News

 

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SDG) finished 2013 in a surplus position, as reported today (Tuesday, June 10) by its auditors Craig Keen Despatie Markell LLP.

 Although the year’s surplus was small relative to SDG’s budget, the $242,000 surplus is a positive financial result for the County. 

Ian Murphy and Ross Markell, auditors and partners of the firm, also highlighted the solid reserves balance and County Council’s achievement of maintaining its capital assets. 

Additional capital assets of $10 million were completed in 2013, while the year’s depreciation was $7.5 million; resulting in a net book value increase in the capital assets now valued at $84.6 million.

When presenting the Five Year Financial Review, Markell highlighted that SDG has done well in controlling its spending. 

“Over the last five years, SDG’s expenses have increased by a total of only 1.5 percent, an amount much less than the rate of inflation,” explained Markell. Over this same time period, dwindling federal and provincial grants have increased pressure on the County’s tax rates. 

“In closing, I can tell Council that your internal controls are good, your financial position is good, and your accounting records are good,” Markell concluded.

 Like many municipalities in Ontario, SDG continues to meet more demands for public services than dollars to meet the demands.

“Council and staff are keenly aware our financial pressures and set realistic priorities when budgeting,” said Vanessa Bennett, County Treasurer. “Controlling costs and working within approved budgets is everyone’s main concern.”

The SDG Police Services Board and SDG County Library Board also completed 2013 with surpluses. 

Final audited financial reports will be posted soon at www.sdgcounties.ca

[…]

 

The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce is reminding local business that beginning July 1, all businesses will be required to complete on the job safety awareness training. 

The training, declared mandatory by the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL), will affect every business and not-for-profit organizations along with all those employed in each sector.

“No longer will businesses be required to provide only WHMIS and Bill 168 (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace) or, only to provide job specific training,” states Chamber President Kevin Hargreaves. “This new legislation is far more encompassing.”

There are two groups who will require the training. 

First is the personnel who supervise others and that includes lead hands, foremen, department heads, executives and business owners. 

The second group consists of all workers under the supervision of anyone in the above group.

For workers: Duties and rights of workers; Roles of H&S committees and H&S representatives; Role of the MOL, WSIB; Commong workplace hazrds and WHMIS requirements; Occupational illness and long term effects

For supervisors: In addition to the points listed above, employers and supervisors will learn: Duties of employers and supervisors; How to recognize, assess and control workplace hazards and evaluate controls; Where to locate additional sources of health and safety information

 There are a number of government resources and training sources businesses can tap into: Ontario Ministry of Labour: www.labour.gov.on.ca

 

[…]

 

On Wednesday, June 11, students at St. Mary-St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg, dressed in their purple duds and headed off to school to celebrate Autism Awareness Day.

Throughout the day, at the various grade levels, videos and stories on Autism were shared with students and it culminated in an afternoon assembly to hear two very remarkable sisters, Taylor and Peyton Horning.

Taylor, 15, is a grade 10 student at St. Mike’s Catholic High School in Kemptville and Peyton, 13, is in Grade 8 also at St. Mike’s. Both are very involved in their community.

Taylor has Asperger Syndrome, a form of Autism which creates difficulties in social communication, social interaction and social imagination.

It is great to see a school working hard to make sure everyone is included, the girls told their SMSC audience. They acknowledged that as sisters they are much alike, (they both like to travel and they both like to volunteer) but also different (one is a talker and the other is not and one like to dance and the other does not).

“Even though we are sisters and have a lot of things in common, we are also different and that is a good thing,” said Peyton pointing out that the things that make people different are also the things that make people unique and interesting.

For their speaking engagements, Peyton has written a story about a pink mouse Millie, a mouse that is different. She tells of how the other mice left Millie to be on her own and how one little mouse, Joe, befriend her.

Following Peyton’s story, Taylor explained Asperger Syndrome, how she wears ear phones because things are too loud, how she wears her hat and sun glasses because sunshine is too bright.

“Taylor can do everything I can do, she just has to do them differently sometimes,” said  Peyton.

The sisters are very community-minded and have successfully completed two very big projects: Share Your Hair Project and Show We Can Project.

For the former the sisters collected 1,000 pounds of hair from 26 hair salons and pet groomers and had the hair shipped south during the Gulf Coast Oil crises where it was made into hair booms to soak up the oil. For this effort the girls were recognized with a presidential environmental youth award from U.S. President Barack Obama.

For their Show We Can Project last year, they used “big blue bins” to collect 1,000 pounds of aluminum cans which were sold to raise money to help Habitat for Humanity purchase building supplies for a home in Kemptville.

Most recently Taylor was one of 60 applicants representing all parts of the education system and regions of Ontario, selected and appointed to the Ontario Minister of Education’s Student Advisory Council. The council will share ideas and advice with the Ministry of Education.

In February, Peyton experienced provincial legislature in action as a Page at the Legislative Assembly in Ontario.

Each year grade 7 and 8 students from across the province who are outgoing, high achieving community involved students who demonstrate responsibility and leadership are select as Pages. 

Taylor and Peyton’s mom, Alexandra Prefasi who is the executive director of the Asperger’s Society of Ontario said, “we are trying to spread more awareness across Ontario. We are committed to help promote awareness and are pleased to come here. The girls have done the whole presentation today. They are talking about difference and that it is okay to be different. I am incredibly proud of the girls. As a parent you can’t ask for much more than a child who wants to be involved in changes.”

To mark the Autism Awareness Day, SMSC participated in Austism Ontario’s Raise the Flag campaign. Their flag to be displayed in the school gymnasium was unveiled to the children on Wednesday.

The assembly ended with the awarding of prizes donated by the Conners family, principal Joy Martel and Canadian Tire in Morrisburg. For each $1 donated, students received a ticket which, if drawn, won them the pick of a prize from a fabulous prize table.

The fundraiser which ran from Monday, June 9 to Wednesday, June 11 raised $514.21 for the Autism program at CHEO.

“We celebrated diversity and recognized the uniqueness that we all share within our school community,” said Autism Awareness Day organizer Tracey Shaver in a newsletter. “This is a day that helps us recognize our different learning styles and needs, and helps us to understand that we are all capable of great things.”

[…]

There is a very real danger that the Friends of Crysler’s Farm Battlefield Memorial Committee could fold without an influx of new life.

The fate of the Friends could be decided as soon as Tuesday, June 24, when the group holds its annual general meeting at the McIntosh Inn, Morrisburg.

The main purpose of the Friends of Crysler’s Farm Battlefield Memorial committee has always been to be an advocate for the memory of one of the most important battles ever to be fought in Canada. Without their advocacy the memory of that November 11, 1813 battle that was a major Canadian victory that ended the eastern invasion by American forces could fade.

“Such an important battle should stay in our memory,” said Robert Irvine, who has been a part of the group since its formation 15 years ago.

The committee has accomplished much over the 15 years, including the re-opening of the Battlefield Memorial Building that had been closed, and the staging of annual re-enactments that have attracted thousands of visitors to the site over the years.

The committee had been striving to pull off two 200th anniversary events, in 2013, which they did quite successfully, attracting over 600 re-enactors, 6,000 spectators and even the Prime Minister of Canada.

“We’ve accomplished all our goals,” said Irvine. But, he worries that without a Friends 

group to continually advocate for the 

Crysler’s Farm Battlefield Memorial, the history of the memorial will once again fade into obscurity, where it was when the Friends group was formed. 

Irvine speaks very highly of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission people that the group has worked with over the years, without whom, much of the group’s work would not have been possible. However, he sees that the history of the Crysler Farm Memorial is not the top priority for that organization.

He knows the advocacy role of the Friends is very important, and should not be lost but, over the 15 years the committee has continued to shrink.

“This year we’ve lost four or five directors, and we only had six or seven to begin with,” said Irvine. Attrition has been due to various factors, age, life, health. 

For the 200th anniversary event, the organizational aspects were handled by only a couple of dedicated folks.

“We’re tired,” said Irvine, who would be happy to stay with the group through a transition phase to new leadership, which he hopes will be the outcome of next week’s meeting.

Anyone who has an interest in seeing this group continue to exist needs to come forward to the June 24 annual general meeting at the McIntosh Inn at 7 p.m.

[…]

The Canadian Army Veterans (CAV) – Sicily Motorcycle Unit will be holding the third annual Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highway 43 Memorial Ride on July 5th, 2014.  

The ride will honour our Veterans, and in collaboration with The Royal Canadian Legion – Ontario Command, will raise funds for Operation: Leave the Streets Behind for the ‘Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund’.  

The fund provides financial assistance for Ontario Veterans to obtain housing, furniture, food and medical care during their time of need.

All riders are welcome to the ride and the $20 registration per rider and $10 per passenger includes the poker run and complimentary snacks along the route.  

Breakfast and the barbecue at the end of the ride are provided by the Royal Canadian Legion Branches for a minimal fee.  

The ride starts at The Royal Canadian Legion Branch in Perth and follows the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highway 43 to Alexandria, stopping at several Royal Canadian Legion Branches for presentations.  

It concludes at The Royal Canadian Legion Branch in Morrisburg, with a barbecue, announcement of the poker run prizes and distribution of door prizes.  All proceeds of the ride including all cash donations go directly to the ‘Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund’.  Breakfast and registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and kickstands up at 9:30 a.m. 

Last year, a total of $19,160 was raised from the ride, the coin collections and more importantly due to the generous support of the community. Local merchants, charities and companies have been very supportive by contributing donations, goods and services annually to this event.

[…]

Two weeks after first deliberating the bids received on the renovation project that will bring library space back to Williamsburg, council decided to accept the $209,841 bid by Wells and Son Construction to go ahead with the project.  

The decision came at the June 3 council meeting, here in Morrisburg.

Council was first presented the recommendation to accept the Wells bid at the May 20, council meeting, but balked at accepting the tender that, although the lowest of those received, was more than council had expected to pay for the project.

They asked staff to meet with the lowest bidder to go over the costs associated with the project to determine if any savings could be found.

South Dundas manager of planning and enforcement Donald Lewis reported that the $20,000 in savings they had hoped to find didn’t materialize in meeting with the contractor.

The Wells bid was already $82,000 less than the next lowest bid.

Council agreed that the small amount of savings ($8,500) identified through meeting with the contractor did not warrant any changes to the project.

Because a portion of the project involves upgrading an existing recreation facility, the North Williamsburg Recreation Centre, staff proposed that the project be financed partially through the accessibility budget, the park fund and the sale of assets reserve fund. 

Financing the project in this manner means that the project will have no impact on the tax rate, a fact that pleased council.

“We’re replacing reserves with an asset,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds.

The dozen library supporters who attended the June 3 council meeting to witness the decision regarding the fate of the project applauded council voting to approve the tender.

[…]

 

Stepping through the gates at Upper Canada Village is like going back in time. Your senses are met with the sights, sounds and smells of 19th century early Canada.  

This weekend you can step even further back in time – to the Medieval period – as Upper Canada Village hosts its 8th Medieval Festival on June 7-8 and its Medieval Education Day Monday, June 9 with activities for students.  

The Medieval Festival is an entertaining mix of colourful medieval re-enactors, entertainers and skilled performers.  

A festival highlight is the jousting tournament featuring the Knights of Valour led by head knight Shane Adams who was recently in the History Channel’s Full Metal Jousting Show.  

The Knights and their mighty horses perform twice daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and their magnificent horses are available between shows to speak to the public about the history and chivalry of Knights.

“The Medieval Festival offers a great blend of history and entertainment,” says Geoff Wacik, Manager, Upper Canada Village. “The Knights of Valour and their jousting is really quite amazing.  You literally feel like you are in the medieval era when you see them in armour and on horseback.  Plus all of the other performers offer such a variety of things to see and do.”

“It is a great weekend, and I guarantee you will learn something while you are entertained” 

The festival offers continuous entertainment throughout the weekend with lively medieval performers presenting a variety of interactive shows each day. 

Comedians, dancers, talented buskers, a wizard, wandering minstrels and even a life-size dragon will create music and laughter, adding to the faire atmosphere. 

Warrior and domestic encampments, archery demonstrations, armoured and unarmoured combat performances, plus life-sized weapons of war demonstrations are sure to keep the excitement level and entertainment value high. 

Falconry shows will be offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, and you can witness the fine craftsmanship of Medieval artisans and watch demonstrations in blacksmithing, armour manufacturing, leather working, chain mail making, period fashions and jewelry making  all part of the festival’s activities.  

Throughout the day, children of all ages can try their hand at one of several games throughout the festival including Jacob’s Ladder, miniature ballista and catapult games, Frog Race, and more. 

The Royal Court, including the King and Queen and their entourage, will be in attendance at a number of events throughout the festival.  

Each day the King and Queen will open the festival (9:30 a.m.) with the Royal Greeting at the entrance to the festival fairgrounds located at the back of the Village just past Louck’s Farm.

A medieval festival wouldn’t be complete without merchants and food and a number of merchants will set up their tents at the festival, offering a wide selection of Medieval merchandise and food items. 

Be sure to stop in at the Medieval Chip Shoppe or watch for the Pickle man for a snack.

While all visitors are welcome to attend the Medieval Festival on Education Day, Monday, June 9, large crowds of school children are expected.  

All performances at the festival plus your visit to Upper Canada Village are included in the price of admission:  $20 Adult (13 – 64 yrs); $17 Senior (65 yrs+); $14 Youth (6-12 yrs). 

 

 

[…]

 

With his goal to “inspire people to live life to the fullest, no matter what challenges they face”,  Sebastian Sasseville took time out from cooling his heels in a pond at the Upper Canada Campground on Wednesday, May 21 to talk about diabetes and how his diabetes has “been a vehicle for growth”.

Sasseville, is on a 7,500 km solo run, ‘Outrun Diabetes’ across Canada, a run that started in St. John’s Newfoundland on February 2, and will wrap up in Vancouver in November.

A native of Quebec City, 34-year-old Sasseville was diagnosed with Type I diabetes when he was 22. “I was your typical college kid, enjoying life. I was probably spending more time in a pub than in a gym.”

“With Type I diabetes, there was nothing I had done wrong.” 

From day one  he says he started eating better and getter exercise. “My diabetes became a vehicle for personal growth, and I decided to make the obstacle something good.”

Six years ago, Sasseville became the first Canadian with Type 1 diabetes to summit Everest. He then got involved in Triathlon events and eventually Ironman Triathlon. “I flirted with ultra running and in 2012, I participated in the 250 km Sahara Race in Eygpt.”

“I have just kind of built my abilities and confidence along the way. I want people to know I was not an athlete. I wasn’t good at sports. People need to know it has been done with work and dedication. I don’t want anyone to look at my story and think I am a gifted athlete.”

After Everest and the Sahara, Sasseville says he began to think about running across Canada, how long it would take and how many cities he would go through. “It started with a dream. I was looking for a good way to inspire people and I was looking for a new challenge. It was about athletics, but also about raising awareness. So I decided to commit to it and here we are.”

Sasseville kicked of his ‘Outrun Diabetes’ run on February 2, in Newfoundland. “It was a cold first two months. I picked the worst winter in 15 years for storms and cold. We took about six weeks to get across Newfoundland, and when I got on the ferry I was thinking we were done with winter.” But that wasn’t the case as winter held on through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and he even ran in snow in late April when he crossed the border into Quebec.  

Sasseville runs 40 km per day for three consecutive days and then takes one day off. “Today, (Wednesday, May 21 from the Upper Canada campsite to Iroquois) was a rough day. My sleep wasn’t optimal and sometimes I am just off. So today it took longer.”

“So far so good, but I am definitely feeling fatigued. I’ve been running 3.5 months. It’s not easy. I wear an insulin pump, so very much like the run, there are good days and bad days. But my diabetes is very much under control.”

He points out that people with diabetes need good sleep, good nutrition and exercise. “Obviously, I am probably doing too much, but exercise for people with diabetes should be viewed the same as their medication.”

Since the February start, Sasseville has been accompanied by Robert St. Martin. They will be joined by one other volunteer through the upcoming busy stretch through Ontario to Windsor.

The run is in segments and accommodations are set up in the middle of the segments.  They were welcomed by David and Ruth Wells to the Upper Canada Campground on Sunday, May 18. On Wednesday, Sasseville ran to Iroquois and then returned to the campground. Thursday he would pick up the run from Iroquois on and the team was to move to forward to the next base camp in the Thousand Islands area.

David and Ruth have been wonderful here. It’s totally free of charge and that is what has been wonderful with this project. People like David and Ruth have reached out to help. It’s really amazing.”

There are 3 million people living with diabetes in Canada, says Sasseville, and 90 percent are type II which can be avoided or delayed. “My goal is to inspire people to live life to the fullest, no matter what the challenge they face. It’s about overcoming obstacles, it’s about making the obstacle your friend. My diabetes has been a great vehicle for growth.”

“That is what is driving me. The cause and the people who are at the centre of it.”

Major sponsors for ‘Outrun Diabetes’ are Animas Canada, One Touch, Nova Nordisk, Biotherm Homme and 2XU.

“They believe in the vision and they are making it happen. They have put together events in various communities, and are phenomenal partners. They are making the run accessible to everyone.”

[…]

MORRISBURG – South Dundas’ Olivia Wright recently returned from competing in the Miss World Canada Pageant, in British Columbia, and although she didn’t win, she gained much through the experience.

Wright was one of 41 contestants between the ages of 18-24 vying for the title that was won May 11, by Annora Bourgeault of Regina, Saskatchewan. 

Asked what she thought of the winner, Wright says, “She was amazing. She would have been my pick. I voted for her for Miss Congeniality. She was the first person I met when I got off the plane. She is the sweetest person. She deserved to win. She is definitely special.”

Bourgeault will go on to represent Canada in the Miss World Pageant in London, England later this year, in September.

Wright, back home in South Dundas, is so glad that she had the opportunity to participate in the competition.

Wright applied to Miss World Canada on a whim, and successfully made it through the interview process to be selected as a delegate to compete in the pageant  in May.

“It was something so out of the blue that I did, and it has been so life changing for me,” said Wright.

Wright had never before participated in a pageant. 

She said the group of contestants was made up of a mix of girls like her who were new to the pageant scene and others who had pageant and modelling experience. “My roommate was a professional cheerleader from B.C.,” she said.

The whole process was a very busy one, as the group filled their days with practices, preliminary competitions and public appearances.

“The day we arrived, I got off the plane, and it was basically into a bikini and onto the runway for the preliminary bikini competition,” said Wright.

The days started at 7 a.m. and ended at 11 p.m.

While the scenery and venue were breathtaking – “Seeing the Rocky Mountains from the plane was super awesome,” she said – most of the highlights for Wright were about the people she had the opportunity to meet.

“We had a really nice group of girls,” said Wright. “Everyone was so kind and so supportive of each other. It was really more of a supportive environment than a competitive one.”

“It didn’t really seem like it was about winning. It was more about connecting,” said Wright. “What this experience gave me was the opportunity to meet a great group of strong young women, who are successful, confident and driven,” said Wright. She knows that the people she met will remain a part of her life long into the future.

“The confidence you get from an experience like this is amazing. It just shows you how important it is to be comfortable with yourself,” she says adding that she hopes to continue to share that message and to be a positive role model. 

The lead up to the pageant provided Wright the opportunity to get to know a lot of people in the community she may never have met otherwise. “People would just come up to me because they had seen me in the paper,” said Wright. “They would wish me luck. It felt really good.”

“The support I received from my community was overwhelming in the best possible way,” said Wright.

Wright very much enjoyed the charity aspect of the experience and sees herself staying involved with charity work going forward. 

For now, her main priorities are her education and spending time with her family.  

[…]

South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services will continue to  operate its marine rescue program.

The only municipal water rescue service offered between Prescott and Cornwall, South Dundas council had to decide whether or not to continue to offer the service.

The 1985 Zodiac used by the unit is no longer suitable for emergency services.

Council unanimously agreed that the service is an important one, that needs to continue, so they subsequently agreed to the purchase of a $30,000 replacement vessel. Not new, the replacement vessel is a 2001 630 Zodiac Hurricane. The larger size is more suitable for rescue purposes.

South Dundas’ water rescue program is a partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary which aids in training and deployment. The partnership with the Morrisburg station has been in place since the early 1980s.

[…]