef Victoria Field, The Summerhill One hundred and fifty years later and not much different  46 photography contributor Ian Donaldson (pg 14-17) Fleeting moments & afterthoughts: Walk with me 52 cover How ideas happen: The Neater Feeder™ 53 Cover image selected by popular vote onsocial media. The owl is an ornament from The Advertiser listing  54 Sisters Touch of Christmas (see page 20) Congratulations! detailsKing Country Magazine is distributed quarterly, Join the winner’s circle! We love giving stuff away and all you have to do is let us know what you think of this issue of KCM by March 9th, 2018. Be sure to free of charge, via Canada Post throughout follow us online because you never know when we’re feeling extra generous! the Township of King, at select bulk drop-off Thanks for your feedback, Big thanks to locations & online at: Suzie Kocevski! everybody for voting kingcountrymagazine.com. The Road to Marylake is on which cover to goAll content reflects the opinions of the authors available for sale at: and advertisers respectively and does not • Marylake Giftshop with and to: necessarily reflect those of the magazine. It is • King Museum Hey Paesano Italianthe responsibility of those submitting content • Amazon onlineand photography to ensure that they have the • Arcadia the History Kitchen legal right to use and distribute it. andAll content is the property of PRAS Publishing Press (Publisher) onlineor the contributors and cannot be reproduced • Chapters/Indigo, in Sisters Touch of without express written consent from the Christmas store & online magazine. for sponsoring the Linda Gauslin prizes! content submission KCM proudly supports local artists and community groups. Submit content no later than March 9th, 2018, for inclusion consideration in our April issue. CONNECT WITH KCM: email: [email protected] website: kingcountrymagazine.com Facebook & Instagram: @kingcountrymagazine Twitter: @kingcountrymag

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editorial soapbox: the Lloydtown Rebellion Association. I flagged down a car to ask if there was more to the place aside from houses.Oh, Canada!Dear Canada, Kelly Harbridge didn’t have a ton of time to chat with me. He and his wife were on their way to a hockey awards banquet.I was so looking forward to Canada’s 150th year. Based on He said they moved to the area a few years ago because of itsall the hype I was sure there would be more. But, I was left history. Then he told me about the pioneer’s cemetery.wanting—like that cake that looks much better than it tastes. It was a gorgeous day, and I was up for an adventure.From a retail perspective, people were happy to monetize, if Fortunately, it wasn’t hard to find my next stop. I just keptnot commemorate, the occasion. But aside from the federal following Rebellion Way and asked the first people I saw.government, and the various cultural and heritage museums, Katie and Wendy would have made for a postcard-perfectI’m not sure how many people understood what it was they photo. But they said “no.” Instead, when Katie discoveredwere supposed to be celebrating. Canada’s 150th what? why I wanted to know, she handed me a book and told me that it was something she had begged the library to let herFor two-thirds of the year, I thought it was Canada’s birthday, have. It took me months to return it because I didn’t wantlike Canada didn’t exist before then and magically poofed to. It served as my reference for the last two issues. Finally,into its red and white glory on a specific day 150 years ago. when I discovered that the King Heritage Museum sells copies of it my conscience gave way (I promise I would haveIt took me slightly longer to recall that it wasn’t just Canada’s returned it eventually). But back in April, that was the first150th, it was Ontario’s as well. Again, as though the two were time Katie met me, and it spoke volumes about the generousmutually exclusive. and welcoming character of the place.At the same time, as you may have read from my last editorial I had a similar incident several months later when Bill Foransoapbox entry, my year was hard and busy. So you’ll have to took me to a home of somebody I won’t tell you about thisforgive me if you noticed more fervour for commemorating time around. But, that person too said, “I’ve recently comethe establishment of democracy in this country than I did. into possession of these two priceless volumes,” and thenBut, as they say, all roads lead to Lloydtown. Well, no, it’s proceeded to loan me original copies of The Upper CanadianRome, but for our purposes, let’s agree on Lloydtown. Rebellion, Vol. I & II, by John Charles Dent, published in 1885.When I was in grade eight, our teacher taught us that the The more I read and spoke to people, like Russell Oldfield, thereason only one person is allowed behind the screen and more excited I got. But, also the less capable I felt of servingsecret ballots are a big deal is because, in 1836, Lt. Governor history justly. Still, I felt obliged to try; there is somethingGeneral Sir Francis Bond Head used incredibly dirty and poetic about publishing the story of Lloydtown’s rebellion inunderhanded tactics to return the Tories to power. She also the winter of Canada’s 150th constitutional anniversary.talked about W.L. Mackenzie and the rebellion but, I think Istopped listening by that point. At the same time, I wanted to talk about who lives in Lloydtown today. Words cannot express my gratitude toThe following year, I entered W.L. Mackenzie C.I., a great Lloydtown’s Kathleen Adamson for trusting me with herhigh school but, I don’t remember anybody ever telling me piece of string just when I needed it most; and to the familiesanything about Mackenzie there, except that his grandson that opened their homes to reveal an honest look at whowas Prime Minister of Canada, and maybe they mentioned lives in Lloydtown now.that he was the first Mayor of Toronto. But he was a bit of jerkin that role so; I think they may have skipped that part. While it may be Canada’s 150th, it is King Country Magazine’s first holiday issue. I owe a debt of gratitude to the beautifulIn April 2017, over thirty years later, my ears perked up when people who contributed to illustrating this time of year. Youa friend said to me, “you know what you should do a story have made it possible for me create something that I had noton? I was on my bike taking the back streets from Schomberg dared to assume I could.to Alliston, and I found this statue of some guy in the middleof nowhere. I bet nobody even knows why it’s there.” Now please, sit back, enjoy, and be sure to let me know if you agree that our cake is as delicious as we think it is. Seriously,I remember thinking, “That can’t be right,” and it wasn’t. it’s on page 24 and it’s outstanding! Happy holidays!People do know but, at the time, I wasn’t one of them. I got tothe statue easily enough but, the only thing I saw was a cairn Warm regards, on the other side and a community board with notices from Yevgenia Casale, B.Tech Editor-in-Chief, King Country Magazine KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 7

In February 2018, Sensei Giancarlo Esposito will be awarding his frst set of black belts. By now, he could have pushed through dozens of kids to make the dojo look more productive. That’s not what it’s about for him or Logan Hall and his parents, Steve Hall and Betsy Lawson.Black ready Kai shin martial arts’ Sensei While a black belt may be a goal for thebeyond the Giancarlo (John) Esposito is kids who enter a dojo, most parentsdojo by Freyda Tartak getting excited. According to don’t sign their kids up for martial arts him, if he were a better businessman, for the accolades, either. In the vast he’d have turned out dozens of black majority of cases, it’s because on some belts by now. But, that’s not what he is level they are saying: “Here, fix my kid!” trying to accomplish at his dojo. He’s not in a rush, and he isn’t trying to Sensei John is confident that sixteen- compete with other clubs for quantity. year-old Logan Hall will be ready for his black belt this February. Still, the prospect of awarding the dojo’s first black belt this winter is a moment From the onset, Logan’s character was to be celebrated. never a matter of question. He was always a good kid. But, he tended to Sensei John judges a student’s fitness for struggle in school, especially when it grading based on readiness and quality came to presenting things at the front of character, not on pushing kids of the class. His parents Betsy and Steve ahead just because they’ve done their had a hunch that karate would benefit time and the dojo needs the numbers. him. They signed him up for karate Focusing on the quality of the student when he was ten years-old and it didn’t has always been his key motivator. take long for Logan to prove that it was a good decision. He thrived with each Sensei John’s purpose is to help elevate new accomplishment. his charges to their potential and to teach them to strive harder, pushing As Logan got older, his ability to stay on their boundaries in a way that will task started to improve and so did his benefit them, not hurt them. self-confidence. “I would lie a lot, tryingpage 8 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

to impress my friends with things I never actually did over “You get a step-by-step plan here,” Logan says, pointing intothe weekend.” In school, “my teachers used to have a lot of the dojo, “as opposed to simply knowing what your goal is.trouble with me,” he admits. Karate replaced the stories of You get guided to, and when you are ready, then you go tograndeur with actual moments of pride. the next level.” It took five years for Sensei John to consider awarding Logan his first black belt. There was no pressure to“Standing up for presentations and assignments: I used tonot like that. I used to get really get there.nervous and now, that hashelped me a lot. When I go to Learning that lesson was a hugetournaments I can just get up thing for an impatient kid likeand perform a kata in front of Logan. Now, anybody who knowseverybody and I just don’t think him, including Betsy, can restabout it. I just go for it, so that’s easier at the prospect of Loganhelped me a lot with school and tossing himself well above seadoing sports outside of school level and willingly doing a backand inside school,” relates the flip with nothing but a snowboardkid with the winning smile. and a helmet to keep him safe.Karate improved Logan’s Logan has always had an innateconfidence in social situations, desire to please people. What heas well. “I get along with people, was missing was the confidenceand now I can talk to anybody of knowing that he could doalmost,” he states. “It improved my grades because I used to that without pretending to benot want to perform. I’d get nervous and rush through things, somebody else. Ironically, Sensei John bases his measure ofas I’m doing a speech or something in front of a class. I just black belt readiness on his sempai’s understanding that thewanted to get out of it.” But with time he came to realize that belt no longer matters as much as what he learned through“if I can perform a kata in front of hundreds of people the journey to acquiring it.I can do a speech in front of a class of people I knew.”There were other lessons that Logan learned in thedojo, as well. He was always drawn to the thrill ofaccomplishment but, as a child, did not possess theinsight he needed to get to the podium. By spendingtime repeating and perfecting his karate moves,Logan perceived that success comes from patience,diligence and hard work. His nerves took a back seatto the confidence he earned through practice. Moresignificantly, Logan learned to appreciate the value ofnot advancing until ready. That’s invaluable insightfor a person like Logan, who has a way of closing hismind to the fear that would keep most people’s feetplanted firmly on the ground.“I do a lot of extreme sports,” Logan admits. He lovesthe feeling of adrenaline and freedom that coursesthrough his entire body while on a board, either overwater or as he launches himself off the “really big hill”at Banff National Park. There’s a daredevil inside thiskid that, without his karate training, would not thinktwice before taking a risk he wasn’t ready for.Instead, as Steve says, karate “has provided a levelof fitness and body control that can be transferredto other sports and allows him to push his abilities.”Steve set up a trampoline in their front yard, whereLogan spends time practicing back flips, getting readyto apply the moves on a snowboard. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 9

Everyone is a paesano at John Pastore’s Italian kitchen “Hey, paesano! What’s up,” he calls over. “Hey, John, what’s up,” replies Tony Cipressi, resting at the counter as he waits for his usual espresso. It’s a casual exchange that belies their mutual appreciation. Tony used to stop in for a coffee on a regular basis and then one day dropped in to book an event for twenty people. “It’s nice to have this place here,” he says. “It’s excellent coffee, and it’s nice to get an Italian meal here in town—pasta, panini... we have a competitive soccer game coming up. Parents will be spending a lot of time waiting around. This place is a perfect opportunity to come and relax.”page 10 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

John pastore served his time in some of Toronto’s finest you longer than that pasta or that veal sandwich that you establishments before deciding to open his own place. enjoyed. I want people to feel comfortable,” says John.“I’ve done the tour, so to speak. I’ve taken the best of theexperiences that I’ve had and brought them forward,” he says Everything John works for is rooted in consistency and aof his Hey Paesano Italian Kitchen. traditional approach, even though he’s not pretending to serve traditional recipes. There’s a Canadian spin on things.John chose the location because of its proximity to King Vodka al penne may not be a classic Italian dish but, thatSecondary, and the kids have not only taken notice but doesn’t stop it from being a staple favourite with Hey Paesaostarted bringing their parents, too. regulars and newbies alike, and it comes with the perfect amount of sauce. “For me, an Italian always eats bread withHey Paesano is a no-nonsense fusion of clean, tasty food in pasta. We do garlic bread with every plate of pasta. I give justa sleek setting. The only frills are in the flavour of the food enough sauce and plates usually come back wiped clean.”and the great coffee, though he keeps the ingredients to aminimum. It’s a classy and unpretentious place with friendly As hard as he tries to serve up perfection with every order,smiles behind the counter. John is a realist. Sometimes, things happen. It’s refreshing to know that he’s open to feedback. “Eh, it’s not John hour overWhen he was younger, John wanted to go into psychology. here,” he says. “If we did something wrong, come talk to me,But, once he found his way into the kitchen he decided that let me fix it.” It’s not a regular occurrence but when it doeswas the place for him but, he still puts a lot of weight into happen people appreciate that they can have that rapportfiguring out what it takes to make people happy. with their neighbourhood pizza-pasta-panini place.Just like the appeal of mamma or nonna’s kitchen, for John, In the short time that Hey Paesano has been in operation,it’s all about consistency. If you enjoy something at his place, John has managed to amass a steadily growing list ofhe wants to make sure that the next time you come, it’s going regulars. It just goes to show that this man knows what he’sto look and taste the way it did the first time. doing in his Italian Kitchen.That’s what John is trying to do with Hey Paesano: delivera user experience that is streamlined to make people’s liveseasier. “I’m trying to wow you with a pleasant experience;cooking for you fresh, simple food.”“You eat with your eyes, first,” says John. For him, thatincludes the first thing you see when you walk into therestaurant. That was why he wanted to call the place afterthe common Italian greeting. “In English, it’s ‘eh, bro!’ whenyou know someone but, you can’t remember their name. ForItalians, it’s the same thing. I don’t know who you are but, Iwanna know who you are. It’s a phrase that acknowledgesthat we are just a moment in theirday and we want that moment to bea good one,” explains John.It’s true. When John and his staffgreet you at Hey Paesano, you feellike you made their day by walkingin. “If somebody can make youjump out of your skin for a momentand smile, especially if you werepreoccupied with a rough daycoming in… that moment I canmake you smile that will stick with Dr. Andrew Steinman pops over on a regular basis from across the street,where he works at King City Dental. It’s a great place to share a meal with hisco-worker, Kim. Though the Township of King is moving to its new location soon, we bet staff will still be spotted at Hey Paesano’s on a regular basis. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 11

LOCAL HEROES:The strength& vigour ofBev Berger “I like doing stuff,” says Beverley Then, when she was thirty years-old, Bev and her husband Barra-Berger, of the numerous John took their daughter Stephanie to Disney World. The last works of pottery that decorate vision memory Bev has is of touring the Mexican Pavilion at her home. “I just have to use my Epcot and looking up at a big paper mâché parrot. hands. It’s just the way it is.” “It was beautifully coloured,” she recalls, “and all of a sudden Bev is a familiar face around it was like someone pulled a window blind down in front of town and a charter member of me and I experienced a spontaneous detached retina.” King Township’s Accessibility Committee. It’s a role she There was no trauma. Nothing happened. It just let go. “I was takes very seriously. “We try fully blind.” The next two years were especially difficult.to advise the general public and businesses on how they “Again, I had more surgery. I spent a number of years tryingcan help people who happen to have disabilities within the to regain my vision and finally, I just decided it wasn’t goingcommunity… help them participate. It’s all about removing to work. So part of my life I’ve had some vision,” (she wasbarriers,” she explains. born with a focal point about an inch from the end of her nose), “I’ve had partial vision, and I’ve had no vision.” AtThough she has never seen her son’s face, Bev wasn’t always sixty-six years old, Bev has been blind for longer than sheblind. When she was seventeen-years-old, she used to ride could see.horses. While at an event in Guelph, Bev decided to mount asteer, a castrated young bull. “I fell off and when I got myself For the first two years, sheout of the muck and the manure, my left eye was not working was angry. “I went through aproperly. Within a very short time, I was blind because I had mourning process. I was veryexperienced a detached retina in my left eye.” bitter. I was not a nice person to be around,” she admits. “IAfter multiple unsuccessful surgeries, both in Canada and went through all the stagesin the US, she came to terms with her new reality. “I was of grieving, as you would themonocular and that was fine. I drove a car; I did everything a loss of a loved one.” At first,fully sighted person would.” she refused to learn braille:page 12 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

“I wasn’t blind. I just couldn’t see, and there’s a difference,” would ensure safety on film sets whenever weapons orEventually she started to embrace what tools were at her explosives were involved. “His claim to fame is that he retireddisposal. She acquired a service dog and learned to read with a clean record. Nothing ever happened on a set that hebraille. “I firmly believe that any blind person cannot operate worked on,” boasts Bev. John even worked closely with theindependently without knowing braille. I can say that with RCMP to develop the guidelines that currently govern thegreat conviction. Even though there are all manner of devices use of weapons and explosives on Canadian film sets.that assist people with vision loss. There are all manner ofdevices that talk, beep, squawk, and everything but they His business often took him away from home for two or threerequire batteries. What if the battery goes?” months at a time. After Bev lost her sight, John continued to work. “I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve had a good supportIt took Stephanie a lot longer toaccept her mother’s condition. “She system from my mom and a lot ofdidn’t resent me but, she resented good friends, who have helped methe blindness. It took her a very along the way, and I think a lot oflong time to come to terms with the it is just jumping in with both feet,situation,” concedes Bev. and see what happens and live your life.”Stephanie was four when her As Bev says, “it worked for Johnmother lost her sight but, it wasn’t and I because he was supportiveuntil a grade eleven school project, of me and my disability, and I waswhen she was finally able to come supportive of him in that I wantedto terms with the fact that “mum the independence. I probablywas different. That’s a huge thing didn’t need a husband who wasfor a child to get her head around. there 24-hours a day, seven days aShe could remember the mum week. We’ve been married now forwho could jump in the car and over 45 years but, he’s been gonetake her down the road, and then for half of that time.”the next day, mum couldn’t do Now that John is retired, “hethat,” remembers Beverley. Today, chauffeurs me around, so that’sStephanie could not be more proud a handy feature,” jokes Bev. “It’sof her mother. probably harder on him than onDespite her disability, Bev made “If you approach your disability and life in general with me because, I just kept doing mysure her kids viewed education as a a positive attitude, I think you are going to be more own things.” Bev loves to keeptop priority. “Stephanie pretty much successful as an individual,” says Bev Berger. busy with her numerous artisticlearned how to read by reading pursuits and writing. She alsome the weekly grocery store flyer,” laughs Bev. “I wanted loves to cook and even took part in an episode of Menuto know what was on special so, I made her sound out the Meltdown, broadcast on December 8th, 2017, on Accessibleletters and figure out what the words said.” Her son Daniel Media Inc. (AMI).adopted Bev’s love of words almost to an extreme. Growing “If you approach your disability and life in general with aup, his head was always stuck in a book. She remembers positive attitude, I think you are going to be more successfulhaving battles with her son over not coming to the table as an individual, and as a person with a disability. That’s easywhen dinner was ready because he still had a few pages to to say; it’s a hard thing to do. It is work. But, everybody’s gotgo in whatever chapter he was on. something. The greater percentage of people either does notAs for John, “I have a great amount of respect for my husband have an identifiable disability or one that they are willingsimply because he stayed.” Before this, he had a wife who was to share. So I’m going to say maybe 75% of the population islooking after their child, “and after all these years he doesn’t ‘normal’ and then there’s the rest of us,” says Bev.treat me any differently now than he did when I could see. Bev puts it this way: “Life is so full of gifts and pleasuresMaybe he hasn’t figured it out yet, I don’t know,” she jokes. and just things that we should embrace. If you don’t“It’s a sad reality in the world of people with disabilities that, embrace them that moment, then poof, they’re gone. Forwhen one of the partners in that relationship develops a me, personally, every day is special. So I go into it (even if Isevere disability, 85% of those relationships dissolve. That’s wake up and I’m not feeling the best or I’m having a bad hairnot a nice number but, it’s true,” says Bev. “But, he stayed.” day or something). It gets better because that day is a gift. IJohn “Frenchie” Berger, is still well-known in the North feel sorry for people who wake up, and don’t feel that way,American film industry as the go-to property master. As a because maybe they’ve got some issues that are overridingweapons specialist, his company, Shooting With The Stars, their ability to feel that joy.” KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 13

SCHOMBERG AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY:Promoting localagriculture since 1850by Bev DonaldsonPresident, Schomberg Agricultural SocietyPlease allow me to put things into perspective. In 1867, 150 urban area. It is still largely, though not entirely, comprisedyears ago, Canada’s Confederation took place. Seventeen of farmers and remains a relevant aspect of the growingyears earlier, in 1850, the Schomberg Agricultural Society community around us.(SAS) was formed. Plans are already underway to celebrateour 168th anniversary in, May, 2018. This symbiotic cohabitation serves to continually nourish the strong connections SAS members have with the surroundingAlthough primarily known and recognized for our annual non-farming community, as well.spring fair, held on our privately owned and operatedfairgrounds, the society is so much more than a four-day King Township boasts a rich agricultural history, built byevent. SAS is one of over 220 sanctioned agricultural societies its farmers over several generations. SAS is proud to beacross Ontario. Our mandate is to promote and educate recognized by the local community as an organization withpeople on topics related to agriculture in our community and documented roots.to offer social relief to members in need. Many current SAS members are following in the footstepsSAS is a member of the Ontario Association of Agricultural of the seven or eight generations of hard-working farmersSocieties (O.A.A.S.) and is one of the few agricultural societies who preceded them. Though sophisticated technologicalthat operate this close to a sprawling, heavily populated advancements often frame the face of modern-day farming, the families that formed the society, and continue to play active roles within it, thrived in agriculture long before the advent of the hi-tech tools commonly used today. Within a short distance of the SAS fairgrounds, active farming operations engaged in raising, growing or producing horticultural products, chickens, goats, sheep, rabbits, ducks, turkeys and eggs. Numerous equine facilities offer horses for breeding, racing and showing. Experts in dairy and beef cattle abound, as do growers of a large variety of fruit, vegetables and cash crops (corn, soy, hay, wheat, barley and oats), honey bees and all of their by-products. A short drive to the east and there’s the Holland Marsh, with its vineyards and abundance of more fruit and vegetable growers.page 14 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii



It would be delinquent of me not to SAS works closely with the Schomberg The Schomberg Hall, adjacent tomention the offshoot industries that Village Association, Arts Society King the fairgrounds, came alive withspawn as a result of the surrounding and the Schomberg Lions Club to camaraderie, a roast beef dinner,agriculture. Equestrian centres for facilitate parking space for annual giveaways, dancing and the highlightriding and healing, local equine traditions such as: A Main Street of the evening: the live auction. Only EdOlympians, organic farms, firewood Christmas, the annual Street Gallery, Gardhouse, SAS Director, event emceefor energy and hardwood for lumber, and the Lions’ pancake breakfast. and renowned local auctioneer, couldChristmas tree farms, livestock and We co-operate with the Schomberg auction off a rocking chair three times,horse trailers, tractors big and small, Community Hall to permit parking and manage to make sure it ended upand the veterinarians with domestic, during events held there and on school going home with Mike O’Hara to aidexotic, bovine and equestrian expertise. days, “the walking school bus” tends to in his recovery. You had to be there to pass through the SAS grounds, as well. witness it!Each sector of our industry feedssupporting industries such as SPRING FAIR The attendees, including many farmersequipment maintenance and supply, from York Region, bid lavishly ontransportation, printing, and so forth. Our four-day fair provides multiple auction items such as antique milk community groups and local businesses bottles, agriculture-themed artwork COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS with an opportunity to showcase and the Schomberg auction staples: themselves throughout the grounds. fresh homemade butter tarts and pies.SAS’s agricultural grounds are at the A multitude of volunteers and donorsheart of Schomberg for a reason. As a community group, we are proud came together for the gala, organized toThey offer a convenient location for of our many community partnerships. help a fellow agriculture family that hasfundraisers, car shows, Shakespeare in A recent highlight, that serves well to fallen on hard times.the park, and movie shoots. Members of illustrate the strong bonds within ourthe community enjoy strolling through community, is the September 30th, 2017, It took an army of cooks to carve upour park, often with pets. When asked, community organized fundraiser put such a wonderful dinner. The mostSAS is happy to make the grounds on to help one of our own: the O’Hara prominent supporters of the night,accessible to community groups and family. Local farmers and community and leading up to it, were membersare grateful for the help of friends who groups came together for the Diamonds and volunteers of York Federation ofhelped us put a functioning bridge in and Denim Gala and Dance.place.page 16 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

Agriculture, Schomberg United Church, and encourages the development of life You don’t have to come from a farmingKing Curling Club, and of course, SAS. skills that involve youth in agricultural background to have a vested interest activities. We support our local 4-H in agriculture, and we’d welcome your COMMUNITY OUTREACH Club and make our facilities available help and expertise. for initiatives that the existing SASEvery autumn SAS gives back to the executive deem appropriate for the Farms of yesteryear had livestock aSchomberg community. September 16, enrichment of rural and community grew their own produce. Today, most2017 marked our annual tradition of life. consumers buy what they need atthe Community Spirit Bonfire Night. stores, far removed from the intimateThe fairgrounds have activities for OurHomecraftDivisionisstrivingtokeep knowledge of where their food cameanyone attending. There is our stage the arts, crafts, and domestic arts alive. from. The work and purpose of SASentertainment, children’s crafts and of SAS encourages healthy competitions in bridging that knowledge gap arecourse, the bonfire with marshmallows that perpetuate culinary and domestic becoming increasingly more important.for roasting. Local farmers supply straw skills that include jams, baking, We are fortunate to live in a communitybales and corn stalks to set the stage sewing, knitting and horticulture. SAS with such a diverse population, whereand the mood. (When SAS isn’t using celebrates and promotes awareness of farmers and non-farmers mingle andthe portable stage, we make it available techniques performed by our ancestors. socialize on a daily basis.for rent to other events). Who doesn’t enjoy homemade efforts at their finest? Our kids go to school together, attendThe Community Spirit Bonfire Night the same extra-curricular activities andis another way for us to serve our VOLUNTEER DRIVEN form bonds in mutual friendship andmandate by reaching out to our rural respect. The same is true of adults whoand urban neighbours to encourage As Schombergcontinuestogrow,sodoes partake in the opportunities that SASinterest, promote improvements and our potential to educate newcomers and other community organizationsadvance the quality of life standards in moving into King Township from present in ensuring that agricultureagricultural community. traditionally urban lifestyles. We face is recognized as a vibrant part of King this challenge with a terrific number of Township. You probably commute pastIn preparation for the Bonfire, we volunteers and only one SAS manager. many of these farms daily so remember:assess agricultural needs within Just like any community group, our if you ate today, thank a farmer!our community. SAS promotes the agricultural society is no exception. Weproduction and marketing of agriculture need volunteers to continue our events. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 17

Discoveringpurpose withNo Sacrifice®Donna Lehtonen’s No Sacrifice Bags Inc. started as a vanity project. She was creating products for her personal use and ended up with morethan she needed because of minimum order requirements. Then she learned how good it felt when other people found her ideas useful, too.It took donna lehtonen a long time to call herself a it, because they won’t make everything. They’ll try to help ‘product developer’. Initially she considered her company, a person out but, it has to be something they can do within No Sacrifice Bags Inc., as something between a vanity their leather crafting shops.”project and a hobby. The products evolved out of things she Donna couldn’t decide between colours for her organizerwanted to make for herself, based on her own needs. She liners so she ended up with five iterations of her design, “andsoon discovered that she has a knack for designing winning then the price was outrageous, and really out of reach forsolutions for common problems. In other words, she has a anyone.” Plus, it took a year and a half to receive the product.talent for developing products that sell. By that point Donna had discovered something about herself:It does sound materialistic: a line of products built around She really enjoyed the process of making something, goingher own handbag collection, travel habits and expensive from concept to completion. At the same time, she couldn’tboots. Her flagship product is a purse organizer that comes in help but wonder if that organizer she had designed could bea variety of sizes that can easily caddy the guts of a handbag produced in a more economical way, without sacrificing itsfrom one fashionable accessory to another. But, at the root look, feel or quality.of everything Donna does is a deep-seated need to care forthe people and things that she has chosen to have in her life. After several failed attempts to perfect the pattern, she finally had what she wanted: a nice faux lambskin organizer thatFor most of her life Donna never envisioned herself as retails between $40 and $150, depending on size. That’s noteither creative or handy. Her first product, le Mobile®, is a bad for an accessory to handbags that retail for two to fourluxury purse organizer. It, like the vast majority of her thousand dollars. Donna’s le Mobile is a luxury product thatother inventions was born out of frustration. “I just couldn’t is functional, beautiful and solidly constructed, with both afind anything that was nice enough.” Everything she tried subtle elegance and a vibrant splash of gorgeous colour.was either functional but unattractive or attractive but notfunctional. “I hadn’t found one that was really working for To make them, Donna had to agree to purchase a minimum order. Suddenly, on completing the project she realized thatme,” relates Donna. she needed to sell them. First, she needed to recoup at leastSo, “in 2008 I submitted a design for a purse organizer toHermès, in Paris. I have to say, it was a little vanity project some of the money she had sunk into it and second, shefor me to design one and see if Hermès would accept to make really didn’t need sixty purse organizers, so she marketed them through Etsy and on her website, nosacrificebags.com.page 18 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

“My biggest customers are women who drives. She was approaching one of those Concerts athave Louis Vitton bags. I don’t know how lights that you either run or break hard for Michele’sthey find me. They’ll find me and buy them and she decided to break. Naturally, the bagfor their bags.” started to fly off the seat. She reached for it Tickets only $30 and accidentally swerved into the oncomingSo far, No Sacrifice Bags Inc. was a hobby. lane. By pure luck there was nobody else purchase in advance throughThat is until she made her first sale. Donna around. But it was a sobering moment. Shewas surprised by the rush of validation that realized right away that had another vehicle brownpapertickets.comcame with discovering that somebody liked been in that spot at that time she wouldwhat she made enough to buy it. “I wasn’t have gotten into a terrible accident and it (or $35 at the door)looking for it and I didn’t think I needed would have been her fault, “and I thought:it. I just thought I need to sell some of this ‘well, I’m never going to do that again!’” Enjoy world-renownedbecause what am I going to do with it?” musicians & light Donna’s brain went into overdrive,After that Donna started wondering what developing a solution to keep her bag from refreshments in the heartother products she could come up with. She flying off her seat and her attention on the of King Township!discovered a new purpose and started to road. Suddenly, it dawned on her to use thelook at the world with fresh eyes. extra lining material to create The Purse Dec. 16: Guido Basso Quartet Snatcher; available in black, red and tan Feb. 10: John Sherwood TrioShe stared looking for problems to be solved and retailing for $35. The Purse Snatcher Apr. 21: Adam Saunders Bandby products she could create. Turns out the attaches with ease to the car’s head rest, May 19: Stephanie Trickanswer lay in the lining of the le Mobile with no need to be removed when somebodyline. To get the colour she wanted she had to uses the seat. & Paolo Alderighiorder a lot more material than she needed. June 16: Beth Silver DuoAt the same time, she knew from experience Donna’s husband Bob, a retired entrepreneurthat leather purse straps are notorious for who was extremely successful in his own & Cynthia Tauro Triodepreciating the value of a handbag if not right, didn’t pay too much attention to whathandled with extreme care. Donna was up to. He was happy that she Saturdays at 2 p.m. found something she liked doing but didn’tThis led to Love Handles. The faux leather take her away from home too much. “He’s Now in our 4th season!pads are available in a wide variety of each supportive. He doesn’t take an active interestseason’s fashion colours, blending into the because it’s all handbag related. Well one Dorio’slook of a purse, discretely protecting its day, he took one of the dogs to the vet when Kettlebymost vulnerable area: the handles. Turns she was still a puppy and he put her on the Villageout Donna was bang on with her analysis front seat. And, of course she's scampering Bakeryof her target demographic. Love Handles around and then finally he decided to hookquickly became Donna’s biggest seller her onto The Purse Snatcher, so she couldn't cookie ornamentsbut she still had a lot of material left over jump over into his lap when he was driving. cakes & dessert traysand continued to look for other products He came home and said: ‘That thing you artisan gift basketsto introduce, while at the same time made, that's pretty good. It actually keptintroducing the hugely popular ultrasuede the dog in the seat.’ Then he started telling cateringalternative to her initial handle savers. people about it. That was the turning point PRE-ORDER TODAY! when he felt: ‘Oh, this is something useful.’”The answer came with a sharp turn of a 449 Kettleby Rd.steering wheel. “Honestly, I should have It is useful. That’s the deal with all of (905) 727-3045known better. When I was twenty my Donna’s products. She never starts outboyfriend was killed as a result of distracted making something for somebody else. It’s doriobakery.comdriving. Back then we never used the term always something she can’t find but needs‘distracted driving’ but that’s what it was. for herself. Since coming up with The PurseDanny was a passenger in the van when Snatcher, she has used it for everythingthe driver reached over to change the tape from purses to making sure her take-outin the tape deck. He took his eyes off the food or grocery bag stays put.road, went onto the shoulder and flippedthe van.” Forty years later, the memory is It took Donna a long time to take herselfstill raw. seriously as a business owner and product developer. Now that she has the inventorWhat brought it to the forefront again was bug though, there’s no stopping her and it’san uncanny reminder. Donna, as so many a good thing. We can’t wait to see what sheother women do, uses the empty passenger comes up with next.seat beside her to rest her handbag as she

st. kosmas aitolos greek orthodox It isn’t for everyone. Those who do decide to enter monastery’s holiday touch: monastic life say it is the result of an undeniable calling. Nuns are female ascetics who choose to voluntarily Funding the leave the world and live life in prayer and contemplation annual spirit of in a monastery. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, these Christmas establishments are not referred to as nunneries.page 20 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii The sisters submit themselves to a life of voluntary servitude. “It’s a calling from God,” agree Sisters Philothei and Theophano, who graciously invited KCM for a tour of their seasonal Christmas store, The Sisters Touch of Christmas. When Sister Philothei reached out to KCM to promote the store, she made sure to highlight the unique, artisan nature of their annual fundraiser. Aside from the virtues of the store itself, we asked to learn more about what the funds raised were going to support. Since 2003, the initiative has been the main source of “funding for the many programs that we do throughout the year and support various private families,” she explained.

The Sisters of St. Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery, sisters. Much of the year is spent in preparation for the storelocated on the border of King and Caledon are renowned for with each sister lending her talents to the effort.their efforts in and service to the community. “It’s a touch of everything,” beams Sister Philothei, pointingOf course, the heart of monastic life is the church. “It gives to the fine assortment of nativity scenes, jewellery, bakedyou inner peace, happiness and fulfilment,” explains Sister goods, hand-painted ceramics and ornaments (which theyTheophano. “You are serving your Lord and trying to do good are happy to personalize for their customers), exquisiteworks.” Congregants, many of whom come from diverse seasoned olive oils, artisan bath and beauty products, andorthodox backgrounds, travel from across Ontario on a so much more. The handpainted dishes and ornaments areconsistent basis in order to attend. done in the traditional Greek style by the Mother Superior. Each is one-of-a-kind and often embellished by the sisters asThe monastery is open for regular services, after which a contribution to the group effort of stocking the store.the sisters like to hold small social gatherings, with lightrefreshments. In that relaxed atmosphere congregants feel at “We really try to bring things of good quality that you can’tease to share their burdens or knowledge of others in need find anywhere else. We put a lot of effort into finding things. Itwithin the community. takes a year to put all this together,” explains Sister Philothei, “The hand painting never stops.”Much of their time is spent in prayer, delivering hot mealsto the elderly, visiting the sick and performing works of All of the sisters pitch in with the baking, a highlight of thecompassion. They’ll often serve as liaisons within the Christmas store. “We do it the old-fashioned way. It’s fresh,community too. “There’s a lot of good people with a lot of and that’s why it tastes so good,” states sister Philothei.love in their hearts,” explains Sister Philothei, “We’ve neverheard ‘no.’ People genuinely want to help other people.” As much as The Sisters Touch of Christmas is a team effort, individual talents shine through for the progress of theThey seek out opportunities where they feel they can help, monastery. The calibre of the store is evidence of masteryand work with Greek Orthodox youth by coaching onspiritual matters and hosting day retreats. During Christmas in pastry making, sewing, graphic design and finethe sisters hold a charity drive for new clothing, toys and art. But, after all, the purpose of the store is tofood donations to give to those who are struggling or have raise money to support their community outreachtemporarily fallen on hard times. efforts.Volunteers frequently donate their time and resources to the To this end, while they all support it, not all of themonastery, helping maintain the grounds, working at the sisters take the lead in stocking various accents ofgift shop and performing other work that frees up the sisters the store. Instead, some focus more intimately onto focus on their core duties and responsibilities. Members sourcing community outreach opportunities suchof the community are just as generous to the sisters as the as support for the Yellow Brick House, a place forsisters are in their outreach, often bringing gifts of food from abused women and children in York Region.their farms or gardens. It’s nice to know that when you buy something soThe Sisters Touch of Christmas is an exclusive gift shop, delicious and beautiful for Christmas, your hardstocked with carefully selected unique items sourced from earned money is going to support the communityaround the globe and with artisan products made by the work done by The Sisters of St. Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 21

Between the bars by Karen Kastner The year was 1992. Deep in the bowels of “The Tower” at Brock University, Dr. Peter Landey seated himself at the battered Steinway in the front left corner of his bleak, beige classroom. For the next four minutes and thirty-three seconds he did absolutely nothing. The class sat, watched, anticipated, waited and fidgeted. A suppressed giggle answered the annoyed scrape of a metal chair leg on the institutional tile floor. Once finished, the room erupted in blistering discussion around the definition of music and the roles of composer, performer and audience. Twenty-five years later, after much reading and discussion, my ever-evolving interest in these topics continues to shape my thoughts about teaching, performing, and listening. Dr. Landey’s performance of John Cage’s 1952 composition 4´33˝, consisting entirely of sounds of disgruntled responses to confusion, was not the first time I experienced the piece. So I had the advantage of context over my fellow students. But it didn’t matter. Each experience is unique. Last time, chickadee descant accompanied the thrum of traffic. Before that it was the crinkling of soft rain on parked car windshields over a pedal point of car tires slithering on wet asphalt. At its foundation, music is the interplay between the presence and absence of sound, within a prescribed time parameter. Everything else is contextual. Musical sound is the complex interplay of pitch, timbre, pulse, tempo, dynamics, texture, rhythm, density and articulation. By contrast, the absence of sound in music is relatively simple. It is subject only to the length of its silences and their placement within the musical (sound) line. Rests are used to provide a moment of pause and to slow the pace of forward movement within a composition. They are also used as an articulation devices. Placing a rest (silence) on either side of a sound (note) effectively accents the sound, not unlike the unexpected guffaw from a reader in a quiet library. Composers manipulate sound and silence within a specific form such as a folk song, raga or symphony to inject novelty into their music and in this way contribute to the cultural evolution of sound. Musical forms are often related to cultural practices. This is reflected by the venues in which they are typically performed. Deviations from standardized forms or uses of standardized forms outside of their cultural contexts are often steps along their evolutionary paths. Various musical forms have evolved and continue to evolve over centuries, across a myriad of cultures, based on how they are used to frame context.page 22 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

There comes a day for each of my students when I must breakthe news to them: those notes on the page are not music.They are just ink on a piece of paper. It’s up to the student toturn those markings into something worth listening to.Music does not exist until it is performed. Composer andperformer are co-creators. To be a fully involved memberof this co-creative team the performer benefits greatly fromunderstanding the historical, social and personal contextwithin which the composer made creative choices.So much of that understanding comes from examiningthe rests and how to play them. Hopefully the performeris sufficiently self-aware of how their own perceptions,technical skills and the circumstances of the performancecreate an additional context for the composition. Afterthat, the choice of how to co-create the music is up to theperformer. In my opinion, as long as performers can accountfor their choices, their performances are valid, even if Idisagree with those choices.Traditionally, composers learned their craft by apprenticingwith seasoned composers. The role of the music teacher is notunlike that of a museum guide. Starting in the front hallway,the student begins to learn the basic practical elements of thecraft. As their skills and understanding increase, more doorsare gradually opened.There are wonders from the past and the present. There is themusic of different genres from many cultures. New roomsare added all the time, as composers and performers create.There are always new ways of listening to and thinkingabout music, always a new perspective, a new context. Eachstudent comes with their own set of strengths and interests.They will choose to simply glance into some of the rooms.Other rooms will grab their interest and they stay thereawhile, closely studying each detail.The joy of teaching is opening the door to each of thoserooms for students and watching them learn that, yes, thattoo is music.The more closely the student is acquainted with the tools ofgood musicianship, the more profound and enjoyable theirmusical listening experience will be, as well.To learn the language and practice of music, students needan emotionally safe environment where then are free toexplore and to make errors as they hone their musical skills.Learning any language is a gradual, long-term process.They key in all of this is to actively acknowledge the absenceof sound as keenly as you do its presence. Like spokenlanguage, musical ability is innate and universal. It rangesfrom the practical to the poetic. There is a place for everyonealong that spectrum. As students develop their musicalskills and understanding, they can slip and slide along thatspectrum in any direction, at will. But, to truly express andappreciate music they must first learn to listen to silence.

KCM asked The Summerhill’s pastry chef, Victoria Fieldto create a satisfying, reduced sugar dessert to illustrateDr. Oswaldo Ramirez’s holiday dining survival guide. Theresult (and yes, it did taste heavenly!) is this light, just right,upside down plum cake.Chef Field modified a traditional pineapple upside downcake with plums and Christmas spice. The result is a definitemust try! This cake can be served warm or cold, and thesauce is optional (for an even lower glycemic index). Thisdessert is a great way to cut down on the sugar, and theguilt, this holiday season!Serves 10! Upside Down Plum Cake by Chef Victoria Field, The Summerhill Ingredients: ½ C milk 2 eggs 6 lrg plums, halves, ½ tsp ground cinnamon pitted & sliced ¼ tsp nutmeg ⅓ tsp salt 1 ½ C all purpose flour ½ tsp vanilla 2 tsp baking powder to taste lightly sweetened 12 tbsp unsalted butter 1 C brown sugar whipped cream 1 C sugar 1 tbsp honey Instructions: 1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. 2. Combine brown sugar, honey and 6 tbsp of butter in a heavy saucepan, over low heat, until thick and smooth. Pour sauce in bottom of pan and arrange plums on top. 3. Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in bowl. Use electric mixer to beat remaining butter and sugar until light and creamy. 4. Add eggs and beat until fluffy. Do not over beat. 5. Add vanilla. 6. Add dry ingredients, alternating with milk. 7. Mix until combined. 8. Spoon batter evenly over plums. 9. Bake until golden brown and tester comes out clean (about 1 hour, depending on your oven). 10. Cool for 30 min. 11. Use knife around edge to loosen cake. 12. Place on a platter and turn upside down. 13. Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream.page 24 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

No need to skip IT’S DRESS UP SEASON.dessert by Freyda Tartak COME SEE WHAT WE’VE GOT!Sugar gets a bad wrap. While overeating it is not healthy, 12994 Keele St., Unit 1, King City. 905-833-KIDS(5437). kidscountry.casugar is and always will be the body’s first pick for fuel. Thetrick is not so much in moderation but, in what else you eat, LESSONS ♦ BOARDING ♦ PONY PARTIES ♦ HORSES FOR SALEand in what order. According to Dr. Oswaldo Ramirez, youshould keep two things in mind: First, if you want cake, skip (905) 859-0057the mashed potatoes, pasta and other simple carbohydrates.Second, eat your fats and proteins before dessert, not after. 13955 8th ConcessionThere is a right and wrong ways to indulge in sugary goodness.Your body reacts differently depending on the order in whichyou eat refined sugars and carbohydrates. Just to be clear,carbs are the sugars, starches and fibres found in fruit, grains,vegetables and dairy products.Your body, starting with your brain, uses glucose as itsprimary energy source because it’s quick and easy. When itcan’t burn sugar, it burns fat but, that takes more than twiceas long and even longer after it has decided to stick around inthe comfort of your belly, thighs or wherever else you wantit least. According to Dr. Ramirez, if you eat fat and proteinbefore eating dessert you are actually helping your bodydigest that holiday roast beast.As Dr. Ramirez explains, fat and protein slow down yourmetabolism, consequently slowing the rate at which yourmeal is broken down. Sugar and alcohol temporarily speed upyour metabolism, increasing your body’s ability to break downthe food. The good doctor is not suggesting that you shouldinhale an entire cake to lose weight. But he is saying that, inmoderation, dessert can help prevent you from gaining thoseholiday pounds if you eat it after a fatty, protein-rich meal.Same goes for that pre-meal cocktail, glass of wine, or pintbeer. You may not have eaten anything yet but, your body isalready rolling out the red carpet for the sugars coming downyour pipe, by way of mashed potatoes, pasta and dessert. Ifyou have to have a pre-meal drink, “opt for a vodka and clubsoda,” says Dr. Ramirez. It’s the ultimate diet cocktail and, oneyou can nurse for hours if needed.While sugar releases endorphins (the body’s morphine),dopamine (molecule stimulator) and serotonin (maintainsmood balance), your body will use only what it needs andbank the rest for later (in the event on an extended hungerstrike). That’s just how you’re built. The more often youoverindulge, the more fat will get stored away for when youembark on your protest on the poor working conditions ofthose baby kittens in the Himalayan pink salt mines.So, the next time you feel like having dessert, go ahead. Youcan be sure that Dr. Ramirez doesn’t neglect his sweet tooth,either. Happy holidays!

ERNESTINE TAHEDL

W ords are funny little things. We created them without definition. We can argue all day about what art is to communicate with each other. People used to and is not. We might as well be arguing about what God is point and grunt. Over time we developed patterns and is not: a concept that is different for everybody and onlyof sound that meant the same thing all the time: rock, food, matters in that it has an impact on at least some people.danger—simple words that we could agree on. Then, as wegot better at using them, living longer, and doing more than Ernestine Tahdel understands that definitions are relevant.looking for food and shelter all day long, our dialects got People like to classify things. But, while possessingmore complicated. immeasurable class, Ernestine Tahdel, like her work, is beyond description.Most experts believe that speech developed long before caveart, and somewhere between learning to express ourselves “Obviously those paintings are a summary of sixty years oforally and visually, we learned to use language to mask and painting. If one says is there a traditional painting or doesmisunderstand each other. it go out of tradition? Sure it does. That’s needless to say because everything you do in your life is a summary of whatHumans are forever looking for ways to evolve and all too you’ve experienced, what you have learned. The importantinfrequently succeed at understanding one another. Despite thing is to keep it fresh, to try to find some new things whichthe dismal chances of ever getting our meaning out there, we are important for your development of work,” confirmstry. It begs the question: Are we communicating to be heard Ernestine.or for the experience of exploring the thought more fully? She is the daughter of the celebrated stained glass, mural andTake for example the term ‘abstract art.’ It’s probably the mosaic artist Professor Heinrich Tahedl, whose work gracesmost misunderstood genre out there. There are many ways of a hundred buildings, including many churches. Thanks todefining it but, mainly just two: the classic and the modern. her father’s circle of friends and willingness to include her,By classic I mean technical. When you look at an abstract, Ernestine grew up surrounded by the leading artists of his day.you acknowledge that before you is something that is a His tutelage, along with his insistence on doing everythingsegment of a greater whole. In this sense, Ernestine Tahdel is possible to allow Ernestine’s talent to develop unencumberedan abstract artist. by the oppression of classic art instruction, yielded a protégé who can connect intrinsically with art patrons.We can argue that she is an abstract artist in the modern senseas well, though she firmly avows to being nothing of the sort. Ten people may enter a solo exhibit, and each of them willOf course, by ‘modern sense’ I mean the Google definition: art gravitate toward a different painting. But, each of them willthat does not attempt to represent external reality but, seeks find something that draws them in from within her work,to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colours and textures. which, if nothing else, is honest.The truly ironic part of all this is that the incongruity exists Ernestine grew up with full access to her father’s studio andnot in the term ‘abstract’ but in the word ‘art,’ which is would often spend hours on end, alone, creating. “InterestinglyAutumn Splendour, 1979, acrylic on canvass, 134 x 142 cm Early Snow, Tibet, Diptych, 2003, acrylic on canvass, 147 x 153 cm KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 27

ERNESTINE TAHEDLCurrently living and working in King City, Ontario,Ernestine was born and educated in Austria andreceived a Master’s Degree in graphic art from theVienna Academy of Applied Arts. Following graduationin 1961, she collaborated with her father, ProfessorHeinrich Tahedl, in the design and execution of stainedglass commissions.In 1963, Ernestine emigrated to Canada and has sinceenjoyed an illustrious career as an internationallyacclaimed artist. Her work is represented in public,corporate and private collections and galleries inCanada, United States, France, Switzerland, Austria, andJapan.Her biography includes a long list of awards and medals,as well as gallery representations, and both group andsolo exhibits.Her professional experience includes numerous electedexecutive positions with Ontario Society of Artists,Arts Toronto, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. She hasalso served as a juror for exhibitions at The FredrickHorsman Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Living ArtsCentre, Mississauga, Mississauga Arts Awards, ThunderBay Art Gallery, Art Salon 98, The Serbian HeritageAcademy of Canada and Singidunum.page 28 Graphic II, 1963, acrylic on paper, 69 x33 cm KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

Rigoroso, 2009, acrylic on canvass, 137 x 200 cmNocturno II, 2010, acrylic on canvass, 92 x 183 cmKING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 29

enough, when I was very young, I worked abstract,” says she has seen but, not sketched, that have passed through theErnestine. She, like her father, was profoundly influenced by lens of her mind’s eye.the interplay of light; how it appears when obstructed byopaque and translucent objects; and transformed beyond its Her travels have taken her to every continent, from the Arcticrefraction and reflection off the surfaces it passed through to the Antarctic and everywhere in between. She has paintedand over when the object has colour or texture that further all of them but, was never inspired more than by the beautymanipulates the light that affects it. of the panoramic views of Canada. She covered numerous giant canvasses with mountain ranges but, found that the joyAs she matured and earned her Master’s Degree in graphic was in the details.art from the Vienna Academy of Applied Arts, her work tookon more realistic, easily recognizable shapes. “The definition “I got very involved in doing detailed photos of just small,of abstract is very broad. I mean, personally, I don’t see those close-ups of a stream and the reflection of leaves and so on inpaintings as abstract, as probably some other people don’t see the stream: which is amazingly abstract but, it isn’t abstract.figures, you don’t see landscape but I still see a very strong, It’s nature. If you want to look at that aspect, you can findorganic influence from whatever I was inspired by. abstraction, so to speak, everywhere. Those close-ups were quite a bit of inspiration for my paintings, and if you look atEven when she paints in the style of realism her work betrays those paintings now, they are still quite organic.”her experience with stained glass. It sings on the dancesbetween light and glass. Each of her pieces is based on things “That were twenty years that I painted only landscapes,” reflects Ernestine. “Then I saw those water lilies in Giverny that Monet painted in his garden. Suddenly I started paintingpage 30 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

water lilies because I felt that was the only way I could express Anton Bruckner Motet Ave Maria, acrylic on canvas 240 x 144 cmthe beauty of it.” recently part oSlowly, her work progressed into an exploration of music.As Walter Pater said, “all art constantly aspires toward the Once complete, Ernestine is finished with it. She harbours nocondition of music.” It was something that was always an attachment to a finished work once birthed, happy to severessential part of her life but, there came the point when the cord and send it off for display. Sometimes work returnsexploring where her mind would take her when focusing unsold after a couple of years at a gallery, and she is thrilled tointently on detailed images gave way to trying to capture the get it back and paint over it, preferring to paint over a canvassessence of sound. that has something on it rather than start with a blank.The finished works appear as a series, exploring master For Ernestine, the reward is the exploration, the ability tocompositions such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons but, for the artist discover what’s in her head. “That’s why I’ve been able tothey are all one work, initially painted as one. Each piece is keep it relatively fresh, for me. I’m not talking about theseparated from the group and worked on individually and quality of work. What is important to me is that I still feelperiodically reconnected, played like an accordion. They that I’m searching for something and trying to move ahead inare complete when Ernestine is done with them—when she a direction which is a bit risky,” confides the internationallyperceives a satisfaction that her deep dive into her psyche and celebrated Ernestine Tahdel. “Those abstract works, for someits reaction to the music is satisfied. people are not that abstract.” KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 31



“Arbeit macht frei” is a German phrase meaning “work sets you free.” The slogan is known for appearing on the entrance of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps. Throughout the Nazi regime, there were people who had everything to lose but risked it anyway, there were people who simply turned a blind eye, and there were people, like Wernher von Braun, who could have done more but chose not to.A Piece of Stringby Kathleen Adamson American space programme. Our conversations reinforced my already positive impression of von Braun and his giganticAs a humanities student in an esoteric department at the dreams. Thousands of people, including western governments,University of Toronto, years ago, majoring in languages so were swept up for years to come, with the stardust thrownancient that they made Latin look modern, I would often in our eyes in the form of moon landings, explorations,attend extra-curricular concerts, poetry readings and scientific and journeys to Saturn and Mars among hundreds of otherlectures in fields outside my own, to broaden my education. staggering scientific achievements.One particular lecture, given by famed astrophysicist, Wernher To this day we are still partaking in the von Braun’s legacy.von Braun, in a packed lecture hall, stayed with me. Back then, Our new Governor-General, Julie Payette, a product of thevon Braun was lionized with rock star status for his rocket and space programmes, recently told us, unflinchingly, during herspace research at NASA and his directorship of the Marshall installation, that we should “trust in science,” the mantra ofSpace Centre. An iconic image of the day was the ticker tape von Braun and his scientists for our collective future.parade with him and President John F. Kennedy, in New York.In person, he was beyond dazzling. At once drop-deadcharming, imposing and masculine. He held the audience inthrall for the entire presentation, illuminating America’s plansfor the first space stations, which were to form the foundationsof our future: colonies in space!I recall walking out of the lecture into the chilly night air onSt. George Street and looking up at the stars in ways I hadnever done before, barely able to comprehend the reach of hisprojected future for humankind. To say I, and all the attendees,were blown away, would be an understatement. The effect ofvon Braun stayed with me for many decades.Some years later, I acquired the friendship of a German, partof his team, who worked in shock tube research at Huntsville,Alabama, building rockets that formed the basis of the Wernher von Braun with is wife, Maria Luise von Quistorp and daughters Iris Careen and Margrit Cécil KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 33

The human mind is capable of rationalizing unspeakable atrocities. The human spirit has an infallible ability to survive insurmountable odds history, when we ignore its lessons, has a way of delivering ample need for fresh string.But, as I learned later in life, the adored von Braun had another Wave after wave of victims were imported from camps such asside and a background that JFK and the scientific community Auschwitz, to work in subhuman conditions of cold, starvationdownplayed for the benefits that could come from such a and filth, never seeing the light of day, until they were dumpedmind. They did not tell the general public about his World War in heaps of dead for disposal, away from the works.II activities as scientific director of the infamous installations Some 60,000 worked constructing Dora and 26,500 perishedat Peenemünde on the Baltic, and Dora in the Harz Mountains. in the final massacre, as the Americans approached in 1945.There, underground research facilities and factories were dug The labourers worked on huge ladders, thirty feet above thedeep into the intestines of floor,  undergroundthe earth to house research walls, lugging heavy spoiland manufacture of the from the mine, or workingVergeltungswaffen rocket in the factory assemblingseries, a set of long-range rocket components. Thereartillery weapons designed were no latrine facilities.for strategic bombing. Weak from hunger andThe V1 and V2 rockets were fatigue, prisoner-workersused to bomb Britain with frequently fell to theirdeadly accuracy. The Polish deaths, died from disease,Underground courageously or were executed on thestole one of the V2s from spot by their SS guards.its site of manufacture At the end of the war,and stealthily transported American liberatorsit to England for retro- closed or flooded theengineering and study. mine sites but, in recentThe V3 was much farther- Buchenwald survivor Petro Mischtschuk decades, the study of thesereaching than the V1 and Photograph by Lisi Niesner (Weimar, Germany) hellholes revealed roughV2, with potential to reach bunks stacked four high,North America, and the sinister V4 was on the drawing board darkness, dampness, starvation, outbreaks of cholera, dailyby war’s end. beatings by the SS guards, cruel labour and despair beyondThe facilities at Peenemünde and Dora were more than simply comprehension.wartime manufacturing sites. Dora was the largest oil and fuel A few survived to testify to the horrors they had endureddepot in Germany. These were slave labour camps under the but, Peenemünde and Dora were outstripped in publictender ministrations of Kommandant SS Brigadier General awareness by the infamous camps such as Auschwitz,Hans Kammler, builder of Auschwitz-Birkenau and other Dachau, Ravensbrück, Sobibór and hundreds of others. Thedeath camps.page 34 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

rocket facilities were, to put it mildly, underrepresented in the By late 1944, it was obvious to Dr. Wernher von Brauncollective human consciousness. von Braun that Germany would (1912–1977)Books, interviews, and a museum have recorded what be destroyed and occupied,happened there, though most are unaware of the significance and he began planning for theof these installations. postwar era. Before the AlliedWhat separates them from the better-known camps is that capture of the V–2 rockettheir purpose was more than to create advanced weapons to complex, von Braun was sentensure German victory, as an expedient of war. These camps south, eventually to Bavaria andwere intended to hack a pathway to the heavens by wielding surrendered to the Americansknowledge, thereby gilding the reputations of the most there, along with other key teambrilliant scientists in the West during the war, and even after leaders. For fifteen years afterit. Somehow, the scientific dreams whereby a man’s reach far World War II, Von Braun workedexceeds his grasp, were made a reality and became the thrustof much scientific thinking, albeit “cleaned up” in postwar with the U.S. Army in theyears, in a Faustian bargain. development of ballistic missiles.Survivors accused von Braun of visiting the sites frequently, As part of a military operationof witnessing victims hanging in the galleries as punishment, called Project Paperclip, he andand of standing devoid of emotion alongside piles of corpsesof men who dug the galleries and assembled the rockets at an initial group of about 125his behest, all under the watchful eye of the SS Kommandant. were sent to America where they were installed at Fort Bliss,Von Braun maintained that he knew conditions were Texas. There they worked onmiserable but, there was nothing he could do about it. Given rockets for the U.S. Army, andthat his brain, and his alone, held the plans for the V-series, he assisted in V-2 launches at Whitewas too valuable to the Reich to be punished had he suggested Sands Proving Ground, Newthat the workers would produce better labour if they werebetter fed and housed, a purely practical measure that he Mexico.could have sought. (source: nasa.gov)If Schindler could improve conditions for his “workers” von At right:Braun was even more able to do so, since Hitler told Speer that Bust of Wernher von Braunvon Braun was to be protected “at all costs.” He was in an even at Marshall Space Flight Center,more secure position to save lives. He chose not to. Huntsville, AL - Redstone ArsenalBy contrast, deep in the gloom of Dora, a flame burned in somebreasts: the urge to fight. The prisoners were overwhelmedby forces that stripped them of everything, deprived them offood, drink, rest, warmth and kindness. Their ragged clothesclung to their starving frames and sickness racked theirbodies. But, some of them still fought.American reports of the installations, written after the war,attest to small bits of metal secreted in the inner workings ofsome of the rockets; sabotage punishable by instant death.The most poignant sabotage in one rocket consisted of theonly thing the prisoner had, a tiny piece of string, trammellingthe heart of a rocket. We do not know if the saboteur survived.Chances are he did not and knew he would not survive. Yetthere is the string.When I reflect on the dazzling sky of my youthful post-lectureimagination, filled with von Braun’s dream, and juxtaposethat tiny piece of string from his fiefdom in hell, the searingirony of that dream twists at my heart. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 35

Season's Greetings! NOBLETON OPTOMETRY: EAT IN • TAKE OUT • CATERING Dr. Siragusa’s 2118 King Rd, King City holistic viewpoint (905) 833-3301 “My mother used to take my sisters and I every year to the optometrist. I always had 20/20 vision until grade six, when I was told I needed my first pair of glasses,” relates Dr. Melisa Siragusa. It wasn’t until after she got her specs that she understood there had ever been a problem in the first place. “I remember driving down the street wearing my glasses and seeing the trees so vividly. It was nice,” she recalls. That experience changed her life. “It made a huge difference for me. I didn’t realize how badly my eyes had deteriorated over the year. Since then, this is what I wanted to do.” As she got older, Melisa’s fascination with optometry deepened. She started to explore the mechanics of ocular science. The more she learned, the more she wanted to study of ocular diseases. “The eye is the only direct access to blood vessels that we can see in the body.” The blood vessels in the eyes are usually one of the first to be affected by certain diseases, such as cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. Since it is one of the first organs affected, annual eye exams are a great, non-invasive early detection tool for many diseases in the body. On numerous occasions, Dr. Siragusa has discovered various findings in patients’ eyes that have led her to coordinate with their family practitioners. Through routine eye exams, she has been able to detect holes/tears in the retina, choroidal melanoma (a form of eye cancer), certain forms of disease such as Crohn’s colitis, ankylosing spondylitis and many more. In many cases, the conditions were in their very early stages and therefore much easier to treat. Beyond regular health checkups, certain professions have strict colour vision requirements, such as pilots and firefighters. That’s another great reason to have your children’s eyes tested early, as it may avoid disappointment down the road with your children’s chosen line of work. Melisa’s childhood obsession with the eye translated to a lifelong commitment to learning. She has earned an Honours Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Anatomy and Cell Biology, from Western University, a Doctorate of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry, and is certified by the Board of Examiners of Optometry in the use of Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents. Dr. Siragusa is also accredited by the National Board of Examiners of

Optometry and the Treatment and Management of OcularDisease in the United States.Each year she continues to dedicate a significant amount oftime to professional learning and development. Dr. Siragusa’sapproach to patient care is all-encompassing and holistic,stressing the importance of whole body health.“I always counsel my patients on diet and eye health. Diet isso important: Something as simple as dry eye can stem fromyour diet if you are not drinking enough water or not gettingenough omega-3 fatty acids. Our diets can also influencediseases like macular degeneration.”Dr. Siragusa is thrilled to have a practice located so close tohome. She enjoys the less hectic pace of King Township andensures that client appointments are spaced in a way thatallows for sufficient time to fully understand the visual needsof her patients.Here, she is able to build relationships with her patients. “Yousee the whole family. I have sponsored their children’s hockeyand soccer teams. I have watched them go off to college oruniversity and I enjoy seeing these patients when they stopin for their annual eye exams.” Melisa looks forward tocontinuing the growth of her practice with the community.

Water delivery & tank maintenanceby Marco CavallariAccording to the notice that residents received on June 8th, twelve months, as required. Homeowners with rental units2017, The Region of York should be about half way through should consult with their provider as this may be covered bywith their planned activities at the Schomberg water your rental contract.treatment plant, located at 210 Western Avenue. Crews thereare working on the plant’s water filtration system. Tank maintenance MUST be done with extreme caution. Flushing a hot water heater tank involves pressurized,Per the response I received, “The Filter Rehabilitation scalding hot water. If not controlled properly, it may alsoproject is a maintenance activity being conducted by The result in accidental flooding of the area surrounding theRegional Municipality of York to optimize the performance tank. Additionally, if the tank has not been flushed in manyof the filters at the treatment plant to improve operability.” years, it may require additional maintenance by a certifiedDuring this time two filtration trailers have been providing water heater service technician.the residences of Schomberg with clean, safe municipalwater, by-passing the plant to allow its maintenance to be If you do decide to attempt to flush your tank:conducted without service interruption. 1. First shut off the electricity to the tank if your heater isThough, as promised, we have not experienced any electric or shut off the gas valve to the tank (make note ofinterruption of service, as owner of Aquafinity Water where the hot water tanks thermostat is currently set soSystems, I have received many calls from fellow residents you can dial it back to the same setting later).in the area concerned with brown or yellowish water. Basedon my understanding, and the official answer to my own 2. Shut off the cold water valve feeding the cold side the tank.inquiry, I am confident that the increased level of pigment 3. Turn on the hot water on any faucet located above thein the water is unrelated to activities at the treatment plant. water heater, let it run for a bit and test to make sure thePer The Region, “Although the Township regularly flushes water in the tank has cooled off sufficiently.the water mains, sediment is a somewhat inevitable aspect 4. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom ofof ground water sources.” In addition to the planned manual your tank and find a good place to drain the water (eitherflushing of the water mains, we know that heavy rainfall can in the floor drain by the hot water tank or outside (therealso result in increased amount of sediment in tap water and may be muddy sediment if this has not been done in a while).coincidentally, we have not seen as much rainfall in three or 5. Open the drain valve and allow your hot water tank to drain.four years, as we have in 2017. This should take about 10 to 30 minutes. 6. When the water runs clear close the valve.“Sediment” is defined as suspended solids such as sand, silt, 7. Turn the cold water valve back on and let the tank fill withinclay and numerous mineral elements that remain in water 5 to 10 minutes.after filtration has taken place. Sediment is a specific problem 8. Then go up to the open hot water faucet and shut it off oncein this area due to our groundwater source. In addition to all the air is out.affecting the appearance of tap water it impacts our water 9. Turn the electricity back on, or for natural gas, turn the gasheaters by settling at the bottom, effecting efficiency. Other valve back on, light the pilot, and turn the hot water heatersissues include build-up evident in our cold water lines closest thermostat back to where it was set before.to our home’s water main shut off. Note: If no water comes out, contact a water heater service technician as there may be an obstruction in the valve and itIntroducing a whole home sediment filter with a 5-micron may have to be removed.rating is an effective way to prevent sediment from carryingthroughout the home. Costs vary with providers but can range As for the maintenance activity at the water treatment plant,from $200 to $500. In addition, it is highly recommended that that project is taking place to maintain the quality of ouryou have your hot water tank maintained every three, six or water in Schomberg. According to latest reports, the project is on schedule and due for completion in mid 2018 (refer to public notices at york.ca/waterconstruction for details). PRAS Publishing, King Country Magazine and AquaFinity Water Systems, and their representatives, are not liable, nor is any warranty extended, for the results or consequences of any attempt to adopt any of this information. This article is for information purposes only.page 38 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

CONSTRUCTOR LIABILITY: project. Infractions will be documented and may result in significant fines, asWhat most well as a potential “stop work” order. The project could be delayed for weeks.people fail A general contractor is responsible for Ensuring that all workers have WSIBto consider providing all the materials, labour, coverage also protects the constructor equipment and services necessary against lawsuits. If you hire someoneby Gary van Bolderen for the project. This includes hiring who does not have the WSIB coverage any subcontractors and ensuring they can sue you for damages, long-If you thinking of taking on a that everything is done legally and term care, retraining, and more. Theconstruction or reno project make sure to code. When the general contractor seriousness of this Act comes intoto protect yourself by considering your performs all of the work for the project, sharp focus in the event of an accidentrole, as regulated by the Ontario Health he or she becomes the constructor. By or death at the workplace. In addition to& Safety Act (OHSA). hiring a general contractor to perform hefty fines, there is also the potential of the entire project the owner is no criminal charges resulting in jail time.Too many property owners are unaware longer responsible for ensuring thatthat they could unintentionally be all employees and workers comply In fact, the OHSA is the only law intaking on the burdens of a constructor. with the Act. It is a critical decision Ontario that presumes your guilt andIn Ontario this designation is critical, and one that the property owner must puts the onus on you to prove yourand it is not a responsibility you want understand before work begins. innocence, if you are charged with anto take on casually. The OHSA defines infraction. By law, all accidents must bewho is responsible for the safety of the The constructor is the final authority reported to the MoL. If a person requiresworker(s) at a workplace, regardless of on the worksite and therefore is the one a hospital visit, the hospital must notifythe size or type of project in question. who will be held responsible for any the police and the MoL, resulting inIt could be your roof, horse barn or accidents, and for enforcing the Act. an immediate response by both theanything else that you have in mind. police and the MoL, who will visit theYou, as the owner, cannot claim Included in the responsibilities of workplace and may shut everythingignorance of this Act. the constructor is the need to have down. In the event of critical injury, no documentation at the workplace one will be allowed to touch anything,The OHSA’s intent is to have one party proving that: all workers have including materials and equipment.with overall authority for health and Workplace Safety & Insurance Board All workers will be interviewed andsafety matters on a construction project. (WSIB) coverage; each trade has asked to sign witness statements thatThat party, it could be an individual or signed its Form 1000 (Registration of may result in legal actions based on thea company, is called the constructor Constructors and Employers Engaged inspectors’ investigation.of the project. The constructor is the in Construction); an up-to-dateentity with the greatest degree of Health and Safety Policy is posted Given the gravity of the responsibilities,control over the health and safety of in a prominent location at the site; a anybody wishing to undertake athe entire project and is ultimately Notification of Project (for all projects construction project should do their dueresponsible for the health and safety greater than $50,000.00) is sent to diligence before inadvertently takingof all workers. The constructor must the Ministry of Labour; and that all on the role of the constructor. The bestalso ensure that all the employees and documentation is on-site for certified way to avoid that risk is to hire a generalworkers on the project comply with the compulsory trades. The constructor contractor. A professional constructionAct and its regulations. must have a record of safety meetings firm, acting as the general contractor, when required, evidence that all will offer you, as the property owner, aWhen the owner, such as a farmer equipment has been approved for use, layer of protection by being intimatelybuilding a new barn, undertakes a and so on. The Ministry of Labour (MoL) aware of and complying with theproject by contracting with more has the legal right to enter a site and do requirements of the OHSA.than one employer (contractor) the inspections at any time throughout aowner is undertaking the project and Be informed. Do your due diligence.is the constructor. If the owner hires a Plan and plan again before starting ageneral contractor to do the complete project. If you are not prepared to beproject, the general contractor becomes the constructor of a project, be carefulthe constructor. It’s an important to avoid unintentionally taking on thedistinction. added liability. For more information, you can contact the MoL at www.labour.gov.on.ca. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 39

Worth keepingby Freyda Tartak“I don’t find there’s any fact in trying to hide it because I find Katie did have a bad fall. She had been drinking and after twothe more open it is, the more people understand,” explains bottles of wine refused a ride home, walked through her frontMitch. I came over looking for Katie Kaiser, a visit that was gate, tripped and fell, breaking her leg and then smashing herlong overdue. This was my first time meeting her son. head as she fell backwards. “The doctor thinks that’s what set off the Alzheimer’s,” says Mitch.The last time I stopped by was in search of the pioneercemetery. Katie had generously offered me the loan of a His parents divorced when he was young. He likens hiswell-loved book to learn about King’s past. Months later, I childhood years to the back-and-forth flight of a ping-pongfinally found a copy of my own, for sale at the King Heritage ball. When Katie was around, things were great but, she wasMuseum. Full of apologies for taking so long to return it, I rarely home. When Mitch turned sixteen, he got to choosepulled into Katie’s driveway not expecting to meet the tall, where he wanted to live and picked his mom’s place, wherefriendly guy bustling about the place. He greeted me the he had the most freedom.same way everybody greets you in Lloydtown: welcomingand entirely devoid of pretension. “Before this, she was not around very much, I can tell you that. She used to be very bad with the wine—to excess. So“Oh, good,” he says, “she’s been asking about that,” pointing this is actually probably the best thing for her. I hate to say itme to the front door of the once Wesleyan Methodist church that way. But this, her issue now, is probably the best becausethat serves as their home. The place is much less a house she can’t drink. She gets the odd beer but, the beer isn’t goingthan it is an eclectic collection of stuff, betraying the family’s to kill her over two litres of wine,” states the twenty-eight-affinity for love, life, joy and acceptance. year-old.“I guess you sort of take things as they are and if they bring Mitch has been living in a state of shock since his mom’syou joy, you keep them around,” I comment. “Pretty much,” diagnosis. The bills had gotten “to a point where she wasagrees Mitch as he opens the door to the sun-room and offers, going to lose the house,” he confides. He got a bank loan and“she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about a year ago, so her bought the property. Then he laid down some ground rulesmemory isn’t what it used to be.” for his 62-year old mother and any friends who used to drink with her: No alcohol.Inside, Katie was thrilled to get her book back but, I’m gladfor his casual forewarning. It helps me keep my balance even Amongst Katie’s friends is Wendy Glasow. “I have a funnyin this brief encounter. Though still able to hold her own, the feeling she has a hunch that I can’t take care of her, or I don’tsigns of Katie’s memory loss are like an eager puppy vying want to, or something like that, which I do. But, it might justfor attention at the sight of a visitor. “You’ll have to excuse be a little over my head,” says Mitch.me, I had a bad fall last year, my memory isn’t what it usedto be,” she says. “She’s always there, ever since I was little. Wendy is my saving angel. Wendy’s husband was in a bad car accident, and nowpage 40 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

she’s trying to help me because of my mom, so it’s ten times a tremendous help, supporting him as they can. The mostas tough on her.” significant thing is just making sure he doesn’t feel alone.Wendy puts up a strong front; jokingly referring to her Every once in a while the pressure reaches a fever pitch.husband and Katie as Mr. and Mrs. Daisy for all the driving Work is his refuge. Ever since he was five years old, sitting onshe has to do. She’s also the one to talk to the doctors, which his father’s lap on a job site, he’s been in love with playingMitch is thankful for. He stays informed but, prefers to not with trucks in a sandbox. As he grew up “the machines grewcomplicate matters by getting too deeply involved, trusting bigger, and the sandbox grew bigger with them,” he jokes.Wendy’s lead in those matters. “When I’m at work, I have to give it all my attention. You’reAs hard as it is for Mitch, what Wendy is going through is working with heavy equipment. One wrong move and youperhaps even more difficult. Katie, once Wendy’s dearest can just splatter somebody up against a wall,” he reasons.confidant, is now full of At the beginning Mitch didn’tconversation corners to avoid, know what it was so, there wasn’teasily agitated and quick to much to tell people. “But once Idescend into disconnected found out, I started slowly tellingthoughts, hard to engage with people that were closest first;and impossible to ignore. then telling people the severity“The conversations change as of it; and then having peoplefast as the fan spins. It’s hard to turn around and say: ‘Well I waskeep up with her but, when she’s in a situation.’ Or, talking to aon a topic, she won’t let it go,” friend’s mom and they were in aagree Katie’s personal care team. similar spot with their father or“When it, happened, shock is something, and sitting down anda good word for it. Something talking to them. Hearing peopleI have to work my way into— say, ‘oh, yeah I know it’s tough,patience-wise, which I don’t like keeping your stress levelfeel I have a lot of. But what down and biting your tongue,’are you going to do? Get mad and it’s nice having people whoat the situation, turn around have been through it before.”and leave?” Instead, Mitch goes “It makes you feel like you’re notoutside and finds something to alone,” he continues, “Havingdo around the house. people there, accepting and“Leaving occurred to me. But I’d every once in a while saying, ‘oh,never be able to do it. It’d kill me hey, Mitch looks a little stressed.on the conscience-wise. I want Maybe he needs to sit down andto, some days. It’s almost the talk.’ It’s awesome having that.”tables have turned. When you’re Mitch hasn’t exactly had agrowing, and your parents take charmed life but, “I don’t feelcare of you, it’s almost like the At twenty-eight years old, Mitch Kaiser would love to sorry for myself. I wasn’t brought settle down and start a family. “In my mind, it’s hard toflip side now. Here’s payback. up that way,” he says. His dad andNow it’s my turn.” bring somebody into this type of situation.” grandmother instilled in him the mantra: “If you fail, try harder.”The only thing Mitch knows forsure is how completely unready he is for what’s to come. There’s a difference between looking for sympathy and“How prepared are you?” I ask. “Not. Not whatsoever.” facing life honestly. “It’s tough. I want my own life. I want aMitch is looking forward to Katie’s eighty-six-year-old girlfriend in my life. I want kids. I want this, I want that but,mother’s upcoming move into the nearby retirement it’s hard to do it while you’re trying to pull all this off, too.”community. Right now, he struggles between having to “In my mind, it’s hard to bring somebody into this type ofspend time at work and making sure Katie isn’t left at home situation. If they can deal with it, ‘winner,’ but it’s tough. It’salone. “The last thing I need is to come home to a pile of not like I’m asking anybody to ease the load off of me but,ashes because she’s done something silly.” His grandmother to ask someone to come into that is a big thing. Who wantsis “pretty well, health-wise and she’s got her head on her to be in those shoes? Nobody. But, when you get placed inshoulders.” He’s grateful for his friends, too. They have been them, you just have to deal.” KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 41

HOBBY FARM IN LLOYDTOWN: Raising kids in the country Every ten years Veronica Segarra, 44, does something big for her birthday. When she turned 30, she went to Hawaii. Her plan, for her 40th birthday, was a trip to the African savanna but, a lot can happen in ten years. She met John Molloy, they had a couple of kids, and plans changed. Instead, they ended up in Lloydtown, once considered second in importance only to Toronto but now, just a sleepy hamlet adjacent to Schomberg; long since forgotten for its part in dismantling the Family Compact and leading to electoral reform in Canada. “I dug deep and realized that what I always wanted was a horse,” remembers Veronica. At the time, the couple and their two girls, Juliana and Victoria, were still living in Veronica’s stunning Victorian house in Leslieville. These days, the area is a posh neighbourhood in Toronto but, when she bought it, “there were prostitutes around the corner. It was what I could afford.” The couple always loved animals. “We still have our two cockatiels, a ferret, and Scruffy,” Veronica’s favourite breed of dog: a Chinese Crested. The ferret has enjoyed a freakishly long lifespan and shows no sign of slowing down. “I love animals but, not to the extent that she does,” confides the 52-year-old John. His true passion is working with his hands, “I love doing carpentry.” Nodding appreciatively, Veronica adds, “he renovated my downtown house before we sold it, this place is John’s playground. It was a sore site but, we loved the area. It’s still ongoing; we’re still renovating.”page 42 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

“I love my John Deer tractor,” agrees commuting to the country. When they Their first one, Mini, was a touch tooJohn. Their new property came with a got there, they faced other challenges: grumpy and couldn’t be trusted withtractor but, it quickly fell apart. It was “boarding was difficult because I really the girls so, Chico took her place,no match for the “thistles that stood as wanted to care for and be with the living in the backyard of their Torontohigh as you are. When we got here we horse, and barns have a lot of politics. Victorian house. It’s a good thing thathad to take all the weeds down, put up It was a difficult environment for me,” the neighbours were understanding.all the fences,” says Veronica. admits Veronica. “When she gets her mind set,” saysTheir new finishing mower solved the Now, with horses of her own, she was John, “it’s happening.” But lookingproblem in an hour but, not before out riding every weekend. “I rode other back, sometimes John wishes he’d goneVeronica drained all her energy trying horses, whatever they had there. It was to Africa instead. “I snuck in a coupleto hack away at it manually, after their too much.” So, once the duo decided of horses overnight. I went trail ridingtractor died. Their hard work had a to move out to the country, and bring and met Moose and fell in love withmighty motivator behind it. Veronica their horses home, they couldn’t wait to him and thought he would be a perfectdidn’t just put her mind to getting a get started. husband horse. So we made a deal, andhorse. She got several, and without we got back pretty late and snuck hima suitable property of their own, she That year Santa gave the girls a ponyboarded her horses in Stayner; not an for Christmas.ideal state of affairs. “I want to jam pack everything“I grew up in Richmond as much as I can, life is short. IHill. I had a creek inmy backyard, I had a .”follow my gut ~ Veronica Segarraforest,” recalls Veronica.“My grandmother usedto jump horses in Mexico,she was an animal fanatic,and my father lovedanimals. He never said noon the animal front. I usedto spend my summers inMexico.” Living in Toronto,Veronica had somehowmanaged to suppress herconnection with animalsuntil she started looking for analternative to that rugged African safarithat she had set her heart on, ten yearsprior.Once she jumped into her new life, allshe wanted to do was be with her horses.If John and the girls wanted to see her,they had to come along, routinely KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 43



into the paddock,” confides Veronica. The next morning wanted chickens. I researched everything and decided I wasJohn looked over the rim of his coffee cup and wondered, comfortable with them. Fluffy was our first.”“Did Chico grow? Did the pony grow into a full-size horse?” After that, things spiralled quickly. “The local SPCA wasJohn has long since resigned himself to such antics. New looking for a home for a couple of geese, so I took them,”animals began magically popping into view, and the game states Veronica. Then came the pot-bellied pigs. “I alwayswas afoot. The girls would count the days, hours and on wanted a pot-bellied pig. I like the menagerie. The chickensoccasion, the weeks before he’d notice that something new I don’t think really got to him.” The chickens are the onlyhad arrived. Eventually, there were baby goats, and both aspect on the farm that John hasn’t fully come to terms with,John and Veronica lost count of which one was pregnant, and probably never will. But the girls love them.only realizing what happened when the seemingly wronggoat cared for a new kid. “We’re just learning as we go,” the pair admit. A lot of the decisions come straight out of the pit of Veronica’s stomach.By now, John was starting to get used to his new norm. He She’ll see a Facebook post that resonates with her and goesknew who he fell in love with and this was all part of the to investigate. According to John, though, “You never just godeal. “I want to jam pack everything as much as I can, life is look at anything. If you go look, you’re buying it.”short. I follow my gut,” explains Veronica. With every animalshe’d bring home, Veronica said it was the last. “Every time “You have 10 acres, what are you gonna do? You have towe brought something home, this is the last.” fill it up with things,” shrugs Veronica. Within four years the family has amassed three pigs, seven horses plus one“First year, we focused on horses. Program number one was lease horse, two geese, countless chickens, three sheep, anto modify the property so we could have horses. Job one was Angora, a flock of goats, two Chinese crested dogs, a couplebringing the horses home,” explains Veronica. “Year two, we of Šarplaninacs (Yugoslavian Shepherd Dogs known to bedid the chicken thing. I do not count the chickens. I always ferocious guardians but, terrific with kids). At least that was the count when KCM came for a visit back in August. Since then poor Fluffy has passed away and judging by Veronica’s Facebook posts, there have been a few more additions to the farm. “Animals teach people so much. Horses teach people so much,” enthuses Veronica. By day, she is the Senior Vice President of product development at an international cosmetics firm, routinely working with A-list celebrities and developing cosmetic lines from concept to execution. But, she’d love nothing more than to spend her time in rubber boots, “where I can do the horse thing and sustain three horses and a pony.” As for John and the girls, they’re happily along for the ride because one thing is for sure, there’s never a dull moment at their house. KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii page 45

150 years later and not attended by many of the same familiesmuch different who can relay stories from around the dinner table of great-great-grandfathersChurch street ends at rebellion If we are to consider its impact on the that took part in the same Canadian Way, connecting Brownsville, removal of the Family Compact and Rebellion of Upper Canada that the rest of now known as Schomberg, to the subsequent rise of responsible the country glosses over in eighth grade.Lloydtown, a sleepy village of great government in Canada, Lloydtownimportance to our national heritage. As remains second in importance only to Its founder, Jesse Lloyd, the son of Welshyou proceed, you might notice a Heritage Toronto. But outside of the area, few Quakers, was a man of jovial characterKing plaque on a home announcing even know it exists. and high principles. It is a matter of somethat it once belonged to Doctor Robert importance that his family migratedRamsay and some forty years later to the Further along, churches of various from Pennsylvania, where they hadbutcher, George T. Skinner. History is full denominations constructed a long time resided since 1639 after fleeing religiousof violent ironies. ago, betray the diversity that spanned persecution during the Bishop Wars of the community from its earliest days. their homeland. Their immigration from Today, they are merely churches, actively America also arose out of the need to avoid persecution for their beliefs and refusal to pick a side in the War of 1812. Instead, they subjected themselves to starvation and great peril, crossing the Niagara Gorge, on foot and in the depth of winter, before arriving in Upper Canada, what we now refer to as Ontario, and settling in King Township. It says a great deal about the state of affairs in Upper Canada that by 1837 Jesse Lloyd was willing to sacrifice everything to help William Lyon Mackenzie. He recognized the risks, deeding all of his property to his wife Phoebe, in case victory proved to be more elusive than Mackenzie professed. That was a wise move since by year’s end he was on the run, hiding amongst his Pennsylvanian relatives, with five hundred pounds on his head. No doubt for Jesse, it was a matter of moral obligation to play the part that he did. He had a large family and was responsible for the well-being of the families belonging to the workers engaged on his farms and in his mills. As Overseer of Roads, serving two terms while refusing remuneration, Jesse would have been intimately familiar and affected by the issue of clergy reserves. According to the Constitutional Act of 1791, one-seventh of all lands granted was reserved to support the Church of England. The majority of the population of Upper Canada was not Protestant, and the clergy reserves were mostly unused, unmanaged portions of land that served no purpose other than interrupting the continuity of settlement and making it difficult topage 46 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

expand roads. The clergy reserves were little more than a pioneer industries. The community had a post-office, twoform of political and religious oppression. churches, and a two-room schoolhouse that, according to the History of Toronto and County of York, Ontario: ContainingAs stated in W. Stewart Wallace’s, The Encyclopedia of an Outline of the History of the Dominion of Canada; aCanada, “The province became a sort of chequer-board in History of the City of Toronto and the County of York, with thewhich the black squares represented unimproved lands. This Townships, Towns, General and Local Statistics; Biographicaleconomic grievance, added to the religious, no doubt explains Sketches, Volume 1, published in 1885 by C.B. Robinson etthe feeling which the Clergy Reserves roused.” Whether an al., was the best school outside of Toronto, with a studentintentional means to control the general population or a average of forty-eight per cent. The impressive brick buildingslaphappy approach with little regard for consequence, the still stands, though it is now a private residence.Government’s want of care in the countryside did nothing toingratiate itself to the peace-loving people who comprised These days, all of the buildings in Lloydtown are privatethe radical segment of the reform movement. homes. Public meeting places and businesses either closed entirely or relocated to Schomberg. The only hints of itsDistribution of property rights and the intermingling of historical relevance to our modern democratic advantages arechurch and state were, according to Mackenzie, “the most thanks to the efforts of The Lloydtown Rebellion Associationimportant single cause of the rebellion of 1837.” The men who and the plaques put up by the King Township Historicalstood alongside Lloyd and Mackenzie were not soldiers. They Society. The number continues to dwindle of people whowere farmers, shopkeepers and tradesmen who got angry would serve to remind us that our democratic system ofenough to be used by Mackenzie for his designs on avenging government is fragile and hard fought for.his pride, under the guise of doing what was right for thecommon people. According to Bill Foran, the retired school principal and King Township Councilor, only three meetings remain for theThey trained to use arms late at night, in remote corners of Rebellion Association due to a lack of interest among thefarmers’ fields and marched on Montgomery’s Tavern three younger generations. That, too, is a bitter irony. The violencedays early without proper provisions, leadership or a firmplan. When the jig was up, Mackenzie gave them up forslaughter, conveniently leaving a detailed register of namesto be found by the loyalist soldiers as he departed. To this day,few suspect any act of willful betrayal on Mackenzie’s part.But, it is not outside of reason to guess that even as he ranfor the safety of the American border, he secretly blamed therebels, including Jesse Lloyd, for acting out of turn.The rebels arrived at Montgomery’s Tavern foot-sore andhungry, to the hospitality of an innkeeper who was neitherfriendly to their cause nor prepared for their arrival. Mackenziehad invested a lot of effort into planning a rebellion whichwas supposed to take place on December 7th. His arrogance,lack of discretion and hunger for notoriety had as much to dowith the panic that led to the early arrival of the Lloydtownrebels as anything else. But, Mackenzie likely laid all theblame at the feet of others.All the while, Jesse was an invaluable and dependableresource to the man who was returned to his riding of Yorknumerous times, yet denied access to his seat at the assembly.Jesse readily offered a key stronghold for the radical reformmovement in Upper Canada. He also frequently served asan emissary, travelling to Lower Canada and so forth, inMackenzie’s plot to overthrow a system of governmentthat felt ill obliged to accept the voice of the people, andperpetuated abuses on the public purse to pad those of theFamily Compact.During its heyday, the village that Jesse Lloyd established had,as the cairn erected opposite his statue declares, a grist-mill,sawmill, woolen mill, two tanneries, stores and numerous

of the rebellion was the result of a toxic cocktail between a connection, impregnated in the minds of all but the radicalssmall, tightly knit set of petty and corrupt men; a little man by the Family Compact.from a poor background with a giant grudge and ego tomatch; and the reluctance to stand up for themselves on the This combination of willful ignorance and reluctance topart of moderate reformers. The Family Compact did little so take action attributed to the Home Government’s lack ofwell as establishing that seeking responsible government was insight into the discontent in the provinces. The informationakin to disloyalty and therefore treason against the King. At received by Great Britain was that the majority of people werethat time, loyalty to the Crown trumped all else, and though perfectly happy. When Mackenzie arrived with a petition inmany moderate reformers sympathized with the radical hand, he was barely heard and only as a private citizen ratherelement, they refused to support it. than an elected representative of the legislative assembly.By the time the wheels of It’s hard to say if the debaclethe rebellion set into motion of December 4th, 1837, trulyMackenzie was gunning for changed anything. By the timerevenge and willing to sacrifice of the Rebellion, the Britishabsolutely everybody to achieve Colonies consisted of anhis cause. The injustices that increasingly literate populacedrove hundreds of men headlong and were moving away fromto the gallows, prison and exile the antiquated mentality whichwere nothing compared to the permitted the Family Compactrage that Mackenzie felt at being to exist, let alone prosper. Uppersnubbed by the Executive of Canada was just one exampleUpper Canada and subsequently where people were learningby the King of England. to organize and think for themselves. Moderate reformersBut regardless of his true were bound to eventually,motives, that violence was through more diplomaticnecessary. England was in a very measures, accomplish much ofdelicate position. It’s not that what came about as a result ofthe monarchy cared if people the Durham Report.were suffering or that there wasblatant, widespread corruption. In the short term, due toIt’s just that they couldn’t risk Mackenzie’s many characterpeople getting upset enough to flaws and the possible blinddeclare independence, as the contempt he held for anybodyAmericans had done in The who had the misfortune ofAmerican Revolutionary War standing either with or against(1775–1783). him, people who would never have been suspected of treasonThe vapid arrogance of Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond otherwise were identified as rebels and rounded up.Head made him oblivious to the extent of the rancour feltamongst the general population, particularly amongst the The wrath of the loyalist army did not stop there. Rebels’poor, uneducated farmers who comprised Mackenzie’s former family homes were raided routinely, robbed of the last crumbconstituency. Sir Bond Head and the Family Compact were of food. Phoebe Lloyd suffered many such attacks, on at leastof the firm opinion that the vast majority, though possibly one occasion the soldiers even fled with the baby’s milk. Asunhappy, would never succumb to action at the impetus Russell Oldfield relates, the repercussions lasted for a veryand ravings of the radical reformer who was so badly beaten long time. He grew up in the area and is a direct descendant,out of power during the election of 1836. Any modern voting six generations forward, of Jesse Lloyd.citizen who marvels at the strict rules around secret ballots atthe polls should read about the way Sir Bond Head returned Following the Rebellion, Jesse narrowly escaped capture bythe Family Compact to majority rule. returning to his relatives in Pennsylvania. It was too dangerous to send letters to the Lloydtown post office. Instead, he hadAfter the election, the community of Lloydtown, as was them carried to Newmarket, addressing them to Phoebe bythe case with the rest of Upper Canada, was firmly split in her maiden name of Crossley. She would travel to get themthree: loyalists, moderate reformers and radicals. Moderate and stoically tuck the letters into her skirts for the returnreformers hesitated to support the future rebels for fear of journey, dangerous adventures in their right. That’s how shebeing seen as disloyal to the Crown. It was a non-linear as learned of his passing, though the story goes that she had some premonition of that letter’s contents before reading it.page 48 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii

Eventually, even the loyalists and moderate reformers couldno longer tolerate the ill-treatment of their neighbours.Traitors though their husbands and fathers might be, theywere still Christian. For his part, Sir Bond Head realized thatthe proverbial writing was on the wall but, he was committedto standing by the Family Compact and fighting democraticreform as long as he had the power to do so, in defiance ofdirect orders to the contrary. Ironically, unbeknown to thereformers, Sir Bond Head was already supposed to be on hisway back across the ocean by the time of the Rebellion.More than one person advised Mackenzie to wait untilspring, and by that time, perhaps it would no longer havebeen required. He acted in December on the urging ofrebel organizers in Lower Canada but had he heeded theadvice things would have turned out much better in bothsituations. The rebellion of Lower Canada would have heldoff, as well and a new Lieutenant Governor, a product of amore sympathetic Home Government, would have taken upresidence in place of Sir Bond Head.While both Great Britain and France continued to growin acceptance of rights for all citizens, the pompous whocontrolled both Upper and Lower Canada remained ignorantof such progress. By 1832, the Representation of the People Actwas passed in Great Britain, signifying electoral reform thereeven as it was so bitterly contested in the Canadas. In 1838,the People’s Charter formed the foundation of a widespreadmovement for political reform in favour of the working class.Even as early as the middle of 1837 Sir Bond Head was givenexpress orders to support prominent moderate reformers,encouraging representative self-government but, he stoodhis ground and offered to resign rather than comply.By 1837, at the time of the rebellion, the United Kingdom wasa constitutional monarchy where the king held relativelylittle direct power. What’s more, the king died in June andQueen Victoria’s whose subsequent reign was a period ofterrific industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and militarychange as Europe continued to evolve beyond the IndustrialRevolution, ascended to the throne.Immediately after the rebellion, British Whig John GeorgeLambton, 1st Earl of Durham, was sent over to investigateits cause. In true British fashion, he made many astuteobservations but, as per his infamous Report on the Affairsof British North America, commonly referred to as theDurham Report, Lord Durham concluded that what Canadalacked was more British people. The document became acharter that some liken to the Magna Carta as it related to theestablishment of representative self-government in coloniessuch as Australia, New Zealand and Canada. But for FrenchCanadians, it introduced a new set of challenges, some ofwhich continue to plague Anglo-French relations in thiscountry to the present day.As a direct consequence of the conniving and extremeactions taken by Mackenzie, provincial lines were redrawn,

Russell Oldfield standing not far from the final resting place of Phoebe Lloyd, his direct ancestor, at the pioneer’s cemetery.a system for responsible government was implemented, with anything that this country was built on because thatthe role of governor general became ceremonial, and the was never their Canada in the first place.legislative assembly gained much more power than it hadpreviously enjoyed. The universal ideals of the Enlightenment, where equality for all, including equal justice under the law by disinterestedThe elevation of British loyalists above all other citizens courts, are natural consequences of any literate society. Theywithin Canada continues to affect our country, even 150 years are not unique to Canada and cannot be used to define any oneafter receiving its Constitution. Perhaps it is little wonder that culture, even if it is Canadian and only 150 years-old. Humanswhat was designed to be a year of trans-Canadian celebration have been on Canadian soil since 30,000 BCE, and they gotblew by with an almost pathetic lack of regard by the vast here by crossing the Siberian land bridge at the end of themajority of the population. The media and the Federal last Ice Age. There’s no excuse for appropriating the cultureGovernment did their parts but, most people nodded politely of others as an avoidance of acknowledging our own. Yet inwithout any appreciation of what they were supposed to be Canada, we routinely, as the winds of fashion blow, raise andcommemorating. compare the identities of our various segments based on who won the most recent self-vindication battle against the federalPerhaps the reason is that the British loyalists who established government. Educational institutions are mandated to teachthe Canadian Constitution have never represented the voice history in isolated bubbles, placing preferential treatment onof the people who now comprise its majority and while we fad sympathies, with entire generations growing up ignorantespouse the virtues of multiculturalism we are no better of global cause and effect.organized than the radicals of Mackenzie’s rebellion. Quite possibly, without Mackenzie’s need to be recognizedIn many ways, we, as a country, are still paying for the as important, Jesse Lloyd might have lived for another fortycomplacency and hesitation of the moderate reformers years alongside his wife, children and grandchildren. But, weof Jesse Lloyd’s day. To this day there are two factions in will never know.Lloydtown and its surrounding areas: those descended fromfamilies that have lived here since the early 1800’s and those On the other hand, perhaps such rebellions werewho are attracted to the charm and quiet of the place but interdependent and without them things would have gottenharbour little appreciation for the part it played in establishing worse, not better. Maybe we owe a debt to those who areeverything we take for granted. willing to be branded as radicals, fighting for democracy, rather than fearing the repercussions of speaking up againstHow is that different from the rest of Canada? We cannot administrations and institutions that do not reflect the will ofdefine Canadian identity by its multiculturalism or extreme the people they are supposed to represent.tolerance and excessive concessions to political correctness.In truth, as citizens, our country deserves our loyalty and we Rebellion Way follows a bend in the road. As you get to it,deserve an understanding of what we are loyal to. you could park and chance upon the Lloydtown Pioneer Cemetery where Jesse and Phoebe donated land to interIn Canada, moderate reformers are still the passive ruling class their beloved indentured servant girl upon her unexpectedbut, modern apathy is not driven by the fear of being branded demise. There, many of the rebel families buried loved ones,as disloyal. It is rooted in general feelings of disaffection and including Phoebe, who married Jesse when she was onlymixed with an influx of people who flatly do not identify fourteen-years-old, gave birth to seven children, survived the persecution that followed the failed rebellion and died at the ripe-old-age of eighty-nine. The gates to the cemetery path are flanked on one side by an opulent mansion on sprawling grounds and the other by Mitch and Katie Kaiser’s house. The latter, a private residence that was once the Wesleyan Methodist Church, where wanting to remember is not taken lightly. You’d miss it if you weren’t looking for it. You probably wouldn’t pay much attention to the quiet intersection of Rebellion Way and Centre St, once the bustling hub of Lloydtown. Instead, you’d wonder at the impressive statue of an armed man dressed nothing like a soldier, pointing off into the distance. You might park, walk up to take a closer look, then notice a cairn on the opposite side, and remember that we shouldn’t take what we have for granted because it wasn’t easy to come by.page 50 KING COUNTRY magazine . volume 1, issue iii