United Way campaign ends six per cent short of goal

There’s a lot to look forward to at Upper Canada Playhouse this summer. Besides a great season of terrific plays, the Playhouse is again offering local young people the opportunity to enrol in one of the two sessions of the Youth Theatre Program being offered in July.

The Youth Theatre School has proven to be enormously popular.

The Playhouse is currently accepting students for both of the July sessions.

The theatre offers a Senior Session (grades seven and up) from July 3-14 and a Junior Session (grades one to six), from July 16-20.

This exciting, educational and creative experience has become one of the highlights of the season, with more students enrolling every year. Give your child the opportunity to develop fun theatrical projects and communication skills under the direction of experienced and talented dramatic arts professionals Mary Ellen Viau (senior school) and Kathleen Egan Veinotte (junior school).

Each session concludes with a showcase of the students’ work held at the Playhouse on the last day. These shows are open to the public. 

The two week senior session is $175 and the one week junior session is $100.

Contact Upper Canada Playhouse at 613-543-3713 for enrollment information.

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 It might have been a little frosty on Saturday, December 1, when Santa and Mrs. Claus dropped in to marshall the big parade, but the warmth of their welcome made up for that.

Morrisburg gave a big welcome to all the bands, marchers and floats who took part in one of the best Santa Claus parades yet. 

“We had six bands in our parade this year,” said George Davies, who once again organized the 2012 event. 

“There were about 50 different floats and displays, and all kinds of people in costumes walking along the parade route. From what I hear, it was a great day in spite of the weather. Of course, that’s the one thing I can’t do anything about,” he laughed. 

“I will say that the cold was probably a little rough on the musicians with brass instruments. And by the end of the route, our bag pipe players couldn’t play. But all accounts say it was a good parade all the same.”

The colourful celebration took place at 11 a.m. Saturday morning, and wound its way throughout the town. George Davies could be seen on his ATV keeping things moving all along the route. 

“I had eight people helping out with the parade today,” he said, “as well as many volunteers who marched or worked on floats. There’s great spirit in this community.”

After the parade, Santa dropped in to the fire hall to personally meet some of his young fans, and to listen to their Christmas hopes. 

Parade participants took advantage of hot dogs and chocolate milk after the big event finished in the mall area. George laughs that there was a definite run on the hot chocolate all afternoon.

George Davies is already making plans for next year’s Santa Claus parade. He feels that it is never too early to start.

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The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation’s lock team at Iroquois was selected as the recipient of the President’s Safety Award for 2014. 

The award aims to raise awareness of workplace health and safety requirements and encourage, recognize and celebrate work teams who make significant contributions to improve our safety performance at the SLSMC.

“The Iroquois team’s efforts are commendable” said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC). 

“The team completed 215 safety interventions during the year, out of a total of 1,500 interventions completed within the SLSMC. Team members were responsible for a number of innovations, including devising a mechanism for the deployment of an oil containment boom, and a jib used to bring material down safely in the cable gallery. These innovations underscore the staff’s commitment to reviewing and improving critical tasks. When combined with their consistent efforts to keep their shop and work areas clean, and their widespread participation in safety inspections and interventions, one can understand how the Iroquois team has completed 21 years without a lost time injury.”

Over 227,000 jobs and $35 billion in economic activity are supported by the movement of goods within the Great Lakes-Seaway System.

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