Month: June 2014

Two weeks after first deliberating the bids received on the renovation project that will bring library space back to Williamsburg, council decided to accept the $209,841 bid by Wells and Son Construction to go ahead with the project.  

The decision came at the June 3 council meeting, here in Morrisburg.

Council was first presented the recommendation to accept the Wells bid at the May 20, council meeting, but balked at accepting the tender that, although the lowest of those received, was more than council had expected to pay for the project.

They asked staff to meet with the lowest bidder to go over the costs associated with the project to determine if any savings could be found.

South Dundas manager of planning and enforcement Donald Lewis reported that the $20,000 in savings they had hoped to find didn’t materialize in meeting with the contractor.

The Wells bid was already $82,000 less than the next lowest bid.

Council agreed that the small amount of savings ($8,500) identified through meeting with the contractor did not warrant any changes to the project.

Because a portion of the project involves upgrading an existing recreation facility, the North Williamsburg Recreation Centre, staff proposed that the project be financed partially through the accessibility budget, the park fund and the sale of assets reserve fund. 

Financing the project in this manner means that the project will have no impact on the tax rate, a fact that pleased council.

“We’re replacing reserves with an asset,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds.

The dozen library supporters who attended the June 3 council meeting to witness the decision regarding the fate of the project applauded council voting to approve the tender.

[…]

MORRISBURG – South Dundas’ Olivia Wright recently returned from competing in the Miss World Canada Pageant, in British Columbia, and although she didn’t win, she gained much through the experience.

Wright was one of 41 contestants between the ages of 18-24 vying for the title that was won May 11, by Annora Bourgeault of Regina, Saskatchewan. 

Asked what she thought of the winner, Wright says, “She was amazing. She would have been my pick. I voted for her for Miss Congeniality. She was the first person I met when I got off the plane. She is the sweetest person. She deserved to win. She is definitely special.”

Bourgeault will go on to represent Canada in the Miss World Pageant in London, England later this year, in September.

Wright, back home in South Dundas, is so glad that she had the opportunity to participate in the competition.

Wright applied to Miss World Canada on a whim, and successfully made it through the interview process to be selected as a delegate to compete in the pageant  in May.

“It was something so out of the blue that I did, and it has been so life changing for me,” said Wright.

Wright had never before participated in a pageant. 

She said the group of contestants was made up of a mix of girls like her who were new to the pageant scene and others who had pageant and modelling experience. “My roommate was a professional cheerleader from B.C.,” she said.

The whole process was a very busy one, as the group filled their days with practices, preliminary competitions and public appearances.

“The day we arrived, I got off the plane, and it was basically into a bikini and onto the runway for the preliminary bikini competition,” said Wright.

The days started at 7 a.m. and ended at 11 p.m.

While the scenery and venue were breathtaking – “Seeing the Rocky Mountains from the plane was super awesome,” she said – most of the highlights for Wright were about the people she had the opportunity to meet.

“We had a really nice group of girls,” said Wright. “Everyone was so kind and so supportive of each other. It was really more of a supportive environment than a competitive one.”

“It didn’t really seem like it was about winning. It was more about connecting,” said Wright. “What this experience gave me was the opportunity to meet a great group of strong young women, who are successful, confident and driven,” said Wright. She knows that the people she met will remain a part of her life long into the future.

“The confidence you get from an experience like this is amazing. It just shows you how important it is to be comfortable with yourself,” she says adding that she hopes to continue to share that message and to be a positive role model. 

The lead up to the pageant provided Wright the opportunity to get to know a lot of people in the community she may never have met otherwise. “People would just come up to me because they had seen me in the paper,” said Wright. “They would wish me luck. It felt really good.”

“The support I received from my community was overwhelming in the best possible way,” said Wright.

Wright very much enjoyed the charity aspect of the experience and sees herself staying involved with charity work going forward. 

For now, her main priorities are her education and spending time with her family.  

[…]

With his goal to “inspire people to live life to the fullest, no matter what challenges they face”,  Sebastian Sasseville took time out from cooling his heels in a pond at the Upper Canada Campground on Wednesday, May 21 to talk about diabetes and how his diabetes has “been a vehicle for growth”.

Sasseville, is on a 7,500 km solo run, ‘Outrun Diabetes’ across Canada, a run that started in St. John’s Newfoundland on February 2, and will wrap up in Vancouver in November.

A native of Quebec City, 34-year-old Sasseville was diagnosed with Type I diabetes when he was 22. “I was your typical college kid, enjoying life. I was probably spending more time in a pub than in a gym.”

“With Type I diabetes, there was nothing I had done wrong.” 

From day one  he says he started eating better and getter exercise. “My diabetes became a vehicle for personal growth, and I decided to make the obstacle something good.”

Six years ago, Sasseville became the first Canadian with Type 1 diabetes to summit Everest. He then got involved in Triathlon events and eventually Ironman Triathlon. “I flirted with ultra running and in 2012, I participated in the 250 km Sahara Race in Eygpt.”

“I have just kind of built my abilities and confidence along the way. I want people to know I was not an athlete. I wasn’t good at sports. People need to know it has been done with work and dedication. I don’t want anyone to look at my story and think I am a gifted athlete.”

After Everest and the Sahara, Sasseville says he began to think about running across Canada, how long it would take and how many cities he would go through. “It started with a dream. I was looking for a good way to inspire people and I was looking for a new challenge. It was about athletics, but also about raising awareness. So I decided to commit to it and here we are.”

Sasseville kicked of his ‘Outrun Diabetes’ run on February 2, in Newfoundland. “It was a cold first two months. I picked the worst winter in 15 years for storms and cold. We took about six weeks to get across Newfoundland, and when I got on the ferry I was thinking we were done with winter.” But that wasn’t the case as winter held on through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and he even ran in snow in late April when he crossed the border into Quebec.  

Sasseville runs 40 km per day for three consecutive days and then takes one day off. “Today, (Wednesday, May 21 from the Upper Canada campsite to Iroquois) was a rough day. My sleep wasn’t optimal and sometimes I am just off. So today it took longer.”

“So far so good, but I am definitely feeling fatigued. I’ve been running 3.5 months. It’s not easy. I wear an insulin pump, so very much like the run, there are good days and bad days. But my diabetes is very much under control.”

He points out that people with diabetes need good sleep, good nutrition and exercise. “Obviously, I am probably doing too much, but exercise for people with diabetes should be viewed the same as their medication.”

Since the February start, Sasseville has been accompanied by Robert St. Martin. They will be joined by one other volunteer through the upcoming busy stretch through Ontario to Windsor.

The run is in segments and accommodations are set up in the middle of the segments.  They were welcomed by David and Ruth Wells to the Upper Canada Campground on Sunday, May 18. On Wednesday, Sasseville ran to Iroquois and then returned to the campground. Thursday he would pick up the run from Iroquois on and the team was to move to forward to the next base camp in the Thousand Islands area.

David and Ruth have been wonderful here. It’s totally free of charge and that is what has been wonderful with this project. People like David and Ruth have reached out to help. It’s really amazing.”

There are 3 million people living with diabetes in Canada, says Sasseville, and 90 percent are type II which can be avoided or delayed. “My goal is to inspire people to live life to the fullest, no matter what the challenge they face. It’s about overcoming obstacles, it’s about making the obstacle your friend. My diabetes has been a great vehicle for growth.”

“That is what is driving me. The cause and the people who are at the centre of it.”

Major sponsors for ‘Outrun Diabetes’ are Animas Canada, One Touch, Nova Nordisk, Biotherm Homme and 2XU.

“They believe in the vision and they are making it happen. They have put together events in various communities, and are phenomenal partners. They are making the run accessible to everyone.”

[…]

Stepping through the gates at Upper Canada Village is like going back in time. Your senses are met with the sights, sounds and smells of 19th century early Canada.  

This weekend you can step even further back in time – to the Medieval period – as Upper Canada Village hosts its 8th Medieval Festival on June 7-8 and its Medieval Education Day Monday, June 9 with activities for students.  

The Medieval Festival is an entertaining mix of colourful medieval re-enactors, entertainers and skilled performers.  

A festival highlight is the jousting tournament featuring the Knights of Valour led by head knight Shane Adams who was recently in the History Channel’s Full Metal Jousting Show.  

The Knights and their mighty horses perform twice daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and their magnificent horses are available between shows to speak to the public about the history and chivalry of Knights.

“The Medieval Festival offers a great blend of history and entertainment,” says Geoff Wacik, Manager, Upper Canada Village. “The Knights of Valour and their jousting is really quite amazing.  You literally feel like you are in the medieval era when you see them in armour and on horseback.  Plus all of the other performers offer such a variety of things to see and do.”

“It is a great weekend, and I guarantee you will learn something while you are entertained” 

The festival offers continuous entertainment throughout the weekend with lively medieval performers presenting a variety of interactive shows each day. 

Comedians, dancers, talented buskers, a wizard, wandering minstrels and even a life-size dragon will create music and laughter, adding to the faire atmosphere. 

Warrior and domestic encampments, archery demonstrations, armoured and unarmoured combat performances, plus life-sized weapons of war demonstrations are sure to keep the excitement level and entertainment value high. 

Falconry shows will be offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, and you can witness the fine craftsmanship of Medieval artisans and watch demonstrations in blacksmithing, armour manufacturing, leather working, chain mail making, period fashions and jewelry making  all part of the festival’s activities.  

Throughout the day, children of all ages can try their hand at one of several games throughout the festival including Jacob’s Ladder, miniature ballista and catapult games, Frog Race, and more. 

The Royal Court, including the King and Queen and their entourage, will be in attendance at a number of events throughout the festival.  

Each day the King and Queen will open the festival (9:30 a.m.) with the Royal Greeting at the entrance to the festival fairgrounds located at the back of the Village just past Louck’s Farm.

A medieval festival wouldn’t be complete without merchants and food and a number of merchants will set up their tents at the festival, offering a wide selection of Medieval merchandise and food items. 

Be sure to stop in at the Medieval Chip Shoppe or watch for the Pickle man for a snack.

While all visitors are welcome to attend the Medieval Festival on Education Day, Monday, June 9, large crowds of school children are expected.  

All performances at the festival plus your visit to Upper Canada Village are included in the price of admission:  $20 Adult (13 – 64 yrs); $17 Senior (65 yrs+); $14 Youth (6-12 yrs). 

[…]