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Omemee news,events,and views from Greater Omemee Area, Ontario, Canada. Covering rural news between Peterborough and Lindsay. Submit your news!
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Pilot Officer Kerry Crayston First row, standing.Third from left. |
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Omemee Veteran WWII William Acreman Italy 1943 |
Anne Marie Battten,grew up in Downeyville, and works as a street nurse in Toronto, Ontario, ministering to the needs of the homeless,poverty stricken seniors, and the marginalised. In today's article, Anne Marie shares her Christmas wish with you. Anne
Currently, on any night in the city of Toronto, there are people sleeping outside. City shelters are generally full. In our outreach volunteer meetings, stories are frequently shared about the lack of available beds. Fortunately, faith based communities have a program called 'Out of the Cold' that is generously run by volunteers. This is an excellent and much appreciated service where people are served a warm meal and sleep indoors usually in a church or meeting room. Each night of the week a different location is open to provide this service. As travel is involved though, this is a barrier for some who wish to access this service.
The 2012 Toronto city budget proposes severe cuts to shelter beds,and many tenants will be displaced by the Toronto Community Housing Corp. properties being put up for sale. Given this situation, we organized an 'Occupy Toronto Homes for the Holidays'.rally on Thursday December 15, 2011.
We proposed the idea of bringing all those facing homelessness to Nathan Phillips Square to share a hot meal. All those who attended were asked to bring a pot luck item and a toy for children in need. At the same time, it was brought to my attention, that there were some children who could not qualify for the city-run Christmas Program. Many worked very hard with food preparation and set up. With the use of social media and 'Occupy Toronto' volunteers spreading pamphlets for many hours, our event was organized. We gathered in front of the gigantic Christmas Tree. Despite the rainy day, we received four tables of donated food and a warm lunch was served. We collected a generous donation of toys for children who could not receive city assistance.
We were fortunate to have a sound system donated for the event, and some who are experiencing homelessness, spoke about the need for housing and having to sleep outdoors. Some shared their experiences of trying to obtain a shelter bed, when none is available. One woman shared a poem with us. One man shared how he works day labour, yet still remains homeless.
We discussed that winter is coming, it was 10 days before Christmas and many wished for a 'Home for the Holiday'.
When it came my turn to speak, I discussed the meeting we had with the city, and how no extra shelter beds were opened for those evicted from St. James Park. I talked about shelter overcrowding, and proposed closing of three city shelters, and cuts to five more as well as the TCHC properties being put up for sale leaving tenants displaced. I spoke of how Canada is still the only G8 country without a national housing strategy.
There were several media in attendance but unfortunately, we did not see much coverage of this event. Sadly, the holiday season is now here and the cold January weather is right around the corner. We continue to talk, we continue to advocate, hopefully we can keep people safe.
by Christine Markle-Welch
Gorgeous, friendly and sweet; easy to catch and halter, this young gelding would make a great trail, or Western Games horse. We're pretty sure he is a former school horse. He is in the meat pen,and scheduled to be shipped approximately Wednesday this week.
While we were at the auction barn,, I rode him. He responded well to neck reining, even backing up sweetly, just with bailer twine attached to his halter! I have already expressed my interest in this fellow. Of course, our challenge is our budget. Anyone wanna help out?
We are constantly re-juggling and have to pay bills sometimes! If you know of anyone interested in him, or any of our others, one adoption fee saves the next!
You can find more information about this horse and others on our Freedom Valley Horse Rescue Blog: Horse Adopt Ontario –Meat Horses
My father has hunted and fished all his life. We, as a family, always took part in the fishing end of things. We loved catching, and competing for the biggest pike or pickerel. Naturally, it was always the best tasting fish if I was the one who caught it! We were taught how to clean what we caught and our biggest fascination was checking out was 'in the guts'!
My father looked down and said: 'Hey look, it's carrying an egg sac!"
I said: 'No way, that's not an egg sac. It is its body!'