News

 

South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services recently underwent a formal accreditation process to grade the fire service’s ability to protect the community. 

This accreditation could have a positive impact on insurance rates for South Dundas property owners who live within eight kilometers of a fire station.

October 8, the Municipality of South Dundas announced that South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services is now formally accredited to deliver Alternative Water Supply for Public Fire Protection via Superior Tanker Shuttle Service by the Fire Underwriters Survey.

Accredited Superior Tanker Service is a recognized equivalency to hydrant protection for those residents of the community who are not in an area serviced by hydrants, and a located within 8 km of a fire station.

The Fire Underwriters conducted an assessment of each area of South Dundas’ fire defences, primarily for fire insurance grading and classification purposes.

This accreditation is achieved through an assessment of the documentation process, of the availability of the water supply, of the fleet and through actual testing.

South Dundas Fire Chief Chris McDonough has been working towards this accreditation process for two years. 

Part of that work has been organizing equipment purchases and putting them in the appropriate locations to benefit the community through accreditation.

“Council has been very supportive in allowing me to move forward with equipment purchases that have helped make this happen,” said McDonough, adding that now, the community could see some benefit through their insurance rates.

McDonough couldn’t say enough about the performance of the firefighters in the shuttle test, where they had to be able to supply 200 gallons per minute for two hours.

“Our guys were awesome,” said McDonough, who added that the person administering the test told him their performance was one of the best he had ever seen. “We have a great crew. They work really well together,” said McDonough.    

Along with the improvements to tanker shuttle service, all three stations received an improved dwelling protection grade from the Underwriters. 

Prior to this, South Dundas had no formal accreditation, now they have a 3bS dwelling protection grade. This grade is on a scale of 1-5.

The grade is an assessment of the fire protection available for small buildings such as single-family dwellings. It reflects the ability of a community to handle fires in small buildings, and is used by Personal Lines insurers.

As part of their assessment, Fire Underwriters also reviewed the Public Fire Protection Classification, a numerical grading system that is used by Commercial Lines insurers. 

The PFPC grading system evaluates the ability of a community’s fire protection programs to prevent and control major fires that may occur in multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, institutional buildings, and construction developments.

In this area, South Dundas went from having no formal classification to a 5-6 classification for the Morrisburg area on a scale of 1-10.

South Dundas officials suggest that business and individual property owners inquire with their insurers to determine if these new assessments have an impact on their insurance rates.

Fire Underwriters Survey is a national organization that represents more than 85 per cent of the private sector casualty insurers in Canada. Fire Underwriters Survey provides data to program subscribers regarding public fire protection for fire insurance statistical and underwriting evaluation.

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MORRISBURG– Upper Canada Village’s new fall event Pumpkinferno, poised to open on Friday, October 4, has been nominated as one of three finalists in the ‘Tourism Event of the Year’ category by TIAO (Tourism Industry Association of Ontario) in preparation for the annual Ontario Tourism Summit, where winners will be announced at the Gala Evening Event in Toronto, on November 14, 2013.

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario is the umbrella organization for leading associations, destination marketing organizations and regional tourism organizations serving Ontario’s diverse tourism industry.  

TIAO collectively represents 147,000 businesses and the 608,000 employees that are dedicated to promoting and operating the Province’s tourism infrastructure.  

The Ontario Tourism Summit is an annual event that brings together hundreds of tourism professionals from across Ontario to learn the latest in industry trends and forecasts, share best practices, network with colleagues, and recognize industry leaders at the Tourism Awards.

“Receiving Provincial recognition from our industry peers for this inaugural, out-of-the-box event is like receiving an Emmy nomination!” said Darren Dalgleish, GM and CEO of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission.  “Having set an attendance record for any new first year event; gaining the wide-spread media notoriety last year and already capturing the “Best New Event” award from Festivals and Events Ontario, strongly indicates that we’re bang on track with aligning event programming with our visiting guests.”  

“We are honoured and humbled to be in such great competitive company in this category.”

“What a proud moment for Upper Canada Village – being named a finalist in the ‘Tourism Event of the Year’ category at the Tourism Summit,” says Upper Canada Village Manger, Geoff Waycik.  “Their creative energies have translated into endless accolades and position it as Ontario’s most unique and largest event of its kind!” 

“We are diligent in changing the face of this event each year to keep our guests interested and returning,” says Waycik. “Pumpkinferno is a very unique type of event and we look forward to launching our redesigned, second season with the new ‘House of Horoscopes’ display on October 4.”

Earlier this year, Pumpkinferno was honoured by Festivals & Events Ontario when it was named 2012 Best New Event in Ontario.  

It was also a finalist in the 2012 Ottawa Tourism Awards for Tourism Event of the Year.

Pumpkinferno will be open on select nights from October 4 through November 2.  

Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.  

 

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New welcome gardens, which have been installed at Iroquois and Morrisburg, will be complete this week.

“The project was ‘grew’ from the feedback that the Municipality collected during last year’s community strategic planning process,” said Nicole Sullivan, South Dundas economic development officer. “Residents identified a desire for greening/gardening at the gateways and centres of activity. Welcome gardens were one of the suggestions made to accomplish this goal.” 

The gardens have been designed to be attractive year round, explained Sullivan and Erin VanGilst, the Master Gardener who designed and planted the gardens. VanGilst runs Create It! Garden Design & Instillation from her home in Williamsburg.

The gardens feature a mixture of perennials that bloom in the spring (Daffodils), summer (Hydrangeas, Daylilies) and fall (‘Autum Joy’ Stonecrop, ‘Karl Foerster’ Grass). There are also shrubs such as a Service Berry  that were chosen specifically because their branches are colourful year round. 

Each garden also has “structural” elements that will give its shape definition throughout the year including rocks and evergreens. 

In Morrisburg, three Serbian spruce trees have been planted, while in Iroquois, the buoys have been integrated into the design. 

The Iroquois design is representative of a seaside garden, where stones are being installed to represent the stream and the plants, the waves, explained VanGilst.

“To add an extra element of interest for the public, we’ve also integrated a number of plants that are historic to the area including Lavender ‘Munstead Old English’ and Bluewood Asters,” said VanGilst. 

“To identify these plants, we used a list of the area’s heritage plants that the Carman House Museum had compiled to help with the gardening of their Heritage Garden,” added Sullivan.

The cost to have the gardens designed and installed as well as purchase all the plants was just over $13,000, less than the $20,000 budgeted for the project. “We used compost and rocks that the Municipality already had which resulted in some of that cost savings,” noted Sullivan. “The gardens were designed to have minimal ongoing cost with all of the plants being perennials.  

[…]

 

Gallery 59 Antiques and Collectables opened this week in the Morrisburg Plaza.

The 2,400 square foot store represents the development of another retail opportunity owned and operated by Hanna Rycroft and Carl McIntyre. They too own Basket Case Café Gallery and Gift Shop, which is also located in the Morrisburg Plaza.

Rycroft explained that they love the antiques and collectables. Spurred by their enjoyment of the Antique Festival, which was held this year for the first time in the Morrisburg Plaza, they wanted to create some place permanent to set up an antique shop of their own. 

The store is a multi-vendor market, presently stocked with the wares of five antique sellers. Four are local and one is from Montreal. 

Carl and Hanna’s contribution to the stock on display represents 270 items and counting. “Everything in here is for sale,” she said, though admitting there are a few pieces she is a little reluctant to part with.

The Basket Case simply didn’t have room to house all of the retail opportunities that they want to provide for Morrisburg shoppers, so they rented another store.

Hanna hopes it will be so popular that they will need to expand again, into another store. 

“Wouldn’t it be nice to make Morrisburg a destination for antique lovers,” said Rycroft.

The new store will not change anything for patrons of The Basket Case, according to Rycroft. 

The Basket Case will remain a 40 seat café, in its present location. 

“We like it that way. It’s small enough that we can still prepare our food from scratch and personally serve our customers,” she said. 

It will continue to be stocked with newer items than the antique shop, and will continue to provide space for local artists and artisans to sell their work.

Gallery 59 Antiques and Collectables is a store that Hanna hopes people will feel comfortable dropping by just to have a browse. 

“There’s no obligation to buy, and there’s no hurry,” she said.

She plans to host events such as book signings and demonstrations at the store to make it an active place.

The store’s grand opening event will be an open house on Saturday, October 5. Everyone is welcome. The ceremonial ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m.

The first book signing event will take place at the store October 12. It will feature the work of two local authors. Lisa Lalonde Bouche will be signing her children’s book Cally and Jennifer Debruin will be signing her book A Walk With Mary.

[…]

 

The people who bring Early Years programming to communities across Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, have quietly been offering new youth services across Dundas County. 

In late summer, the Dundas Youth Centre opened its doors in Winchester at the new Winchester Community Care Building. And, since September 6, staff from the Dundas Youth Centre have been hosting a drop-in nights at the Iroquois Civic Centre.

While the Dundas Youth Centre in Winchester is gaining in popularity, with 27 area youth participating in last week’s Fear Factor night, the Iroquois site has yet to have anyone drop-in.

“We are hopeful we will see a few out this week,” said Carrie Van Allen, who supervises the programs.

Staffing the Youth Centre are two well-qualified program facilitators, Sean Whelan and Kaitlin Herfkens. The drop-in nights at the Iroquois Civic Centre are for all area youth ages 9-17. They take place every Friday from 2:30-5 p.m. Games, cooking, movies, arts and crafts, sports activities and theme nights will take place.

A Morrisburg drop in site will be added to the program schedule starting October 7. Initially, they will be open from 2:30-5 Mondays and will take place at the South Dundas Municipal Centre. They already hope to expand the hours in Morrisburg from 5- 8 p.m., but are awaiting confirmation of space availability.

The Youth Centres, Early Years Centres, Learning Centres and Youth Programs are all part of the community services provided, free of charge, to residents of SD&G by the GIAG.

GIAG’s youth program mission is to provide safe haven free of judgement and biases for youth.

GIAG aims to provide opportunities for youth to participate in activities, make positive life choices through mentoring, and to develop social and life skills that encourage personal growth. While assisting youth in becoming responsible and productive citizens, building positive relationships between youth and community is encouraged.

[…]

 

Over 30,000 people visited Upper Canada Village last year for Pumpkinferno, and area business organizations are hoping that their promotion of “A 2013 Season Of Pumpkin People”, will bring some of those visitors outside of Upper Canada Village, into more of South Dundas.

Various “A Season of Pumpkin People” activities took place in late September and will continue throughout the month of October.

The committee is encouraging everyone, including businesses and individuals, to use their creativity to build and display their own pumpkin people in front of their homes and businesses.

The idea is to promote the community, to attract more visitors and to foster community spirit within South Dundas.

Committee members encourage everyone to take up the challenge and to get involved.

Spooky tales for the little ones, along with activities are scheduled to take place Saturday afternoons, October 5, 19 at 26 in the Morrisburg Plaza and Iroquois Shopping Centre.

A Great Pumpkin Recipe challenge is being issued to the community. All recipes submitted to the contest must contain pumpkin, either canned or fresh as an ingredient. Judging will take place October 12, noon, at the tent in the Morrisburg Plaza.

Saturday, October 26 pumpkin carving events will take place in the Iroquois and Morrisburg plazas, for the Light the Way display. The plan is to carve pumpkins and to place the lighted pumpkins along the route to Upper Canada Village from Iroquois, Morrisburg, Williamsburg and Riverside Heights.

[…]

 

MORRISBURG – One month to the day since she mailed two pairs of baby booties, to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, for the royal baby, Prince George, Madeline Carkner received a thank you card complete with a picture of the young family. 

“I’m so excited. When they brought it I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” she says of the special delivery to her room at the Dundas Manor in Winchester. “I sent the booties on August 20th, and they mailed the thank you on Tuesday, September 17. I got it on Friday, September 20th.”

Since the arrival of the thank you picture, Madeline’s room has been a busy spot with friends, family and staff at the manor popping by.

“Once I received it, word soon got around. Just about everybody has stopped in to see it, even the CEO [Cholly Boland] from the Hospital [Winchester District Memorial] came right in to see it when he was here. Everybody and their brother has been in.”

“They say that bad news travels fast; well, good news travels fast too.”

The picture includes William and Kate, with Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, born July 22, in Kate’s arms.

The message on the back reads: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were most touched that you took the trouble to write as you did on the occasion of the birth of their son, Prince George. Their Royal Highnesses have been overwhelmed by all the wonderful messages they have received and send you their warmest thanks and best wishes.”

Madeline explains that she got the idea to knit and send the booties from the director of activities at the Manor. “It turned out the baby was a boy, so I made a white pair and a blue pair. I thought I would likely hear back, but not for a few months.”

Having lived all of her life in the Morrisburg area, Madeline has been at the Dundas Manor for the past 7.5 years. For the last five years, she has been in a wheelchair. She spends much of her time knitting and crocheting, while listening to the radio. She says she keeps up with the news in Morrisburg through visitors, and of course, her weekly Leader.

Her knitted mittens and slippers, made in assorted sizes and colours, are done for the Manor bazaar, which raises money to help offset expenses for various excursions for the residents.

Madeline, who will be 81 in December, has arranged for a two sided picture frame for viewing of both the picture and the message. She invites friends to drop by the manor for a visit and a viewing.  

[…]

 

“Other than the weather, Harvest Festival was great,” said David Lapier of the Williamsburg Community Association, the group that has organized the annual Williamsburg Harvest Festival for 22 years. 

The rainy day impacted only a few activities, such as the model plane exhibit and parade car show entries. 

It may have had an impact on crowds, but overall, Lapier says the event was great.

“The outhouse races were hugely successful,” said Lapier, who was a little surprised by their popularity.

Five teams entered raced in the inaugural event, but more importantly, a huge crowd of about 150 people came out to watch the race. 

“And, that was at 9 a.m.,” added Lapier.

“The success of those outhouse races is something we will definitely build on for next year,” he said, adding that they are likely to move them closer to midday.

Friday night’s movie night, which included a wagon ride, was the best attended movie night ever and the contests were also hugely popular. 

“We had the most contest entries this year than we have had in years,” said Lapier.

The kid’s colouring contest was won by Trevor Backes, Lilly Lewis and Brianna O’Neil, with honourable mention to the youngest artist Averie Merkley (2).

The heaviest potatoes were submitted for judging by Leah Barkley (1st), Brianna O’Neil (2nd), Cameron Stewart (3rd); largest zucchini: Margaret Westervelt (1st), Gerrit Westervelt (2nd), Barry Casselman (3rd); tallest corn stalk: Brooke Waddell (1st), Dylan Waddell (2nd), Brenda Toonders (3rd); largest sunflower: Emma Hess (1st), John Bern (2nd), Barb Richmire (3rd); largest red maple leaf: Hailey Steward (1st), Louise Richmire (2nd), Mary Richmire (3rd); reddest maple leaf: Emma Pemberton (1st), Mackenzie Buter (2nd).

The best decorated porch honours went to Laurie Van Hoof and best decorated bench to April Richmire.

The best decorated bicycle contest was dominated by the Steward family. Hailey Steward won, with Abby Steward placing second and Kurtis Steward winning third prize. 

Bonnie Haner, John and Cathy Young and Cathy O’Brien were trivia contest winners.

The harvest poster contest winners included; in the youngest category – Abby Steward (1st), Louise Richmire Kylie Schell and Jenna Richmire; in the middle category – Hailey Steward (1st), Kloe Lewis, Kyra Lewis, Hillary Van Moorsel and Mary Richmire and in the top age group – Brianna O’Neil (1st), MacKenna Kyle, Martina Lewis, Zoey Van Hoof and Mary Richmire.

Parade winners in various categories included Sarabeau Stables, Lyle Van Allen, Sandy Marcellus, Brianna O’Neil, Williamsburg B.P.S.C., David Wells, and Terry/Francis Henderson.

The prize for best decorated outhouse was shared by Go-Team and Green Apple Quick Steppers.

[…]

 

A September 11, Canadian Press report regarding the province of Ontario and its contracts with wind power generators inspired South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke to draft a motion for South Dundas council to debate at their next meeting.

The report explains that wind power generators are being paid by the province not to produce electricity.

According to the report, Ontario has had a surplus of power since 2006, and that there are current signed contracts for approximately 5,800 megawatts of electricity, though only 1,500 megawatts are currently connected to the grid.

Locke read the following to his fellow council members at the September 17 council meeting: 

Acknowledging the fact that the Municipality of South Dundas is currently hosting a project consisting of 10 turbines with the capacity of 30 megawatts, which was approved prior to legislation giving the municipality the opportunity to support or not support hosting such a project, I make the following motion: 

Due to the fact that Ontario has a considerable surplus of electrical generating capacity and only 25 per cent of the current wind power generating approved contracts are currently connected to the power grid, the Municipality of South Dundas hereby declares that any future proposals will not be supported until the supply and demand for electricity demonstrates a need.”

South Dundas councillor Jim Graham was eager to second that motion, as he has on many occasions stated his displeasure with Ontario Green Energy Act.

“I feel, as a member of council and as a responsible citizen, the time has come to do something about this situation,” said Locke.

“I am not anti wind generation,” Locke told The Leader, explaining that based on the given facts he simply could not support any wind power application in South Dundas in the future, until supply and demand in this province dictates a need.

All members of council will have the opportunity to speak to the motion when it is debated at the next regular South Dundas council meeting.

[…]

 

Sixteen interested community members gathered at the recreation hall, here September 19, and agreed that the history of this area is important enough to them, to work to do something to preserve it.

As a first step the group decided and agreed that they will form an organization called the South Dundas Historical Society.

The group will meet again next month, and at that time they may name an executive. 

At the meeting, it was suggested that the South Dundas Historical Society needs to decide if its mandate will be to preserve historical artifacts of the area or to take on projects that aim to educate the public about the history of South Dundas.

No matter the direction, Phillip Blancher, one of the organizers of the inaugural meeting, suggested that they start small. “I think simple is better, to start.”

According to Blancher, the first goal of the South Dundas Historical Society is a digital history project, to be documented on southdundas.net

“With this meeting, we really wanted to gauge the community’s interest in re-starting a historical society with a focus on the entire South Dundas area,” said Blancher. The meeting was organized and hosted by Blancher and Sue Peters with the help of Evonne Delegarde.

“Across South Dundas, everyone seems to talk about the importance of its history and the importance of promoting history, but there is no organized group to do that,” said Blancher.

All who attended the meeting agreed that the formation of this society is important and worthwhile.

“It’s important to know where you come from, if you want to know where you are going,” said Robert Gillard. 

“There is a great potential to build a corridor of historical excitement,” said Howard Kirkby, mentioning South Dundas in relation to Upper Canada Village and the Lost Villages.

Alec Ball, who travelled from Metcalfe to attend the meeting, pointed out that the only historical society in all of Dundas County is a Chesterville group. He, and others who attended, said they would join the group simply because of their interest in local history and learning more about it.

Others who have long been advocates for the preservation of local history, such as Jim Jordan and Glen Cunningham, attended the meeting to support the formation of the group, in hopes that interest in this area’s history is not lost with their generation.

“This doesn’t stop here,” said Delegarde, adding that she believes there is much more interest, in the community, in the formation of this group, than the 16 people in attendance.

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