Month: August 2014

Submitted by: Joanne Ledoux-Moshonas, Manager of Mental Health Promotion Source: www.iasp.info

CORNWALL – Suicide is a major public health problem. The psychological pain that leads each of these individuals to take their lives is unimaginable. Their deaths leave families and friends bereft, and often have a major ripple effect on communities.

Every year, almost one million people die from suicide; this roughly corresponds to one death every 40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined.

Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 years age group; these figures do not include suicide attempts which can be many times more frequent than suicide (10, 20, or more times according to some studies).

Mental disorders (particularly depression and alcohol use disorders) are a major risk factor for suicide in Europe and North America; however, in Asian countries impulsiveness plays an important role. Suicide is complex with psychological, social, biological, cultural and environmental factors involved.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are committed to preventing suicide. These organizations recognize World Suicide Prevention Day as an important day in the international calendar. World Suicide Prevention Day brings together individuals and organizations with an interest in suicide prevention, and mobilizes efforts to save lives.

Efforts to prevent suicide have been celebrated on World Suicide Prevention Day – September 10th – each year since 2003. In 2014, the theme of World Suicide Prevention Day is ‘Suicide Prevention: One World Connected.’ The theme reflects the fact that connections are important at several levels if we are to combat suicide.

Connectedness is crucial to individuals who may be vulnerable to suicide. Studies have shown that social isolation can increase the risk of suicide and, conversely, that having strong human bonds can be protective against it. Reaching out to those who have become disconnected from others and offering them support and friendship may be a life-saving act.

Please join us on World Suicide Prevention Day September 10th, 2014 at North Dundas High School in Chesterville, Ontario from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for an awareness evening on suicide prevention. Participants will have a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet 7.0 for more info please call 613-933-5845 ext. 241 Bring a guest and each will receive two bonus tickets for the draw.

[…]

Upper Canada Village will host over 30 food, wine and beer artisans and producers at a new culinary event Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17 showcasing a selection of the region’s best local food and beverage producers.  And there’s more….this year’s event is themed around the love and role of cast iron cookware.

The highlight of the weekend will take place on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., with an all-new Iron Pan Competition.  

Chefs from across the region will vie for the judges’ favour as they create a dish using a box of local mystery ingredients, each using a single cast iron skillet. 

Competing Chefs include:  Chef Supremo Ahmad Mansori from Cornwall’s Table 21 and Truffles Burger Bar; Executive Chef Derek MacGregor representing Le Chien Noir Bistro in Kingston; Executive Chef John Leung from Ottawa’s Steak Modern:  Steak & Sushi located in the Byward Market and  Executive Chef Jhonatan Gonzales from Winchelsea Events, Winchester.  

Executive Chef Luc McCabe from NAV Centre will lead the judging panel with the help of Peter Hum, Food Editor at the Ottawa Citizen and Hélène Peloquin, Cook, Writer and blogger from Ottawa (La Cuisine d’Hélène). Chef Wes Wilkinson, Culinary Faculty Member at Algonquin College will Emcee.  

Contestants will be judged on, but not limited to their creativity, use of mystery ingredients, flavours, and cleanliness.  

“We’re extremely pleased to see an increase in event vendors this year, proving that Culinary Tourism is strong and continuing to rise”, says Geoff Waycik, UCV Manager. ”We’ve got one of the most unique venues in Ontario to host this event and as we add in our own Village staff cooking interpretations, it really puts a historic spin on food. The iron skillet theme this year has generated much interest – as the trend with many customers is to simplify and get back to basics in everyday life.  This is the year to attend this event!”

On Sunday, a new segment featuring sensational single-skillet suppers made simple will be presented three times during the day at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m.

Special guest Gourmet Food Chef  Dwight Saunders, Teacher and Wellness Consultant of Aura Culinary Arts in Iroquois, will lend his culinary expertise, preparing three unique dishes from around the world, using local ingredients!  

Not to be missed on Saturday & Sunday: 

The Original 100 Mile Diet…

Throughout the weekend, Upper Canada Village’s own characters from the past will be presenting the region’s original 100-mile diet through heirloom garden tours, as well as special heritage cooking demonstrations and taste testing in the historic kitchens of three of its 19th century homesteads (Louck’s Farm, Tenant Farm and Cook’s Tavern). Other food-related activities will include grinding flour in Bellamy’s Steam Flour Mills, baking bread in the bakery and making cheddar cheese in the Union Cheese Factory.  Village flour, bread and cheese will all be for sale in the farmers’ market area.

The cast iron theme continues throughout the site.  Period kettles, woodstoves and utensils all crafted from iron will be highlighted and/or put to use throughout Upper Canada Village over the weekend.   Visitors can test their strength at the skillet tossing challenge, a more than “light-hearted” activity that will add some weight to the event’s full roster of activities.  

Stop in at Crysler Hall to see “Fire in the Kitchen”, a special exhibit showing technological change in the kitchen in the 19th century.  From new food products, gadgets and tools, to new methods of preparing food, the century marked a period of rapid innovation in the home.  See if you can figure out the mystery artifacts!

Dining in a 19th Century Inn – Willard’s Hotel Weekend Special

Historic Willard’s Hotel Restaurant, across the street from the fairgrounds, is featuring a Food Lover’s Special: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Side Salad in a Sweet Cider Vinaigrette Dressing, Village Bread, Strawberry Shortcake and Beverage – $20 per person, both Saturday and Sunday.  Reservations are recommended at 613-543-0660. Willard’s Hotel is licensed and air-conditioned. Other regular menu items will also be offered.

Access to the Farmer’s Market in the fairgrounds, presentations and activities are all included in admission to Upper Canada Village. Adult $18, Senior (65 yrs+) $16; Youth (6-12 yrs) $12.  Visit www.UpperCanadaVillage.com or call 800-437-2233 or 613-543-4328 (locally) for more information or to purchase tickets.

A complete list and description of all vendors participating is available online.  Food Lover’s Field Days is also sponsored by Foodland Ontario, Stormont & Dundas Milk Producers and the Ontario Egg Farmers (Eastern Ontario region).

[…]

Iroquois is one of three overnight stops for the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure which started Monday at Brighton.

Over 120 cyclists will roll into the Iroquois Campground August 14, for an overnight stay.

This is the first time South Dundas has hosted the Great Waterfront Trail campers.

The Great Waterfront Trail adventure is a cycling getaway along Ontario’s Waterfront Trail, a 1,400 signed route along Ontario’s Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

The trail highlights many cycling tourism destinations in the province and puts local communities on the map for tourists looking to explore the region. 

“Cycling tourism is growing in popularity because of its great health benefits and scenic travel opportunities,” said Anna Halkidis, manager of operations for CAA South Central Region, which is supporting the ride. She is also participating.

This five day tour will take the cyclists from Brighton to Cornwall. 

The final day of the trip starts in Iroquois and ends in Cornwall.

Marlaine Koehler, executive director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust is pleased that CAA chooses to host this type of vacation along Ontario’s Waterfront Trail. 

“This speaks volumes to the quality of experience that we offer in our own backyard and the growing opportunity for local communities to tap into the international cycle tourism market,” she said in an August 11, media release.

During this trip, overnight stays are at Picton, Kingston, Gananoque and Iroquois.

[…]

 

The veterans of Team Magee brought home their third consecutive “King of the River” title  as they took first place in the 44th Tubie Festival Race, August 3, 2014.

A return to the traditional race format, with crafts leaving from Arlor Haven Campgrounds and rowing to the Morrisburg Beach, saw Magee’s “Black Beauty” take an early lead in the field of seven tubies. “We were ahead all the way down the river,” said skipper Gary Magee. “It was a good race.”

“Black Beauty” and her crew of Gary, Jaime Notman, Stephanie Crowell, Sheri Halpenny, Mark Hayward and Mario Del Ricco pulled their Tubie on to the sand, to the cheers of a large crowd gathered at the finish line, in a time of 26.47 minutes. 

The second place team was also made up of river veterans. “Back in the Saddle With Our Paddles”, Team Barclay, came out of the water in 29.15 minutes. “I think we were the oldest people on the river today,” laughed rower Laura Barclay. “We’re exhausted.”

Taking third honours was the team skippered by Matt Laurin, who came ashore in 31.09 minutes.

To the delight of the crowd, the two craft contending for fourth and fifth spots turned the race into a real battle in the final stretch. 

Nose to nose all the way to the sand were the teams led by Josh Biemond and Corey Cassell. 

In a flurry of paddles, and the rush to get their crafts and crew completely out of the water (as per Tubie rules), the judges ultimately decreed that the Biemond Team was fourth, with a time of 34.00 minutes, and the Cassell Team fifth, with a time of 34.01 minutes. 

Coming in sixth place was the Gareth Cochrane/Jesse Swank craft and crew, with their time logged at 37.25 minutes. 

This 2014 Tubie Race definitely had its share of drama.

The Sage Barclay/Christyn Veinotte Tubie, turned turtle in the river about three quarters of the way along the race route. 

“We saw one of our tubes slipping,” said Veinotte, “then there was this big bang. The next thing we knew, our wood cracked, and we were all dumped overboard. It’s a bit of a blur after we hit the water.”

Spectators could see the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services boat (which tracked the race from start to finish) rush to the stricken craft. However the crew of 10, all wearing life preservers, waved off the rescuers and boats offering to tow them.

Instead, the crew swam the remains of their tubie all the way to the finish line. 

When they finally hauled the  battered craft out of the water, 45 minutes after they started the race, the Veinotte/Barclay crew was met with loud cheers from the waiting crowd and congratulations from their fellow competitors. 

“I think we just wanted to finish with some pride,” a tired Veinotte said. 

First place in the 2014 race took home $400, second place, $250, third place, $150, and fourth, fifth and sixth places $50 each.  

The 2014 Tubie Festival, organized and run, for the first time, by the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, was praised by all who attended the events as an unqualified success. 

“It was really just an amazing weekend,” said both Geraldine Fitzsimmons and Grace McDonough from the Chamber. “In the end, even the weather co-operated with us. The Tubie committee and our Board members from the Junior Bs, Lois and Kevin Casselman, really did an outstanding job. 

We had over 450 people at the outdoor dance, where One Night Standards was a big hit. We even had an unexpected but great fireworks display Saturday night, as Waddington, New York, was celebrating its Old Home Week. And our South Dundas community really came out to support the Festival.” 

The popular 44th Tubie parade took place on Saturday, August 2, at one p.m.

Despite the humidity, crowds lined the Morrisburg streets to cheer for the colourful and highly individual floats and their riders of all ages. The theme for this year’s Festival was “Splash”, in honour of the Splash Pad fund raisers hope to have started work on by fall.

Judges definitely had a hard time choosing winners among the Tubie floats, but finally made these choices.

First place, Disney on the River,  was created by the Morrell Sisters, sponsored by Classic Cuts and Lakeshore Massage Therapy. Second place was Splish Splash, the Veinotte/Barclay float. Coming in third was Matt Laurin’s Tubie Splash. Fourth was the Chamber of Commerce entry, Tiki Bar. Coming fifth was the Splash Pad Committee’s Splash Cash, while sixth place was given to the Domanko Tubie Colourful. 

[…]

 

 I love my operas bigger than life, bold and passionate. I love my plays about operas bigger than life, bold, passionate and hilarious.

Lend Me A Tenor, which has just opened at Upper Canada Playhouse, and runs until August 24, is all of the above, and then some.

Ebullient characters, impossible mix-ups, outrageous lines, and some of the best laughs you will experience in a theatre this summer, Lend Me A Tenor is simply great fun. Director Donnie Bowes’ eight man cast is dynamic,  all of them easily able to deal with both the frantic pace of the play and its demands on their acting stamina.

The story is set in 1934, in a hotel suite near the Cleveland Opera House where Italian opera superstar, Tito Morelli, is scheduled to give one performance only of his most famous role, Otello.

The Opera House has a lot riding on this show. Manager Henry Saunders has wilting shrimp hors d’ouevres, a full stage crew, back up singers, a chorus line, an interfering opera board and 1,000 paid patrons in search of a spot of culture, in place, awaiting the arrival of the great Morelli. 

To add operatic overtones to the plot, the temperamental tenor arrives several hours late for his Cleveland engagement. He has grossly overindulged in train food, and  adamantly refuses to attend a dress rehearsal. His nerves, he proclaims, are playing up. He will need some medication.

He gets a little more than he expected.

Sheldon Davis performs ‘Il Stupendo’ the tenor, as a character whose ego appears to be only slightly smaller than Luciano Pavarotti’s girth. Morelli’s fractured English and his habit of flinging himself dramatically all about his hotel room, swiftly sets the outrageous mood of the play…and also sets off audience howls.

Davis is priceless in the bombastic role. Yet he still manages to bring out his character’s sympathetic side. It is not easy, even for Morelli, to be hounded by a fickle public, and to exist out of suitcases. (“I live in hotels! If I have children they gonna look like bellhops!”) 

Perhaps that is why Tito’s relationship with his long-suffering wife, Maria (Susan Greenfield, having a wonderful time in the role), is tempestuous, and very, very funny. They don’t talk these two. They shout. They gesture. They threaten.

“Someday you gonna wake up in you bed, you gonna be a soprano!”

“My wife, she’s-a crazy! Shutta up yourself!”

Witness to the Morelli domestic outbursts is Max, Parris Greaves, the harried Cleveland Opera assistant manager and its general “dogsbody,” as the insufferable Henry Saunders (Ed Sahely) describes him.  Ordered to keep the womanizing Tito “on a leash” until performance time, Greaves’ Max soon finds himself drowning in Machiavellian cover-ups. Especially when it appears, early in Act I, that ‘Il Stupendo’, in a fit of remorse, may have actually done himself in.

“It was acknowledged that Tito sang like an angel. Apparently he wanted to prove it,”  an enraged Saunders says acidly. The Cleveland Opera manager  now faces that greatest of all theatrical calamities – returning ticket money!

Someone must put on the Otello costume and sing the opera. And who better than Max, who actually knows the role? (So what if he’s never sung outside his shower.)

The plot complications fly thick and fast, to the audience’s evident delight. Soon there are two Tito Morellis on the loose in Cleveland, and one of them has slugged an unforgiving cop. 

Into this comic buffet, toss Maggie, Max’s on-again, off-again fiancé (played with wide-eyed naiveté by Liz Gilroy) who is desperate for a “wider experience,”  preferably with the great star. Stir in the formidable head of the Opera Guild, Julia (Patti Kazmer), who is also Tito ‘stage-struck’, and a most unexpected fashionista. (“How do I look?” Saunders: “Like the Chrylser Building.”)

Blend in bellhop Doug Tangney (who can set the audience giggling just by walking on stage) complete with his camera, his autograph book and his running feud with Saunders.

And finally, spice the whole feast up via the sultry Diana (AnnaMarie Lea), who is only too ready to do “whatever” it takes to get to the Met stage  ‘a la Tito’. 

However, as she later hilariously observes, at a crucial moment, there does seem to be rather an overabundance of Titos in the hotel suite! (“I’ve been two timed before, but never with so much flair!”)

The laughs are loud and long throughout the entire play. Bowes has also punctuated certain actions on stage by the introduction  of some  unexpected and quite inspired bits of real opera. Bravo!

Incidentally, be prepared to be bowled over by the vocal talents of Davis and Greaves – what a pleasure to hear them!

Bowes has staged a classic, thoroughly wonderful comedy for the third play of the season.  Plan to spend time with Il Stupendo and the mad cap characters of Lend Me A Tenor. As Tito would say, it’s all “molto bene”!

Contact the Playhouse at 613-543-3713 for tickets.

[…]

Dr. Graham Jacques of the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic team was recently honoured with the Ontario Medical Association’s Lifetime Membership.

“This is a lovely recognition,” said Dr. Jacques, who was very surprised to be one of only a couple of eastern Ontario physician’s receiving the honour this year.

“I only found out about it, when I received a letter of congratulations from the OMA,” said Jacques. Those recognized must be nominated, and Jacques still doesn’t know who nominated him.

Dr. Jacques joined the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic team in the early 1980s as a general practitioner, with priviledges at Winchester District Memorial Hospital. Jacques practices at the Morrisburg and Ingleside SLMC locations.

Along with his decades of service with the SLMC and WDMH, Jacques held the post of president of the Winchester-Kemptville Medical Society until 2011. He currently serves a president of the medical staff at WDMH.

Dr. Jacques will be retiring at the end of March 2015and hopes that the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic team will have a replacement in place for him by then.

Jacques speaks fondly of this area at the SLMC.

“This place is a real gem. It has been wonderful,” he said. “The people in this area are great and this clinic has always been exceptional, always operating to the highest of standards. The people of this area are blessed to have such an organization in their midst.”

Jacques, who lives in South Dundas, will continue to do so in his retirement. 

“I am very happy to have had the opportunity to live and work in this area. I know I will miss the patients terribly when I retire,” he said.

While continuing to reside in South Dundas, he plans to travel across Canada in his retirement.

Dr. Jacques was born in Yorkshire, England and moved to Canada in 1958 at the age of 9. He graduated from University of Ottawa Medical School in 1975, after which he completed a year of roatating internship at Memorial University of Newfoundland. 

He then started working as a general duty medical officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. While working with the Canadian Armed Forces, Dr. Jacques finished a year of postgraduate training in internal medicine at the National Defence Medical Centre in 1979. 

He then moved to Morrisburg, and joined the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic.

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