June 2021 Town of Pelham Newsletter

May 2021 Town of Pelham Newsletter

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 30 for 30 challenge gives Pelham a chance to win $100K

This June, the Town of Pelham is challenging residents and businesses to get active, tracking their physical activity minutes for a chance to win the title of Canada’s Most Active Community and $100,000 to support local physical activity initiatives. The contest is part of ParticipACTION’s National Community Better Challenge.

The Challenge provides an easy, fun, and safe way to get communities, schools, businesses and organizations moving and connecting in-person or virtually through physical activity and sport. Activities can range from walking, cleaning the house, gardening, or even running a 5K. Pelham has developed the “June 30 for 30” challenge, which coincides with Recreation month and Seniors month.

“The main goal of the challenge is to get active and keep our minds, body, and community spirit healthy,” said Leah Letford, special events and festivals programmer. “Pelham residents have rallied many times throughout the pandemic, whether participating in the Town’s virtual events, drive-through parade, or house decorating, all supporting the community; I have no doubt they’ll show just how strong the community spirit is again with this challenge.”

The June 30 for 30 activities are designed for all ages and abilities, and active minutes can be tracked through the ParticipACTION app, through the June 30 for 30 GooseChase Challenge, or by tracking them and calling them into the Town. A calendar of activities will be available on the June 30 for 30 webpage, and a print version will be available for those wanting to get involved who are not online. 

Though the current provincial stay-at-home order has been extended to June 2, events and activities listed in the June 30 for 30 challenge can be done in the safety of your own home or while safely exercising outdoors in permissible areas. 

Find information about the Challenge by visiting www.pelham.ca/june30for30 or by contacting Leah Letford at 905-892-2607 x352 or lletford@pelham.ca. 

Pelham celebrates Seniors Month with flag raising, garden unveiling

June is Seniors Month, and the Town of Pelham is celebrating with an entire month of events, including raising the seniors’ flag and unveiling a seniors garden at the Meridian Community Centre. 

Both the flag raising and the garden unveiling will occur on June 8, the former beginning at 11:30 a.m., followed immediately by the garden ceremony. 

“The original inspiration for the garden was that during an unpredictable time, outdoor gatherings and activities are always the first to be allowed during the changing restrictions,” said Brittany MacLean, active living programmer. “As many seniors may not be comfortable returning to celebrate indoors, the Pelham Seniors Advisory Committee felt that an outdoor garden to enjoy would be a great way to celebrate the seniors of Pelham.”

The garden gives the community an outdoor location to sit distanced to catch up with friends or family, or even sit quietly to enjoy the warm weather and a book once the stay-at-home order lifts. The Town hopes to offer outdoor programs, socials, and events where the garden can be enjoyed when restrictions allow. The garden is in the Pelham Minor Hockey Courtyard, at the front of the community centre. A shade structure will be installed in the coming weeks to help make the outdoor space cooler throughout the summer months.

Seniors are also invited to participate in the Town’s 30 for 30 Challenge, running the month of June, encouraging everyone to get active and track their active minutes for a chance to win $100,000 towards recreation activities in town. 

A full calendar of events and programs provided by the Town and local organizations, including virtual Qigong, Alzheimer Society brain wave cafes, free senior swims, and more, can be found at www.pelham.ca/55-programs. Additional Information is available by calling 905-892-2607 x372.

Niagara’s municipal flags lowered to honour residential school victims

Regional Chair Jim Bradley and Niagara’s 12 mayors offered the following joint statement:

On behalf of the people of Niagara, we have asked that flags be lowered at municipal facilities across the region in honour of the 215 children who were recently found in a mass grave at a former residential school in Kamloops. The flags will remain at half-mast for one hour for each of the lives that were taken. 

Starting Monday, May 31, flags will be flown at half-mast until June 8.

The discovery of this mass grave is a stark reminder of the devastating legacy that the Canadian residential school system continues to have on Indigenous people across our country. As Canadians, we must never forget that residential schools forcefully removed Indigenous children from their families, robbed them of their culture, and exposed many of them to physical, mental and sexual abuse.

This particular residential school was operational until 1969, and in the mass unmarked grave, bodies belonging to children as young as three were discovered. Leaders in the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nations community have rightfully pointed out that the individuals found in this mass grave would have been elders in their community by now. The discovery of this grave site represents more than just a loss of life; it is also an unmeasurable loss of culture, tradition, customs and society. 

As Niagara’s municipal leaders, we recognize that reconciliation starts with a sincere acknowledgement of the injustices and harms experienced by Indigenous people in Canada. While this discovery is exceptionally tragic, we must also recognize it as an opportunity to learn the truth about the horrors of the residential school system, and the lasting intergenerational trauma it has had for Indigenous people across Canada.

While the flag lowering is symbolic, we are also committed to action. We continue to finds ways to work more closely with local Indigenous leaders to address specific items of concern to those living in Niagara. We strive to foster productive relationships based on trust and respect.

We are also joining many communities and organizations across the country who are calling on the federal government to declare a national day of mourning to recognize the tragedies of residential schools in Canada. While nothing will erase the painful impact that residential schools had on First Nations, Inuit and Metis people, we believe we must better acknowledge, and learn from, one of the darkest chapters of our history.

For those looking for support, the Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available for former residential school students and others: 1-866-925-4419.