Woodstock is a Bird Friendly City

WEAC, local field naturalists applied to Nature Canada

Since Woodstock is considered the Friendly City; now it's time to also call it the Bird Friendly City thanks to a recent recognition from Nature Canada.

The list of criteria for this designation included a few factors, but one main point to be made is that the Woodstock Environment Advisory Committee (WEAC) created an ad-hoc committee with members of the Woodstock Field Naturalists, which was established in 1934, and also additional nature lovers such as wildlife photographers, trail lovers, and bird watchers to make this status possible.

I'm on the ad-hoc committee as a WEAC member for City Council, but the efforts of Elise Gabrielli and Dinath Ratnayake coordinated the on-going efforts that would also include Richard and Sharron Skevington (Sharron is the field naturalist club archivist), Carlos Gregorio, Elizabeth Spedaliere, April Scholz, Annette Taylor, and Sara McCreery.

The approval by Nature Canada translates into a corridor of Bird Friendly cities in southern Ontario -- London, Stratford, Guelph, Hamilton and up to Peterborough. Also, Ontario cities added to the list in 2026 are Ottawa, Caledon and Belleville. 

I was also quoted in the official Nature Canada press release.

“Since Woodstock is the Friendly City, I congratulate the entire committee, who have submitted the application to Nature Canada for Woodstock to be declared Bird Friendly. Bird watchers, nature photographers, and many others brought their expertise and dedication to this group.

"Many studies note the dwindling number of many species of birds in Ontario, and our community is joining a group of environmentally conscientious communities by thinking more about birds and their habitat, and also recognizing their importance to the eco system.” – Councillor Mark Schadenberg, City of Woodstock.

Sharron Skevington, Woodstock Field Naturalist executive notes: “We are proud to say that our own City of Woodstock is now one of more than 30 municipalities which have been certified as Bird Friendly Cities, committed to reducing key threats to local bird populations such as window collisions, cat predation and habitat loss.”  

The fact that Woodstock has the Thames River as a dominant feature on its map is also important as the Thames is a Canadian Heritage River -- a designation it earned in 2000 through the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and a hard-working committee at that time.

NEXT

The next goal for the Woodstock Bird Friendly committee is to have a selection community vote to name the city's official bird. The top three in the committee's nomination process are American Goldfinch, Black-Capped Chickadee and the Song Sparrow. I'm not a betting person, but my preference is the Goldfinch as it closely resembles the Charles Schulz bird Woodstock from the Peanuts series.

Goldfinch

Chickadee

Sparrow

It's another feather in the city's cap for 2016 as it's 'Woodstock125' to mark our city becoming a 'City' in 1901.

As for myself, the Bird Friendly committee deserves the recognition, plus all WEAC members including chair Chris Kennedy.

My background includes 25+ years on the recreation advisory committee (Many as chair), and 7+ years on the UTRCA board representing Woodstock.

www.cityofwoodstock.ca

https://naturecanada.ca/news/press-releases/new-bird-friendly-certifications/

www.woodstockfieldnaturalists.org

https://thamesriver.on.ca/about-us/thames-heritage-river/ 

Colin Campbell recognized by Tillsonburg sports hall

Colin Campbell recognized by Tillsonburg's sports hall

Oxford County has been the home to many top-notch athletes -- Woodstock, Tillsonburg and all corners of the county.

This past week (May 21) in Tillsonburg, one of my choices for Oxford greats in Colin Campbell received Lifetime Achievement recognition from the Tillsonburg Sports Hall Of Fame. It was the second time Campbell was inducted as he was previously recognized for a NHL career of 736 games between 1973 - 1985, playing with Detroit, Vancouver, Edmonton, Pittsburgh and even the former Colorado Rockies. 

Campbell, 73, who played his OHL hockey with the Peterborough Petes, is the long-time executive vice president and director of hockey operations of the NHL and was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame in Toronto in 2024.

The link to the full list of 2026 inductees in Tillsonburg is included below and you can see by the town's website that many other noteworthy athletes, coaches and builders of sports have been honoured along with several teams.

In coaching circles, Campbell was an assistant with the Red Wings and Rangers, and became New York's head coach during the 1994-95 season. When the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 93-94 season, Campbell was an assistant coach for Mike Keenan. 

In the spring of 1997, his Rangers lost in the East final to Philadelphia. 

By 2000, Campbell was hired by the NHL as the league's Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations, which is a role at that time linked to assigning discipline and suspensions to players.

Another accolade -- on Jan. 11, 2020 a banner raising ceremony was held in Peterborough for Campbell.

His son Greg played over 800 regular season games in the NHL.

Thinking of Tillsonburg, and don't let your back ache too much on this trivia question, but who is the only Oxford County hockey player to win Gold at the world juniors -- Jeff Bes in 1993 is Sweden.

WOODSTOCK

Meanwhile, the Woodstock Sports Wall Of Fame is not planning an induction for 2026, but a link to the form to nominate is included here:   https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/recreation-culture/festivals-and-special-events/sports-wall-of-fame/

LINKS FOR TILLSONBURG EVENT:

https://www.tillsonburg.ca/recreation-and-culture/sports-hall-of-fame/   

https://www.tillsonburg.ca/news/posts/tillsonburg-announces-2026-sports-hall-of-fame-inductees-town-of-tillsonburg/

https://www.nhl.com/news/colin-campbell-elected-to-hockey-hall-of-fame-in-builder-category

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=792

www.hockeydb.com

Turtle Island School celebrates its grand opening

A wonderful afternoon at Turtle Island elementary at 717 Knights Lane in Woodstock today (May 20) with a grand opening celebration featuring TVDSB boss Bill Tucker, Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman, Woodstock mayor Jerry Acchione, representatives from both JP Thomson architects and Graceview contracting, an exuberant principal in Holly Powell, about 800 students and teachers, and me.

The K-8 school opened in Woodstock's Havelock Corners subdivision on the north side of Pittock Lake, over 2 months ago (Feb. 17), and entertained a special parents' night last week with tours, a book fair, and food trucks, scavenger hunts and door prizes, but today was its official grand opening.

The mayor didn't require his giant scissors as the moment was marked by unveiling a poster to be displayed in the school's hallway.

TVDSB director of education Bill Tucker hides behind a student 

in the middle of this picture, which also includes 

principal Holly Powell (far left), MPP Ernie Hardeman 

and Woodstock mayor Jerry Acchione. 

The ceremony's itinerary featured songs (including a catchy school song) and a group of dancers, speeches of thanks by school senior staff, and an always-to-be-remembered rally and talk by TVDSB director of education Bill Tucker who walked up the middle of the gym to express his ideas on the importance of schooling and making friends, but also played a funny greeting game with the students.

The new school has a capacity for about 850 students, a price tag of about $32 million, plus a daycare centre operated by the YMCA, an impressive gymnasium, a bright atmosphere and all amenities expected in a brand new learning centre.
According to www.tvdsb.ca, Turtle Island has been in the plans for many years, including a community information parents night back on Oct. 27, 2022.

It was a vote by families with 40% favoring the name Turtle Island which finalized what the school's name would be.

It was April 23, 2024 when Graceview received the final contract in the tendering / bidding process. At the grand opening I chatted with a representative from architect JP Thomson who explained how the required ingredients were combined to create the school's final layout.

The current Ontario education minister is Paul Calandra, but at the time of the announcement of schoopl construction it was Stephen Lecce.

“We are determined to build schools and expansions faster, part of our commitment to modernize schools in fast growing communities," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education in a 2024 TVDSB release, "We are proud to deliver this critical expansion to the capacity of the new Woodstock Public School for local families, along with increasing funding, staffing and a back-to-basics focus on reading, writing and math skills to help ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers." 

“This new school will be a welcoming addition to north Woodstock,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford County as construction plans were finalized. “I am excited to see this project is getting underway. My constituents and I are looking forward to seeing this new learning environment that will come from this tender process.” 

Turtle Island is the first new public K-8 school in Woodstock since 1994 -- Algonquin. However, Springbank and Southside have both had significant additions since that time, while Central has a reasonably new gymnasium.

Now that the ceremonies are in the books, it's time for students to concentrate on the textbooks and for principal Holly Powell to supply a 'thumbs up'.

www.tvdsb.ca

Facebook Group: Parents Of Turtle Island

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WOW magazine for May / June is a great directory

The May / June WOW magazine -- Cowapolooza talent and much more

Compiled by Mark Schadenberg

What's On Woodstock is a promotional magazine that looks ahead at the many great offerings in the City of Woodstock.

The May / June edition is a preview to many events and attractions, but the front cover is announcing that Finger Eleven will be the star attraction at Cowapolooza this summer in Southside Park, August 14-15. Cowapolooza has featured many top Canadian rock bands over the years and Finger Eleven continues that tradition as their 8 studio albums have built a great library of rock music led by Paralyzer, One Thing, Together Right, and Living In A Dream.     

The alternative rockers, Finger Eleven is from Burlington, but their 2026 schedule includes stops in B.C., Alberta, the U.S., Scotland and England,. and of course the Friendly City.

A free Finger Eleven concert in Woodstock is part of the city's 125th birthday celebrations as Woodstock officially became a city in 1901. 

The 2-day Cowapolooza also includes a night of country music on the Friday featuring Rob Fitzgerald, Taylor Moore and also the Bucking Broncos.

The Saturday night roster will also include Stuck On Planet Earth at 7 p.m., plus 3 earlier acts on the main stage of the Southside Park toboggan hill. 

Canada Day free fireworks will be loud, bright and exciting on Wednesday, July 1 in Southside Park -- also loud with Kim Mitchell on stage at 8 p.m. The fireworks show is sponsored by TMMC.

WOW Magazine

The May / June WOW also includes an update and background on the city's revamped website -- now updated at www.cityofwoodstock.ca. Ease of use for the new-look website is key, plus the addition of microsites for economic development, art gallery, museum and other important areas.

The Woodstock Public Library is always among the features of the magazine, including an advertisement for the used book sale May 30 (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.), plus kids' activities like story time and crafts. There is also programming for adults explained like the dates and times for knitting and crochet groups.

The Woodstock Museum National Historic Site utilizes WOW to update citizens on walking tours, on-going exhibits, and even a science-based (STEM) PA Day planned for June 26. A dinosaur themed summer camp is set for July 13-17 with fossils part of the focus. By the way, the Bernadette Smith exhibit continues only until June 20. She was Canada's first elected woman mayor of a city.

Woodstock Art Gallery in WOW features a long list of their scheduled summer camps, and a reminder of the gallery's 60th anniversary party set for Museum Square on May 30. The show Florence's Woodstock continues to August 29 and includes many Florence Carlyle original works from the gallery's permanent collection of the Woodstock artist. Meanwhile, Arctic Abundance is an exhibit continuing until June 20.

There is literally a ton of info on children's summer camps in all areas and the WOW uses a grid checklist system for quick reference for many of the activity weeks and registration fees, but be sure to read WOW for camps at museum and art gallery also.

The current WOW issue includes details about FAIR -- Fee Assistance In Recreation. It's a program to assist in subsidizing registration for both athletic and culture programs and camps, but also transit services around the city.

Mentioning transit already . . . Be sure to participate in the city's transit service survey as the bus system could see quite a change in 2027, and there's a story published about it in the current WOW.  With the survey, you could assist in improving the bus system routes.

Friday Night Fun Nights continue throughout the spring at Cowan Sportsplex including flag football on May 29 and minute-to-win-it on June 5.

Woodstock Minor Ball Association has contributed an impressive update which highlights two new scoreboards to be installed before the 13U national championships take place at Southside Park, Aug. 20 - 23.

An on-going historically-based trivia item in WOW is the COW Tales questions and answers, and they are found on Page 18. Did you know: Woodstock once had a series of collectible coins.

Finally, there is a reminder to possible candidates for the Oct. 26 municipal election posted in the current WOW.

www.cityofwoodstock.ca

https://www.cityofwoodstock.ca/media/4aajwia1/wow-mayjune2026-accessible.pdf

www.cityofwoodstock.ca/fair

www.woodstockmuseum.ca

www.mywpl.ca

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Mark Schadenberg

Email: markschadenberg66@gmail.com

(519) 532-2068

 

 

 

Junior Intercounty in Friendly City in 2026

Wranglers return Woodstock to 22U Intercounty baseball

Compiled by : Mark Schadenberg

It’s a big ‘welcome back’ to the Woodstock Minor Ball Association in re-joining the 22U Intercounty Baseball Association league in 2026.

The Woodstock Wranglers will call the Tip O’Neill Sportsfield in Southside Park home and compete against the likes of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford, London, Hamilton and always-strong in the hardball game in Welland.

This is not, however, Woodstock first entry in the IC Junior league as I was part of a group of teams in that league in the 1990s – called the Woodstock Navy Vets (Sponsorship from Oxford County Naval Veterans Association and others) . It’s difficult to remember the names of all the top players in that time frame, but this column will certainly be full of additional name dropping as the navy blue jersey was worn by Brett Carter, Jamie Cook, Jay Grevers, Mike Perterman and many others. 

I recall those 4 players first as they all played Inter County with either the London Majors or Brantford Red Sox.

A team doesn’t win or lose without a strong cast of coaches. My role ranged from general manager (Attended many meetings in Cambridge when Art Fach was commissioner), WMBA executive, organizer of Kid Night games / fundraisers, uniform inventory including cap creations, first base coach, official scorer, ballpark announcer, batting practice pitcher, team treasurer, and the buyer of pop and sunflower seeds. My importance to the operations angle of the team increased over the years.

Coaches and trainers (junior and midget age groups) ranged from Jack Carter to Frank Konigshofer, Steve Chesley, Ted Gilbert, Don Martin, Henry Grevers, Randy Small, Wayne House, Jack Bradley, Pat Hovorka Sr, Pat Hovorka Jr, and Howie Brown. The downfall of a name dropping exercise is somewhat akin to playing the infield as a dropped ball (forgotten name) is an unintentional error, so I apologize in advance.

There were also the Junior IC Woodstock Rangers about 10 years ago, but I wouldn’t guess on the number of different team monikers before 1990 in the junior, juvenile and midget age groups.

Woodstock’s return to 22U junior ICBA is important as talented players would have to travel outside Oxford for top-level baseball squads to join. To become the best – you must play against the best and receive top-line coaching. In this age bracket, many players are student-athletes in the U.S. at a level of NCAA or NAIA.

The Wranglers head coach for 2026 is Travis Schroeder  

Oxford-area ball players with post-secondary diamond experience includes current Texas Rangers MLB pitching coach Jordan Tiegs, plus Brendan Burns, Tyler Schaefer, Brady Shapton, Ty Shapton, Brian Griswold, Joel Stubbs, Matt Gray, Keith Agnew, Shawn Watts, Tyson Kaufman, Alex Kean, Matt Evans, Andrew Savage, Tanner Jacko, Ethan Baptie, Brayden Castellani, Carter Roth, Jordan Vitias, Jordan Bahnuk, Kalib Ford, and Zach Rachar. Again – not a complete list, but I must thank retired Toronto Sun baseball writer Bob Elliott as he has annually compiled a list of Canadians from all corners of the country competing on a U.S. college club. Elliott has a website called the Canadian Baseball Network as a thorough glossary of Canuck baseball players dating back more than the last generation.

I will follow these 22U Wranglers this season, learn a little about their roster and ‘catch’ some action at the Tip (Tip O’Neill Sportsfield)

OPENING DAY

IS MAY 10

 

James Edward 'Tip' O'Neill

South Gate has expanded . . . by about 4,000 sq ft

South Gate has expanded . . . by about 4,000 sq ft

Geography verification time. South Gate Centre is found in the south side of Woodstock, at the edge of Southside Park very near the war memorial gate to the park, which is at the north side of the 1909-created municipal park, with an address of 191 Old Wellington South 

South Gate Centre -- earlier this year -- debuted its (approximate) $9 million addition, which significantly increased the community centre's square footage (by about 4,000 sq ft; known as the Leonard Reeves wing), and thereby introduces a solid addition of programming space for activities ranging from fitness to woodworking, billiards to dance, card tournaments to coffer socials, and an assortment of additional hobbies. When you talk cards, just about every game is part of the South Gate schedule with euchre, cribbage, mahjong, bridge, and even klaverjas. 

The added space translates into a kitchen and community room able to host much larger weddings, banquets, and trade shows, and special happenings like a murder mystery dinner, perhaps a groundhog breakfast, or a Mother's Day brunch.  

South Gate executive director Chris Cunningham is ecstatic to talk about the brand new amenities.

Chris Cunningham with South Gate board member Jeff Workman

“I’m so excited to share it with the community and to take people through. The possibilities for it are endless,” said Cunningham to the Woodstock Sentinel-Review in January.

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“We just want to make that vibe very social. We want it to be where people can come and hang out – where they feel they’ve got a place to come.”

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Article cont“We just want to make that vibe very social. We want it to be where people can come and hang out – where they feel they’ve got a place to come.”

With a construction budget requiring assistance from the City of Woodstock ($7.8 million), and a positive active South Gate fundraising team led by David Hilderley (expansion campaign chair for their goal of $1.7 million) and the South Gate board of directors led by current chair Christian Lagos. The board also includes city councillor Connie Lauder, retired city treasurer Patrice Hilderley, plus Jeff Workman, Audrey Owen, Mike Houle, and past chair Kathy Deweerd.

Additional South Gate events include ball teams, bus trips, health trade shows, a seminar series, organized dances, and a golf group calling the Creekside course its home.    Membership programs range from computer courses to pottery to pilates and    

Sponsorships include the new community hall naming rights to financial contributor Wilma Boughtflower 

The kitchen improvements permit the South Gate Centre to host more local gatherings and regular meetings. South Gate has recently hosted the Woodstock years-of-service recognition dinner, the breakfast with mayor Jerry Acchione, and the 20-year celebration for 104.7 Heart FM.   

I'm a long-time Lions Club of Woodstock member and our service club hosts its monthly meetings and dinners at South Gate, plus our Thursday night regular Bingo nights.

Membership (Adults 50 +) has its privileges (American Express slogan), and membership for the remainder of 2026 is $170 per person.   Lots of details can be discovered in their online newsletter called On The Move.

"This new space is more than a building. It is a testament to resilience, sacrifice, community, and love — and to the extraordinary people who make South Gate Centre a place of belonging, care, and possibility," said Lagos in a previous newsletter. "This is a true gem in for our community and city!"

"To our members, thank you for your patience, trust, and steadfast support over the past few years. Your belief in South Gate — and in the future we are building together — has meant more than words can express and is a big factor in getting us here today."

South Gate Centre is a registered Canadian charity. Business Number 119145209RR0001 

South Gate Centre: A Place To Be . . . Expanding Possibilities.

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