VIDEO: Your Sikhs today - Caledon & Dufferin County ON edition

Dr A.I. Google tells us that the Harman Group (HGC), headquartered in Caledon ON -- the town to the north of Brampton ON, headquarters of the infamous Singh School of Truck Driving -- is a large, family-run [read: Sikh clan] logistics and trucking company specializing in North American cold chain (refrigerated) and dry freight transport, including cross-border to the United States and Mexico.

The HGB website proudly proclaims: "We have always specialized in temperature control goods such as produce, chocolates, meats, pharmaceuticals, etc. We are proud to service our customers door to door throughout Canada, United States and Mexico." The emphasis is Walt's.

Dr Google adds that the Harman Group has had considerable media attention recently for being targeted involved in suspected extortion incidents. "Like what?", Walt hears you ask. Well, just this past week the mayor of Caledon told the meeja she was worried after "a local business" -- that's what she and the lickspittle meeja called HGC -- was shot at for the second time in two weeks. Thanks to "X", we have video!

The Ontario Provincial Police say the shooting could be related to an ongoing series of extortions in the area. They were called to the same location around 0100 on 26 December for a "targeted" shooting in front of the business. No injuries were reported. No one was hurt in this latest incident, which investigators are also calling "targeted". 

Their post on "X" says there have been >45 extortion investigations in the area since 2023. These crimes appear to follow a "pattern of extortion" where victims in Caledon and Dufferin County receive phone calls or text messages threatening violence against them, unless a large quantity of money is handed over. "The callers often demonstrate knowledge of the individual’s home or workplace and the offences appear targeted toward members of the South-Asian community."

Throughout 2024 and 2025, the OPP have investigated numerous weapons incidents where several properties in the Caledon and Dufferin County areas were damaged by gunfire. "(We) believe these shootings are linked to threatening communications and extortion attempts," he said. Walt sez: Ya think?

Declining number of perishers forces closure of Ontario church

Shelburne, Ontario is a small town -- only recently upgraded from a village -- in Dufferin County, on the "roof of Ontario", about 150 miles northwest of Toronto. [Agent 3 says "That's not far enough!"] For over seven decades it was home to the Canadian Old Time Fiddle Contest, which was worth a long drive to attend. Sadly, the event was "paused" during the Covid dempanic. It is unclear whether it will return this year.

That part of Ontario is Orange -- as in Loyal Orange Lodge -- country. There are mighty few Catholics on the ground there. And not as many Protestants either, according to an article by Paula Brown, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for the Shelburne Free Press & Economist, picked up recently by Canadian Press.

Ms Brown reports that one of Shelburne’s founding churches is ending a more than 150-year-old chapter in history as they prepare to officially close their doors this month. 

St. Paul’s Anglican Church, will be closing its doors following a final service for the congregation on Sunday, 21 January. 

For non-Canucks, the Anglican Church is the Canadian counterpart of the Church of England. In the US of A, Anglicans would be called Episcopalians. In Canada they're known as "the ToryParty at prayer."

The decision to close the church came in October of 2023 with a vote from church members after months of discussions. “Many of our congregation has aged out, going into long-term [care] residences or subsequently passing away,” said Marg Finlayson, "People's Warden" -- sounds kind of Communist, doesn't it? -- of the congregation. “People have also moved away." 

Ms Brown writes: "The limited number of perishers also led to a decrease in funding, putting a financial strain on the church." 

Memo from Ed. to Paula Brown: It seems you are a product of Ontario's education "system", and, as such, have never been taught to spell or use a dictionary (as opposed to a spell-checker). Allow me to help you enlarge your vocabulary. 

A perisher can be: 

(a)  A chatacter in The Perishers, a long-running British comic strip about a group of neighbourhood children and a dog. (Source: Wikipedia)

(b) One of Ola Klüft (vocals, guitar), Martin Gustafson (keyboards, backing vocals), Pehr Åström (bass), and Thomas Hedlund (drums), the members of The Perishers, a Swedish indie rock band. (Source: Wikipedia)

(c) A child who is being annoying. (Source: Cambridge Dictionary). 

You're welcome.