Auditor gives South Dundas clean bill of health

They offered a helping hand, and Morrisburg Legion Branch 48 president Maurice Praine was willing to accept it. 

Saturday, four members of the Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Unit (The C.A.V.), were out and about in Morrisburg to assist the local Legion Branch by selling poppies. They were easily identified as they were wearing their black vests which, according to their website, are worn “in mourning of those who have fallen in securing our Peace.”

CAV Motorcycle Units were started in 2003, and are active in Charity Event Riding and Community Support Events across Canada.

They support charity events locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Saturday, four members of the nine member local CAV Unit, Sicily, were in Morrisburg. They included Jeff Betts, John Kennedy, Bill Aitken and Reg Anderson all of whom have served in the Canadian Military.

The Unit was formed this past summer and according to Betts, is based out of Morrisburg, because it is central to the members. Betts is from Winchester and other members are from Morrisburg, Cardinal and Cornwall.

“We are teamed with the Morrisburg Legion only in the sense of developing a mutually beneficial relationship,” explained Betts. “We have the same goals of helping our veterans and our community.”

The CAV is a national brotherhood of Canadian Army, Air Force and Navy Veterans who are motorcycle enthusiasts. 

There are three regions: 1st CAV which covers central Canada (Manitoba to Quebec), 2nd CAV in Eastern Canada and 3rd Cav in  Western and Northern Canada.  Members gather in units named in tribute of Canadian Battle Honours. 

The local unit is in 1st CAV and is named for the 1943 Battle of Sicily when the Allies launched one of the largest combined operations of WWII for control of Sicily.

“Our mission statement is to ‘ride and have fun, while helping others’,” said Betts whose nickname is Lurch and who was an Administrative Clerk in the military for 14 years.

CAV does have several charities of choice, such as “Ride for Dad”, an annual ride for prostrate cancer and ICROSS, International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering of the world’s poor. It also supports a number of military organizations including Soldier On and the MFRC (Military Family Resource Centre).

At the local level they support community events and the local Legions, or they may run their own event in support of a cause they choose.

Betts also explained that members don’t have to own motorcycles. Those who don’t can come out and assist in fundraising events, travelling to the event as they choose.

The CAVs ‘Honorary Rider in Chief to Veterans’ is Rick Hillier, past Chief of Defense Staff for Canada’s military.

In addition to the charity assistance, Betts says the group gathers to “have fun and reminisce about our military experiences.”

Saturday, John Kennedy, nicknamed Saddle Tramp, was doing just that as he pointed to the picture hanging in the Morrisburg Legion lounge of the HMCS Haida, the last remaining example of the 27 Tribal Class destroyers built between 1937 and 1945.

“I served in peace time, (1959-63), and I was the last to sail overseas on the Haida. They took it out of service in 1960.”

Kennedy says he has logged over 200,000 km on his 1996 bike, and he has enjoyed all of his experiences. He recalls travelling with a group out of Ottawa to participate in a parade in Washington. “I’ve been all over. I really enjoy it.”

“We are always looking for new members,” said Betts. 

Information on The CAV can be found at www.thecav.ca

[…]

IROQUOIS – The suicide rate in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and Prescott-Russell is twice the provincial average. That is the reason the local Canadian Mental Health Agency and people like Augusta Waddell, believe so strongly in the importance of mental health promotion in schools.

Waddell’s late son suffered from mental health issues and since his loss, Waddell has tirelessly worked toward improving mental health locally, by making the community more aware of the help and resources that are available. Also, she has been part of fundraising initiatives that have helped bring funds and awareness to programs that she believes are important to have locally. 

Joanne Ledoux-Moshonas, manager of mental health promotions with the local mental health agency, accepted a cheque November 1, from Augusta Waddell and Margaret Swerdfeger, who organized a Halloween dance and silent auction fundraiser. The well-supported event raised $6,166.

“The event was great,” said Waddell.  “The support was amazing.” 

Swerdfeger, said that the silent auction featured some wonderful items, generously donated by both individuals and business, not only locally but from across the region. 

“People were very supportive of the auction, but what was remarkable, was that people who came to the event and supported the auction, often just wrote a cheque to donate to the cause too,” said Swerdfeger. “People are just so generous.”

Ledoux-Moshonas was overwhelmed by the amount of money raised through this one time event. 

The CMHA’s Mental Health Promotion in Schools program is not at all supported through government funding, so all of the funds that make this program which costs about $175,000 to operate annually, comes through fundraising and donations.

Mental Health Promotion in Schools is a program that the CMHA strives to take to every school, especially intermediate and high schools. 

The five day program works on day one to dispel myths, teaches about the various disorders on day two and day three focuses on suicide prevention. 

“That is an important focus,” said Ledoux-Moshonas, adding that the suicide rate in this area is twice that of the provincial average. 

Day four educates students on stress management and the supports that are available to help and day five features a guest speaker who shares a personal experience with mental illness.

The CMHA works in the schools to try and alleviate some of the stigma surrounding mental health. Stigma continues to be a huge problem for people living with mental illness. 

This stigma can hinder those with mental illness and their families from reaching out for the help they need.

Waddell sees this stigma as a barrier for the family support group sessions that she has organized to take place once a month in Iroquois. While people will stop her on the street for a chat, she still has yet to have people come to the family support group sessions. 

“People want to talk, but they won’t come, because they are embarrassed. Often they are frustrated by the system, and if they would come out, we could share our experiences and help. Talking about it makes life easier,” said Waddell. 

She will continue to be at the Iroquois Civic Centre at 6 p.m., the third Tuesday of every month, for anyone who needs the family support group. Anyone interested or with questions can email Augusta directly at augusta.waddell@gmail.com

[…]

Eleven Lions club representatives from around the Winchester District Memorial Hospital’s catchment area gathered together in the hospital’s ophthalmology clinic last week to celebrate a grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation of $74,696.63.

Helen Porteous, Secretary of the Metcalfe Lions Club welcomed everyone, and shared how much the regional Lions clubs have contributed to the newly renovated Winchester District Memorial Hospital.

“Clubs from all across Lions District A-4 have pledged and raised over $124,000 for the Ophthalmology department at WDMH, and now the Lions Clubs International Foundation is showing their encouragement for all of our hard work by making a grant of $74,696.63,” said Porteous. “Through this support, as well as the support of the generous doctors at WDMH, like Dr. Gerry Heymans, we have been able to raise over $200,000 directed towards quality eye care, close to home.”

Although not present for the cheque presentation, Metcalfe and District Lions Club member Ann Velthuis has had cataract surgery on both of her eyes at WDMH, has recovered well and so appreciates the quality of care she received. 

“Our eye doctor from Ottawa began working at WDMH and our experience has improved so much.  Now we don’t have to pay so much for parking or gas to drive into the city and my eyesight has improved so much that I can read the bottom line on the eye chart.”

Troy Cross, Executive Director of the WDMH Foundation and Lynn Hall, Senior Vice-President, Clinical Services & Chief Nursing Executive at WDMH were there to accept the cheque on behalf of the WDMH Foundation. 

Both he and Hall thanked all those present for all of their hard work in organizing events and raising money for this hospital, helping to keep quality care, close to home.  

Cross commented how impressed he is with these community efforts. “Whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller. And communities get better. This is a quote from the Lions website and it couldn’t be more true for WDMH. Their commitment to vision health will save the sight for hundreds of patients from our communities. Vision care close to home will benefit our families for years to come. The Lions are true community leaders.”

Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) supports Lions’ compassionate works by providing grant funding for their local and global humanitarian efforts. 

LCIF is a leader in providing support for preventing blindness and restoring sight for people around the world.  Our sight programs range from developing and improving eye care systems to providing sight-restoring surgeries and treatments to distributing medications to those most-at-risk for eye diseases. 

[…]