Looking for forever homes

 More than twice as many students participated in the 2012 Iroquois Legion Remembrance Day poster and literary contest than the previous year, and the winners received their awards at a small ceremony January 6 in the Iroquois Legion’s museum.

Dave Weedmark, youth and education chair with Iroquois Legion Branch 370 hosted the event, where the awards were handed out by Ralph Martin, acting president.

Twenty branch awards were handed out to the best entries among the 89 received from the schools in Iroquois, and those winners were forwarded on to the zone level.

At the zone level, three students were awarded prizes. At the zone level, Dani Shae Barkley’s black and white poster placed third in the senior division, Kitana Millward’s colour poster placed third in the intermediate division and Darci Dodge’s poem placed third in the junior division.

At the branch level, Maeryn Gilmour won the primary colour poster contest, Leo Vezina was second and Keaton Urquhart was third.

Harley Heustis won the junior black and white poster contest. Nicholas Howard was second and Bryce St. Pierre was third.

The junior colour poster contest was won by Jamie Wilson, with Aria Whisselle placing second and Bryanna Whitford third.

Darci Dodge won the junior poem contest. Kurtis Markell was second and Catie Piquette was third.

The intermediate poster contest winners were Grace Barkley (first in black and white), Kitana Millward (first in colour), Abby MacMillan (second in colour) and Matt Backes (third in colour). Dani Shae Barkley won the senior black and white poster contest.

Prize winning intermediate poems were submitted by Kaitlyn Stewart, who won first prize, Jane van Moorsel, who won second prize, and Nathanial Collard, who won third prize.

[…]

 

Principal Terry Gardiner, of Seaway District High School, has a lot to smile about these days: the school’s solid performance in the recent rankings, an intermediate  science team heading for the Ontario Science Fair Finals in Charlottetown, and the very successful addition of agriculture as a specialist high skills major at Seaway. 

“Our first group of students will graduate this fall with the specialist high skills major in agriculture on their diplomas. This has proved a very valuable program at Seaway, although it has only been in place for a short time. I would call it a perfect example of the way the education system is partnering with the economic sectors and moving with the times,” principal Gardiner said, during a recent interview. 

The Ministry of Education has established specialized programs in the province which now allow students to focus their knowledge and skills towards a specific economic sector. In June, 2010, Seaway District High School was approved by the Ministry to offer students a diploma in agriculture.

“When we made the decision at Seaway to go after a high skills program, we took a long look at our community partners, and we realized that in this area there is a lot of opportunity in agriculture. The program seemed a really good fit for South Dundas,” Gardiner explained. 

When Seaway was given the go ahead to set up the program, the school also received a $20,000 grant to establish it. 

“We used the funds to purchase welding equipment, a smart board,  and computer technology. During this month of April, we are constructing a green house at the southwest corner of the school.” 

The program does not rely on an “agriculture” teacher. Instead  agricultural components are built into units of study within a student’s prescribed classes at Seaway, under  CLA, or Contextual Learning Activities.

For example, a math class unit could focus on farm budgeting, seeding and equipment costs. An environmental studies unit might look into soil studies and soil nutrients. 

In biology, students might examine animal structure or study the relationship between genetics and crop science to improve yields. 

Seaway Co-op teachers Robert Knapp and Tanya Crosbie co-ordinate the specialist program.

There are specific skills within the program that require specialized instructors. 

Instruction in such things as handling chain saws, pesticide use, chemical safety, equipment maintenance and WHMS regulations, are taught by certified instructors brought to the school.

“There are several parts to the program,” Gardiner explained. “Students earn six industry recognized certificates, two experiential learning activities (attending plowing matches, agriculture museums, farm tours) and two co-op placements in related fields.”

Students enter the specialized skills program in grade 11. Seaway will see its first six students graduate in October with the “red seal” on their certificates. Some colleges and universities give special consideration to students with these qualifications. Kemptville College in particular is involved in a dual credit arrangement with Seaway.

“This specialist high skills program in agriculture is another way Seaway is able to offer a wider choice of pathways to students into different fields of work,” Gardiner said. “Our object is to make this a real and relevant experience. The more students we engage and interest, the more we hope to see graduate.”

[…]

Progressive Conservative MPP candidate for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry,  Jim McDonell “enjoys working with people.”

During a phone interview with the Leader on September 16th, McDonell said that he’s “been involved in community for many years (and he’s) talked to a lot of people.” He admitted that it’s “exciting to get out there.”

He went on to reveal, that people are “not asking (government) to do a lot, just for a fair deal.”

McDonell would like to “encourage people to follow basic principles. It’s the whole basis of Canada – work hard, play by the rules.”

He credits the lack of this attitude in government for pushing him into running for MPP.

It “bothers me that I see things misrepresented (and) things that are not good for the community happening.”

McDonell shared that he  comes from a small town and  he sees that what the government has been doing is “not a smart way of doing things.”

Among other issues, he refers to the decreased service in rural areas, the loss of businesses in rural small town areas, and the migration of rural population to bigger cities in the hunt for work.

McDonell believes that  the main issue  in this area of Ontario is “unaffordability.”

He recognizes that “income is much less in this area. Things are a little tougher around here.”

“There’s a higher percentage of seniors  on fixed incomes. The majority have no pensions.”

“Their children and grandchildren are not getting work locally. Schools are closing because there are no kids to put into them.”

McDonell also sees the apprenticeship program’s current restrictions as an issue for voters in this riding. He believes there will be “a huge shortage of labour in the future but (the current government) is not looking at a program that allows (for the need.)”

McDonell said that the ratio for apprenticeships should be   “1:1 instead of 3:1” for craftsmanship jobs such as electricians, plumbers and brick layers.

He maintains that , for example, most brick layers today are around the 65 year age range.

Discussing how he would make things better for the local constituents, McDonell referred to his party’s plan to remove HST from  home heating. He also mentioned the debt retirement charge, lowering income tax, and income splitting for couples.

In addition to these money saving plans, he also stated that his party plans to “remove a lot of the red tape” from government services. He stated that there is a “target of 30 per cent” and if the party doesn’t meet the target, then “ministers will take a cut in pay.”

McDonell wants to “make government less complicated.” He is “committed to making government more open to the public.”

When asked what makes him the right choice for voters in South Dundas, McDonell stated, “I’m dedicated and committed to our community.”
Also, he “has a practical sense on how to do things.” He refers to his farming background and rural roots, saying that he is “someone who can relate back” to the people in the rural areas of his riding as well as those in the urban areas.

McDonell says that he wants to “stop the withdrawal” from the rural small town communities.

When asked about the issue of poverty, he replied  that he would “focus on getting jobs for a good portion of the population.”

When asked about character, in terms of integrity, responsibility, and accountability, McDonell stated: “I don’t make promises I can’t maintain.”

Tim Hudak joined McDonell for a campaign rally on September 19th at the Ramada Inn in Cornwall.

[…]