Library sees big jump in demand for its seed program
MORE OF US STAYING AT home due to the pandemic led to an uptick in reading, which is perhaps not surprising, but it also prompted an increase in demand for a lesser-known Region of Waterloo Library (RWL) service: seeds.
As part of an expansion of its offerings – think movies, video games and the like – RWL launched a seed library in 2018. Use of the service skyrocketed last year as the pandemic lockdown set in.
The “seed stampede of 2020” was caused by a number of factors, with the pandemic simply being one of the biggest, says RWL manager of library services Sheryl Tilley.
“In 2020 our doors were closed in May, but we made seeds available online. And we had such a huge uptake from the community for our seed library online that we called it the seed stampede of 2020, because so many people requested seeds,” said Tilley. “All of a sudden there was an interest in sustainability when it came to food sources. I think people, because they were home more, took the opportunity to do [that]. Just like with people baking more being home during COVID, people were home to spend time gardening.
I think there’s a certain amount of mental health, wellness and wellbeing associated with being outdoors, gardening and actually working with the soil. So, I think that it all works together to make it very popular last year.
“Also last year, it was the ease of availability because people just simply went online to our website and filled out the forms and requested seeds and we mailed them out. That was the only way we could distribute last year because we were totally shut down due to provincial pandemic guidelines.”
She says last year, the most popular and requested seeds included basil, beans, lettuce, cucumber and peppers, especially the hot kind.
Looking towards the new year of the seed library and beyond, Tilley says she hopes to see people get into the spirit of the service.
“We do hope that it becomes self-sustaining. We do hope that it deepens community ties, because people in the community will borrow seeds from the library, grow their gardens and bring the seeds back so it does indeed kind of [fall] on that circle of life. I love the idea that it’s a very visual [way] to putting down roots in a community by growing a garden. Not only does the library have the seeds to provide, we also have amazing gardening books to help people grow their horticultural knowledge,” Tilley added.
The online request form for the seed library launched for 2021 last week, remaining open until the end of April – or until supplies last.
Tilley says despite such a short window for online requests, the seed library is available year-round for even the winter gardener.
For more information, or to take out some seeds for the spring planting season, visit rwlibrary.ca.
Waterloo Regional Police have issued a warning after seeing a spike in catalytic converter thefts throughout the area.
Since January 1, 2021, 131 catalytic converter thefts have been reported.
Catalytic converters are part of a motor vehicle’s emission system, located between the engine and muffler.
The public is encouraged to remain vigilant
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9յ00 AM | Wellington County and Cambridge OPP, Township of Woolwich Fire Department and Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services responded to a serious single- vehicle collision on Highway 7 at Woolwich-Guelph Townline, just west of Guelph. A westbound courier truck collided with the rear of a tractor trailer. The driver of the courier truck was extricated from the vehicle and transported by and report suspicious activity or individuals to police immediately. When possible, motorists are encouraged to park their vehicles in garages or well-lit areas that are known to have security cameras.
Anyone with information regarding catalytic converter thefts is encouraged to contact ̵́ˍʡɂɟ ڂ ڂͮǵ ԋԆԐՔԋԎԅՔԐԎԎԎ ڂ̿́ڂ H̿ʡ˪ɟ ڂ Ɖ̵̵ͮ́ɟ̿͝ڂ ڂͮǵ ԆՔԏԅԅՔ ԇԇԇՔԏԊԎԎձ
Ornge air ambulance to a trauma centre in Hamilton with serious injuries. The second driver was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the courier vehicle, a 26-yearold Guelph man, was later pronounced deceased in hospital. OPP Technical Collision Investigators ԻƗHÄԼ ڂ ǵ͝͝ʡͮ͝ɟɎ ڂ džɟˍˍʡ˱ʄՈ ton County OPP with the investigation. Highway 7 was closed between Wellington Road 32 and Shantz Station Road for several hours to allow for investigation. Wellington County OPP is asking anyone that may have witnessed this collision or has dash cam video equipped in their vehicles, ͮ́ڂ̵ˍɟǵ͝ɟ ڂ ɂǵˍˍհ ڂ ԆՔԏԏԏՔԉԆԅՔ 1122. 4յ05 PM | Waterloo Regional Police responded to the area of Weber Street East and Kinzie Avenue in Kitchener after receiving reports of a rental van striking two buildings in the area. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, which fled the area and was later located by police in Elmira. Officers engaged in a foot pursuit when the driver of the vehicle fled the area on foot. Police were able to arrest the driver shortly after. A 47-year-old man was charged with ‘dangerous driving,’ ‘flight from police’ and ‘drive disqualified.’ Subsequently, as the investigation continued, police learned that another male was the alleged driver who struck the buildings in Kitchener with the rental van.
ڂ͝ ǵ ڂ ̿ɟ͝ͽˍͮհ ڂ ǵ ڂ ԉԏՈΰɟǵ̿Ո old Kitchener man was charged with two counts of ‘fail to remain,’ ‘drive disqualified’ and ‘breaching court orders.’
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7յ00 PM | Waterloo Regional Police received a report of a break-in at a residence located on Huron Road in Wilmot Township. Sometime Ȼɟͮɟɟ˱ڂ ĩ́Ξɟ˪Ȼɟ̿ڂ ԇԅԇԅ ڂ and the time of the report, a Polaris four-wheeler was stolen from a garage at the residence. There is no suspect information at this time. Anyone who may have information is encouraged to call police ڂͮǵ ԋԆԐՔԋԎԅՔԐԎԎԎ ڂ̿́ڂ H̿ʡ˪ɟ ڂ Ɖ̵̵ͮ́ɟ̿͝ڂ ڂͮǵ ԆՔԏԅԅՔԇԇԇՔ ԏԊԎԎձ ڂ
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5յ00 AM | A Wellington County OPP officer was monitoring traffic and conducting radar on Highway 6 north of Wellington Road 51 in Guelph-Eramosa Township when they observed a red passenger vehicle travelling southbound at a speed that appeared to be well above the ̵́ͮ͝ɟɎ ڂ ԏԅ ڂ ˅˪Մʎ ڂ ̵͝ɟɟɎ ڂ limit. The vehicle was locked on radar in excess ́ɿ ڂ ԆԊԋ ڂ˅˪Մʎձ ڂ ڂ͝ ǵ ڂ̿ɟ͝ͽˍͮհ ڂ a 19-year-old of Fergus man was charged with ‘racing - excessive speed’ and ‘speeding.’ The defendant is scheduled to appear in Guelph at the Ontario Court of Justice Provincial Offences Court on June 2, . His vehicle and driver’s licence were seized for a period of seven days as per statute.
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10յ39 AM | Police responded to a report of a road rage incident in the area of Sawmill Road and Arthur Street South near St. Jacobs. During the altercation, it is alleged that one of the involved drivers brandished a firearm. Through investigation, the subject was located in the downtown area of Kitchener and was arrested by police. A 45-year-old man is facing weapon-related charges. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to call ̵́ˍʡɂɟ ڂ ڂͮǵ ԋԆԐՔԋԎԅՔԐԎԎԎ ڂ̿́ڂ H̿ʡ˪ɟ ڂ Ɖ̵̵ͮ́ɟ̿͝ڂ ڂͮǵ ԆՔԏԅԅՔ ԇԇԇՔԏԊԎԎձ
An unorthodox new business model? An attempt to get its foot in the door? An absurd publicity stunt? It’s hard to know just what to make of convenience store conglomerate 7-Eleven making a bid to serve beer and wine in 61 of its Ontario locations.
The company’s bid to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) would see the licensed stores granted the ability to serve beer and wine along with its food offerings such as pizza, fried chicken and hot dogs. That’s not a slice and a beer to go; instead, you’d be able to sit down to a cup of ale while enjoying the heat-lamp cuisine.
“To complement our fresh food and hot food programs, we are preparing for in-store service of a small selection of Ontario-made beer and wine products, offered during limited hours, and in designated consumption areas of our stores,” the company said in a statement.
On the surface, it doesn’t make any sense: who exactly wants to “dine out” in a corner of a convenience store? None of the locations strike me as an ideal place to linger in the fashion of a neighbourhood restaurant/pub. It doesn’t seem like a viable business plan.
Now, perhaps the goal is to do an end-run around current restrictions against convenience stores selling beer and wine. While the province has expanded options, including the selling of beer and wine in some supermarkets, it hasn’t done away with all of Ontario’s arcane, nanny-state rules regarding the sales of alcohol.
The province hasn’t commented on the company’s application. It’s still taking public input through today, with some kind of response coming down the road following what is undoubtedly an extensive lobbying campaign aimed at the Ford government, which has proven malleable on some fronts.
Not surprisingly, public sector unions – the ones who represent LCBO workers, for instance – are opposed to the idea. While arguing about public safety and the corruption of children, the real goal is to protect their turf.
“We’ll find ourselves going down a dangerous path if the AGCO lets this multinational corporation squeeze through a loophole and bring alcohol sales to convenience stores,” said Ontario Public Service Employees Union president Warren Thomas in a statement this week, noting the union has filed an official objection to the liquor license application. “7-Eleven says it’s trying to make its stores into restaurants where alcohol can be served, but we all know the truth: kids and teens will find themselves shoulder-to-shoulder with intoxicated people washing down a Twinkie with a six pack.”
The group representing some of the province’s hospitality businesses is questioning the timing given the COVID-related struggles in the industry just now.
Tony Elenis, president & CEO of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, tells the CBC that now is “not the best climate to start bringing in competition,” adding that the industry isn’t opposed to competition in general.
“As long as they play by the rules. They have to follow the health, labour and building rules associated with opening a restaurant,” he said.
“It can’t just be a side gig they’re using as an opportunity to sell booze.”
It’s tough to imagine a convenience store being predominantly a restaurant – selling beer and wine for consumption only on site seems a stretch.
Of course, if the goal is to open the door for selling beer and wine in the conventional way, the plan makes more sense.
That said, the 7-Eleven proposal seems like something the province should pass on, looking to the more traditional sales model on display in many other jurisdictions, expanding on the grocery store options today.
Premier Doug Ford, who campaigned on the return of the buck-a-beer option, has loosened the controls somewhat, but we’re largely stuck with the LCBO and The Beer Store, both dealing with nanny-state floor pricing and exorbitant taxes that drive up the cost of adult beverages well beyond reasonable levels.
Ideally, the province would move in the direction of more choice and lower prices, despite successive governments refusing to treat Ontarians as adults, not to mention the addiction to tax revenues.
As with every discussion about alcohol sales, there will be battle lines drawn. On the one side, corner store owners say liberalizing beer sales would provide us with more convenience while giving a boost to smaller brewers given short shrift by a retail system controlled by two major players (Molson Coors and Anheuser
Busch Inbev) and, to a lesser extent, Sleeman (Sapporo), with all three being foreign-owned. On the other side, the quasi-monopoly claims allowing beers in convenience stores will lead to higher prices and fewer controls.
Both are clearly intent on looking after their own interests, not yours or mine. It’s up to us to determine which position benefits us most. I’m tempted to side with more openness, but only if that means lower prices due to the competition of large retailers such as grocery stores.
Such improvements will be welcomed by most Ontarians subject to runaway taxation, as taxes make up about half the cost of a bottle of beer, for instance.
Ford has already recognized our inherent dissatisfaction with taxes and paternalistic liquor laws, coupled with our distrust of pretty much anything overseen by bureaucrats and politicians. Tax increases are seen as another reason to privatize the operation, stripping government of its outdated controls of alcohol.
Yes, the LCBO stores themselves have come a long way over the years. They’re much nicer places to shop, especially compared
with The Beer Store, that even more antiquated government-sanctioned cartel selling us our suds. The hours have been extended, but there’s nothing like the convenience found in other jurisdictions. Nor the selection. And, most gallingly given that the LCBO is the world’s largest buyer of spirits, nothing like the much better prices found elsewhere.
If the LCBO really wants to be accepted, cut the prices significantly, offer a much better selection (something akin to a grocery store in Tonawanda would be a start) and offer more convenience.
Touching on the longstanding debate, if beer and wine were sold more widely in grocery and convenience stores, it would benefit smaller breweries, which are now dependent on a retail channel owned and controlled by their much larger competitors.
That makes much more sense than bellying up to the bar at the 7-Eleven.