News

Seventy municipal officials, including both managerial staff and elected officials from across The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry gathered at the South Nation Conservation Authority, October 25 for the first ever SDG Summit.

The idea of the summit was to bring together officials from SDG and all of the lower tier municipalities for a day long event to discuss common issues, to provide a common learning experience, and to share accomplishments and best practices.

The successful inaugural event drew much praise from those involved.

Sessions on waste management in SD&G, community planning, weed control and human resources, were featured topics.

Each municipality was asked to present a best practice topic relevant to their municipality, or to provide an update on a project underway or recently completed.

The Counties presentation by CAO Tim Simpson, touched on a number of planning and project completions, including departmental review and capacity building. New positions in IT and economic development have been added. Bringing economic development in house has been an important move for the Counties. SDG has added much interoffice communication to their regular protocol, having both formal and informal managerial meetings regularly. They too are working to increase communication and relationships with the lower tier municipalities. Quarterly meetings with the CAOs is part of that ongoing effort.

North Glengarry’s presentation focussed on that township’s changeover to the use of a VOIP phone system, that is conservatively estimated to save that municipality $30,000 a year in phone expenses. “It really made sense for our size of corporation,” said CAO Dan Gagnon. 

South Glengarry chose to focus their presentation on waste, garbage and septic. They are proud to report that they have recently completed landfill expansion process at two landfill sites, a long process that has taken about 10 years to complete. 

North Stormont Mayor Dennis Fife spoke about the success that municipality has had with a decision to purchase an excavator, thus allowing that municipality to complete a number of bridge projects they would not have been able to afford otherwise. 

South Stormont’s public works manager Ross Gellately spoke about the implementation of a simple request for service procedure and form that has not only allowed much more efficient handling of issues, but has allowed for better tracking and record keeping and reporting through this standardized form. South Stormont was also proud to report that they now have a mascot, Hootin’ Annie.

North Dundas’ best practices presentation included the successes of that municipality in communicating with its residents. This is done through an annual report to taxpayers, through publications such a their recreation guide and the use of social media. They have done things like online registrations, online billing and information nights and extended summer hours to allow better access to municipal services for their residents.  

South Dundas’ best practices presentation included the South Dundas Municipal Centre project that has preserved an historic building, and enabled the municipality to improve efficiencies by bringing staff all together in one space.  

Bringing water and sewer services in house, and the cost savings of doing so, and the amalgamation of three fire departments into one, unified entity, was also highlighted.

[…]

 Police discovered and dismantled a sophisticated synthetic drug lab in a Forest Road bungalow, just north of Williamsburg October 23-24.

The drug lab is suspected of producing Methamphetamine.

A 29-year-old Greely man, Philippe Raymond, was arrested at the scene October 23, when members of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Ottawa Drug Enforcement Unit, OPP Emergency Response Team, Canine Unit, and local OPP officers from the Morrisburg detachment, along with officers from the Cornwall Community Police Service, served a Controlled Drug and Substances Act search warrant at the residence.

He was charged with various Controlled Drugs and Substances Act charges, and taken to the Ontario Court of Justice in Cornwall for a bail hearing.

The drug lab, described by police as an economic-based synthetic drug lab, located in the garage of the house, was dismantled October 24.

An economic-based lab is one that exists for the sole purpose of producing synthetic drugs for sale to meet domestic/international demand. They are sophisticated in terms of the operation and equipment used. The majority of these are operated by organized crime groups.

Dismantling the lab was a concerted effort involving members of the OPP Clandestine Lab Investigative Response Team and other specially trained members of the OPP, with the assistance of local officers. Health Canada chemists, the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall and members of the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services were also part of the dismantling effort.  

Police seized over $15,000 and samples of various substances. The chemicals seized from the synthetic drug lab are being submitted to Health Canada for expert analysis.

[…]

“In spite of the nasty weather, well, here we are!” said BIA co-ordinator, Grace McDonough, on Saturday, October 26. 

The Chamber of Commerce sponsored a family pumpkin carving event Saturday as part of the South Dundas celebration, the Season of Pumpkin People. Unfortunately, the night before the family fun activity (originally scheduled for the Morrisburg plaza near the clock) the weather turned bitterly cold. 

Rumour has it there was even some snow mixed in with the drizzle.

However, grey fall weather did not stop local families from coming out to take part in the pumpkin carving, nor did it stop the BIA from finding a way for the event to go on.

“We contacted the Morrisburg & District Lions Club in the morning,” McDonough explained, “and they loaned us their tent, and came and put it up for us, anchoring it in the grass near Riley’s Valu-mart. It was an enormous help to us.”

Valu-mart provided 200 pumpkins for carving. There were stencils and markers for drawing unique faces on the pumpkins prior to cutting, scoops for the “guts” and lots of support from volunteers.

Once a jack o’ lantern was completed, it was set aside for the official ‘lighting’: families were welcome to take their creations home as part of their Hallowe’en celebration.

“Everyone was welcome,” McDonough said, “and we had all sizes and ages here carving. Our event is a tie in with the Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village, and with the whole Hallowe’en and fall season.”

Assisting McDonough and the carvers were volunteers Christa St. Pierre, public educator for the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services and Marwauh Almousawy, a community volunteer.

[…]

On Sunday, Oct. 27, canine trick or treaters gathered with their human friends at the waterfront Morrisburg Dog Park for a celebration of the Hallowe'en season. From Raindrop as "Batgirl", Teeko as "The Great Pumpkin" to Lily as "the Cow" every one had a barking good time. And of course there were treats! Hot dogs for the participants and a race around the park made for a perfect celebration of this "spooky" time of year.

[…]

There is a book, Franklin in the Dark, on the shelf of the Iroquois Public Library. In part the inscription inside its cover reads, “donated by Paulette Bourgeois in memory of a special little girl, Shelby.”

Above it, carefully displayed in a shadow box, is a bright blue, knitted sweater, with Franklin the Turtle in his red scarf, happily scurrying somewhere. Beneath this box is a simple paper plaque which reads, in part, “This sweater was lovingly knit by Freda Bourgeois. She was the mother of Paulette Bourgeois, the author of the Franklin books. Freda called herself Franklin’s grandmother…Freda was a wonderful and talented woman…The sweater is displayed in honour of Freda.”

This is the story of how a baby called Shelby and a grandmother called Freda touched many, many hearts.

When their daughter Shelby, born in February, 2000, was barely six months old, the Staye family of Iroquois was given news that would devastate them. 

Shelby was diagnosed with a very rare type of brain tumour. So rare is this form of cancer that there were, at the time, only 12 cases in all of North America.

“She had a fever all the time,” recalls her mother, Cheryl O’Duffy-Staye. “She could not keep her food down. She was very ill, always, due to increasing pressure on her brain stem.”

Doctors at CHEO could only offer the family a three per cent possibility that Shelby would survive her illness.

On June 6, 2001, baby Shelby Staye died.

“The only good thing, I guess,” Cheryl said quietly, “was that she was too young to understand what was happening to her. I saw too many parents trying to explain to their older children the reality of what was happening to them, trying to console them.

But it was a very tough time for her dad and me.” 

During the dark and difficult days while Shelby was in CHEO undergoing different types of treatments, Cheryl met other moms whose children were taking cancer therapies. 

“CHEO insisted that we had to attend parent meetings with  Philip, a psychologist, to talk and to share our pain,” Cheryl said. “I didn’t want to go to these meetings at first. I felt that I was not at the hospital to make friends. But in the end, it was a good thing I did attend. I did make friends with moms who understood what I was facing.” 

Eventually she grew very close to a particular group of seven women. She also met a wonderful CHEO volunteer, an outgoing elderly woman who often baked loaves and cookies and brought them to the meetings or presented them in baskets to the families.

This volunteer was Freda Bourgeois, who, Cheryl later learned, was founder of the Bouclair chain, and also the mother of Paulette Bourgeois, creator of the much beloved Franklin the Turtle. 

Freda often introduced herself, with a laugh, to parents and families on the oncology floor as “Franklin’s grandmother.”

The Group of Eight Moms, as  Cheryl and the mothers began calling themselves, “adopted” the cheery little woman they had all come to like. 

“When our children didn’t need CHEO any more,” Cheryl said quietly, “we decided to create our charity, The Group of Eight Moms, and held different kinds of fund raisers for the hospital. 

We supported the Children’s Wish Foundation, and when CHEO re-vamped its cancer floor, our Group raised the funds to purchase TVs, DVDs and video players for the children who had to be in isolation wards. Every Christmas the Group still collects donated gifts from area merchants and creates lovely baskets for families. We all understand what it is like to spend Christmas in the hospital.”

That bright blue sweater that now has its home in the Iroquois Library was especially knitted by Freda for Cheryl, to comfort her through the difficult days.

The Group did not learn until later, however, that their Freda, who had already survived one bout with cancer, was quietly battling ovarian cancer. This would be a fight she would not win.

Cheryl cherishes a photo she has of herself with Freda in her last months, shortly before “Franklin’s grandmother” passed away.

“After we lost Shelby, I kept Freda’s special sweater for a few years. Then I decided that it should be out where people could see it. Our family loves reading, so I presented it to Eleanor Pietersma, of the Iroquois Library: when it was mounted, I sent a photo of it to Paulette in her mother’s memory,” Cheryl said.

“Paulette wrote me back, saying it was a wonderful gesture. She then sent a personally signed Franklin book to our Library. Freda was a wonderful, optimistic woman. I suspect having Freda for a mom may have inspired Paulette’s stories.”

When Cheryl learned that she was again pregnant with a little girl (son Callahan was almost seven), “I was so glad. In a way I felt it was like having my first baby back again.”

Baby Shannon and big brother Callahan do not forget Shelby.  Her memory is kept alive in her family. Like  grandmother Freda,  baby Shelby continues to touch many lives. 

Their mother smiles at her two laughing children as they play in the library near the shadow box and the Franklin books.

“Even now, when Callahan draws a picture of our family, at the top of the drawing there is always a tiny baby with small angel wings.”

[…]

The nomination process for the 2014 municipal elections doesn’t open until the new year, but already, Leslie Disheau has announced that she plans to seek a seat at the South Dundas council table.

Disheau made the announcement to the South Branch Wind Opposition group, and its followers, within the context of the announced dissolution of the group, over the weekend.

Although Disheau has not yet announced which seat at the South Dundas council table she has her sights set on, she has been considering an election run for some time.

“This decision has not come easy, and it’s not something that just happened overnight,” said Disheau. She said she has been approached often by community members suggesting that she seek election to either the school board or municipal council.

“I’ve been very active over many years in the public school system on the parent councils with our local schools and still am with Seaway. However, it has taken this mess of industrial wind turbines and the actions of our current council to put me in the direction of municipal council,” said Disheau. “I’ve decided to open that door of opportunity and bring positive change to a community I am passionate about.”

“My definition of community includes all of South Dundas. I’ve lived in Iroquois, Morrisburg and now in Brinston. My university degree is in sociology and anthropology with a minor in political science. I’ve been down the path of social work, now it’s time to use that political science education as an elected municipal official.”

In order to make this council run official Disheau, like all other potential candidates will have to file nomination papers with the Municipality of South Dundas between January 2 and September 11, 2014. The next municipal election will take place October 27, 2014.

[…]

A sewer use bylaw for South Dundas is in the works.

“This could be a very significant document,” said Todd Grant of AECOM who is working on drafting the document that aims to protect the sewer collection system from extraneous inflow by providing legal grounds for the elimination of improper connections.

An example of an improper connection would be a sump pump connection into the sanitary sewer system. 

These types of connections are believed to exist within the villages of South Dundas, and may be partially to blame for the extreme amounts of water that have overtaxed the waste water treatment plants during large rainfall events in the past.

Many municipalities already have sewer use bylaws in place. 

Grant explained to South Dundas council at the October 15 meeting that this document members of council are presently reviewing is not re-inventing the wheel. 

The current draft of the bylaw is similar to that of six municipalities much like South Dundas. 

Protecting the sewer collection system from corrosion, damage and obstruction, and protecting the wastewater treatment process from upset are the primary objectives of the bylaw. 

According to Grant, having this bylaw in place has the potential to improve the operational efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants by improving the influent quality and reducing influent inflows.

The draft document has been circulated to council for comment. 

It too will undergo a legal review before being presented to the public for input. After the public consultation process the document will require council acceptance before it becomes law. 

While the implementation of this bylaw has no financial implications for the municipality, this bylaw could be costly for some homeowners, where illegal connections do exist. They would be on the hook for costs associated with eliminating those illegal connections.

[…]

One hundred and fifty free pumpkins are ready and  waiting to be carved.

The Morrisburg Business Improvement area is inviting everyone to come by the Morrisburg Plaza the afternoon of October 26, to carve a pumpkin.

From 2-5:30 pm., pumpkin carving will take place at clock tower in the Morrisburg Plaza.

“Families are welcome to drop by and carve a pumpkin, that they can take home with them,” said Grace McDonough, BIA coordinator. “The pumpkins are free!” 

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

Some carving tools including stencils and carving kits will be available, but people are can bring their own too.

Once the pumpkins are carved, they can be lit and placed with all of the other creative community efforts in the light the way display at about 6:30 p.m.

The idea is for the community to light the way to Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village for its visitors,

The carved pumpkins then go home with their creators.

The light the way display is the culmination of this year’s second annual Season of the Pumpkin People which runs throughout the South Dundas community during Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village.

This year featured children’s activities and stories, a pumpkin recipe contest, and window display contest.

[…]

MORRISBURG–Building a dream is what Kevin Casselman has been doing since he purchased his Harley-Davidson in August of 2007. Hundreds upon hundreds of hours of work and hundreds upon hundreds of dollars later, he says his dream is now pretty much complete.

“I bought it original in 2007, and then I built it up,” he says of his Pacific blue-denim coloured Heritage Classic 2007 Harley Softail. “I dressed it up, I guess you would say.”

Casselman, who is the Animal Control officer for South Dundas and several other local municipalities, has worked on his bike in his spare time since he first purchased it. 

“It’s been my winter hobby and anytime when the Shelter is slow. I drive it right into the house to work on it. I also have a work shop.”

Casselman says he had bikes years ago, “when I was a kid. It was Hondas and Yamahas back then, but I always wanted a Harley.”

For Casselman, the pleasure he has derived from his Harley has been as much, maybe even more, from the customizing and personalizing he has done on it, as from riding it.

“I just ride it on little light tours. I trailer it to most of the shows I attend, some as far away as Sudbury and Owen Sound.”

His most recent trip was to Biketoberfest 2013, on September 21st, in Fenwick, Ontario (12 miles outside Niagara Falls). He returned home from Biketoberfest with the first place trophy in the Stock Class.

In fact, over the years of entering his Harley in shows, he has collected 43 first place trophies, two seconds and one third. He has participated in shows in Peterborough, Sudbury, Quebec, Petawawa, Carleton Place and a number of other locations across Ontario. One of his challenges is to find time for the shows, as he can get away from the Shelter for no more than a day at a time. “I can’t push it. I have someone who helps care for the animals, but I have to be available for calls.”

At Peterborough, he has won “Best of Show” for the past three years.

Casselman says he enjoys the quiet time spent working on his bike, which he says is “99.9 percent all Harley parts. I made them fit the bike. A lot are custom parts I built myself and had re-chromed.” He proudly displays a Harley eagle which he re-worked and is now mounted on the bike’s rear fender. His millwork is done by Dan at Eastern Ontario Millwrights.

In addition to getting help and advice from good friend Jimmy Smith in Morrisburg, he says “I picked up some of my ideas from other bikers, from magazines and from bikes I have seen at the various shows.”

Although, he is by no means a bike mechanic, he says he is mechanically inclined. “When I first started, I didn’t touch things, but I have learned as I went along. I have counted on Jimmy (Smith) a number of times to talk over different ideas and to ask him for advice on little problems.”

Casselman says that he also enjoys the show and talking to other bike enthusiasts. “There are hours of questions and lots of photos have been taken of the bike. They want to know what this is, or how I did something. People take their bikes very seriously. There are some who will spend $12-$15,000 just for a paint job.”

“I have had some offers to purchase it and a lot of people have asked how much it is worth. I just tell them ‘half a house’.”

No one, other than Casselman himself has actually been allowed to work on the bike. However, “I have allowed a few friends (Carol and Chris Prunner, Kelly Connerty) to help polish it as it takes me two days, off and on, to polish it. That’s not steady polishing mind you, but that is what it takes to get it show ready.”

So with his Heritage Classic Harley, pretty much the way he wants it to be, what now. “This one I’ll probably keep forever,” he says, “but I do have my eye on a Harley Fat Boy.”

[…]