Hallowe’en Goes to the Dogs

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.

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More than 160 children and their parents and grandparents came out to enjoy all the fun at the Iroquois Legion on Thursday, November 21. The star of the  party was undoubtedly the Jolly Old Elf, Santa Claus himself, who popped in from the North Pole. 

The Christmas party was sponsored by the Iroquois & District Business Group.

With goodie bags donated by the Iroquois-Matilda Lions and Doug Byers,  and wrapped by Elf Jim Mustard, and a hot dogs/chili dinner organized by Iroquois Public School Parents Council, no one went home hungry.  Ontario Early Years crafts tables and OPP escorted hay wagon rides from Donald Barkley just added to the fun. 

“Nice to see the community getting into the spirit of Christmas,” said Tracey Stewart, secretary of the Business Association.

[…]

At the South Dundas council meeting on September 20th, Mayor Steven Byvelds reported back to members on the proposed development of a “plan to deal with our culture and art community” from the recent city council meeting.

Byvelds was “looking for direction from council (to see) if they want me to participate” and, if so, he will “bring reports back to council.”

He pointed out the disadvantage of not going: “we’d be sitting in the dark. Not to go would be unwise.”

He went on to reveal that the “Cornwall arts was vocal at this meeting” and that “not all the municipalities are keen on participating.”

Byvelds pointed out: “I think we in South Dundas have a lot of cultural arts that would benefit from a plan of this sort.”

Deputy Mayor Jim Locke saw no harm in staying informed, especially “if (Byvelds is) going to be there anyway.”

Councillor Evonne Delegarde agreed that South Dundas “can benefit from this.”

Councillor Archie Mellan concurred, saying that “at least (we’d) have our foot in the door.”

Byvelds concluded the discussion saying that he does “strongly feel that some of the arts community (needs)  to be involved.”

In addition, he said that he “certainly would encourage all council to visit the website.” The website address is www.sdgculture.ca.

The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Culture Plan provides an easy to read detailed outline for the proposal they term “Culturescape.”

“The SD&G Culture Plan is funded by a partnership consisting of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Creative Community Prosperity Fund; The Eastern Ontario Training Board; the SD&G Community Futures Development Corporation; and, the City of Cornwall.”

Culturescape goes on to reveal that “the Culture Plan is intended to be regional in scope while addressing local initiatives in each community.”

The listed goals for the Culturescape study include the promotion of civic engagement; the strengthening of community identity; the provision of a plan of action for cultural development; the promotion of a better understanding of culture; the support for growth of the cultural sector; the creation of  linkages between culture and other civic activities; and, the support of economic development.

The study comes complete with a time line detailing the objectives for the Culture Plan going forward.

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