Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Day Tripper – Reconnect with local history at the Lost Villages

August 6, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

SOUTH STORMONT – The fun thing about a staycation is revisiting something that seems so familiar, yet it’s been a long time since you’ve actually taken the time to properly visit it. It wasn’t until […]

Back to school plan for five-day in-school learning

July 30, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

TORONTO – Ontario’s education minister announced his ministry’s plan for reopening schools for the 2020-21 school year. On June 19th, the province asked school boards to prepare three plans for schools to reopen this fall […]

Officials unhappy with joint school board Community Planning Partnership

July 30, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

SDG – A recent joint meeting by the local English-language school boards and municipal officials has raised concerns about enrollment numbers and community use of schools. The Community Planning Partnership meeting, held virtually July 23rd […]

No review of St. Lawrence Parks payments to municipalities

July 23, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

MORRISBURG – There will be no changes to how the St. Lawrence Parks Commission compensates municipalities in lieu of property taxes. Currently, the SLPC pays a payment in lieu of municipal taxation to each municipality in […]

Revisiting the past at Upper Canada Village – from a distance

July 23, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

MORRISBURG – The St. Lawrence Parks Commission’s largest attraction, Upper Canada Village, re-opened on July 1st this year. Its season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions on gatherings. The village reopened to […]

Province announces over $7 million in funding for SLPC

July 18, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

MORRISBURG – Over $7 million in funding was announced for the St. Lawrence Parks Commission today (July 18th) at Upper Canada Village by Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod. The announcement, […]

Stage Three re-opening today

July 17, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

TORONTO – What do monkey bars and dine-in restaurants have in common? As of today (July 17th), both will no longer be off limits as the provincial government announced Monday that 24 areas will enter […]

New look Morrisburg Waterfront

July 16, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

MORRISBURG – Responding to recent parking issues and crowds at the Morrisburg Waterfront park, South Dundas began to implement a plan to address the issues. On July 10, contractor Gaucher Excavation installed several dozen large […]

St. Lawrence Parks: More beaches to open

July 16, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

MORRISBURG – Two more beaches owned by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission are about to reopen to the public this week. Crysler Beach, between Upper Canada Village and Crysler Marina, along with the Woodland Beach […]

Sharp reaction to Dundas County name change petition

July 9, 2020 Phillip Blancher – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

MORRISBURG – An online-based petition to rename Dundas County has not garnered much support since The Leader reported on it two weeks ago. The petition, started by Cornwall resident Virginia Dipierro, called for Dundas County […]