Month: November 2013

 

The winning streak for Pumpkinferno continued last Thursday night, November 14 in Toronto when the hugely popular fall event was named Ontario’s Tourism Event of the Year at the Ontario Tourism Summit.

This is the second provincial award for Upper Canada Village’s Pumpkinferno in just it’s second year.

The Ontario Tourism Summit is an annual event that brings together hundreds of tourism professionals from across Ontario to learn the latest in industry trends and forecasts, share best practices, network with colleagues, and recognize industry leaders at the Tourism Awards.  

The award for Tourism Event of the Year is presented to ‘an event or festival that exemplifies industry best practices in all aspects of its operation and serves as an example of excellence.’  

Consideration is given to criteria such as visitor satisfaction, how the event stimulates economic activity for the community, region or province and the growth in visitation, visitor spending, innovation or product development attributable to the event. 

 Pumpkinferno is without a doubt one of the most innovative and creative events in Ontario and has captured the imaginations of thousands of visitors.  In its first year, over 35,000 people visited; in 2013 over 38,000 visitors took in the event, an almost nine per cent increase year over year. 

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario is the umbrella organization for leading associations, destination marketing organizations and regional tourism organizations serving Ontario’s diverse tourism industry. 

TIAO collectively represents 147,000 businesses and the 608,000 employees that are dedicated to promoting and operating the Province’s tourism infrastructure. 

“Receiving Provincial recognition from our industry peers for Pumpkinferno is a huge vote of confidence in the creativity and innovation shown by our team in the development of this event,” says Darren Dalgleish, GM and CEO of the St. Lawrence Parks. “We set an attendance record in our first year and this year we broke that record!  Ontario’s tourism sector is very competitive and we are honoured to be recognized for Pumpkinferno in this category.”

Earlier this year Pumpkinferno was honoured by Festivals & Events Ontario when it was named 2012 Best New Event in Ontario.  It was also a finalist in the 2012 Ottawa Tourism Awards for Tourism Event of the Year.  

Product enrichment is a key part of the SLPC’s strategic direction to serve the community in a thoughtful and entrepreneurial manner by making its vast array of attractions and experiences more economically accessible and collaborative while at the same time ensuring future growth and fiscal improvement.

[…]

 

B. McNairn-Leader staff

IROQUOIS – The hallowed halls of learning became the hallowed halls of stacking at Iroquois Public School last Thursday, November 14, as the Iroquois students became part of a Stack Up! group determined to set a new Guinness World Record for “Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day.” 

And it was mission accomplished as the record of 483,658 was passed quickly when the counts began to come into Stack Up! headquarters. 

The number of people stacking at multiple locations in one day has now topped 500,000 with some groups yet to report in. 

Once all numbers are in and the Guinness paperwork is completed, Iroquois Public School ‘stacking’ organizer/teacher Pamela MacIntyre-McAlear (Mrs. Mac) will apply for the school’s customized STACK UP! Stamp of Approval to document Iroquois Public School’s participation in this year’s world record setting event. 

Just after 1 p.m. last Thursday, every student at Iroquois Public School could be found stacking one thing or another; the kindergarten classes stacking away in the gymnasium and the remaining classes stretching out in the hallways. 

This was the fourth year Iroquois Public, under the stacking organizational skills of Mrs. Mac has participated in the event. 

“We stack anything,” said Mrs. Mac. “From pots from the garden, to books to Frisbees, you name it and we’ll stack it. We have over 300 stackers stacking here today for one half hour.” 

Pictured above is some of the ‘sport stacking action, beginning with a stacking lineup down the school’s main hallway; picture two shows Benjamin Lewis stacking wood blocks; picture three includes stackers Peyton Fitzgerald and Logan Garlough, with stacking helper Jacob Garlough (behind); and right is Jacob White, stacking some mighty big cups.

[…]

 

 “I am really going to miss the students and staff at Seaway District High School,” said Terry Gardiner, who has left the high school after five and a half years as its principal. “I have been really touched by the student comments that have been posted on FaceBook and Twitter.”

Gardiner has moved to the Upper Canada District School Board offices in Brockville to assume the duties of Principal of Continuous School Improvement. The position became effective on Monday, November 11, 2013.

While Gardiner knew that he was being considered for the position at the Board, the final call came quite suddenly. He informed the staff of his appointment on Friday morning, November 8, and told the student body during MSIP. New principal, Derek Cole, and new vice principal Laura Oliver, were in place on Monday. 

Seaway’s vice principal, Ann Blackburn, has also left, to assume VP duties at North Dundas District High School.

As Principal of Continuous School Improvement, Gardiner will be responsible for all schools in UCDSB, some 23 high schools, and over 80 elementary schools. 

“I will be helping principals and teachers use data to improve student instruction. I am directly in charge of a student voice project, Tell Them From Me, a major survey/questionnaire that must be completed by all grades 7-12 students two times a year.” 

(There is a separate survey which focuses on the kindergarten to grade six students in the board.)

During the survey, students speak and write candidly about an extensive range of educational issues, standards of learning and perceived long term goals, health and mental health issues, finding a functioning balance between the demands of jobs and of school. The survey amasses an enormous amount of information which must be analysed and interpreted.

“I provide information to school administrators and staff, and then assist them in deciphering it to determine what changes may have to be made, what programs are working, generally what actions are needed.”

Gardiner is also the leader for the board wide LINK project. He has already taken part in specialized training with program leaders, and in major student conferences.

As Seaway’s principal, Gardiner has left a legacy  at the high school. He feels that key programs were put in place, with the help of the staff and community, which are growing in effectiveness.

“The introduction of the grades 7-8 program as part of the high school was just getting started when I arrived. I worked extensively with principal Guy Lamarche in that first year of implementation,” he said.

He is also very proud of the Pathways program established at Seaway, which supports students in three key divisions: Students to Work, Students to Apprenticeships, Students to College/University.

“Seaway was a leader in this program, and, with the work of guidance teacher, Mark Lewis, and a new software program, My Blue Print, we can help students select the future courses best suited to their interests and needs.”

The Apprenticeship Pathway, especially, led to innovative programs at Seaway, in Ag-riculture and Transportation. These in turn, linked the school more closely to interests within the community. 

“The Dual Credits system instituted at Seaway has allowed students to earn both a high school and a college credit in certain of our courses as we are partnered with colleges. Students can get a real understanding of a subject and a possible career route in the Dual Credit program.”

What will Gardiner miss? 

“I think the culture of care I found at Seaway. Teachers and the community stepped in to see what students needed without being asked. There are students out there who never knew who paid for skates, or sports equipment so they could take part in activities.

I will also miss the obvious care that the students have for each other. Seaway students let others be who they are, and operate in a respectful culture.

Over my five years, I’ve always maintained high expectations for the character of our students, and I’ve steadily seen those expectations met. The hard work of our parents council and the involvement of our community have been tremendous.”

“I am also going to miss Oskar Night, our wonderful Terry Fox Rally and Sports Day,” Terry Gardiner laughed, “and I definitely plan to attend prom and the spring graduation.”

[…]

 

 It took 11 days, over a distance of 500 kilometres, but Marshall Barkley finally brought his “I’m coming home, Mama,” tour to a successful conclusion, November 4, at the home of his mother, Marie, outside Morrisburg.

It was a sometimes gruelling journey, made in every kind of weather. The former South Dundas resident, a graduate of Riverside Heights Public School, Seaway District High School, Guelph University and George Brown College, was determined to go the distance. The run also provided him with an opportunity to raise money for a cause in which he firmly believes.

As an athlete and a runner, Marshall has long been interested in healthy life styles and life choices. When he was deciding on a charity to support, he got very interested in the Movember organization.

Movember is an official global charity, whose vision is to have a lasting impact on the face of men’s health. The charity began in Australia in 2003, and has now spread to 21 nations world-wide. In 2012, supporters succeeded in raising 147 million dollars.

“The goal of Movember is to bring increased awareness to issues directly affecting men,” Marshall explained. “The charity targets illnesses like prostate and testicular cancer, and encourages men to have proper and regular testing done. It also targets issues of mental health that seem to affect males in particular.”

“I’ve  been a runner for six years,” Marshall said. “This year was also my 50th birthday, and the 25th anniversary of my marriage to Conchita. All these things came together, and I simply decided to do something very special to recognize these milestones. My biggest supporters right from the start of the run have been my family members, including my 19-year-old son, Sebastian, who attends McMaster University.”

Once he decided to support Movember, Marshall found that people were more than willing to sponsor him on his run. 

“I kept an album and a journal on Facebook during the entire run,” he said. “Messages like Go Marshall Go, and many, many generous donations really motivated me to keep going.” 

How did he come up with the name, the “I’m coming home, Mama, tour?”

“It’s kind of a joke, I guess,” Marshall explained. “Mom always has been one of my greatest supporters. One time, after a marathon (running tends to give you a natural high), I said ‘I feel like I could run all the way home.’  The idea of running home to Mama stuck, and became a kind of mantra for me.”

Marshall’s run began in Oakville, Ontario, (where he and his family live) on October 25, 2013.

He aimed to try and make 50 kilometres a day. Some days this was not easy.

“The weather along the route has alternated between beautiful and definitely challenging. Today (his last day, November 4) was a long day. I was running against an east wind pretty well the entire last stretch. (Earlier in the run I was hit with 100 kilometre an hour wind gusts) which were not my friends, even when they were at my back. But I saw some spectacular scenery along the route. I ran through many small towns and travelled along the river trails. There was always something new to see.”

With his brother-in-law, Ponciano Padua, serving as his wing-man and official photographer and web site designer for the journey, he avoided major highways.

“We followed the Waterfront Trail, which is also called in places The Loyalist Parkway, the Apple Route and the King’s Highway. It wasn’t the most direct route, but it was an interesting one.”

He encountered many fascinating people along the road, including the elderly gentleman who was absolutely convinced Marshall had been sent by his township to take photos of  a defective ditch. “The city did it wrong. Water just floods in.” After it was all straightened out, the man cheerfully took a sticker and wristband.

He also found time to talk to the children at his brother Clayton’s school, Benson’s, in Cardinal, and to do a short run with some of them.

“I just want to make sure that men stay healthy,” Marshall Barkley said. “Go to the doctor. Stay fit. Keep moving, and find a balance in your life.”

What was he going to do on his first free night following 500 kilometres of running?

“Well,” he laughed, “I’ve actually got a ‘horse race’ scheduled in Iroquois. A group of us men are going to run from the river to a restaurant in the plaza. It’s for a good cause, after all.”  

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