Thinking Globally: Acting Locally Climate Network Lanark Plans for 2023 - theHumm January 2023
Thinking Globally: Acting Locally Climate Network Lanark Plans for 2023 - theHumm January 2023
By Chandler Swain
In Lanark County, Climate Network Lanark is working to provide leadership on the various issues that we can control to look after our precious land, water and air to ensure this place we love will support us and our grandkids, and theirs. Literally millions of folks all over the planet are doing the same. Citizens are working hard to keep the focus on how little time we have to stop runaway climate chaos, where there will be no turning back from the fires, droughts and floods we are now beginning to witness everywhere.
“We are in the fight of our lives, and we are losing,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned recently. “Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing, global temperatures keep rising, and our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible.” Or more succinctly: “We’re on a highway to climate hell.”
Global and national polling shows citizens of every corner of the planet overwhelmingly support controlling the factors that are causing Earth’s ecosystems to break down. More than 70% of Canadians want serious action taken on the climate crisis.
However, governments still are slow to enact the bold leadership that is needed. This is a conundrum for sure with our current political system. The Ontario government is in fact enacting climate-damaging policies as fast as possible! It has the wherewithal to do this because of its false majority that doesn’t truly represent the will of most citizens. As Kurt Vonnegut put it: “We will go down in history as the first society that wouldn’t save itself because it wasn’t cost-effective.”
That would be so ironic, as we know the fall-out from climate chaos events is proving really expensive; but we can do better and be far more prosperous! So much evidence is out there: saving our planet is really the best economic bet.
Luckily, all over the earth activist groups are working locally to hold governments to account and help guide them with the best solid facts and research on how to make things work well for both our economy and our environment. This is inspiring.
Throughout 2022, the folks at CNL have been working hard on a County-wide Climate Action Plan and getting some local projects going. Unfortunately, their efforts were interrupted with the introduction of Bill 23 and its associated actions. Everyone in CNL wants to move forward, developing the actions to improve things — now time and energy are being consumed by defending actions that were achieved not just a few years ago, but decades ago. There is a special push on to confront the ridiculous plans in Bill 23. The galling duplicity and deceptions in this bill around gutting hard-won protections of our precious wetlands, farms and forests for the benefit of a few developers ought to outrage every one of us!
CNL has many concerns with Bill 23, including the provisions that reduce the capacity of local municipalities to enact Green Building Standards. But the biggest issue for CNL is the outright attack on wetlands. Wetlands excel at sequestering carbon — sequestering two to five times as much as forests — and Lanark County happens to be home to some of the last large remaining tracts of wetlands in all of Southern Ontario. Not only should wetlands here not be developed, if they were that would release enormous volumes of methane and carbon — other sectors would then have to cut an equivalent amount at huge expense. And the government’s talking points about the Conservation Authorities and the Wetlands Evaluation system still being there are misleading. If they’re not mandated or resourced, they aren’t there.
Building more highways to develop more wasteful housing that requires more cars for more commuting is the opposite of how we ought to be planning for growth and housing that supports healthy communities. The cities of Ottawa and Hamilton showed this in their plans, developed carefully with input from residents, yet these plans that would have developed housing within current green boundaries were cast out by the Provincial Government and replaced with incursions into green space.
That’s why CNL helped organize a protest in Smiths Falls on November 26, met with MPP John Jordan to explain what the local climate issues are with Bill 23, and made submissions on the Bill. To see these, go to CNL’s December newsletter under “Our News” at climatenetworklanark.ca .
Meanwhile, CNL keeps trying to move forward. Through its various Working Groups, the organization has made enormous contributions to the County’s Action Tables, essentially the core of climate action. To know what is in store here in the next short while, have a read. Scroll down to the Corporate Action Table and the Community Action Table at lanarkcounty.ca/en/environmental-initiatives/climate.aspx . These tables have been passed by County Council. They form the core of the County’s Climate Action Plan, which will be brought forward later in 2023.
CNL is proud to have played a role in spreading the word locally. Perth was going to undo its Climate committee but reversed that decision. And Smiths Falls is in the process of developing a committee that will oversee a plan for that community. Every lower-tier municipality should at the very least have its own Corporate Climate Action Plan and be planning to coordinate with the County on the Community plan.
CNL is also developing other projects. A quick summary is available in the workshop presentations when they are posted here at lanarkcounty.ca/en/environmental-initiatives/climate.aspx .
As always, CNL could not do what it is doing without the involvement of people across Lanark County. The group now has the support of about 1,000 people within the County. But we need more. To get involved, simply sign up for the newsletter through the website: climatenetworklanark.ca .
Carolyne Buchanan — Every Day’s a Dog Day - theHumm January 2023
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
And that’s a good thing at Hounds of The Hood Studio at Carolyne Buchanan’s art-festooned home in Carleton Place. This multitalented artist has a mission — to popularize “dog art” to the status of “real art.” On Carolyne’s canvasses, it definitely is.
Why do we tend to dismiss dog portraits as less “real” than portraits of people? For many wo/men, their dog is easily their best friend. Over time their pets’ expressions communicate as effectively as words, and they are never as hur......
Welcome Back the Birds - theHumm January 2023
By Glenda Jones
The holidays are behind us, and it’s time to start working on your entry for the Backyard Beauties 2023 Auction! If the snow shovel has lost its appeal, birdhouse builders and artists can turn their attention to the return of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust birdhouse auction, slated for May 2023.
Coordinators Barbara Carroll and Glenda Jones have listened to previous entrants and are broadening the scope this year to include all things “bird” — houses, bird baths, feeders and ga......
January 28: Jim Bryson, the Piano, and Friends - theHumm January 2023
By — Sandy Irvin is the Artistic Director of the Folkus Concert Series
We’re opening our 2023 Folkus Concert season with a real treat. January 28 will feature Jim Bryson, the piano, and friends. Jim Bryson jimbryson.org is a songwriter’s songwriter, producer and player, who has worked with Kathleen Edwards, The Tragically Hip and the Weakerthans, among others. Recently, a number of CFMA-nominated albums have come out of his studio down the road in Stittsville, including Ken Yates, The Skydiggers, Suzie Ungerlieder,......
Karen & Co. A Celebration of Art at the Textile Museum - theHumm January 2023
When Dr. Karen Dover likes an artist’s work, she doesn’t just say so — she puts her financial support, time, and considerable talents into promoting it. Cosmetic and laser physician by day, both artist and art patroness in her “spare” time, Karen draws inspiration from synergies and symbioses. Her own abstract art results from a fearless fusion of influences and life experiences, and she strives to connect diverse people and ideas.
Towards the end of January, Karen Dover Mo......
MERA PresentsWonderful Winter Activities - theHumm January 2023
This winter, MERA (McDonalds Corners/Elphin Recreation & Arts) has plenty of fun activities for all ages. Join us at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A in McDonalds Corners to stay connected to your community.
To welcome the new year, join us for a Lantern Walk and Twelfth Night party. On January 6, meet at 6:30pm at the Highlands Country Store in McDonalds Corners and walk up to MERA. Those who do not wish to walk can meet at the Schoolhouse at 7pm for a sing-along, snacks and games. King’s......
The Time In-Between - theHumm January 2023
By Susie Osler
There once was a planet that was inhabited by caterpillars. It was a dazzling planet of jade and emerald greens, and sapphire and turquoise blues. Leafy, textured and abundant. In their short creeping lives the caterpillars ate, and ate, and then ate some more. Periodically their expanding bodies needed more room and they’d trade their old skins for new skins that could accommodate their expansion. This happened five times throughout the course of each of their lives. And one day, finally sa......
Jeff Mills — A Visionary and a Doer - theHumm January 2023
By — Carebridge is one of Lanark County’s largest, most established nonprofit agencies in the health care and social services sector and the region’s largest affordable housing provider.
Jeff Mills says that when you see inequities, it’s hard to walk on by. And he never does. Last month, Jeff retired after a long career in community development and 16 years at Carebridge Community Support. But of course, we all know that this isn’t really farewell. Jeff will never stop supporting our community through his caring nature and good work. And we are all thankful for that!
Jeff’s community roots are deep. His father and mentor Stan Mills was a founding member of the Almonte Communit......
Men’s Shed Unveils Memorial Plaque - theHumm January 2023
The Naismith Men’s Shed, part of Men’s Sheds Ontario and Men’s Sheds Canada, has been operating in and contributing to Mississippi Mills since the fall of 2017. In that time the Shed has grown from 15 to 50 members. But since most members are retirees, and even though the focus is on living as healthy and happy lives as possible, Shed members are undeniably in their twilight years. Consequently, from time to time a member passes to the great Shed in the Sky.
Being desirous of showing respect fo......
Excellent Start, Lanark County! First in Canada to Declare Intimate Partner Violence an Epidemic - theHumm January 2023
In a historic move, Lanark County Council became the first county in Ontario to declare Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an epidemic in accordance with the Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam Inquest’s jury recommendations. The resolution was formally passed at the County Council meeting on December 14.
The five-person jury presented 86 recommendations as a result of the inquest, which took place in June of this year. The first recommendation is for the province t......
Men’s Role in Stopping Violence — For All - theHumm January 2023
By Fern Martin
The prevalence and persistence of femicide is a disturbing reality of Canadian society. Who can forget the country’s harshest awakening to its presence on December 6, 1989, when a man murdered 14 women at Montreal’s École Polytechnique? Decades later and much closer to home, on September 22, 2015, a man murdered three women — Carol Culleton, Nathalie Warmerdam and Anastasia Kuzyk — in our neighbouring Renfrew County, a brutal reminder that the danger continues and that ending it will require massi......
Shall We Talk? Learning Again in Almonte Offers Two Courses - theHumm January 2023
Learning Again In Almonte offers two courses that explore the power of communication in unique ways.
Every aspect of our lives is impacted by our interpretation of the communication we receive and the effectiveness of the communication we deliver. This winter, Learning Again in Almonte is offering two very different courses that will open your eyes to what lies behind successful conversations.
Over the holidays, did political chats with your opinionated uncle get a little testy? Are ......
A New Year, a Fresh Start to a New You - theHumm January 2023
By Submitted the Carleton Place Toastmasters Club
Take a step in your lifelong learning journey and check out the Carleton Place Toastmasters Club. Our next Open House is scheduled for Thursday, January 26 at 7pm on Zoom. For more information, contact carletonplacetoastmasters@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page.
The Christmas parties are over and you stumbled through a toast to a co-worker; you thought you could have done better. It’s a new year now — a fresh sta......
Garden Dreamin’ - theHumm January 2023
By David Hinks
Thick glossy catalogues from the purveyors of “garden porn” fuel fantasies of the most amazingly productive vegetable garden imaginable. But rather than being seduced by the seed catalogue descriptions of the merits of different varieties, it is time to get practical. Am I going to have a successful tomato crop with the best-tasting heritage tomato variety, or should I pick the new hybrid variety with all kinds of disease resistance? Perhaps compromise and grow some of each!
Why go to all the ef......
Another OneCome and Gone - theHumm January 2023
By Glenda Jones
So there I sat in December trying to write scintillating messages in Christmas cards (yes, I still do that, but not the fifty or so I did at one time), and it all sounded pretty trite. Except for the chainsaw course, still a highlight, all I had to add was that I took up basket weaving in the summer. Lordy, that caused so much excitement you should all sit down and have tea. “Basket weaving? Really??” I’m sure my far-off friends will think I’ve tipped over the edge.
I’m going to make a concerted effort this year to have significant events to write in those cards. Already the birdhouse......
Thinking Globally: Acting Locally Climate Network Lanark Plans for 2023 - theHumm January 2023
By Chandler Swain
In Lanark County, Climate Network Lanark is working to provide leadership on the various issues that we can control to look after our precious land, water and air to ensure this place we love will support us and our grandkids, and theirs. Literally millions of folks all over the planet are doing the same. Citizens are working hard to keep the focus on how little time we have to stop runaway climate chaos, where there will be no turning back from the fires, droughts and floods we are now beginning to......
Bibliophiles, Rejoice! New Year Promises Outstanding New Reads - theHumm January 2023
By John Pigeau
While visiting my parents over the holidays, I was bundled-up and reading in the garage next to a fair-sized stack of books I’d just picked up at a library used book sale. Dad, who doesn’t like clutter on his work bench, said to me, “What are you doing with all those books?
“Readin’ ‘em,” I told him.
He crinkled his brows. “Don’t you think you have enough books?” “No,” I said. “Never.”
I might have added that come the new year I’ll be adding many more to my collection......
Anne of Green Gables in Perth - theHumm January 2023
Perth Community Choir is thrilled that their fall 2022 production is finally going it hit the stage — if a little later than expected! The cast and orchestra have been working since September, and unfortunately had to reschedule due to circumstances beyond their control.
Anne of Green Gables, The Musical is a retelling of the classic Lucy Maude Mongomery novel of the same name. The story centres on orphan Anne (with an “e”) who ends up placed with siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert......
Sivarulrasa Gallery Looking Forward to an Exciting 2023! - theHumm January 2023
By Sanjeev Sivarulrasa
In 2023, Almonte’s Sivarulrasa Gallery will continue presenting curated, rotating exhibitions in our three distinct exhibition spaces: Galleries I, II and III. We are delighted to showcase original Canadian art from all across the country. Our first exhibition in Gallery I, starting in mid-February, will feature a new body of works by Gatineau-based artist Louis Thériault. The Gallery’s regular hours will resume on January 4 — we will be open for in-person viewing We......
MM Youth Centre is Back in Action! - theHumm January 2023
By Maybe McInnis
Mississippi Mills Youth Centre (MMYC) is proud to announce our January-March 2023 calendar starting Monday, January 9, featuring FREE programs for youth ages 10–18. Located in Almonte, MMYC offers a wide variety of drop-in and structured programs six days a week to support our youth membership’s diverse interests, goals and talents.
MMYC staff — Lilli, Maybe, Joey, Emery, Lena and Karma — have been working hard to maintain our supportive relationships with local youth through our inclusive, low-press......
“Did You See Who Shot Him?” Murder Mystery Raises Funds for Homeless Youth - theHumm January 2023
On January 12 and 28, Great Gatsby! It’s Murder is coming to Kanata, and on February 18 it will be performed in Smith Falls at The Station Theatre. Rachel Paul’s acclaimed comedic play, set in a fantasy flapper era, is filled with glitz, glamour and murder. This absurd whodunnit will have you roaring in your seats and accusing your favourite characters of crimes.
Directed by award-winning Canadian actress Shannon Lawson, this theatrical event is a fundraiser for Operation Come Home’s Homeless Youth Hot Breakfast program and has partnered with the Kanata Legion to raise money for local......
Jack deKeyzer Plays The Cove - theHumm January 2023
Acclaimed guitarist, singer, songwriter, band leader and producer Jack de Keyzer rarely sits still. With 12 records, 1 DVD, 2 Junos and 7 Maple Blues Awards, de Keyzer delivers the goods wherever and whenever he performs. He usually plays over 100 shows a year, and his music is steeped in Chicago blues, London England blues rock, Detroit Motown, Muscle Shoals deep soul, Memphis rock and roll, and Philadelphia’s funky soul jazz. For 46 years — or roughly a couple million miles — de Keyzer has be......
Apr 27 Festival of the Maples
Apr 27 The Moth Project
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 4 Outskirts
May 5 Music at Mera: The Andrew Collins Trio
May 9 Family Paint Party: Paint Nite
May 11 - 12 Art in the Attic
- IS THIS A PROTEST?
- A Classic Whodunnit Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee at Studio Theatre
- Readers, Writers, and Poets
- Celebrate Indigenous Culture in CP
- Celebrate the ClassicsWith the Arnprior Choir
- 4F Auction Concoction Food, Fun, Fashion & Favourites
- Cheerfully Made Spring Market
- Electrify to Decarbonize Lanark
- Volunteer Forum
- Frankenstein Comes to The Station Theatre
