March 2015 – Morrisburg Leader

Dr Charles Miller

March 25, 2015 Editor

Dr. Charles Miller, FRCS, Edinburgh, FRCS, England and FRCS, Canada, passed away on February 23, 2015, at the Cornwall Community Hospital, with his family at his side.

Dr. Miller was the beloved husband of Cheryl Miller (Prosser) and much loved father of daughter Kristine Boulerice (Claude) of Kanata and son Trent (Debbi) of Toronto.

He will be sadly missed by his two grandchildren Matthew and Michael of Kanata. He was predeceased by his father James, mother, Elizabeth (Wight), and his brother Ian.

Dr. Miller was born in Kelso, Scotland, on February 7, 1927. He immigrated to Canada in 1964, and worked in Saskatchewan and Manitoba until moving to Ontario in 1967.

In May, 1967, he helped establish the branch of the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic in Ingleside, and performed surgery at Winchester District Memorial Hospital.

He opened his surgical office in Cornwall, in October, 1969, and worked at both the General and Hotel Dieu Hospitals performing General, Thoracic and Vascular surgery plus Permanent Transvenous Pacemakers.

To meet the needs of his patients and the community, Dr. Miller started the Pacemaker Clinic in Cornwall in 1971.

He wrote multiple publications and was working on a publication for Vascular Surgery when he retired in July, 1994.

An informal memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2015, at the Parker Funeral Home, 28 Sir James Morris Drive, Morrisburg, between 1-3 p.m. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery, Mariatown.

Memorial donations to The War Amps would be gratefully acknowledged by his family. Condolences may be made at www.parkerofmorrisburg.com

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:Peter John Remillard

March 25, 2015 Editor

It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic passing on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, of Peter John Rémillard.

Peter was the loved husband of Patricia of Morrisburg and the devoted father of Liam of Kingston. He was the dear brother of Richard (Alexandra) of Ottawa and Kathleen (Gary) Broadhurst of Knowlton, QC., and the cherished brother-in-law of Nancy Boucher (Raymond Conley) of Toronto and George (late Kathleen) Gamble of Guelph.

He will be sadly missed by nieces Melissa, Kelly, Meghan, Kristen, Caroline and nephews James, Evan, Nicolas and Patrick. He is survived by his father Romeo of Montreal and was predeceased by his mother Margaret (nee Paisley).

Peter Rémillard graduated from McGill University in 1977, with a Bachelor of Civil and Common Law. Peter was fluent in English, French and German, with the latter language honed overseas on student work exchanges.

After articling with the Toronto Law Firm of Holden Murdock in 1978, he was first called to the Ontario Bar in 1979, and then later called to the Barreau du Quebec / Quebec Bar in 1983.

Peter joined the law firm of Gorrell and Grenkie in Morrisburg, Cardinal, and Ingleside, Ontario, in 1980, and became partner in the firm in 1983. Although he grew up in a big city (Montréal), Peter really embraced small town life, which is what attracted him to Morrisburg in the first place.

His practice focused on corporate, commercial (farm), tax, real estate, and estate planning. The firm expanded into the Chesterville area with the acquisition of Cass Grenkie Rémillard in 1990. To enhance the service offerings for his clients, Peter completed the Certified Financial Planning Program and was awarded the CFP designation in 1999.

Peter had significant community involvement, which included the Canadian Cancer Society, Chamber of Commerce, local Business Improvement Area Association, Municipal Council, St. Mary’s Parent Council, Upper Canada Playhouse, and the Winchester Hospital Foundation.

However, there was one specific community organization that became a passion and a way of life. Peter, a devoted family man, started with Therien Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing in 2001 with his son Liam, because of his interest in the Martial Arts. Although his sports interests began with marathon running, Peter started training jiu-jitsu with Liam. He was then joined by his wife Pat, making martial arts, kickboxing, a family activity.

Martial Arts became integral to Peter’s work-life balance, providing relaxation, socialization, and the mental and physical challenge he sought.

After receiving his Brown Belt, Liam put his training on pause to attend university: however Peter continued on with Jiu-Jitsu and Kick boxing. In spite of physical challenges associated with recent ankle and knee surgeries, resulting from earlier marathon running injuries, Peter established a goal to work towards earning his Black Belt.

In 2011, at the age of 59, Peter endured a five-hour test and successfully earned his Black Belt. The Black Belt achievement, a significant one, is associated with achieving excellence, something Peter strived for in everything he did.

Peter then went on to successfully complete the Can Ryu Jiu-Jitsu Teaching Program and became a Sensei.

Sensei Peter was a respected teacher and positive motivator taking great pride in other people’s accomplishments. He referred to the club as a second family, and he was much loved by all members of the dojo.

Sensei Peter was instrumental in initiating a new Executive Program enabling a more mature crowd to learn the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu and of self-defence. On and off the mat, Sensei Peter was the most selfless, enthusiastic and genuine person you could ever hope to meet. He will always remain a part of the Therien Jiu-Jitsu Chesterville Family.

Fundamentally, Peter was a world class people person. He relished being with family and friends, and working with business partners and clients in helping them solve problems. He was always there for everyone.

Of course, if you know him, you knew that he was usually 15 to 30 minutes late, because he would talk to people, and people confided in him. No one minded, because everyone knew what was holding him up, and that he would take all the time in the world needed to help everyone through the rough spots.

In one way or another, Peter was always looking after others. It is now Peter’s turn to be looked after. Forever rest in sweet and blissful peace.

Arrangements were entrusted to Parker Funeral Home in Morrisburg. Condolences may be left at www.parkerofmorrisburg.com.

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Perspectives by Pastor James Tripp

March 25, 2015 Editor

Company's Coming

It’s hard to believe but it’s been nearly two years already since we moved to Iroquois where we have our family home. We were saying over the weekend, it’s amazing how time seems to go quickly.

When we purchased the home, we recognized it needed a large amount of work, and we would take that work on one step at a time. We are thankful for all that we have been able to accomplish in the last couple of years.

Over the March break we were expecting company and that led to a conversation between Sarah and I about the state of the “Guest Room”.

At that moment the room was bright pink, and there was as much paint on the ceiling as the walls, or so it seemed. So that lead to us deciding at the last minute the room needed a “makeover”, and off to the races we went.

We took everything out of the room, looked at paint colour options, and purchased paint. The ceiling would need to be primed and then two coats of paint… oh, and now everything is out of the room, we notice all the holes and dents in the walls, those will need to be repaired before we paint.

This all started on Wednesday and our company would arrive on Friday (no pressure).

In the gospels, we find an invitation from Jesus to come and visit with us. He doesn’t just want to visit he actually wants to come and take residence in our lives.

As a Pastor I often hear people say “If you knew what I did, you’d know why I don’t follow him,” or “My life is so messed up right now, Jesus wouldn’t want to come to me.”

As Sarah and I worked for three days to fix, prime, paint, set up the bed hang the curtains and then make the bed, we were working hard to make sure the room was ready for our guests. Sure enough our guests arrived and all enjoyed the space.

We were honoured to have them, and thankful for the deep friendship we share.

Coming back to the gospels I am reminded Jesus said he would come to us and have a relationship with us no matter what our history or present situation.

Jesus having a relationship with us doesn’t mean we have to fix up our lives or clean up our rooms before he comes. As we grow in our relationship with Him, He will help us live differently. Have you made room for Jesus?

You and your family are always welcome to join us at Morrisburg Pentecostal Tabernacle (MPT). I hope that you’ll consider inviting Jesus to come into the guest room of your heart, not just for a visit, but to stay.

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Curlers post big endings

March 25, 2015 Editor

The Morrisburg Curling Club’s athletes are ending the season in a flurry of bonspiels.

Our women have been especially active, although in some cases they took men along with them. On Wednesday, Alice Thompson, Penny Davidson, Linda Murphy and Nelda Hickman travelled to Alexandria where they defeated a foursome from Ormestown in the morning. After a fine lunch, they went out and did the same to a Cornwall quartet. With the scores computed, our ladies were declared the overall champions, and got their names in Alexandria’s local paper.

Thursday saw three of our teams in Winchester’s Grandmothers’ Bonspiel. Alice Thompson, Betty Locke, Sharon Van Allen and Janie Connelly played matches against Russell and Navy, while Ruth Kelly, Joan McKinnon, Penny Charlebois and Nelda Hickman played Navy in the morning, and after lunch did battle with an R. A. team.

Susan McIntosh, Kathy Norg, Joanne Baker and Claire Locke defeated a Carleton Heights foursome in the morning, and gave the same treatment to an R.A. team from Ottawa in the afternoon. After the evening banquet, the overall winners for the 12-team competition were declared, and Susan’s team took home the championship prizes.

Then on Friday our local ladies took some men along with them to Kemptville’s 2-2-2 Bonspiel. Keith Robinson, Kathy Hardy, Rick MacKenzie and Marie Fawcett dropped their morning match to the eventual champions of the competition, led by Lynne Stacey from Navan. Our other team, Dave King, Ruth Kelly, Bert Smail and Joan McKinnon lost their morning match 7-5 to a foursome from Huntley and came back in the p.m. to defeat Metcalfe 12-2, finishing third overall.

Our Thursday morning mixed curlers have their season wind-up and banquet this week and our senior men have one last Friendly bonspiel in Winchester. We’ll have those results next time.

On Monday, March 23, Lynn Kreviazuk, long-time lead for Rachel Homan, and multi-bonspiel and competitive champion, visited our local elementary schools in the daytime to work with Grades 4, 5 and 6 with the “Rocks and Rings” program. Our curling club made the arrangements for the visit to help ensure the success of our sport in South Dundas.

The Little Rocks program has been growing in recent years, and we hope to see it expand to form bantam and junior leagues.

Lynn is a former Ontario Bantam Champion, Ontario Winter Games Gold Medalist, Provincial and Canadian Champion and World Junior Champion, to name but a few. She also dropped by the club to speak on the CCA’s “Getting Started for Adults” program, aimed at potential members of curling clubs, and speak on curling aids for adults. Monday’s events were a wonderful opportunity in our schools and at our club.

Finally, the closing bonspiel will be Saturday, March 28, and that evening will end with a roast beef banquet. For the entertainment of those present, the club championship, the Thursday night final, will be on, and two teams from the ladies and from the senior men will also compete.

See you there.

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Narrow miss for Senior Combines

March 25, 2015 Editor

Despite a two win-one loss record, the Morrisburg Combines were unable to defend their 2013 Ontario Championship title at the Ontario Senior Winter games held in Haliburton, Ontario, from February 17-19.

“The team came in as the defending champion, having won the gold medal in the previous games in 2013. While not making it to the medal round, they put in a good performance and proved again, that they stack up well with the best hockey players of their vintage (65-plus years), from across the province,” says team member Jake Cole.

The Combines won two games out of three in their pool, and failed to make it to the medal round by the slimmest of margins.

They kicked it off with a 2-0 win against Brampton and then lost to York, 4-1.

They followed the loss to York with a 5-2 win against Ottawa.

The standings were based on points and when it was tallied Morrisburg, Brampton and York were tied with 27 points. Ten points were earned for a win, five for a tie, two points awarded for each period win (two-period games) and one point for a tie.

“We came very close to getting into the medal round,” says Combines goaltender Les McAllister. “But they went to a series of tie breakers, and we didn’t make it. It was a tough way to lose out. All we needed was one more goal.”

Fern Gauvreau led the team in scoring with five goals, and Guy D’Aloisio added two.

As always, the team leader and goalie, 79-year-old Les McAllister kept the team in every game making countless big saves.

The Combines were dealt some bad luck when player/coach Doug Casselman popped a muscle in his bicep early in the second game, and then was limited to the coaching duties for the remainder of that game, plus the final game.

Sorely missed from this year’s lineup was Jack Haines. Always one of the top scorers in the games, Jack could not accompany the team for the first time this year because of health issues.

“This is my second time playing with the Morrisburg Combines, and I can say with enthusiasm that it is a very positive experience,” says Cole.

The Ontario Senior Games provide an opportunity for athletes at all levels and in various sports, to compete in a very well organized series of games in an Olympics-style format.

“The Ontario and Canadian games are the main reason I continue to play,” says 79-year-old McAllister. “They treat the participants so well. The lodging is good, and the food is good.”

“I very much enjoy the fellowship and the humour in our dressing room. We only get together for these games, and usually play a couple of exhibition games to get ready. It’s always a fun time.”

District 8 was represented by the Combines in the 65 plus years category and by Cornwall in the 55 plus grouping. The Cornwall team also failed to advance after finishing tied in their pool.

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Peewee B Lions rebound against Braves, tie championship series

March 25, 2015 Editor

The South Dundas Peewee B Lions were on a mission when they headed to Brockville, Monday night, March 23 for game two of their five point Upper Canada Minor Hockey League championship series against the Braves.

The series, which opened in Morrisburg on Wednesday, March 11, with a 1-0 Braves win, was on hold over March break and resumed Monday night, with the charged up Lions skating to an impressive 4-1 win.

With the two teams now tied at two points apiece in the five point series, game three was played last night, March 24 in Brockville, and game four is scheduled for Morrisburg, tonight, Wednesday, March 25, starting at 7 p.m.

Monday night in Brockville, the Lions took a 2-0 lead late in the first period on goals from Jaeden Phifer-Shaver (from Ben Lapier) and Kieran Geurkink (from Joshua Broad).

Reid Cassidy scored the lone Braves goal against Lions goaltender, Michaela Mustard, with 1:44 left in the first period.

Midway into the second period, Nolan Henry beat Braves goalie Cole Trickey with help from Ben Lapier, to put the Lions in the driver’s seat with a 3-1 lead.

With 4:01 left on the clock in the second period, Jaeden Phifer-Shaver counted his second goal to put the Lions up 4-1.

Lapier collected his third assist and Nolan Henry added his help.

The Lions goaltending duties were shared by Mustard who started and Brendan Shaver who came in, in the second period.

The goaltenders took over in the third period to keep it scoreless, and the Lions held on for the 4-1 win to tie the series at two points.

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Bantam B Lions even series with 4-0 shutout

March 25, 2015 Editor

The South Dundas Bantam B Rep Lions charged back from an opening game 5-1 loss, with a 4-0 win here Monday night to even the UCMHL championship series against the South Grenville Rangers at two points apiece.

The championship series is a five point affair. Game three goes to Prescott tonight, Wednesday, March 25 (6 p.m.) and the series returns to Morrisburg, Thursday night, March 26 at 8 p.m.

The Lions had a tough start in Prescott, Sunday. They held the Rangers to a 1-1 first period tie, but that was it. The Rangers struck for three unanswered goals in the second period to carry a formidable 4-1 advantage into the third period, as they headed for the opening game 5-1 victory.

Austin Selleck, Simon Watt, Jack Doris, Riley Hildebrandt and Tanner Thomson provided the Ranger goals.

Justin Shay collected the lone Lions goal assisted by affiliate Caleb Jaquemet and Grants Wells.

In front of a big crowd Monday night in Morrisburg, the Lions went to work on the 4-0 victory, with Sam Waytowich having a big game in net.

After a scoreless first period, Lucas Bennis stepped up in the second for a pair of counters for a 2-0, Lions lead. On the first goal, Grant Wells started a great passing play from behind the Rangers net to Kasper Furo who made a quick pass to Bennis out front.

Bennis scored the Lions second goal, unassisted, after fighting for possession of a rebound behind the Rangers net.

The Rangers turned it up to apply the pressure late in the second period, but big saves from Waytowich allowed the Lions to hold on to the comfortable two goal lead.

Lucas Bennis got the Lions third goal started midway into the third period with a pass to Oakley Beavers. Beavers slid the puck to Dean Lapier whose blast from the top of the face off circle beat Rangers goaltender Tyler Watkins cleanly for a 3-0 Lions lead.

The fourth and final Lions goal was scored by Jonah Bennis, from Connor Dumoulin and Justin Shay, with 6:38 left in the game.

While that was the end of the scoring, it wasn’t the end of the excitement, as the Lions drew a minor penalty with more than four minutes left in the game.

That resulted in the South Grenville coach pulling Watkins for a two man advantage. The move was not successful but it did make Waytowich work a little harder for his shutout.

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Curlers take their game to the gym

March 25, 2015 Editor

–With the help of nationally and internationally acclaimed curler Lynn Kreviazuk, the Morrisburg Curling Club delivered its game to potential young curlers at Morrisburg Public and St. Mary-St. Cecilia schools on Monday. And it was a lot of fun.

Kreviazuk, 23, along with her older sister Allison and younger sister Cheryl, began curling in Ottawa in the Little Rocks program. From that start, she became a member of teams skipped by Rachel Homan, Clancy Grady and Allison Flaxey and has, under her broom, a Canada Winter Games championship, and various national championships at the Junior and Bantam curling levels.

Most recently, in February of this year, she was a member of Team Canada skipped by Breanne Menkin, who won the Universiade Silver Medal in Spain.

Monday, Kreviazuk delivered The Curling Canada Rocks and Rings program to three grades at each of Morrisburg P.S and SMSC. The program introduces curling to elementary school children by taking the curling rink to the gym in the form of FloorCurl kits which include rocks (on wheels) and target mats.

Kreviazuk, who graduated from Carleton University in December with a political science degree, has been delivering the program “as part time work throughout university.”

Having started curling at the age of six years, she recommends that children start curling at a young age in the Little Rocks program.

The Rocks and Rings program, “helps to familiarize kids with the sport,” she explains. “A lot of kids might not have any other opportunity to try it. Curling is a great sport and anybody can play…tall, short, male, female. The cost is fairly inexpensive when compared to other sports, and there is very little equipment required. Everyone and anyone can play.”

Kreviazuk was accompanied to the schools on Monday, by Morrisburg Curling Club president Ruth Kelly and club member Jack Barkley.

The Morrisburg Curling Club has been proactive in recruiting members this season, and Kelly looks forward to growing the membership in the younger age category next year.

“This year we had just Little Rocks, and next year we will have Bantam Curling,” says Kelly who is a Level Three Curling Coach and has coached at International curling levels. “Ian and Kathy Wilson have been running our Little Rocks program, and they have been very successful with it. The kids have stayed with it, and some will be graduating to bantam next year.”

Kelly too promotes the game as “an excellent sport for children. It’s full of etiquette and teaches social skills. It’s played in a safe environment and provides an overall good learning experience. Even at the young level, the curlers sit down with their opponents after a game.”

Following the presentations at the schools, Kreviazuk dropped by the Morrisburg Curling Club to meet and discuss coaching strategies with a number of club members who have volunteered to assist in the Curling Canada Getting Started for Adults program which the club will launch on Monday nights next season.

This has been prompted by Kelly who ran a casual Monday evening program for non-curlers, this past year.

“It was a casual drop in and the same group came back each week,” says Kelly. “We learned something new each week. We did one half hour of instruction and then went right into a game. Our first game took two hours to play two ends, but we continued on and it got better. Then at Christmas they all joined leagues in the club. We got 20 new members out of it.”

Kreviazuk met with would-be volunteer instructors for next season’s Getting Started for Adults program. She discussed the program and offered up various tips for coaching with emphasis and tips on how to help new curlers with balance, setup and throwing momentum.

Kelly stresses that curling clubs today, to be successful, must be proactive in attracting people to curling, and Monday’s presentations by the very talented Kreviazuk were a sweep in the right direction.

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Taxes up to build reserves

March 25, 2015 Editor

The average South Dundas residential property owner can expect to pay about $35 more in property taxes this year when the counties and education components are included.

An average South Dundas residential property is valued at $178,641.

Recent United Counties of SDG budget deliberations resulted in a $23 typical increase to the Counties levy and now South Dundas has agreed to a $12.19 increase to the average South Dundas residential property owner. The education component has been reset to offset the phase-in property assessment increase.

South Dundas council was asked by South Dundas treasurer Shannon Geraghty at the March 17, regular council meeting to clarify the intent of recent budget deliberations.

Although South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke didn’t want to see anything less than a 2 per cent increase in taxes paid by the average residential taxpayer, the majority of council agreed that a 1.5 per cent dollar increase would be sufficient for 2015.

With the proposed increase, South Dundas will collect 6.54 per cent more money ($342,000) from taxes than it did in 2014.

During budget deliberations, South Dundas council had cut enough from the budget to put South Dundas in a position to collect 2.26 per cent more money ($118,200) than the previous year.

In that case, the average residential ratepayer would have been paying less than last year, according to Geraghty.

“It is more financially responsible to collect a little more this year, than to wait and have to collect even more next year,” explained Geraghty, who expects that more debt will be incurred as projects like the industrial park expansion and waterfront projects progress.

Now, by council opting to go with the 1.5 per cent average tax increase, they will have more money to put back into the budget. For now, their intent is to hold the extra funds in reserve.

Last year South Dundas collected $5,231,000 from taxation. This year, they will collect $5,573,000 from taxation.

According to the treasurer, the municipality continues to maintain healthy reserves.

[…]

Clement also seeking the SDSG Liberal nomination

March 25, 2015 Editor

Cornwall City councillor and lawyer Bernadette Clement today announced that she will seek the Liberal nomination to be the candidate in the riding of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry in the upcoming federal election.

In an address to a number of supporters gathered at the Best Western Parkway Inn, this morning, Clement explained why she is seeking the nomination.

“I cannot stand by as we prepare to decide the future of Canada in the coming October 19, 2015 election. I’ve talked to voters throughout the riding. They tell me they want to see a government that truly brings people together instead of dividing our country, and one that addresses our needs, from infrastructure to health care to the environment. They want a government that has a plan, to actually deal with our problems so that our future can be full of opportunity,” added Clement, who has been involved extensively in the community of Cornwall and area in a number of groups and organizations. “I feel I can help make a positive contribution as a real voice for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry in Parliament,” said Clement.

Clement also highlighted the leadership of Justin Trudeau and the change that he can bring about in Canadian politics. “I’ve watched Mr. Trudeau close up during the party leadership contest where I moderated a number of debates. I firmly believe that he has a genuine concern for Canadians and that he has the ability to lead our country with new policies that will benefit all and not just a select few. It is time for a change of direction.”

There are two other Liberals in the riding seeking the nomination, Patricia Pichette and Corey Kalsi.

“We are fortunate to be able to attract strong candidates for such an important job of representing the voters of our riding in Ottawa,” said Clement.

“I want to encourage people in the riding to become involved in the nomination process by obtaining a Liberal party membership and coming out to a nomination meeting to vote for the candidate of their choice. I invite them to volunteer in the upcoming election as well and help Liberals win this riding and form the next federal government,” said Clement.

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