Exactly one year ago, the Grace Cafe celebrated its eighth anniversary with a full house of guests.
That’s what founder and CEO Ginny Trepanier calls those who drop in for food, clothing, comfort and company.
And last Saturday (Dec. 9), on the ninth anniversary, she had this announcement.
“We are coming into a change and I am leaving the cafe and Don (husband Don Trepanier) is stepping down from The Annex, but we have got solid people, Lori (Graves) and Mike (Toth) to take over and run things.
“We have volunteers who are wonderful.”
It was a bittersweet moment for Trepanier.
“On the one hand, I’m going how can I possibly leave all these poor, sick sheep? And, on the other hand, I’m saying I absolutely have to go, I can’t do this anymore.
“It’s 18 years, that’s eight years at Teen Challenge, one year at the Ark (Ark Aid Street Mission in London) and nine years and I absolutely can’t do it anymore.”
When she opened the original Grace Cafe all those years ago on Queen Street her initial plan was simplicity in itself.
Plug in a coffee maker and supply some conversation to those who need it.
This past Saturday she reflected on the years since that humble beginning.
“So my plan, when I started this place, was to just have a little carafe of coffee, a few donuts on a plate and just sit and talk.
“It hasn’t been like that for 10 seconds, not at any time. Not even in the beginning, not ever. It’s just been roaring right from the beginning.”
At the end of the year, Ginny will step away from Grace Cafe and her husband Don will do the same next door at The Annex.
She will hand over the reins to Lori Graves, who has assisted Ginny since September.
Graves assured the guests at Grace Cafe nothing would change.
“I would just like to say that I am very thrilled to be a part of what’s been happening here. And, I’m looking forward to continuing on in the same manner that we have been.”
Graves assured, “Nothing is really going to change. We’re going to keep it floating the way it has been going and I’m looking forward to spending the time with you guys and anybody else who comes in, all our new people.”
She added she is very much on the same page as Ginny.
“My own heart aligns very well with Ginny’s and with her vision. My heart for these people is very similar. The way we care about them and care for them. I’m very much on the same page as Ginny.
“We’ve known since September that I was going to take over.”
A little-known fact about Grace Cafe recalled Ginny, is they had a real soft spot for pets.
“How it started was, and it’s still coming here after years and years, this adorable, curly dog and it had a whole big bald patch on its rear end.
“And, I said to the guy, take it to the vet and we will pay for it and get that fixed.
“Well, he didn’t want to. He said, ‘Oh no, I’ll have to get all those shots.’
“I said, get the shots and we will pay for it. And so that is how it started. I will go to the vet and pay it myself.
“We’ve had people who had cats who were having dead kittens, we’ve had spays and illnesses. If they can’t pay for it, we’re not going to have the animals suffer.
“It works, and that dog was here this morning with the bald patch all gone and it loves us dearly.
“But that’s because I give it sausage every day.”
Ginny went on to explain the situation with The Annex adjacent to the Grace Cafe.
The Annex is an addictions resource centre affiliated with the Grace Cafe and the director has been Ginny’s husband Don.
“Mike Toth is taking over The Annex. He is the CEO overall. I was doing two jobs and so we had to hire two people.
“He’s got a strong background in trauma. He worked at Teen Challenge and he knows the people.”
Ginny will continue to sit on the board of directors in the new year.
Related post:
WE’LL DRINK TO THAT
No doubt thousands of Ontario residents hoisted a beer, or glass of wine or a cooler Thursday evening to salute the news that within two years, it will be easier to buy alcohol across the province.
It’s Premier Doug Ford’s answer to what many would argue is a non-existent problem.
By January 1, 2026, customers will have the ability to purchase beer, wine, cider, coolers, seltzers, and similar low-alcohol ready-to-drink beverages at all eligible convenience, grocery, and large retail stores throughout the province.
It’s an issue that has consumed 15 years of Dave Bryans’ life. He is the outgoing CEO of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association.
We caught up with him Thursday afternoon to get a perspective from the association that represents a significant number of mom-and-pop convenience stores across the province.
Over those years spent promoting the idea of wider alcohol sales, he conceded “it’s just inched along until finally the reality is today.”
Bryans continued, “We still have a few hurdles to get over, but hopefully it’s sooner than 2026. We can convince The Beer Store to partner with us and go earlier so we can get this transition done properly.
The Master Framework Agreement is a 10-year deal signed in 2015 that governs how alcohol can be sold in Ontario.
Under the agreement, The Beer Store was given exclusive rights to sell beer in 12 and 24-packs. It also prevented convenience stores in the province from being able to sell alcohol.
And so, explained Bryans, “the government had to give them two year’s notice. But on January 1, 2026, you can’t click your fingers and all of a sudden there’s beer in convenience stores.
“So there has to be some working relationship and maybe they’ll be happy because they got the distribution rights for the next five years under the agreement that was released today (Thursday) and I’m not opposed to that because they already deliver to 18,000 bars and restaurants in Ontario and do it very effectively.”
Once that product begins arriving at retail outlets, what does that mean for the look of convenience stores?
“I would think you’re going to see them redesign the stores because I think alcohol will be anywhere from between 15 and 30 per cent of their sales. I think you will see a whole different look as we see in Quebec and Newfoundland on beer sales.
“This is an exciting day for not only for convenience stores but for consumers and also for craft brewers in Ontario and small wineries. They all have the opportunity now to deal directly with convenience stores and work with us.”
Is this the lifeline many small convenience stores are calling for?
“We have such a reliance on tobacco which is a sunset category. Our biggest traffic generator is lotteries. We do $3.1 billion a year in sales, but it’s a mature product and at the same time if you had a gas station, we know what the future eventually looks like when it comes to selling petroleum.
“So this will be a big help. But this is not unique. Convenience stores throughout North America are the biggest sellers of beer for the Big 3 beer companies. In the U.S. there are 150,000 convenience stores selling beer. This isn’t unique, it’s just unique to Ontario today.”
Will this new freedom result in job cuts at The Beer Store as is being warned?
“I don’t think so,” advised Bryans.” Because first, they’re going to have to expand the delivery model so that will create more jobs. And I think the majority of their people are in distribution and delivery and in retail, they can still maintain their stores.
“It may be a different-looking store. Maybe they will expand their model. I don’t think they should feel threatened. I believe they will still be in existence in the next five years and so will we. We’ll let the consumer decide where they want to shop.”
Will his association establish guidelines or templates for convenience stores to follow?
“We will once we understand the details. The devil is in the details. Once we sort through all the announcements. Remember, we may have been at the table saying things we’d like, today we’re at the table deciphering what the government has decided.
“Convenience stores in Ontario see three million people a day. And we’re the best at age testing, otherwise we wouldn’t be carrying age-restricted products.”
“Right from what does training look like, what does recycling look like, what does distribution look like, what does pricing look like? All those things have to be decided in the next year and a bit.”
According to Bryans, price is a significant factor.
“It will be an open, competitive pricing model like you see in Quebec. So, it isn’t going to be a restrictive pricing model as you see today. I want to make sure at the same time the government puts some type of responsible minimum pricing on everything so that we don’t have predator pricing on weekends and all of that.
“I think they have articulated no listing fees because of craft brewers, no shelf costs because as you see in the grocery business, everybody pays for everything and at the LCBO you pay for listings, distribution and all that.”
What about concerns alcohol will be easier to sell to minors?
“We sell some of the most contentious, age-restricted products today. Tobacco, vaping and lottery and we do it very effectively.”
At this point in the conversation, Bryans employed a local example.
“At Lynhurst Variety they don’t have any issues because you’re not going to sell in a local community to underage people, you’ll be out of business. This is a business model we’ve been advocating for, for years.
“There are advocates, and I appreciate them because they are passionate about what they do, but we got over all those fears. Nobody has demonstrated more than the convenience sector that they’re the best at age testing or we would be boarded up everywhere.”
That includes continual monitoring on the part of local health units.
“They’ve got $20 million in mystery shopper programs or otherwise we’d be boarded up. We’re doing a very good job and I’m very proud of it.
“In any testing that the government has done, we’re probably passing at that 96 to 97 percentile. That’s few mistakes when you’re doing 20 to 30,000 mystery shops a year.
“Convenience stores in Ontario see three million people a day. And we’re the best at age testing, otherwise we wouldn’t be carrying age-restricted products.
“We’ve never had an issue in the 400 LCBO-agency stores like Lynhurst Variety. We’ve never had any issues when it comes to the fear-mongering that some people bring up. When you see thefts at the LCBO, you don’t see that at family-run convenience stores because we monitor the door. We don’t have four exits like in a big box warehouse.”
Bryans concluded the conversation with, “This is going to put an awful lot of money in their jeans. And every manufacturer and supplier in Ontario will now have more customers than they’ve ever had that used to stand in The Beer Store in a convenience store buying their products, so I think everybody should come to the table and recognize how beneficial this will be to the business model.”
WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFER SCHOOLS
In 2021, the Thames Valley District School Board hit the pause button on the School Resource Officer (SRO) program board-wide. Since then, there has been a review of the program but no indication the officers will return to schools.
That has prompted Dave Jenkins, chair of the Elgin Group Police Services Board to fire off a letter to Lori-Ann Pizzolato, TVDSB chair advocating for a return of the SRO program “while acknowledging the importance of building positive relationships with students and the need for adaptation to address the concerns raised during the pause.”
“In light of the recent increase in school violence, including assaults, weapon possession, and drug-related incidents, our schools require a visible law enforcement presence. Police officers are trained to respond to emergency situations, and their immediate availability can be crucial in ensuring the safety of our school community. “
Jenkins continued, “We understand that the TVDSB paused the SRO program in fall 2021 following a survey that found some students had negative experiences. While we respect the decision to review the program and address these concerns, it is crucial to recognize that the presence of police officers in our schools serves a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, teachers, and staff.
Jenkins pointed out, “The SRO program was initially designed not only to educate students about important topics such as alcohol and drugs but also to build positive relationships with our youth. This relationship-building aspect is critical in fostering trust between law enforcement and our students, as it helps students see police officers as approachable figures in the community who are there to support and protect them.
“In light of the recent increase in school violence, including assaults, weapon possession, and drug-related incidents, our schools require a visible law enforcement presence. Police officers are trained to respond to emergency situations, and their immediate availability can be crucial in ensuring the safety of our school community.
“I would like to emphasize that I believe the police officers in our schools are open to adapting their approach as necessary. It is essential to consider the recommendations arising from the ongoing review, such as addressing systemic racism, improving professional learning, increasing diversity among SROs, and using a trauma-informed approach. These recommendations demonstrate a commitment to better serving the diverse needs of our students.”
Jenkins concluded, “we urge you to consider carefully the value that the SRO program brings to TVDSB schools and the safety of our students. I believe that a collaborative effort between law enforcement, educators, students, and parents can lead to a program that benefits everyone.
“Let us work together to ensure that our schools are safe, nurturing environments where our students can thrive.
Thank you for your consideration and for your dedication to the well-being of our students and schools.
“I look forward to a constructive dialogue and a positive outcome that benefits our entire community.”
Two years ago in an interview with then St. Thomas Police Service Deputy Chief Marc Roskamp, he noted, “I can tell you it is our strong position that SRO programs are a collaboration, it’s community-based initiatives that promote safe environments for educational communities.
“It gives police officers an opportunity to conduct daily interactions with students and teachers on things such as bullying and intimidation. And, to support crime-prevention initiatives.”
The link to that interview is below.
Related post:
STAYING CONNECTED
There is no greater booster of downtown St. Thomas than Earl Taylor, chair of the Downtown Development Board. From events throughout the year to the Downtown Dollars promotion, he strives to keep downtown businesses front and centre in spite of a pandemic and yearly construction.
His letter in Monday’s (Dec. 18) council agenda may at first seem somewhat out of place, however knowing Earl, he is equally an unabashed booster of St. Thomas as a community.
Below is the transcript of that letter addressed to mayor and council regarding a proposed sale of land by CN at the end of Station Street (shown in a checkerboard pattern below).
“The St. Thomas Downtown Development Board is a strong supporter of maintaining, improving and expanding the rail lines and connections in and around the City of St. Thomas.
“On behalf of the St. Thomas Downtown Development Board, we ask that the city refuse to approve an application dated September 11, 2023, asking for the approval for the severance and sale of a parcel of land to a private individual, currently owned by The Canadian National Railway Company, known as Block L, Registered Plan 43.
“The sale of this parcel of land would eliminate any chance of continuing the existing rail line that currently runs north past the L&PS station to make a connection with the existing CN line.
“We further encourage the City of St. Thomas to continue to negotiate an agreement for the connection of the municipally owned existing rail line to the CN line, which would one day permit a rail connection to London and beyond.”
Related post:
The opening of Westlake-Evans Park: The animation of a downtown space
Questions and comments may be emailed to City Scope
Visit us on Facebook
And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.
Ian's City Scope 