Townships join together to bring Dundas Drive-In

CORNWALL – Another five positive test results for COVID-19 received in the region has now increased the total infections for Eastern Ontario to 75. “This is what I expected,” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medicial Officer […]

 

One could say that Morrisburg Public School teacher Jim Lamoureux went the extra mile to bring the world to his grade 3-4 class.

In fact, Lamoureux delivered Japan to his class via an Art Miles Mural Project which linked his students to elementary students in Takasago, Japan.

The project began with an exchange of information on each of the students in the two classes.

“Throughout the project, we shared a lot of things about our schools and about our countries,” says Lamoureux. “We started with an exchange of pictures and information about ourselves and communities.”

The Art Miles Mural Project, is an international movement promoting global peace and harmony through mural art.

It was started to bring people closer together, to create an environment that fosters communication and understanding between cultures, promote literacy and to ultimately, through their own experiences, learn respect for one another.

The project began last September with the information exchange. After the decision was made between the two schools to have a cultural and nature symbols theme, collaboration was carried out on the mural layout.

It was decided the mural would include four large central circles, with smaller circles around the outside edges.

To these circles the students in the two countries would showpiece their cultural/nature artwork.

The mural was started last fall by the students in Japan who filled in every other outer circle with their artwork which includes their country flag, their animals, birds, fish and famous buildings. 

In the two central circles the two countries join hands in friendship…the MPS students selecting the late Terry Fox as their ambassador.

After the Japanese students completed their half of the artwork, the mural was shipped to Morrisburg Public School where Lamoureux’ students set to work to finish it.

The MPS artwork features native Canadian animals…the polar bear, the beaver, the moose, our native birds and fish…the parliament buildings in Ottawa, Niagara Falls, the Canadian Flag.

Along the way, the students in the two countries kept in touch. The highlight was a video conference on January 23.

The Morrisburg students returned to their classroom at 6 p.m., on January 23, which was 8 a.m. in Japan.

“The students introduced themselves during the video conference, songs were sung and information was exchanged.”

The MPS artwork continued on the mural until two weeks ago, when it was declared complete and showcased at a school assembly on Thursday, February 28.

Following the presentation, the mural was packed for return shipment to Japan. It is destined to become part of a children’s exhibit that will be travelling and displayed around the world.

“They did a wonderful job, and they are really proud of it,” says Lamoureux, who recorded the students as they worked  and posted it to a private YouTube channel. It’s an incredible video.

Many of the students were eager to speak about their contributions to the mural as it was being prepared for shipment.

“I worked on the Niagara Falls part,” explained Lilly Lewis. “We were supposed to make cars, so I drew the limo to make it really cool.”

Kayla Gillard, who provided her artistic talent to help paint the Mountie, said, “the best part of the project was the web conference. That was really neat.” And Airreanna Brown, who contributed to the fish painting, said “everybody getting to get to work together was the best part.” Leah Barkley agreed, adding that it was also neat to hear and then spell some of the Japanese words.

Breanna Kirkwood, whose artwork created the polar bear, thought it was great to have pictures and to learn about the Japanese children.

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“We have inherited a fantastic situation,” said Shaun Telfer, who with his wife Tracy took over ownership of the Morrisburg Canadian Tire Store nearly a month ago.

“Michel and Ninon (Proulx) did a fantastic job with this store,” said Telfer of the previous owners, who have moved on to a store in Niagara Falls.

With a modern store concept and a fantastic team who are very customer oriented and take great pride in their store, Telfer doesn’t see much need for change in the near future.

“I love it here. We’re very excited to be here and are very impressed with the community,” said Telfer. “We have great customers. They are warm and welcoming .”

Traditionally, the Canadian Tire Store owners in Morrisburg have established themselves as strong community supporters, jumping on board to support various charitable organizations.

That community support is something that the Telfers plan to continue.

“We want to carry on that legacy,” said Telfer.

Also continuing will be the customer-oriented philosophy. “We like to meet, greet and acknowledge our customers and ensure that we are meeting their needs,” he said.

Shaun and Tracy Telfer officially took over the Morrisburg Canadian Tire Store on February 22. This is their second store.

Their first store was a small 3,700 square foot store in Mount Forest Ontario. The Morrisburg Store is a  20,000 square foot store.

Tracy is originally from Espinola. She worked at the Canadian Tire Store there for 25 years and was manager there and ran the garden centre.

Shaun grew up in Manitoba. We worked for the Canadian Tire Store in Winnipeg. For the last 10 years he has been with Canadian Tire’s home office in Toronto, having most recently been a regional manager.

Shaun and Tracy purchased a home here, and are now living in South Dundas.

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