SDG warden Tony Fraser addressed the audience before introducing the five speakers who provided everyone with a lot to think about.  Tinkess Photo

WINCHESTER – The 2023 Warden’s Breakfast took place at the Joel Steele Community Centre on Fri., June 16, and a full house enjoyed a fine breakfast, a chance to interact, and an opportunity to hear the guest speakers report on good news and provide food for thought.

Warden Tony Fraser, who is also the Mayor of North Dundas was the morning’s first speaker and then acted as host and M/C.

“I do want to extend my thanks to those that organized, prepared, decorated, and supported me in preparation for this event,” said Fraser.

“We have a wonderful roster of speakers on the agenda today and please join me in thanking them for attending.”

Fraser then listed the speakers for the morning’s event: Dan Pettigrew, owner of Winchester Foodland, Louis Beland, executive director of the Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network, Cholly Boland, the CEO of the Winchester District Memorial Hospital, Gilles Froment, senior vice president of government and industry relations for Lactalis, and Dr. Kim Hellemans is the associate dean of science at Carleton University.

“I have had the honour of meeting individuals, business owners and visitors to our region who have expressed to me their love of this part of our country,” added Fraser. “The backbone of our local economy is agriculture. In small business today, we have gathered business leaders to share their experiences as we embrace the new social economic landscape that pervades our daily lives. In this rapidly changing world, economic development is not just a goal, it is a necessity. Our communities continue to adapt and thrive amidst uncertainty. We have achieved this by embracing innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and we have cultivated a diverse and inclusive business environment.

“Remember, economic development is not merely about numbers. It’s about transforming lives and building a brighter future for our families and our communities.”

The speakers each offered insight into the path they were following and the successes, and hurdles, they had encountered. Pettigrew spoke about staffing problems and supply chain issues during the pandemic, but also about the generosity of the people in the area.

Louis Beland spoke of how he is helping many small producers link together under a common brand and support each other.

Cholly Boland spoke about the amazing fundraising efforts that will allow a new Dundas Manor to be constructed but also about the amazing people who make the current manor much more than a sum of its parts.

Gilles Froment spoke about Lactalis and how important this part of Ontario is to the company as well as some of the ways they give back to the community.

Dr. Kim Hellemans spoke about how the pandemic had and continues to affect people and ways that we can all deal with some of the struggles we encounter each day. She left the audience with the message to make sure to care for themselves as well as others, because if you don’t do one, you can’t do the other.

It is often easier to think about what doesn’t work than what does, but for most people who listened to what was being said, it was apparent that there are a lot of good things happening in SDG, and just maybe the best is yet to come.