Celebrating the ninth anniversary of the Grace Cafe . . . a bittersweet moment for founder Ginny Trepanier


city_scope_logo-cmykExactly 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. Continue reading

Debate brews anew over corner-store sale of beer, wine


city_scope_logo-cmyk

The debate over alcohol sales in convenience stores is once again brewing with the release of a petition from the Ontario Convenience Stores Association containing in excess of 112,000 signatures calling for the availability of wine and beer in corner stores.
The petition is supported by a Facebook campaign launched last year by the OCSA and its CEO, Dave Bryans, which can be found here.
This corner talked to Bryans on several occasions last year and he points out corner stores in more than 200 Ontario communities too small to support an LCBO outlet or a Beer Store now are authorized to sell alcohol.
It is worth noting the latter are owned by Labatt Brewing Company Ltd., Molson Coors Canada and Sleeman Breweries Ltd., with the first two conglomerates owned by multinationals InBev and Interbrew respectively.

Continue reading