Heritage road signs honour history

 

A few weeks ago the Leader reported that the South Dundas township had been hit with some unexpected costs in the form of roof-top heating units.

Manager for Recreation Facilities, Don Lewis, updated council at the November 1st meeting as to the status of the tendered bids and the roof-top units.

Lewis reported that the estimated cost to replace or repair the units located at the Justice Building in Morrisburg and the Iroquois Civic Centre was originally $15,000. 

Five tendered bids, each in a sealed envelope, were received at the township office from the following companies: Atel Air Heating & Air Conditioning, Neal’s Heating & Cooling, Morrisburg Plumbing & Heating, Coral Canada Wide, and Climate Works Heating & Cooling. 

Moments after the October 25th deadline, the bids were opened and reviewed by Deputy Mayor Jim Locke, Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald, and Manager of Recreation Facilities, Don Lewis.

“In reviewing the quotations the costs exceeded the initial estimates, but as per the direction given by council to staff, replacing these units are a necessity for the operation of the Justice Building and the Iroquois Civic Centre.”

Atel Air Heating & Air Conditioning won with a bid of $23,950.55, including the HST rebate.

Lewis reported that the installation and repairs to units were already underway.

Councillor Archie Mellan inquired as to the warranty provided for the units. 

Lewis informed council that out of the five bids, only one provided a twenty year warranty. This was due to the stainless steel heat exchanger involved.

Atel Air Heating & Air Conditioning, along with three other companies, gave bids with ten year warranties attached. 

McDonald explained that the “difference in price over ten years was minimal.”

Mayor Steven Byvelds applauded the process taken, making it clear that “everything was done fair and square.”

The proffered bids were as follows: Atel Air Heating & Air Conditioning, $23950.55; Neal’s Heating & Cooling, $26,322.01; Morrisburg Plumbing & Heating, $29,102.88; Coral Canada Wide, $32,614.10; and, Climate Works Heating & Cooling, $32,953.98.

[…]

 

The Township of South Dundas and the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre have joined forces in an effort to provide “interactive training experience addressing the fundamentals of on-line business” for local businesses.

The first three seminars planned focus on e-business topics. Each seminar begins at 7:30 a.m. with a breakfast and networking opportunity followed by an informative presentation on the topic of choice, ending at 10:30 a.m.

While the first seminar, How You Can Profit from E-Biz, has come and gone, there are two more left in the series: February 28th, Social Media Marketing; and, March 27th, Increasing Traffic to Your Website.

The first session, according to South Dundas Economic Development Officer, Nicole Sullivan, “was very informative. It provided a blend of practical information for businesses looking to create a website as well as those looking to improve their current site.”

“Of particular interest to attendees was the pattern in which users read websites and how that determines the way a website should be laid out.”

She explained that the seminars are part of a “larger goal of being able to offer initiatives that support the business community as a whole and build partnerships and networking opportunities.”

“The next seminar will be led by the same presenter as the first. I have no doubt it will be of equal quality and encourage all businesses interested in increasing their presence on the internet to attend.”

At the February seminar, Sullivan is hoping to distribute a survey to determine what other topics might be of interest to the business community in South Dundas.

“If successful,” she said, “hopefully we’ll be able to continue on” with the seminars.

[…]

 

 High school can be very hard. The pressure to wear the right clothes, say the right things, go to the right parties, have the right friends is ever present, ever intense. 

As adults, people may look back on those high school years and wonder what all the fuss was about. But as teens, the majority of kids would privately admit that they want to feel that they “fit in.” 

The actions of the graduating class of Seaway District High School at their 2012 prom, held on June 1, at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, gave one special young woman a memory of “fitting in” that she will be able to cherish the rest of her life.

Her peers chose Martina Gibson as the 2012 prom queen. She was crowned before all the senior class, along with the prom king Zach Lalonde.

On Tuesday, June 19, this graduating class of Seaway District High School in Iroquois was honoured with the presentation, by Martina’s parents, Ron and Lisa Gibson, of a beautiful, engraved granite bench for the school courtyard. “We want future classes to remember this class of 2012,” Lisa Gibson told the seniors gathered in the yard with principal Terry Gardiner, and Greg Pietersma, chair of the UCDSB.

“We want this bench to be a lasting legacy. You gave our daughter Martina a special moment to shine. When future generations of Seaway kids read the message on this bench, perhaps the spirit of caring you showed will be passed on. Caring and tolerance and acceptance are needed more now than ever.”

Martina Gibson, 17, was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder when she was in senior kindergarten.

“This is a disorder which makes everything a struggle for a child,” her mother Lisa Gibson explained, “socially as well as academically. Standard learning techniques are rarely effective with this form of autism. Martina has a phenomenal memory, able to interpret ideas and details. But the precise skills,  mathematics for example, are very difficult. She can discuss an historical event, but struggles with making change.”

Lisa explained that it was always very hard for Martina to feel she truly fit in at school. She wanted to feel part of the lives and the work that other kids had: at the same time, she and her parents faced a constant struggle to find approaches to learning that would fit her special needs. 

“There have been times when she has withdrawn,” her mother said. “ It was never easy. She was often excluded from the parties, the shopping trips, and many of the things that all teens love.”

But Martina, with the support of her parents and family, persevered.

“I am so grateful that she has been at Seaway,” her mother Lisa said. 

“This is a phenomenal school for children with special needs. Everyone at that school has gone over and above to accommodate Martina’s exceptionalities. 

Teachers found ways to diversify the curriculum so that she could work at the same academic subjects as other students, but in a manner she could understand. It has still not been easy for her, but certain teachers have made a real difference to her progress and happiness.”

Martina’s sister and mother helped her with the excitement of getting ready for the big night with prom date Michael Richer: no one had any idea of what the evening would bring. 

At 10:40 the family received a text message that Martina had been chosen the prom queen.

“I was crying,” Lisa said. “I know what this meant to her, what an honour it was. 

We learned later that the entire senior class was on board to do this. She was the hands down winner. Her father and I talked this over, and we felt that the selflessness and kindness of those kids on prom night, this one act which had so deep an impact on another kid’s life, this needed to be recognized.”

Spontaneous applause burst out from the Seaway graduates when the stone bench was unveiled. Later they joined Martina (who had no idea of her parents’ plan to make the presentation, and was caught completely by surprise)  and her family around the bench.

This is the message it bears. This is the legacy of the 2012 graduating class of Seaway District High School.

“This bench is dedicated to the class of 2012. Their selflessness on prom night allowed a very special young lady to feel accepted and loved.” How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because some day in life, you will have been all of these. – George Washington Carver.

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