Norwood Agricultural Society Names Fair Ambassador Ahead Of Annual Norwood Fair

Emma Harding has been crowned the 2022 Norwood Fair Ambassador, after the Ambassador Competition hosted on Sunday at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre.

Photo by Megan Wilson.

Harding competed in a group of six young women from the Norwood area.

On Sunday, each competitor was interviewed by a panel of three judges, delivered a speech about the fair and answered an impromptu question in front of an audience.

Harding is a student at Norwood District High School and works as an Administrative Assistant at McCloskeys International. She is sponsored by The Norwood Legion, Branch 300.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Norwood Fair Ambassador program. When it began, the winner was crowned Norwood Fair Queen, though as years went by the name was changed.

Marcia Warr was the first Norwood Fair Queen in 1947.

This year, Harding will receive the crown from Ashley Vanderhorst who was crowned during the 2019-2020 season. Because of COVID-19 there was no competition for 2020-2022.

As Ambassador, Harding will assist in various tasks during the fair weekend like helping at the School Fair and Homecraft Buildings, handing out ribbons at various competitions throughout the weekend, riding on the Ambassador float in the parade on Saturday , attending the Opening Ceremonies and representing her sponsor throughout the fair grounds.

Before and after the fair weekend, the Ambassador will also represent the Norwood Fair at community event like the Santa Claus parade.

Harding will also attend the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) Convention held in Toronto in February and compete in the Canadian National Exhibition Ambassador of the Fairs Competition in Toronto in August.

The Norwood Fair will take place October 8 - 10, 2022.

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Fleming College Students Bring Home Multiple Medals From Province-Wide Trades Competition

Three Fleming College Students have brought home three gold medals at the Skills Ontario Competition earlier this month, with two others winning silver and one bronze.

Mai Dong, Culinary Management, Bailey Wodzak, Carpentry and Renovation and Luc Trottier, Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician were all awarded gold medals for their efforts in the competition.

Dong and Wodzak will now advance to the Skills Canada National Competition in Vancouver from May 25 - 28.

Carpentry student, Maclaren Zbieranek and Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician student, Jersey Phin were each awarded silver medals. Welding and Fabrication Technician student, Jack Banister won a bronze medal.

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Fleming College Arboriculture Students To Compete In 24th Annual Tree Climbing Competition

Fleming College Arboriculture students will participate in the 24th annual Tree Climbing competition on April 19.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

Each year students enrolled in the Arboriculture program compete against each other in five key events.

Events featured are Tree Rescue, Throw Line, Belayed Speed Climb, Secured Footlock and Work Climb.

The competition gives students a chance to win prizes, with awards going to men’s and women’s division championships. Prizes are donated by community members and members of the Arboriculture industry.

Many students go on to compete at a provincial and national level with the International Society of Arboriculture’s Tree Climbing Championships.

During the Tree Rescue event, a climber must ascend a tree and rescue a, 200 lb. ‘dummy.’ The student rescuer must adhere to a set of protocols based on a specified emergency. This is a time-based event, with points awarded or deducted according to the protocol and emergency.

The Throw Line event is timed and tests the contestant’s ability to accurately place a throw line and a climbing line into the tree at heights between 12 and 20 metres.

During the Belayed Speed Climb Event each contestant is timed climbing up a tree from the ground to a height of approximately 15 metres where they will ring a finishing bell.

Contestants in the Secured Footlock Event must vertically ascend 13 metres in a tree by using the footlock technique. This is a timed event.

The Work Climd event tests the contestant’s ability to move quickly and efficiently in the tree and perform various tasks. At each station the contestant rings a bell. Bonus and penalty points are awarded based on safety, performance and competence.

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Douro Boy Wins Ontario Wide Contest Held By Ontario Association Of Fire Chiefs

Douro boy, Emmet, became the grand prize winner of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) home escape plan contest.

Photo courtesy of the Douro Dummer Fire Service.

The contest challenged entrants to find two ways out of every room of their home and to know where to meet outside in the event of an emergency.

Douro-Dummer Fire Services (DDFS) personnel distributed the OAFC contest entry sheets to eligible students at Warsaw Public School and St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School during Fire Prevention Week in October.

A winner was selected by the OAFC from all the entries in Ontario.

DDFS personnel met Emmet and his family to present his prizes. Fire Chief Chuck Pedersen presented Emmet with a framed copy of his entry, complete with a first-prize ribbon.

“We are grateful for all the children that took the time to prepare a plan to ensure they know two ways out of their home in the event of a fire,” said Fire Chief Pedersen. “We are so proud of Emmet who submitted a great picture, showing just that, and won first place in the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs’ contest.”

Photo courtesy of the Douro Dummer Fire Service.

Emmet received a fire safety gift pack, a $500 cash prize from the OAFC and a gift certificate from the Douro-Dummer Firefighters’ Association to use at the Kawartha Buttertart Factory.

Emmet, sister Mya Lynn and aunt Andrea also got to take a ride in a fire truck with their favourite firefighter, Wayne Greystock.

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