9th annual Mopar Magic Car Show

November 25th was a day of celebration for the Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

The morning’s events began with the unveiling of the Tolley Place sign. The Tolley Place townhomes opened in 2009, offering quality housing to younger seniors.

James Kooistra, Chair of the Board of Directors for the corporation, said, “the idea of this started long ago. I was told it was Trevor (Tolley, former Chair of Board) who had this idea.”

Tolley reminded everyone present that he did not do this alone. He listed all of the people and organizations that worked hard to make Tolley Place a reality.

From the unveiling of the sign, the group moved to one of two new sheds recently erected. Here Kooistra informed everyone that the corporation had received a $15,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which financed the two sheds, two dedication trees, as well as the walkway between Tolley Place and J. W. MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre.

According to a press release from the corporation, due to a 2010 gardening project started by Tolley Place residents, “a garden shed has been placed at Tolley Place and will be available for tool storage. A second shed was placed at the east end of the walkway and will store maintenance equipment.”

As for the trees, Kooistra said, “some years ago the Board said farewell to three board members: Trevor Tolley, Joan Findlay, and Barbara Phifer. They served on the board for many, many years.”

“They were promised that we would plant some trees, one for Trevor and one for the two ladies.”

He then thanked the three again, for their “years of commitment and dedication to the Board.”

A sign dedicating the trees to the three former board members will be affixed to the garden shed.

The walkway, which was completed this fall, finally “links two projects that should always be linked,” said South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds.

As Kooistra pointed out, “the walkway was constructed to provide easier access to the services of the Community Support Centre. These services include exercise classes, hot meal programs, health and wellness clinics and educational presentations. The sidewalk encourages regular walking which is great exercise in itself.”

Jim McDonell, MPP for SD&SG, concurred, saying, “the constructed walkway will provide easy access while promoting a healthier lifestyle.”

“We have a plaque here from the Trillium Foundation to commemorate the volunteers,” who, as he later pointed out, “come out and make a difference.”

Catherine MacLaine, representative for the Ontario Trillium Foundation, said “in October of last year the grant review team was happy to support their efforts with a $15,000 grant.”

She said, “we see a group of dedicated staff and volunteers.”

With that said, Mary Salmon, tenant of Tolley Place, cut the ribbon, officially opening the walkway between Tolley Place and the support centre.

Kooistra then said, “you’re now invited to walk the walk.”

Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing Corporation oversees the operation of Tolley Place, Park Drive Villa, County Road 18 Group Home, Schell Street Group Home, as well as the J. W. MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre.

It also provides community support in the way of meals on wheels, adult day services, transportation, respite, foot care, assisted living services, and diners club. 

For more information, contact them at 613-535-2924 or at 613-535-2470. They also have a website: www.wnphc.ca.

[…]

It was an unconventional evening featuring unconventional musicians. 

That just made the April 14 concert at the Morrisburg Meeting Centre more memorable. The Crooked Brothers and Manitoba Hal thoroughly rocked the Centre at their Saturday concert.

Hal Brolund, better known as Manitoba Hall, opened.

A man with an enormous talent, he instantly charmed the audience with his unique, unconventional approach to the blues. 

Performing with his old ‘friend’, a special double-necked, “radio sonic” ukulele, Hal was a one-man band on stage. 

Soft and sweet on “Baby, please don’t go,”   husky and hurt on “You know boys/she fool you once/she gonna do it again”,  and foot-stomping and fun on the classic “I Owe My Soul to the Company Store,” Hal quickly won the crowd.

The transplanted Maritimer’s sense of humour took the fore when he performed the very unconventional blues piece, “When life is like a hot dog.”

Enticed once by a $2 hot dog deal at a concert,  already holding the steaming ‘dog’ in one hand, he discovered the catch: customers had to somehow cut open the buns themselves. 

“I was instantly inspired to write a song about this,” Hal explained to mounting laughter, “and originally included the line, “with one hand on my weiner, Lord, and one hand on my bun.” I gradually realized how that line might play with audiences however, so I changed it to “Life is like a hotdog bun/No matter how you slice it, you’ve gotta do it yourself.”

Yup, this is really a song about self-reliance and helping your fellow man.”

Singing selections taken from his latest release, Flirting with Mermaids, Manitoba Hal played the whole range of blues: all of them his way.

In an earlier interview, Brolund talked about the “good and true” qualities of the blues, how hard living and troubles often lead to religious imagery in blues songs, including his own.

“If I could, I surely would/Stand on the rock where Moses stood..”

An artist who readily shares his musical knowledge, Manitoba Hal held a Saturday workshop for ukulele students.

Chuck Leclair, a participant, said the workshop had been a great experience. “Hal is an interactive person. He broke songs down in ways we could all understand, even more advanced techniques. You’ve just got to love him.”

Cheryl Lanford, another participant agreed.  “I’m a novice player, and Hal taught me seven incredible things just in the short time we had. He was a compassionate teacher.”

In the second half of the St. Lawrence concert, The Crooked Brothers took no prisoners.

Whatever your idea of a prairie band singing Canadian songs might be, The Crooked Brothers  shatter all traditions.

Unconventional in appearance, unconventional on stage, Jesse Matas, Darwin Baker and Matt Foster are absolutely original.

The masters of harmonica, guitar, mandolin and dobro, with voices that shift in and out of conventional vocal ranges in unexpected ways, including  performing acapella, they step way outside regular genres.

In an earlier interview, Baker described their sound as “roots”, but rock and roll, country, blue grass, gospel, they’re all mixed in. “We twist and stretch our sounds our own way,” he explained.

There is a distinct and passionate “Canadian” feel to their music. This was never more evident Saturday than in the stunning, “17 Horses”, about the building of the 44 highway across the prairies, or in  the angry “Farmers Feed Cities”. “You’re tearing out my heart/And selling it for scrap…” 

The sheer power of their performance can actually catch you off guard.

Yet the Brothers also share a disarming sense of humour on stage and in their music. 

“We’re from Winnipeg, where it’s flat,” Matt deadpanned. “You hop in the car, put on cruise control and pop in the back seat for a nap. You only wake up in Regina long enough to refuel.”  

“Standin’ Still,” hilariously describing travelling through the Rockies at 3 a.m., painted a true  and funny portrait of the life of musicians on the road. So too, did Matt’s ironic, but oh-so-Canadian observation, “We are now going to try and play our nicest songs…yup, winter and sadness.”

Their unique brand of music has been shaped and honed in venues ranging from living rooms to concert stages to smoky, rowdy bars. It is memorable, exciting, unexpected.

The Crooked Brothers are, quite simply, a powerhouse on stage. 

Don’t miss the final concert of the spectacular St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage 2012 series coming on May 26. 

[…]

Cruickshank, a construction company founded, and still located in Morrisburg,  has been named as one of Canada’s Safest Employers by Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine, winning gold in the Building and Construction category. 

The national award, which is based on health and safety statistics and innovative practices, was presented to the company at a gala on October 30th in Toronto, Ontario.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized for our commitment to best practices,” says Cruickshank CEO Steve Cruickshank. 

“Employee safety is number one at Cruickshank – and a core component of our success.” The company has developed a number of initiatives, including safety representatives at each job site, daily safety meetings, annual Safety Days, ongoing training and a Joint Health and Safety Committee.

Launched in 2011, Canada’s Safest Employers awards recognize Canadian companies with outstanding accomplishments in promoting the health and safety of their workers. 

This year, 24 employers were recognized in 11 categories. “Canada’s Safest Employers awards recognize companies from across Canada that are raising the bar in occupational health and safety,” said Amanda Silliker, editor of Canadian Occupational Safety magazine. “These awards allow us to shine a light on the companies that are leading the way in safety excellence, and hopefully inspire others to follow their example.”

Since 1956, Cruickshank has lived by the company motto “we do our level best” – driving ingenuity in road, bridge and infrastructure construction services with an engaged team and leading edge tools to get the job right – every time.

[…]