Local Journalism Initiative

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

As the clock struck 10 a.m. on Jan. 1, retired Bishop’s Professor Stephen Sheeran led a growing crowd of intrepid souls into the icy embrace of Lake Massawippi. This annual ritual, a polar plunge started nearly two decades ago by current Bishop’s Professor Carleton Monk, has transformed from a frosty personal challenge into a cherished community event, drawing residents and holiday visitors alike into the chilly waters to mark the new year with a shared, shivering thrill.

“He’s the original ice man,” said Monk referring to Sheeran, “everybody else runs in and runs out.” Sheeran goes in and comes out slowly as if taking a bath, Monk added with a chuckle.

The two have been taking the 10 a.m., Jan. 1, polar plunge at North Hatley’s public beach for around 20 years. In the year 2000, there was hardly any snow and the temperature was mild, Monk remembers. He decided, to ring in the new year, “to go for a little swim”. Three or four years later, Sheeran learned of Monk’s newly-forged tradition and chose to join him. For many years thereafter, it was often just the two of them, though sometimes their children would participate. Around 10 years ago, the tradition began to snowball until dozens started showing up.

One year, Monk recounted, it was at least 20 degrees below zero. It was so cold he could not dry himself because the water turned to ice on his skin. “My suit froze, everything froze.”

Sometimes they have had to put a hole in the ice a few days before, sometimes they need to walk out on the ice to open water, and other times, like Monday, they can just wade right in. Monk speculates the water temperature is around five degrees, similar to the Pacific Ocean near Victoria, B.C., where he also often swims. Some say the Massawippi is only two or three degrees, but he does not believe it.

“The water really takes the heat out of you,” Monk admitted, “you have to be careful.” Going in and getting out quickly is your best bet. Monk is used to cold water, but even he had to be warmed up once in an ambulance at a polar swim event he ran out west. “You have to warm up after.”

“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs over the years,” said Sheeran, “it goes according to the season.” In 2023 there were around 40 people involved, he noted.

On Jan. 1, 2024, at 10 a.m., dozens of all ages had already gathered on North Hatley’s public beach to take the frosty yearly dip or cheer their friends and family on. Sheeran led the way, striding calmly into the frigid waters, even swimming out a bit and treading water while waves of others joined him. Some, like Monk, chose to jump in off a nearby pier. The saunas on shore were open, free of charge, for people to recover from the ordeal.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Local hotel propels Mae Sot Education Project forward

In a blend of local generosity and global compassion, the Mae Sot Education Project (MSEP) continues its mission to educate Burmese migrant children in Thailand, propelled by the innovative fundraising efforts of the Townships community. Spearheaded by Stephen Stafford’s initiative, a raffle for a luxurious stay at his Hovey Manor—including a visit to its new spa—has raised $7,500 this season.

This heartening local support comes at a crucial time as the MSEP grapples with post-pandemic challenges and an increasing refugee influx from Myanmar’s ongoing conflict, reaffirming the community’s commitment to making a life-changing impact on the lives of these children and the volunteers who teach them. The MSEP has been committed to supporting education for migrant and refugee youth from Burma/Myanmar since 2004. Its volunteers are mainly Bishop’s University and Champlain Lennoxville students.

“It started a year ago, we did it last year as well,” MSEP Coordinator Mary

Purkey said, referring to the raffle, “it was really Stephen Stafford’s initiative.” There are many faithful donors like Stafford in the local community. Stafford proposed doing something different – raffling off a room and meals at his five-star North Hatley hotel, Hovey Manor.

The idea worked well last year, selling tickets was “a piece of cake”. This year, time at the Hovey’s new spa was added on to the prize. The price of the ticket was upped $5, which did not discourage participants in the slightest, she said. This year they made $7,500, selling the tickets beginning in early November. “It was very much slated as a holiday raffle.”

The recent pandemic had a profound effect on the organization’s operations. Parents of the children in Thailand were unable to work and the focus was taken off education and put on maintaining the basic necessities of life. Related rising transportation costs, to get the Thai children out of their villages to school, were also a problem. Purkey noted another organization, Inclusive Education Foundation, helped the MSEP and other institutions teaching in Thailand to work through that difficult time.

In Covid’s aftermath, schooling has regained its priority, but the nearby fighting and coup in Myanmar has led to an influx of refugees of different ethnic backgrounds. The prospect of them returning to Myanmar and having “secure and happy lives” there is low, so the education system has been called on to adapt.

How does teaching English relate to all of this? “English teaching is ultimately not the important part of what [we] are doing there,” Purkey explained. Volunteers are there mainly to make a cultural connection and reassure the children there are people in the world that care for them. However, English is of practical use there and is in demand. The local tourism business needs people that can communicate in English. The refugees currently have no path towards citizenship, but learning English can give them “prospects”, Purkey said.

This year’s deadline for applications for the MSEP is Jan. 5, 2024. Since Covid, it has been more difficult to recruit students and there have been fewer applicants. People seem simply to be less willing to go abroad for extended periods. However, the MSEP is a great experience for those who wish to go on and work for international NGOs. The vast majority of participants, Purkey emphasized, have found the experience “life-changing” and have learned at least as much as the students they have taught. Purkey speculates that admission in the future could be opened to students from other schools or older members of the community.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for refugees,” Stafford said, detailing his motivations for helping out with the project, “I think it’s a global problem.” Refugees are the most tenacious, courageous, and ambitious members of their societies, and he thinks they would probably make for “good citizens”. South American refugees “go through hell” to reach the American border and he does not like how they are often “pilloried”. Refugees from Myanmar in Mae Sot are often treated badly, he continued, and do not get a lot of support, which is why he provides assistance.

Stafford has been involved with the MSEP for years, previously giving yearly $5,000 donations at its annual banquet. “The raffle brings more money to [the MSEP],” he explained. The potential prize makes for a great Christmas present, he said with a chuckle. “Mary Purkey has done a lot of work and I think it is a wonderful project.” The MSEP also benefits those who volunteer, he added, and makes them better “world citizens”.

Calila Tardif and Felix Duplessis-Marcotte, former MSEP volunteers who went on to marry and are still involved with the project, spoke on what the organization means to them.

The two participated in 2016; both were students at Champlain Lennoxville. The generosity from Mae Sot local students and teachers made a big impression on Tardif. What seems like a small organization from a Canadian perspective makes a big difference in Thailand, and the locals show their appreciation, she said.

“It was the relationships that I built,” said Duplessis-Marcotte, referring to what about the experience had the biggest impact on him. Not only the relationships with Mae Sot locals, but the Lennoxville community as well.

The MSEP taught Duplessis-Marcotte leadership – one must quickly become a good teacher and role-model to succeed. Currently completing his PhD in neuropsychology in Montreal, he does not think he would have been able to get through it without his MSEP experience.

Tardif learned “flexibility and engagement” from her time there; the job requires quick adaptation and adjustment. She also learned the value of this kind of volunteer work.

On Dec. 28, a party of around 20 people involved with and interested in the MSEP gathered in Hovey Manor’s Abenaki Room to determine the winner of the raffle. Purkey presided over the event, which was live streamed on Tardif’s phone. Stafford randomly chose a name from a large jar: Michael Petitclerc.

Petitclerc was not there, so Purkey called him and left a message telling him the news. Rounding out the event, Purkey thanked all those involved, and an open discussion was held on the MSEP and related issues. Committee member Graham Moodie was presented with his own certificate in thanks for all the work he had put into organizing the raffle.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Dr. Robert Edward Whitley, of McGill University’s psychiatry department, has shed light on a compelling correlation in a Dec. 20 interview: the more religious individuals are, the better their mental health tends to be. Supported by an array of studies, Whitley’s research reveals a moderate yet positive relationship across various religious practices and mental well-being, pointing to the nuanced yet significant role faith plays in psychological health. This groundbreaking research not only navigates the complexities of religiosity and atheism but also highlights the potential of Eastern religious practices like yoga and meditation in improving mental health outcomes. As societies grapple with the implications of faith and well-being, Whitley’s empirical findings offer a nuanced perspective on the ancient debate surrounding the impact of spirituality on mental health.

“The more religious people tend to be, the better their mental health,” Whitley said; a proposition supported by numerous studies. He noted that “religiosity” can be measured systematically using criteria such as how often one attends a place of worship, engages in prayer, and reads or meditates upon sacred texts. Mental health is measured using criteria including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other markers of wellbeing. A “moderate” positive relationship between the two has been shown across many different religions.

Most studies have been done using Christian samples, the minority using Jewish and Muslim samples. Lower rates of suicide and substance abuse have been shown to correlate with the religiosity of countries regardless of religion.

“It’s not a perfect linear relationship between complete atheism and very devout religion,” Whitley explained, “in fact, it’s more complex than that.” In the surveys used in these studies, there is a category called the “nones”. “Nones” are those who check “none of the above” when they are asked if they are a particular religion or spiritual at all. This metric “mixes in” hardcore atheists and agnostics, those who are “not quite sure” but do not practice.

Hardcore atheists do not tend to have the worst mental health, for they have their own ideology and belief system that gives them “purpose and meaning”; this is the only world there is, they think, and they try to make the best of it. Those with the worst mental health simply practice nothing and have nothing to replace it with. In addition, there is some evidence that some religious practices can be “damaging” if they are taken too far – fasting and religious concepts of ‘sin’ and ‘perfection’ can cause a lot of guilt and shame. However, Whitley reaffirmed, the relationship between religiosity and mental health is positive, despite these nuances.

A new body of research shows some of the practices of Eastern religions can be very good for your mental health: yoga and “mindfulness” or meditation, for instance. In Western countries, these practices tend to be stripped of their moral and spiritual dimensions, a phenomenon some criticize. He does research on military veterans, who have been successfully dealing with sleep, chronic pain, and PTSD issues, using yoga.

Every religion comes with a moral code, a set of practices determining what it is to live your life well. Research has shown giving support to others is good for your own mental health by connecting yourself into a “wider group” and giving your life meaning and purpose.

“G. K. Chesterton said that when people stop believing in God, they believe in anything,” Whitley continued. What Chesterton was referring to was astrology, palm-reading and other “pseudo-sciences”, but, Whitley said, this nugget of wisdom has a broader application. Societies that have abolished God and religion, like Communist Russia and Nazi Germany, have replaced them with “very harmful and damaging ideologies”.

Whitley has done research on those who have abandoned their religious upbringing and become involved in damaging subcultures. Part of their recovery involved rejoining a religious group and rediscovering its importance in their lives.

Whitley emphasized that he is an empirical researcher and is not promoting any particular religion, the adherence to which is a matter of personal choice. But, “the evidence is irrefutable” that religiosity is good for your mental health, which is important for people to factor in when that choice is made.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

In a heartwarming tale of survival fitting for the holiday spirit, Akli Ait-Eldjoudi, a local dog-owner, received the “best Christmas present ever!” after his dog, Gaïa, was dramatically rescued from the icy grip of Massawippi Lake. A cheerful Christmas Day was the reward for both the dog and her family following Gaïa’s ill-fated chase after ducks that led her 50 meters from shore, where the ice betrayed her. The quick response and bravery of local firefighters, dubbed “guardian angels” by Ait-Eldjoudi, turned a chilling incident into a timely reminder of the perils of thin ice and the importance of ice safety.

Gaïa on thin ice

“I was in the middle of touring Estrie with my parents,” Ait-Eldjoudi said, “and we stopped for two seconds in Ayer’s Cliff.” He opened the car door to let Gaïa stretch her legs. The second she was free, she bolted.

Ait-Eldjoudi had not seen the ducks out on Massawippi Lake, but Gaïa had. She chased them out on the frozen waters, getting as far as 50 meters from shore. Then, she went through the ice. “I was very upset!” he admitted.

Gaïa tried to climb back out of the water onto the ice, but it kept breaking under her weight. There was no way Ait-Eldjoudi could save her safely himself, so he called 9-1-1. “They understood the gravity of the situation,” he recounted.

It took around 30 minutes for the firefighters to arrive. During that time, he kept speaking to Gaïa to reassure her. Towards the end of their wait, she started wailing in a way he had never heard before. “I’m hurting! I’m going to die!” he took it to mean. They had tried to get help from neighbouring houses, but all the boats were stowed away for the winter.

The firefighters, after reassuring him everything would be okay, placed their own rescue boat on the water and progressively broke the ice in front of them as they made their way out to where Gaïa was stranded. They pulled her out of the water and brought her back to shore, after which she spent 15 minutes in their truck, wrapped in blankets, to warm up.

It was Christmas Day and Ait-Eldjoudi and his family took Gaïa home and had fun with her and opened presents. “We never would have celebrated Christmas,” he said, if things had worked out for the worse.

Ait-Eldjoudi emphasized that people must be cautious concerning thin ice. “Don’t take any risks,” he urged. During the ordeal it was the worst he had ever felt, he was totally powerless. “There was nothing I could do. It was horrible.”

Ice rescues

Régie Incendie Memphrémagog Est Division Chief Dany Brus, based in Ayer’s Cliff, offered further information on the incident and ice safety and rescues in general.

“We get a call almost once a year for a dog on the lake,” Brus said, “it happens more often than you think.” They respond to those calls, unlike those concerning cats in trees, because if they do not rescue the animal, someone else will likely try and put themselves at risk. He would rather help the animal first than have to deal with rescuing a human being.

Upon receiving a call, the firefighters make their way to their station and suit up, so they are ready to go when they arrive at the scene. Firefighters will prioritize ice rescues, even if they are currently on a fire call; ideally, they split into teams. One truck always contains everything they will need for an ice rescue.

During the rescue, the firefighters wear “ice commander” dry suits, helmets, and lifejackets, and are equipped with ice picks and ropes. They operate in two teams – a “red team” and a “yellow team”. For this incident, they used a “Polar 75”, a special boat made for ice rescues that has openings on each end to pull people (or animals) in. The boat is connected by a rope to a team on shore, who pulls it rapidly to shore once the “patient” is safely onboard.

The dog was dried off as fast as possible once it was back on land. The truck is also equipped with a heated “rescue cube” to warm the patient up until they can recover.

If the ice is thick, the firefighters will not use a boat but go out on frozen waters, first walking, then crawling, then sliding on their bellies to make the rescue.

It was Station #3 (Ayer’s Cliff) and Station #4 (North Hatley) that responded.

“Don’t go on the ice,” Brus said, when asked if he had a message to impart. Do not go near the edge of the ice near open water. Ice is thinner near entrances and exits of the lake, like the mouths of streams or rivers. “We don’t have the winters we used to,” he said, “it’s more unpredictable now.”

Ice safety

Brus emailed The Record a list of ice safety measures, detailed below:

– Stay on safe surfaces and away from hazardous areas such as streams and rivers.

– Ice should be checked regularly to ensure that it is thick and strong enough for recreational use.

– Measure ice thickness at several points.

– Local conditions such as currents and water depths can affect ice thickness. Consult knowledgeable locals.

– Never go out on the ice alone.

– Someone with you could rescue you or go for help if you run into difficulties. Before leaving shore, tell someone where you’re going and what time you’ll be back.

– Dress warmly.

– Wearing several layers of clothing allows you to remove or add pieces for optimum comfort in all circumstances. Don’t forget the extremities: waterproof boots, warm gloves and a well-lined tuque help keep the heat in.

– Carry your safety equipment with you at all times.

– Ice picks, worn around the neck with a string, are indispensable on frozen water. Make sure you have a rope and a small personal safety kit in your pocket.

– If you’re driving on ice, be ready to react.

– Turn on your headlights, open your windows, unlock your doors, and make sure your seatbelts are not buckled, so you can escape quickly from your vehicle if the ice gives way under its weight.

– Always keep an eye on children and accompanying persons.

– Children must always be under the active supervision of an adult. If they are not within arm’s reach, they have ventured too far.

– Be aware of the dangers of ice rescue.

– Rescuing another person from the ice can be dangerous. The safest way to perform a rescue is from the shore. If you see someone in trouble, call 9-1-1.

The recommended minimum ice thickness for new and clear ice according to societedesauvetage.org is:

7 cm (3″) or less – danger

10 cm (4″) – single walker

12 cm (5″) – snowmobile or ATV

20-30 cm (8-12″) – automobile

30-38 cm (12-15″) – medium weight truck

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

According to Dr. Richard Koestner, a psychology professor at McGill University, about half of North Americans regularly make New Year’s resolutions, but statistics reveal that nearly 90 per cent abandon their goals by year’s end. Koestner delves into the psychology behind this widespread phenomenon, offering insights on why so many fail and providing practical strategies for successful goal setting and achievement.

“About 50 per cent of North Americans make [New Year’s] resolutions [regularly],” explained Koestner. Studies have been done wherein people were surveyed before New Year’s as to whether they were thinking of making a resolution, it was recorded what the resolutions made were, and the people were tracked, until six months later, to see if they followed through.

The studies show a basic pattern: 25 per cent drop out in the first week, 30 per cent after two weeks, and around 40 per cent after the first month. Often in January, he said, you will see many new people in the gym that stop going within the first few months. By the end of the year, he continued, all but 10 per cent of people will have given up on their resolution.

“It’s very hard to change our behaviour, our habits,” Koestner admitted. Often, resolutions concern important life changes, like quitting smoking, eating healthy, and exercising more. Those who quit smoking often make up to 10 solid attempts before doing so. The pervasive sense that most people fail in their resolutions discourages many from making any. He still thinks it is worth it, but one should not be too tough with oneself if one fails.

Those who put thought into their resolutions early in December tend to do better. When one sets a goal, it is important to consider why one is setting it. If the reasons are interest or that you find the goal “personally valuable” or meaningful, you are more likely to follow through. Many set resolutions because they are comparing themselves to others, at the advice of others, or guilt. The more you feel you are forced into it “it backfires”.

Often, people set too many resolutions. The best is to set one, maybe two at most. Goals require remembering, changing behaviour and self-control. There is evidence that our capacity to exercise self-control is limited. Our lives are busy; adding too many new goals can be self-defeating.

Nothing “magic” happens when you set a new goal. The second and more important step is to make a solid plan of action. “The plan has to specify when, where and how you’re going to do what you’re hoping to do.” Thinking through these aspects of your resolution better help you achieve what you are aiming at. Koestler urges people to craft plans that make adherence to them as “automatic” as possible. There is evidence that a good plan that is stuck to for a month can create a new habit.

Other people in your life can play an important role in your resolutions. The way they respond to your goal can support you in your efforts. Teaming up with a friend and “pushing each other” has been shown to have an effect. The need for self-control can be partially “outsourced” to others. Some 10 to 15 studies he has done has shown that “cheerleading” support does not hurt, but it does not really help either. A “gentler” kind of support, where others merely show interest and keep tabs on what you are doing, works better.

“Montreal, on January 1^st, is probably the worst time to set a goal,” Koestler said. It is cold, there is no sunshine, and leftover projects from the fall need to be accomplished. The best time to set a goal in our northern region is Canada Day, he suggested. The weather is nicer and you will likely have some vacation time to work with. Koestler himself resets resolutions he has failed on Canada Day.

Koestler reiterated that resolutions are still worth it, even if one will likely fail, since multiple attempts are often needed and one can learn from each failure.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Local Hélène Hayes Cunningham shared an eye-opening account with The Record of the financial and healthcare challenges faced by her family due to the expensive Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. This account underscores the broader issue of vaccine affordability and accessibility in Canada. This situation is exacerbated by recent concerns over emergency room overcrowding and the healthcare system’s strained capacity to handle increasing patient numbers.

In a Dec. 19 interview, Cunningham recounted that the issue came to light in early December when her 44-year-old son, a resident of Beaconsfield and father to two young children aged four and seven, contracted RSV. His severe illness led him to advise his parents to get vaccinated. Cunningham, aged 76 and recently having undergone knee replacement surgery, and her 81-year-old husband, who has asthma and diabetes, were prime candidates for the vaccine.

Upon consulting their healthcare provider, Dr. Suzanne Banfill at the Bishop’s University healthcare center, the Cunninghams were prescribed the vaccine. However, they were informed about its high cost – initially quoted at $175 but later billed at $288.75 per dose. This brought the total cost for the couple to nearly $600, a significant financial burden.

“For preventive medicine we’re close to $600 down. And I would have taken it anyway because I’ve been navigating the health care system and I truly believe in taking care of myself first. But… I feel it’s thoroughly unjust for people who don’t have the means to not be able to have access to this,” Cunningham explained.

Ontario is currently the only province that offers financial support for Arexvy, the RSV vaccine in question, for vulnerable populations. This regional disparity in healthcare coverage highlights the uneven access to essential medical treatments across Canada. The situation is further complicated by the lack of coverage for the vaccine by private insurance companies, as Cunningham discovered through her insurer, Desjardins.

In addition to the RSV vaccine, Cunningham drew attention to the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, which is, she said, offered free to those 80 and over in some provinces, including Prince Edward Island and Ontario, but not in others. This inconsistency in vaccine coverage within the Canadian healthcare system points to a broader issue of inequitable healthcare across the country.

Cunningham worries that the issue will get worse with Bill 15 and Santé Québec, the new healthcare administrative model recently slotted to be put in place.

“With this illness, I think that’s where we’re going forward with Santé Québec and the type of decisions that are taken at the top and not from the point of view of the patient. If it’s the point of view of the administrators only, they certainly don’t have the right aim with more prevention to help the health system,” she said.

The Record contacted local health authority CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS for comment on the current state of their ERs and received the following statement Dec. 18 from Nancy Corriveau, a media relations representative:

“We are noticing an increase in the number of users presenting to the emergency room with problems related to respiratory viruses and gastroenteritis. We remind you that people who show symptoms of gastroenteritis, sinusitis, otitis, or any other virus can call 811, option 1, to get an evaluation by a nurse and, if necessary, an appointment for a medical consultation, regardless of the user’s age and whether they have a family doctor. When a person shows symptoms of a respiratory virus, they are encouraged to reduce contact with people and adopt respiratory hygiene measures (hand washing, wearing a mask, etc.) to decrease the transmission of viruses.”

The Record contacted Quebec’s Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux (MSSS) over email Dec. 19 asking for an interview or statement as to why the RSV vaccine costs $288.75 and is not covered by the province. As of press time Dec. 21, the MSSS has not responded.