Fire fells vacant Seibert Rd. house

Needing insurance is like needing a parachute. If it isn’t there the first time, chances are you won’t be needing it again.

South Dundas Clerk Brenda Brunt outlined the insurance issue for members of council at the October 4th South Dundas council meeting.

“In 2010 our insurance policy changed to not include blanket event insurance coverage for use of Township property. Our insurance carrier or any other does not have this type of coverage.”

In the document provided, she explained that there are “four separate groups that are required to have additional insurance while on Township property.”

“The first group is our outside suppliers such as contractors performing paving, sewer flushing, grass cutting, etc.”

“Secondly, facility rentals are comprised of two sections: non-alcoholic event and alcoholic event. The non-alcohol event can use their homeowners or tenant policy which covers their exposure.”

“The alcohol event requires a minimum of $2 million Commercial General Liability with a $500 deductible and includes injury to participants. Our previous blanket policy did not include injury to participants.”

Finally, there are the Special Events groups such as “Old Home Week, Tubiefest, Antiquefest, Applefest, Harvestfest, BIA Plaza Party” and so on.

Brunt told council that “our objective was to transfer risk away from the township. Our insurance agent thought we were practising good risk management.”

Deputy Mayor Jim Locke interjected saying that “since the last meeting I’ve spent a lot of time researching event insurance” and this is “not special to South Dundas.”

Brunt reported that “as public organizations with taxation power and ‘deep pockets’, municipalities have become targets of litigation when other defendants do not have the means to pay.”

Brunt provides an example of such a situation in her written  recommendation: “the bouncy castle jumping apparatus at Old Home Week – if there was an accident it would start with the owner’s insurance and then the event organizer’s insurance and then the Township. If the event organizer didn’t have insurance then it would go to the Township second. This would be bad risk management. Therefore, the Township is implementing good risk management practises that transfer the risk.”

Locke pointed out that the new policy “not only protects the township, but the organizers as well.”

“First we have to agree that there’s a need for this,” he continued and “down the road discuss how it’s funded.”

Councillor Jim Graham said that “our policy wasn’t put in place to deter volunteers. We all know the value of our volunteers.”

While Councillor Evonne Delegarde agreed that there’s “no question that we need proper insurance,” she also voiced concern about insurance “eating into (volunteer groups’) profits.”

She suggested that “perhaps there’s some way we can look at funding this for these groups” because they’re an “extremely important part of the township.”

She went on to emphasize that council “really has to pay attention to” the township’s volunteers.

In terms of the extra insurance for renting facilities, Delegarde said, “one of my concerns is that the facilities would not be rented.”

At this point, Councillor Archie Mellan remarked that “nobody likes insurance” and that “nothing would scare away a volunteer quicker” than “getting stung.”

He went on to say that “we’re doing this to be proactive for the township” because if the worst were to happen, “rates go up and that impacts our budgets,” which, in turn, impacts the volunteers and residents of South Dundas.

He pointed out that “we just need one claim and we’ll be glad we have” the policy in place.

Locke agreed that “it’s just doing due diligence” in that the policy is a “general benefit to the township (and) we are representing the people of the township.”

Mayor Steven Byvelds pointed out that other municipalities have “changed their way of doing things – not just us. They all say volunteers need to have insurance.”

“As much as we value our volunteers, we don’t want them” to face a lawsuit. 

“Next year, when we look at our donations (we can) see if that funding window will be increased.”

[…]

 

 “This community is fantastic,” said Bill Britton, as he greeted people at the fundraiser held for his family on Saturday, March 7, at the Morrisburg Legion. “All these people have come out to show that they care, and it’s just overwhelming. Many of these are people Ethel and I don’t even know, but they have called us and mailed notes and donations to us. Thank you is just not enough for this kindness. We are very thrilled.”

Bill and Ethel Britton lost their barn in a fire on January 27, an accidental blaze which also claimed the lives of a lama and several breeding angora goats. A horse, other goats, pot-bellied pigs and lamas were rescued at the time. There was no insurance to cover the loss of the live-stock and the structure.

At this point, Kim Lalonde and Lindsay Wells, co-workers of Ethel’s at the Woodland Villa, stepped up to organize a fundraiser called Help the Brittons, which took place at the Morrisburg Legion all day Saturday, March 7. With the help of many other co-workers and volunteers, the event was five weeks in the planning and featured live entertainment, a silent auction, a yard sale, baked goods, a home-made chili dinner, raffle tickets and a table for donations. Saturday’s event raised $12,229.30  towards the cost of a new barn on the Britton property. However, funds are still coming in, and donations can still be made at gofundme.com/10yk64.

“Ethel and Bill are really kind-hearted people who have always given to others,” said Kim Lalonde. “We felt that it was their time to receive.”

The organizers were also overwhelmed by the response to their fundraiser. “It’s been an unbelievable turn-out. And the support from the community was just amazing. We had 140 auction items given to us by businesses and individuals, and there were all kinds of things at the yard sale. The generosity of the community just blew me away. We are thrilled with the support shown to this fundraiser. Everything we raised will go to the barn building fund.”

There were several entertainers on hand throughout the day. Marc Rivette did an Elvis tribute, John Mondoux provided karaoke, Graham Jacques and The Sons of Gord entertained with songs live on stage. “The entertainment was terrific,” Lalonde said.

Ethel Britton found it hard not to have tears in her eyes as she talked about the fundraiser. “The organizers of this event are angels,” she said. “Small towns are just great places to be. What a wonderful community.” She hopes that the foundations of the old barn are still good, but the burned remains on the site will have to be buried. “We are really hoping for a spring start to re-building,” she said. “Actually, everyone we’ve talked to wished that the community could turn out for an old-fashioned barn raising.”

The rescued animals are all doing fine, the Brittons said. They are currently keeping six bottle baby angora goats in their home. Friends and neighbours took in the Britton animals following the fire.

“The pigs went to Kemptville, the horse and sheep to Toy Storage. The male goats are at the Tuxedo Llama Ranch, the females at Greg DeJong’s. Some of our animals were taken in by the Vanderland Petting Zoo,” explained Bill Britton.

The fundraiser brings the hope of a new start in the spring for the Britton family.

“I’m still overwhelmed,” Ethel said, tearfully. “There has been such kindness and love shown to us, with people constantly saying, what can we do for you. We’re going to have a lot of ‘paying it forward’ to do in the future.”  

[…]

“I remember being very nervous in grade nine,” said 17-year-old Brodey Casselman. “I wasn’t from the area and I didn’t know many people at Seaway. I remember how scary it was not to know people, and how I would have liked some one to turn to.” 

Brodey, along with 15 other senior students at Seaway, has chosen to join the new board-wide Link program that will be introduced at Seaway this September.

When Seaway District High School opens its doors on September 4, the 2012 grade nines will find that there is definitely someone they can turn to, to help ease the transition from elementary to high school. 

“The Link program is based on a big project developed by California educators known as the Boomerang Project,” said Heather Thompson, the teacher who is heading up Seaway’s new program, with the support of fellow teacher Lilace McIntyre and guidance councillor Mark Lewis. 

“The focus of the Boomerang Project is to create a positive transition for grade nines into high school. That is also the focus of the Link program of the Board.”

Teachers introducing Link programs to their schools (known as Link co-ordinators) themselves take part in three days of intensive training with professionals, the “best training experience I’ve ever had,” Thompson said.

The one credit Interdisciplinary Course on Leadership that is now set up at Seaway High School (the Link program) has been developed for grade 12 students who will act throughout the school year as mentors, friends and role models to the grade nines with whom they are matched.

These Link leaders, as the grade 12 students are described, “we hope can begin to build strong relationships with our grade nines,” Thompson said. “They become people to whom grade nines can safely turn to ask questions, to seek help, to share worries and concerns as they adapt to a new high school environment. There are two link leaders for every grade nine ‘crew’ of 8-10 students.”

Grade 12 students get into the Link program by applying. Some Seaway seniors have had their names put forward by teachers who have seen qualities in them of which even they may be unaware.

“I was recommended to the program,” said Sierra Stone, 17, who has also opted to join Link. “When I came to Seaway in grade nine, I did know some people, but it was easy to be intimidated by kids older than me.”

The students who have been selected to join the Link program must make a personal commitment in terms of time and effort, and not just in a classroom. They must involve themselves in all aspects of the nines’ school life. Outside regular school hours training is mandatory.

The Leader attended an intensive work shop held at Seaway on Monday, August 27, where the 16 seniors, all chosen for different strengths and unique qualities during the June screening process, were undergoing training. 

The seniors were, in a number of organized activities, learning how to lead their student groups, how to break the ice and how to set up comfortable dialogues. The training they were undergoing teaches them leadership and communication skills, works with them in learning to cope with unexpected or challenging situations, helps them explore ways to reach younger students who need support.

“The Boomerang program is strongly organized and purposeful,” Thompson said. “and it’s been proven to have a positive impact on a whole school. It sends a strong message that we are not only supporting our nines, but teaching leadership qualities to our 12s. I think this program will start the school year off in a positive, energetic way that will make this the best year at Seaway.”

The newly trained grade 12s will have the chance to put their knowledge to good use on Thursday, August 30, when all grade nines are invited to attend their high school orientation, starting at 8 a.m. 

[…]