UTRCA, SOARR, Ducks Unlimited & Wetlands

Gillingwater, Holst both habitat heroes of water and its inhabitants

By MARK SCHADENBERG

Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has many Category 1 responsibilities to the watershed. I believe the UTRCA has a more difficult task (or varied) than some other conservation authorities as the water in the Upper Thames drains first to the Lower Thames, which in-turn eventually reaches Lake St Clair.

The Woodstock area -- most certainly including Innerkip and Norwich Township can be referred to as being the starting point or up stream. There's a fork to the Thames in the middle of London and one of those branches meanders from Woodstock to Beachville and then Ingersoll, Dorchester and to London. 

The City of Woodstock is currently rehabilitating the Cedar Creek pond in Southside Park. Digging and shifting land -- it's all part of being a friend to nature -- water and the animals and plants living in it and hopefully thriving.

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In recent years the County of Oxford along with Ducks Unlimited literally fixed the Hodge's Pond wetland just south of Old Stage Road. To be plain-and-simple and blunt for a moment, the Hodge's Pond work transformed a warm pea soup mucky pond which didn't attract wildlife to a cool-running clean waterway which also now includes a greatly improved and attractive habitat for fish, turtles, birds, frogs and yes even snakes to thrive.   

The aquifer must be improved, which then improves this area's score in the UTRCA water quality report card, which is a book about 500 pages of water testing and gauging trends. If you think water entering Woodstock into Southside Park also struggles because of the trespassing or under-passing of the 401, you're correct as salt and sediment are deposited into the branch of the Thames River on a daily basis. 

Below, is a link to a video produced by the UTRCA featuring Conservation area staff, but also features national Ducks Unlimited board member Phil Holst (pictured) who has coordinated more than a dozen projects from Hodge's to Brick Pond to Beachville to countless water features and wetlands. Holst is an expert in obtaining funds and grants, but also in assisting farmers in improving their property.

The 2 pictures included here were taken at the west end of Curries Road, so west of Curries where the so-called 'Sweaburg Swamp' begins (See map). Could you imagine how difficult it would be for our municipality to attain water quantity if it wasn't for that specific area? Keep in mind, some municipalities literally must use extensive pipelines from Lake Erie or Lake Huron to bring water into their water treatment facilities.

I'm both a member of Woodstock City Council (elected) and the UTRCA board (assigned / appointed), so I know it's important to relay that it's assistance from partnerships with Ducks Unlimited, and sponsorship from Cowan Foundation, Gunn's Hill Wind Turbine collective, Stewardship Oxford and other groups which create sustainable successful improvements. A great advantage to Hodge's Pond in its relationship to the Woodstock area is that the property is owned by the County Of Oxford, but it also plays a significant recreation role with trails.

Holst is determined and knows that every time one task is almost completed, another priority appears to be apparent.

Back at Curries, Holst told me by phone that proper plantings of native species is always paramount, while at the same time the removal or evasive species such as phragmites continues. It's a triumph, he says, when turtles can be seen basking in the sun on logs that were placed in revived ponds or when there is proof that snapping turtles are laying eggs.

In our last phone discussion, Holst also told me about Ducks Unlimited concentrating its efforts outside the Thames basin, so on the Nith River around New Dundee. Clean and healthy waterways is the light at the end of the tunnel.

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UTRCA -- SOARR

Also at the UTRCA, staff such as Scott Gillingwater (pictured) continue efforts to increase the populations of threatened turtles such as the spiny soft-shelled variety by literally hatching them and letting them establish in incubators before getting released by the hundreds. The results are actually quite astounding as up to 7,000 hatchlings are released each year. Gillingwater lives just outside of Woodstock so much of his efforts are concentrated here. 

Gillingwater's foundation through the UTRCA is called SOARR (Southern Ontario At-Risk Reptiles). It's integral for his team to operate in this way as funding from the province is always limited plus dollars can be directed to his specific work. Therefore, the general public is encouraged to donate to SOARR. The species-at-risk website has a wealth of info on how you can help, including volunteering as I know a local teacher on Scott's turtle team.

Gillingwater was a teenager when he placed his focus on nature, so it's been a passion of his for 3 decades.

"SOARR is making a difference for Southern Ontario's at-risk reptiles and helping many declining populations pull back from the brink," says Scott on the UTRCA website. “We need people and businesses to step up and support this conservation work, or we will lose many local threatened and endangered turtles and snakes.”

Gillingwater added that the provincial government does not provide financial support for Species at Risk programs associated with conservation authorities, even grassroots programs such as SOARR.

If an agri-business wants to research more about their water ponds, UTRCA does have grants for wind-buffer tree plantings and other stewardship ideas. 

Facebook: Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles - SOARR 

More Info:

https://www.thamesriverdonations.ca/species-at-risk

https://thamesriver.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/SOARR-funding-flyer-4pg.pdf

https://thamesriver.on.ca/turtle-team-2021-utrca-weekly-august-13-2021/

https://thamesriver.on.ca/watershed-health/native-species/aquatic-species-at-risk/

https://thamesriver.on.ca/landowner-grants-stewardship/

https://thamesriver.on.ca/landowner-grants-stewardship/farmland-bmps/farmland-bmp-wetland-construction/   

https://www.ducks.ca/places/ontario/wetlands-at-work/

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Woodstock VIA train station is looking much better

The year was 1853.

The year was 1853 -- the calendar year when train service arrived in Woodstock at what today can be referred to as the corners of Victoria South, Henry and Wellington South streets. The book Bits & Bites features a small chapter called 'The Iron Horse Comes To Town.'

It was to be exact Dec. 15, 1853 or 171 years ago. It was a different time. 

What was originally called the Great Western Railway Station is now the VIA Rail station. For the past couple years the building has been draped in a white tarp twice with secret work happening underneath the curtains -- apparently sandblasting away old paint and then this year re-pointing the bricks as the rail station serving Woodstock will have a new look after the scaffolding is removed soon. 

When the first choo choo chugged it's way into The Friendly City the local member of parliament for (Upper) Canada West was also the Premier of the day, namely (pictured) Sir Francis Hincks (1807 - 1885; Born in Ireland, died in Montreal). Hincks has a significant historical background and should be remembered more locally. 

The inaugural railway would run from Windsor to Burlington Bay. Today's VIA trains are on the same track mapping as they maneuver from Windsor to London to Woodstock to Brantford to Burlington to Union Station in Toronto with a few stops along the way.  

I learned something new when reading the Doug Symons local history book that by 1881 the gauge of the tracks had been modified to be narrowed for the Grand Trunk Railway. 

This same historical collection The Village that Straddled A Swamp noted that the current train station was renovated initially in 1909, modified again in 1954 and again in 1983 (by VIA). I'm not sure on the date of the most recent interior improvements, but I would think it's safe to announce that the current exterior facade facelift would advance that timeline to 2023-24. The folks at Wikipedia suggest 1885 for the station construction by the Grand Trunk Railway. Either way, it appears it will shine once again as the beacon for track passengers departing and arriving in Woodstock. As a comparison note, the Oxford Courthouse on Hunter dates back to 1890.

In 1993 it was designated as a Heritage Railway Station under a federal government protection act to preserve these building across the country.

VIA Rail continues to be a Crown Corporation, so they lease time on tracks owned by other corporations -- most notable CN and CPKC.

The Woodstock station was designed by Joseph Hobson in a Gothic Revival style.

Woodstock's past and present would include at least 3 other railways, including tracks from Tavistock to Port Dover which no longer exist. 

On the north side of Woodstock, the Canadian Pacific tracks were moved completely in the mid-1960s when the Pittock Lake (The tale of Gordon Pittock is important to recall as well.) was created. The trains travel on the north shore of the Thames today, but originally ran on the south side of the river. This line is now CPKC which hosts the Santa Train annually on Winnett Street. When I was growing up at corner of Oxford and Drew there were still passenger trains on this service line, but they ceased more than 50 years ago.

The other clickity-clack express still steaming down the tracks is the Ontario Southland Railway. 

Depicting popularity and overall interest, this past weekend included a model train show at the Woodstock Fairgrounds. 

Local train enthusiast Ken Westcar has spoken to both Woodstock and County councils about the importance of track travel today with his thoughts on suggesting more frequent stops at both the Woodstock and Ingersoll stations. Westcar wrote opinion pieces as a proponent for additional emphasis on train travel (Including an analysis of high-speed trains) and coinciding upgrades both in the London Free Press and Woodstock Sentinel-Review. Westcar is a board member for an association called Transportation Action Ontario (TAO) and shou,ld be applauded for his research.

In the meantime, here's my round of applause for VIA Rail and its improvements to the 139-year-old Woodstock train station 

Sources:

The Village that Straddled A Swamp by Doug Symons

Woodstock Bits & Pieces by Williams & Baker

Google: The Internet

www.viarail.ca

https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=4610&pid=0

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CPR_London/history_Woodstock.htm

www.ontariosouthlandrailway.ca

Compiled By: Mark Schadenberg

Woodstock City Council

(519) 532-2068

Email: mschadenberg@cityofwoodstock.ca

Tom Hanks is my favourite actor, so combining the train theme and our season, 

here's a promo for the great movie Polar Express.

 

Salvation Army, Operation Sharing now share The Christmas Place

It's better to give than to receive

Happy Holidays to you and all your family and friends.

It's now December -- a time to recall all the happenings of this calendar and celebrate Christmas.

Whether the 'reason for the season', is a nativity scene, advent wreath and Christmas hymns on top of your holiday list; or singing carols about Kris Kringle and watching Alastair Sim in a Dickens classic are the ornaments of your season -- it can always be said that many important charities are in place to help those in need with festive food and presents wrapped in colourful paper for the kids.

Often, I like to give extra promotion and recognition to groups requesting donations which I have a closer connection to, which is why The Christmas Place (Operation Sharing; www.operationsharing.ca) and Salvation Army are the stars atop my evergreen.

I've been a member of the Lions Club of Woodstock for about 20 years and we play the role of elves for the Christmas Place annually by delivering their materials from storage and then after the event returning them to Santa's secret hideaway a few days later. It goes along with the Lions motto 'We Serve', and Peter and Carole Ewing are dedicated volunteers pulling together all the boughs and ribbons on this particular effort.  

This year, the Christmas Place is combining its 'wish list' with the Salvation Army (519 539-9345). You can call it one-stop shopping or you can realize it's best practices that these two organizations combine their toy collections and food drive under one Santa work shop roof -- and that location for The Christmas Place is Huron Park Baptist Church on Berwick Street.

Operation Sharing continues its dedication to The Inn (Old St Paul's Church with its 55 over night beds), and at College Ave church (Wilson and Peel) with programs ranging from the Sharing Table (lunch meals) to Coats For Kids, Food For Friends (public's monetary donations at food store cash registers), and wrap-around services for homeless. 

The charitable group Cycles Of Life is also an affiliate, and support is received from countless companies, grocery stores, and individuals and the United Way of Oxford.

Salvation Army at 769 Juliana continues with many of its collection projects, and certainly is heard every December with its kettle campaign at various local retail outlets. The monies you donate in Woodstock are for Oxford County services. I have volunteered many times in this capacity and there's an ad her to help you join the kettle brigade.

A big Santa Ron thank-you goes out to Heart FM for its annual stuff-the-bus promotion and many many groups bring in donations such as the Woodstock Fire Department. 

Like the song says: 'It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year', (Andy Williams, 1962) and it should be for everyone. 

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It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be much mistltoeing

And hearts will be glowing

When loved ones are near

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

And caroling out in the snow

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OTHER IMPORTANT GROUPS -- THINKING OF OTHERS

There are at least 3 other associations which should be promoted.

At 887 Dufferin Street you will find the Family Church (519 533-1777), which is accepting items for its 'toys for tots' for what they call Harbour House.  

Harbour House is gathering up new unwrapped toys, but also invite the donation of gently used toys for small children and baby items. The actual Toy & Tot event is Dec. 17. 

The Family Church is hosting a Christmas Dinner on Dec. 22 at 5 p.m.

Another group to consider is the church Increasing Faith Fellowship (519 539-3179) at 50 Finkle as they coordinate an on-going Clothes Closet year-round accept donations.

There is also the Hunter Weston memorial toy drive and collection.

I'm sure this is just a partial list of charities to support around Christmas. This is also the season for shopping local, visiting church bazaars and craft shows, watching parades, enjoying turkey dinner, and simply being kind.

May you have a great holiday season and a wonderful 2025.

   

  

Terell Lloyd is a former Knight; now a Golden Hawk

Woodstock basketball player has compiled impressive resume 

Very quietly, Woodstock has developed a top OUA basketball player. He's quite good, but receives very little recognition.

Terrell Lloyd is an athlete from Woodstock you should know more about.

The College Avenue Secondary School grad has been considered one of the top post-secondary basketball players in Ontario for the past few years. I note it to be post-secondary as the previous college hoops star at Conestoga is now playing for Waterloo’s Laurier Golden Hawks in the OUA.

Lloyd is a 6-foot-3 guard and his stats prove that he knows how to find the rim, including 22 points in his most recent game, an 85-78 loss at Lakehead on Nov. 29 (Last Friday). Lloyd was 9-for-13 shooting in 26 minutes of floor time, leading his Laurier team in rebounds with 15.

Lloyd’s Laurier squad is just 3-8, but the Woodstock player has had a strong season so far – averaging 12.3 points / game. His top offensive game was 23 in a home loss to Carleton.

In the 23-24 season, Lloyd was an OUA rookie, but not really a freshman as he had transferred from college basketball (OCAA) and the Conestoga Condors.

In 21-22 and 22-23, Lloyd led the entire OCAA West in scoring, and in both years was a second team all-star selection. Points per game as a rookie were 24.3, and then 25.1 in second year. The 25.1 stat tied him for 2^nd in the entire CCAA. His season-high in 21-22 was 42 points versus Canadore Panthers (23 points in second quarter). He also led the league in steals with 20. A Condors’ press release suggested that Terell Lloyd and Ladera Ujullu-Obang were the top teammates in CCAA in 22-23.

Since Google is my friend, I noticed that the CASS Knights were WOSAA ‘AA’ senior bronze winners in 2019 with Lloyd. The Cory Smith penned (Stratford & Sentinel-Review reporter), noted that the Knights were 31-8 overall and unbeaten in Oxford league play for coaches Drew Symons and Jerry Kleiner. In 2019, Lloyd was Captains-Veterans City MVP and also won the slam dunk competition.

In the spring of 2018, Terell Lloyd was invited to represent Oxford in the Tri-City Top 40 high school talent as sponsored by Adidas. The event was at RIM Park in Waterloo.

Going back to 2017, Lloyd was already on every radar screen as he was the City MVP for CASS in the Captains-Veterans showcase with 24 points.

While at the home of the Knights this past Saturday for the Street Mayor Classic 3-on-3 event as organized by Why Not Us (See their info at www.whynotus.ca), I noted a trophy case recognizing many athletic grads from CASS  and naturally Terell Lloyd was part of the display. 

I certainly hope he gets all the credit he deserves for accomplishments on the hardwood.  

Cowan Fields today and tomorrow

Continuation of two earlier compilation entries 

By MARK SCHADENBERG

My difficulty in having a seat at City Council is that in-turn I really should make my documents made public here act simply as a set of facts with very little opinion. However, I will begin with the understood premise that the 1969-built Civic Centre Arena at the Woodstock Fairgrounds must be (should be) replaced quite soon. (Two blogs ago was my background piece on the history of local arenas.)

The Civic Centre is 55 years old and there is a long list of ineptitude items on its amenity list -- the City owns the property but not much more than the space the cinder-block building occupies plus some of the parking lot in front of the (built backwards) rink. The dressing rooms are too small, but foremost the accessibility has become an issue in a day-and-age where walkways, doors, turning spaces, bathrooms, and safety are expected to be at a higher AODA compliance level. A municipality should exceed regulations -- be above-and-beyond. There are a couple places at the Civic pad where boards are plexi-glass so someone in a wheelchair can watch. That is unacceptable, along with the width of the walkway from the players' benches to the corner office, and of course no access to the second-floor corner office as it only has stairs.  

The last 3 feasibility studies pertaining to recreation facilities ands needs in the City have pointed out the discrepancies at the Civic Centre. It's time to move on.

It can be said that I love the fairgrounds location -- more central than the Cowan Fields complex in the northeast by Devonshire and the continuation of Springbank. Civic Centre is closer to shopping and restaurants as well.

However, the City is prepared to place many more features at Cowan Fields, which already has a splash pad, playground equipment, 3 ball diamonds, a trail for connectivity, and (under landscaping phases right now) a regulation cricket field. Cowan Fields could be the focus destination. Since Cowan Fields became a reality there has been a long list of suggested and hinted-at recreation facilities including, but not limited to, a fourth ice surface, outdoor basketball, tennis, another ball diamond, swimming pool (indoor or outdoor), indoor gymnasium, a curling club, plus interesting possibilities such as pickleball courts (Recent addition to list due to huge demand), beach volleyball, and perhaps even a daycare centre.

I'm not going to break down all the dollars, cents and sense as the just-released Monteith Brown consultants report does an amazing job on that task and its attached here as a cut-and-paste pdf. The writer of a good portion of the study is originally from Woodstock in Anand Desai. Read the report and be sure to watch the council video from Nov. 7. 

Keep in mind, nothing will be built overnight and the City has other projects on the horizon and the current additions at both South Gate Centre and the Engineering office.  I add in the current dredging of Southside Pond project as it's well overdue. Earlier in the calendar, the City completed its renovation of the west end of the Market Theatre building and its now the headquarters for economic development, business improvement area staff, small business centre, along with human resources and downtown bylaw administration. This list proves that City Hall itself will require in the next decade an addition as well.

Around Woodstock there's many streets to be re-built (complete work including storm water, water lines, and waste water). It can be added that Southside Aquatic Centre requires attention in its dressing rooms spaces. The City has a 30-year-old community complex needing a new roof, the police station will soon need to expand, and Woodstock's need for a third firehall is on the checklist. 

Naturally it can not be forgotten that there is an approved Dundas Streetscape plan to begin in the spring of 2025.

Municipal budgets for 2025 (Capital and Operating) will begin their dissecting by council and senior staff later this month.

All projects require a minimum of 4 of 7 votes to happen, and when the majority has made an affirmative decision that ruling becomes automatically 'a consensus of council'. Also, someone who voted against a spending proposal is not able to re-open discussions, but someone who voted in favour is permitted to change their mind and re-introduce a motion to reverse a previous decision. 

This note will include prognosticating pictures of possibilities but keep in mind none of it has been approved. The City CAO has continued a long tradition of maintaining an on-going 5-year rolling budget but only the lines with a 2024 heading have been approved for 2024. Therefore, something earmarked for 2027 could happen quicker in 2026, and vice versa a envisioned venture for 2026 maybe could be pushed back to 2027 or could possibly never happen.

In the meantime, I'm excited about all conceivable hypotheticals as the City advances to being home to more facilities for its citizens. Yes, there is a cost attached and it's easy to utilize development charges from growth for a 4th arena, but not to replace an existing arena. Another combination to the puzzle is that this rec complex could be constructed over 3 or 4 phases.  

I do add that there should be (could be) assistance from neighbouring townships at some financial levels in building rinks or pools or gyms or beach volleyball courts as minor hockey (example) has many registered from places such as Sweaburg and Innerkip and Oxford Centre. I would hope that's an opinion you would share. 

The City can not make a Friendly City plea to County Council for money as recreation facilities are in the lower tier of responsibilities. 

Also, and here's the community commitment -- when the community complex on Finkle was built in the mid-1990s the fundraising committee raised $3 million for a $13.5 million twin-pad arena with a gymnastics centre and a community hall. Somehow a local contingent of leisure and recreation folks must bond together and begin raising interest and money in a separate account from industry, user groups, and other citizens. Any grant writing will be done by the City because we now have the feasibility studies penned which prove the necessity. 

LINKS:

https://pub-woodstock.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=2122

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/PDFs/ParksRec/Woodstock-Recreation-Facility-Needs-Study_Final.pdf

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/en/city-governance/municipal-studies-and-plans.aspx

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Remembrance Day: Three stories (RIP)

Ed Bennett, Tyler Todd and Andrew Jackson

Three stories -- all quite different and just one of the three is a Second World War item, but all are important to Oxford County.

For Mr. Ed Bennett, please read the Oxford archives piece included here. 

I will always remember Remembrance Day of 2010. As a member of the on-air broadcast team for the London Knights on Rogers TV, I was invited to the Remembrance Day ceremony at Parkwood Hospital in London as Rick Doyle's wife Janice was a RN there. While the focus on this healthcare centre has evolved in the past 14 years, back in 2010 it was the home mostly to veterans of many world combat theatres and most especially World War II. Ed Bennett -- from Woodstock -- was residing at Parkwood, but I didn't see him in the congregation of veterans that morning. Sadly, I would discover later that day, Ed Bennett passed away that day at the age of 87. Another hero gone.

Bennett had been a prisoner of war and his story is something every Canadian should read.

I was able to spend time with Bennett and not through him regaling his past in the military but rather his past in athletics. Ed Bennett was a member of the 1931 Canadian junior football champion Woodstock Grads, he was among the founders of the local YMCA, he was a member of the old Woodstock Ski Club executive, was a proficient golfer at Craigowan, and an accomplished hockey player.

Bennett in Woodstock history became such an integral individual in the early 1980s when he led a committee which repatriated Joseph Whiteside 'Klondike Joe' Boyle to Woodstock for re-burial. Boyle had died in England in 1923 but is now greatly honoured in the Presbyterian cemetery on Vansittart.

Bennett would comment to me that I reminded him of Boyle's stature and that's when Ed Bennett spoke at the inauguration of Boyle to the Woodstock Sports Wall Of Fame. You may recall that Boyle was horse trainer, boxing promoter and manager of the Dawson City Nuggets hockey club which challenged for the Stanley Cup in 1905. By the way, there are many great books about Boyle, but I'm getting off topic.

Bennett's war heroics revolved around the Oxford Rifles, the Canadian Tank brigade, and the Calgary Regiment's advancements at Dieppe in 1942. Bennett was blinded in one eye due to a cylinder exploding. He would be an advisor for the CBC on a documentary about those times and other moments including time as a prisoner of war.

Ed Bennett would work in the insurance business after returning to Woodstock. His wife Lee was prominent in Woodstock Little Theatre (Theatre Woodstock) and was librarian at Woodstock Public Library.

https://archives.oxfordcounty.ca/blog/edwin-bennett/

https://memorials.smithleroy.com/edwin-bennett/3949754/

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TYLER TODD

Huron Park Secondary School grad Tyler Todd was killed in Afghanistan. Todd was from Bright and grew up on a dairy farm. Todd was a member of the famed 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry unit (Based in Edmonton). He died at just 26 as a road-side bomb exploded. The date was April 11, 2010. Private Todd was on foot patrol and was Canada's 142nd casualty in Afghanistan. The team Todd was with that day were not on an offensive movement, but as the story attached here notes they were visiting a city to tabulate a list of resources the citizens there in Belanday might be requiring.

My recollections of that time would again be about sacrifice as Tyler Todd could have continued as a dairy farmer or became a firefighter as his education after high school would note, but instead he signed up for several tours in Kandahar. He initially joined the Canadian Army in 2017.

Included is a link to the Macleans magazine story about Todd and his return along the Highway 401's Highway Of Heroes (Technically it's the portion of the highway from CFB Trenton to Toronto's coroner office). 

Thanks to associations like Wounded Warriors Canada, the nearby village of Plattsville has hosted a hockey tournament to honour Tyler Todd -- an event which raised important dollars for veterans of more recent conflicts for on-going healthcare including mental health concerns.

Artist Dave Sopha of Cambridge had created a collage painting of more than 150 Canadians who did in Afghanistan and that portrait was on display at the Plattsville rink.  Sadly, Sopha passed away from cancer in 2021. 

https://macleans.ca/news/canada/the-return-of-private-todd/

https://woundedwarriors.ca/community-comes-together-in-memory-of-local-soldier/

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ANDREW JACKSON

While Ed Bennett returned home from World War II and Bright's Tyler Todd was killed in Afghanistan, my third tribute is to Woodstock's Andrew Jackson who returned alive from serving in Canada's forces in Afghanistan.

However, it's not a content ending as Andrew Jackson died March 18, 2022. After 12 years in uniform, Jackson was retired from serving and it was noted he had gained the level of master corporal. Jackson was just 36.

I consider his dad Brian and step-mom Joyce good friends through many connections including the Terry Fox Run as cancer has been sadly a long time connection to their families, including Joyce's Garner family. 

His obit said: "He left us peacefully in his sleep. Heaven has gained another angel.  Andrew had a heart of gold -he loved his family and friends enormously!  He was passionate about his country and proudly served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 12 years, fighting in the Afghanistan war in 2009. Andrew was courageous, had a terrific sense of humour and a beaming smile from ear to ear.  Although Andrew was left with some challenges related to serving in the military, he continued to fight for what he believed in. . . Many friends are left to mourn his passing.  Rest in peace, Andrew.  You are dearly missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know you."

Andrew Jackson had 3 siblings, but also had 3 children -- Gabriel, Sophia, and Luke. 

Jackson had connections to Parkwood in London with the OSI group -- Operational Stress Injury Clinic -- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

His death notice from the Canadian Military Engineers Association noted Jackson's tenure at Gagetown in New Brunswick and the fact he served in Afghanistan in 2009 as a member of the Expedient Route Opening Capability (EROC). 

Joyce Jackson was Woodstock's Silver Cross Mother on Remembrance Day in 2022.  

Painting by: Maeghan Schadenberg