Patrick Raftis

WINGHAM – For 40 years Allan Dickson has been providing area residents with flowers and plants for every occasion. However the history of Lewis Flowers, the business he operates with his wife, Connie, goes back much further – 130 years. The Wingham-based flower shop and greenhouse can trace its roots back to 1894, when T.C.……

While there are as yet no general elections in the offing for Ontarians at the federal or provincial level, a couple of votes of great consequence are much in the news this week.

LISTOWEL – Royal Lepage Don Hamilton held their annual chili lunch fundraiser on Nov. 8, with all proceeds going to It Takes a Village. Staff members serving up the food included, from left: Shelly Peleshok, Karen Flewwelling, Bob Heimpel and Julie Eisler.

I’d like to write a column explaining how Americans made such a counter intuitive choice for president in their most recent election. But I just can’t. I can understand the frustration of many citizens, facing the impact of tough economic and socially disruptive times, searching for alternatives to a repetitive approach to government that has…

Left: Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae was acclaimed on Nov. 16 as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the riding in the next provincial election. (Contributed photo) Right: Ashley Fox, who represented the provincial Liberal party in Perth Wellington 2022 is seeking the party’s nomination for the next election. (Facebook photo)

Turns out all these years of political fuss about debts and deficits were just smoke and mirrors, since our upper tiers of government are clearly awash in cash. How else could you explain the recent decisions of governing parties at both provincial and federal levels to offer straight up tax rebates of $200 and $250…

ATWOOD – The North Perth Fire Department (NPFD) was called to a house fire on Bowman Court in Atwood on Dec. 13. According to NPFD Fire personnel, they received the call at 10:55 a.m., arrived on scene at 11:04 a.m., and remained there until 4:40 p.m. There were no injuries and the occupants of the…

Local firefighters line up to march into the Clifford arena for a memorial service for long-time local firefighter and paramedic Dean Wick on Dec. 28. Wick was a firefighter with Palmerston and Town of Minto fire services for more than 45 years and a paramedic with Guelph Wellington Paramedic Services and Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services for more than 40 years. Photo by Patrick Raftis

It seems silly to be writing a column on national affairs a week after all of Canada’s problems were seemingly resolved in one fell swoop. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has, after all, announced his intention to step down.

WESTERN ONTARIO – Big changes are coming to minor hockey in this region for next winter. The Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) and its Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) League are introducing a pilot project creating ‘A’ Zones for the 2025-26 season. The 24 participating local associations will see their Representative hockey divided into six…