$1,000 for House of Lazarus from Kraft Food for Families

A crowd of 20 individuals, many of whom are affiliated with various area historical organizations, may have been enough to save the Friends of Crysler’s Farm organization.

All who attended made it very clear that the Friends group is something that they would like to see continue.

Although the details of how those who attended the meeting will volunteer their time have yet to be ironed out, most did what they could at the June 24 meeting to support the organization by paying for memberships. About 10 new members paid the fee, in support of the organization which works as an advocate for the memory of the Battle of Crysler’s Farm, a pivotal battle in the war of 1812.

Coming off the Bicentennial year, the group had much to be proud of as the small contingent of a handful of directors was able to work with the St. Lawrence Parks Commission to host two huge events, one which welcomed thousands of visitors and over 600 re-enactors to the site, and another which welcomed over 700 school children and the Prime Minister of Canada.

Recently, the acting president of the group shared the group’s difficult situation as active membership continues to decline, and most of those who remain active have been involved with the group since its inception in 1999. 

Volunteer fatigue has definitely set in, but last week’s meeting may have breathed new life into the organization.

“I am really pleased to see so many locals turn out to support us,” said Robert Irvine, who has been acting as president in place of Robin Morris, whose failing health prevents him from continuing to be active with the group, though he was able to attend the November 11, 2013 event.

Irvine, and many of the core group are not directly from South Dundas, and have often wondered why local people haven’t gotten more involved. 

“What I have seen here tonight definitely shows me there’s enough interest to move this organization forward,” said Irvine.

Gabrielle Thomas, of the SLPC, who has been with the Friends since its inception, added that it was absolutely wonderful that those who attended were also parts of other historical interest groups. Those attending mentioned affiliations with the Grenville Militia, Historical Society of South Dundas, Chesterville Historical Society and Lost Villages Historical Society.

The Friends group is hopeful that a few more hands will lighten the load for events like re-enactments, but might also enable the group to focus more on its advocacy and educational roles.

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Tubie race competitors got what they asked for at a meeting hosted by the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce Tubie Festival organizing committee, July 10, at the McIntosh Inn. 

The meeting was held to help the new organizing committee gauge interest in the race.

“In the past, organizers would wait until the Friday night (of Tubie Weekend) to see how many competitors there would be,” said Kevin Casselman, who chaired the meeting. The new committee wasn’t comfortable with waiting until then, so they organized this preliminary meeting.

In addition to gauging interest, the meeting provided a forum for those planning to compete to share ideas, to ask questions, and to provide input.

Before the meeting started, Casselman told The Leader that if there was an appetite for change, the committee was willing to do what they could to facilitate the desired changes.

The main topic of conversation was the format of the upcoming 44th annual Tubie race.

Cole Veinotte suggested returning the race to its original format. 

According to Veinotte, the sprint format brought in a few years ago, has been keeping Tubie traditionalists away. He suggested that some of those traditionalists are likely to return should the original race format be re-instated.

Other competitors at the meeting agreed to bringing back the traditional format, where paddlers race their Tubie crafts from Mariatown to the Morrisburg beach.

Veinotte suggested the format change could alleviate some of the congestion at the Morrisburg dock, on a very busy long weekend, that this year will also be hosting the Renegade Bass fishing tournament series.

Immediately following the meeting, the Tubie Festival committee went to work on securing the Arlor Haven Campsite launch venue for the race Sunday, August 3. 

Monday morning, Casselman announced that they had successfully secured the Arlor Haven launch site for the 2014 Tubie race.  

Organizers have about 7-8 teams planning to participate. “We’re happy with that number in early July,” said Casselman. 

They continue to welcome more to build a craft to join in the Tubie fun.

As always, festivities kick off with a parade Saturday, August 2, and a dance that evening.

Organizers are planning to keep the traditional parade route in tact, even though a portion of it passes along an area of Lakeshore Drive which has been under construction. They believe the area will be paved in time for the parade.

Local talent – One Night Standards will play this year’s dance, which is planned for outdoors, at the Morrisburg waterfront however, there will be no big tent.

Tubie T-Shirts are designed and ordered. 

The 2014 Tubie theme – It’s Going Tubie a Splash.

This is the first year the Tubie Festival is being handled by the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, who took over the event after the Morrisburg and District Lions Club announced that they would no longer host it.

“This is not something that a chamber of commerce would normally do, but it’s so important to the community, we didn’t want to see it disappear,” said Carl McIntyre, South Dundas Chamber of Commerce president.

“Nowhere else in the world is there a Tubie Festival. South Dundas has Tubies and we won’t let that go,” said Geraldine Fitzsimmons of the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s going to make for a great weekend,” said Casselman.

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