Year: 2012

 Big, orange and thousands of them! They are all at Upper Canada Village for the all-new Pumpkinferno which opened Friday night.

Pumpkinferno creates a new family tradition and fall experience unlike any other in Canada.  A unique blend of creative artistry combined with a definite sense of humour, this mesmerizing installation of 1,000s of LED-lit pumpkins of all sizes is a ‘must do’ fall event.

“The St. Lawrence Parks Commission has invested more than half a million dollars into this new event along with approximately 6,000 hours of labour,” says Darren Dalgleish, General Manager and CEO of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission. “Pumpkinferno will have an instant appeal to absolutely everyone of any age – it will actually reignite many an imagination! ”

A walking tour will take visitors through 30 artistically carved, internally lit, themed exhibits.  Guests will be amazed by an eclectic display of scenes from exotic places and historic ages, forest animals and sea-born creatures, story book heroes, mythical characters, cultural icons and more … all creatively carved from artificial pumpkins! 

In addition, Eastern Ontario school children were invited to share their artistic carvings using real pumpkins. With 13 schools and over 640 school children participating, UCV will display hundreds of their carved pumpkins at “Our Children’s Pumpkin Art”.

Pumpkinferno visitors can stop in at the Village Store Pantry, or the Tent O’ Treats just outside the Village, to discover a variety of fun foods … try a Mummy Dog on a stick, with a side of Brains and Bones Poutine! Enjoy a hot bowl of Spooky Soup or Stew topped with a Spider Croissant, or slurp back a Pumpkin Pie soda … plus lots more!!  The Village Store is the exclusive Canadian supplier of Pumpkin Pie Soda.

Full service dining is also available in the ambience of historic inn Willard’s Hotel and at the Upper Canada Golf Course Bar and Grill which will remain open after sundown throughout Pumpkinferno for groups (minimum 16) who reserve their dinner five days in advance.

Pumpkinferno is open on select nights from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. throughout October: Friday to Sunday, October 12-14; Thursday to Sunday, October 18-21 and October 25-28; Halloween night, October 31st.

The event has family friendly pricing of $10 adult (13-64yrs), $7 senior (65 plus) / youth (6 – 12) and is free for children five and under.

“The Pumpkinferno team has worked really hard to bring this event to fruition,” says Neil Shorthouse, SLPC Special Events Officer. “I think our visitors will be awed by the artistry of the carvings but at the same time they will be entertained because our design team developed some great themes that I think people will really enjoy.”

[…]

“Dr. Carmichael put me up for 10 minutes of daily exercise. I haven’t been on exercise since 1942, eight years ago, so it will certainly be strange walking down the street again. I am very happy. This has been a great day.”

Clara Raina was 24 years old when she wrote those words on October 26, 1950, in her detailed and meticulous diaries. She entered the Royal Ottawa Sanatorium in 1939, diagnosed with tuberculosis. In 1952 she was able to leave the hospital.

Clara would see seven members of her immediate family enter the same sanatorium. She would see her father, and her brothers John and Billy, die of the deadly contagion. And she, herself, would undergo several therapies used for treating TB sixty years ago. One such treatment cost her 11 of her 24 ribs. 

Clara had “her own yardstick for measuring happiness,” said her sister, Anne Raina, author of the book, Clara’s Rib, written from the diaries and records and papers the young girl kept during her years of medical confinement. 

“Our mother taught us that “every single day has something beautiful in it,” Raina told the Leader. “Some days you have to look harder to find it, but always look. Clara’s story is one of hope, humour and strong faith.”

Anne Raina is presenting  book talks based on Clara’s Rib, on Monday, October 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lost Villages, and on Thursday, October 18, at 2 p.m., at the Morrisburg Public Library.

Clara’s diaries paint a picture of the nature of the disease of tuberculosis, its treatments (“Some seem barbaric by our modern standards,” Anne Raina said, “but doctors were not trying to be cruel. They were doing their best with the knowledge available at the time.”), and TB’s affects on families and on the sufferers themselves. 

“Clara persevered,” Anne Raina said. “She found humour and hope. Readers of all ages, will, I think, be drawn into Clara’s life.” 

Anne Raina was entrusted by her sister with the diaries and a manuscript Clara had written just before her death. “I always felt that this was a story that needed to be told,” the author explained. 

Clara’s Rib, as Peter Jessamine, MD, son of the former superintendant of the Royal Ottawa Sanatorium put it, concerns a woman whose life “is truly a miracle and an inspiration.”  

[…]

“High school graduation is not an end, but a beginning,” valedictorians Montadher Hamadi and Katherine Lee told their fellow graduates at the 2012 graduation ceremony, held in the beautifully decorated gym at Seaway District High School on Friday evening, October 5.

“Today is but a moment along the way of your journey,” said Montadher (“Monty”). “The future lies before you like a field of driven snow: the steps you take on this field of driven snow will sculpt your success.”

“I hope that your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known,” said Katherine.

Over 80 students received their high school graduation diplomas at the annual graduation ceremony held before a packed house of teachers, parents, grandparents and friends. In the course of the evening, according to principal Terry Gardiner, thanks to the generosity of the South Dundas community, Seaway students received close to $40,000 in bursaries, scholarships and gifts.

“I am also thrilled that this is the first graduation where students earned the Agriculture high school major Red Seal,” Gardiner said. 

“I am very happy that so many of our graduates are using the skills they have learned at Seaway at college, university and in apprenticeships. The generous community support of our school has been wonderful. Many of our grads truly need this support to continue in post secondary education.” 

[…]

The families of fire chief Les Bilmer and captain John Lortie were joined on Saturday, October 6, by uniformed South Dundas firefighters, dignitaries and members of the community for the re-dedication of a memorial plaque in honour of the two men and of the Morrisburg firefighters who have served over the last 70 years.

Also dedicated was a plaque recognizing the members of the current South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services.

In his address, Morrisburg deputy chief, Kevin Keyes, recalled that it was almost 20 years to the day that the original memorial plaque was dedicated in 1992, through the inspiration of then chief, Les Bilmer.

“After the passing of Les and Captain John Lortie, the Bilmer family and the Lortie family gave a very generous donation to this fire department,” Keyes said. “We did not want to spend the donations on tools and equipment but rather something that would pay tribute to these two highly respected firemen.”

He pointed out that the firefighters looked at a number of different ideas, and finally decided that the original plaque should be refurbished, updated and relocated to the wall of the fire hall.

In this new location, the plaques would not only be “paying tribute to Les and John, but to all firefighters who have served this community.”

The plaques were officially unveiled at Saturday’s ceremony by Inez Bilmer and Julie Lortie as piper Jack Yourt played and those gathered at the ceremony applauded. 

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, on behalf of the South Dundas council and the township, said that “we have come to honour those past and present who have dedicated themselves to the community. We are always able to count on our firefighters in our time of need, and we are proud to have these plaques recognizing them.”

Chief of South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services, Chris McDonough, thanked the Bilmer and Lortie families for their generosity, and praised the efforts of deputy chief Keyes and assistant deputy chief Brian St. Pierre in bringing the project to completion. “Members of the South Dundas firefighters are a diverse and terrific group. I feel fortunate for having been given the opportunity to work alongside our men and women in the firefighters.”

Brian McBain, from the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office also expressed his deep appreciation for the generosity of the Bilmer and Lortie families for making this “recognition of our firefighters possible.”

Inez Bilmer told the audience that her late husband, Les, was a proud member of the Morrisburg Fire Department for 33 years. “He took a great deal of pride in his fellow firefighters and the department in general. When we lost Les, our family was deeply touched by the outpouring of kindness and camaraderie demonstrated by the department. These are things that are never forgotten.”

Julie Lortie said that Saturday’s ceremony of dedication would have meant a great deal to her husband, John. “The fire department was a very big part of his life. I think he would also be very proud that his son Bradley, and his stepson, Jason Denio, are both following in his footsteps as firefighters.” 

Kevin Keyes concluded his address with a remark from the original 1992 dedication ceremony, made by Lorne Campbell, then editor of the Canadian Fire Fighter magazine.

“Somewhere down the road, in another 20 or 25 years, somebody is going to be talking about you, and they will be respecting you, the way that you and I respect the members who have given their services to this community.”

[…]

 South Dundas’ newest business is hoping everyone in the community  will come out and “officially” meet them on Thursday, October 11, from 4-7 p.m. 

Hicks Insurance Brokers Ltd, very much a family business, opened an office in Morrisburg in May, 2012. In the words of Doug Hicks, “We look forward to being active members of this business community.”

He is echoed by his son, Daryn, who has been a member of the brokerage since 2006. “We want to extend our support to the South Dundas community as a whole.”

Assisting them in the Morrisburg office are Laury Pilon, and Lise Van Beilen, both residents of the South Dundas area, and experienced in the needs and concerns of this community.

On Friday, October 5, Doug and Daryn talked to the Leader about their background in insurance and  about their new Morrisburg location.

The original family business was established in 1946, in Metcalfe, by Doug’s father, Stan, working alongside his wife Hazel.  

Doug, who was studying business at Ryerson, came home to join the brokerage in 1977. 

“I really enjoyed the challenges the insurance industry offered,” Hicks said. “I learned about what the industry had to offer, and, really, it remains a learning experience for me.”

Son Daryn joined the firm in 2006, after earning his degree in business from Algonquin College. He is the youngest of three children. While his older brother and sister have chosen other careers (“They couldn’t work with Dad,”  Daryn commented, laughing), he has enjoyed the challenges of working in the insurance field. 

“We really are a family business,” Doug said. “Hicks is now six years into the third generation of the company. My mom, Hazel, who is 88, remains keenly interested in the business, and will actually be at our October 11 opening.”

The Hicks family purchased Benson Latimer Insurance in Metcalfe in 1985, forming Hicks Insurance. Their next acquisition was made in May, 2012, when they purchased Fred Hill Insurance in Morrisburg. 

“I had been friends with David Hill for about 30 years,” Doug explained. “When he decided it was time to move on, the opportunity to purchase the Hill brokerage came to us, and we finalized the deal in May, 2012.”

Hicks Insurance is situated at 147 Main Street (Pinkus Plaza) in Morrisburg, in re-vamped and re-furbished modern offices. 

They kept familiar long term staff with them when they opened in South Dundas. 

Laury Pilon joined Hill Insurance in 1985, and brings 29 years of insurance experience to the Hicks brokerage. Lise Van Beilen joined Hill in 2001, and also brings her business expertise to Hicks.

“Frankly,” Doug Hicks said, laughing, “I think we are just here to support our great long-term staff members, Laury and Lise.”

Doug and Daryn handle all lines of insurance, primarily property and casualty, and welcome enquiries from clients with insurance needs.

“In the last 20 years, insurance has become very competitive,” Doug commented. “We keep up with what the market has to offer. We feel that we are doing this in both offices. 

Market and technology changes really demand that we stay current.”

Hicks Insurance Brokers Ltd. looks forward to serving the business needs of people in South Dundas. 

The members of the Hicks family look forward to meeting new friends and clients as they welcome everyone to their grand opening October 11.

[…]

What municipal staff were hoping would be a permanent solution to re-routing children who walk to school around the construction site at the former Morrisburg Collegiate Institute, may not be so permanent.

Council discussed the move of the crossing guard to the intersection of Ottawa and Second Streets, away from its former location at Ottawa and Alice Street, at the Oct. 2 council meeting.

The move now has children crossing Ottawa at Second Street, travelling second street between two painted lines denoting a sidewalk to the four way stop at St. Lawrence Street where they are to cross into the school yard.

The problem is that children are reportedly darting across Second Street at various locations making for a very dangerous situation.

“Our staff have done their best with a very challenging situation of not having a sidewalk there,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, who reported that the school board chair wants to work together with the municipality to find a better solution.

“The possibility of children darting across the street is an issue and he considers safety paramount,” said Byvelds, who attended a meeting with the board chair last week.

From that meeting, South Dundas chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald reports that the municipality and the board are working in partnership and are presently discussing alternatives.

South Dundas councillor Jim Graham inquired about the cost of the municipality hiring a second crossing guard to get children across Second Street. 

The CAO estimated the cost to the municipality at about $600 per month.

“It’s an additional expense, but I’d sure as hell rather spend the money than see somebody get killed,” said Graham.

As of press time there had been no changes to the route, and no additional crossing guards were on site.

[…]

Any South Dundas resident with anything to discuss in an open forum with their municipal government officials will have the opportunity to do so, October 9, 7 p.m. at the Iroquois Civic Centre.

This open forum meeting takes place annually around Local Government Week.

This annual meeting was initiated by the late Charles Barkley, when he was mayor and the practice continues.

Last year, and in previous years, the public forum meeting was held at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

After last year’s meeting it was decided that from now on it will be held in a different place every year.

The format remains the same as previous years, questions, concerns and ideas will be discussed in an open forum for two hours.

[…]

On October 17, 2012, at a scheduled meeting of the Canadian Club, Catherine Merkley, a Morrisburg resident, will be reuniting with her now famous former boss, Robert R. Fowler.  

Merkley worked for Fowler when he was the Deputy Minister in the Department of National Defence (DND) in Ottawa in the early 1990s.  He was then posted to be a Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in 1995.  

Merkley went to New York for an “all girls weekend” in 1996 and visited Fowler and his family at his residence in downtown New York City.  

From 1990 to 1995, Merkley was Fowler’s Administrative Assistant dealing with the Prime Minister’s Office, Privy Council Office, Minister of National Defence, all other Group Principals within the DND and Other Government Departments, at a trying time for DND, that being during the Somalia Affair and the disbanding of the Airborne Regiment.  

When Fowler was posted to the UN, Merkley was transferred to a Staff Officer position in the Personnel Group working for Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire (now a Quebec Senator) and working with General Rick Hillier, (who later became the Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest ranking military position in the DND).  

Merkley’s next position was that of the first female civilian Coordinator after the move of the Canadian Army Headquarters to Ottawa, then she became an Administration Manager for the first DNDCanadian Forces Ombudsman, Andre Marin, and finally she was promoted to the Human Resources Manager position with the Judge Advocate General (the military lawyers for DND).   

Merkley took early retirement, after 28 years service as a civilian with DND, in 2005 to move back to her roots, near Chesterville.  

In 2008, when Fowler was kidnapped by the Al-Qaeda, Fowler’s former personal staff of 10 employees, including Merkley, most of whom are still in the National Capital Region, were in constant contact via E-mail.  The minute Fowler was released they sighed a huge sigh of relief.  

As soon as Fowler’s book “A Season in Hell – My 130 Days in the Sahara with Al Qaeda” was published, Merkley rushed out to buy a copy and hopes to have it personally autographed by him at the meeting.  

October 17, 2012 will be their first time seeing each other since 1996.  

In 2007, Merkley, with her husband, Kevin, moved to their retirement home on County Road 4 just outside of Morrisburg.  Since that time, Merkley has been a Family Law Assistant for the local law firm of Gorrell, Grenkie and Remillard, acting as Family Law Assistant to J. Douglas Grenkie.

[…]