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If you were sitting in Sharbot Lake Saturday afternoon, you might have thought there’s no way they’re going to get the Parham Fair in today, what with the torrential downpour.

But, while it rained in Parham too (albeit not quite as heavy), a little rain isn’t enough to stop a party that’s been going on for 127 years.

“It wasn’t a real heavy rain,” said Lois Webster, who was selling raffle tickets for St. James Anglican Church when the skies were drizzling. “They sure didn’t stop judging the livestock.”

“It was kinda slow during the rain but we carried on,” said Fair Vice-president Carol Wagar. “We had a great horse draw, with 18 teams.

“And after 2 p.m., it was nice and we had a lot of great kids games.”

And other than the demolition derby, which may have set an attendance record Sunday afternoon, much of the Fair is for kids.

For example, there was the best dressed cowboy/cowgirl contest followed by a host of pet competitions ranging from what dog can sit the longest (won by Paige Hole and Mika the beagle) to most unusual pet (Maddy Tryon and her unnamed chicken with one extra toe.).

Heck, even two-week old Addison Hole got into the act with Mika).

Hallie Hearns won the turtle race with her turtle Gus.

In all, there were about 30 different pet competitions with the Tryon family establishing something of a dynasty in the events.

“We’re passing the torch,” said Maddy Tryon. “This is the first year our sister Katie was too old to compete.”

But who won really doesn’t matter, it was clear the kids were having a ball with their pets.

And it’s been that way for quite some time, as there is very much a generational aspect to the Parham Fair.

“My grandparents used to help out with the fair,” said Savannah Cronk, overseer of the pet competitions.

Cronk is now at teacher at Land O’Lakes Public School, but she has a long history with the fair.

“I used to be the frog jumping champion,” she said. “And I was the Cherry Pie Princess and champion cow caller.”

Although, not everybody gets involved because of family ties . . . or do they?

“It was because they asked me to,” said Margie McCullough, who served as announcer for the kids events. “But I love it. It’s my home town.

“You get to see people you haven’t seen in awhile and meet a lot of new people.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

(Editors note: The following was forwarded by Emma Cronk’s mother, Leslie, who lives on the Cronk farm near Parham. It was written in response to media reports about a dearth of primary care physicians in the Town of Perth, but it applies as much to her home communities in Frontenac County. She attended the former Hinchinbrook Public School and Sydenham High School, where she began her basketball career as a Golden Eagle)

Dear Perth Residents,

I am sorry.

My name is Emma Cronk, and I was raised on my parents 2,000-acre ranch in Parham, Ontario and I am currently a family medicine resident physician in Atlanta, Georgia at Emory University.

I tried for two application cycles for medical school in Canada, and even applying broadly in addition to Ontario medical schools, from the East Coast of Memorial University to West Coast of University of British Columbia. After two years filled with rejection letters, I decided to apply internationally at Ross University School of Medicine in the Caribbean. I had come to realize that a lot of Canadian students were following this same path.

I was a NCAA D1 collegiate athlete in undergrad, where I played on a full basketball scholarship while simultaneously completing my BSc in Biology. I also was part of the Center for Performance training camps, where the top athletes in Canada would come together to train on weekends throughout the year in Toronto. Furthermore, I played for Team Ontario and competed at the Canada Summer Games in Regina, Saskatchewan, the second largest sporting event in the world, besides the Olympics. Our team even brought home a gold medal, and we were awarded at Parliament for our efforts and our accomplishments.

Even after my travels with basketball, my end goal was to be a rural primary care physician near my hometown, as I wanted to give back to my community. I understand the hardships that come from living an hour away from the nearest city and the importance of establishing care with a rural physician that has not only provided care to you, but to your entire family. I understand the struggle with transportation to get to appointments, to potentially reschedule, to have options for home visits, and let me tell you: I so desperately wanted to be that doctor for you.

After learning about how seats are saved for international students at our medical schools in Ontario, I was livid. I represented not only our province, but our country on an athletic level. I had competitive grades, I had numerous hours of volunteer work at KGH in the ICU, I balanced a heavy basketball commitment at fifty hours a week in addition to completing a demanding science degree, I have strong leadership capabilities along with time management skills, and was raised on family values with a farm work ethic. I was wanting to graduate and work in rural primary care, where doctors are needed the most. Instead, we take international students, who pay triple the price and who graduate and then go back to their home country. Furthermore, we have saved physician visa jobs for Saudi Arabians, who after they finish their training in Canada, leave to go back home, taking potential spots for Canadian students, and this still leaves us with physician shortages and it is not fixing the underlying problem.

Canadians NEED doctors, and especially in primary care. So here I am, a small-town country girl who struggled to get a loan to attend medical school internationally, while Canada receives payment from international students to study medicine in my own country. Something is wrong here. Something needs to change. In order to facilitate this change, I would encourage every Canadian to petition their MP in regards to this problem.

I am sorry that our healthcare system failed you, Perth. I am sorry that 2,300 residents are now without a primary care physician. I wanted to be that physician. I wanted to be your doctor. I wanted to practice rural medicine. I am a damn good physician and unfortunately, Canada is losing quality doctors every single year to the United States.

I hope that this piece helps open up the much-needed conversation that change needs to happen. I hope that if only one person reading this feels the frustration that I feel, then that change will eventually come. And if anyone sees my mother at the local grocery store or in town, give her a hug, as I know she misses her daughter in Parham.

Written by Emma Cronk, MD
Emory University School of Medicine Family Medicine Resident
Her parents and sisters still reside in Parham, Ontario

Published in Editorials
Wednesday, 29 May 2019 13:47

Copper, the therapy dog, is always a hit

Copper, the therapy dog, really works a room. He comes to the Grace Social Activity Centre (GSAC) in Sydenham on Wednesday mornings each week to visit with the participants in one of the Adult Day Program sessions that are a core service of Southern Frontenac Community Services. Copper meanders through the room, visiting with the program participants, reacting to them as they welcome him into their world.

And it is immediately clear that everyone at GSAC loves Copper.

His handler is Trina Mawer of the Parham area. She keeps Copper on a leash during the sessions, and generally takes a back-seat role.

“I am very proud to be a member of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, even though most often people don't remember my name, as it's always all about Copper,” said Trina Mawer.

Trina is a lifelong dog lover, and she prefers large breed dogs. When she got Copper, a Leonberger, she found that not only was he big, but he was also very, very calm and very affectionate. His nickname is ‘Loving Lummox’.

That’s where the idea of putting Copper to work as a therapy dog came in. Trina thought that Copper could bring joy to people who need it.

“When I contacted St. John Ambulance about the therapy dog program, it was the beginning of a long journey. They are very careful about the way the program works, for the sake of the public, the dogs, the dog owners, and their own needs as an organisation,” she said.

“There really isn't any specialised training for a therapy dog, it's mainly their temperament and disposition. Although obviously obedience and manners are imperatively important. A therapy dog must be friendly and get along well with other dogs. Any signs of protection or aggressiveness is not acceptable.” 

The process did not begin with an evaluation of Copper, however. First, they interviewed Trina.

“They wanted to know what kind of person I was, and what I expected out of the program, before they even considered Copper,” she said.

Trina passed muster, and once they met Copper, they knew they had found the right dog for the program.

In addition to the Grace Centre, Trina brings Copper to the Country View Care Retirement Home once a week.

And Copper is an award winner. In his first year with the Therapy Dog program, 2018, he won the ‘rookie of the year’ award from St. Johns for the most visits in his first year with the program.

Although Copper is always game to go to work, it does tire him out.

“After about an hour, even he has had enough attention. He sleeps well when we get home,” said Trina.

Copper also gets a bit of the star treatment.

Not only are all of his medical records 100% up to date at all times, his coat is also soft and fluffy due to brushing at least 3 times a week.  He also “indulges in going to the 'spa' every 8 weeks at Groom to Bloom in Hartington,” Trina, “Lauren [who runs Groom to Bloom] gives him superb attention as her specialty is knowing the various breeds, coats and specifications.” 

The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program started in June, 1992 as a pilot program in Peterborough, and is now a nationwide program of St. John’s Ambulance. As of 2015 there were 3,000 dog teams across the country.

They visit senior’s homes, hospitals and other care facilities, as well as schools and universities.

For further information about the program, contact the Kingston office at (613) 384-8062

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC

Canadians for Women in Afghanistan will be hosting its annual fundraising gala at the Italo-Canadian Club in Kingston on Friday, April 26th, from 5:30 – 9:30pm. The event will feature a sit-down dinner, a guest speaker, a silent auction, and the sale of books and Afghan goods.

The featured guest speaker is Dr. Lauryn Oates, the Executive Director of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, as well as university lecturer, activist, and author. She is a much sought-after speaker from Vancouver who has done extensive work in Afghanistan.

The C4WAfghan fund-raising gala supports education programs for Afghan women and girls. This currently includes full funding of a school for 400 underprivileged girls (including daily hot lunches), extensive literacy programs for young women in many provinces, and an expansive on-line library, among other initiatives. The organization has, in the past, educated 50,000 girls.

The program will also feature a tribute to Rona Mohammad and the Shafia sisters Zainab, Sahar and Geeti, to mark the 10th year following the tragedy. The Kingston and area community has so far generously supported legacy grants, in their names, to 41 Afghan girls and women over the years. “We need to remember these women and celebrate their positive legacy which has greatly improved the educational opportunities of many Afghan girls and women,” says Shafia Fund organizer Susanne Schurman.

Canadians for Women in Afghanistan is a member-based, not-for-profit organization founded in 1998 with 7 chapters across the country. C4WAfghan is one chapter of the umbrella organization Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. CW4WAfghan is a non-religious, non-political, federally registered Canadian charity. Volunteers work together to advance Afghan women and their families, and to educate Canadians about human rights in Afghanistan. The local Chapter, founded in 2003, has raised over $300,00 to date.

The organization has been grateful for the support from individuals and businesses in the readership area who have acted as sponsors or attended the event.

Tickets are $100 each (including a $40 Income Tax Receipt), available at the Limestone District Education Centre, 220 Portsmouth Avenue, during business hours, or by contacting Madeleine by phone or email (below).

 

For further information contact:

Madeliene Tarasick,

C4WAfghan President

Parham

613 375-8290

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Central Frontenac Council passed a motion to declare the old Parham Fire Surplus and approved it being listed for sale at its regular meeting Tuesday afternoon in Sharbot Lake.

The motion came as a part of a proposal from Fire Chief Greg Robinson who, in his report, proposed that the “net proceeds of the sale be transferred to the fire reserve account.”

The old Parham station was replaced with a new fire station in 2016 and the old one is currently used as a warehouse for fire equipment.

However, Robinson said that the fire department has two surplus stations in Mountain Grove and the one by the rink could be used for storage as well as continue as change room for the rink. He acknowledged that there are some recreational materials in the building but the Facilities Manager assured him that they are rotting skateboard park items that will be disposed of or relocated by Facilities.

“We have received serious interest from two parties that want to purchase the old station,” Robinson said in his report.

However, there are two potential problems with a sale of the property.

The property has two neighbours, one a residential property directly west and the Township itself in conjunction with the Parham Agricultural Society on the other two sides. The property in question is directly adjacent to the fairgrounds.

In his report, Robinson said “the land severance will be about half an acre and will not impact the fairground.

Three councilors (Tom Dewey, Bill MacDonald and John Purdon) all pointed out that under the Official Plan, the minimum lot size in Central Frontenac is 1.25 acres.

Robinson said that the entrance to the fairgrounds could be moved in order to comply with the minimum lot size requirements but Coun. Phillip Smith, who is the treasurer for the Ag Society said it was the first he’d heard of the entrance being moved.

The other issue is that there is a well on the property that is used by the ball fields. Robinson said that one of the interested parties said they didn’t use much water and would be prepared to let the fairgrounds/ ball fields continue to draw water from the property. If someone else wanted to buy it, Robinson said “we’d have to drill another well” for the ball fields to use.

It is conceivable that the neighbours to the west might want to add the property to their own but in any other scenario, there is a lot of process to happen before the property could be sold including a survey, addition of property from the fairgrounds (either by moving the entrance or taking some from the children’s play area), determination of fair market value and quite likely a zoning change, depending on what the new owners might want to use it for.

Former Coun. John Purdon was sworn in to replace the departed Jamie Riddell around the Council table. Riddell was also at the meeting in his capacity as Dep. Fire Chief and wished Purdon luck “considering the size of the shoes you have to fill.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Budget deliberations for Central Frontenac Township began in earnest Monday night at the Oso Fire Hall and although it was only the capital budget discussed (the operating budget, which tends to affect the tax levy more than the capital, is still to come), it could be an expensive year.

Granted, the pencils haven’t been sharpened yet to make cuts but out of the gate, capital budget is at $2,779,000 as opposed to last year’s $2,491,111, an increase of $287,889.

“You need to increase capital to provide services or change your service delivery level,” said Clerk Administrator Cathy MacMunn.

Some items aren’t likely to fly such as a $20,000 ask for a wireless microphone system for Council meetings.

Dep. Mayor Tom Dewey argued for the system citing it being easier to set up and take down as well as no cables to trip over or get in the way.

But Coun. Brent Cameron responded “is there $20,000 worth of frustration there?”

There was also a $20,000 request for a new hard-wired generator for the emergency operations centre (aka the Oso firehall).

But Mayor Frances Smith had to ask three times how many generators they already have and it turns out that each firehall already has a large generator and the Arden hall has a smaller one. They just don’t turn on automatically when the lights go out. There’s also a large portable generator which was used when power went out at a Council meeting not too long ago.

Fire and emergency services also has put in for $216,680 for more bunker gear. That spending has already been approved but the reserve fund has to be replenished.

Speaking of reserves, replenishing them is also a priority.

“Does $884,000 sound like a lot?” said Smith.

“It is but it is within ministry guidelines and it eventually gets us to a point where we can loan to ourselves and thus save interest fees,” said Treasurer Michael McGovern. “I’m not in favour of capital loans because of the interest factor.”

And then there was Fire Chief Greg Robinson’s plan to use the former Parham firehall for a storage facility.

But Smith wasn’t on board with that.

“There’s places in that building where you can look through the cracks and see outside,” she said. “I think we have to make a decision that when we shut down a building, we don’t heat it.”

It looked like Public Works Manager Brad Thake’s plan to buy a new grader for about $300,000 might have wings and he made a case for three new ½ ton pickups.

“Right now we’re using big trucks to do jobs ½ tons could do and this would save wear and tear on our larger, more expensive equipment,” he said.

He also said he’s looked at equipment for sidewalks in Sharbot Lake but because they tend to be narrower, it will take specialized snow removal equipment.

“I’d like to address the sidewalks next winter,” he said.

Coun. Jamie Riddell made a plea to finish up the Mountain Grove ballfield.

Smith responded: “That should be your job and Victor’s (Coun. Heese).”

“I’m just here to ask questions and point fingers,” said Riddell.

McGovern wound up the meeting by saying there is a 2.7 per cent increase in assessment this year, which will have a $220,000 impact and that a spending increase of $72,500 would increase taxes by 1 per cent. He also said he’s looking at the end of January to bring in an operating budget.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 29 November 2017 13:07

RKY Camp Revitalization

RKY Camp of Eagle Lake near Parham has officially launched a $1 million capital campaign to support the RKY Revitalization Project.

To kick off the campaign,  a very special recognition plaque was presented to  the camp’s biggest benefactor, Brit Smith and Homestead Land Holdings. Brit Smith has provided the camp with a legacy of support and a recent $485,000 contribution to seed the overall Revitalization Project. The uniquely crafted wood and glass plaque was designed and created by the staff of RKY Camp and Fort Glass.

The primary goal of the RKY Revitalization Project is the construction of a new 5,000 sq. ft. welcome centre. Having outgrown the current building, this new barrier-free facility will contain a new dining hall with seating for 260, a new commercial kitchen, washrooms, a boot/multi-purpose room and administrative areas. Construction of the new welcome centre will commence in Fall 2019 giving the fundraising team the time they need to seek out support for the project.

Upon completion of the new welcome centre, the overall RKY Camp Revitalization Project will turn its attention to the renovation of the current dining hall and kitchen known as the Homestead – named after its construction leader, Brit Smith, in 1979. A renewed Homestead outdoor education centre will provide barrier-free washrooms and showers, staffing spaces and a much needed out tripping centre.

RKY Camp was named after its Kingston service club founders, Rotary, Kiwanis and YMCA, and was formally established in 1930 as a camp for kids. Today RKY Camp provides traditional overnight summer camp experience and outdoor education each year to over 3,000 children and youth from all over Eastern Ontario. RKY Camp is committed to providing electronic-free traditional camp experiences. Programs focus on leadership development, social skill building and good old fashion summer fun through ropes courses, environmental education, and a whole range of waterfront activity on beautiful Eagle Lake.

To learn more about the RKY Camp Revitalization Project, people are encouraged to visit the RKY Camp website at www.rkycamp.org/revitalization or on facebook where they can also make a donation to the project.

Contacts: David Crane - Board Chair 613-767-3626, D’Arcy Munn - Camp Director 613-539-0036

Daniel Shipp - Revitalization Project Manager 613-583-0853

Located on Eagle Lake in Parham, RKY Camp has officially launched a $1 million capital campaign to support the RKY Revitalization Project.

To kick off the campaign,  a very special recognition plaque was presented to the camp’s biggest benefactor, Brit Smith and Homestead Land Holdings. Brit Smith has provided the camp with a legacy of support and a recent $485,000 contribution to seed the overall Revitalization Project. The uniquely crafted wood and glass plaque was designed and created by the staff of RKY Camp and Fort Glass.

The primary goal of the RKY Revitalization Project is the construction of a new 5,000 sq. ft. welcome centre. Having outgrown the current building, this new barrier-free facility will contain a new dining hall with seating for 260, a new commercial kitchen, washrooms, a boot/multi-purpose room and administrative areas. Construction of the new welcome centre will commence in Fall 2019 giving the fundraising team the time they need to seek out support for the project.

Upon completion of the new welcome centre, the overall RKY Camp Revitalization Project will turn its attention to the renovation of the current dining hall and kitchen known as the Homestead – named after its construction leader, Brit Smith, in 1979. A renewed Homestead outdoor education centre will provide barrier-free washrooms and showers, staffing spaces and a much needed out tripping centre.

RKY Camp was named after its Kingston service club founders, Rotary, Kiwanis and YMCA, and was formally established in 1930 as a camp for kids. Today RKY Camp provides traditional overnight summer camp experience and outdoor education each year to over 3,000 children and youth from all over Eastern Ontario. RKY Camp is committed to providing electronic-free traditional camp experiences. Programs focus on leadership development, social skill building and good old fashion summer fun through ropes courses, environmental education, and a whole range of waterfront activity on beautiful Eagle Lake.

To learn more about the RKY Camp Revitalization Project, people are encouraged to visit the RKY Camp website at www.rkycamp.org/revitalization or on facebook where they can also make a donation to the project.

Contacts: David Crane - Board Chair 613-767-3626, D’Arcy Munn - Camp Director 613-539-0036

Daniel Shipp - Revitalization Project Manager 613-583-0853

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

OK, it may be time to re-think the name for it, but there’s no disputing the popularity of the 101 Nativities display at Cole Lake Free Methodist Church on Road 38 south of Parham.

Now in its seventh year, 101 Nativities no longer seems appropriate because the final count this year was well over 300 nativities, albeit some of that count includes tapestries and pins.

“Nativities Unlimited?” suggested Jean Freeman, who started the event with Kris Caird.

“We started a little earlier this year,” said Caird. “And different people brought in their collections, some with more than 30 nativity scenes.”

The event ran Friday night, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Sunday has historically been the busiest day and this year was no exception with a full parking lot and a steady stream of visitors coming through the door commenting the customary “ooohs” and “aaahs.”

Again the displays featured just about every kind of nativity one could imagine, included carved wood, metal, stone, embroidery, crochet, plastic, glass, fabric — you name it.

And again much of the world is represented with several sets originating in Africa, Asia (Israel), South America, Haiti, the U.S. They even changed the table coverings to blue and white fabric and added an arch with a sign featuring a nativity.

“And there are lots of nativities that are home-made,” said Caird. “That’s always nice.”

The oldest nativity (“that we know about”) was made in 1955, she said.

“And I don’t think we have any doubles.”

Although Freeman and Caird started and are still the instigators of the project, they’re quick to acknowledge that they haven’t done it alone.

“We’re always appreciative of the help we get,” said Freeman. “There’s the baking (and they do have some of the best munchies you’re likely to see at these sorts of things including squares and hot cider).

“And there’s the put up and take down workers — it takes the whole church community.”

“It goes down quicker than it goes up,” Caird said. “Jes sayin’.”

“It’s not an onerous task, but it doesn’t happen all by itself,” said Freeman.

As for a name change?

We’ll probably have to wait until this time next year for a decision on that one.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Central Frontenac Council came out of a closed session at its regular meeting Tuesday in Sharbot Lake and immediately introduced a motion to spend $207,509 “to mitigate legislative health and safety risks.”

It was an unusual outcome given the stated reason for the in camera meeting discuss two instances of “personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.”

In an interview, Fire Chief Greg Robinson said the $207,509 was mostly for personal protective gear — bunker suits, helmets, gloves and some training for supervisors. He said none of the funding was for breathing apparatus.

The resolution allows for the $207,509 to be taken from reserves suggesting that the equipment is needed immediately.

Mayor Frances Smith said after the meeting that the Township doesn’t have enough gear for its firefighters.

“The legislation says we have to have so many of this and so many of that and we don’t have it,” she said. “In some cases, there’s gear that needs to be replaced.”

She said that they expect there to be some funds left over in this year’s budget but whatever shortfall there is will be made up from reserves and discussed in the 2018 budget deliberations which are scheduled to begin Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. in the District 3 (Oso) Fire Hall.

$200 boot allowance for PW staff

Council agreed to raise the boot allowance for full-time Public Works staff to $200 per employee per year from the current $120 (which was approved in 2015).

“I work in much the same environment they do and $200 doesn’t meet the need for work boots today,” said Coun. Bill MacDonald.

Thake said the anticipated cost of the measure will be $4,400 (an increase of $1,760) and will be included in the 2018 budget.

Elm Tree road construction to begin

Thake also said he expects work on Elm Tree Road culvert to begin shortly. The holdup came when the conservation authority required a larger culvert than what was planned because “Arden is in a low-lying area.” However the larger culvert isn’t a stock size and has to be manufactured individually.

Thake said the asphalt on Elm Tree will be held off until next year to give the gravel bed time to settle.

He said there will likely be traffic disruptions once the actual work begins but school boards (for busing) and emergency services will be notified of such closures, which might be able to be scheduled over the Christmas break.

Accessibility report

Frontenac County Clerk Jannette Amini, who coordinates the County Accessibility Committee, gave Council a progress report.

Specifically in Central Frontenac, in 2017 a seniors housing task force was set up with the direction for allowing seniors who cannot function in their homes to have a place to move that would allow them to stay in Central Frontenac and a fully accessible library was built in Mountain Grove to replace the old inaccessible one.

In 2018, the committee is looking at a crossing on Road 38 at Elizabeth Street, a ramp for the barn at the Parham Fair Grounds, signage for crosswalks, work on the Eagle Lake Dock, designated parking areas at the Parham, Mountain Grove, Piccadilly and Sharbot Lake libraries and community centres and LED stree lights with wifi capability.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

One of the more pleasant surprises at this year’s Parham Fair, its 125th edition, was tucked away into a back corner of The Palace. There, among the prize string beans, slices of pie and various craft goods, Wendy Parliament was premiering her documentary series On the Farm, Looking to the Past — Looking to the Future.
At 2 ½ hours plus, the 3-disk documentary covers a lot of history, not only of the Parham Fair, but of the Parham area, and farming in general, as told by several generations of farmers along Wagarville and Long Lake Roads (augmented by a short trip north of Hwy 7 to Conboy’s Maple Syrup).

Parliament lucked out a bit in that the Benn and the Goodfellow families had quite a number of home movies. That got her thinking . . .
“About two years ago, the Benns (Roy and Joanne) showed me some footage from the ’30s to the ’60s,” she said. “I was going to put in some titles for them but as we were talking, I realized — there’s a story there.”
The next thing you know, Parliament, her camera and her tripod were off on an adventure that included 25 interviews, 20 of which were on-camera.
“As I was talking to people, I realized that for many of the older generation, farming was very much a lifestyle choice,” she said. “Their kids ate good food and while they may not have had a lot of things, they had a good life.
“With the younger generations of farmers, it turns out it’s the same thing.

“They may have a little more environmental aspect to it, but they wanted to know what was in the food their children were eating and again, there are things they may miss out on, but they have a good life.”
Parham’s own Shawn McCullough wrote the opening music for the documentary — a song called We Had Everything, and it kinda says it all.
“In just this one little area, you can get beef, lamb, pork, goat, rabbits and several kinds of poultry,” she said. “There are vegetables that literally will serve you all year round as well as wool, maple syrup, honey, lumber, and even goats for pets. “And horses, lots of horses.”

The historical footage is quite captivating, and locals will probably recognize family, friends and ancestors (where else can you see footage of horseman Bill Lee as a 10-year-old?). And the interviews contain both historical anecdotes as well as contemporary farming insight.
“Fred Lloyd told me about raising horses that people ate, and for dog food,” she said. “I had no idea.”
On the Farm (DVD format) is available at the Parham General Store, $10, with proceeds going to the Fair Board.

As if to underline the theme of renewal in Parliament’s film, the fair itself flourished this year under a new board that came on in January. Although they faced the inevitable challenges, including a much diminished midway due to a mishap faced by Gable brothers, the midway provider, and threats of rain on Saturday, Fair Board Chair Sharon Shepherd said afterwards that the board and volunteers came out of the fair enthused and ready to start planning Parham Fair number 126 on August 18 and 19, 2018.

“The rain held off on Saturday and the children so enjoyed the old fashioned fair games, the animals, and the show by Magoo that the midway was not missed at all. And the stands were full for the horse pull. Attendance was up by over 50 over last year on Saturday, and the Demolition Derby drew over 500 adults on Sunday and was extremely well run by Mitch Cox. It was a great fair this year,” she said.
The 125 year old fair is still embracing its past as it takes on its future.
Imagine the driverless demolition derby in 2046, when the fair will be run by the kids who were playing egg toss and winning the three legged race last Saturday.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
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With the participation of the Government of Canada