Month: April 2013

 

The new roadside sign design has been scrapped by South Dundas council. Council narrowly defeated a motion at the April 2, council meeting that would have allowed South Dundas’ roadside signs to be replaced with new redesigned signs.

South Dundas, in partnership with South Stormont, commissioned a $10,000 study to redesign the signs to include the shared Upper Canada Region branding and to have a uniform appearance across the region.

South Stormont council approved the new design at their March 11 meeting.

The new sign design removes the images that were featured on past designs, including the McIntosh apple from hamlet signs throughout South Dundas and the ship that is featured on the 401 exit signs at Morrisburg and Iroquois.

“There are no images in order to ensure that the name (South Dundas) is relayed effectively without any clutter,” said South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan. 

“What we wanted is for our signs to be timeless. Images and pictures tend to fade and soon become outdated. That’s why we went with only text.”

“If you have graphics, you have to pick one, and then you have effectively pigeon-holed your community,” said Sullivan.

The recommendation to change the names on the 401 signs to South Dundas from Iroquois and Morrisburg was done to align South Dundas’ greater marketing efforts. 

“If we want name recognition, it needs to be consistent,” said Sullivan. “We’re marketing the whole South Dundas community, not just Iroquois and Morrisburg.”

The majority of council was not swayed by Sullivan’s arguments. 

Council members had various ideas about what should be on the signs such as images and logos, but the majority agreed that they did not like the roadside sign design they were presented at the March 5 council meeting by consultant Tom Graham of T.D. Graham and Associates. 

Councillor Archie Mellan said that an image, like the McIntosh apple, serves a purpose. “It grabs your attention.” 

Councillor Evonne Delegarde agreed. “We might be missing the boat if we eliminate graphics from our signs,” she said, adding that she has had no positive feedback on the new design. 

“I don’t like the new design,” said South Dundas councillor Jim Graham. 

“To me the design is plain and institutional. I like the signs we have with the apple and the boat.” He added that he has been asking people about the new sign design and that he has not had anyone say they like it.

“People don’t like change,” said South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke. 

He was satisfied with the sign design suggested by the consultants, who were able to explain the reasoning behind the choice of this new design. 

“We partnered with another municipality to do this, and here we are not happy,” said Locke.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds was swayed by the consultant’s arguments in favour of the new design, especially of using the medium to promote the Upper Canada Region brand.

“This branding has been on the shelf too long not to give it a try,” said Byvelds.

“The signs on the 401: I am of the firm belief that it is time to make them South Dundas signs,” said Mayor Byvelds. 

“We are South Dundas council and we need to stick together and emphasize that point. We have to start thinking of South Dundas as one, and it needs to start at this table. It is not just Iroquois and Morrisburg and the rest. Yes, the new sign design is very plain but the apple and the ship are not unity. That’s just more division. South Dundas is unity.”

“This is our opportunity to go forward with the Upper Canada Region brand, to promote South Dundas and to work with South Stormont,” he added. 

“I have no problem with using the South Dundas name and the Upper Canada Region. I fully support the branding,” said Councillor Graham. “I am not happy with the design that was presented, and I don’t have to accept it.”

“What do we do, scrap it?,” asked Deputy Mayor Locke.

The apparent answer to his question was yes as council voted to defeat the motion to accept the new sign design.

“I am not sure of our path forward from here,” said Mayor Byvelds. “Now we have no signs, and no budget to pay for a redesign.” 

[…]

 

 

The St. Lawrence Parks Commission received $300,000 for four of its events as part of the April 5, Celebrate Ontario funding announcements.

Through the Celebrate Ontario initiative, the government is giving local events a boost to help grow tourism, create jobs and support economic growth.

This year, 203 festivals and events received funding. 

Festivals and events are proven visitor draws to both regions and tourism attractions.  

Over the past decade, the St. Lawrence Parks Commission has led the way in the development of three new shoulder season events that collectively have breathed new life into the tourism shoulder season plus numerous main season events that draw visitors to the region.  

Celebrate Ontario has announced it will fund event enhancements to four of the SLPC’s iconic events including:  Pumpkinferno and Alight at Night both at Upper Canada Village near Morrisburg and Fort Henry’s Concert Series and Fort Fright in Kingston.

“At the St. Lawrence Parks, as in any other business, product evolution and new product are at the core of sustainability.  As such, Celebrate Ontario’s investment in our new events contributes greatly to the longevity of our brand and the depth of our portfolio along the St.  Lawrence corridor and the Great Waterway region,” said Darren Dalgleish, General Manager & CEO, St. Lawrence Parks Commission.

The funding breaks down to $75,000 to each event and will be spent on innovations to help the events grow and remain appealing to visitors.

For Pumpkinferno, Celebrate Ontario will support the design, construction and presentation of an “experiential” exhibit as the must-see/do new feature in 2013, revitalization of the current displays, and improving accessibility along the tour, all towards renewing and  enhancing the customer experience.

As Alight at Night approaches its 13th season, Celebrate Ontario will support the research, design, installation and presentation of an all-new Special Effects Tour to entertain visitors during their rides on the Toy Train, in order to rejuvenate this long-standing family activity at the event. 

[…]

 

Every year at this time Curves offers up what Kelly Keeler, owner/manager of the Morrisburg location calls a win-win. 

New members can join for a $30 donation or a bag of groceries for the Dundas County Food Bank. 

The theme for this year’s food drive was feed the need. 

Curves gained several new members during the two-week promotion, and March 28 the money and grocery donations were handed over to the Dundas County Food Bank. 

“In addition to the new members, many of our other members, visitors, and staff donated too,” said Keeler. “People here are very supportive of this.” Monetary donations of $385 and 856.5 pounds of food were collected during this year’s effort. 

Rev. Sue McCollough, who accepted the donation on behalf of the food bank said that efforts like this mean everything to the food bank. “Without support from organizations like this one, our food bank would be in dire straits. It’s because of efforts like this that we can continue our programs to feed the hungry.” 

[…]

 

“We’re looking forward to this competition, and we’re going there to win.”

Seaway District High School’s building construction team is ready to take part in the 2013 Skills Canada Competition which is being held at St. Lawrence College, Cornwall, April 10. Made up of (above, left to right) Jordan St. Louis, Vicki Van Hoof, Josh O’Connor and Kris Alexander, the students in Seaway’s construction program know the competition will be tough, but they say they will be ready.

“The competitors come from all of the Upper Canada boards and from the Catholic boards. Our Seaway kids are really keen; they didn’t have to be pushed to take part in this event,” said Seaway teacher, Henry Looyen.

The Skills Canada Competition offers students the opportunity to  test their classroom and practical skills in a number of technical categories. “We are also sending students to carpentry trials, to welding, small engines and automotive trials,” Looyan said.

Seaway’s construction team will have six hours to completely build and finish a shed. 

The judges for the competition are drawn from the professors and teachers at the College, and from the apprenticeship programs. Judges will rate each team on the speed with which they work, the quality of the product, and whether teams meet code and spec standards.

The generosity of local South Dundas company, Cruickshank Construction, has been crucial to the young builders.

“Through Jordan, whose mom works for Cruickshank Construction, we asked for their support,” Looyen said. “The company immediately said yes, and donated $250 to us to purchase materials for building a practice shed this week in preparation for the contest. 

We are really grateful to Cruickshank’s for helping us out in this way.”

Seaway’s completed shed will be presented, after consultation with Cruickshank’s,  to a deserving member of the community in about a month’s time.

“We have a mixed grade level team here,” Henry Looyen explained. “The students come from grade 10 to the senior grades. All week in class we will be working on team skills, planning, and seeing that every person is doing a job. Time really is our ‘worst enemy.’”

Jordan, Vicki, Josh and Kris all volunteered for the competition and are looking forward to the challenges. They point out that while Mr. Looyen will be with them in Cornwall, he is forbidden by the contest rules to coach them in any way once the clock starts.

“This is going to be a team effort: we definitely plan to win. We’ll be fine,” the students laughed, looking at their teacher, “even if the shed goes up crooked.”

[…]

 

These young men, members of the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Reserves, volunteered their own time to join an historic march recreating and commemorating the journey of the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot in 1813. The Foot marched from Fredericton to Kingston to take part in the defense of Upper Canada along the St. Lawrence. “I want the Canadian army to rediscover its roots and to understand its heritage of service predates Confederation,” said historian Donald Graves, author of Merry Hearts Make Light Days, a journal of the War of 1812. “This march by the Foot during the war remains one of the longest in military history.” Following the day’s 30 kilometre march, the Glens, under the command of Lt.-Col Robert Duda, were received by the Legion, Branch # 48, on Sunday, April 7, then stayed overnight at Upper Canada Village.  At the Crysler Memorial, front row (l-r) are Sgt. Kyle Bergeron (with 104th’s replica colours), Pvt. Kyle Villeneuve, M.Cpl. Andrew Mustard, Pvt. Andrew Cameron,  and re-enactment organizer, Michael Berk. Back row M.Cpl. Justin Delorme, Cpl. Adam McKinnon, Cpl. Kory Kingston, Cpl. Joshua Taillon and Cpl. Evan Leslie. At Morrisburg Branch # 48, greeting the marchers, are, front, Graham Houze, president, Bill Shearing, Maurice Praine, past president, Donna Dillabough, 1st vice president and Michael Berk, Behind are Archie Mellan, South Dundas council, Lt. Colonel Duda and MPP Jim McDonell. “We have received tremendous support everywhere, throughout our march,” said Col. Duda, “And while we were once less friendly with the USA, the old animosities are over. The Americans are our friends, our allies, our comrades.” 

[…]

 

Myrna Anderson, a member of the team which organized and ran the April 6 Pulling Together fund raiser on behalf of the Froats family, was finding it hard to find the words to express her emotions.

“The whole event was just beyond real,” she said. “Isn’t it wonderful? We can safely say, at this point, that we have passed the $40,000 mark, and that we will publish our final figures in the paper within a couple of weeks. From the smallest to the biggest donations, everything counted in the end. 

Isn’t it absolutely amazing what people can do when we all ‘pull together.’”

The goal of organizers was to raise funds to help the Froats family, Mark, Lisa, Brody and Brett, who are facing some very difficult challenges in the months  which lie ahead.

The Pulling Together campaign  began before Christmas, and culminated in a gala, Saturday,  April 6, 2013, at the Matilda Hall in Dixons Corners, with hundreds of people coming out from South Dundas and surrounding communities to take part in the  many activities.

The organizing team, made up of Myna Anderson, Mike Deighton, David Lapier, David Wells, Ruth and Paul Robertson, Keith and Linda Robinson, Gayle Hart, Loretta and Mike Anderson, Jim and Vivian Martin and Tracey Veinotte, was delighted with the support shown by volunteers and  the public for the fund raiser.

The Golden Gears Car Club ran a car rally on Saturday, and a sponsorship campaign: president Henry Swank presented a cheque for $4,600 to the committee. 

The Morrisburg and District Lions, and the Lions of Winchester, Chesterville and Finch handled activities throughout the day for the crowds of visitors. The Iroquois-Matilda Lions arranged for and looked after the hall.

The roast beef dinner (which completely sold out) was catered by Hart’s Special Occasions.

There were seven local bands performing throughout the afternoon and evening, with Elvis impersonator Paul Warren and his band, Mystery Train, entertaining after dinner. 

People danced the rest of the night away to the music of Ridin’ Shotgun.

A full list of those donating their time, talents, funds and fund raising efforts for the gala will be published later.

The silent and live auctions were popular and important factors in the fund raiser. 

Melissa Fisher, a flight attendant with West Jet, brought a special donation for the auction, from the airline, of two round trip tickets to wherever West Jet flies. “West Jet’s generosity is a major calling card for our event,” Myrna Anderson said. 

West Jet has a community investment program, Fisher explained, and if an event is trying to raise funds, it can submit a proposal to the West Jet board. The company was pleased to help support the Pulling Together campaign.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds said that the “volunteers who put on this fund raiser should be highly commended. There was great participation from our entire community to support a family facing real difficulties. There is such a strong sense of community in this area.”

The Froats family was thrilled and truly overwhelmed to hear how much had been raised at the event, Anderson reported. 

“Everything on Saturday went like clockwork,” she said. “We had no issues. We had great volunteers, and a wonderful crowd. It was a very happy day.”

[…]

There may not have been an actual red carpet, but the Students’ Council of Seaway District High School made sure that the seventh annual Oskar night at the school was filled with pomp and circumstance.

“We always have a really big turn out of students for Oskar night,” said Hayley Smith, vice president and Nikki Devries, student senate. “The event is really popular with kids at Seaway. Everyone wants to know who actually won in the 12 categories. It’s a semi formal occasion, so we also have a Much Music Video dance after the Oskar presentations. Everyone looks great and has fun.”

Oskars, held at the high school on Thursday, March 21, began with students’ council seven years ago, and the tradition has continued and grown since then.

There are 12 categories (a few of them fairly unique) and students are nominated in the junior and senior divisions of each by their peers. Then there is a secret ballot and the top three finishers in a category are entered into the contest for the coveted Oskar.

“Suspense is really high, and everyone comes out to see who the final winners will be,” said Hayley Smith. 

There were two hosts at this year’s Oskars, Brodey Casselman and Ryan Brown. The contenders for Oskars were shown to the crowd in special video clips (just like their Hollywood counterparts), and the winners announced.

The gold plated Oskars (who may have been “Barbies” in another life) are treasured by the winners. At the celebration, 28 statues were handed out.

Each students’ council generally adds a special category or two of its own to the event. In 2013, Most Likely to Appear in Duck Dynasty and Most Likely to be ID’d at 30 were selected.

Winners of these categories were (sen.) Ryan Brown and (jun.) Collin McCooeye (Ducks) and (sen.) Eric Swank and (jun.) Zach Thompson (ID).

Other Oskar winners in the 2013 competition included:

Leading Lads – Brodey Casselman (S), Toby Mullin (J).

Leading Ladies – Sarah Dickey (S), Allison Lee (J).

Biggest Athlete – Vicki Van Hoof (S), Andrew Jarvis (J).

Dynamic Duo – Bailey Wells, Danielle Whitteker (S), Peyton Bradford, Mackenzie Barkley (J).

Most Dedicated – Sam Venema (S), Lyndsay Venema (J).

Most Unique Style – Ashley Dupuis (S), Dani-Shae Barkley (J).

Class Clown – Josh O’Connor (S), Evan Mullin (J).

Best Hair – Casey McNairn (S), Mackenzie Barkley (J).

Biggest Gamer – Nick Madden (S), Chris Goupil (J).

Cinderella and Prince Charming – Travis McNeilly and Valarie Stewart (S), Tristan Hanes and Alyssa Mayhew (J).

[…]

The Playhouse is gearing up for the April debut of its popular, live, spring country concert. 

This season audiences will be treated to Wichita Lineman starring Playhouse favourite, singer and fiddler Aaron Solomon and co-starring another popular Playhouse singing sensation, Leisa Way, both seen in the past hit concerts Country Jukebox, Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. 

The concert highlights the music of Glen Campbell, but that’s just the beginning of a musical buffet. 

Like all of its past country concerts, this show will offer audiences a whole lot more, featuring a variety of hit songs from many of their favourite country legends. 

“The interesting thing about Aaron Solomon and Glen Campbell is that Campbell (like Aaron) also had the facility to sound just like the stars whose songs he was singing,” remarked Playhouse artistic director Donnie Bowes. “And because Campbell worked with so many popular artists, audiences are going to enjoy a really great mix of music from a whole variety of singers as well.”

Solomon and Leisa Way, together with the five piece Wayward Wind Band, will light up the stage and keep folks’ feet tapping throughout a show which is full of fantastic, varied music. 

The list of great artists and their music which will be featured in  the 2013 spring show goes on and on. From Glen Campbell, enjoy the hits Rhinestone Cowboy, Gentle on My Mind, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Galveston, Southern Nights, Try a Little Kindness and It’s Only Make Believe.

Then sit back and take in a great five song Beach Boys medley, featuring memorable tunes like Surfin’ USA and Help Me Rhonda. 

Look for a Bobbie Gentry medley as well as hits like All I Have to Do is Dream by the Everly Brothers. Memorable Tanya Tucker numbers, Bobby Darin’s Dream Lover, the classic Paul McCartney song, Mull of Kintyre, and Roger Miller’s comic hits Dang Me and King of The Road will guarantee a spring production at the Playhouse full of entertainment.  

“And that’s just some of the variety of hits in the first half of the show,” added Bowes. “The second act is loaded with tons more and will also showcase Aaron’s famous fiddle and guitar talents, talents that our audiences have come to enjoy.”

Solomon brings to life Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison. He will also join Way in a great Anne Murray medley which features well loved hits like Snowbird, the Bob Dylan tune, Ain’t No Use in Wonderin’ Why, and Babe, among many others.  

Solomon and guitarist Kim Ratcliffe will definitely amaze audiences when they showcase their dueling-guitar version of The William Tell Overture. 

Playhouse visitors are invited to enjoy this outstanding, exciting new production, as some of country’s most talented musical artists hit the stage for a rousing kick-off to the 2013 Season. 

Wichita Lineman, starring Aaron Solomon, co-starring  Leisa Way and the Wayward Wind Band, opens at Upper Canada Playhouse on April 23 and runs through May 5. There are 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows. 

Rates for seniors and for groups of 10 or more are also available for this show. For tickets contact 1-613-543-3713/1-877-550-3650 or www.uppercanadaplayhouse.com. 

[…]