Remembrance Day 2011 at the Royal Canadian Legion

“Dreams really do come true,” is actually inscribed on the inside of Hali Adair’s law school ring.

After 22 years of service with the OPP, this native of South Dundas is now a barrister, solicitor and notary, and has accepted a position with the law firm of Horner & Pietersma in Morrisburg. Her dream of practising law has taken her along exciting and challenging paths.

Raised  in “the big city of Iroquois”, where her parents still live in the same house, on the same street, Hali attended Iroquois Public School, and graduated from Seaway District High School. She then chose to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother, Helen Smith, “who was a real force in my life,” and attend McMaster University where she earned a degree in sociology, with minors in history and political science.

“I hadn’t completely made up my mind about a career when I graduated,” Hali laughed, “but I did know that eventually I would be a police officer, and, one day, a lawyer. Blame Miss Gibb’s Seaway law class for that decision: I got hooked then on the law and I stayed hooked. But I felt that I also needed to get out and taste the world.”

Policing, she felt, offered a combination of paper work and action that interested her. In her 22 years serving with the OPP, Hali experienced virtually every aspect of police work.

“I served as a motorcycle officer, and worked undercover to arrest drug dealers. I dealt with riots in Toronto where I was out on the streets with Molotov cocktails flying. I’ve worked everything from murder investigations to traffic citations, even to dealing with terrorists. I’ve run the gamut of experiences. My life definitely didn’t lack excitement,” she added.

Hali served in a platoon, then became a detective constable, a detective, a platoon sergeant and eventually a detective sergeant in the intelligence branch of the OPP.

“Yet I always knew that I wanted more. There was always that draw to go back to Law school, and meet new challenges.”

“Members of the platoon I supervised often saw me reading case law, and examining and tackling different scenarios and they finally said to me, you’ve got to go ahead and try. And I really did want to be a lawyer.”

In 2007, Hali applied to Western Michigan University, to the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, which offered an accelerated program where she could complete her law studies in two years rather than four. Her police background was also taken into consideration by the school. She rounded out her American education by becoming licensed in New York State (since 2011). She then returned to Ontario, taking a full year of law school at Queen’s University followed by articling in the Crown’s Kingston office, 2012-13.

“I truly believe that every person is entitled to the best legal defence he can get, whether he is guilty or innocent. I feel, if missteps have been made, well, I have seen the impact that can have on an innocent person’s life. I don’t believe the end justifies the means.”

During her time in Michigan, Hali took part for eight months in the Innocence Project, which works to free wrongly convicted persons under the DNA Act. The cases she examined with the Project have had an effect on her views.

“I realize that having been a cop gives me a unique perspective on a case. When I look at a criminal case, I walk through the investigation. What is missing? What may have been overlooked? I like to investigate a case thoroughly. I want to see all sides, and there are often three sides to every story.”

Her police training has taught her to be calm, to carefully set aside emotions, even in a situation of utter chaos, to deal with the reality of “death and pain and deep sorrow,” with professionalism. For every scenario in law, Hali often has a corresponding real life experience upon which to draw. This allows her to listen to what people tell her, and not to leap to judgement.

“I love what I do now. I just love it,” Hali said. “The law is so interesting and challenging. And I am so fortunate to have Eldon and Eric here and acting as mentors too. I’ve only been here three weeks, but, boy,” she added laughing, “they’ve thrown a lot at me in those three weeks.”

Conversant in both civil and criminal law, Hali Adair brings a unique wealth of experiences to her new career in the legal profession. 

“I hope to be a good lawyer and a good litigator. Sometimes the art of being a good lawyer is knowing when to be on your feet in a courtroom, and when to sit down and negotiate.”

[…]

Ontario Provincial Police held the East Region Annual Awards Ceremony in Kingston, October 19, and among those receiving the awards was a well known local – Bill Ewing.

Ewing, who lives in Iroquois and operates his business, Bill’s Towing, in South Dundas was the recipient of a Commissioner’s Commendation from the OPP. Also receiving a commendation was towing operator Duncan Cooper of Cornwall Towing.

“This was totally unexpected,” said Ewing. “I was just out there doing what I had to do. But, it is nice to be recognized.”

The commendation stemmed from Ewing’s actions during difficult circumstances, at the scene of a fatal collision along Highway 401 in South Dundas, August 27, 2012. The collision of a van with a tractor trailer and ensuing fire claimed the life of three family members including a two month old infant, the infant’s 22 year old mother and the mother’s 78 year old grandmother. Three other occupants of the van, also members of the Quebec family, were taken to hospital seriously injured.

The commendation was in recognition of Ewing’s outstanding assistance to the OPP at the scene of that collision where the two vehicles had become fused together, requiring Ewing’s expertise to prepare the vehicles for removal. 

Ewing’s expertise comes from 35 years with the Iroquois station of the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Service, where he has received extrication training, and from eight years of owning and operating a towing business.

[…]

Spring has finally arrived and Upper Canada Village has opened its gates to welcome visitors to an exciting, new season.  

May will be a busy month and the Village will be alive with tradition over the Victoria Day weekend.  Visitors can join in the Queen Victoria Birthday celebrations on Sunday, May 17 with patriotic speeches, grand military manoeuvres, a hand-pumped fire engine demonstration and enjoy a piece of birthday cake. 

Without a doubt, one of the joys of Spring is watching the fields and gardens come back to life after a long winter.  The Spring Planting weekend (May 30, 31) at Upper Canada Village is a great time to visit and see nature’s renewal.  

The 2015 season will mark the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the Canadian Horse in Canada.  

All season long visitors will be able to see the Canadian horses at work.  

They are an integral part of daily life at Upper Canada Village performing tasks such as drawing the Tow Scow along the canal, pulling Carry-alls through the Village for tours and other farm related chores.  

This season, Horse Lovers’ weekend will be a not-to-be-missed event on Labour Day weekend September 5-7.

Upper Canada Village offers a number of summer youth camps.  Some spaces are still available.

“We have a great season of events, programs and summer camps at Upper Canada Village.  Our summer youth camps are a great opportunity for young people to make new friends and have a completely unique experience.  This season we have a full line-up of events planned with many returning favourites such as Medieval Festival, Food Lovers’ Field Days and the War of 1812 Military Re-enactment weekend.  In July and August we will be bringing back the Haunted Walks and Murder Mystery Dinners that were very popular last year,” said Geoff Waycik, Manager of Historic Sites, St. Lawrence Parks Commission.

New this year is the ‘Breaking Down the Barriers to History’ weekend on June 20 and 21.  While Upper Canada Village offers an excellent multisensory experience every day, this event will be further enhanced for those with sight loss, hearing loss and mobility challenges.

Other events coming up in June include Sheep Shearing Days – June 2-5 and Medieval Festival June 6-7.  

Special education days include Monday, May 25, War of 1812  and Monday, June 8 for Medieval Festival.  Students can also visit the Aultsville Train Station for the British Home Child Exhibit and Educational Program offered June 2 and 3.

Upper Canada Village will be open daily from May 6 to Labour Day and then Wednesdays to Sundays from September 9 to 20, 2015.

[…]