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They offered a helping hand, and Morrisburg Legion Branch 48 president Maurice Praine was willing to accept it. 

Saturday, four members of the Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Unit (The C.A.V.), were out and about in Morrisburg to assist the local Legion Branch by selling poppies. They were easily identified as they were wearing their black vests which, according to their website, are worn “in mourning of those who have fallen in securing our Peace.”

CAV Motorcycle Units were started in 2003, and are active in Charity Event Riding and Community Support Events across Canada.

They support charity events locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Saturday, four members of the nine member local CAV Unit, Sicily, were in Morrisburg. They included Jeff Betts, John Kennedy, Bill Aitken and Reg Anderson all of whom have served in the Canadian Military.

The Unit was formed this past summer and according to Betts, is based out of Morrisburg, because it is central to the members. Betts is from Winchester and other members are from Morrisburg, Cardinal and Cornwall.

“We are teamed with the Morrisburg Legion only in the sense of developing a mutually beneficial relationship,” explained Betts. “We have the same goals of helping our veterans and our community.”

The CAV is a national brotherhood of Canadian Army, Air Force and Navy Veterans who are motorcycle enthusiasts. 

There are three regions: 1st CAV which covers central Canada (Manitoba to Quebec), 2nd CAV in Eastern Canada and 3rd Cav in  Western and Northern Canada.  Members gather in units named in tribute of Canadian Battle Honours. 

The local unit is in 1st CAV and is named for the 1943 Battle of Sicily when the Allies launched one of the largest combined operations of WWII for control of Sicily.

“Our mission statement is to ‘ride and have fun, while helping others’,” said Betts whose nickname is Lurch and who was an Administrative Clerk in the military for 14 years.

CAV does have several charities of choice, such as “Ride for Dad”, an annual ride for prostrate cancer and ICROSS, International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering of the world’s poor. It also supports a number of military organizations including Soldier On and the MFRC (Military Family Resource Centre).

At the local level they support community events and the local Legions, or they may run their own event in support of a cause they choose.

Betts also explained that members don’t have to own motorcycles. Those who don’t can come out and assist in fundraising events, travelling to the event as they choose.

The CAVs ‘Honorary Rider in Chief to Veterans’ is Rick Hillier, past Chief of Defense Staff for Canada’s military.

In addition to the charity assistance, Betts says the group gathers to “have fun and reminisce about our military experiences.”

Saturday, John Kennedy, nicknamed Saddle Tramp, was doing just that as he pointed to the picture hanging in the Morrisburg Legion lounge of the HMCS Haida, the last remaining example of the 27 Tribal Class destroyers built between 1937 and 1945.

“I served in peace time, (1959-63), and I was the last to sail overseas on the Haida. They took it out of service in 1960.”

Kennedy says he has logged over 200,000 km on his 1996 bike, and he has enjoyed all of his experiences. He recalls travelling with a group out of Ottawa to participate in a parade in Washington. “I’ve been all over. I really enjoy it.”

“We are always looking for new members,” said Betts. 

Information on The CAV can be found at www.thecav.ca

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St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Morrisburg has long been the final resting place of fallen firefighter George Franklyn Hutt.  In recent years, a local man, and now local firefighters have taken an interest in the […]

 

Total utility bills in excess of $800,000 annually have municipal officials thinking that there has to be a way to cut those costs.

At the last South Dundas council meeting, council agreed to retain I.B. Storey Inc. Professional Energy Solutions to provide professional energy auditing services at various municipal facilities.

They were selected from  South Dundas’ recent request for proposal process that garnered nine proposals ranging in price from about $12,000 to over $77,000.

The proposal accepted was not the highest, nor the lowest priced proposal, but was the highest ranked for quality by the review team. The cost of their services is just about $16,000.

The facilities that will be reviewed during this audit will include the public works depots at Matilda and Williamsburg, the arena in Morrisburg, the water treatment plant, the buildings that house the Morrisburg and Iroquois Fire Stations and the Matilda Community Centre at Dixon’s Corners.

According to South Dundas chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald, the scope of the work will entail four major components for each of the buildings including; energy and utility data analysis, on-site facility audits and equipment inventories, and audit report and training and education.

The 2012 budget includes $10,000 for this energy audit. The balance will be funded through OSWAP funding allocations. Staff plans to examine other funding assistance opportunities and incentives available through the utility companies. The $800,000 annual utility cost includes annual street lighting costs of about $100,000. Staff are looking at ways to reduce these costs as well, but they will be dealt with in future through a different report.

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