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It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem KitchenerNewsSuspicious device reported in New HamburgBy Shelby KnoxPublished: October 14, 2024 at 12:29PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Pictured from left are Greg and Marie Voisin and Sheryl and Ross Patterson after a lunch at the Scran & Dram Scottish Public House in New Hamburg April 4 Sheryl Patterson is the third great-granddaughter of New Hamburg founder William Scott who left Canada and New Hamburg for New Zealand in 1867 The couple was in New Hamburg last week visiting the Voisins Though there wasn’t much fanfare with their visit a New Zealand couple with a direct ancestral connection to New Hamburg founder William Scott spent several days in the Wilmot town last week staying in the house Scott built and learning more about his life in Canada prior to his departure in 1867 stopped in New Hamburg last week to visit local historian Marie Voisin and her husband where they were set to embark on a Caribbean cruise This marked just their second-ever visit to the town Sheryl Patterson’s ancestor helped found before he packed up his family and left Canada forever vowing to disinherit any family member who returned “Scott came over from Scotland in the early 1830s and he bought land in North Dumfries and didn’t settle here until … right after 1834 when cholera wiped out the population the river rights and started another mill (in what would become New Hamburg),” said Marie Voisin during a lunch with her husband and the Pattersons at the Scran & Dram Scottish Public House in New Hamburg April 4 “Every small town had a mill because they had to mill lumber to build houses and then after that they would have a wool factory a distillery and other things would flow from that just because of the water from the dam which would turn the waterwheel and create energy he did all that; he had all kinds of stores and he divided up New Hamburg into lots Scott’s involvement with the local community soon extended beyond its borders when he ran in the 1857 election and won a seat as a member of parliament for the government of the Province of Canada representing the Waterloo South riding Scott quickly became disillusioned with the direction Canada was heading in under the leadership of John A he thought he could make a difference in the federal government and he just found it very partisan with bickering and there was a lot of underhanded stuff going on,” Marie Voisin said Macdonald who was in charge and he was trying to set up Canada Scott returned to New Hamburg from Canada’s then capital in 1861 and virtually disappeared from public life for six years Scott departed on two sailing tours of the world visiting Australia and New Zealand in both 1861 and 1865 which was only just being settled by the British Scott fell in love with the country and bought 3,000 acres of what became cattle-pasture land in Paterangi it is prime dairy farming land in the middle of the Waikato,” said Ross Patterson he might have built the first-ever dairy factory there Whether it was because of his disillusionment with the direction Canada was heading in or he was following the lead of his brother-in-law and neighbour or he wanted to live in a warmer climate for the sake of the health his ailing daughter Scott opted to pack up his family – including members of the Scott Henderson and Ross families – and leave New Hamburg and Canada for a life in New Zealand “I think he wanted to keep the family together,” Marie Voisin said as to why Scott threatened disinheritance if any of his family members returned to Canada “He lost is wife (Marion Henderson) at a young age and he had four surviving children,” Ross Patterson added his immediate and extended family remained in New Zealand for generations who live in and restored the house Scott built in New Hamburg in 1858 first met the town founder’s descendants when Marie Voisin decided to begin researching her book William Scott’s great-grandson early on in her research Marie Voisin ultimately connected with many descendants of the Scott Henderson and Ross families living in New Zealand who Marie and Greg Voisin met for the first time while visiting New Zealand on a research trip The New Zealand couple was later invited to visit New Hamburg and stay with the Voisins in 2009 and have since developed a strong friendship “We’ve learned a lot more about the family and history because obviously Marie is a wonderful historian,” Sheryl Patterson said “It’s very special and going back to the house that Marie and Greg own that was the original Scott homestead – we slept in Catherine’s room – that’s pretty special.” noting nearly everything brought to New Zealand that had connected Scott and his family to New Hamburg had long since been lost to a house fire making trips like this one among the only connections the Pattersons have to their ancestors’ lives in Canada Post Malone headlines May’s concert lineup in Toronto with a May 26 show at the Rogers Centre From Scotiabank Arena to the Rogers Centre and more intimate venues like Massey Hall and Rebel these are the artists and bands making their way to stages across Ontario’s capital as some of the biggest names in the music industry will be performing at Toronto’s top venues this month A post shared by Arcade Fire (@arcadefire) Tickets: Starting at $259 per ticket via Ticketmaster A post shared by Zeds Dead (@zedsdead) Tickets: Starting at $60 per ticket via Ticketmaster A post shared by ALESSIA CARA (@alessiasmusic) Tickets: Starting at $53 per ticket via Roy Thomson Hall portal A post shared by Armin van Buuren (@arminvanbuuren) Tickets: Starting at $130 per ticket via TicketWeb A post shared by Electric Island (@electricislandto) Tickets: Starting at $211 per 2-Day Pass via TicketWeb A post shared by Hrisnikol (@hsmusicphotography) Tickets: Starting at $83 per ticket via Ticketmaster A post shared by HI-LO (@hilo_ofc) Tickets: Starting at $48 via TicketWeb A post shared by Billy Idol (@billyidol) Tickets: Starting at $60 per ticket via Ticketmaster A post shared by Teddy Swims (@teddyswims) Tickets: Starting at $219 per ticket via Ticketmaster A post shared by 📲 (@centralcee) Tickets: Starting at $249 per ticket via Ticketmaster A post shared by @postmalone Tickets: Starting at $264 per ticket via Ticketmaster A post shared by Shakira (@shakira) Tickets: Starting at $386 per ticket via Ticketmaster A post shared by Paul Simon (@paulsimonofficial) Tickets: Starting at $248 per ticket via Ticketmaster Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Dylan Yantzi stands next to the new meat canning line at the Mennonite Central Committee hub in New Hamburg The facility will replace the mobile cannery previously used Future plans to increase production will help address local food insecurity The Mennonite Central Committee has opened a new 10,000-square-foot cannery in New Hamburg with the initial goal of producing 60,000 cans of meat annually for people in need across the globe “We’re going to start with poultry here in Ontario,” said executive director Michelle Brenneman who said chicken and turkey is the most universally accepted meat shipped to countries worldwide The MCC has provided canned meat for people caught in conflict and disaster since 1947 chicken and turkey to countries including South Sudan a mobile cannery travelled to various locations in the United States and Ontario drawing together the passion and generosity of local churches the MCC says regulatory changes have made it increasingly difficult to continue the cross-border tradition The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated operations “We needed to look for a new way if we wanted to be able to can meat and do this anymore so that’s when we decided to build a permanent Manager Dylan Yantzi oversees the new facility at 65 Heritage Dr. that features a modern production line as well as some connections to local history including large pressure cookers formerly used by the Heinz factory in Leamington and a 75-year-old can-sealing machine from a Montreal factory The New Hamburg cannery will operate about three days per month to start with the capacity to scale up operations in the future MCC’s material resources co-ordinator stated in a news release following the grand opening earlier this month Brenneman said 50,000 cans equates to about 90,000 pounds of meat so we would be adding close to another 100,000 pounds,” she said “Our biggest constraints in terms of what we can and how we can contribute locally and globally is volunteers and funds to be able to purchase the meat — and so if anybody is interested in being a part of the work we’d love to help them be part of it,” said Brenneman who noted the new cannery not only strengthens the MCC’s ability to meet rising emergency needs but also brings communities together through hands-on work “Our goal is to contribute locally as well as our global work and think about how we might be a local partner in trying to address the growing impact of food insecurity in our own community.” A painted crosswalk at King Street East and Barton Street East in Stoney Creek pays tribute to Canadian veterans The crosswalk is located directed beside the Stoney Creek Cenotaph Design would be painted over an existing crossing on Huron Street by November Wilmot council has directed township staff to report on the potential installation of a veterans’ crosswalk in New Hamburg as a way to honour fallen soldiers and those who’ve fought for our freedom Hamilton and many more are coming together installing veterans’ crosswalks to honour the brave individuals who stepped forward with unwavering courage and declared we honour veterans each November with beautiful banners featuring the local men and women who served our country yet these banners are displayed for only a short time and just one day.” A motion introduced by Dunstall received unanimous support on Monday evening Staff will report back on the cost of the installation and maintenance of a veteran’s crosswalk An image is to be painted over an existing pedestrian crossing on Huron Street — a regional road across from the cenotaph There is also the potential of a funding partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 532 New Hamburg with the goal to have the crosswalk installed by November of next year Bill Jackson is reporter and photographer with the Waterloo Chronicle. Reach him at bjackson@torstar.ca Manu Bahl and Vanessa Gale stand in their New Hamburg chicken shop  A now-deleted post on the “Wilmot Stronger Together” Facebook page Mother Flockers gets all kinds of online love Feathers began to fly after a post was made anonymously in a private Facebook group called Wilmot Stronger Together “Not liking the new restaurant name in the Dollarama plaza,” it read Residents quickly reacted to last week’s since-deleted post fowl name of New Hamburg’s newest restaurant “It was like everyone in the town commented on it and everyone was in our favour,” said Mother Flockers co-owner Manu Bahl a Kitchener resident and first-time restaurateur with his business partner and wife but it’s been amazing and people are still having fun with it.” Hundreds of people responded to that initial post Word Mother Flockers expected to open in the coming days on Union Street spread to other Facebook groups like What’s Up Wilmot! and the massive Food in the Waterloo Region (FITWR) group that boasts almost 100,000 members 7 post on the FITWR group and they were universal in their support of the name “If their chicken is as good as their name “I’m from New Hamburg and super excited to try it out and when I saw the sign up The only other person to express disappointment with the name was a potential customer who popped her head inside and asked for a menu “She said the name was terrible,” Gale recalled who also run an employment agency together came up with the name last month while searching online for chicken-themed nicknacks for their takeout eatery She stumbled on a metal sign that read Rise & Shine Mother Cluckers with a chicken as the focal point “That wouldn’t work (there is a Mother Cluckers in Niagara Falls) so we said ‘how about Mother Flockers’ because this is our first location and we’re hoping to make it into a franchise,” said Gale We just thought we’d have fun with the name One commenter suggested Bahl was the anonymous poster and accused him of being a marketing genius Bahl and Gale said they’ve received a steady stream of “when are you going to open?” messages since the social media storm and expect business will be brisk when the doors finally open Bahl and Gale said a few local politicians and business owners have dropped by in the past few days to express support and share a laugh over the kerfuffle is the installation of their point-of-sale system and completion of their website The extensive menu is undergoing last-minute tweaks but the focus will be comfort food and a strong emphasis on “flocking good chicken.” daily and start with breakfast offerings such as pancakes desserts and Indian-fusion items such as shahi chicken tikka Bahl and Gale said staffing for the business — “five or six positions” — will be from a pool of local applicants Sign in Join now, it's FREE! Helmed by brothers Ethan and Justin Miller Miller & Miller Auctions specializes in selling high-value collections within niche collector market segments such as Canadiana Following the transformative shift to online buying caused by the pandemic the brothers transitioned from traditional in-person auctions to live-streamed events viewed by collectors around the globe Their seamless adaptation to digital platforms was made possible by the technical and creative partnership with Ballinran Entertainment a Stratford-based film and television production company which produces content for Canadian broadcasters and international platforms such as Netflix "The series taps into the public’s enduring fascination with auctions and their curiosity about the value behind unique and historic items," says Ethan Miller "Each auction is more than just a transaction; it’s a compelling narrative of Canadian heritage and the profound connections people have with their treasured items." President and Executive Producer of Ballinran Entertainment praised Ethan and Justin's natural talent for storytelling: "Ethan and Justin Miller have natural talent on camera They’re true storytellers—not just auctioneers They genuinely engage the audience by sharing heartfelt narratives about Canadian history We’re confident this series will strongly resonate with viewers not only across the Waterloo Region but far beyond thanks to additional distribution on YouTube and internationally It’s truly a Wilmot Township and New Hamburg success story." Ballinran Entertainment has captured over 300 hours of intense bidding action across more than 50 auctions Miller & Miller Auctions continues to set impressive global records in an industry that is filled with surprises.  The firm holds the world’s record for a Maud Lewis painting after selling “Black Truck” by the famous Canadian folk artist for $350,000 – a painting that had once been traded for a few grilled cheese lunches The story generated international media attention Ethan and Justin proudly remain rooted in Wilmot Township attributing their passion for collectibles and antiques to their late father Though Jim was never in the auction business his love for antiques and classic cars greatly influenced his sons' careers "Our consignors are more than clients; they're part of our extended family," explains Ethan "We’re entrusted with heirlooms and lifelong collections often filled with deep personal significance but to honour the legacy and stories these items carry forward to new caretakers."  Auction Studio: The Best of Miller & Miller Auctions airs Saturdays at 3:00 PM with repeat broadcasts on Sundays at 8:00 PM reaching over a quarter of a million viewers in the Waterloo Region alone and many more on YouTube "We see this series as more than entertainment," says Justin Miller "It’s an opportunity to share important Canadian stories at a critical moment when understanding and celebrating our unique Canadian culture and history matters deeply." Across Ontario more than half-a-million people have already cast their vote in the provincial election Ontario election voting details including locations The early call for an Ontario election has turned out to be a sprint than a marathon While advance polls are closed at pop up locations in the region residents can vote early at local election offices until 6 p.m Local offices for each riding can be found at: in the Riverbend Drive Centre across from the Definity building inside the Smart Centres across from Moores Those who chose to vote by mail will not be able to choose another voting option can be dropped off at a local election office Elections Ontario must receive the completed voting kit by 6 p.m bring the voter information card and a piece of ID with your name to receive a ballot you can bring one piece of ID showing both your name and home address An electronic copy of your ID can be provided on a mobile device your appearance does not need to match the photo International ID or permanent resident cards are not accepted To vote, you must be 18 or older, a Canadian citizen and a resident of Ontario. To find out where your polling station is and who are the candidates in your riding, go to the Elections Ontario site Bill Doucet is an award-winning reporter/photographer with the Waterloo Region Record. Reach him at bdoucet@therecord.com All four candidates running in Kitchener-Conestoga in the upcoming federal election on April 28 participated in an all-candidates debate host by the New Hamburg Board of Trade at Puddicombe House April 14 Photo from New Hamburg Board of Trade Facebook page Touching on some of the most-pressing issues for rural voters in the Region of Waterloo all four federal candidates running in the Kitchener-Conestoga riding met for a federal all-candidates meeting in New Hamburg early last week The local candidates discussed their parties’ positions on topics ranging from farmland protection and the impact of tariffs to housing and health care for roughly one hour at Puddicombe House in New Hamburg during a respectful debate hosted by the New Hamburg Board of Trade Participating candidates included Liberal incumbent Tim Louis New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Maya Bozorgzad and People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate Kevin Dupuis Each candidate was given three minutes for opening statements a minute and 30 seconds to answer each question submitted to the board of trade ahead of the event and two minutes to make closing statements The following are each of the candidates’ verbatim responses to two questions pertaining to important local issues farmland protection and affordable housing The full debate was livestreamed on the New Hamburg Board of Trade’s Facebook page and is still available for viewing Question: Farmland protection is a key issue for Canadians What would a government controlled by your party do to stand with farmers and protect farmland from expropriation Bozorgzad (NDP): “We all know food is at the heart of our homes and protecting the people who grow that food is essential to Kitchener-Conestoga’s future Food sovereignty is national sovereignty and when we talk about standing up for Canada Whether they’re being threatened and betrayed by their own municipalities and province our farmers have to be at the forefront of our plans and they have to be at the table when we are making decisions that affect them we are committed to supporting farming families and we’re going to reduce our reliance on the U.S by opening up and diversifying export markets while investing in the infrastructure farmers need to compete globally We’ll defend supply management in every trade negotiation and we’ll make sure farmers are front and centre in the climate strategy because they know the land better than anyone We also want Canadians to feel confident when they shop; that means clear food-labelling public education and traceability systems that highlight Canadian-made products I will always stand with and amplify the voices of the farmers in Kitchener-Conestoga in Ottawa and I promise to bring home real results instead of just talk.” Dupuis (PPC): “The expropriation of farmland in New Hamburg is a disgrace and a warning to every Canadian Our farmers are the backbone of this country; they feed us they steward the land and they represent the spirit of hard work and independence that built Canada yet governments drunk on power think they can steal private property for their own agendas without respect for the people who actually live and work on the land The People’s Party of Canada stands firmly against this abuse We believe property rights are fundamental to a free society When the government can seize your land at will not with bureaucrats and politicians who think they know better it’s time to respect the people who built this country and it’s time to fight back.” Treleaven (Conservative): “I own a farm here in our riding of Kitchener-Conestoga and I just want to say this topic hits very close to home I am a firm believer in private-property rights my colleague is going to go on and talk about a national framework for farmland protection but what he’s actually talking about is that we are never going to build a pipeline in Canada we’re never going to develop our resources and we’re going to continue giving billions of dollars of discounts to the Americans when we do export our resources I’ve sat and talked with all sides on this particular issue and the root of this goes back to transparency and accountability and transparency and accountability is what we need now more than ever in Ottawa Carney has moved billions to avoid Canadian taxes and refuses to disclose his assets and conflicts of interest and my entire career has been about transparency and accountability and that is what I will bring to you as your representative in Ottawa.” Louis (Liberal): “Prime farmland is disappearing in Ontario at an alarming rate but it must be done responsibly and it must be done transparently I sit on the agriculture committee and I’m a member of the rural caucus I understand farmers and the impact that tariffs will have on the ag sector here The challenges that are faced here with the 770 acres; there are water and wastewater concerns The project contradicts previous regional planning It lacks infrastructure for the projects that might be – we’re not even sure what’s there And the potential threat to our adjacent water aquifers; it’s being done without you listening and that’s not supposed to happen a national framework to protect our farmland called the Canada Farmland Protection Act It is in direct response from what I’ve heard I’ve also drafted a piece of legislation called the Affordable Local Food Act but I’ll focus on the Canada protection act harmonize conservation practices and create conservation incentives We need to listen to our farmers; we need to support them I’ll continue to be there for our farmers that feed cities.”  Question: Here in New Hamburg and here in Wilmot What are your parties’ plans to tackle the issue of affordable housing Bozorgzad (NDP): “The housing market has really been treated as a profit machine for speculators and corporate landlords it’s pushed people out of communities where they live and work and it’s due to unfair practices like renovictions unjust rent hikes and a government that has shown a failure to build enough affordable housing to keep up with our population prioritize Canadian people’s interests over that of foreign investors We’re going to ban corporate landlords from buying existing affordable rentals we’re going to put in place a national rent control that will ban fixed-term leases we’re going to put a ban on rent price fixing and landlord collusion for people who want to get into the market low-interest mortgages to make homeownership more accessible we’re going to invest in pre-fab housing to lower construction costs and build faster and establish a $5-billion national land trust to secure land for non-market housing I personally believe housing is a right for everyone and everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home in this country Dupuis (PPC): “Housing affordability is one the greatest challenges Canadians face today and it’s government interference that caused it The People’s Party of Canada will tackle the housing crisis by getting government out of the way We’ll reduce immigration levels temporarily so housing supply can catch up with demand We will ban foreign investors from buying up Canadian homes We’ll cut federal funding to cities that block new homebuilding and excessive regulations We’ll stop reckless government spending that drives inflation and pushes home prices even higher allowing Canadians to keep more of their money to afford a home While other parties propose more bureaucracy and bigger government the PPC believes that the real solution is simple; get Ottawa out of the way and let Canadians build and own homes again.” Treleaven (Conservative): “I want to say that my heart breaks about this whole issue in a country where we have the lowest population density and as many resources in Canada every single person should be able to have a roof over their heads I’ve talked with countless parents that have young-adult children and they are fearful for what the future holds for them And this is the first generation that believes that they will not be as successful and as well-off as their parents The failed Liberal plan of the last 10 years is continuing and their plan is to sink more of your resources into those failed plans Young people want to move out of their parents’ homes just as much as parents want young people to move out of their homes A common-sense Conservative plan will axe the tax on new homes we will tie federal infrastructure funding to homebuilding we will incentivize municipalities to lower development charges and if you want to own a home or have your children own a home Louis (Liberal): “We want our children to have the same opportunities that we had and we’re going to be implementing Canada’s most ambitious housing plan since the Second World War building homes faster while partnering with workers and the industry and cutting taxes for homebuyers at the same time It’s called the Build Canada Homes Plan to build affordable houses at scale We’re going to provide loans to affordable homebuilders that will help address homelessness and also build supportive housing right here in our community – up the street is our old factory and they’re turning that into housing We’re also going to make the housing market work better by cutting municipal development charges in half for multi-unit residential housing And we’re eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers on homes under $1 million All of that and we’re going to invest $1 billion to make it easier for Canadians we’re working directly with municipalities with the Housing Accelerator Fund which is something the Conservatives said they would cut That’s $56 million that went directly to municipalities here to make permitting faster and to get homes built quicker Signed baseballs by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig are among 300 sport items set for auction by New Hamburg’s Miller and Miller Auctions Ben Pernfuss and Justin Miller of New Hamburg’s Miller and Miller Auctions Pickers from Miller and Miller Auctions crisscross continent in search of items for first foray into sports memorabilia Ben Pernfuss could hardly contain his excitement He was following up on a lead earlier this year while looking for items for New Hamburg’s Miller and Miller Auctions when he hit the jackpot He met a man in Brantford whose parents used to own a convenience store and every week they’d let him crack open a pack of sports cards but the man still had the cards in a shoebox the company’s consignment director of sports cards and memorabilia That’s when he spotted a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card my heart definitely skipped a beat,” he said “You can’t help but be excited when you find one of those in a shoebox It’s exciting for yourself and for the owner when they don’t really know it’s worth something and we’re able to tell them that they are sitting on a bit of a gold mine.” The visit also yielded a 1966-67 Bobby Orr Topps rookie card potentially worth tens of thousands of dollars Both are going up for sale in the company’s first pre-1980s sports focused online auction on Jan They’re part of about 300 items in the lot “It will probably be the most valuable sports auction in Ontario ever,” said Pernfuss who started with the company eight years ago Pernfuss and owners — Ethan and Justin Miller — have been knocking on doors barns and basements and assessing collections across Canada for the better part of the past year in preparation for the event one signed by Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth and hail from the 1920s and early 1930s when the sluggers came to Canada as part of a ‘barnstorming tour’ that saw the New York Yankees legends play games across North America The Gehrig ball is inscribed with “To John with kindest regards” and is believed to have belonged to a man living in Waterloo There’s another Mantle card — a 1951 Bowman — and several Wayne Gretzky rookie cards one of which was found in Baden and is graded as a six Cards are graded on condition and scarcity with 10 being the top rating The team also found rare film footage of Ruth playing in an exhibition tilt against the St “It’s about two and a half minutes long and it’s of Babe Ruth and his at-bat and running the bases,” said Pernfuss “It was found in North Carolina and it’s coming to Canada to be sold.” There is also a uniform from Dave Schneider who played for the Kitchener-Waterloo rugby club which was a local football team in the 1920s Miller and Miller Auctions has been around for more than a decade and has made its name in auctions centred around advertising they’re hoping sports will be a permanent part of the rotation Pernfuss figures about one out of every five leads is fruitful But the thrill of the hunt keeps him going “I get to go to the houses of people and hear their stories and see their collections the authors behind a soon-to-be-released book about New Hamburg’s many historic buildings – those still standing and those that have been torn down – are being recognized for their exhaustive research and documentation of the town’s history Twelve years of work by three New Hamburg authors and historians – one of whom was New Hamburg’s last mayor and Wilmot Township’s first mayor the late Ernie Ritz – has resulted in the upcoming publication of a five-volume book on New Hamburg’s built history The Historic Buildings of New Hamburg and the People Who Lived in Them which was acknowledged last month by the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) with its Stephen A “Ernie and I started it,” said co-author Marie Voisin who researched and wrote the book with Ritz and co-author Kristen Hahn “We wanted to know which were the original houses in New Hamburg and who built them and who lived in them we started researching that and then from there ‘Let’s go back into the newspapers and find out what we can about all the people who lived in these houses.’ That’s how it became a five-volume tome.” it was 1,450 pages just of research notes,” added Hahn who joined the project in 2019 to help interview current building owners and take photos “That’s information she got from the existent issues of the New Hamburg Independent and then all of this was checked with census records and death records and parish certificates; all of that to kind of form what ended up being not only the story of the people of this town and who built these buildings who had a perfect memory of all the history he had researched for his own authorly endeavours the stories he had written as editor of the New Hamburg Independent the stories he had heard as a lifelong resident of New Hamburg and the stories his mother – who lived to 106 years old and had a memory that rivaled her son’s – had told him over the years “He didn’t have to write anything; we would just call him or email him and say he knew about their parents and grandparents because his mom also had a photographic memory and she lived to almost 107 “He wrote the first book about New Hamburg so it wasn’t just he remembered all these things He was deeply invested in the history of New Hamburg and Wilmot.” After she had compiled most of her research Voisin said she visited each of the 379 buildings in the book and Ritz accompanied her on some of those trips many of which were through his window at Nithview Home during pandemic lockdowns she had completed a 1,174-page manuscript by 2021 and layout of the book began two years later the team is proofreading the book’s fourth volume and proofreading of the fifth volume – a massive index of all the information contained in the first four volumes – will begin after that The final version of the book is expected to be sent off to the publisher early next year Voisin said Ritz often joked that if they didn’t finish the book soon Ritz was right and he passed in March earlier this year While Ritz couldn’t be at the recent ACO award presentation physically Voisin and Hahn made sure he was there in both spirit and in cardboard “I think he would have been just so pleased and happy and excited to go to Toronto to get this award,” Voisin said “Marie did a wonderful thing; she had a cutout made of Ernie so Ernie did come along with us to Toronto … It’s such an honour (to receive this award) It’s a very respected organization and certainly with the organizing principle of the book being the built heritage of New Hamburg there’s no better body to get these accolades from than the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Voisin and Hahn hope their and Ritz’s work will become a reference point for anyone looking for historical information on individual buildings and properties in New Hamburg or the town as a whole whether they’re realtors looking for information on an old house journalists in search of background for a story or even local politicians considering the future of a heritage building Information about how to purchase the book once it is published next year will be posted at www.historicbuildingsnewhamburg.com New Hamburg Firebirds website Wilmot Recreation Complex website Whether it is the small towns or the cold arenas or the local advertisement on the jersey where the player’s name would traditionally be found hockey at the Junior C level in Ontario is an animal unto itself One of the oldest hockey franchises in the Junior C Provincial Junior Hockey League is the New Hamburg Firebirds Founded in 1953 as the New Hamburg Legion Jrs the Firebirds spent time as the CL RothsHahns and the Spirit 83’s before settling on the Firebirds in 1997 The Firebirds currently play in the South Doherty Division of the PJHL The Firebirds have enjoyed some success over the years bringing home seven league or conference titles as well as the ultimate prize the Schmalz Cup as champions of Junior C hockey Home for the Firebirds is the Schout Performance Arena @ Wilmot Recreation Complex the Wilmot Recreation Complex is located in Wilmot Township between the towns of New Hamburg and Baden the Firebirds played in the town of New Hamburg but have retained the New Hamburg moniker even after moving out of town The Wilmot Recreation Complex acts as a community hub for the entire township with a pair of ice rinks The main concession at the Wilmot Recreation Complex is found on the main floor in the lobby and not only services Schout Performance Arena Traditional snack bar fare is found here including hot dogs the Blueline Club offers a limited selection of beer options The exterior of the Wilmot Recreation Complex has a modern The arena area has a curious blue on the moderately sloped arch roof Fans entering the main entrance on the hockey side of the building fans pass right under the “Wall of Fame” which features team pictures of minor hockey championship teams The lobby has a number of interesting nuggets for treasure hunters to peruse including plenty of old photos and trophy cases for the Firebirds and other local sports Entry to the Schout Performance Arena is found up the stairs and an upper lobby welcomes patrons with more historic nuggets Of note upstairs are the trophy cases dedicated to local historic spots in New Hamburg complete with historic timelines and artifacts The New Hamburg Arboretum and Movie Theatre are presented here Although the Complex services the entirety of Wilmot Township including the communities of Baden and New Dundee The upper lobby also has windows that look out to the ice surface Firebirds merchandise and 50/50 tickets are sold from temporary tables in the upper lobby fans will be welcomed to the ice surface which is southeast-northwest oriented Seven rows of blue arena seats are found on the northeast side with one row of benches at the top and small counters behind perfect for the very popular standing room A path behind the standing room also offers a peek into the other rink Above and below the windows on the southeast end that look in from the upper lobby are two rows of minor hockey championship banners neat and concise display of championship banners from the franchises different eras At the end of the championship banner is the retired number 5 of Firebird Brad Roote who was tragically killed by a drunk driver in 1990 The gameday production at a firebirds game is very simple including the steadfast promotions found in seemingly every Junior C hockey experience The PA system is decent and music is played during the warmups and stoppages in play heading west to Stratford or east to Kitchener-Waterloo is necessary Other tourist options include Castle Kilbride and Moparfest Puddicombe House and Newburg Inn are options otherwise KW or Stratford will be necessary Assessing fans in the PJHL is challenging as attendance stats are not published or congregated by the league The Firebirds normally attract over 400 fans per game The 2024-25 season has the Firebirds averaging 446 fans per game The previous season saw the Firebirds attract 408 fans per game Firebird fans are knowledgeable and supportive and louder than other fan bases The Wilmot Recreation Complex is located between the communities of New Hamburg and Baden on Nafziger Road The complex is easily accessible from Highway 8 There is plenty of free parking on the premises for patrons there is a Grand River Transit link to Wilmot that stops at the Recreation Complex it may not be feasible to rely on transit for Firebirds games Fans should consult the Grand River Transit website for fares Getting around the Wilmot Recreation Complex is not too difficult however there are plenty of stairs getting to the upper lobby and then the Schout Performance Arena Washroom facilities are adequate for the facility The entry system is a bit convoluted as patrons must purchase a ticket which must immediately be turned in for a paper bracelet which allows entry to the Schout Performance Arena Tickets for the New Hamburg Firebirds can be had for $10 Students and seniors get in for $7 and children are only $5 Parking at the complex is free and concession prices are what one would expect The Firebirds are usually competitive and the product on the ice is good An extra mark for the embracing and display of history at the Wilmot Recreation Complex An extra mark for the Wilmot Recreation Complex as a community hub linking the communities of Wilmot Township Taking in some Junior C hockey at the Wilmot Recreation Complex is not a bad idea at all The New Hamburg Firebirds ice a good product and provide a good comfortable atmosphere for Junior C hockey Stadiumjourney.com Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Read more details about this event Headline events for this year will include the Draft Horse Pull on Thursday night the Fair Ambassador Program alongside Wilmot Citizen of the Year awards on Friday night and the annual demolition derby on both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon Temperatures in the watershed have increased to double digits above freezing overnight and are expected to remain high for the remainder of the day began yesterday and continued overnight throughout the watershed This has resulted in approximately 40 to 80 mm of total precipitation and increased runoff throughout the watershed Flood Warning Message for Grand Valley and Waldemar River flows are expected to exceed channel capacity and peak midday Thursday Municipal flood coordinators in Grand Valley and Waldemar have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 1 in Drayton on Thursday, April 3, during the morning. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of Mapleton have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions. Residents are encouraged to refer to the guide on the GRCA’s website for information regarding flood warning zones Flood Warning Message for the Village of Conestogo River flows are expected to reach flooding thresholds in the Village of Conestogo midday Thursday Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of Woolwich have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 2 in New Hamburg midday Thursday, April 3. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of Wilmot have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions. Residents are encouraged to refer to the guide on the GRCA’s website for information regarding flood warning zones River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 2 in Ayr on the morning of Friday, April 4. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of North Dumfries have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions. Residents are encouraged to refer to the guide on the GRCA’s website for information regarding flood warning zones This message will remain in effect until 12 p.m UPDATE: 9:10 a.m. Flood Warning Message for West Montrose The Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety issued on Friday, March 28, remains in effect for all areas of the Grand River watershed due to the continued runoff. River conditions and forecasts are being monitored closely and updates to this message will be issued if necessary. GRCA reservoirs are at normal levels for this time of year and are being operated to reduce the impact of downstream flooding. Article contentIn what could prove to be one of the tightest series in the Provincial Junior Hockey League playoffs, the Woodstock Navy Vets and the New Hamburg Firebirds finished the weekend locked in a 1-1 tie in their best-of-seven South Doherty division semifinal. In both games, the winning team eked out a 2-1 overtime victory in what has been a goaltending duel between Woodstock starter Tyler Bouck and his New Hamburg counterpart, Deklan Jermol. On Saturday, it was Woodstock’s turn for the win in a solid response game in front of a crowd of more than 600 fans at the Reeves Community Complex. Bolstered by some top-flight goaltending from Bouck, who made 37 stops on 38 shots, Connor Stanley provided the overtime heroics for the Navy Vets, ending the game midway through the extra frame when he buried a rebound from Diego Sabino and Braeden Tyler. Stanley also played a big part in Woodstock’s opening marker early in the first period, earning a primary assist when he fed Chris Coulter to give the Navy Vets a one-goal edge. Charley Barnes also had a helper on that goal. New Hamburg’s only goal of the game game late in the first, when Matt Domm scored his fourth of the playoffs from Owen Fischer. In Friday’s opening game of the series, the result was reversed, with New Hamburg squeezing out the 2-1 overtime win after tying the game in the final 20 seconds. The Firebirds, however, only needed another 35 seconds to earn the win after Owen Sculthorp scored on the first shot of the extra frame from Fischer and Andrew Gear. Despite being outshot by a nearly two-to-one margin, the Navy Vets actually opened the scoring. Brodie Kearns found the net midway through the first period from Coulter and Davin Gray for a tenuous lead that, thanks to Bouck, almost lasted to the final buzzer. With the goalie pulled, New Hamburg’s Domm managed to tie the game in the dying seconds. The series returns to the Wilmot Recreation Complex on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The top-seeded Norwich Merchants also finished the opening weekend of their Doherty division semifinal series in a tie after the Wellesley Applejacks mounted a second-period comeback in their 4-2 Saturday win. The Applejacks, on the back of a stellar performance by netminder Brandon Abbott, twice erased one-goal deficits before adding some third-period insurance with three unanswered goals. Wellesley’s Connor Doerbecker tied the game with a power-play marker midway through the second period and then, about two minutes later, buried what would hold up as the game-winner. Late in the game, with Norwich pushing for an equalizer with the net empty, Luke Schofield put the game away with an unassisted marker. The Merchants opened the scoring early in the first period with an unassisted goal from Henry Turner. Wellesley locked things up late in the frame on a Kian Harron goal before Brandon Balazs scored his eighth of the playoffs from Logan Van Den Akker and Travis Lamb. In Friday’s opening game of the series, which, again, featured some top-notch goaltending from Abbott and Norwich’s Thomas Staszczyszyn, Balazs provided the offensive punch. The Norwich star scored the opening goal in the 2-1 win early in the first period from Owen Rainey and Van Den Akker and then notched the game-winner from Joel Storoschuk with less than two minutes left in regulation. Schofield had scored early in the second period to tie the game for the Applejacks. The third game in the series returns to Norwich on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Ontario – Waterloo Regional Police responded to a report of what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in New Hamburg at approximately 1:30 p.m., a suspicious device was discovered by members of the public near a pathway under the Nith River Bridge near Highway 7&8 Members of the Special Response Unit safely removed the device and determined it was meant to cause concern only Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-570-9777 Media Inquiries:  Waterloo Regional Police Service Public Information Unit 519-570-9777 (WRPS) ext. 8188 publicinfo@wrps.on.ca    © 2017 Waterloo Regional Police Service, 200 Maple Grove Road, P.O. Box 3070, Cambridge, ON N3H 5M1, Emergency: 911, Non-Emergency: 519-570-9777 Sunday Reads is a sample of our stories that may be of interest to readers across Ontario Ontario family shares their ongoing struggle to get renovations complete and snowbirds share their hesitation to go back to the U.S. plus more interesting news stories in Ontario this week If you find you might not have time to sit and browse through the Sunday edition with a morning coffee anymore we are trying to make it easier to get caught up on Ontario news stories making headlines this week Metroland Media is serving up some news stories that resonated with readers across the province in this Sunday Reads edition gymnasium or actually taking a moment at the kitchen table here are some stories that may be of interest Fields in New Hamburg for a proposed subdivision Council approves Wilmot Woods draft plan of subdivision providing new road and trail connections Wilmot council has put its stamp of approval on a draft plan of subdivision that will see up to 750 new residential units constructed on the east side of New Hamburg off Waterloo Street The proposed Wilmot Woods subdivision will be built over 37 hectares of farmland previously designated for residential development in the township’s official plan and includes a total of 36 residential blocks with between 328 and 489 townhomes and single-detached units and three multiple residential blocks consisting of between 194 and 254 stacked townhomes and/or apartments The phased concept doesn’t segregate unit type but there’s a focus on single homes closest to the existing residential neighbourhood transitioning toward higher density on the east side township planning manager Andrew Martin told council Monday evening who spoke in favour of a cash-in-lieu proposal that would see the developer contribute $500 per dwelling unit to an affordable housing fund maintained by the township “This application deals with a lot of new aspects that we haven’t seen in others,” said Martin “We’ve had a lot of trail developments since our last subdivision and this one fully integrates with that trail network that exists in Laschinger Woods,” providing connection with Forest Glen Public School as well as future employment lands off Nafziger Road The development includes a trunk sanitary sewer under the CN railway that will connect to services installed within the Wilmot Employment Lands Future connection to Nafziger Road through Cachet’s lands is expected to redistribute traffic through the Wilmot Woods neighbourhood and its intersection with Waterloo Street “Increased flow of traffic may occur from the existing Laschinger neighbourhood easterly as an alternative route to connect to Nafziger Road The plan includes road connections to the west through the previously planned extensions of both Ingold Avenue and Charles Young Avenue and though it isn’t anticipated traffic will travel through those streets to get to Waterloo Street draft approval conditions include the provision of a deposit for future traffic calming measures such as speed bumps and raised intersections The possible need for an acoustic barrier on the southeast side of the site due to the rail line will be reevaluated as part of the latter stages of construction “We’re hopeful that when we get to that stage noise warning clauses will be sufficient and that an acoustic barrier isn’t required.” we from a staff perspective feel like this development is an excellent step forward and we’re looking forward to seeing these kind of new developments and the benefits they will bring to the municipality,” Martin said noting that a significant amount of the property will be dedicated to the township as parkland The subject land was purchased from the Pfenning family by the developer around 2012 and identified for urban growth through the rationalization of the township’s urban areas in 2017 according to a statement provided by the municipality The zoning amendment approved last night changes the zoning from agricultural to facilitate the planned development and implement the official plan designation “It is our understanding that the Pfennings continue to utilize the lands following their sale of the parcel as an interim land use until development proceeds,” it says these are the most talked about and enjoyed halftime shows over the decades these are the most talked about and viewed Super Bowl halftime shows over the decades Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl Sunday halftime show on Sunday untelevised halftime show and featured collegiate marching bands the NFL Super Bowl halftime show has become one of the most viewed musical performances annually and features the biggest names in the music industry a shift to big-name artists and band performances became the norm when the New Kids On The Block (along with 2,000 local children) took the stage for a Disney-produced performance This was followed by Gloria Estefan in 1992 and Michael Jackson’s iconic performance in 1993 which revolutionized the Super Bowl halftime show for years to come legendary performances by artists like Prince Bruce Springsteen and modern talents such as Coldplay are some of the most talked about performances of all time Here’s a look back at some of the most viewed performances in Super Bowl halftime show history the most watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time was Michael Jackson in 1993 A new restaurant specializing in fried-chicken dishes made to order with fresh ingredients and whole foods has recently opened its doors welcoming hungry New Hamburg and area customers into the flock The team at Mother Flockers Restaurant celebrated a soft launch of the takeout eatery at 174 Union St a momentous occasion for owners Manu Bahl and Vanessa Gale that nearly didn’t happen after the pair had resigned themselves to opening a food truck following a months-long search for a brick-and-mortar restaurant “It’s our first restaurant and we are excited,” Bahl said during an interview just two days before the restaurant’s soft launch to find this place because of limited commercial real estate … This was an Indian restaurant and they weren’t looking to sell we had spoken with the developer of this plaza,” Gale said develop our customer base and when the (brick-and-mortar) restaurant comes Bahl and Gale were literally one day away from putting a deposit on a food truck when they had a conversation with Greg Voisin the owner of the plaza where their restaurant is now located The pair was working with Voisin to finalize the food-truck deal when they made one ditch effort to see if Voisin might have a physical space they could open Mother Flockers in Voisin said he would try one more time to see if any existing businesses were willing to sell and he came back with a proposal to sell from the owners of Turmeric Indian Bistro But the pair’s dream had always been to open a restaurant so they scrapped their food-truck plans and jumped headfirst into opening Mother Flockers Restaurant which has garnered tonnes of attention on social media and through local news outlets is a playful hint that the restaurant is like the mother hen of what will ultimately become a whole flock of restaurants “We know our name is a play on words and we understand some people may be offended but the original idea comes from the mother of our flock and we’re leaning into the play on words,” Gale said “We had one person who was offended by it and he posted about it on Facebook,” Bahl added “It was an anonymous post and he deleted it I am feeling as if I am sitting in my home so kind-hearted and I am in loved with this town.” The drive behind opening a takeout restaurant in New Hamburg was what Bahl and Gale saw as a lack of options while visiting friends in town let’s come up with some better ideas,’ ” Bahl said “We started with only wings; we were going to do a wide variety of wings Gale took it upon herself to painstakingly develop an original recipe for Mother Flockers’ fried-chicken dishes She said she would stay up all night testing and retesting her recipe until it was delicious replicable by the line cooks in the Mother Flockers kitchen and we would leave that place feeling nauseous,” Gale said We know they’re using the cheapest ingredients Even from us finding our own suppliers; we found one supplier that had sort of cheap ingredients that we would never use but we know a lot of places are using them So that’s why if we won’t eat it ourselves and our chicken tastes good from real ingredients Bahl also wanted to ensure there were plenty of vegetarian dishes on the menu salads and spring rolls can be found throughout the menu to maintain a small piece of Turmeric Indian Bistro’s legacy Bahl and Gale have included a number of Indian dishes on the menu customers of the previous restaurant may have become accustomed to like chili paneer The restaurant also offers a number of Indian fusion dishes like the paneer burger As Turmeric had catering contracts with local schools and New Hamburg Lanes Gale and Bahl said they have agreed to continue honouring those contracts through their new business While the pair had originally offered a full breakfast menu they announced on Facebook they would be taking a step back from serving breakfast at least until they improve their preparation process to ensure faster service Mother Flockers Restaurant is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m OPP have charged an Angus man with a host of offences after seizing a variety of weapons Police said two vehicles collided at Highway 7 and Walker Road A 66-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash near New Hamburg on Friday afternoon Ontario Provincial Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at Highway 7 and Walker Road OPP stated a sedan was traveling eastbound on Highway 7/8 when it collided with an SUV in the intersection at Walker Road a 44-year-old Kitchener man was not injured Four passengers in the SUV were taken to hospital in Kitchener The 66-year-old was sitting in a rear seat The intersection was closed for approximately five hours for the investigation Officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Highway Safety Division (HSD) - Mississauga Detachment investigated a two-vehicle collision on Highway 7/8 at Walker Road in the Township of New Hamburg Follow the 2021 election results as polls begin reporting vote results across Canada and the information within may be out of date family histories and futures are closely intertwined with the land and what governments decide to do with it.  Adam van Bergeijk moved to the southern Ontario farming region 28 years ago with his wife and two sons after development encroached on the lands surrounding his dairy farm in the Netherlands.   He figured that would never happen in Ontario where farmland was fertile and protected.  with an offer to buy his family’s land for industrial use on behalf of the Region of Waterloo and the Township of Wilmot.  The township is on the traditional territories of the Neutral It is made up of a dozen towns and villages that rely heavily on farming lies southwest of Kitchener and the city of Waterloo The land the region is looking to expropriate is just south of New Hamburg Van Bergeijk has been making cheese for 43 years most of them here on a farm adjacent to the land the region is eyeing his family bought additional land right in the middle of that site to expand their operations His two sons and their children planned for a future on Mountainoak Farm so they turned down Canacre’s offer and started asking questions All they — and Wilmot residents at large — have learned is this: according to flyers sent out by local officials many times since March the region is responding to a provincial call to assemble shovel-ready land for industry in the middle of Wilmot that includes six farms and six residential properties the region told the landowners their options are to sell or have their land expropriated — and soon.  there is currently a shortage of industrial lands in the Region of Waterloo,” one of the flyers says the region is considering the acquisition of strategic land parcels to ensure its ability to accommodate the full range of new job growth and business investment to 2051 The intention is to assemble a new industrial business park.” It doesn’t say what kind of industry or business.  the region says the land is being assembled “for future investment from a major employer,” without mentioning who that employer is This flyer promises the land shift “will result in thousands of well-paying local jobs and further economic prosperity in Waterloo Region.”  the region’s planning department and the province did not respond to emails from The Narwhal “Biggest problem is not knowing what is coming,” van Bergeijk says That’s the strangest thing.” In the second flyer the region notes while confidentiality can be “frustrating,” it’s a “common practice in real estate negotiations with the intention to protect the integrity of conversations and negotiations with the buyer and seller.”  Most farmers in Wilmot have banded together to oppose the expropriation The grassroots group dubbed “Fight for Farmland” has signage everywhere across the township: peeking between crops of corn and cabbage set up in front of the fields and barns where cows eat and sleep placed in the windows of shops and restaurants and planted on the front yards of nearly every house within driving distance of the lands The group’s efforts to glean more information on who wants the land, and why, have not been fruitful. The Region of Waterloo has refused to release any information in response to the 21 requests the group filed under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.  Seven farmers told The Narwhal they are worried about the impacts of the loss of fertile land on their livelihoods and Ontario’s future food security They are also concerned about the possible environmental impacts of converting farmland to industrial land.  According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture Ontario is home to a quarter of Canada’s farms and almost eight per cent of the country’s farmland the province is losing 319 acres of farmland every day to other uses Ontario will lose all of its farmland in 100 years.  it can no longer be used to sequester carbon provide habitat for species at risk or grow food.  “I don’t think people are giving food production the priority that it should have,” says Richard Good a retired farmer who still lives on the land he grew up on in Wilmot his family’s property is right across the road from the farmlands facing expropriation.  and people sort of woke up and took notice of how maybe we don’t have the security in our food industry that we think you don’t hear anything about that anymore It’s all about how we need the industry.”  Good’s father — a dairy farmer — bought the 100-acre farm in 1958 “I think what the public needs to realize is that over time the area that we can produce food from is diminishing,” Good says when do you say ‘stop’ and hold on to what you’ve got instead of just parcelling it away?” She came to Canada from the Czech Republic 14 years ago on a year-long study abroad program and spent time working on Good’s farm She decided she wanted to stay permanently “He taught me everything about farming,” she said “I fell in love with it right here.”  Jacobs Foods is not part of the land assembly Wagler says she is worried about the environmental impacts to her farm.  “Water contamination is a huge concern,” Wagler says noting a creek that leads to a pond on her site travels through several farms set to be expropriated “What if the industrial site contaminates the water We don’t know what kind of impact it’ll have.”  The farmers opposing the expropriation say they don’t object to growth or new economic opportunities in the region But they say a greater population will require both more jobs and more food they believe the government is prioritizing the wrong thing and in the wrong way.  “I think there is an opportunity for development to happen but we need to talk about it and be creative,” Good says “I don’t think we can just grab 800 acres in secret.” Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter A $335 million funding commitment to fund.. a massive open-pit coal mine near Jasper National Park is hoping to expand.. A trade war could help remake B.C.’s food system First Nations are leading efforts to make sure lake sturgeon can find a home in.. non-profit and supported by readers like you Spearheaded by Metroland’s IDEA Committee — a group of editorial employees committed to inclusive storytelling — we invited the four main political parties to answer a series of questions Disenchanted with your provincial candidates Here’s how to use your ballot to speak up If you don’t want to vote for any of the candidates in your local riding this provincial election even if you still wish to participate in the electoral process When you receive your ballot from an Elections Ontario representative at your polling station tell them you are forfeiting your right to vote They’ll mark it as “declined,” and it will be counted along with the other ballots Another option is you can take your ballot into the voting booth and reject or spoil your ballot You can do this by writing outside of the candidate’s name or not marking it at all and submitting it you are participating in the process and your actions will be noted your actions will only be noted as part of the turnout number Section 53 of the Ontario Election Act reads: “An elector who has received a ballot and returns it to the deputy returning officer declining to vote forfeits the right to vote and the deputy returning officer shall immediately write the word ‘declined’ upon the back of the ballot and preserve it to be returned to the returning officer and shall cause an entry to be made in the poll record that the elector declined to vote.” You can check out the vote counts for past Ontario elections, including local byelections on the Elections Ontario website. The New Hamburg Community Centre on Wednesday Ice surface could still be a part of retrofit An architectural firm has been hired to evaluate the former New Hamburg Arena and determine the costs associated with turning it into a versatile year-round facility for sports and recreation the Ontario government granted the township $4.18 million for the redevelopment of the former arena with a required township contribution of $1.52 million the project is now anticipated to cost more than $6.6 million not $5.7 million as originally scoped and budgeted for in 2019 with any additional costs to be funded by the township the firm selected from 20 bidders as part of a request for proposals process will assess the scope of work to ensure it reflects the needs and expectations of the community as well as draft findings and recommendations arising from the 2024 updated community services master plan that’s currently in the works we do have some analysis from the master plan,” said the township’s director of community services but we want to make sure that we’re incorporating any type of recommendations that are going to come through in our master plan.” The objective of the retrofit project is to transform the old arena for a variety of “warm floor sports,” the report to council says; however Stewart Cressman asked if an ice surface could be included from a schematic perspective in what we’re putting out financially noting that refrigeration lines could be added to the flooring in the revamped facility The former ice surface in the arena was decommissioned with the development of two ice pads at the Wilmot Recreation Centre however a consultant report more recently determined that a third ice pad for the township is now needed “That’s why I was wanting to make sure that we didn’t preliminarily rule out anything in terms of looking at the facility,” Cressman said During budget discussions earlier this year Wilmot council decided not to proceed with a third ice pad at the recreation centre due to cost constraints Wellesley Township couldn’t justify a second ice pad in the new facility it’s currently building “Sometimes the funding isn’t available to make an ideal world and you have to make do with existing facilities,” he said The old arena is part of the New Hamburg Community Centre The township currently maintains the structural components and operational capabilities of the building as a rental facility The current scope for the arena redesign would see old wooden seating removed and aims to establish a semi-permanent venue for The Community Players of New Hamburg (TCP) with a new addition for storage and staging creative production and performances can occur has long been the dream of TCP that has committed $250,000 to the project township staff worked collaboratively with the group submitting a proposal that would see the project commence this year and be completed by 2027 “We want to make sure that we are actually meeting those needs and the scope requirements of that grant and the expectations of the community,” said Catania “I know the arts community was concerned that if ice went back in there would be a conflict with when they want to use it in the spring months but I think we can cross that bridge when we come to it,” said Cressman The feasibility assessment will provide an estimate for the full scope of work included in the schematic designs as well as recommendations for “scope exclusions” reflecting potential cost savings to align the project with the current resources available Site analysis will get underway this summer with community engagement expected this fall and a final report with recommendations coming to council in December KitchenerNewsHidden Gem: Perth county farm offers unique wine and goat experienceBy Stefanie DavisPublished: July 19, 2024 at 6:40AM EDT Councillor Colleen James has decided to take a 29-day leave of absence from her regional council role to focus on her campaign to be elected MPP for the Kitchener Centre riding Deutschmann decided to resign from his position at regional council His seat was officially declared vacant at the council meeting on Wednesday incumbent NDP MPP Catherine Fife is joining Provincial NDP leader Marit Stiles on the campaign trail in New Hamburg on Thursday One of the new cars that Waterloo Regional Police say were stolen from a dealership outside the region Police have seized nine stolen vehicles worth approximately $280,000 and charged two Wilmot Township residents in connection with the thefts the Waterloo Regional police announced Jan (who also goes by the name of Tyler Smith) and Jennifer Stiller including trafficking stolen property over $5,000 and possession of stolen property over $5,000 The arrests came after a joint investigation that included the Waterloo Regional police Stratford police and Ontario Provincial Police Investigators tracked down high-end vehicles that had been stolen from car dealerships or off of carrier trucks delivering them to dealerships executive officer for the Waterloo Regional police The thefts happened across central and southern Ontario None of the vehicles were stolen from dealerships in Waterloo Region but the vehicles were brought back here and then sold person-to-person online through social media sites Investigators from the Insurance Bureau of Canada were able to identity several newly-registered vehicles that matched the descriptions of previously-stolen vehicles They next discovered that these stolen cars had been given fake Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) Police used search warrants to seize the stolen vehicles Jan one in Kitchener and the other in Wilmot Township police have recovered nine stolen vehicles worth more than a quarter-million dollars “They’re all high-end vehicles,” Haffner said Regional police released photos on Twitter of two of the vehicles seized — a Mercedes and a GMC sport utility vehicle Police believe there are other stolen vehicles out there and want to talk to people who may have bought a vehicle from the Stillers The victims of these thefts include the dealerships and also people who may have unknowingly bought a stolen vehicle — then had it seized by police “There may be other people out there who may have purchased vehicles from the Stillers The Wilmot man and woman are scheduled to appear in court Feb Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-653-7700 ext This article was published more than 6 months ago Martin Snyder on his family's farm near New Hamburg A plan to clear a handful of farmers off 770 acres in Ontario’s Waterloo Region to create an industrial megasite in the hopes of attracting a future multibillion-dollar factory and thousands of coveted manufacturing jobs has turned into a pitched political battle A group of farmers in the region’s rural Wilmot Township say they were told without warning in March that they had just days to agree to sell their properties to the municipality of Waterloo Region for future development – or face potential expropriation The area’s long-standing designation as agricultural land outside the region’s “countryside line,” had just been reconfirmed in the region’s latest Official Plan some of the landowners decided to fight back founding a group called Fight for Farmland that has earned 40,000 signatures on an online petition distributed thousands of lawn signs and arranged for a convoy of tractors to roll up in protest at a recent Waterloo Regional Council meeting They say the land-acquisition process has been secretive and unfair Local politicians in Waterloo were silenced by non-disclosure agreements – with whom Adding fuel to local outrage was the fact that a developer in the area had made his own offers to some of the landowners just weeks before the region came knocking Only recently did Ontario’s provincial government confirm that it is funding the land acquisition It is part of a provincewide drive to assemble “shovel-ready” potential megasites it says it needs to compete with other jurisdictions and attract global companies seeking to build projects such as electric-vehicle and battery plants Waterloo’s business leaders have supported the move It would resemble the 1,500 acres assembled in St where Volkswagen announced plans for a heavily taxpayer-subsidized battery “gigafactory” last April But both the province and the region say the Wilmot site was not being prepared for any specific company the region says it has been able to purchase almost one third of the land The other landowners are digging in for a fight the farmers of Wilmot are not really facing off against just Waterloo Region and the Ontario government of Premier Doug Ford They also stand against an array of geopolitical and economic forces One is the current wave of what is known as “friendshoring,” as liberal democracies seek to regain manufacturing jobs that had moved in decades past to China the province and the federal government were scrambling to match multibillion-dollar U.S subsidies for new electric vehicle and battery plants The affected farmers in Wilmot point to other land in Waterloo already earmarked for industrial use And they warn that supply of prime farmland across the province continues to erode under constant threat from encroaching urbanization Stewart Snyder standing in his soybean patch on his farm in Waterloo Region.Alicia Wynter/The Globe and Mail Ford’s Progressive Conservative government which has weakened rules meant to conserve farmland remains under RCMP investigation for its aborted move to open parts of the protected Greenbelt that arcs around the Greater Toronto Area to developers whose family has worked other land in Waterloo Region for more than 150 years has 100 acres inside the area targeted for industrial development That’s where he grows crops to feed his 90-cow which is just across the road from the potential future megafactory I’m sorry,” he said in interview with The Globe and Mail a real estate consultant retained by the region knocked on his barn door and told him that he could buy three or four farms with the money they would offer But the offer that he eventually received would only put up $35,000 an acre Snyder said – a low-end of the going rate for farmland – and came with a document that warned of expropriation as an option An outraged text he sent in the summer to the Premier’s well-publicized cellphone number prompted a call back from Mr Despite funding the plan and encouraging municipalities to assemble megasites issued a statement in August calling the region’s process “disappointing” for its “lack of transparency” and threats of expropriation Fedeli said these megasite negotiations with landowners are up to municipalities was identified long before Ontario courted the German automaker’s massive plant And he said it was purchased by the local municipality the region’s approach seemed “a bit more abrupt.” He also said the non-disclosure agreements were only meant to keep the amount the province was willing to spend a secret regional chairwoman Karen Redman would not rule out expropriation if necessary she said the region’s representatives had been instructed to tell landowners that expropriation was “not our preferred option.” Talks with landowners adding that it is normal to keep such negotiations confidential “There has been an amazing amount of misinformation to go out there,” she said in an interview “We have never said that expropriation was where we wanted to go.” The Waterloo Region is planning on building industrial mega factories in the area that would make farming impossible for Snyder It also makes the future of his farm being passed down to his son Martin a distant dream.Alicia Wynter/The Globe and Mail Veteran Toronto expropriation lawyer Shane Rayman said the government clearly has the power landowners are entitled to a fair-market price for the land They may also be entitled to compensation for business losses and relocation costs He said that while not knowing the details of the situation he would have advised Waterloo to ensure that it avoids having to pursue any expropriation by entering into deals with landowners that grant them a significant premium for their land should use a “transparent and fair process” to try to purchase land they need without making landowners feel “pressured” or “bullied.” Fast-growing Waterloo Region says it needs to attract jobs to keep up as its population is projected to go from the current 670,000 to one million The region’s director of innovation and economic development says the region has a study showing that a lack of large industrial sites has cost it 5,000 potential jobs in the past three years The targeted area is also close to high-capacity power lines and the four-lane Highway 7/8 which links to the key Highway 401 corridor about 30 kilometres away Among those involved in the push to find megasites is Gregg Wassmansdorf senior managing director of global corporate services for the real estate company Newmark and an expert in “site selection” for global companies His company has been retained both by the Ontario government to help scour the province for potential megasites and also by Waterloo Region for its search that landed on the properties in Wilmot Wassmansdorf acknowledged that there had been “communications challenges” in Waterloo But he said Ontario is in a fierce race with many U.S including competitors such as Pennsylvania looking to assemble land and fast-track feasibility studies for new megasites He also said that these kinds of sites are so large they inevitably require farmland on the outskirts of urban areas thousands of jobs and billions in investment will go elsewhere “The whole goal is just to be more responsive to the fact that there are more large or mega industrial projects looking for a place to land than at any time in human history.” Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Pallas Data out of Toronto and Pallas Data was hired by the group Wilmot Civic Action Network (CAN) to conduct the poll 30-31 via automated telephone interviews and included a sample of 302 adults living in the riding of Kitchener Conestoga Wilmot CAN has since called on Wilmot Council to pass a resolution declaring the township is “not a willing host” to a mega industrial site and that local politicians “must stop hiding from public discussion of the issue.” Marie & Greg Voisin outside their home in Wilmot Township The home of Marie & Greg Voisin in Wilmot Township Historians say preservation of past has nothing to do with NIMBYism Standing at the top of a farm silo-turned-sun deck in the middle of a rural property once owned by New Hamburg’s illustrious founder babbling brooks and a robust apple orchard slicing through a canvas of rich farmland like a zig zagging streak of lightning existing in a sort of pre-agrarian time warp is a makeshift Sherwood Forest populated by oak and spruce trees rooted there for generations This is how it has always been in this pastoral enclave west of Kitchener But it isn’t the future if the region follows through on a plan to assemble a 770 acre shovel ready parcel of farmland to entice future developers to build their belching factories and paradise-paving industrial plants job creation and Canada’s economic footprint ask the inhabitants of this tiny historic property the Wilmot author and historian who bought this rustic heritage property with husband Greg in 1995 and restored it to its former glory “But what isn’t being looked at is all of us who border on this land who are not being asked to sell our property but will be facing this factory all the time “Seven hundred and seventy acres will produce jobs for 8,000 to 10,000 people,” points out Greg. “That means 8,000 to 10,000 additional cars on a road that probably has several hundred a day now.” As we settle into the living room of this expansive cross between a Victorian mansion Wilmot museum and a really cool B&B — with life-sized bronze statues and a 19th century chandelier that looks like a set piece from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” — it’s clear that feelings on the issue run deep “This becomes a battle of where the values are in this community,” says historian Kristen Hahn collaborating with Voisin on a five-volume work about New Hamburg heritage properties The fact it’s a mixed agricultural and village setting but also a community that values its history If you go forward with a plan that essentially spits in the eye of that history the whole value of this area shifts.” consumed with a passion to preserve her tiny community an eloquent town crier aware that a way of life cherished for generations may be on the chopping block “What does it mean to surround the historic heart of a village with an industrial wasteland?” she asks “What does that mean to our collective soul as people who live in this mixed rural community What does it mean for their very sense of identity and well-being when you strike at the historic heart of something?” These are philosophical questions that don’t change the fact that, at the moment, nobody knows anything other than what’s already been reported: • that the Region of Waterloo and Wilmot Township are assembling 770 acres of farmland bounded by Bleams Road • that regional and township councillors refuse to talk about it instead issuing a statement to affirm the need for a shovel-ready site for a large economic investment that will benefit the region • that none of the property owners accepted the offer of about $35,000-an-acre by the March 20 deadline no one has received a notice of expropriation you don’t know what they’re going to do,” notes Greg Voisin “You’ve invested millions of dollars over decades and decades to restore a historical house there’s this unknown that shows up and potentially disrupts it the largest industrial development in the history of maybe the region is just plopped somewhere with no explanation Just ‘Let’s just put it there!’ No justification Regional politicians tried something like this once before when they attempted to turn much of the same farmland now threatened with expropriation into a garbage dump a scheme abandoned in the face of opposition Had the current land grab been pitched as part of the township’s official plan “it would have been discussed and everybody would have come out and had their two cents and it might have got approved or it might not have got approved you don’t even have input into it — you’re sitting on the sidelines whistling Dixie “When they came around and dropped the offers off to the farmers one guy was told it was going to be a battery plant it can’t be a battery plant because battery plants use too much water And we’re not going anywhere we’re not wanted.’ there’s 30,000 people who already signed a petition to say they’re not wanted.” multiple car garage and storybook property dotted with gardens and spring-fed ponds it’s tempting to dismiss the Voisins’ concerns as NIMBYism. But Hahn insists there are larger issues at play “At risk isn’t just the 770 acres,” she points out “It’s the century-old tree planted by great-grandpa It’s children who grew up to dedicate the strength of their bodies and minds to growing food for people they will not meet It’s a ten-inch furrow of rich soil and a seed that grows to be hearty and tall.” “And it’s the homestead of the founder of New Hamburg — the lovingly-restored residence of William Scott who is what Bishop Benjamin Eby is to Kitchener.” “We took down everything that wasn’t original.”  who served on the first Wilmot Township council in 1850 and became New Hamburg’s first postmaster a pre-Confederation time of optimism and expansion in what was then the “province of Canada.” • of the solid values embodied by the its Scottish Gothic architecture two foot thick stone walls and projecting bay windows “People that live in New Hamburg love New Hamburg because of its size because they know one another and it’s history,” says Marie Voisin they would have moved to Kitchener-Waterloo If you’re going to build another 1,000 houses around here it’s no longer going to be a little town.” “I know that sounds a little like NIMBYism,” adds Hahn “But there’s value in small communities and there’s value in a historic town I’m terrified at the way things are being pushed ahead because we need ‘x million’ number of homes or we need ‘this kind’ of industry We’re losing things that are absolutely irreplaceable “Once you’ve assaulted a historic property like this is a long-time reporter with the Waterloo Region Record He retired in 2024 after 35 years with The Record stands beside a walnut chest of drawers from Waterloo County commissioned by Samuel Bricker as a wedding gift for his eldest daughter on display at the auction house in New Hamburg An antique tall chest is up for auction in New Hamburg save for a story that involves a famous pioneer a mystery cabinet maker and a significant work of Canadian literature it would do so in a Pennsylvania Dutch accent Samuel Bricker commissioned the nearly six-foot tower of walnut for his eldest daughter’s wedding in 1826 Bricker was a wealthy Pennsylvania-born Mennonite who was among the first migration of settlers into the interior of Western Ontario the cabinet is expected by the gavel wielders at Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd “Eight thousand dollars would be a bargain Samuel Bricker is a very important figure in the history of what was formerly known as Waterloo County To have a piece of furniture that he commissioned is quite something.” Barbara Dobson with the historic novel related to the chest Dobson has an original 1924 edition.Rachel Jedemann/Supplied Her 1924 novel The Trail of the Conestoga was inspired by the real story of the pioneering Bricker family Dunham was the head librarian of Kitchener Public Library She had Mennonite ancestors; the novel represented her debut literary effort “I simply had these facts about my own county that had been handed down from generation to generation and I felt that Canadians would be interested in them,” she told The Globe upon the book’s release The foreword was contributed by one William Lyon Mackenzie King The country’s prime minister and Kitchener’s favourite son penned a blurb about Mennonites from Pennsylvania who came to Ontario in order that they might live under British laws “We know and appreciate too little the initiative patience and self-sacrifice which characterized the struggles of our forefathers in laying not only the material but also the political foundations of our country,” he wrote The Globe praised The Trail of the Conestoga as a “novel wrapped in a wealth of history” and an “epic of the pioneers.” After the settlers were duped with faulty titles to mortgaged land real-life Bricker and his brother went back to Pennsylvania to raise money to rescue the new landowners from foreclosures claiming the 60,000 acres of what would be called Waterloo Township being sold at a time when the country’s sovereignty is perceived to be under attack by the aggressive posturing of the incoming Trump administration The Trail of the Conestoga is the story of the Bricker family’s arduous migration from the United States One scene depicts settlers looking across the Niagara River to Ontario: “There’s Canada!” He lifted the little fellow to his shoulder and pointed across the river But Little Johnny looked blankly about him All that bush on the other side of the river A shade of disappointment passed over the child’s face “It’s all the same as here,” he said tragically With this decidedly vague and protracted promise of explanation Little Johnny had to be content The chest is initialled “MB 1826,″ for Bricker’s daughter Mary and the commission date but a similar piece in the Royal Ontario Museum’s collection is attributed to David Adolphus Simmerman purchased it at a Sotheby’s auction in Toronto some 30 years ago He is not comfortable disclosing how much he paid He and his wife of nearly 60 years used it in the master bedroom of their house in London because I was the taller of the two,” he says The chest is initialled 'MB 1826,' for Bricker’s daughter Mary and the commission date.Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and Mail Though he is consigning nearly three dozen other items in this weekend’s auction There’s not much more I can say about it.” The cabinet is listed as being in very good condition intended to store valuables – valuables that anyone wealthy enough to afford the cabinet at that time and place would surely have possessed “Commissioning such a piece would have the activity of the upper five-per-cent of the population,” says Ethan Miller “Most people wouldn’t have dreamt of having a proper dresser at all.” Miller describes the chest’s historic background as a “wildcard” element to the sale: “If there are two collectors who find the story to be important and meaningful to the narrative of Canada who owns her grandparents’ first edition of The Trail of the Conestoga which she first read as a child and has read a few more times since doesn’t know how much the chest would have cost in 1826 “I don’t even know what currency they would have used,” she says they were still some people doing British currency And we didn’t know where we were at here in Canada.” She then adds with a chuckle Brad Wheeler is an arts reporter with The Globe and Mail