Year: 2014

South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services will continue to  operate its marine rescue program.

The only municipal water rescue service offered between Prescott and Cornwall, South Dundas council had to decide whether or not to continue to offer the service.

The 1985 Zodiac used by the unit is no longer suitable for emergency services.

Council unanimously agreed that the service is an important one, that needs to continue, so they subsequently agreed to the purchase of a $30,000 replacement vessel. Not new, the replacement vessel is a 2001 630 Zodiac Hurricane. The larger size is more suitable for rescue purposes.

South Dundas’ water rescue program is a partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary which aids in training and deployment. The partnership with the Morrisburg station has been in place since the early 1980s.

[…]

Janet Levere, Executive Director of the J.W. MacIntosh Seniors’ Support Centre welcomed 80 volunteers to the annual volunteer appreciation event held at the centre on Tuesday, May 13.

Duane Locke, Chair of the Board of Directors, also spoke and shared the board’s appreciation to the dedicated volunteers. 

Entertainment was the Sage Age Theatre Group comprised of mature actors and actresses who performed a variety of mini skits which enacted many of the issues facing seniors in today’s world. 

Laughter was heard amongst the volunteers as situations evolved. Serious challenges were noted too. 

Following the entertainment, Levere thanked the “best volunteers in our communities!” 

Her speech noted that the volunteers are generous, caring individuals who are making a difference. 

“Our communities are changing and the clients and their needs are changing too,” she said. “The volunteers’ commitment to embrace the changes is heartwarming. Like the beautiful caterpillars that we see everywhere today to the lovely butterflies they become, the volunteers display beautiful and lovely gestures of kindness as they face new challenges!”

Janet gave the volunteers an update of the Centre’s other activities including: 

1) The increases in the Going Home Program with referrals from emergency departments and hospital discharges from the Winchester District Memorial Hospital as well as hospitals in Ottawa, Brockville and Cornwall,.

2) The seniors requiring minimal assistance such as one bath a week can now contact the MacIntosh Seniors’ Support Centre for this assistance offered under the respite service.

3) The expansion of the Assisted Living Services for High Risk Seniors program into the Kemptville area, (operating in the Iroquois-Morrisburg area since 2010). 

4) The new physio and fall prevention exercise programs offered at the Centre through Ministry funded programs.  This organization could not continue to expand its’ services without the leadership of the Board of Directors, volunteers who donate their time and expertise so that South Dundas is the place to live. 

This past year, the Senior Support Centre recorded nearly 7,000 hours of volunteer service.  

New volunteers are always welcome, and anyone interested in volunteering is invited to contact Cathy Tupper at 613-535-2924.

The following statistics review the work completed during the past year. 

•33 persons received 1,513 meals

•298 seniors enjoyed 5,701 diners 

•127 clients were supported with 1,594 one way trips or 3,188 round trips

•101 persons benefitted from the 477 foot care appts.

•23 clients enjoyed 491 units of the adult day programs.

•1,728 hours of work in the craft group, fundraising, social activities, exercises, committees, etc.

•10,172 hours of respite in the community and apartment

•13,792 hours of assisted living and supportive housing services

In total with the volunteer support services and the paid employee services, 585 persons were supported during the past year. 

[…]

A group of local folks are planning to hitch up the trailer this weekend so they can collect your six packs, empty six packs that is.

The annual ‘Returns for Leukemia’ fundraiser, run by The Beer Store in conjunction with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada is all set to roll out the welcome trailer this weekend in Morrisburg, and the local team is inviting everyone to drop by The Beer Store and drop off their empties.

“We are planning it as a ‘fill the trailer drive’,” says Tracey Veinotte whose 19-year-old son Cole, recently completed his of treatment for Lymphoma Cancer and has received a great report.

He joins many others in the South Dundas community who have battled Leukemia or a Lymphoma Cancer (Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins).

“Cole was very fortunate that one of the biggest advances in treatments was available to him,” says Tracy in emphasizing the importance of raising money for research and the equipment needed to provide successful treatments.

“When Cole had his PET Scan for his Lymphoma cancer, he was told he would be the last person in that scanner as it was being replaced. These scanners are state of the art and crazy expensive, but thankfully the money is there for them. This is a very valuable test for Lymphoma Cancers.”

Veinotte points to others in the community who are a testament to the success of cancer treatments that years ago might not have had quite the same results. She speaks of the very young Nash Nesbitt who underwent his treatment three years ago,  and to Matt Bilmer and Sylvia Westphal all of whom have benefitted from the treatment availabilities. And to others who will benefit from more advances down the road.

“Many of us have friends and family who have been diagnosed with Leukemia and Lymphoma and this is our way to support them,” says Veinotte. “To fill a trailer with empties, how easy is that.” 

Leukemia is the number one disease killer of children under 19 and the incidence of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in adults has doubled since 1973.

The drive will run this weekend on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 and any bottles/cans that are refundable will be accepted…beer, (bottles and cans) liquor, cooler bottles etc. Cash donations will also be accepted.

Last year, over $1.7 million was raised for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. One hundred per cent of the money raised through the returns goes to the Society.

[…]

The Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area’s Poverty Working Group in cooperation with Linking Hands, a project of the House of Lazarus are excited to announce an all-candidates’ debate on the topic of Poverty Reduction in Ontario on the evening of June 5, 2014 from 6-8 p.m. at South Nation Conservation Authority at 38 Victoria St. in Finch, Ontario.

The debate will focus on the candidate’s points of view about the growing issue of poverty in our province and locally in our area and explore the programs and solutions they intend to implement and those they intend to maintain should they be given the opportunity. 

The Social Development Council’s Poverty Working Group and Linking Hands believe all community members have the right to know our potential leaders position on an important issue like poverty reduction which is key to building sustainable resilient communities. 

It is our hope that this debate will bridge the information gap between our leaders, agencies, and community members.

The event will be moderated by Hugo Rodrigues, managing editor for the Standard Freeholder. 

The debate will ask the candidates to answer several questions about the state of poverty in our province and our community and how they intend to improve these situations.

All community members are invited and encouraged to attend this event; there is no prior registration required. 

There will be an opportunity for audience members to ask the candidates questions. 

For those who would like to ask questions, the questions must be e-mailed to linkinghandsdundas@gmail.com in advance.

With the provincial election taking place on June 12, it is intended for this debate to be a resource to help inform voters in the community.

[…]

“Responsible government, which includes accessible and open communication to the taxpayers of South Dundas, is the basis of my platform,” said Leslie Disheau, who filed nomination papers for the deputy mayor’s seat in South Dundas May 15, at the South Dundas Municipal Centre. 

This will be Disheau’s first run at a municipal council seat, and her focus is on more than just South Dundas. 

That’s why she is choosing to take a run at the position of deputy mayor.

“Deputy mayor sits on county council and my focus includes this next tier of government,” said Disheau. 

“I want to have a seat where positive action and decisions can be made for not just South Dundas, but all of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. I see the big picture and how all parts interplay and add up to the sum. You can’t think that we are an island and operate on this premise.”

“My 10 years of actively volunteering and being engaged with public education and the Upper Canada District School Board has taught me to be at the front of the train,” says Disheau. “I am a person who wants to participate and be part of the team in the engine car, not the caboose.”

“I have 44 years of life experiences and education behind me. Not much different than anyone else who has sat at our municipal council table,” said Disheau when asked why she chose to take aim at one of the two top seats in her first foray into municipal politics. “We are common sense local people with a passion and love of our community who have decided to take on the tough job of serving the public.”

“I have no problem asking the difficult challenging questions and being prepared to debate the issues in fairness and respect to all parties,” adds Disheau. “I expect and encourage open communication because I don’t know everything and can only learn by having all sides sitting at the table discussing the issues.”

“The needs I value are those of my community, and my community is all of South Dundas, not just one section or interest group.”

Disheau is a lifelong resident of South Dundas. She is university educated, and an active community volunteer. 

She has long had every intention of running for school board trustee at some point, but the industrial wind turbine project near Brinston, which she actively opposed, changed the aim of her course to municipal council.

“It was a very difficult decision because my whole focus over the years has been on public education. But, like anything in life, ‘shift happens’, so take the ride and see where the adventure will lead you.”

When the South Branch Wind Opposition Group was dissolved in October 2013, Disheau announced publicly that she would run for a seat on South Dundas municipal council, but did not say which one.

Disheau’s nomination means that the deputy mayor’s seat is, so far, the only seat setting up to be officially contested in the 2014 South Dundas municipal election. This is likely to change before nominations close.

She and incumbent deputy mayor Jim Locke have both filed nomination papers for the deputy mayor’s position.

South Dundas councillor Evonne Delegarde has filed her nomination for mayor. Incumbent South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, has yet to make public his election intentions.

Incumbent South Dundas councillors Archie Mellan and Jim Graham are both seeking re-election as councillors, as is former South Dundas councillor Bill Ewing. All nominations are subject to change until the nomination deadline in September.

[…]