Holiday strain leaves food bank shelves bare

 

South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds attended the annual ROMA/OGRA Combined Conference in Toronto last week.

The conference, which took place from February 26th to February 29th, gave Byvelds the opportunity to meet with politicians from other municipalities throughout Ontario.

According to their website, ROMA (Rural Ontario Municipal Association), “is Ontario’s rural municipal voice, ensuring that matters affecting rural  communities are brought to the attention of the provincial and federal governments.”

OGRA (Ontario Good Roads Association) “represents infrastructure interests of municipalities through advocacy, consultation, training and the delivery of identified services.”

On March 6th, Byvelds revealed that “there were no objectives going to ROMA. It is,” he added, “a great opportunity to discuss issues or methods with fellow municipal politicians.”

In terms of how things progressed at the conference, he said “there were some good information sessions.”

“I believe if you come home with one idea it was worth the effort.”

As for what South Dundas residents might find relevant from the conference, Byvelds said, “I did go to a seminar that was related to climate change and picked up a contact with information we can use when we have our public meeting concerning the sewer issues in our villages.”

In addition, “there was also a panel discussion on how municipalities need to work with local post-secondary institutions and how they affect economic development.”

According to their own literature, the ROMA/OGRA Combine Conference “is one of the largest annual gatherings of municipal leaders in Canada. It’s aim is to reinvigorate public debate about how municipalities will respond to emergent challenges and opportunities.”

This year’s conference, according to Byvelds, presented a good opportunity “to get a feeling on where the Provincial government is heading in these current times of fiscal restraint (don’t expect the cheque in the mail).”

While Byvelds didn’t get an opportunity to speak with the Premier himself, he did “take the opportunity to listen when he spoke.”

According to Byvelds, Premier Dalton McGuinty “did speak in generalities and hoped to continue to work with municipalities in the future. He committed to the finish date on the uploads but cautioned us on the new spending limit for the OMPF (Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund) of $500 million. He also re-committed to Green Energy.”

While several politicians walked out during the Premier’s ROMA appearance in protest of his energy policy, Byvelds admitted, “no, I was not involved.”

“I do not think it is a way to have a meaningful dialogue on issues. It takes two to discuss and walking out does not solve the issue.”

[…]

South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services is proactive when it comes to ensuring its residents are protected with a proper working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

SDFES runs a program, whereby its members go door-to-door visiting homes in South Dundas to test smoke detectors, to help homeowners/tenants ensure that they are properly located within the home, to provide new batteries, and if needed to provide homeowners, one time, with a free smoke alarm. 

They too inspect carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are installed properly in an optimum location, and are in working condition. These have been mandatory in South Dundas since 2011, in any home with a fuel fired appliance or an attached garage.

Fire chief Chris McDonough explained that this ongoing program has never been about fining people for non-compliance. It is about ensuing that they are properly alarmed, which is an essential, life-saving, first line of defence in an emergency.

So far this year, South Dundas firefighters have visited 170 homes. 

“It is a very successful program,” said McDonough, adding that the homeowners are very receptive to it and that the firefighters love helping out their friends and neighbours with important advice.

“This is a hugely important program,” said McDonough, adding that the winter and the holiday season is the highest risk time for fires, especially in single family dwellings. 

Since the inception of the alarm program, the number of residential fires in South Dundas has decreased.

Each year, Union Gas searches out worthy community programs and provides them with grants in support of their efforts.

They selected the SDFES Alarm Program as one of those worthy community initiatives, providing it with a $2,000 grant. 

“As a company, our focus on safety doesn’t end with the work day. We believe in investing in programs that will help make our communities safter 24/7,” said Jake Lapierre of Union Gas. 

“South Dundas Fire and Emergency Servicdes continues to actively promote fire safety throughout the community with the door-to-door campaign. We are very pleased to receive this generous donation from Union Gas,” said Chief McDonough.

[…]

Even though it’s the middle of winter, the Morrisburg Canada Day committee is already preparing for the July 1, event.

Linda and Keith Robinson, two member of the 15 member committee that organized last year’s event, know already that they need more help for the 2014 event. 

“We’re not looking for money, we’re looking for people,” said Keith.

The committee has lost some of its members and hopes that some new people with new ideas and suggestions will come forward to fill that void.

The fireworks, rides and petting zoo are booked for Canada Day 2015, in Morrisburg. A teen area is being organized with volleyball, badminton and other fun activities for that age group.

The market area that has been popular for the last couple of years will not take place this year.

The Robinsons hope that with some new committee members will come new ideas and new events as they are looking forward to building up the event towards 2017, which will be Canada’s 150th birthday.

Other than providing input, the Robinsons say that a volunteer can expect to attend a handful of meetings over the coming months. “Most of the work takes place in June,” said Keith, and then of course the day of July 1. 

The committee has an established executive, so those who join will be able to focus on the ideas brought forward and their individual areas of expertise.

Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Keith Robinson, or is welcome to just show up to the committee’s next meeting which takes place February 17, 7 p.m., at the Riverside hall in Riverside Heights.

[…]