Year: 2012

 

These three young students, under the guidance of teacher Carrie Gilmour, are the alternating authors of the Seaway District High School column which appears in The Leader weekly. Dana Rodie who is considering a journalism career, is strongly interested in sports, and analyzes team play. Stormy Howard checks out events to see what is new, and likes to write about Seaway’s involvement in the community outside school. Ryan Morrison is interested in creative writing and regularly talks to people in the school, taking notes and looking for stories. Dana is in grade 10, Stormy and Ryan in nine.

[…]

 

– This can be a very uncertain world. It’s important that people feel that there is someone they can always turn to for help and support.

For the past 65 years, the Iroquois-Matilda Lions club has contributed its services to South Dundas and beyond, with openness, with caring and with enthusiasm. On Saturday, October 27, the 36 members of the club are celebrating their anniversary at Matilda Hall. They hope the community joins them on this gala occasion.

 “Groups like the Lions are really a vital part of the community,” 2012-13 president Steve Wilson said. 

The club was originally founded in April of 1947 by a group of local businessmen, and sponsored by the Morrisburg Lions Club. There were 49 members in that first group, with village reeve Lloyd Davis acting as the Charter president.

“Unfortunately, we no longer have any of those original charter  Lions still with us,” said Les Craig, who has been an active Lion since 1962. “Our most senior member right now is George Jackson, who has been with the Lions for 51 years.” 

“People apply for membership in the club,” Lion Paul Robertson (1977) explained. “Each candidate needs a sponsor who is already a club member. About 30 years ago, because of the number of Lions coming from outside the village of Iroquois, it seemed a good idea to officially become the Iroquois-Matilda Lions. And for the last three years, this club has welcomed female candidates.”

Les described some of the club’s early days. “I was treasurer for about 10 years, and I recall that in the 50’s the Lions used to run a Street Fair in old Iroquois that lasted for more than five days.”

“All through the 60’s the Club held live dances pretty much every Saturday night,” said Stephen Law (2009). “They also ran pub nights most Fridays.

“Bingo was also a big event for the Lions,” said Paul. “In the 70s and 80s, we held bingos at the Matilda Hall, and raised a lot of funds for the club’s many community projects. Then big regional halls moved in, and Casinos cut into a lot of the chance of profits.” 

In 1984, the Iroquois-Matilda Lions sought a new source of revenue.

“Reina DeJong, wife of Lion Albert, approached Glenn Swerdfeger with an idea. Why not do a play?” said Paul. “The club talked it all over, and decided to take a chance, although we had no training and no experience. Glenn approached Wendy Gibb, the drama teacher at Seaway, and she agreed to sign on. Things kind of snowballed from there.”

Following the debut of The Haunted House in the Seaway District High School gymnasium (the show played to packed houses), the Lions have never looked back. They have staged some very remarkable shows.

The Lions’ first four productions were all performed at Seaway. Then, in 1990, the club made the move to Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg, with a production of Harvey: the Playhouse has been “home” ever since. The resources and support of the staff of the Playhouse, especially under artistic director Donnie Bowes, have been phenomenal. 

So has the support of the community. 

Through 14 productions, the most recent  being Monday Always Leads to Murder in April of 2012, the South Dundas community has turned out to cheer its amazing  and talented Lion actors. 

The club has also raised nearly $200,000 for charitable causes through its theatre productions.

How has the money the Lions club has raised over the years helped the community?

President Steve Wilson said that in 65 years the projects, charities and causes supported by the Lions make for a very long list. 

First, and foremost, Lions around the world have always supported organizations dealing with sight. 

In 1917, when Lions Clubs International was founded, at the urging of Helen Keller the Lions made vision one of their key platforms. Programs to protect sight have always been important to the Iroquois-Matilda Lions.

However, they have also supported Winchester Hospital, CHEO, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart & Stroke foundations and hospices. 

Taking care of their neighbours is a priority. The Lions support the Food Bank, and Christmas baskets and have joined with the Morrisburg Lions to ensure parties and events for seniors.

The young people of the community have not been forgotten. The Iroquois-Matilda Lions support school bursaries, school projects, the South Dundas Soccer Association, Scouts and Guides and Partners for Children.

The Iroquois Lions built the tourist booth and picnic shelters at the Locks and beach, and constructed the splendid band shell at the Point.

And there are many, many charitable groups, and many, many individuals and families in South Dundas, faced with real challenges and hardships, who have counted on the Lions for their support and quiet help. 

On October 27, the Iroquois-Matilda Lions will be celebrating 65 years in South Dundas at the Matilda Hall with a gala party and some stellar entertainment. 

The Lions welcome all the members of the community they have faithfully served for over six decades to come out and join them.

For tickets to the anniversary celebration, contact Mustard’s Variety in Iroquois.

[…]

 

 “These men cared nothing about what we thought. I know that there was not one of them in that unit who, if given the command, would not have immediately beheaded us.”

Former Special Envoy of the UN, Robert Fowler, kidnapped in December, 2008, in Niger, by an affiliate of al-Qaeda, was the guest of the Canadian Club of Morrisburg and District, on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. A large crowd was on hand.

The former diplomat was Canada’s longest-serving Am-bassador to the United Nations. He acted as foreign policy advisor to three prime ministers and, in 2011, was named Officer of the Order of Canada. 

At the time of his abduction, Fowler was posted to Niger as a Special Envoy to Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. His task, in the increasingly unstable, desperately poor nation of 18 million, was to try and find a diplomatic resolution to the “low-grade” rebellion of the Taureg people. During three trips into the Taureg territory, he and his colleague, Louis Guay, had convinced the rebels to agree to sit down. What they could not move was the government of then president Mamadou Tandja. 

Fowler now believes that Tandja harboured private ambitions to continue to rule Niger, depending on an ongoing state of “civil unrest.” It is Fowler’s stated contention that the president “arranged to send our itinerary to al-Qaeda so that these people could come after us.”

They were ambushed by men  armed with Kalashnikovs on a highway well inside the capital region of Niger. 

This was the start of a terrifying off-road journey into the desert as the kidnappers fled back to their desolate campsite, ironically nicknamed Camp Canada.

“The commander of our kidnappers, called Omar One by Louis and me, demanded our papers (probably to be sure they had got the right men). Louis produced his passport, but I had absolutely no papers on me. Omar furiously exclaimed that it was illegal to travel in Niger without documents,” Fowler told the audience sardonically.

Every day, the captives lived with the very real fear of being beheaded on camera. Hauled into a tent on two occasions to make  videos, Fowler quietly recalled looking around “for plastic. The kidnappers don’t want blood getting on their few possessions.”

The gang ranged in size. But there were never fewer than three rifles aimed at the hostages.

“These were fundamentalists of the most extreme kind. Omar often told us, “We fight to die. You fight to go home to your families. How can we lose?” They were kidnappers and killers, but utterly dedicated to their cause. They absolutely believed in Jihad, absolutely believed that the moment they died, they would sit in paradise by rivers of milk and honey,” Fowler said. 

“They exist in a 7th century bubble, but are festooned with 21st century cell phones and weapons. They hate democracy, liberty, freedom. 

And any Muslim who espouses a view contrary to theirs is an apostate and should be assassinated.” 

Sweltering in 52 degree Celcius heat, deprived of even basic resources, Fowler and Guay struggled to keep up each other’s spirits. They had no idea if anyone was even looking for them.

Fowler later learned that president Blaise Campaoré of Burkina Faso, through his envoy Mustapha Chaffi, had agreed to take on the complex negotiations for their release. (“Ironic,” Fowler commented, “as I had, the year before, called Campaoré an ‘international criminal.’”). Also stepping in to help was Baba Ould Cheikh, envoy of Mali’s president Touré: Cheikh made 11 perilous journeys into the rebel region on behalf of the Canadians. 

“The government of Canada swears it did not pay any ransom for us,” Fowler said. “But al-Qaeda does not carry out humanitarian acts, such as releasing hostages. I truly do not know what was paid for us or to whom. Apparently it was ‘enough.’ In a way, I do not want to ever know.”

Finally turned over to the “good guys” after 138 days of captivity, Fowler said that he took five showers and still felt sandy. He also drank three cokes. “But I knew I was truly free when I asked for a beer, in a Moslem country, and eventually someone produced a room temperature LaBatts 50.”

Fowler, who is now with the University of Ottawa, was a riveting and thoughtful speaker. His address obviously struck a strong chord with the audience. 

He was asked, at the end, how he and Louis Guay, stayed sane.

“We had these rules,” Fowler explained quietly. “No “what ifs.” No talking about bad stuff after lunch. And, if one of us fell into despair, the other was to haul him out of that pit.”

[…]

 

Upper Canada Village’s launch of the new Pumpkinferno, billed as ‘Eastern Ontario’s largest, boldest and most unique’ event has surpassed expectations with over 12,000 visitors through the gates in just seven days of operation.

That figure grew dramatically, this past Saturday night when 5,000 people showed  up causing back ups on County Road 2 and a long wait despite the St. Lawrence Park’s Commission’s effort last week to speed up the entry process.

“Once again we will be trouble shooting,” said the Commission’s Corporate Marketing and Development officer, Susan Leclair, on Monday morning. 

Leclair explained that after the big crowds on the weekend of October 11-13, measures were put in place last week that were expected to keep the flow moving. They included overflow parking and improved schematics for check in/ticket sales.

However, says Leclair, it didn’t take into account that there would be 5,000 visitors on a single night.

While the overflow parking and the entry (separate entry for prepaid, and five cashes open for sales) was in fact better for the visiting public,  their success pushed the problem further up the line to a bottleneck which occurred just inside the village. 

As one exits the Visitor Centre, the Pumpkinferno begins with a light show. Visitors then proceed to the first few exhibits along a narrow pathway around the grist mill. It was at the start to the narrow pathway, that the process slowed down Saturday night.

“While our team was prepared to have a robust visitation, the public reaction surged early in this event, resulting in some extended line ups,” said SLPC General Manager & CEO Darren Dalgleish, in a press release that was released late last week, prior to Saturday night’s huge attendance.  

In the press release, Dalgleish added that, “our team has reacted quickly and streamlined the entrance processes which will be able to get visitors into the parking lot and through the gates much quicker this weekend. Other small adjustments inside the attraction will keep our guests moving at a timely pace during their walk through. It looks like Pumpkinferno is here to stay; based on the attendance to date and stellar feedback we are receiving from our guests.”

“We are driving a strategy of “product mix enrichment” and Pumpkinferno embodies this priority,” said Dalgleish.  “The visitor response has been absolutely astonishing, far exceeding expectations.”

The phenomenal early success of Pumpkinferno has led to the addition of three extra days – November 1, 2 and 3 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights) – in order to accommodate the tremendous popularity of the event.

Pumpkinferno, an event to be enjoyed by all ages is a 45 minute walking tour through a mesmerizing installation of thousands of LED-lit pumpkins of all sizes.  It is a unique blend of creative artistry and must be seen to be appreciated. 

To speed entry into Pumpkinferno, advance ticket purchase is recommended and can be bought online at www.Pumpkinferno.com.  

With a ticket in hand, visitors can then proceed directly to the Express Line-up for pre-paid tickets which will ensure quicker entry. 

Combo tickets Fort Fright / Pumpkinferno ($20 general admission) or Pumpkinferno / Alight at Night (Adult $20; Senior/Youth $15) are also available.

Here’s what visitors are saying about their Pumpkinferno experience:

• “You have outdone yourself with this festival event. The level of artistry and imagination is outstanding.”

• “Awesome, fabulous carvings and display, a must see for all family members.”

• From OTTAWA:  “Hundreds of pumpkins stacked into enormous scenes of stunning originality. The displays literally took our breath away. My kids asked if we could come back the very next night. Well worth the drive and affordable!”

• From CORNWALL:  “This is Upper Canada Village’s new event SUPERSTAR! Original, creative and mind-blowing!”

• From KINGSTON:  “So much buzz about this event we had to see for ourselves. It exceeded our expectations by miles!  What a cool idea! Such energy and talent!”

•From WINCHESTER:  “We did not really know what to expect. We found it difficult to move to the next display because the carving detail was overwhelming! Proud to have this event in our own backyard!”

• From MONTREAL:  “Been to Alight at Night for years – had to think this was worth the trip. It sure was and then some. What an incredible creative idea – executed to the max! Nothing like this in Quebec!  Tres Bien!”

Pumpkinferno is open on select nights from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. throughout October and into November: Thursday to Sunday, October 25, 26, 27, 28; Wednesday to Saturday, October 31 (Hallowe’en), November 1, 2, 3.

The event has affordable family friendly pricing of $10 Adult (13 to 64 years of age), $7 Senior (65+ years of age) / Youth (6 to 12 years of age) and is absolutely free for children five and under. 

[…]

 

 Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell hosted more than 50 local residents at a Family Forum meeting Tuesday evening focusing on Special Services at Home for children, teenagers and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The meeting, held at the North Stormont Place Community Centre in Avonmore comes on the heels of the passage of MPP Christine Elliott’s Member’s Resolution to strike a select committee to address a comprehensive developmental services strategy for Ontario.

The local residents’ main concerns centered on the funding formula and the waiting list to ensure continued assistance once the child turns eighteen.

MPP McDonell expressed his disgust with the wait list for group homes being as long as 30 years. “There are 8,000 children and teenagers in the SSAH system and 4,000 of them are on a wait list.”

“Proposed funding cuts will not allow youth with intellectual disabilities to grow up with their families enjoying a better quality of life,” continued McDonell. 

McDonell says many local residents are affected by the proposed cuts and that it is time for recommendations on a comprehensive developmental services strategy to ensure their needs and the needs of their families are met.

[…]

 

After attending the 2012 Arts and Culture Summit, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds suggested at the Oct. 2 South Dundas council meeting that the municipality take a ‘wait and see’ approach to the newly formed organization.

A regional arts council is being formed, and that council’s board of directors includes one South Dundas resident.

Although there has been no funding request from the organization, Byvelds spoke, in general, about the challenge municipalities may have with supporting arts councils. “Traditionally municipal funds are for things like roads, sewers and bridges. It may be hard to draw from municipal funds for culture. They will really have to demonstrate that there is a benefit,” he said.

Last month, the SDG Community Futures Development Corporation (SDG CFDC) hosted the 2012 Arts & Culture Summit at Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall, Ontario where the arts and culture sector voted on an interim board of directors to help the sector that voted them into existence to collaborate and grow.

The 2012 Arts & Culture Summit was held by the SDG CFDC and in participation with The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SDG), The City of Cornwall, The Eastern Ontario Training Board, The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport and the Government of Canada (FedDev Ontario) to provide much needed information on what is required to form an arts council for the region. 

The guest speakers included, Esther Bryan, an established artist and Quilt of Belonging founder from South Glengarry, Karen Ennis, Program Manager from WorkInCulture, Loree Lawrence, Community and Multidisciplinary Arts Officer for the Ontario Arts Council, Carol Feeney, Executive Director of Quinte Arts Council and Clayton Windatt Co-Founder of Nippissing Arts Council. 

The guest speakers each spoke about the importance of the role of an arts council from their community and how that role is unique and individual to the community it serves. They also spoke about the importance of collaboration and communication.

The SDG CFDC based on its research and development of how arts councils have been formed in other regions in Ontario decided that it was important to create a grass roots movement and have the arts and culture sector vote on and interim Board of Directors. 

“This grass roots movement is community economic development 101,” said SDG CFDC’s Executive Director François Désormeaux. 

“We saw the art and culture sector in our region in need and we provided them with the tools required to grow and expand their sector. The Arts Council is that tool.” The SDG CFDC graciously paid for the not for profit articles of incorporation for the Cornwall & the Counties Arts and Culture Council and will continue to support their efforts to make sure they get off on the right foot. “There are legal expenses and various processes to make sure the Board is established and running smoothly and we are there to ensure they do things correctly. Those first steps can be daunting, confusing and overwhelming to young arts councils and we want them to focus on serving their community,” Désormeaux said. 

When asked how the CFDC will continue to support the Art Council in other ways, Désormeaux stated, “We will allow our Cultural Development Coordinator, Bruce Davis to continue to work with them as long as they need it. He will ensure the correct steps are made and that they set off in the right direction to serve the needs of the entire region.” 

When asked how he may set this council off in the right direction Davis stated, “I have been doing a lot of research on arts councils – what’s successful and what is failing so I will be providing that information to this council so they can begin building direction. I will also ensure the communication remains constant and flowing from the regional stakeholders as well as community partners so that the council knows best how to serve the community.”

The Cornwall & The Counties Arts and Culture Council Board of Directors are: Stephen Davies, from South Dundas who has worked in finance for almost 30 years, Jason Setnyk, a teacher in Cornwall, Ann Brady from North Dundas who is a screenwriter, Amanda Marini Rohde, a teacher, dancer and host of a cable show on the arts, Sandra Van der Veer, a Cornwall belly dancer and policy writer, Marie Morrell, founder of the Parade of Nations and a local museum, Charlotte King, a painter from Akwesasne, Carolyn Davis Waldryn, a published author from Cornwall, Richard Salem lives in Long Sault and is a graphic designer, Betty Healy, an author and strategic coach with business experience, Noella Cotnam, an artist and owner of Sign It Signs and Design in Williamstown, Dan Archambault, an internationally renown artist, promoter and consultant and Chuck Leclair an event promoter from Cornwall.

[…]